China＇s June power consumption up 3.79%

Since promotion for high-efficiency, energy-saving air conditioners started on June 1, 560,000 units from 19 leading manufacturers have been sold, representing an increase of 250 percent year-on-year. Its market share rose from approximately 5 percent to 14 percent year-on-year, a growth of 9 percent.     

Emotions and dissonance in ‘ethical’ consumption choices

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of emotions and the prevalence of dissonant/incongruent choice behaviour within the context of ethical consumption. Based on 31 in-depth interviews with British consumers, the findings demonstrate that consumers consciously indulge in ‘ethical’ and ‘unethical’ behaviour (as defined by respondents themselves), often within short time frames, and that they often compensate for unethical choices by making ethical choices later on (and vice versa). The study provides evidence that positive and negative emotions are a key driver of this dissonant behaviour. Guilt is the most salient emotion, and a taxonomy of guilt in this context is derived from the data. Consumers are found to employ guilt-management strategies in order to sustain contradictory behaviour and manage cognitive dissonance. A conceptual framework is derived in order to summarise the observed role of emotions in ethical consumer choice. The paper also provides additional explanations of the manifestation of the attitude–behaviour gap.     

Are parents gender neutral when financing their children's consumption?

Children are consumers from early on, but they are dependent on financial support from their parents for many years. Based on a survey among 1173 Norwegian children aged 8–24 years, we examine how children's consumption is financed and how their main financial sources change during childhood, distinguishing between pocket money and odd jobs on the one hand and gainful employment and study loans on the other. Our analysis demonstrates how parental monetary support decreases as years go by and is replaced by gainful employment and study loans. We ask whether parents are gender neutral in supporting their children's consumption or not. This is done by comparing the distribution of pocket money among girls and boys, as well as the amount of money given to the respective genders for special consumer goods. Girls and boys have divergent preferences and often exhibit different spending patterns. The analysis of the six selected fields of consumption showed significant gender differences in four of them. By comparing what children choose to pay for with their own money with what they influence their parents to pay for, we find that parents' financial support tend to have a moderating effect on their children's own gender‐biased preferences.     

Olio and intègraphy as method and the consumption of death

This article discusses strategies called olio and intègraphy as convenient terms for a multi-method approach to studying situations. Encompassing the familiar activities called ethnography, netnography, and symbolic analysis, as well as participant-observation and use of the media, the purpose is to integrate information, data, findings, and examples from a variety of sources in the environment that bear on topics of interest and to explicate what they mean to members of the culture, including the subjects, the researchers, and the audience. This is a classical behavioral science approach that makes explicit the role of the researcher as a participant–observer and an interpreter. It is rooted in symbolic interaction, the classic work of Mead [1934. Mind, Self, and Society, edited by Charles Morris. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press], who noted that “the reflective experience, the world, and things within it exist in the form of situations” (Becker, Howard, Blanche Geer, Everett C. Hughes, and Anselm L. Strauss. 1961. Boys in White. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press). In addition to summarizing case examples to illustrate the value of this approach, the “consumption of death” is extensively examined as an under-researched and multi-faceted complexity of circumstances and responses.     

The economic index rises again And spurring on consumption is a priority

In June,along with the prompt and effective control fo SARS,the economic index rose again after a temporary fallback in April and May.The Caster economic index shows that in Junethe unanimous contract index was 122.34.That‘s 0.25 higher than that of May,but is 0.21 lower than that of March,the monty just before the outbreak of SARS.This indicates that at present the overall economy is still in a recovery period.But it is on the upswing.By viewing the state of the overall economy in the first half of the year,we can find the following main features.     

Potential Await for Tapping——Insight to cultural consumption in China

Just a few days ago, People＇s Forum Magazine and People＇s Daily made a China-based nationwide questionnaire survey on public cultural consumption inclination. The result of the survey indicated that the public cultural consumption level is low and so is the enthusiasm of public for cultural consumption. Given the international practice, since China＇s income per capita has exceeded US$3000, the total cultural consumption should be more than RMB 4 trillion. However, at present the real consumption is less than RMB 800 billion, which means that most of the cultural consumption potential was not brought out.     

Hong Kongers’ cross-border consumption and shopping in Shenzhen: patterns and motivations

The phenomenon that many Hong Kong people cross the border to shop and consume in Shenzhen has recently drawn great public attention in Hong Kong. In an attempt to understand the nature of this phenomenon and to shed further light on cross-border consumption and shopping in general, this paper investigates the patterns and motivations of Hong Kong people's consumption and shopping in Shenzhen. A negative binomial model is developed to evaluate the effects of motivational factors and socio-economic characteristics on the frequency of cross-border trips. Results of the study indicate that Hong Kongers’ cross-border consumption and shopping activities in Shenzhen were both functional and recreational.     

