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We study an online environment where a firm provides strategic product recommendations to consumers. We develop an analytical framework to integrate recommendations into the consumer search process. The firm sells two imperfectly substitutable products with different profit margins and makes a personalized product recommendation to each consumer based on its uncertainty (lack of knowledge) of his preferences. We define recommendation bias as the firm's deliberate decision to recommend a product to a consumer that does not minimize expected misfit cost of the consumer. Consumers can accept the product recommendation, search for the nonrecommended product, or leave the website. We identify five consumer segments based on consumers' responses to the firm's recommendations. We show that the recommendation bias, profit, and consumer surplus depend on the interaction between the firm's uncertainty regarding consumer preferences and consumer search costs. A reduction in its uncertainty about consumers leads to a corresponding increase in the firm's profit but does not necessarily result in a reduction in consumer surplus. An increase in search costs can lead to nonmonotonic changes in the firm's recommendation strategy, causing an increase or decrease in recommendation bias when the firm's uncertainty about consumers is low. Furthermore, the firm's profit can behave non-monotonically with respect to search costs: the firm benefits from an increase in search costs when these costs are small and uncertainty about consumers is low, but it can be adversely affected when search costs are moderate. Interestingly, consumer surplus may increase when search costs increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates young consumers' reliance on social media influencers (SMIs) in the context of social commerce. With regard to the four streams of influencer endorsement – influencer credibility, influencer attractiveness, match-up, and meaning transfer – we propose that they can either lead to a direct consumer reliance on SMIs' suggestions for their purchasing decisions, or that attitudes toward SMIs mediate the relationship. By integrating both directions of partial- and no-attitude mediation, the proposed model explores all associations in order to better understand connections and driving forces between endorsement streams, attitudes, and reliance. We introduce the concept of reliance on SMIs, understood here as the degree to which young individuals base their preferences, lifestyles, and purchasing decisions upon SMIs. A research model was validated by examining 809 young individuals. The results reveal that attitude formation is affected by all four endorsement streams, and fully mediates the relationship between these endorsement streams and young people's reliance on SMIs. The differentiated reliance levels by gender and age confirm that females and teenagers tend to rely more on SMIs. The current study offers the first evidence for a relationship between the four endorsement streams and reliance on SMIs via attitude formation in the context of social media networking, as well as the association of reliance with sociodemographic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, conscious consumers have become an important segment of the market. In the cosmetics industry, green products are also at the forefront. The refillable packaging is a significant step in this direction. The aim of this study is to identify the drivers and barriers that affect the intention to purchase cosmetics with refillable packaging. In‐depth interviews were conducted with 20 Generation Z women. Content analysis was used to identify themes, categories and subcategories in the transcripts. According to the results, the categories that drive consumers to purchase cosmetic products with refillable packaging include peer influence, marketing communication, social media, perceived benefits, brand reputation, environmental consciousness and knowledge, anticipated positive emotions, product availability and variety. The barriers identified include lack of awareness and knowledge, high prices, influencer effect, low perceived consumer effectiveness, consumers' concerns about greenwashing, product quality and status concerns, health concerns and operational barriers. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of consumers' intentions to purchase refillable packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) represents a collaborative model where local farms and community members form partnerships to facilitate the direct delivery of fresh produce from farms to consumers. This study primarily investigates the experiences of current CSA members, focusing on the key factors influencing their retention intentions. Employing a convergent parallel mixed methods approach, this study gathers and analyzes both quantitative data (such as factors affecting members' retention intentions) and qualitative data (derived from interviews reflecting members' perceptions of their CSA experiences). The integration of these datasets provides a comprehensive understanding of the factors that shape CSA membership dynamics. The research findings underscore that Convenience, Product Quality, and Positive Interactions are pivotal factors that contribute to members' Intentions to continue their CSA memberships. These insights are crucial for enhancing the services provided to CSA members and hold significant implications for the broader scope of CSA membership research. This study not only fills a critical gap in understanding the Chinese CSA context but also contributes to the global discourse on sustainable agriculture practices and community engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shifting from meat consumption is critical for future dietary evolution. Mainstream newspapers and social media are the leading platforms for expressing this opinion. By analysing the media discourse, the proponents of the shift from meat, to plant-based meat and cultured meat were identified. The objectives were: a) to identify themes, word frequencies, and sentiment related to meat substitutes, b) to determine Chinese perceptions of the two meat substitutes, and c) to determine which food functions are of concern to Chinese consumers. Between July 2016 and July 2022, the researcher gathered data from People's Daily and China Daily online outlets and user comments. 