Abstract: When a product of uncertain quality is first introduced, consumers may choose to strategically delay their purchasing decisions in anticipation of the product reviews of their peers. This paper investigates how the presence of social learning affects the strategic interaction between a dynamic-pricing monopolist and a forward-looking consumer population, within a simple two-period model. Our analysis yields three main insights. First, we find that the presence of social learning has significant structural implications for optimal pricing policies: In the absence of social learning, decreasing price plans are always preferred by the firm; by contrast, in the presence of social learning we find that (i) if the firm commits to a price path ex ante (preannounced pricing), an increasing price plan is typically announced, whereas (ii) if the firm adjusts price dynamically (responsive pricing), prices are initially low and may either rise or decline over time. Second, we establish that under both preannounced an...

Abstract: Objective Systematic reviews investigating associations between objective measures of the food environment and dietary behaviours or health outcomes have not established a consistent evidence base. The present paper aims to synthesise qualitative evidence regarding the influence of local food environments on food and purchasing behaviours. Design A systematic review in the form of a qualitative thematic synthesis. Setting Urban localities. Subjects Adults. Results Four analytic themes were identified from the review including community and consumer nutrition environments, other environmental factors and individual coping strategies for shopping and purchasing decisions. Availability, accessibility and affordability were consistently identified as key determinants of store choice and purchasing behaviours that often result in less healthy food choices within community nutrition environments. Food availability, quality and food store characteristics within consumer nutrition environments also greatly influenced in-store purchases. Individuals used a range of coping strategies in both the community and consumer nutrition environments to make optimal purchasing decisions, often within the context of financial constraints. Conclusions Findings from the current review add depth and scope to quantitative literature and can guide ongoing theory, interventions and policy development in food environment research. There is a need to investigate contextual influences within food environments as well as individual and household socio-economic characteristics that contribute to the differing use of and views towards local food environments. Greater emphasis on how individual and environmental factors interact in the food environment field will be key to developing stronger understanding of how environments can support and promote healthier food choices.

Abstract: We show that individuals' macroeconomic expectations are influenced by their socioeconomic status (SES). People with higher income or higher education are more optimistic about future macroeconomic developments, including business conditions, the national unemployment rate, and stock market returns. The spread in beliefs between high- and low-SES individuals diminishes significantly during recessions. A comparison with professional forecasters and historical data reveals that the beliefs wedge reflects excessive pessimism on the part of low-SES individuals. SES-driven expectations help explain why higher-SES individuals are more inclined to invest in the stock market and more likely to consider purchasing homes, durable goods, or cars.

Abstract: Purpose Even though the Indian luxury market is predicted to grow as much as the Chinese one over the coming years, limited research has been conducted on luxury consumer behavior. The purpose of this study is to examine the purchasing behavior for luxury fashion goods using the framework of the theory of planned behavior. Design/methodology/approach A total of 257 respondents were included after distributing a structured questionnaire by surveying real luxury consumers in Delhi. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings The results of the study indicated that subjective norm was the most important determinant of the purchasing intentions for luxury fashion goods, followed by attitude. Perceived behavioral control was not found to have a significant relationship with purchasing intentions, but it showed a strong positive relationship with actual purchasing behavior. Originality/value This study provides new theoretical insights regarding luxury consumer behavior in India. It explains the motivating factors behind purchasing intentions for luxury goods among Indian consumers. The findings of the study will provide great help to global luxury companies in formulating their penetration and expansion strategies in the Indian market.

Abstract: Purpose: Social commerce websites have emerged as new platforms which integrate social media features with traditional commerce aspects to enhance users’ purchasing experience. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of social factors such as trust toward site members in determining users’ trust and risk evaluations, and the role of social commerce use habit in attenuating users’ rational risk and trust considerations for developing purchase intentions. Design/methodology/approach: Relying on the risk deterrence perspective and rational decision-making models involving trust and habit, this study proposes a set of hypotheses which are tested through analyzing survey data using structural equation modeling techniques. Findings: Results show that commerce risk deters purchasing intentions; trust toward the social commerce website increases users’ purchasing intentions; and trust toward the site members indirectly increases purchasing intentions. Moreover, trust toward site members reduces perceived commerce risk. Findings also show that habit modulates trust and risk effects on use decisions in this context; habit moderates (weakens) the relationships between commerce risk and purchase intentions and between trust toward the social commerce site and purchase intentions. Originality/value: This study extends theories on decision making in social settings such as in the case of social commerce. It does so by accounting for unique modulating effects of habit in social settings in which social aspects such as trust in other members and risk are unique and important.

Abstract: Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of social media (SM) adoption in upgrading and innovating selling processes by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) facing complex and rapidly changing market scenarios. Design/methodology/approach To achieve this goal, the paper undertakes an exploratory case study of Gamma, a mechanical company, by actively using SM to start and open a new market. The case-study is analyzed through the industrial marketing and purchasing (IMP) approach, which emphasizes the role of interaction and the interdependencies of resources. Findings The adoption of SM resources helped Gamma to tap into new markets and thus survive and face the downturn of its original market. SM displayed its effects in combination with other resources: a simple and not expensive machinery, capable human resources, effective production and logistical resources. SM represented a strategic resource to implement an effective business networking effort. Originality/value This paper provides novel empirical evidence and conceptual development over the role of SM as a resource in SMEs’ sales processes, using the IMP perspective on combination and development of resources.

