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Copyright of Journal of Chongqing University of Technology (Natural Science) is the property of Chongqing University of Technology 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 carbon quota allocation method serves as the foundation for the design of the carbon trading mechanism, which has a significant impact on supply chain production decisions and the operational efficiency of the carbon trading market. To analyze the behavioral decision problem of supply chain members under different carbon quota allocation methods, the low-carbon reference effect is introduced to characterize the effect of consumers' low-carbon preference on market demand. On this basis, three differential game models are constructed, namely, no emissions penalty, trading under the grandfathering principle, and trading under the benchmarking principle. The results indicate that the implementation of carbon trading policies enhances consumers' low-carbon reference levels, the carbon emission reduction levels of manufacturers, and the low-carbon publicity levels of retailers. Moreover, the enhancement of the low-carbon reference effect becomes a positive driver of profit growth. Manufacturers are observed to make more efforts in carbon reduction under the benchmarking principle compared to the grandfathering principle. In contrast, the level of low-carbon publicity by retailers remains unchanged. The above findings can provide a scientific basis for the decision-making of emission reduction in low-carbon supply chain enterprises, which has certain theoretical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of the new energy industry has intensified the competition among companies. Finding solutions to achieve technological innovation, carbon reduction, and to earn consumers' confidence has become a pressing challenge. In this research, we aim to develop a four-party evolutionary game model involving government, manufacturers, dealers, and consumers to examine the strategic decisions made by these parties in order to accomplish carbon emission reduction goals. We will perform numerical simulations to analyze the strategic choices of each party and the relevant influencing factors. The results suggest the following: (1) The tax hike on traditional car production is less than the innovation expenses for new energy vehicles, leading manufacturers to lean towards manufacturing traditional vehicles. (2) The rise in taxes resulting from the manufacture of conventional vehicles will influence manufacturers' strategic decisions, whereas the expenses related to technological advancements will have a more significant effect on manufacturers' strategic choices. (3) Compared to dealers, manufacturers' strategic choices are more significantly influenced by consumers' awareness of low-carbon preferences. (4) In the early stages of technological innovation, the government typically offers incentive subsidies to manufacturers to boost technological innovation activities. Whereas, in the later stages of technological innovation, the government usually provides direct subsidies to consumers to encourage the market acceptance and widespread use of innovative products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit shape significantly impacts the quality and commercial value of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Precise grading is essential to elucidate the genetic basis of fruit shape in breeding programs, cultivar descriptions, and variety registration. Despite this, fruit shape classification is still primarily based on subjective visual inspection, leading to time-consuming and labor-intensive processes prone to human error. This study presents a novel approach incorporating machine learning techniques to establish a robust fruit shape classification system. We trained and evaluated seven supervised machine learning algorithms by leveraging a public dataset derived from the Tomato Analyzer tool and considering the current four classification systems as label variables. Subsequently, based on class-specific metrics, we derived a novel classification framework comprising seven discernible shape classes. The results demonstrate the superiority of the Support Vector Machine model in terms of its accuracy, surpassing human classifiers across all classification systems. The new classification system achieved the highest accuracy, averaging 88%, and maintained a similar performance when validated with an independent dataset. Positioned as a common standard, this system contributes to standardizing tomato fruit shape classification, enhancing accuracy, and promoting consensus among researchers. Its implementation will serve as a valuable tool for overcoming bias in visual classification, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of consumer preferences and facilitating genetic studies on fruit shape morphometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing that the waste of imperfect produce contributes to the global environmental crisis, the authors conduct three studies examining whether retailers can use anthropomorphizing marketing techniques to make irregular‐appearing produce more attractive and increase purchase intentions. Based on the exemplar model theory, Study 1 shows that when retailers place googly eyes on pictures of irregular‐appearing produce, consumers judge the product according to multiple exemplars as they do when they evaluate humans. The multiple esthetic cues cause them to perceive irregular produce as more attractive. Study 2 replicates Study 1 by using human names as the anthropomorphic cues, demonstrating that anthropomorphism can increase purchase intentions toward irregular‐appearing produce. Study 3 further shows that the anthropomorphism effects hold for irregular‐appearing produce from corporate farms and not from local farms. The differences occur because consumers expect corporate farms to conform to standardized esthetic norms but expect local farms to market irregular‐appearing produce. When expectations are aligned, anthropomorphism is more likely to cause consumers to diversify esthetic cues, but not when expectations are disassociated. The article concludes with suggestions for promotion strategies that use anthropomorphizing to change attitudes and increase purchase intentions toward irregular‐appearing produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central questions answered in this research are, "For what, and when, do consumers prefer to spend loyalty points over money?" We use construal level theory (CLT) to theorize that loyalty (or reward) points are perceived abstractly while money is perceived concretely, and this impacts spending preferences. We find that consumers prefer