574 news articles and 2,345 online comments were extracted. Three techniques were applied: sentiment analysis, thematic analysis, and word cloud analysis. The results revealed that newspapers reported positively on meat substitutes, yet user comments showed negative public perception. Chinese people held positive attitudes toward plant-based meat and negative attitudes toward cultured meat. Thus, the insights from the media discourse provided valuable indicators for stakeholders to develop sustainable food education and consumption strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are growing concerns about the commercialisation of childhood and the consequences of marketing to children, including marketing's negative effects and increasingly sophisticated and potentially deceptive online tactics that permeate the contemporary media environment. Children and young people are prolific users of video-sharing platforms (VSP) such as TikTok and YouTube, yet little is known about children's advertising literacy within these contexts. Therefore, this paper answers recent calls for a deeper understanding of children's advertising literacy in light of their increasingly digital lifestyles. A combination of qualitative, participatory creative methods were used with children aged 9–11 from the UK. Findings show that despite their negative perceptions of online advertising, children place a level of trust in video-sharing platforms, based on a misconception that the commercialisation of content is always disclosed. This is concerning because children may prefer and pay more attention to content that they believe to be genuine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to explore factors that affect gendered consumption (male and female), willingness to pay (economic attributes) and the socio-cultural context of Gen-Z consumers towards specialty coffee as compared to other types in Taiwan. Design/methodology/approach: Samoggia and Riedel's (2018) theoretical framework is adopted to examine the concepts of interest. A mixed method approach comprising interviews and experimental taste tests was used to collect data from Gen-Z specialty coffee consumers in a purposive sampling manner. Findings: The findings suggested the effect of price elasticity of demand where specialty coffee was perceived as an expensive commodity by young consumers, and hence, not a regularly purchased item. Nevertheless, specialty coffee was linked to health benefits, and a signal for conspicuous consumption – where café experiences facilitated self-promotion on sites like Instagram and Facebook. Finally, the findings alluded to a potential gender effect, with more female young consumers likely to consume specialty coffee as compared to their male counterparts. Originality/value: This study is located within the context of Taiwan, which has been a tea-dominated consumption landscape for numerous decades. The use of an experimental design also presents a unique angle to elucidate sensory elements surrounding specialty coffee as a research design for Gen-Z research projects. The study points to the relevance of social context in the consumers' behavioural patterns, which has been largely implicit within consumer behaviour scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to answer the questions of what clothing practices related to sustainable fashion can be observed in young consumers' daily lives in Finland's capital region and what prevents their further proliferation. Design/methodology/approach: This is qualitative research that draws from 22 semi-structured interviews with high school students in the capital area of Finland. The data were analyzed with the use of thematic analysis, a flexible method of data analysis that allows for the extraction of categories from both theoretical concepts and data. Findings: This paper contributes to studies of young people's consumption with the practice theory approach, putting forward the category of following sustainable fashion as an integrative practice. The three-element model of the practice theory allows answering the question of challenges that prevent the practice from shaping. The paper further advances this approach by identifying a list of context-specific dispersed practices incorporated into sustainable fashion. Practical implications: The study suggests practical ways of improving clothing consumption based on the practice theory approach and findings from empirical research. Sustainable practices require competences, knowledge and skills that the school, as an institution working closely with high school students, could help develop. Originality/value: The study contributes to the current studies of sustainability and youth culture of consumption with a practice theory approach and findings, related to a particular context of a country from Northern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine how young consumers perceive the advertising effectiveness of endorsements by virtual idols and how endorsements by virtual idols differ from endorsements by real human celebrities such as traditional celebrities and online influencers. Design/methodology/approach: An experimental study was conducted with 400 randomly selected young respondents in China in December 2022. A 3 × 2 factorial design was used to test how the type of celebrity endorser and level of product involvement influence the persuasiveness of advertising aimed at young adults. Among 400 respondents, the average age was 21.5 years. A total of 193 male and 207 female respondents participated in the experiment. Findings: Young consumers find virtual idols, online influencers and traditional celebrities attractive. Although virtual idols are the least credible among the three types of celebrity endorsers, young consumers tend to be more convinced by their endorsements of products with low levels of consumer involvement than those with high levels of involvement. Among the three types of celebrity endorsements, young consumers find traditional celebrities the most effective. In addition, young consumers' attitudes toward celebrity endorsers mediate the impact of celebrity endorsers' attractiveness and credibility on their attitudes toward the advertisements. The perceived level of product involvement moderates the transfer of meaning from the attitude toward the celebrity endorsers to the attitude toward the advertisement. Practical implications: First, when choosing celebrity endorsers to advertise products targeting young consumers, marketing communication practitioners should give priority to the endorsers' perceived credibility, as young consumers have a variety of views about them that can significantly affect their attitudes toward the advertisement. Second, real human celebrity endorsers are more effective than virtual idols in celebrity endorsements. However, virtual idols may be suited for use in advertisements to promote products with low involvement levels, such as soft drinks. