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Cobranding initiatives between a local and a global brand have become a prominent practice. This research contributes to the cobranding and global branding literatures by investigating the effects of positioning strategy of the cobranded product (global consumer culture positioning vs. local consumer culture positioning) on consumer evaluations in emerging markets. In five experiments, the authors show that using global consumer culture positioning for the cobranded product leads to heightened word-of-mouth intentions and more favorable product valuations. This effect holds for both local and global product categories. Building on signaling theory, the authors show that brand credibility mediates the effect of positioning strategy on word-of-mouth intentions. Further, when the local (vs. global) brand is the announcement source, using a global rather than a local consumer culture positioning leads to enhanced word-of-mouth intentions. Yet, for consumers with stronger ethnocentrism, when the global brand makes the announcement of a cobranded product positioned on local consumer culture, word-of-mouth intentions are higher. Altogether, the findings have nuanced implications for local branding, global branding, and young consumers in emerging markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores a rapid and low-intensity qualitative method that yields deep and rich insights into Generation Z and Millennials, who constitute the largest consumer group in history. This group favours frictionless digital solutions and their engagement with 'elaborate' qualitative techniques is unlikely, requiring researchers to marshal efficient technology-facilitated methods that render comparable insight. We assess the capacity of a 'simple' projective technique – online word association, accompanied by a few supporting questions – to offer as fine-grained insight into this consumer group against a more involved story stem completion method. The UK buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) context provides a complex novel market for this examination. Results suggest strong conceptual interconnection between the word association and the story stem completion task. Word associations generated similar resonance and tonality to that of the story stem but in a more compact manner, which liberates researchers and participants alike. The word association task focuses and delineates attention on a narrower set of words, not often done in the context of more traditional qualitative techniques, including story stem completion. Young consumers' vocabularies reveal their most salient perceptions of the phenomenon. The word association task also facilitates Generation Z and Millennials' active and positive online engagement, removing resistance and withdrawal from the research. This improves marketing response through immediacy, relevancy, and potency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating patterns, financial and time constraints, and food availability play a key role in the wide variety of diets followed by young adults. As a result, many young consumers turn to quick and sometimes less healthy low nutrition options from convenience stores. In order to offer healthy and nutritious food, 3D printing can be used to make individualized diet plans and produce meals depending on factors such as age, occupation, and personal choice. In the field of food technology, 3D printing is a well-established additive manufacturing (AM) technology used to produce highly individualized food items. The types of foods that have been manufactured via 3D printing are evolving continuously. Customization of food and environmental sustainability are now possible because of this rapid and risk-free manufacturing approach. Future foods will include alternative proteins, plant-based products, insect protein etc. Current and future generations need healthy alternatives since most ready-to-eat or customized foods lack significant amounts of required nutrients. Due to eating disorders, allergies, or unpredictable eating habits, many young adults, especially those between 18 and 30 years of age, tend to suffer increasingly from malnutrition, obesity, and linked conditions like diabetes. 3D food printing is suitable for meeting this demand for nutritionally packed meals for the youth, which can be used to customize meal plans and meals for people with special diets. This paper summarizes recent studies on 3D printing formulations for future foods especially suited for young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric two-wheelers (ETWs) have emerged as a dominant choice over traditional counterparts in global consumer markets, prompting a shift in consumer behaviour. While existing research has delved into the adoption of ETWs, there remains a notable gap in understanding the intricate factors driving consumer adoption, particularly their inclination toward innovation. This study investigates the landscape of ETWs in India, focusing on facilitating conditions, pricing dynamics, personal innovativeness, and behavioral intentions. Utilizing the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework, 220 Indian ETW users were surveyed to elucidate the interplay between facilitating conditions, price, and behavioral intentions, mediated by personal innovativeness. The findings underscore the significant impact of facilitating conditions and price on behavioral intentions, with personal innovativeness serving as a pivotal mediator in this relationship. Moreover, this study underscores the importance for ETW businesses to prioritize user-friendly designs, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for consumers. Furthermore, targeting highly innovative consumers emerges as a strategic imperative for businesses in devising effective marketing strategies. By shedding light on facilitating conditions, price dynamics, personal innovation, and behavioral intentions, this study contributes valuable insights to the existing literature. In terms of environmental sustainability, the scalability of electric twowheelers contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating air pollution in urban areas. As more individuals switch from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric two-wheelers, the collective impact on reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality becomes increasingly significant, especially in densely populated regions where transportation-related pollution is a major concern. Additionally, it offers a nuanced understanding of the mediating role of personal innovation in the context of ETWs, thereby informing future research and strategic initiatives in the field of electric mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research examines the effect of water conscientiousness (WC) on consumers' purchase intentions and behaviours towards sustainable apparel. Through this exploration, the research aims to show how consumers' awareness of water conservation connects with their purchase choices for sustainable apparel. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on the norm activation theory, this research developed a theoretical framework and tested it using structural equation modelling and mediation analysis. This research focuses on the unique context of Jordan, a region grappling with severe water scarcity. Data were collected using an online survey with 222 completed questionnaires retained for data analysis. Findings: The results indicate that WC does not have a significant direct effect on purchase intentions of sustainable apparel (PISA). This finding challenges the assumption that conscientiousness towards water scarcity would drive prosocial behaviours such as purchasing sustainable apparel. However, the findings reveal a full mediation effect of perceived environmental apparel knowledge (PEAK) and perceived environmental concern (PEC) on the relationship between WC and PISA. Such a finding raises awareness of the need to develop consumers' PEAK and PEC by educating them on the importance of WC and the effect of the apparel industry on water preservation. A significant relationship exists between PISA and purchase behaviour of sustainable apparel (PBSA), affirming the role of intentions in driving sustainable purchase behaviours of consumers. Originality/value: This study provides novel insights into the role of WC in facilitating PISA and PBSA by testing a theoretical model that incorporates various environmental factors. Likewise, it extends the geographical scope of sustainability research and underscores the importance of considering diverse environmental conditions when studying consumer behaviour. The findings provide insights for marketers and policymakers in water-scarce regions, enabling them to develop strategies to promote sustainable apparel consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: "Kidfluencer" is a relatively new term and refers to where young people actively exert influence on lifestyle and consumer behaviour through the use of social media. This study focused on capturing the complexities of this phenomenon, and issues of concern for policymakers that subsequently occur. Design/methodology/approach: The study used semi-structured interviews to capture the retrospective experiences of ten young people as "kidfluencers" on the social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Findings: The findings identified several issues associated with being a kidfluencer, such as affecting individuals' work-life balance, their education, how safe they felt online and physically, how they maintained friendships, pressure to increase their profile and their mental health well-being. Overall, the study suggests that kidfluencing has specific negative effects on kidfluencers and their childhood experiences, which should be of concern to policy makers. Research limitations/implications: All participants were above the age of eighteen. Therefore, their contributions reflect upon their past, rather than speaking about their recent experiences, which can lead to retrospective bias. The sample size is small, reflecting the difficulties in accessing this sensitive area for study. Practical implications: The study provides support for the decision taken in France to introduce legislation that protects kidfluencers, which may suggest a need for legislation in other countries. Originality/value: The study is relevant in the context of the new law adopted by the French National Assembly in 2020 to provide a legal framework for the activities of child influencers on a range of online platforms. To date, France is the only country where such laws have been enacted. So far, there has been no specific evaluation of this law, and very little research on welfare issues experienced by kidfluencers themselves, making this study timely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising prevalence of e-cigarette use among children and adolescents poses a significant challenge to public health prevention efforts. As these electronic nicotine delivery systems gain popularity among youth, concerns about the health impacts and long-term consequences have escalated. In this article, we delve into the concerning trends of e-cigarette use among the younger population, exploring the factors driving this phenomenon and evaluating the failures in current public health prevention strategies. By examining the regulatory gaps in e-cigarette marketing to the youth and proposing interventions to combat this growing issue, we aim to shed light on the urgent need for stronger policies and enforcement mechanisms to protect the health and well-being of our youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-cigarettes have gained notable popularity among youth in recent years, posing a serious societal issue that has elicited much concern from public health professionals and legislators. The increase in e-cigarette consumption among adolescents can be ascribed to assertive marketing strategies employed by corporations that focus on appealing to young consumers through flavored offerings and aesthetically pleasing designs. This rise is concerning because of the possible long-term health ramifications linked to vaping, such as nicotine addiction and exposure to hazardous chemicals found in numerous e-cigarette formulations. The normalization of e-cigarette usage in social contexts may result in heightened peer pressure and the endorsement of detrimental conduct. To properly address this issue, government agencies must enforce stronger rules on e-cigarette sales and marketing directed at minors, while schools and community organizations should educate youth about the risks of vaping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to examine the social gradient in self-reported alcohol-related harm (ARH) among young alcohol consumers by including a largely overlooked group of adolescents. We also explored the extent to which such a gradient could be attributed to differential exposure or differential vulnerability to risk factors. Method: Cross-sectional survey of upper-secondary students (n = 2996) in Sweden. Negative binomial regressions estimated the relationship between academic orientation (higher education preparatory; HEP, vocational; VP and introductory; IP) and ARH. To assess the contribution of explanatory factors, we estimated models that included risk factors such as heavy episodic drinking (HED). Results: A graded association was observed between academic orientation and ARH, with more ARH among students in IP (IRR = 1.79) and VP (IRR = 1.43) than in HEP. Adjustments for risk factors attenuated the estimates by approximately half, but there was still 14% more ARH in VP and 50% more in IP than in HEP. The additive interaction test indicated a positive and significant interaction for students in VP who engaged in HED, versus students in HEP, who did not. Conclusion: The findings suggest a negative gradient in the association between academic orientation and ARH, where the students in IP experienced the highest levels of ARH. While differential exposure and vulnerability to HED account for a significant proportion of the excess risk among VP students, HED seems to be less important relative to other risk factors among IP students. More research is needed to identify the mechanisms underlying the elevated levels of ARH among the most disadvantaged group—students enrolled in IP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While ethical values and privacy concerns are considered factors that influence online