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。     

A MODEL OF THE FIRM'S DEMAND FOR MONEY UNDER UNCERTAINTY

Recently, economists have centered their explanation of the demand for money balances on the transactions motive. The roles of precautionary and speculative motives remain ambiguous. The purpose of this paper is to fill this void. We develop a static model of the individual firm's demand for money in which prices and the interest rate are assumed to be random variables. In this model, the entrepreneur must decide his money holdings ex ante, and both capital and labor inputs are determined ex post. The demand for money corresponding to the various motives is a consequence of analyzing the ex ante profit function. Implications for monetary policy are derived from this analysis.     

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.     

我国消费需求变动趋势分析与政策建议

文章在总结改革开放以来我国消费需求变动特点的基础上,从收入变动、收入差距、制度改革、产品供给结构、消费环境等方面分析了我国消费需求下降的原因,最后从改进国民收入初次分配和再分配、调整供给结构以及优化消费环境等方面提出了相应的政策建议。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

GROWTH,AUTONOMOUS DEMAND AND A JOINT‐PRODUCT TREATMENT OF FIXED CAPITAL

The aim of this paper is to shed light on the idea of demand‐led growth by exploring the relation between growth and autonomous demands in a two‐sector model that includes fixed capital with variable efficiency. The paper considers disequilibrium only in relation to quantities, with prices set at their long‐period levels. Results of computer simulations suggest that where producers' expectations of future growth allow for dispersion in past growth rates, as well future growth in autonomous demand, this may have a significant stabilizing effect on the dynamics of output and demand.     

A STEINDLIAN MODEL OF CONCENTRATION,DEBT AND GROWTH

Income distribution plays a crucial role in the Kaleckian models of growth. The recent US experience has seemingly turned the Kaleckian argument on stagnationism on its head. Does it, therefore, render the Kaleckian growth framework redundant? We argue that while there is a tendency towards underconsumption, there could be other counteracting tendencies like the wealth effect of the capitalists or the possibility of debt for the workers. But such a growth process, which is primarily driven by the asset price markets, is, by its very nature, iniquitous and extremely volatile and the downturn is far more severe than the normal business cycles.     

MATURITY,STAGNATION AND CONSUMER DEBT: A STEINDLIAN APPROACH

This paper extends a Steindlian model of growth and income distribution to incorporate borrowing by consumers. It shows that borrowing by consumers can improve growth prospects in the short run by increasing consumer demand. However, in the longer run the effects of increasing consumer borrowing are ambiguous because, by increasing consumer debt, it redistributes income towards the rich who have a higher propensity to save, thereby possibly depressing aggregate demand and growth despite the borrowing‐induced expansion. The problem may be exacerbated by financial considerations involving the increase of the interest rate due to greater borrowing, but these considerations are not necessary for it. The problem is more likely to occur when autonomous investment demand is weak, i.e. when borrowing‐induced consumption increases are most required to counter tendencies towards stagnation.     

WORKFORCE AGEING AND THE SUBSTITUTION OF LABOUR: THE ROLE OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF LABOUR IN AUSTRIA

We study the sensitivity of projected economic productivity (output per worker) with respect to alternative projections of labour supply and alternative assumptions on the substitutability of workers at different ages. We show that in a pure labour economy assuming imperfect substitution of workers at different ages implies an increase in relative productivity during the next two decades. For a decreasing or hump‐shaped age‐specific productivity profile a negative tradeoff between an increasing labour force at older ages and aggregate productivity results. A decline in productivity can be attenuated by adjusting labour force participation rates to levels currently observed in Nordic countries.