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first experimental study to attempt to analyze the effectiveness of virtual idols in advertising aimed at young consumers. This is also the first comparative study to introduce virtual idols as celebrity endorsers in product advertising and to compare their effectiveness with that of the two other types of commonly discussed celebrity endorsers, traditional celebrities and online influencers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular economy products are one of the solutions that can help solve the current environmental crisis and consequently achieve environmental sustainability. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is the most important social psychological theory to explain individual purchasing behavior. However, the theory lacks a consideration of emotions, green altruism, and other factors. In order to address the research gap, this study proposes and tests a new theoretical model that incorporates variables such as emotions, green altruism, and the willingness to be environmentally friendly (WEF) into its extended model based on the TPB framework, in order to investigate the determinants that have an effect on Taiwanese consumers' purchase intention toward circular economy products. This study also uses multi‐group analysis (MGA) to analyze the moderating effects of WEF on its new theoretical model. It collected data from 387 Taiwanese consumers and analyzed the data using partial least squares (PLS). The research results showed (1) emotions, attitudes, green altruism, and perceived behavior control have a positive effect on consumer purchase intention toward circular economy products; (2) emotions have a positive effect on attitudes, green altruism, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control; and (3) groups with different levels of WEF have significant differences on consumer purchase intention toward circular economy products, in terms of emotions, attitudes, and green altruism. The results of this study can provide a reference for manufacturers and public policy makers to understand how consumers' emotions and green altruism can affect the decision‐making process to making purchase of circular economy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the impact of cosmopolitan consumer orientation (CCO) on sustainable apparel consumer behavior. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 469 US responses collected using MTurk were retained for the analysis after screening for unengaged responses. Structural equation modeling was used to confirm the factor structure of the measurement model and to analyze the structural model. A two-step cluster analysis using log-likelihood distance measure and Akaike's Information Criterion was conducted to explore consumer profiles and past behavior. Findings: Based on the model results, CCO positively impacts apparel sustainability knowledge, attitude toward purchasing sustainable apparel, perceived norm and sustainable apparel purchase intention. Attitude and perceived norm also impact sustainable purchase intention. The two-step cluster analysis, based mainly on sustainable past behavior, reveals that the group of sustainability engaged consumers knows more about apparel sustainability, has a stronger intention to purchase sustainable apparel, is more cosmopolitan and shows a higher tendency to follow social norms. Consumers in this group also tend to live in metropolitan areas and are slightly younger than unengaged consumers. Originality/value: This study expands CCO research linking two major trends in society and industry: cosmopolitanism and sustainable apparel consumer behavior. The study reveals that CCO uplifts consumers' sustainable behavior and provides evidence in support of CCO as a driver of sustainable consumer behavior. Moreover, results imply a positive future outlook for the diffusion of sustainable apparel, as well as a much-needed mainstream consumer adhesion to more sustainable lifestyles. Given the repercussions of the findings, this research has numerous theoretical as well practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Materialism has consistently been associated with mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, and with a decline in overall wellbeing. This article seeks to deepen the understanding of whether or not the level of materialism is reduced when a sense of gratitude is instilled and, if so, how. Methods: After a thorough literature review, two empirical studies are presented. Study 1 has a quasi-experimental design and a sample of adolescent individuals in a major city in Brazil. Study 2 takes the form of a survey, completed by parents, in the same city. Results: Study 1 demonstrates that a gratitude-based intervention can reduce the subjects' belief that material wealth brings happiness and signifies success. Study 2 suggests that parents who express gratitude have a perception of raising less materialistic children. Discussion: These conclusions add to the theory and practice of consumer psychology and responsible consumption, particularly in relation to the behavior of young people, pointing toward ways to reduce excessive consumption through a simple and easily applied intervention: the stimulus of gratitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of conformity in shaping the purchasing decisions of young consumers within the food and beverage (F&B) sector. Additionally, we explore how conformity moderates the relationship between influencer credibility and purchase intention while examining the link between psychological ownership and purchase intention. Data was collected from 380 consumers between the age of 18 and 30 in Hanoi, Vietnam who regularly follow food reviews on prominent social media platforms. Structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed for data analysis. We find that: (1) influencer credibility, attitude toward advertising, attitude toward the product, and psychological ownership significantly impact the online purchase intentions of young consumers; (2) informative conformity strengthens the connection between psychological ownership and purchase intention. When consumers express a desire to purchase a product, exposure to positive influencer-driven information further solidifies their purchase intent; (3) psychological ownership and attitude toward advertising act as mediators, bridging the gap between influencer credibility and purchase intention. This study offers managerial