consumers' decision-making process, few studies have examined the interaction effect between the two factors in the online brand development process. Therefore, this study proposed a research model to maximize the effectiveness of e-travel agents' ethical business on brand loyalty with a consideration of the roles of authenticity and two dimensions of trust. To do so, this study collected data from 405 online customers of e-travel agents. The empirical results indicated that consumers' perception of an e-travel agent's ethical values leads to higher levels of authenticity, trust, and brand loyalty. However, the empirical findings also addressed that the impact of authenticity on cognitive trust became significantly weaker under the high level of online privacy concerns. A deep understanding of the interaction between authenticity/brand trust and online privacy concerns is critical in the online brand development context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-commerce live streaming is becoming increasingly popular in China, attracting great interest from practitioners and researchers. From an IT affordance perspective, this study explores how IT affordances (guidance shopping, triggered attending, and social interaction) impact consumers' purchase intention in e-commerce live streaming. Moreover, gender is viewed as a moderator between IT affordances and consumers' perception of trust, and its moderation effect is tested. Data were collected through an online survey in China (n = 266) and analyzed using structural equation model. The analysis results show that guidance shopping, triggered attending, and social interaction can influence consumers' purchase intention through consumers' trust and presence. In addition, guidance shopping exerts a greater impact on males' trust in streamers than females', while triggered attending exerts a greater impact on females' trust in streamers than males'. The research conclusion makes a theoretical contribution by highlighting the impact of IT affordance such as triggered attending on purchase intention in e-commerce live streaming and the moderating effect of gender, and also makes practical contributions by guiding sellers or streamers to promote consumers' purchases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the Future of Social Sciences is the property of Future of Social Sciences Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The scourge of food waste (FW) is a significant global challenge, impacting climate change, food security, and the sustainability of agrifood systems. The objective of this paper is to identify, analyze, and understand the factors influencing household consumer behaviors in Romania regarding the reduction of FW. Three primary research objectives were established to assess food consumption behaviors within households, to explore attitudes toward FW, and to understand the motivations for reducing FW along with the measures implemented by households to address this issue. Methodology: Data were collected through an online self-administered questionnaire, designed to investigate consumer behaviors related to the avoidance of FW. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and a linear regression model was developed to evaluate a composite index measuring Romanian consumers' behavior towards FW reduction. Results: The resulting model identifies key predictors that drive concrete actions to minimize FW, including the desire to mitigate the environmental impact, household conversations about FW and strategies to reduce it, established food routines, the influence of one's social circle, individual ecological and social responsibility, and the effectiveness of awareness campaigns addressing the consequences of FW. Practical and social implications: The findings highlight the necessity of education and awareness initiatives to shift attitudes and behaviors concerning FW. Future research is warranted to deepen understanding and enhance interventions. Originality: This study represents a pioneering and innovative inquiry into FW behavior in Romania, filling a gap in the existing literature and contributing to the broader discourse on this pressing environmental issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wicker home products, handcrafted from sustainable materials such as willow, vine, and bamboo, embody principles of sustainable development. However, they face a lack of clear appeal among young consumers in the Chinese market. This study utilizes the AHP-CRITIC-TOPSIS method to examine user preferences for Funan Wicker home products to enhance the original products based on young users' choices in the contemporary era. Using the AHP method, 14 evaluation indicators were selected across three key factors and determined subjective weights. Objective weights were calculated using the CRITIC method to establish a comprehensive ranking. Subsequently, the TOPSIS method was employed to evaluate and order the nine design alternatives. The findings highlight a strong emphasis on emotional criteria in the evaluation process, with variables such as Weaving Fineness, Stress Release, Pleasure, and Cultural Value significantly influencing user preference. According to the calculations, the program IX with the highest proximity emerged as the optimal choice. Based on these results, the study refines design focus and quantitative indexes for willow home product designers, proposing innovative design methods that offer theoretical support and practical guidance for the development of willow products in Funan, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media has become a major platform for connecting young Vietnamese consumers to South Korean culture. To understand how Vietnamese consumers learn and adopt the South Korean culture through social media, this study applied the acculturation framework, and tested the role of acculturation agents that provide consumer information and models of consumer behavior. An online panel survey of 400 Vietnamese consumers aged 18–40 years, found that the intensity of social media use positively influenced attitudes toward South Korea. Furthermore, those attitudes toward South Korea increased friendship orientation and language use, leading to assimilation into South Korean culture. By confirming the role of social media in consumers' assimilation into foreign cultures, the findings extend the acculturation framework from physical relocation to online transmission. It also suggests that a positive attitude toward a specific country through social media is critical to the assimilation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study how education affects Black and White youth employment in the context of No Pass, No Drive (NPND) policies, which require that teens attend school to hold drivers' licenses. Using difference‐in‐differences estimation, we find that NPND policies increase Black teen employment by 6.7 p.p. without affecting labor force participation (LFP), while reducing White teen employment and LFP by 8.3 p.p. and 5.9 p.p., respectively. We find similar, but smaller effects for Black and White adults ages 18–25. By increasing school enrollment, NPND policies cause White youths to exit the labor force, increasing labor market tightness and improving job finding for Black