The coherence of inconsistencies: Attitude–behaviour gaps and new consumption communities

Abstract

Despite the growing success of well-marketed environmentally friendly products, there remains a gap between consumers' positive attitudes towards green issues and products, and their inconsistent and often conflicting consumption behaviour. Indeed, this is a challenge for social marketers seeking to advance the sustainability agenda. Therefore, this study problematises what has been conceptualised as attitude–behaviour gaps (Boulstridge & Carrigan, 2000 Boulstridge, E. and Carrigan, M. 2000. Do consumers really care about corporate responsibility? Highlighting the consumer attitude–behaviour gap. Journal of Communication Management, 4(4): 355–368. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]), and explores how groups of consumers have re-construed such practices and their meanings through the formation of New Consumption Communities (Szmigin, Carrigan, & Bekin, 2007 Szmigin, I., Carrigan, M. and Bekin, C. 2007. “New consumption communities and the re-enabling of 21st century consumers”. In Consumer tribes, Edited by: Cova, B., Kozinets, R.V. and Shankar, A. 296–311. Oxford: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann.  [Google Scholar]). Multi-sited ethnographic findings illustrate the social processes through which ethical and green forms of consumption are established and normalised. Findings also stress the importance of normative and habitual reframing through ‘ethical spaces’ (Barnett, Clarke et al., 2005 Barnett, C., Cafaro, P. and Newholm, T. 2005. “Philosophy and ethical consumption”. In The ethical consumer, Edited by: Harrison, R., Newholm, T. and Shaw, D. 11–24. London: Sage. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) in establishing and maintaining increased consistency in participants' consumption meanings, behaviours, and goals. Thus we re-frame attitude–behaviour gaps as coherent inconsistencies, which allows for a move away from solely trying to explain and change individual consumer behaviour, to identifying how suitable upstream and downstream (Verplanken & Wood, 2006 Verplanken, B. and Wood, W. 2006. Interventions to break and create consumer habits. Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, 25(1): 90–103. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) approaches and policies can be used to facilitate more sustainable forms of consumption.     

What factors are influencing tea consumption among Chinese urban residents? An empirical study

Using primary data collected from a questionnaire survey in 12 cities in China, we set up a model to analyze the influencing factors of Chinese urban residents' tea consumption. Three groups of factors are considered in the model, i.e., demographic and personal characteristics, economic factors and consumption habits. Research findings indicate that tea consumption is significantly impacted by gender difference, personal income, consumption atmosphere and habitual factors. This has important policy implications for tea marketing. First of all, it is essential to develop more tea products that cater to the needs of urban females while at the meantime securing the steady growth of tea consumption among males. Second, in light of the consumption discrepancies between families, areas and occupations, differentiated marketing strategies should be created with an emphasis on cultivating and taking advantage of consumption atmosphere in the society. In addition, income disparities call for diversified tea products with affordable prices. It is also suggested that educational programs on tea consumption be advocated to promote the consumption frequency and quantity of tea both in China and in other countries.     

Just looking? Choice and constraint in practices of visual consumption at magazine newsstands

This article takes as its subject practices of looking that occur in London's newsstands (magazine retail displays). Taking an ethnographic approach inspired by the flâneur and emphasising the symbolic properties of consumption activities that take place in public retail space, it reports on an extensive participant observation of newsstands. A three-fold typology of visual consumption is put forward: “drifting,” “speed-shopping” and “free-reading.” These practices of looking are then critically analysed in the light of theoretical perspectives on visual consumption, in particular, the tension between arguments prioritising the pleasures and, conversely, the constraints that it entails. The analysis culminates in the argument that the most fruitful position is a dialectical one that acknowledges the conditional freedom of visual consumption.     

Does the host match the content? A taxonomical update on online consumption communities

Abstract

This article proposes a taxonomy of online consumption communities in order to address this rather ambiguously conceptualised research field. Specifically, intercommunity differences are investigated with regard to how content focus (brand vs activity) and its congruency with the type of host (doubled vs mixed) affect consumers’ posting behaviour. Based on an online survey (n = 888), a series of regressions of various benefits on posting behaviour supports the usability of the proposed taxonomy. In particular, social benefits had the strongest effect on consumers’ posting behaviour across all communities, while the effects of functional, altruistic and sharing benefits varied in significance and direction of influence when accounting for the different community characteristics. These findings help marketing managers to design online communities and motivate consumers to contribute.     