insights to improve influencer marketing effectiveness for F&B brands targeting young consumers in Vietnam and Asia, highlighting the importance of conformity, psychological ownership, and attitude toward advertising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of socially responsible consumer behavior has been of great interest to researchers for years. It seems important to acquire knowledge about consumer behavior, especially among young people, who are a special group of consumers. In recent years, it is not only the purchasing power of young people that has been growing, but also the range of market choices they make. In this context, it is important to identify the determinants of consumer behavior to predict the directions of changes in the behavior of young people as consumers. One of the interesting research areas is determining the role of prayer, or more broadly, human spiritual development, in shaping consumer behavior. Some research suggests that there is a relationship between religion, or more precisely, religious practices and consumption. This work presents the most important definitions of a socially responsible consumer, presenting the most important aspects of this attitude. This work also presents previous research on the relationship between religiosity, prayer and consumer behavior. This research on the SRC attitude among young people was conducted using an online survey. The collected data were tested using the χ2 test of independence. Owing to the obtained results, it was possible to indicate the aspects of SRC in which the attitude to prayer is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotional factors play a crucial role in streaming live marketing of agricultural products. Some literature explored several emotional factors' impact on consumers' purchase intention. Nonetheless, the interaction and integration effects of these factors have received less attention. Based on Consumer Engagement Theory, SOR model and TAM model, the paper constructs a moderated mediation model of the interactivity/presence, trust/resonance and purchase intention under rural sentiment. A quantitative study based on 365 valid samples is conducted to validate this model. The results indicate that interactivity and presence positively impact on consumers' purchase intention, trust and resonance play a mediating role between interactivity/presence and purchase intention separately. Contrary to our expectations, rural sentiment negatively moderates the relationship between interactivity and resonance. Differences of regression results between urban and rural group indicate that the cultural backgrounds of consumers have an impact on their emotional responses in live streaming of agricultural products. The results illustrate the mechanism of emotional factors in consumers' purchase decisions. Overall, this paper reveals the potential of emotional factors and the development of effective marketing strategies to improve agricultural products sales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates users' willingness to purchase additional smart devices to enhance their personal digital ecosystems. Specifically, it delves into how information system continuance intention and media system dependency influence the intention to purchase additional smart devices. Drawing on the assemblage theory, the study also examines the potential moderating effects of the satisfaction level and the number of smart devices already owned. Based on analysis of a sample comprising 400 smart device users, the study reveals that usage continuance intention and dependency have a significant and positive relation to purchase intention. Furthermore, this study sheds light on the positive impact of owning multiple smart devices on these relations. It is noteworthy that among users with a large number of smart devices, the link between continuance intention and purchase intention is significantly stronger when the satisfaction level is low. This finding underscores the potential risk of fostering a form of addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our special issue on young consumers introduces readers to a research area that has been part of the consumer behavior field for over 50 years. We provide an overview of topics and findings from past to present that have appeared in marketing and consumer journals. We also identify current research issues and gaps and invite readers to contribute to the field. Throughout our discussion, we introduce the 10 articles in this special issue, whose topics include neuroscience insights into youth risk behaviors, the effects of social media on youth, social activism among young people, strategies for encouraging them to eat healthier food, parenting strategies and youth smoking, how gambling advertising affects youth, their need for marketplace literacy, and the importance of studying the lived experiences of youth in poverty. These articles include empirical findings and identify opportunities for future research that can positively impact the lives of children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the influence of social media usage (SMU) on minimalist consumption and how the fear of missing out (FoMO) underlies this effect. Design/methodology/approach: Four preregistered correlational/experimental studies (n = 1,763) are used. A pilot study (n = 436) examines the correlations between SMU, FoMO and minimalism. Studies 1 (n = 409), 2 (n = 415) and 3 (n = 503) further investigate the influence of SMU on minimalist consumption intentions, including mindful purchase, forgoing free products and decluttering, and test for evidence of mediation via FoMO by measuring or manipulating FoMO. Findings: The results show that a high SMU makes consumers susceptible to FoMO, leading to impulsive purchases and careless product acquisition. However, when campaigners promote minimalism as a social media movement, they can activate FoMO, persuading consumers to practice decluttering. Research limitations/implications: Future research might examine how subjective age affects FoMO and minimalist consumption tendencies. Could campaigners use young social cues to make older consumers more susceptible to FoMO appeals? Could old social cues cause younger consumers to perceive greater social responsibility and to embrace minimalist consumption? Practical implications: Minimalist lifestyles can promote sustainable consumption. This research provides insights into how SMU is a double-edged sword – it can cause FoMO users to disdain minimalism. However, it can promote minimalism if a minimalist campaign is strategically positioned