CONSUMER KNOWLEDGE,RIGHTS AND BEHAVIOUR OF COMMUNITY CONSUMER LEADERS

Research has indicated that the attitudes of teachers are often reflected in their students.¹ If so, then what are the attitudes that potential community consumer educators may pass on to the people in their localities? Is there a relationship between their knowledge of consumer rights and responsibilities, and their opinions and behaviours? The knowledge, opinions and behaviours concerning consumer rights and responsibilities of community consumer educators may be reflected in their effectiveness in conducting community programs. Are they knowledgeable of their consumer rights and responsibilities? Do their own reported marketplace behaviours support their attitudes, or are they different? This study was designed to seek answers to these and related questions.²     

CONSUMER DIRECT FULFILLMENT PERFORMANCE IN INTERNET RETAILING: EMERGENCY TRANSSHIPMENTS AND DEMAND DISPERSION

The collaborative fulfillment of consumer orders by Internet retailers and wholesalers has proven important in the realization of sustainable levels of online profitability. Concentrating on consumer direct fulfillment (or drop shipping), an empirical simulation model evaluates avenues for improving logistical performance. The empirical simulation model centers on the online music CD retailing industry. It evaluates the effects of emergency transshipments and demand dispersion on inventory and product‐release performance, as well as on transportation costs, in consumer direct fulfillment operations. Results show that emergency transshipments improve inventory and product‐release performance in these operations. Furthermore, the inventory‐performance improvements are maximized when inventory facilities fulfill demand that is uniformly balanced across markets primarily assigned to each facility. Finally, gains in inventory and release performance obtained from emergency transshipments outweigh additional transportation costs incurred from a greater reliance on emergency transshipments for consumer direct fulfillment.     

营销策划价值关联原理分析——基于市场生态价值系统和消费者需求要素

在相当长的一段时期内,中国市场环境和消费者需求将处于复杂、动态的变化之中。在变化的背后总是隐藏着许多不变的价值因素,这就是基于消费者需求的市场价值系统和企业生态价值系统。策划价值关联原理的本质就在于在变与不变中建立市场价值系统与消费者需求要素之间的关联。     

CONSUMER PROTECTION,CONSUMERS AND BUSINESS

This paper is based on a speech given to an OYEZ-IBC Conference in London on 10 November 1979. It argues that U.K. consumers and business generally have benefited from recent changes in the law. The ‘backlash’ against consumer protection legislation by some elements in business is wholly misguided.     

COST OF COMPLAINING AND THE EFFICIENCY OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AGENCIES

In this paper an attempt is made to analyse the activity of complaining from an economic point of view and a model of consumer complaints is proposed as an aid in this analysis. The author discusses the implications of the analysis and assesses the efficiency and role of consumer complaints agencies.     

THE CONSUMER FOOD AND NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE OF PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS

Over 4000 prospective secondary and elementary teachers were tested in a national study to determine their knowledge of fourteen consumer subject areas. In the area of consumer food and nutrition knowledge the prospective teachers achieved only 48%. This area of consumer food and nutrition was found to be a critical weakness of prospective teachers relative to their performance in the other consumer subject areas. Prospective home economics and agriculture teachers scored higher than other majors on the food and nutrition questions but still revealed a poor cognitive grasp of the subject. Because of their impact on children's attitudes toward food and their eating patterns, prospective teachers need to be knowledgeable about food concepts. This study has implications for educators and college curriculum committees concerning the need for college level courses which deal with food and nutrition concepts.     

CONSUMER AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF FLAME RETARDANT TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND FLAMMABILITY LEGISLATION

The quest for flame retardance has witnessed a continual involvement of many diverse disciplines; especially concerned are those in the area of textiles and clothing. In this study, an instrument was developed to assess the subject's awareness of flame retardant textile products, cost and care practices of flame retardant fabrics, and attitude toward federal flammability legislation. The main objective of the study was to conduct a survey among 1500 consumers in a south-western city of the United States to determine if measures taken by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in regard to flame retardant items had been understood by the consumer. The study determined a need for extensive consumer education in the area of textile flammability to heighten awareness of flame retardant textile items and care practices. Exploration of other alternatives to mandated safety standards was recommended.     