From banger to classic – a model for sustainable car consumption?

Cars are the most complex of consumer durables, yet they are not as durable as one may expect. Each year, millions of cars are scrapped, many still roadworthy or easily repairable. As with other consumer durables, consumers increasingly lose their emotional attachment with their old car in favour of a younger model. Is it possible to remedy this failure of consumer–product relationships in the interest of greater product durability and hence greater environmental sustainability? This paper explores this question in the context of the classic car market and suggests there may be some lessons there that could lead to a more sustainable new car consumption culture.     

China＇s crude steel output, consumption to hit record high in 2009

Baostecl, China＇s biggest steel giant, has announced to raise steel prices for Jan productions on the eve of annual iron orc price talk, after it returns to the negotiating table as the representative of Chinese steelmakers. The price hike, a routine for the steelmaker, has provoked controversies, according to International Finance News report.     

Examining the healthy food consumption in full-service restaurants: quality or non-quality cues?

The purpose of this research was to examine drivers of perceived value and healthy food consumption within the context of full-service dining restaurant patronage. Specifically, this study examines the influence of quality and non-quality cues on perceived value and the impact of perceived value on postconsumption experience. The model was tested using data collected from a sample of full-service restaurant patrons residing in the United States. Results of a structural equation analysis revealed that restaurant quality cues induce patrons’ perceived value in healthy food consumption. Regarding non-restaurant quality cues, patrons’ health concerns have an impact on perceived value; however the impact of peer pressure and mass media on perceived value did not show significant impact. Data analysis also showed that both perceived value and satisfaction are significant predictors of behavioral intensions. Interpretations of these findings are limited to the full-service restaurant segment and may not be generalized across sectors. The academic and managerial implications of these findings are considered.     

Disputes on automobile consumption increased by more than fifty percent There are three main reasons

The State Bureau of Industrial and Commercial Administration recently announced that, along with the prevailing situation of the market sales of automobiles, disputes on automobile consumption have also increased rapidly, which has nowadays becomea new focus of the consumption disputes. According to the statistics, in the first half 2003, the whole country dealt with 3566 cases of disputes on automobile consumption, which has increased by 55.86% compared with the same period of last year. The problems mainly lie in the following aspects:     

Interactive effects of consumers’ ethical beliefs and authenticity on ethical consumption and pro-environmental behaviors

The current study examined the relationships of ethical beliefs (i.e., idealism and relativism) with pro-environmental behaviors (direct and indirect) and ethical consumption behavior. The study further examined the moderating role of consumer authenticity in these relationships. Data were collected from individuals (N = 302) using field surveys within three major metropolitan cities of Pakistan. The findings revealed that idealism had a positive relationship with ethical consumption behavior and pro-environmental direct behavior. However, it was not related to pro-environmental indirect behavior. Relativism was positively related to ethical consumption behavior but it was not related to both types of pro-environmental behaviors. Furthermore, consumer authenticity significantly moderated the relationships of idealism with all ethical outcomes. Finally, implications for organizations, marketers and policy makers are discussed.     

The (re‐)configuration of production and consumption in empty nest households/families

In this paper we examine how the complex relationship between consumption and production evolves in empty nest households as individuals reconstruct their sense of self during periods of major household change and role status transitions. Specifically, we seek to understand the “lived experience” of mothers as they negotiate the role status transition on entering the empty nest stage of family life, and thus to provide glimpses of how women manage production and consumption in order to create family life across a variety of diffused sites as their children move away from home. The main themes to emerge from the data are: the distress associated with this role status transition as women re‐evaluate their definition of the self and their mothering role; and the evolving role of enacting love and mothering as the emphasis changes, in many cases, from production‐led tasks to consumption‐based activities.     

“Why do you dine at Korean restaurants?” An ethnic food consumption model approach

This study aimed to examine how people choose an ethnic restaurant based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to uncover factors that influence consumer decision-making in ethnic food consumption situations, particularly Korean food. Specifically, this study extended the original TPB model by incorporating consumer values and other variables that are theoretically related to the attitude formation, including familiarity and affective country image. The results showed that economic value, quality value, epistemic values, and familiarity were significant factors affecting consumer attitudes toward dining at Korean restaurants. Also, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control significantly influenced consumer intentions to dine at Korean restaurants.