as a social media movement using a FoMO-laden appeal. Originality/value: Extant consumer behavior research on minimalism has just begun to investigate the antecedents of minimalist consumption. FoMO is conceptually related to minimalism, but the relationship between FoMO and minimalist consumption has not yet been empirically tested. This research fills these gaps by examining SMU and the associated FoMO as antecedents of minimalist consumption. Empirical evidence for the impact of SMU on various minimalist consumption behaviors and the mediating role of FoMO is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As concerns over African swine fever (ASF) in China continue, measures have been taken to regulate the inter‐provincial transport of live hogs, yet entrenched non‐chilled fresh pork consumption habits make it challenging to expand the chilled pork in the market. To address this issue, our study employed multiple rounds of random Nth‐price auction experiments to measure participants' quality perceptions of, and willingness to pay (WTP) for chilled pork under different packaging, storage temperature and duration labels. By comparing the results with physicochemical lab testing outcomes, we confirmed the existence of a quality perception bias among the participants. Notably, consumers who regularly consume chilled meat demonstrated a higher average WTP, while consumers born in the 1980s exhibited significantly higher bids. Furthermore, access to emerging purchase channels positively influences consumer WTP for chilled meat, particularly through branded product purchasing experiences. Consequently, it is recommended that the public sector takes steps to balance the distribution of pork production capacity and supports the development of cold chain transportation technology to meet the growing demand for high‐quality chilled pork, especially from younger consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the influence of Permission, Trust, Relevance, and Context factors on the acceptance of location-based advertising in India using the Stimuli-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model. The survey responses (N=459) are collected in India using simulated situations. The analysis indicates that newer concepts relating to Permission and Trust are of low priority, but Relevance and Context play a significant role in the acceptance. The implications of the findings for retailers and other professionals are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate consumer preferences for domestically produced white wines compared to foreign wines in Australia. A discrete choice experiment was used to analyze young Australian consumers' preferences regarding white wine and a latent class model was estimated to take preference heterogeneity into account. We examine the relationship between consumers' ethnocentrism and preferences for wine from a specific origin. Highly ethnocentric Australian wine consumers are found to strongly prefer Australian wines and to a lesser extent wine from New Zealand compared to otherwise identical French wine, confirming a country-of-origin effect. Carefully considering the information to include on wine labels helps to stimulate consumer demand in certain market segments. Producers can use information regarding consumer preferences for specific wine characteristics to put an attractive and profitable product on the market. For instance, Australian wines might have a domestic advantage over similar foreign wines, if this 'country of origin' is brought to the consumers' attention. Hence, labeling wine as 'Made in Australia' is likely to increase the willingness to buy wines amongst a significant subgroup of Australian consumers aged 18–38. Adding other specific labels such as gold or silver medals to the bottle can also attract specific customer segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article advances the methodological perspective toward studying children, articulating parent-as-researcher (PAR) and children as co-researchers to generate high levels of novel discovery, especially in sensitive subjects related to this vulnerable group. It also underscores the rich possibilities of this inquiry form in studying children, which goes beyond authenticity to reveal children's multi-layered voices. Furthermore, the insiders' approach to the PAR's inquiry and the perspective of children as co-researchers enlighten new ways to engage young consumers in research, allowing broad and deep discussion of subjects' matters in their own voices. Finally, a guideline for researchers interested in following it is provided. As the text explains, professional researchers can apply the approaches with some adjustments, and non-parent researchers can engage parent co-researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to identify the importance of responsible consumption in the purchasing decisions of young consumers. For this purpose, an online survey and individual in-depth interviews were conducted among Polish students; a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods provided insights into consumers’ views and buying habits. The results show that the most important factor in purchasing decisions is economic rationality. Students demonstrate responsible behaviors that are also economically rational: purchasing fewer and longer-lasting products, only buying what they need, using products for as long as they remain functional, repairing them, and purchasing second-hand goods. On the other hand, the results of the qualitative research provide an understanding of consumers’ doubts about responsible consumption. Such findings will enrich the portrait of the Polish consumer already known from previous research.