THE LANGUAGE OF POSSESSIONS AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSUMER STUDIES

In this paper the author considers the way in which consumers regard their possessions and how this can influence consumer behaviour. The need for change in consumer education and consumer protection is considered and the idea of consumer responsibility is proposed.     

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTION AND MARKET EMPLOYMENT: DUAL AVENUES OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR

A theoretical model of the economics of production and consumption within the household is developed into an empirical path model. With data from a representative Iowa sample the impact of household production on expenditure patterns is examined with estimates of the implied income equivalence or marginal value of nonmarket production.     

FACTORS AFFECTING CONSUMER SELECTION AND ACCEPTABILITY OF BEEF IN CENTRAL ALBERTA

Beef, pork, poultry, and fish were relatively widely consumed, while lamb and veal were consumed on a regular basis by a relatively small proportion of the respondents in this investigation. Pork was more widely consumed by younger respondents (under 50 years), while a large proportion of older respondents regularly consumed lamb and veal. Number of per capita servings of most kinds of meat and of beef steaks and roasts appeared to increase with age of adult household members. Older respondents (over 50 years) consumed more per capita servings of the higher priced beef cuts, but similar amounts of the cheaper beef cuts. A larger proportion of younger respondents (under 35 years) either did not know or failed to ascertain the grade of beef regularly purchased, while a larger proportion of the older respondents (over 35 years) believed they were purchasing steer beef in preference to heifer beef. Colour, price and lean-to-fat ratio were the most widely used criteria for selection of steak and roast purchases, but colour and price were not as widely considered by respondents in the mid-age groups (25–50 years). Marbling increased in importance as a selection criterion with age of respondent. Respondents in the mid-age groups considered grade and butcher recommendations most often when selecting beef purchases. Respondents in all age groups considered tenderness and flavour most important to the acceptability of steaks and roasts, after purchase, but colour and lean-to-fat ratio were also relatively important to older respondents (over 50 years). Documentation of consumption patterns, selection criteria, and factors contributing to acceptability in various geographical areas is important, so that industry can modify production, processing, and handling practices to better satisfy consumer requirements and desires.     

CONSUMER KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF KENYAN (AFRICA) COLLEGE STUDENTS

The study was designed to measure the consumer knowledge and attitudes of college students enrolled at a representative Kenyan college. It was hypothesized that six variables (sex, academic level in college, academic major, rural or urban upbringing, having work experience and having completed a course in consumer education) would not be associated with achievement on the 47-item test or with the seven consumer attitude questions. The instrument was developed by the researcher for use in Kenya. Validity was checked by Kenyans as well as experts from the U.S. in test construction. Following a pre-test in Kenya, during the first week of classes in 1980, all students (n = 508) completed the instrument. Analysis of variance and chi-square tests were used to analyse the data. Achievement was 31.3 (67.9%) on the consumer education test which was considered a moderate score. Having completed a consumer education course was one variable associated with higher scores on the test. Students majoring in Dairy and Food Science Technology as well as Home Economics did better than other majors on the test. In general, the students strongly supported attitudes expected of rational and responsible consumers.     

A COMPARISON OF ACTUAL AND INTENDED CONSUMER BEHAVIOR IN RESPONSE TO RETAIL STOCKOUTS

Studies of consumer response to stockouts typically capture intended behavior. After a stockout experience, consumers are asked what they intend to do. In contrast, this research measured both intended and actual behavior. Consumers were interviewed twice; once immediately following the stockout experience to gauge intended behavior and a second time 30 days later to ask what they had actually done in response to the stockout. Accordingly, the goals of this research are to (1) compare consumer actual and intended behavior in response to stockouts and (2) examine product characteristics, consumer characteristics and situational variables that may explain the consumer's response. Key results suggest that indicated behavior is a good indicator of actual behavior in situations where the consumer intends to quit the search and a rather poor indicator when the consumer intends to delay the search. Finally, of the several product characteristics, consumer characteristics and situational variables examined, store loyalty, pre‐visit agenda and product uniqueness have shown most promise to help managers understand consumer actual and intended response to stockouts.     