to spend loyalty points (vs. money) on high desirability‐low feasibility (vs. low desirability‐high feasibility) consumption items. The same pattern also persists when the items that vary on desirability and feasibility are equivalently priced. Second, we show that the construal‐level matching phenomenon influences temporal decisions such that consumers prefer to spend points (vs. money) for items that are available later (vs. now). Third, the moderating effect of category type (experiential vs. material) is reported. Finally, we demonstrate two managerial applications that are reported in the Web Appendix. We show that managers may influence how consumers spend loyalty points (a) by altering the concreteness of the decision context, and (b) by manipulating the nature of loyalty points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gift decisions are challenging. Consumers need to gauge their recipients' preferences—a task that could be especially tough when the recipients are picky. In addition, gift decisions involve consideration of many gift attributes, such as whether the gifts also support worthy causes (i.e., socially responsible gifts). In this research, we examine how givers' decision to give socially responsible gifts is impacted by how picky the recipients are. Five studies provide convergent evidence that gift‐givers are less likely to choose socially responsible gifts for picky recipients because they are perceived as lower in interpersonal warmth. Supporting our theory, the effect attenuates for gift‐givers attend less to interpersonal warmth (i.e., high in social dominance orientation) and when cues indicating recipient warmth are salient. We conclude by discussing the contributions to the gift‐giving and consumer pickiness literature and the practical implications for marketers promoting socially responsible gifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are frequently exposed to uncomfortable sensory circumstances (e.g., hot weather and noise pollution), yet little research has examined how such discomfort might systematically shape preferences. Drawing from research on crossmodal associations, we propose and empirically support a discomfort‐driven crossmodal compensation effect in which consumers exposed to uncomfortable atmospheric sensations in one modality (e.g., loud noise) compensate through product choices across other modalities (e.g., choosing visually "quiet" products). Across five studies, we document the consequences of this phenomenon on actual (studies 1 and 2) and hypothetical (studies 3, 4, and 5) consumer choices and preferences. Further, we demonstrate that a desire to reduce sensory discomfort drives this crossmodal compensation effect, and the spillover only manifests when individuals are unable to adjust within the initially disturbed modality. Our research contributes to the literature on goal theory and crossmodal associations by demonstrating that discomfort experienced in one modality can systematically affect product preferences in other modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although consumers are commonly exposed to numerous choices and the opportunity to touch products when they shop, the literature remains unclear on how both factors simultaneously affect choice. With the growth of online shopping, touch literature has studied the effects of mere touch (i.e., nondiagnostic tactile contact) or vicarious touch (e.g., observing a hand in physical contact with a product or imagining touching a product) to demonstrate that these nondiagnostic haptic inputs can comparably influence consumer attitude, just like diagnostic touch. By investigating the moderating effects of different haptic inputs on choice overload, this research reveals certain conditions in which nondiagnostic haptic inputs operate differently than those of diagnostic touch. We find that both mere touch (Study 1) and vicarious touch (Study 2) help reduce choice overload effects by eliminating the effect of choice set size on choice uncertainty, which is typically observed in the no touch (i.e., control) condition. As haptic cues have been increasingly employed to aid the online shopping experience for consumers, we also find that the choice overload effect is eliminated when an autotelic haptic cue is presented but amplified when an instrumental haptic cue is provided (Study 3). Besides, this research demonstrates that, while the moderating effects of the nondiagnostic haptic inputs are driven by increased personal control, instrumental touch can amplify choice overload effects due to the increased choice difficulty when choosing from large (vs. small) choice sets. These findings help retailers know what type of haptic cues to apply or avoid, as consumers have already been overloaded with abundant choices when they shop online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneity in preferences can be addressed through various discrete choice modeling approaches. The random-parameter latent class (RLC) approach offers a desirable alternative for analysts due to its advantageous properties of separating classes with different preferences and capturing the remaining heterogeneity within classes by including random parameters. For latent class specifications, however, more empirical evidence on the optimal number of classes to consider is needed in order to develop a more objective set of criteria. To investigate this question, we tested cases with different class numbers (for both fixed- and random-parameter latent class modeling) by analyzing data from a discrete choice experiment conducted in 2021 (examined preferences regarding COVID-19 vaccines). We compared models using commonly used indicators such as the Bayesian information criterion, and we took into account, among others, a seemingly simple but often overlooked indicator such as the ratio of significant parameter estimates. Based on our results, it is not sufficient to decide on the optimal number of classes in the latent class modeling based on only information criteria. We considered aspects such as the ratio of significant parameter estimates (it may be interesting to examine this both between and within specifications to find out which model type and class number has the most balanced ratio); the validity of the coefficients obtained (focusing on whether the conclusions are consistent with our theoretical model); whether including random parameters is justified (finding a balance between the complexity of the model and its information content, i.e., to examine when (and to what extent) the introduction of within-class heterogeneity is relevant); and the distributions of MRS calculations (since they often function as a direct measure of preferences, it is necessary to test how consistent the distributions of specifications with different class numbers are (if they are highly, i.e., relatively stable in explaining consumer preferences, it is probably worth putting more emphasis on the aspects mentioned above when choosing a model)). The results of this research raise further questions that should be addressed by further model testing in the future. [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.)