Luxury brand consumption has remained strong even in countries with recessions. This study explores the role of personal factors, socio-cognitive factors, and potential marketing forces, in driving consumers' luxury purchase intentions in a market that is struggling to recover from a recession – Greece. Data were collected using a self-administered survey via an online panel. The results indicate that consumers' need to escape and impulsiveness are positively associated with luxury brand purchase intentions in a recession. Sales promotions moderate the relationship between escape, self-expression, and luxury brand purchase intentions. Consumers' perceptions about the recession effect on society also moderate the relationship between escape, self-expression, social status, and luxury brand purchase intentions. This study contributes to the literature and practice of luxury branding in recession by identifying the interplay between various personal, social, and marketing factors that can influence luxury brand purchase intentions in a recessionary environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is among the few focusing on halal young consumer behavior in Indonesia. The focus is to examine the topic of halal food product purchase intention. Here, we focus specifically on Muslim teenagers in Indonesia to explore whether they still hold on to the halal principle that most Muslims adhere to when consuming food. This research examine their halal awareness based on theory of planned behavior (TPB) theory and compare it to the previous publications so far. To reach this objective, we used quantitative methodology. Our data was acquired from 161 Indonesian young Muslim consumers. Furthermore, the variance-based structural equation modeling and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) research model were utilized. Our findings demonstrate that subjective norm and attitude are significant determinants of halal food buying intent. However, perceived behavioral control has not been established as a purchase intention component. Finally, this study provides additional research on halal consumer behavior, focusing on the empirical findings of young Indonesian consumers, especially seen from TPB perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, employing convenience sampling of art specialists, investigates the emotional resonance of young consumers with Chinese bamboo patterns, underscoring their significance in the realm of contemporary design. Through the lens of Kansei engineering, we delve into the intricate world of bamboo weaving patterns, scrutinizing their perceptual evaluations and user preferences among 104 art university students aged 18–23. Our analysis not only identifies pivotal factors for innovative redesign but also underscores the pivotal role of these traditional patterns in enhancing the emotional and aesthetic appeal of products for the younger generation. The findings illuminate a notable appreciation among this demographic for the ecofriendly and culturally rich bamboo patterns, positioning them as essential elements in modern lifestyle products. The study advances the discourse on integrating cultural heritage into product innovation, advocating for designs that resonate with the aesthetic sensibilities and environmental values of today's youth. This aligns with the critical insights into the various categories of patterns and their diverse applications in contemporary design, addressing the cognitive gap between designers and consumers and highlighting the importance of cultural motifs in product development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trends for sustainable lifestyle and marketing motivated natural product consumption, such as natural skin care products (NSCPs). Different personal, environmental, and sociocultural factors influence purchase intention (PI) for NSCPs. However, there is a lack of evidence on the role of consumers' ethnicity in the PI model. The present study investigated the moderated mediation role of ethnicity in the relationship between related factors, including environmental concern, subjective norms, health factor, Halal certificate, packaging design, past experience factor, price factor, and PI mediated by personal attitude. A web-based survey was utilized to capture quantitative data from a random sample of 330 multicultural consumer group participants. The results of the study indicated that consumers' ethnicity substantially moderated the mediation effect of personal attitude in the relationships between subjective norms, health factor, Halal certificate, packaging design, past experience factor, price factor, and PI in the model. The findings contributed to understanding of the factors that influenced the PI of consumers from diverse sociocultural contexts in the market for natural products. It contributed directly to natural product marketing and industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In energy systems' economic models, people's behaviour is often underestimated, and they are generally unaware of how habits impact energy efficiency. Improving efficiency is challenging, and recommendations alone may not be sufficient. Changing behaviour requires understanding the direct impact of needs and habits on energy efficiency. This research introduces a methodology that retrieves human expert knowledge from four key aspects of the current energy transition: everyday appliances, buildings, mobility, flexibility, and energy efficiency. The aim is to examine the causal relationship between energy consumption and human behaviour, gaining a deeper understanding of the links among the factors that drive final energy consumers to change habits through the adoption of energy-saving measures. Working in collaboration with expert panels, this study provides a methodology for extracting expert human knowledge based on a set of future energy transition scenarios aligned with the achievement of the Paris Agreement, a taxonomy of 32 factors that have a strong influence on households' investment decisions, and the results of a survey that characterises the European population through the 32-factor taxonomy and some socioeconomic conditions. In addition, the survey included a sample of the Latin American population to analyse how socioeconomic conditions (region, education, gender, etc.) influence the prioritisation of these factors. We discuss the high priority given to competence and autonomy over financial factors by inhabitants of the European Union residential sector. We provide an analysis of the factors through which other similar projects are focused and on which we converge. In addition, we contribute by presenting the hierarchy of priorities assigned by people. This highlights the importance for policymakers to take these aspects seriously when implementing energy policy interventions that go beyond purely financial measures and fiscal incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals of the general public can perform both consumer and citizen roles in farm animal welfare, and attitudes toward farm animal welfare may differ between these roles. However, scant research is available regarding this distinction, especially in developing countries such as China. The present study aimed to explore consumer-citizen gaps in Chinese public attitudes toward farm animal welfare across three dimensions and across demographic characteristics. A 36-item scale was designed, and completed by 5284 Chinese participants in a large-scale cross-sectional survey. Consumer-citizen