Consumer Search with Limited Product Evaluation

Consumers need not evaluate all available product information before making a purchase. This may arise because shopping environments prevent a full evaluation (e.g., online). We develop a model of simultaneous search in which consumers have limited ability in product evaluation in order to study the impact of search cost on prices, consumer surplus, and social welfare. If consumers are endowed with the ability to choose how much information to acquire from a searched product, they may choose limited product evaluation. We find that consumers may evaluate more firms, enjoy lower prices, and higher surplus despite this limited ability. This implies that prices can decrease and consumer surplus can increase in search costs. We then extend our setting to the case of multiproduct firms and find similar effects due to changes in within‐firm search costs.     

基于消费者偏好的生鲜农产品网络销售策略

随着电商经济的发展,构建基于消费者偏好的生鲜农产品网络销售模式是优化农产品销售渠道、降低销售成本的重要举措。影响网络销售的因素比较多,尤其是不同消费群体对于网络产品的需求不统一,因此,为了提升生鲜农产品的网络销售量,电商企业要针对消费者的不同偏好进行分析。论文以生鲜农产品网络销售的现状为切入点,阐述构建基于消费者偏好的生鲜农产品网络销售的具体对策。     

Revealing transactions data to third parties: Implications of privacy regimes for welfare in online markets

We examine the effects of privacy policies regarding transactions (e.g., price/quantity) data on online shopping platforms. Disclosure of transactions data induces consumer signaling behavior that affects merchant pricing decisions and the welfare of platform participants. A profit‐maximizing platform prefers the disclosure policy that maximizes total welfare. Although this policy benefits sophisticated consumers, it harms unsophisticated (myopic) consumers. Consequently, the welfare effects of alternative privacy policies, data breaches, deceptive privacy policies, and opt‐in/opt‐out requirements can differ sharply, depending on the level of consumer sophistication and on other factors such as the prevailing status quo.     

消费者产品知识对有机蔬菜的购买影响分析

文章通过实证性研究验证了消费者产品知识对有机蔬菜的购买影响并得出了影响系数。研究结果表明,消费者主观认知对有机蔬菜购买行为有正向影响,而创新性有微弱的负向影响;信息收集、客观认知对有机蔬菜购买行为有正向影响,有机蔬菜的消费者对其价格并不敏感。此外文章还研究了消费者人口统计变量对有机蔬菜购买的影响,部分人口统计变量对有机蔬菜购买存在调节作用。     

Reference Dependence and Market Competition

This paper examines the implications of consumer reference dependence for market competition. If consumers take some product (e.g., the first product they consider) as the reference point when evaluating others and they exhibit loss aversion, then the more “prominent” firm whose product is taken as the reference point by more consumers will randomize between a high and a low price. We also find that consumer loss aversion in the price dimension intensifies competition while that in the product dimension softens competition. With consumer reference dependence, asymmetric prominence can arise as an equilibrium outcome when firms advertise before engaging in price competition.     

A Model of Direct and Intermediated Sales

We examine a model in which an upstream firm can sell directly online and through heterogeneous intermediaries to heterogeneous consumers engaging in time-consuming search. Direct online sales may be more or less convenient and involve costly returns if the good fits consumers poorly. Direct selling appeals to higher-value consumers and increases the upstream firm's profits by allowing price discrimination. Competition and segmentation due to direct sales results in lower intermediary prices, making all consumers better off. Thus, entry by an upstream firm increases consumer surplus at the expense of intermediaries with the net result being an increase in social welfare.     

在线客户评论对消费者购买决策的影响研究

随着网购人群的不断增长,在线客户评论如何影响消费者做出购买决策这一问题越来越受到关注。通过构建在线客户评论对消费者购买决策的影响研究模型并假设推导,本研究将对后期研究或可带来新的启示和理论支持,并且有利于在线口碑理论的丰富和发展。     

Should charity promotions appeal to altruism?

To be competitive with rivals, charitable organizations must rely on carefully formulated promotion programs. The literature, however, provides mixed advice on the effectiveness of charitable appeals. As a result, there is a need for research to identify their prevalence and effectiveness. The present research conducts a content analysis of charitable promotions and finds that more than 55% appeal to selfless consumer motives (i.e., altruism). A subsequent experiment reveals that appealing to more selfless (i.e., altruism) versus less selfless (i.e., reputation) consumer motives results in consumers having a more favorable attitude toward the charitable organization. Furthermore, consumer involvement is found to moderate this effect; more (vs. less) selfless appeals promote a more positive attitude among consumers with low, but not for those with high, involvement with a charitable cause (e.g., animal welfare). Managers should consider appealing to altruism in their charitable promotions, especially when targeting low‐involvement consumers.     