INFLUENCE OF DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON CONSUMER PURCHASING PATTERNS AND PREFERENCES FOR GROUND BEEF

A study of 198 household units in the Fort Collins, CO area was made to ascertain the importance of such factors as consumer age, income, education and marital status on the purchasing patterns for ground beef. Compared to younger consumers, older consumers tended to: (1) make more frequent purchases of ground beef; (2) buy less ground beef per purchase; and (3) select leaner ground beef. Households with gross incomes in excess of $25,000 tended to buy larger quantities of ground beef per purchase and bought leaner ground beef compared to households with less than $15,000 gross income. In making purchasing decisions, participants in the study considered leanness, visual appearance and price as the most important factors, while packaging and brand name were considered the least important factors.     

我国通货紧缩,内需不足的威胁与积极的财政政策和货币政策的实施

通货紧缩 ,内需不足是我国经济目前面临的最大威胁 ,为改变这种现状 ,我国政府已经实施积极的财政政策和货币政策。作者对我国已实施的财政政策和货币政策的理论依据、过程及效应进行了初步探讨。     

CONSUMER ATTITUDES TOWARDS LEVEL OF SOIL REMOVAL AND ENERGY USE IN THE LAUNDERING PROCESS

A series of fabric swatches depicting various levels of soil removal were presented to consumers, with one-half of the subjects being given energy requirements to obtain each level of soil removal. A whiteness index of 50 was found to be the minimum acceptable level of soil removal. Information on resources required to obtain the various levels of soil removal did not change the minimum level of acceptance. Attitudes of consumers concerning ecological issues, obtained from a questionnaire, did not correlate with consumers' acceptance scores. There was some indication from the questionnaire data that consumers might be willing to make some trade-offs for monetary savings in place of maximum levels of soil removal. The level of acceptance of soil removal was most closely related to attitude toward cleanliness and neatness.     

DEMAND UNCERTAINTY,MONOPOLY WITH TWO-STAGE INPUT DECISIONS,AND CORPORATION TAXES

This paper attempts to investigate the effects of changes in the lump sum tax and the profit tax rate on the input, output and price decisions of the risk averse monopoly under demand uncertainty. It is assumed that, while the monopoly must determine its capital ex ante, it may modify the output and price determinations through adjusting its labor ex post. As the results of its analysis, the paper presents the new propositions with respect to the corporation taxes which have never been shown in both the deterministic models and the models which exclude the possibility of two-stage input decisions, even under demand uncertainty.     

THE DEMAND FOR A RISKY ASSET: SIGNING,JOINTLY AND SEPARATELY,THE EFFECTS OF THREE DISTRIBUTIONAL SHIFTS

We show that, if an individual's utility function exhibits a degree of relative temperance smaller than one, the individual will react, in a plausible way, to each of three common shifts in the stochastic distribution of his wealth, namely to FSD shifts, mean‐preserving spreads and increases in downside risk. First, we derive, in a unified setting, necessary and sufficient conditions for signing the comparative‐static effects of each of these shifts separately, and, second, we invoke implications of the property of mixed risk aversion to merge these separate conditions into a single sufficient condition for jointly signing all comparative‐static effects.     

打造市郊商业新亮点 推动内需发展新动力——专访上海市商务委员会党组书记、副主任张新生

面对欧美债务危机蔓延、世界经济发展总体趋缓、外需萎缩的巨大挑战,面对中国国内劳动力成本上升、人口红利优势弱化的严峻现实,中国的经济增长模式必须从出口导向型转向内需拉动型。启动内需、促进投资、扩大消费将如何逐步实现?这项任务的艰巨性毫不亚于30年前大胆开始的改革开放。上海,这座在近代中国城市发展中的典范之都,正在这一转变中积极寻找商业发展的新亮点。