gaps in attitudes toward farm animal welfare across three dimensions and demographic characteristics were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and effects of demographic characteristics on attitudes were further explored by linear regression analysis. A significant consumer-citizen gap was found in overall attitudes, although the consumer role was only slightly more positive than the citizen role. The consumer-citizen gap is driven by differences in both cognitive attitudes and behavioral attitudes. The gap is most pronounced in cognitive attitudes, where the consumer role is significantly more positive, and smaller in behavioral attitudes, where the citizen role is significantly more positive. The consumer-citizen gap varies significantly among different demographic groups, including gender, age, education, monthly household income, area of residence, and occupation. Additionally, education, monthly household income, and area of residence have significant effects on attitudes in the dual role, whereas gender only affect consumer-role attitudes significantly. The findings provide evidence that consumer-citizen gaps in Chinese public attitudes toward farm animal welfare exist, and this distinction is mainly determined by demographic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While community pharmacies have been successful in providing harm reduction support for illicit substance consumers, little research has explored their role in addressing the needs of anabolic–androgenic steroid (AAS) consumers. Objective: This study aimed to triangulate the attitudes and experiences of AAS consumers and community pharmacist's regarding AAS harm reduction. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with AAS consumers (n = 8) and community pharmacists (n = 15) between December 2022 and August 2023 in Australia. Interview data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: While consumers emphasised easy access to pharmacies, particularly in urban areas, challenges were noted in rural regions. AAS consumers expressed a preference for community pharmacies, perceiving them as less confronting and a feasible avenue for accessing professional advice, highlighting the potential role of pharmacists in nurturing therapeutic alliances with AAS consumers. Similarly, pharmacists expressed receptivity to providing harm reduction information but acknowledged knowledge gaps, suggesting a need for tailored education programs to support AAS consumers effectively. Conclusions: Community pharmacies can be an important environment for AAS harm reduction. Strategies include utilising private spaces for open discussions with AAS consumers and enhancing pharmacists' understanding of AAS to foster trust and support. Further research is needed to address knowledge gaps and training needs for pharmacy staff, with the aim of creating a safer environment for AAS consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Price discounting strategies for suboptimal food perform an essential part in reducing food waste. This study provides new information empirically estimating discounts for levels of apple injury and deformity consistent with United States Department of Agriculture definitions using a Discrete Choice Experiment with Californian consumers. Latent Class Modelling identifies consumer segments with differing preferences for injury and deformity, alongside social responsibility and environmental claims. While discounts range substantially across segments, levels of deformity negatively influence choices more than equivalent levels of injury. Required discounts can be reduced by the presence of beneficial credence attributes, particularly an organic claim. We find a segment of respondents indifferent to suboptimal characteristics and requiring no discount to select suboptimal apples. These consumers have stronger preferences for environmental and social attributes, are more likely to be female, more educated, younger and concerned about genetic engineering. Preferences for social responsibility claims vary over the targeted beneficiaries, with programmes focused on workers preferred more overall. Willingness-to-pay for greenhouse gas reductions are relatively diminutive; however, 83% of the respondents support at least moderate reductions. This study contributes to understanding behaviours towards suboptimal food and is beneficial to forming food waste reduction strategies by identifying discount levels across consumer types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Social media marketing (SMMT) is explored in the light of value creation (VC) and firms' sustainability performance. This research deals with the influence of both value co-creation (VCCR) and value co-destruction (VCDE) on SMMT and firm sustainability. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative approach is employed in this research. By means of structural equation modeling (SEM), specifically, PLS (partial least squares)-SEM, consumers' responses are analyzed. Findings: The result confirms that SMMT influences firms' sustainability performance. Additionally, the study established a relationship between SMMT and VCCR and SMMT and VCDE. The study further showed that VCCR contributes to sustainability. Concerning the indirect relationships, the study indicates that VCDE influenced SMMT and sustainability performance. Research limitations/implications: A theoretical basis for studying both VCCR and VCDE is provided. The current study especially encourages further study into VCDE. Practical implications: This work informs businesses about using SMMT to enhance sustainability performance. This work also warns about the reality of VCDE when using SMMT. Originality/value: This research empirically explores SMMT and firm sustainability performance (SPFM) and also has a model that includes both VCCR and VCDE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability, along with the increasing importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is collectively a booming phenomenon in good economic development. SDGs describe a universal agenda that applies and must be implemented by all countries, and Indonesia is adopting and implementing the SDG concept to achieve it by 2030. To implement SDGs in Indonesia, there are three challenges that must be faced, namely, communication strategies to the community, financing for implementing SDG programs, and strategies for preparing regions to adopt SDGs in each city. One of the efforts currently being intensified by consumers in Indonesia is consumer concern for the sustainability of the environment where they live. To date, there