youths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on technologies and methodologies for (accurate, real-time, spontaneous, three-dimensional...) facial expression recognition is ongoing and has been fostered in the past decades by advances in classification algorithms like deep learning, which makes them part of the Artificial Intelligence literature. Still, despite its upcoming application to contexts such as human–computer interaction, product and service design, and marketing, only a few literature studies have investigated the willingness of end users to share their facial data with the purpose of detecting emotions. This study investigates the level of awareness and interest of 373 potential consumers towards this technology in the car insurance sector, particularly in the contract drafting phase, with a focus on differentiating the respondents between generation Y and Z. Results show that younger people, individuals with higher levels of education, and social network users feel more confident about this innovative technology and are more likely to share their expressive facial data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the economic crisis of 2008/2009, the European Union developed the Youth Guarantee (YG) Action Plan to tackle youth labour market disengagement by 'fostering employability' and 'removing barriers' to employment. The current study adopts a Geographical Political Economy approach to analysing the YG's underpinnings and the conditions that differentiate its application on a regional level to explore whether – and, if so, how – the YG helps young people in the Southern EU to enter the labour market. The article introduces the first comparative, cross-regional investigation of the YG programme, targeting the NUTS-II regions of Spain and Italy. It uses mixed methods, supplementing quantitative analysis with in-depth interviews with key informants. We show that in Spanish and Italian regions the YG is closely entwined with socio-spatial inequality and labour precarity, which is reflected in the growing rates of temporary employment and inactive youth. Crucially, we conclude, such outcomes are not simply the result of the institutional/operational misapplications of the YG, as is often assumed. Rather, these misapplications are systematically reinforced by the mechanics of labour flexibilisation within a recessionary and crisis-prone environment, one whose geographical unevenness means that the YG is playing out in quite different ways in different places. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess how young consumers' sense of responsibility for sustainable consumption affects the likelihood of purchasing local brands. We consider the mediating factors of local brand experience, image, and quality, along with ethnocentrism as a precursor to quality and local brand purchase likelihood, while controlling for gender and age. Drawing on the Theory of Reasoned Action and Norm Activation Model, we propose ten hypotheses to be examined through a quantitative research design. The findings indicate a positive correlation between consumer responsibility for sustainable consumption and the likelihood of purchasing local brands, both directly and indirectly through the experience and image of local brands. The influence of local brand quality is mediated by image, and there is no substantial evidence regarding the role of ethnocentrism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the long-standing debate over the social impact of military politics and recent discussions of food-induced famine resulting from military activities, a cross-sectional study was conducted to ascertain the association between military politics in the purview of household food security from a sociological perspective. A structured interview schedule was used for taking primary data from 379 household heads in Torghar, Northern Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Pakistan through stratified sampling method. Further, Chi-square test statistics and correlation were used at bivariate level, while three background variables namely household budget allocation, monthly income and household composition were controlled to ascertain the association between military politics and food security at multivariate analysis. The study found that war on terror had threatened the efforts of establishing food secure environment, as militant tendencies and food security did not have any reinforcing effects rather paradoxical in nature. The existence of such environments were exploring toward imposing of the decision without the consent of the local population, which eroded the chances of greater public inclusion in the development initiatives. Moreover, such dynamics forced the locals to migrate internally as well. In addition, the local youth recruitment in such armed groups gave impetus to the rise of greater deviance, challenging the established social and cultural patterns of life while challenging the writ of the state as well. The rise of militant tendencies during the war on terror had the most significant impact on access to food in the study area. The government need to focus on addressing the social and economic aspects of these rising tendencies; provide a smooth access of the local youth to the job market by implementing specific quotas; and establish a strong surveillance system to address and control these tendencies was recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely believed that younger generations are at the forefront of sustainability efforts. Given the significance of fostering greater consumer participation in sustainable consumption, this perception prompts an intriguing question: If consumers associate sustainability with younger individuals, can simply instilling a sense of youthfulness increase their engagement in sustainable consumption, regardless of their actual age? Building upon previous research on subjective age—that is, how old one feels—and consumer identity, we propose that consumers will gravitate towards sustainable products when they feel younger than older. This is because such products align well with their perceived age identity, creating a perception of fit. The findings across three studies provide converging evidence that simply making consumers feel younger can result in an increased preference for sustainable products. Study 1 demonstrated that feeling younger increased the selection of more sustainable products over less sustainable ones. Study 2 showed that this effect is mediated by the perceived fit. Study 3 further supported the underlying mechanism by revealing that the focal effect was mitigated when the association between sustainability and younger age was weakened. Study 4 replicated the focal effect in a consequential choice setting. Finally, Study 5 confirmed the proposed effect by using trait subjective age as a predictor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Despite the importance of materialism as an influencer of consumer value, scant research has focused on its underlying association with socialization and consumer decision-making styles (CDMS). Based on the stimulus–response model, this study examined whether the relationship between socialization and hedonistic and utilitarian types of CDMS is mediated by materialism. Survey data from a