We consider dynamic competition between two platform‐based products that exhibit two‐sided network effects, such as game consoles and intelligent hardware. Firms compete in terms of pricing and Research & Development investment, which are driven by consumers' marginal utility of quality, indirect network effects, and the differentiation between consumers' preference for the products. We find that with a small marginal utility of consumers, the equilibrium investment of one firm increases first and decreases later with its product quality but is not obviously sensitive to the rival's. In contrast, with a large marginal utility, if the quality of the two products is comparable, the equilibrium investment increases substantially. However, if one product pulls ahead, the other firm will stop investing. Besides, we find that when the intrinsic value and the network value coexist, the market becomes more concentrated, even when consumers' marginal utility is small. The market concentration increases in both the consumers' marginal utility and the indirect network effect but decreases in the degree of differentiation between consumers' preference toward the two products. Interestingly, we show that differentiation plays an important role in shaping the market structure only when the network effect is weak. Counterintuitively, we show that the differentiation corrodes firms' total profits, which demonstrates that less fierce competition resulting from low substitution leads to a lower profit. Additionally, we reveal that dynamic interaction between quality and installed base motivates firms to improve from a low quality, the first‐mover advantage does not ensure market dominance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the interplay between the information strategy of an e‐commerce platform and the selling mode strategy of a manufacturer within a co‐opetitive supply chain, as well as the identification of the optimal supply chain strategy. We develop a supply chain model where a platform outsources production of its private label product to a manufacturer, who also sells its national brand product through the platform. The platform must decide whether to acquire consumer quality preference information at a cost and share it with the manufacturer, while the manufacturer needs to choose between the reselling mode or the agency selling mode for its national brand product. The two driving effects (competition‐intensification effect and mode differentiation effect) are identified. Our findings show that the platform will acquire and share information when the acquisition cost is sufficiently low, leading to the "competition‐intensification effect." Additionally, the manufacturer prefers the agency selling mode when cost‐quality efficiency is low, and the reselling mode otherwise, driven by the "mode differentiation effect." In cases where information sharing is absent, the manufacturer is more likely to choose the agency selling mode. Interestingly, when the cost‐quality efficiency of the manufacturer's product is moderate and the information acquisition cost is low, the "competition‐intensification effect" and the "mode differentiation effect" offset each other, resulting in the expansion of the region where the manufacturer chooses the reselling mode due to the platform's information‐sharing strategy. As a result, this enhances a cooperative relationship between the manufacturer and the platform. We also derive the optimal supply chain strategy, providing insights into both the manufacturer's selling mode and the platform's information strategies in online retailing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a game‐theoretic model that examines the entry decisions of two competing platform owners with differentiated research and development (R&D) efficiency and the response strategy of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in selecting which platform to cooperate with. The OEM and platform owners compete on quality and price in the face of consumers with heterogeneous preferences across the dimensions of the device and platform. We analyze the interaction between the entry decisions of platform owners and the OEM's response strategy within two cooperation models. In the charging model, we find that in the absence of entry, the OEM prefers the high‐efficiency platform. When only one platform owner enters, the OEM prefers the low‐efficiency platform. If the differentiated R&D efficiency and the device differentiation cost are large, both platform owners will choose to enter and the OEM will cooperate with the low‐efficiency platform. In the bundling model, when only one platform owner enters, only at a large cost of device differentiation will the OEM cooperate with the platform that enters the market to weaken market competition. In particular, when only the high‐efficiency platform enters, it is interesting that there exists a large cost of device differentiation that makes the high‐efficiency platform more favorable in the case when the OEM cooperates with the low‐efficiency platform. Our study provides practical insights into platform entry and OEM response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with assortment optimization when customers purchase products using a nonparametric choice model. Each customer is presented with a preference list and will buy an available highest‐ranked offered product on the preference list. The paper presents a novel bi‐objective integer programming model for assortment optimization following a ranking‐based consumer choice model. The objectives are maximizing the expected revenue and maximizing customer satisfaction. This problem is recognized as an NP‐hard problem. After developing the bi‐objective model, an improved version of the augmented ε$\varepsilon $‐constraint method is proposed to solve the problem and retrieve the Pareto‐optimal solutions. In each iteration, this algorithm solves a single‐objective linear integer programming sub‐problem. Our approach aims to obtain a complete set of Pareto‐optimal solutions. Finally, we present computational experiments on synthetic data. Several numerical illustrations are provided at the end to demonstrate the application of the proposed methodology. The computational results provide the decision‐makers with valuable information regarding the