Resale price maintenance in a model of consumer search

A retail search model of Salop and Stiglitz (1977) is adapted to analyze manufacturer incentives for resale price maintenance. For some retailer cost functions and distributions of consumer search costs, imposition of a minimum price for retailers causes a price distribution to collapse to an intermediate price. Manufacturers may benefit from price floors when sales to high-search-cost consumers that have obtained lower prices increase sufficiently so as to offset decreased sales to other consumers facing higher prices. In contrast to previous work, no free-riding problem with respect to dealer services is necessary for manufacturers to prefer banning discounting of their products.     

网红营销对消费者购买行为影响调查研究

伴随“互联网+”概念的深入人心和自媒体的迅速兴起,网红已成为自媒体时代网络经济发展中不可小觑的重要力量,“网红大军”在引领消费时尚的同时还极大地促进了消费者的购买欲望。本文以网红营销为研究对象,主要针对网红博主所处的社会背景和广告营销策略展开研究,基于文献研究和问卷调研数据,分析网红营销对消费者购买行为的具体影响过程和作用机理。研究表明,网红借助于直播这一营销方式,既有效的提高了销售额,也增强与消费者的互动交流。本文研究结论将对相关企业决策提供有益的决策支持和策略指导。     

网络零售商惠顾意愿影响因素及作用机理

本文在回顾相关研究文献和访谈基础上,构建了网络零售商惠顾意愿影响因素及作用机理模型,并对该模型进行实证检验。研究结果表明:网络零售商惠顾意愿是多种因素共同作用的结果,网络零售商惠顾意愿与惠顾行为之间呈正相关关系;网店印象、网店信誉、网站服务特征和顾客风险偏好对网络零售商惠顾意愿具有直接正面影响,同时这四个因素也会通过感知风险间接影响网络零售商惠顾意愿,感知风险与网络零售商惠顾意愿之间呈负相关关系。     

The Social Norms of Discrete Consumer Exchange

Abstract Social norms have been recognized as an important influence in long-term relational exchange between firms. It is here argued that social norms are equally important in short-term discrete exchange that takes place between firms and consumers. The norms of consumer exchange are, however, of a different kind. To clarify the difference, a classification system is presented. Based on the classification, the social norms of discrete consumer exchange are defined and a method of quantifying these norms is proposed. This method should help in the ongoing effort to understand how the social macro-environment influences individual behavior in dyadic exchange. Gundlach, Achrol, and Mentzer (1995)) note a recent shift in the marketing research paradigm toward a concern for the social determinants of economic exchange behavior. As they point out, this shift requires the analysis of often ambiguous concepts. One of these concepts is that of the social norm. Marketing researchers have recognized that social norms are a valuable explanatory variable. Their influence has been depicted in marketing models (e.g., Bagozzi 1978: Kalapurakal. Urbany, and Dickson 1992), tested in relational exchanges (e.g., Dant and Schul 1992; Heide and John 1992; Kaufmann and Stern 1988), and cited in the marketing orientation literature (e.g. Hurley and Hull 1998: Slater and Narver 1995). The focus here is on the social norms of economic exchange, a subset of the social norms of a given society. In economic exchange, the investigation of social norms has considered primarily the norms of long-term, relational transactions common in inter-firm exchange. Little-research has considered the social norms of the more short-term, discrete transactions common in exchanges between businesses and consumers. However, Kaufmann and Stern (1988: 535) suggest that norms “exist in all exchange behavior, from very discrete transactions to highly relational exchange.” The identification of the social norms of discrete consumer exchange is important to the understanding of the social structure of markets. On a practical level, it also helps marketers minimize consumer hostility. For example, consumers were outraged when Merck distributed its AIDS drug through a channel that charged a 37% markup (Wall Street Journal,May 7, 1996: B1). Merck did not consider the social norms that evidently sanction a 300% markup by consulting firms but not a 37% markup by distributors of pharmaceuticals. To avoid such blundering infractions of social norms. it behooves sellers to understand the social norms of discrete consumer exchange.     

Sustainable product innovation and changing consumer behavior: Sustainability affordances as triggers of adoption and usage

This conceptual paper argues that for sustainable product innovation to make a contribution to addressing sustainability issues, we need to understand not only why consumers adopt sustainable products but also what makes them use these in sustainable way. To explain how specific product features can change the ways in which consumers engage with sustainable products in the adoption and usage phase, we draw on affordance theory. Affordances refer to the potential for agentic action of users in relation to a technological object. We develop a conceptual framework that explains how sustainable product innovation can lead to the design of sustainability affordances that stimulate adoption and sustainable usage. The framework shows how three forms of agency—material, firm, and user agency—interact and together influence a product's sustainability affordances that drive adoption and a change in consumer behavior. The framework explains how trade-offs between a product's environmental features and consumer expectations regarding desired functionalities and user experience can be overcome.     