sample of 1,050 young consumers from six schools of the national capital region of India were used to test the hypothesis. Confirmatory factor analysis affirmed socialization agents, materialism and CDMS as second-order constructs. Regression analyses were used to assess mediation effects in the relationship between socialization and hedonistic and utilitarian CDMS. Results show that materialism partially mediates the relationship between socialization agents and hedonistic CDMS but fully mediates the relationship between socialization and utilitarian CDMS. The results offer implications for practice and policymakers concerning young consumers. To further generalize the findings of this study, youngsters from different age groups with varying economic backgrounds should be probed. This is the first empirical article to investigate the mediating role of materialism in the context of socialization and CDMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine how veganism is "seen" by young adult non-vegan consumers and how prevailing attitudes reinforce or challenge stigmas around veganism. Design/methodology/approach: Photovoice methodology was used to explore young non-vegan consumers' attitudes and beliefs towards veganism. Data was collected from students studying advertising at a major university in Australia, who produced images and narratives reflective of their own attitudes towards veganism. Polytextual thematic analysis of the resulting visual data was then undertaken to reveal the dominant themes underpinning participants' attitudes. Participant narratives were then reviewed to confirm whether the ascribed meaning aligned with participants' intended meaning. Findings: Participant images were reflective of first, how they saw their world and their place within it, which showed the interplay and interconnectedness between humans, animals and nature, and second, how they saw vegans within this world, with both positive and negative attitudes expressed. Interestingly, vegans were simultaneously admired and condemned. By situating these attitudes along a spectrum of moral evaluation, bounded by stigmatisation and moral legitimacy, participants saw vegans as being either Radicals, Pretenders, Virtuous or Pragmatists. For veganism to become more widely accepted by non-vegans, there is an important role to be played by each vegan type. Originality/value: This study offers a more nuanced understanding of how and why dissociative groups, such as vegans, become stigmatised, which has implications for messaging and marketing practices around veganism and associated products/services. Future research could use a similar methodology to understand why other minority groups in society are stereotyped and stigmatised, which has broader social implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although much research has examined chatbot interactivity as one of the most human-like qualities, replicating a conversation norm in human-to-human dialogue, far less has examined the "native state" of two-way communication between humans and chatbots. This study fills the gap by substantiating a synchronous two-way conversation between users and chatbots and testing how chatbot interactivity shapes the users' perceived empathy. Guided by the computers-are-social-actors (CASA) paradigm, like skilled customer service representatives interacting with customers during product failures, this study designs a between-subject experiment (N = 300) to embody the warm and competent types of human conversation and suggests two versions of chatbot interactivities: social interactivity (high/low) and message interactivity (high/low). We further investigate whether a chatbot's warm or competent persona manifested in its interaction with consumers elicits empathic responses from consumers, such as calming down their anger in line with social response theory. As a result, both social and message interactivity in chatbots effectively elicit users' perception of empathy, alleviating customer anger and reducing adverse word-of-mouth (WOM) intentions. The findings provide empirical evidence that supports the explanatory framework of social response theory. This research demonstrates how technological features, particularly interactivity, contribute to creating experiential value for customers. Specifically, it elucidates how customers perceive empathy displayed by chatbots, which subsequently influences their level of anger and inclination to engage in negative word-of-mouth communication. Notably, these results offer novel insights into the roles of chatbot interactivity and empathy as psychological mechanisms that enable consumers to express their dissatisfaction by interacting with chatbot service agents, particularly in situations involving product failures. The implications of this study extend to the practical realm, providing valuable guidance on the design and implementation of empathetic chatbots in frontline consumer service contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A tripartite evolutionary game model of participation in recycling is constructed. • The government does not provide enough incentives for consumers. • In this recycling system, the government will gradually reduce its regulation. • The regulation of power battery recycling by the Chinese government is imperfect. • Improving compensation can improve consumers' recycling enthusiasm. While electric vehicles (EVs) are developing at a high speed in China, the power battery market is facing a decommissioning peak. The problem is that the recycling situation of domestic power batteries is not ideal, partly due to neglect by consumers. By considering the recycling system, mode, and policy of China's EV power batteries, we construct a tripartite evolutionary game model of the government, consumers and EV manufacturers; analyse the stable strategy adjustment mechanisms of tripartite participation in this recycling cooperation game; and simulate the tripartite evolutionary game. The results show that when the initial willingness of the government, consumers and EV manufacturers to recycle power batteries is not strong, the government takes the lead, driving EV manufacturers and consumers to participate in power battery recycling. When the government, consumers and EV manufacturers have medium or high levels of initial willingness, the government evolves and chooses a nonregulation strategy. In addition, by simulating the impact of changes in consumer-related influencing factors on this tripartite evolutionary game, we find that subsidies for recycling power batteries are a key factor affecting consumers' strategy choices and that boosting recycling compensation for consumers can improve their enthusiasm to participate in such recycling. Therefore, to improve the recycling of power batteries for EVs, in terms of both efficiency and percentage of deployment, the Chinese government should strengthen public education on power battery recycling, further integrate informal recycling channels, and balance the distribution of profits among consumers for recycling compensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative school-to-work research has long emphasised the role of institutions in shaping youth labour market integration. This paper provides an overview of this research