factors that mainly affect the solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The e‐commerce platform has been adopting the agency mode to sell the products of the national brand manufacturer (NBM) while introducing its own store brand and obtaining the consumer's preference information (CPI) to reinforce the competitiveness of the store‐brand products. This paper investigates the platform's decisions on whether to share the CPI with the NBM and its impact on the production timing decisions of the platform and the NBM. The results show that the platform may benefit from CPI sharing which may also change the equilibrium production timing of the platform and the NBM from sequential decision to simultaneous decision. In addition, the equilibria of the joint decision between the CPI sharing and the production timing are obtained, which is related to the market acceptance uncertainties of the products and the competitiveness of the national brands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophisticated ticketing practices have become widespread in the concert industry in recent years, with a wider range of musicians now experimenting with different ticket pricing schemes. The aim of these practices is to help musicians manage ticket capacity and maximize their concert income. However, there is limited evidence on how musicians can optimally allocate and price tickets with respect to how consumers value different ticket attributes. This study uses a stated preference discrete choice experiment and choice modeling methods to analyze consumer preferences for different attributes of concert tickets. The results of the modeling exercise highlight patterns in consumer preferences across different seating areas within a hypothetical venue, as well as average preferences for other common attributes of concert tickets. Finally, this study provides evidence of the significant welfare consumers derive from the availability of new ticketing innovations in the form of VIP packages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apples are a healthy and environmentally friendly snack, but the consumption of apples in many countries, including Norway, has decreased in the last fifteen years. This trend has a potential negative impact on public health and the environment. In this paper, we use a consumer survey and a random effect ordered logistic regression model to find out what is most important for people when they buy apples. Ten different values are considered and ranked according to individual's importance. We find that taste and safety are the most important values for the average individual's choice of apples, while the appearance and type of apple rank third. The least important values are wrapping size and regional origin. Everyday apple eaters are more concerned about pesticide use and less concerned about price than the average consumers. Furthermore, compared to the average consumer, those with low levels of trust in apple producers and authorities care more about pesticides and environmentally friendly production methods, while consumers with a high level of trust care less about these aspects. Our results indicate that to increase the consumption of Norwegian apples, it is important to maintain or improve their reputation as being tasty and safe to eat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript analyzes the issues presented in Executive Order 14036, which aimed to promote competition in the American economy, including specific directives for the alcohol industry. Specifically, this manuscript focuses on the issues regarding distilled spirits regulation and delves into the implications for the distilled spirits sector. The order addresses anti-competitive practices, encouraging regulatory bodies to review and revise existing policies that may hinder fair market practices. This paper explores these issues and provides a historical context of distilled spirits regulation in the United States, examining how past policies have shaped the current landscape. It analyzes the key provisions of Executive Order 14036, highlighting its potential to foster increased competition, innovation, and consumer choice within the distilled spirits market. Lastly, the article provides a call to action for policymakers, academia, and consumers which will aid distilled spirits producers in gaining parity with beer and wine producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the diffusion of innovative tea products in the Chinese market, examining the shift from traditional tea consumption toward "new tea" products characterized by convenience, variety, and alignment with contemporary consumer preferences. Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from 543 participants and analyzed through factor-cluster analysis to segment consumers based on their innovation adoption behavior. The results indicate that younger, educated, and higher-income groups adopt new tea innovations more rapidly. Notably, early adopters, representing over half of the consumer base, are not frequent consumers of these beverages, compelling suppliers to continually innovate to maintain long-term revenue growth. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the influence of sociodemographic factors on adoption rates and offering strategic marketing insights to enhance the uptake of new tea products. These findings underscore the importance of targeting demographic segments effectively and addressing the unique consumption patterns of early adopters to drive sustained market growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color plays a significant role in consumer decisions about food products, influencing preferences and choices and eliciting positive or negative associations. This study aimed to investigate the impact of color on dietitian food preferences, using selected tomato juices as an example. This study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, the color of the tomato juices was evaluated using a Tri-Color SF80 spectrophotometer. In the second stage, the serialization method performed sensory analysis among dietitians. Results showed that dietitians pay special attention to the color of food products. Spectrophotometric analysis indicated that not all tested pairs of juices had color differences noticeable to an inexperienced observer. There was no clear correlation between the specific color parameters and the choices made by dietitians. These findings suggest that while color is an important factor in consumer preferences, it is not the sole determinant, highlighting the complexity of consumer decision-making processes and providing valuable insights for product marketing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape pomace is a common waste