is still little empirical research in Indonesia about how far consumers care about the environment and their perceptions of green products. By knowing their perceptions and behaviours related to green products, companies and governments will be able to formulate appropriate strategies. The purpose of this research is to determine the impact of social sustainability and environmental sustainability on brand reputation, brand trust, and ultimately purchase intention. Using survey methods and purposive random sampling techniques to collect respondents, 196 respondents in the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia, were given a questionnaire on the respondents' opinions of the five construct variables above. After applying the structural equation modelling technique, goodness of fit tests and structural relationship hypothesis tests were carried out. The results show that social sustainability affects brand reputation, but environmental sustainability does not significantly influence brand reputation. Brand Reputation positively and significantly affects Brand Trust, and ultimately, Brand Trust significantly influences Purchase Intention. The implication of this research is the need for companies to be aware of social problems in developing countries and develop strategies that pay more attention to workers, social conditions in society, and decent wages so that consumer attitudes can become more positive towards green products and their support for the SDGs becomes more real. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advertisers, recommendation-system designers, and public-health campaigners are investing heavily in online targeting, focusing intently on social-network platforms because of their ability to identify unique subpopulations according to the users' traits. A particularly informative trait is current behavioral intentions, which provide solid information about users' future behaviors; yet, the ability to infer such intentions constitutes a significant risk to users' privacy. An important task is therefore understanding to what extent we can infer behavioral intentions of social-network users solely using publicly-available data. In this article, we formulate intention inference as a time-series classification task and design novel Bayesian-network models that can capture the dynamically evolving nature of the human decision-making process by combining data and priors from multiple domains. We then extend our models to the more general case of attribute inference in the presence of scarce labeled data by introducing a new semi-supervised approach to user-modeling in social networks. We evaluate the performance of our models when used for the inference of five behavioral intentions using temporal, real-world social-network data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on ethnographic research in a multi-ethnic village in Laos, this article examines how global tourism reconfigured racial and ethnic relations between foreign tourists and locals, as well as among villagers of different ethnicities. While tourists of various nationalities were homogeneously racialized by the locals as farang (white foreigners) who are fundamentally different, they were generally in a dominant socioeconomic position. However, such global hierarchies could be upended when they became long-term stayers employed by local tourist businesses and were incorporated into the power structure. Likewise, ethnic hierarchies among local villagers that used to privilege majority youth on the job market were temporarily reconstituted as minority youth became more desirable employees in the tourism industry because of their superior English-language abilities acquired from an NGO-supported, informal class in the village. Nonetheless, recent changes in global tourism indicate that structural ethnic hierarchies persist and continue to subject ethnic minorities to employment uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of employment among young people, in general, and especially in rural areas, has become increasingly active at the beginning of the 21st century on national and regional development agendas. The challenge of employment among young people in rural areas has its own dimensions and is present in all rural areas, regardless of their stage of socio-economic development. The level of economic development in rural areas, lack of employment opportunities, low level of education and training, declining interest and motivation of young people to engage in agricultural activities, are just some of the factors that generate pressure on the labor market for young people in rural areas. In addition, they must enter a volatile labor market, in the process of structural change under the impact of changes caused by digitalization and intensive automation of all sectors of activity. The paper presents a synthesis of the particularities of the labor market of young people in rural Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the intricate relationship between gender and consumer satisfaction with eco-friendly products. Through a comprehensive analysis, it explores the level of customer awareness regarding environmentally sustainable products and investigates how gender influences satisfaction levels. The research aims to provide valuable insights into consumer behavior and preferences in the context of green purchasing decisions. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the factors shaping consumer attitudes towards eco-friendly products by uncovering gender-based disparities in awareness and satisfaction. The study aims to shed light on the complex interrelations between gender, awareness, and satisfaction, thus contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the factors shaping consumer attitudes towards eco-friendly products. The findings of this research underscore the significance of gender as a determinant factor in both consumer awareness and satisfaction with eco-friendly products. Moreover, the study reveals notable disparities between genders in awareness levels, with implications for marketing strategies and environmental initiatives promoting sustainable consumption. Additionally, the correlation between gender and satisfaction levels highlights the importance of tailored approaches to meet the distinct preferences and needs of different demographic groups. Ultimately, this study serves as a valuable resource for businesses, policymakers, and environmental advocates seeking to foster greater consumer engagement and satisfaction in the realm of eco-friendly products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]