stream, consisting of four main sections. The first section introduces a variety of labour market outcomes of young graduates within Europe and identifies country clusters with higher and lower outcomes; this empirical evidence has so far remained limited in the multivariate oriented research stream. The second section links these labour market outcomes to the institutional settings of the education systems prevalent in the country clusters. By considering a wide country sample, it introduces a reliable country classification of transition regimes (along the OLM–ILM continuum), which has so far been partly inconclusive in research. The third section links labour market outcomes in turn to labour market institutions of the country clusters. This section emphasizes why labour market institutions drive only particular individual outcomes. Finally, the fourth section connects the previous three: it describes how certain institutional complementarities affect the youth labour market integration in the identified European country clusters. The review further identifies theoretical inconclusiveness or data-related desiderata, for which recommendations and solutions are proposed. The paper thus aims to assist both familiar and unfamiliar researchers to access the research stream by offering a comprehensive introduction and clear country classifications, linking research streams, and providing solutions to identified issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The project We:Design delves into the digital inequalities affecting young people in Vienna during their transition from education to employment. It not only investigates the barriers faced by youth in the job market but also collaborates with them to create an accessible and open-source job application mobile app. Employing a mixed-method approach, the project is an equal-footed collaboration between computer science and social and cultural anthropology. This paper explores the notion of ‘drifting’ within participatory research and how seemingly irrelevant data can inform the design process. By examining the We:Design case study, we discuss the importance of embracing interdisciplinary tensions and the unexpected insights that research and design ‘byproducts’ can inspire, thus advocating for a more inclusive, flexible, and open-ended approach to participatory design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stereotyping others in a creative process may negatively affect creative output, yet there is currently scant empirical evidence of a link between stereotyping and creativity; here, we explore this link in marketing communications. In a quasi-experiment, we introduced a novel intervention to disrupt marketeers' dependency on stereotypes and boost their creativity. The intervention decreased marketeers' use of stereotypes when selecting consumer labels—descriptive labels of a typical consumer based on consumer information—while enhancing the creativity of ideas. In another set of online experiments, we asked British residents to rate the creativity of advertisements and purchase intentions toward advertising products with different levels of stereotypical depictions of people. We found a linear relationship between the stereotypical depictions of people in advertisements and perceived creativity. We also observed a potential U-shaped relationship between stereotypical representations of people in advertisements and purchase intention, such that advertisements with low and high stereotypical representations induced greater purchase intention than did those with medium stereotypical representations. Finally, we discuss the psychological mechanisms that potentially link stereotyping and creativity and the implications for marketing communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a model connecting the perceived morality, authenticity, and timeliness (MAT) of CEO activism to consumer trust and supportive behaviors (e.g., consumer advocacy and intention to work) toward the CEO's organization. The results show that perceived MAT of CEO activism are positively associated with Millennial and Gen-Z consumers' trust toward the CEO's organization. There was a strong and positive association between consumer trust and consumers' supportive behaviors. This model will advance theoretical understanding of how CEO activism can effectively contribute to younger consumer outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The online phenomenon of social commerce (i.e., s‐commerce) platforms has emerged as a combination of online social networking and e‐commerce. On s‐commerce platforms, consumers can observe others' behavioural decisions and can distinguish those made by their friends from those made by their followees (i.e., the people a focal consumer follows but who do not follow that consumer back). Given this distinction, our study examines how consumers' behavioural decisions—regarding, for example, purchases, ratings, or "likes"—are made on s‐commerce platforms, with a focus on how they are influenced by prior decisions of friends and followees. Combining panel data from a large s‐commerce platform and two controlled experiments, we identify a strong normative social influence pattern in which consumers tend to follow others' prior decisions to gain social approval. Because the occurrence of normative social influence depends on both consumer behaviours with high public visibility and strong consumer needs to establish social ties, the unique information concerning behaviour visibility and consumers' social needs in the panel data allows us to identify normative social influence and to distinguish it from informational confounding mechanisms. Our panel data results show that on a friend network, where consumers' behavioural decisions are visible, females exhibit a greater tendency to follow others' prior decisions than males. We attribute this result to the stronger social needs of females. However, on a followee network, where behavioural decisions are invisible, these differences become less evident. Moreover, the two experiments demonstrate that making decision contexts private or activating social needs via a priming procedure can thwart (or even turn off) normative social influence. Our findings challenge prior research that identifies informational social influence as the predominant driver of conformity behaviours and thus have important implications for practice related to normative social influence, such as the development of techniques for satisfying consumers' different social needs depending on their gender or any other situational factors on s‐commerce platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether the lifestyles of young consumers (students) in Poland can influence their attitudes towards foods containing edible insects. Design/methodology/approach: The empirical survey was conducted via an online platform (CAWI) among 749 students in Poland in 2023. Findings: Most lifestyle determinants (commitment to learning, attention to the nutritional value of food, valuing the culinary traditions of the region of origin, health consciousness and physical activity) correlated positively with environmental concern in terms of willingness to eat food containing edible insects. Research limitations/implications: The research has