product that can be used as compost, as animal feed or discarded. The goal of this study was to evaluate the quality and consumers' perception of a value-added grape pomace beverage, piquette, made using different red grape cultivars, yeast strains and grape pomace to water ratios. Petite Pearl and Marquette grape pomace were soaked using different pomace to water ratios in water for 2 days, prior to being pressed. Cane sugar was added to the juices prior to inoculation with three yeast strains (Cross Evolution, ICV D254, and Exotics Mosaic). The piquettes were bottled before chemical analysis and sensory evaluation by an untrained sensory panel following 8 months of storage. Piquettes made from Petite Pearl grape pomace, regardless of yeast strain, were preferred by consumers. Petite Pearl piquettes were fruity and pink, especially using D254 yeast. Piquettes made from different ratios of Petite Pearl pomace to water on a larger scale lacked nutrients at the beginning of fermentation, which led to "rotten-egg" aromas and were the least accepted by consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Glasnik Zastite Bilja is the property of Zadruzna Stampa D.D. 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.)

This study investigated factors influencing customer loyalty in three-star hotels in Dodoma City, focusing on customer perceived value, brand trust, and service personalization. Qualitative data, collected through purposive sampling and thematically analyzed, revealed significant disparities in customer perceived value. A majority the participants expressed dissatisfaction with pricing and alignment of services, signaling areas for hotel service enhancement. Transparent communication and consistent service delivery emerged as crucial for fostering brand trust, while personalized experiences positively impacted customer loyalty, highlighting the importance of tailored amenities and attentive staff. Recognizing the importance of meeting customer expectations, hotels emphasize personalized services and clear communication to enhance satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, quantitative data collected from 96 respondents using stratified random sampling and analyzed through multiple linear regressions indicated that neither customer perceived value nor brand trust significantly correlated with customer loyalty. This suggests that variations in these factors alone do not adequately explain changes in loyalty, hinting at a more unique and context-dependent relationship. However, a notable positive correlation was observed between service personalization and customer loyalty, indicating that improvements in personalization significantly influence higher levels of loyalty. Thus, hotels should focus on tailoring services and amenities to align with individual customer preferences and needs, thereby enhancing loyalty and fostering positive recommendations. Also, hotels should prioritize transparent pricing, consistent communication, and responsive customer engagement. The study provides fresh insights into customer loyalty dynamics within Dodoma City’s three-star hotel sector, offering valuable knowledge to aid hotel management in devising effective strategies to bolster customer loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As US consumers increasingly turn to multiple financial institutions, multiple FinTech providers and multiple payment apps, getting a full picture of the consumer's wallet is rare. Drawing on data collected through the Survey and Diary of Consumer Payment Choice — a representative survey of US consumers conducted since 2008 — this paper provides insights into US consumers' adoption of bank accounts and payment instruments, their recent use of payment instruments, their payment choices for purchases and bills, and the evolution in their practices over the last decade of innovation in payments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the Linder hypothesis for foreign direct investment (FDI) within the three‐way gravity framework, utilizing a newly compiled and extensive dataset encompassing greenfield and brownfield investment activities across diverse sectors from 2003 to 2018. The Linder hypothesis posits that multinational firms invest in countries with comparable income levels to their home country. Our primary findings affirm the relevance of the Linder hypothesis in the context of horizontal FDI. The influence of the Linder effect varies among sectors, with the service sector exhibiting the most pronounced effect, while no detectable effect is observable for the manufacturing sector. We also find that the Linder effect depends on the sector's position within the value chain and the degree of quality differentiation. Sectors closer to final consumer demand and those characterized by higher product differentiation exhibit greater exposure to the Linder effect. Additionally, our analysis reveals that the Linder effect is subject to variations based on the income levels of the host country and highlights the significance of consumer preferences in shaping FDI patterns. Our article underscores the pivotal role of industry dynamics, product quality considerations, and value chain positioning in influencing the Linder effect on FDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Serbian milk market has been shaken by several events, such as aflatoxin contamination scandals, dubious origin labelling practices by dairy processors and farmer protests due to unfavourable market position. In addition, as a European Union (EU) candidate member state, Serbia is striving to meet EU CAP organic production targets, but the share of organic milk production remains negligible. Improving understanding of milk consumer preferences is thus valuable for informing policymakers and industry stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the willingness to pay for Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk attributes among Serbian Generation Z consumers. An online survey with a discrete choice experiment has been conducted with 189 University Students. The data was analysed using a random parameter logit model and latent class analysis. Random parameter logit model results suggest a stronger willingness to pay for "100% domestic milk" than for "organic" UHT milk, while "high-fat (2.8%)" is the most preferred by the sampled consumers. The results of latent class analysis indicate that two distinct, and roughly equally sized consumer segments can be identified, namely label-driven consumers and fat content-driven consumers, suggesting that UHT milk with credence attributes such are "100% domestic milk" and "Organic" label would have a place in the Serbian market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fission