Abstract: According to Hallin (1995) and McCarty and Shrum (2001), people engage in environmental behavior as a result of their desire to solve environmental problem, to become role models and a belief that they can help to preserve the environment. However, consumers’ indications of positive attitude towards environmental issues do not necessarily lead to actual environmentally friendly purchasing behavior (Laroche et al., 2002). Majority of consumers do not purchase products based on the environmental concern alone and they will not trade-off other product attributes for a better environment (Yam-Tang and Chan, 1998). New Zealand has always been perceived as a “clean and green” country. It is assumed that environmental consciousness among New Zealanders is high. However, there is little empirical evidence to suggest that the environmental values and attitudes are congruent with the consuming public’s actions towards green products. In addition, most studies have focused on the general environmental behavior instead of specifically on consumers’ purchasing behavior towards green products. Therefore, gaps exist in the literature with regards to understanding consumers’ purchasing behavior towards green products. This research empirically examines the factors impacting consumers’ purchasing behavior toward green products in New Zealand. The research also identifies factors that discriminate between those who purchase green products and those who don’t.

Abstract: This study aimed to describe (1) If the variable influence on product quality product purchasing decisions Converse brand shoes. (2) Whet h er variables affect the brand image of the product purchase decisions Converse brand shoes. (3) Is the variable product quality and brand image influence the purchasing decisions Converse brand shoes The population in this study was students whom to be Converse brand shoes product user in Faculty of Social and Political Science at the Merdeka University of Malang, a total of 39 respondents using non-probability sampling. Data that has met the validity and r e liability, and classical assumption (t test and F test) is processed to produce a regression equation as follows: Y = 13,789 + -0,261 X1 + 0,689 X2 Where the purchasing decisions variable (Y), the qulity of the product (X1), and brand image (X2). Hypothesis testing using t test showed that the variable quality of the products that have been researched proved no effect on the purchasing decisions, but the variables that proved influential brand image on consumers purchasing decisions. Hypothesis testing using the F test shows that the variable quality of the product and brand image influence on purchase decisions by 22, 7%, while the remaining 77, 3% is influenced by variables that are not used in this study. DOI : https://doi.org/10.26905/jbm.v4i1.1714

Abstract: With the development of the internet, customers are able to purchase medical equipment not only at the pharmacy but through the internet; notwithstanding, the studies for analyzing the effects of purchasing intention on acquiring medical equipment are deficient. The purpose of the study aims to investigate the effects among product attributes, product involvement, word-of-mouth, and purchase intention toward online shopping of medical equipment within both of the markets in Taiwan and Mainland China. The present study utilized content validity testing, one-way analysis of variance, independent-sample t-test, and regression analysis to analyze the statistics. The findings demonstrate that all of the factors had positive benefits to customers’ purchase intent except product quality. Additionally, the results show that word-of-mouth from the internet do not significantly positively influence purchase intention owing to the excessive commercialization nowadays. The recommendation will be given for the small and medium enterprises to expand the online business.

Abstract: One of the greatest threats to widespread diffusion of closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) practices in support of consumer goods is the lack of consumer acceptance of remanufactured products. Although the preponderance of extant CLSC research historically focused on product reclamation and remanufacturing practices, consumer acceptance of remanufactured products is now receiving more attention. However, significant gaps in the literature remain to include examining actual consumer behaviour in the presence of alternative offerings. Using theory of planned behaviour and data gathered from Malaysia, this research addresses these gaps by examining how consumer attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control with regard to purchasing remanufactured products affect consumer intention to purchase remanufactured consumer electronic products. Then, actual purchase behaviour is compared with purchase intentions to determine if consumers followed through with their intentions. Findings suggest that consum...

Abstract: The concepts of Industry 4.0 currently challenge manufacturing companies in various divisions such as purchasing, production, intralogistics, sales and human. Therefore, there is great need for a systematic approach to develop and implement industry 4.0 strategies. However, companies show different maturity levels concerning new technologies, processes and organizational aspects. This paper introduces a procedure model enabling companies to analyse their individual maturity level, to identify their own targets and to develop a specific action plan for implementation with an interdisciplinary team. A detailed theoretical as well as practical perspective is given for the procedure model for the field of action human. First application results for an Austrian company are presented showing that organizational changes within this field are still a bottom up driven process instead of a management indicated holistic change process.

Abstract: Recent health care payment reforms aim to improve the alignment of Medicare payment strategies with goals to improve the quality of care provided, patient experiences with health care, and health outcomes, while also controlling costs. These efforts move Medicare away from the volume-based payment of traditional fee-for-service models and toward value-based purchasing, in which cost control is an explicit goal in addition to clinical and quality goals. Specific payment strategies include pay-for-performance and other quality incentive programs that tie financial rewards and sanctions to the quality and efficiency of care provided and accountable care organizations in which health care providers are held accountable for both the quality and cost of the care they deliver. Accounting For Social Risk Factors in Medicare Payment is the fifth and final report in a series of brief reports that aim to inform ASPE analyses that account for social risk factors in Medicare payment programs mandated through the IMPACT Act. This report aims to put the entire series in context and offers additional thoughts about how to best consider the various methods for accounting for social risk factors, as well as next steps.

Abstract: Given the large sums that are spent in public purchasing, the government of every state is itself an actor in the market, and often a relatively large actor. Government activities in the marketplace, the purchasing of goods and services or sometimes the marketing of the same, thereby impact and in some cases shape the market itself. Governments have therefore explored the possibility of using government purchases to promote not only redistribution among different sections of the population, but also industrial strategy, innovation technologies, or environmental protection through products or services that offer a reduced environmental impact – in an economy. Procurement policy is typically viewed as a legitimate tool to stimulate domestic production and consumption. By targeting contracts towards particular sectors or groups in society, the government could push forward policies to redistribute wealth, promote industrial strategies or ensure sustainable development. The following report sets out an overview of different industrial policy objectives commonly pursued through procurement contracts in India, Jamaica, South Africa, Brazil, Republic of Korea and the UK.