certain limitations. Despite the large size of the study group, the results obtained are not representative and cannot be generalised to the Z population in Poland. Practical implications: The results of this study may prove beneficial in the development of strategies to enhance food security, particularly in the context of environmental protection. Social implications: The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge regarding the attitudes of young adults, commonly referred to as Generation Z, towards environmental care, food security concerns, and environmental sustainability. In doing so, it considers the influence of lifestyle variables. Originality/value: An investigation into the influence of younger consumers' lifestyles on their attitudes towards environmental care, food security concerns and environmental sustainability is of significant importance in the context of the future of entomophagy in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine whether the lifestyles of young consumers in Poland (Generation Z) are associated with their preferences regarding the attributes of foods with edible insects, and whether they can influence their willingness to consume new, innovative foods with edible insects. Design/methodology/approach: The empirical study was conducted by indirect interview method, via an online platform, among 749 students in Poland in 2023. Findings: Generation Z's acceptance of foods containing edible insects as a solution or support to the problem of finding new food ingredients with high nutritional value was correlated with pleasure orientation (among men), lack of attachment to the culinary traditions of the region of origin (among men and women), high nutritional value of food and high health awareness (among women). Research limitations/implications: The research has certain limitations. Despite the large size of the study group, the results obtained are not representative and cannot be generalised to the population of young adults (Generation Z) in Poland. Practical implications: Acceptance of new foods containing edible insects (fresh, frozen, dried, powdered e.g. meal) by young consumers (Generation Z) should be based on reliable information about their nutritional value and the possibility of satisfying their needs according to their lifestyle and perceived values. Social implications: The study effectively captured a range of lifestyle determinants, such as health awareness and its correlation with nutritional claims, pleasure orientation and its correlation with attractive taste and affordability (for men) and attractive appearance (for women). Originality/value: The research enriches the existing literature on entomophagy by highlighting the potential acceptability of insect-based foods among young adults, thereby contributing to broader discussions on sustainable food systems and environmental protection. This novel approach not only addresses current environmental and nutritional issues, but also provides a basis for future research and policy development aimed at improving food security and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine restrictions led to significant changes in the food industry's delivery methods, with a notable rise in online food delivery services (OFDS). This increase necessitates a deeper understanding of the factors influencing the continued use of these services. This study investigates the relationships between perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, satisfaction, confidence, trust, and continuous intention to use OFDS applications among young consumers in Kazakhstan. An integrated model based on expectation-confirmation and technology acceptance models, incorporating the habit of online shopping as a moderator, was used. Data was collected from 433 respondents with prior OFDS experience and analyzed using Smart PLS 4.0. The results show positive correlations between perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, satisfaction, confidence, trust, and the continuous intention to use OFDS among young Kazakhstani consumers. Additionally, the study confirms the moderating role of online shopping habits in the relationship between satisfaction and trust and the continuous intention to use OFDS. These findings offer valuable insights for companies in the online food delivery sector, highlighting key factors that can enhance managerial and IT strategies to boost revenues and foster sustained use of OFDS applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of fintech companies has revolutionized the credit ecosystem by providing flexible credit products with lower interest rates and convenient repayment options. These companies have introduced fintech credit products (FCP) that target young consumers, including the popular Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL). Despite the increasing popularity of FCP, there is a dearth of research on understanding consumers' attitudes toward using them. Thus, this study aims to fill the literature gap by examining the attitude formation of young consumers toward FCP in the context of BNPL. Using a stimulus-organism-response framework and SmartPLS, the study assessed the stimulus (affordability, flexibility, and structural assurance) and organism (perceived usefulness and trust) factors that affect attitude formation toward FCP among young consumers. The result shows that affordability, flexibility, structural assurance, and perceived usefulness help form consumers' attitudes toward FCP. The findings of this study can contribute to understanding young consumers' preferences and expectations toward FCP and inform fintech companies in designing and marketing FCP that meet consumer needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Privacy is a sensitive issue in business because it involves how a platform uses consumer personal data. In terms of consumer rights, personal information needs to be protected in the privacy policy (PP). This study describes several aspects of the PP that consumers need to pay attention to, especially points prone to misuse of personal information. Design/methodology/approach: This research used a taxonomy of consumer privacy concerns in e-commerce to reveal general and specific privacy concerns. The privacy calculus theory was also applied to explore consumer rationalization using (1) consumer knowledge about PP, (2) subjective perception, and (3) proximity to the PP features. Furthermore, the netnographic approach was used to combine the interrelation between technology and social construction. A sample of 378 young consumers in several major cities in Indonesia participated online and offline. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted to gain more in-depth comprehension. Findings: The results showed that most young consumers have sufficient basic knowledge of the important points of PP. Furthermore, they tend not to read the PP because it is long and cumbersome, and therefore do not wish to expend much cognitive effort on it. Originality/value: This study provides several results that can be utilized by policymakers or e-commerce companies to pay more attention to PPs for young groups. In addition, e-commerce companies can increase the knowledge of the privacy situation of Internet users in general. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-11-2022-0740 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Drawing on value‐belief‐norm theory and the theory of planned behavior, this study examines the gap between the application of green marketing strategies and their effectiveness in harnessing green purchase intentions through green attitudes and the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) by Generation Z consumers. This study explores a mediated moderating model using partial least squares structural equation modeling with data collected from 357 randomly selected Generation Z consumers. The results reveal that among three green marketing strategies—green advertising, green labeling, and green packaging—only green packaging has a direct and positive influence on purchase intention, while the others do not. Moreover, green attitude has been found to be a positive and significant mediator in the relationship between green marketing strategies and purchase intention. This suggests that green marketing strategies cannot directly spark green purchase intentions; instead, the effectiveness of these depends on intervening variables like green attitude. Furthermore, the study also shows that the use of generative AI by young consumers enhances the positive role of green attitude toward purchase intention. Based on the findings, implications for theory and practice are provided, followed by arguments on research limitations and directions for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between consumers' emotions towards emerging e-banking technology, perceived risk and subsequent intention to adopt emerging e-banking technology. Design/methodology/approach: An online questionnaire was used to collect data, which were analysed in a quantitative study. The final sample of 224 educated young consumers, familiar with emerging e-banking technology, allowed testing of the research hypotheses by applying confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings: The empirical results indicate that deterrence emotions and hedonic motivation are associated with consumers' perceived risk and, subsequently, their intention to adopt emerging e-banking technology. Additionally, analysing the moderating role of hedonic motivation in the association between consumers' deterrence emotions towards emerging e-banking technology and their perceived risk highlights the significant association of deterrence emotions with perceived risk, regardless of the presence of hedonic motivation. Originality/value: This study demonstrates the association between consumers' emotions, perceived risk and subsequent intention to adopt emerging e-banking technology whilst underscoring the importance of distinguishing between different types of emotions and their corresponding appraisals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Social media has become an inescapable part of our lives. However, recent research suggests that excessive use of social media may lead to fatigue and users' disengagement. This study aims to examine which brand-related factors contribute to social media fatigue (SMF) and its subsequent role on driving lurking behaviors, particularly among young consumers. Design/methodology/approach: Based on survey data from 282 young users of social media, a holistic model of brand-related drivers and outcomes of SMF was tested, emphasizing the contribution of brands' social media presence to users' disengagement. Findings: Research shows that branded content overload and irrelevance, as well as branded ads intrusiveness significantly impact SMF, which in turn plays a mediating role between brand-related drivers and lurking behaviors. The authors further conclude that the impact of SMF on lurking is stronger for users who follow a larger set of brands. Originality/value: The study contributes to social media research by addressing its "dark side" and empirically validating the role of brands' social media presence in developing young users' fatigue and disengagement. The study further adds to the scant literature on SMF, which was mostly developed outside the branding field. Research also provides valuable insights to brands on how to improve their social media performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to assess retail shopping avenues for young consumers based on the type of guidance and assistance they pursue (social media vs professional service provider) in purchasing situations judged to be important. Young consumers consider themselves pet parents and pets represent an extension of self. Thus, pet-related products, by their importance, represent an excellent area of analysis for this inquiry. Design/methodology/approach: Data collection was completed in a way that is contextually relevant and gives the results ecological validity with the assistance of a major supplier of pet food. A total of 470 Gen Z owners of small companion animals were obtained. The partial least squares structural equation modeling testing method is considered appropriate for the model analysis due to the structure and homogeneity of the sample and due to the precision of the method. Findings: Results indicate that, in accordance with social media engagement (SME) theory, high SME elevated social commerce purchase intentions while professional advice seekers reported increased brick-and-mortar shopping. Thus, context-dependent, young consumers may purchase from brick-and-mortar sites. Originality/value: This paper draws on SME and Advice Response Theory and proposes an original model explaining channel selection preferences for young consumers based on the type of advice sought for important purchasing decisions. The model represents a steppingstone to investigate the mechanism that translates information search sources into buying through different channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Marketing of Scientific & Research Organizations / Marketing Instytucji Naukowych i Badawczych is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Marketing of Scientific & Research Organizations / Marketing Instytucji Naukowych i Badawczych is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Recently, green packaging has become a hot topic for consumers and retailers, along with increasing environmental sustainability awareness. The benefit of packaging extends beyond protecting the product; it also aims to mitigate environmental issues caused by packaging waste. This study aims to test the antecedents of intention to purchase toward green packaging among young consumers and seeks to discover whether gender is an essential determinant to explain intention to purchase. A total of 276 university students in Surabaya, Indonesia, participated as respondents in this study. The results indicated that women have a higher level of intention to purchase toward green packaging than men. Moreover, the antecedents' patterns of intention to purchase toward green packaging differ between men and women. The intention to purchase of green packaging for men was only influenced by perceived behavioral control (PBC) and willingness to pay (WTP); whereas the predictors for women are attitude, willingness to pa (WTP), subjective norm (SN), and indirect environmental concern (EN). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]