marketing is important for e-commerce platforms to import new consumers from social media platforms. However, fission marketing may bring social pressure, resulting in consumer loss and poor platform reputation. We study fission marketing decisions under reputation-based and discount-based models, considering three fission marketing degrees of non-fission, moderate fission, and extensive fission. Our findings demonstrate that the platform can adopt fission marketing with a high sales price. Extensive fission can be the most effective in improving profits when with either more fission marketing preference consumers or a high sales price, and a small cost coefficient of fission marketing. Otherwise, moderate fission is the best choice. Specifically, by employing reputation-based marketing, extensive fission can always generate more demand, while adopting discount-based marketing, owing to consumer's aversion sentiment, extensive fission may lead to less demand than moderate fission. Extending models to consider endogenous price, we find deceptive marketing behavior may exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased consumer environmental awareness prompts an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to work with a green contract manufacturer (CM), where the latter can encroach on the existing market and compete with its OEM by introducing his own-label products. We consider four supply chain scenarios (i.e., NE, ED, EA, and ER) based on the encroachment modes of green CM (i.e., no-encroachment, direct selling, agent selling, and reselling), and explore channel configuration strategies from various perspectives. First, for economic benefit, the CM always encroaches, and entry cost, product substitutability, and agency fee are critical to online channel configuration. The OEM is more reluctant to CM encroachment when two products' greenness is different. Based on the fact that the agency fee is generally not greater than 0.2, the platform acts as a reseller in most cases. Second, for environmental benefit, both Scenarios ED and EA are likely to be dominant strategies when product greenness is different; otherwise, Scenario ED is always dominant. Finally, consumer surplus can be improved in all encroachment scenarios and consumers prefer Scenario ED in most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the efficacy of algorithms plays a pivotal role in advancing various fields, both in theory and practice. Unlike the predictive models, due to the intricate relationship between decisions and the underlying data‐generating processes, the evaluation of decision algorithms cannot directly rely on real data. Hence, a simulator becomes indispensable for appraising decision algorithm effectiveness. In this paper, we aim to leverage assortment decisions, a widely used application in revenue management, to illustrate the utilization of a machine learning‐based simulation. The process can be summarised as: we utilize the modified Transformer‐based choice model, acting as a simulator, to generate a synthetic dataset that mimics consumer purchasing behavior. After training the MNL, DeepFM, and DeepFM‐a models, all of which can swiftly provide assortment decisions in real‐time, we utilize the simulator to evaluate the revenue generated by each assortment prescribed by different choice models. This approach mitigates the challenge of validating decision models that alter real‐world observed data. To show the benefit of such a simulation approach, we have conducted various numerical studies. These studies aim to examine the impact of outside option attractiveness, data size, the number of features, and cardinality. Admittedly, due to the close alignment between the simulator and complex consumer purchase choice datasets, some numerical observations may be challenging to explain. Nevertheless, by employing the simulator, we are able to contrast the differences between the MNL and DeepFM/DeepFM‐a models, shedding light on their respective model misspecifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Professional Business Review (JPBReview) is the property of Open Access Publications LLC 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.)

Consumer behavior and preferences regarding restaurant patronage during a pandemic are different than those under ordinary conditions. This research investigates the new drivers of customer satisfaction with restaurants in two different countries, Indonesia and Taiwan, by surveying young adults and analyzing their responses through various structural equation modeling techniques. The severity of the outbreak in each country moderates the intensity of the effects of the determinants of trust, whereas building trust through safety precautions and a safe physical environment becomes the key factor to achieve customer satisfaction. In fact, under extraordinary conditions of lifestyle disruption involving high perceived uncertainty and risk, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, trust assumes the role of mediator in the relationship between customer satisfaction and its drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of network technology, online shopping is becoming more and more convenient. But the increasing number of products also makes it difficult for consumers to make the right decision. When there is no apparent market demand, how to recommend products with commercial potential to customers has become an urgent problem for businesses to solve. This paper proposes e-commerce product recommendation based on user preference and association rule algorithm aiming at the problems existing in e-commerce product recommendation. Firstly, this paper constructs a user interest modeling method. Through analyzing users' interests and preferences, to provide users with timely and accurate personalized services. Then, the FP_Growth algorithm is optimized and improved. A more effective CTE-MARM algorithm is designed, and an association rules database based on user benefit items is constructed and analyzed jointly. Analyze products with strong correlations. According to consumers' interest levels, TOP-N is the best product choice. Experiments show that the algorithm has higher prediction accuracy. The research results of this project can not only improve enterprises' ability to analyse data and provide data support for enterprises to carry out effective marketing management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the mechanisms that underlie the biases in price elasticities of demand in applying static demand models under dynamic demand, which have been pointed out by previous empirical studies. It studies three sources of biases: disregard of state variables (affecting short-run elasticity); inconsistent utility