基于多项Logit选择模型的在线渠道价格促销效应实证研究

在线渠道下,不同品牌的价格折扣促销的差异性会引起在线消费者品牌选择行为变化。同时,在线的价格比较机制也增加了消费者价格敏感度,如果不分离出这一重要的促销效应,那么会产生估计偏差,影响模型的预测能力。本文首先回顾品牌选择的离散模型中价格促销的研究脉络;然后构建在线渠道消费者品牌选择离散Logit模型;接着在对中国某电子商务公司的消费者实际购买可乐的面板数据分析的基础上,研究价格折扣对于该公司消费者品牌选择行为的影响效应,研究发现：（1）如果不引入价格折扣促销因素,将会过高估计价格的影响;（2）价格折扣促销对于消费者网上品牌选择有显著的影响,且影响为正效应。文章最后剖析价格折扣对在线渠道的消费者品牌选择的行为影响机理,并提出未来的研究方向。     

基于层次分析法的网上消费者行为分析

随着电子商务的发展，消费者的网上购物正蓬勃发展。分析消费者的行为是电子商务企业生存与发展的关键与重点。文中基于层次分析法来分析消费者网上购物行为，可以更好的理解消费者的行为，以及利用层次分析方法的作用和特点来做出更加合理、科学的决策。     

Dynamic Competition with Experience Goods

This paper considers dynamic competition in the case in which consumers are only able to learn about their preferences for a certain product after experiencing it. After trying a product a consumer has more information about that product than about untried products. When competing in such a market firms with more sales in the past have an informational advantage because more consumers know their products. If products provide a better-than-expected fit with greater likelihood, taking advantage of that informational advantage may lead to an informational disadvantage in the future. This paper considers this competition with an infinite horizon model in a duopoly market with overlapping generations of consumers. Two effects are identified: On one hand marginal forward-looking consumers realize that by purchasing a product in the current period will be charged a higher expected price in the future. This effect results in reduced price sensitivity and higher equilibrium prices. On the other hand, forward-looking firms realize that they gain in the future from having a greater market share in the current period and compete more aggressively in prices. For similar discount factors for consumers and firms, the former effect is more important, and prices are higher the greater the informational advantages. The paper also characterizes oscillating market share dynamics, and comparative statics of the equilibrium with respect to consumer and firm patience, and the importance of the experience in the ex post valuation of the product.     

探究“新零销售”模式下影响销售量的相关因素

在新零销售模式的推动下,客户越来越倾向于消费个性化的商品。为了精准预测客户的消费需求,论文以单款单色产品为研究对象,通过建立多元回归分析的数学模型,来探究影响商品销售量的相关因素。经过分析发现,除了一些定性因素外,定量因素对销售量也产生了一定的影响,其中实际花费总金额、实际销售单价、库存数等定量因素对销售量的影响较大,且各个变量之间具有相关性,所以电商平台应特别关注这三个变量的影响。     

Sustainable product disposal: Consumer redistributing behaviors versus hoarding and throwing away

Business strategies involving sustainable product disposal have focused mostly on technical aspects but neglected to adequately incorporate the nature of consumers' behavior. The current study addresses this void. We study consumer product disposal behavior and subsequently offer insights to businesses on how to incorporate consumer input into their strategic decision making in the light of opportunities to mitigate environmental impacts. Consumers' redistributing of unwanted but still useful products to others by reselling, passing along, or donating, rather than hoarding or throwing away, contributes to product lifetime extension and waste management. We study factors influencing product redistribution and explore profile of consumers who engage in various disposal behaviors. Findings from two online surveys, on mobile phones and sunglasses, reveal that specific waste attitudes, that is, waste minimization and waste aversion, rather than general environmental concern, are key determinants of product redistribution choice. Product cost is positively related to reselling and giving behaviors. Furthermore, product quality and product self-image congruency significantly reduce the odds of throwing away. The method of product redistribution is also influenced by consumers' demographic characteristics including age, education level, and income. This paper advances extant literature on product disposal from the perspective of the consumer and provides input into development of business strategies that incorporate consumers' sustainable disposal behaviors. We also offer input to policy makers on how to curb or delay waste and pollution.     

电子商务隐私保护的重要性及其经济分析

隐私不是一个新问题，但随着网络技术的发展，隐私问题也逐渐被放大，特别是电子商务（Electronic Commerce,EC)的隐私问题已成为网络经济最重要的议题之一。个性化服务是电子商务企业发展的重要策略，但实施该策略必须大量收集在线消费者的个人信息，相比较，电子隐私的目的在于避免或减少对网上用户个人信息的收集。另外，近几年的经验研究表明，在电子商务环境下，对隐私保护信心和信任的缺乏导致许多消费者不愿在线购买。本文试图通过现有的有关高校资料探讨电子商务隐私保护的重要性，并对其利益和成本进行分析，旨在为政府和电子商务企业进行有关决策提供参考。