parameter estimates; and changing expectations of consumers (affecting long-run elasticity). Disregard of state variables, such as durable product holdings, which is not negligible but not paid much attention to in the literature, leads to an overestimate of short-run own elasticities. Inconsistent utility parameter estimates arises due to the failure to account for consumers' future expectations and unobserved state variables. Changing expectations of consumers are not explicitly specified in the static model, and this also leads to biased results when applying static models. Regarding the magnitude of the biases, the first and the third sources of biases might induce large biases in price elasticities, especially when the focus is on the large conditional choice probability products. Possible remedies for the use of static demand models are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I show equilibrium existence for a price‐setting game among multi‐product firms facing a nested logit/CES demand. As opposed to previous research I allow arbitrary firm/nest overlap, making the result relevant for applied work. Additionally, under easy‐to‐verify conditions, I show that there exist extreme equilibria, which are the most and least preferred by consumers, and provide an algorithm to find them. This allows researcher to numerically verify equilibrium uniqueness in applications, that is, if the extreme equilibria are equal to each other. As a by‐product, I show that inverting FOCs correctly identifies the marginal costs that rationalize observed prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do first movers into a new industry sometimes gain an advantage simply because of the fact that they are perceived by audiences to be more authentic than second movers, whereas in other contexts such second movers are perceived as no less authentic than first movers? We theorize that this difference hinges on the amount of costly, risky "legitimation work" that entrants are perceived to have conducted in their efforts to establish that the new organizational form is reliable and acceptable. Whereas a first mover must expend great effort to reassure skeptical audiences that the new form coheres with their norms and that it can meet and even exceed their standards, later arrivals are often able to appropriate such legitimacy once it has been established. But such appropriation by the second mover makes its (often implicit) claim of original insight or vision seem less authentic than that of the first mover. In three complementary online experiments on audience reactions to online healthcare startups, we find support for our prediction that followers suffer from a lower consumer preference because they are perceived to have done less work in establishing the new form's legitimacy. Our results show that when follower firms show evidence of participation in legitimation work, it may overturn the default interpretation and reduce the authenticity discount. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.17215. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial and digital inclusion are key consumer policy agendas for governments globally. Yet, despite the importance of online interfaces to manage finances and make payments, the link between financial and digital inclusion remains under-researched. This study analyses the link between digital and financial inclusion drawing on data from a survey conducted of 922 adults in UK in 2018. The results suggest that the active use of banking services depends on digital skills. The level of self-rated internet proficiency predicts a variety of ways in which consumers use financial services in the management of their finances, including contactless payments, bank transfers, and the use of multiple banking services. This holds even when controlling for socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Conversely, household income is more important as a determinant than digital skills in checking account balance online. This possibly reflects that liquidity constrained consumers generally prefer to monitor their spending using cash as this provides more precise information on their spending and remaining balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological state alterations induced by substance-related physiological mechanisms affect consumer decision-making. We examine the influence of caffeine—the world's most popular psychostimulant—on the attraction effect. In three double-blinded experiments, we show that caffeine intake via coffee influences consumers' preference for product options that asymmetrically dominate a decoy option in choice sets (i.e., the attraction effect). Using real products in consequential choice tasks, we show that high caffeine intake (200 mg) is associated with a larger attraction effect both on between-subjects and within-subjects levels and in free-choice as well as forced-choice decision tasks. On the contrary, we do not find support for caffeine's influence on the attraction effect when considering intermediate levels of caffeine intake (125 mg) and hypothetical decisions. We discuss theoretical implications for context effect research and practical implications for marketers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are often faced with a choice to rent or buy. Beyond the economic attributes such as price, limited research has examined how specific product attributes influence consumers' choices. We show that unethical product attributes influence consumers' choice between renting and buying. Across six studies, we demonstrate that consumers are more likely to choose renting over buying when an unethical product attribute is present (vs. absent) because consumers anticipate feeling less guilt about renting (vs. buying) a product with unethical attributes. Consistent with the anticipated guilt mechanism, this effect is greater for consumers with higher guilt-proneness and with stronger self-brand connection. Taken together, we show that consumers use renting as a coping strategy to reduce negative emotions associated with using unethical products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the negative effect of power distance belief (PDB) on do-it-yourself (DIY) preference. It extends previous studies by delving into the underlying mechanism and identifying three theoretically driven moderators that could mitigate this negative effect. Design/methodology/approach: The paper uses secondary data at the country level and conducts three experiments involving participants from the USA and Germany. Findings: The results suggest that the adverse impact of PDB on DIY preference exists through the underlying mechanism of attitude toward customer power. This negative effect can be mitigated when individuals with high PDB focus on status, find themselves in a position of low power or engage in activities within a private consumption setting. Practical implications: For DIY companies, this study offers crucial insights into the impact of cultural values on consumers' DIY preferences. By customizing their marketing communications, companies can resonate with high PDB customers more effectively. Originality/value: This research enhances DIY literature by introducing novel moderators within a theoretical framework, explaining why DIY preference might be low among individuals with high PDB and suggests ways to attenuate this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Given the growing acceptance of cashback offers (e.g. $10 PayPal cashback within 24 hours of the transaction) among retailers, this paper aims to understand how consumers evaluate them vis-à-vis traditional price-discounts and their subsequent impact on retailers' promotional strategies. Design/methodology/approach: Six experimental studies examine if and when consumers can discern differences in the time-of-reward-accrual (i.e. the waiting time associated with receiving promotional savings) of cashbacks and price-discounts. Building on evaluability theory, we propose that the time-of-reward-accrual of promotion is hard-to-evaluate. Put simply, consumers find it hard to assess the duration of waiting time associated with receiving promotions. Consequently, consumers' perceptions of cashbacks vis-à-vis price-discounts can be influenced by whether they evaluate both promotions simultaneously [joint-evaluation (JE) mode] or independently [single-evaluation (SE) mode]. Findings: The initial four studies show that the time-of-reward-accrual of promotions is hard-to-evaluate. Cashbacks appear just as appealing as price-discounts when consumers evaluate them independently (SE-mode) but lose their appeal when consumers view them alongside price-discounts (JE-mode). The next two studies further enhance the generalizability of our findings by replicating the observed effects for different purchase types (hedonic vs utilitarian) and varying promotional benefit levels (high vs low). Originality/value: By shedding light on evaluations of time-of-reward-accrual of promotion, this paper adds a new dimension to research on promotions. The paper also extends the application of evaluability theory beyond domains such as hiring, fairness judgments and product bundle assessments. The paper presents evaluation mode as a boundary condition to explain contradictory predictions from prior research for consumers' preferences for delayed vs immediate promotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Based on Kansei Engineering, this study obtained consumers' emotional preferences aiming to enhance the emotional connection between consumers and clothing to extend the service life of clothing and realize sustainable clothing design. Design/methodology/approach: Six Kansei word pairs that are the most important to consumers were identified through literature reviews, magazines, websites, card sorting of consumers and cluster analysis. Finally, the consumers scored the 32 product specimens through a 5-level rating semantic differential scale questionnaire of six Kansei word pairs. The researchers verified the consumers' emotional preferences through principal component analysis and established the relationship between Kansei words and design elements of color through partial least squares. Findings: The study found consumers' emotional preferences: elegant, minimalist, formal, casual, mature, practical and distinctive style. Besides white, black, gray, blue, consumers will also like red and yellow-red in the future. The crucial findings of this study are to get recommended guidelines that consumers' emotional preferences match the corresponding design elements. Originality/value: The study's findings can be used to style the design of men's plain-color shirts and guide online marketers and designers to design apparel that meets consumers' emotional needs to develop consumers' sustainability reliance on clothing. This study also explains the overall process and methodology for integrating consumer preferences and product design elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era where food packaging plays a dual role in both reducing food waste and contributing to global packaging waste, this study presents an analysis of packaging‐free systems. As governments and organizations attempt to address the environmental impact of single‐use packaging, packaging‐free alternatives have emerged as a promising solution. However, there is a need for a comprehensive assessment of environmental sustainability and its alignment with consumer behaviours and preferences in this growing type of grocery system. Considering this need, this study employs an integrative literature review process, selecting 51 research articles. This selection was classified into three principal areas: the characteristics of packaging‐free services, the dynamics of consumer behaviour and patterns from a household perspective. This review evaluates the effectiveness of packaging‐free systems, exploring the factors that drive consumer adoption, the obstacles to transitioning and the relevance of theoretical frameworks like the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and practice theory (PT) in understanding and assessing the sustainability of these alternatives. The result of this study is the identification of significant research gaps and opportunities, leading to a comprehensive research agenda. This agenda emphasizes the need for a more refined understanding of consumer classifications that extend beyond standard demographic metrics, delving into aspects like household structures, dietary preferences and regional variations. The study highlights the limited scope of existing literature by advocating for a holistic grocery analysis that blends packaging‐free and conventional shopping practices to understand more realistic grocery scenarios, as not all products are available in packaging‐free alternatives. It also underscores the importance of integrating environmental assessments with consumer behaviour studies to see the sustainability of the systems beyond reusable containers. Additionally, this research sheds light on the relatively unexplored area of online packaging‐free services, questioning the sustainable implication of incorporating online alternatives in grocery practices, and suggests a broader application of theoretical frameworks, including activity theory (AT) as a new perspective to achieve a new understanding of these systems. Lastly, contributing to the overall understanding of packaging‐free systems, the study concludes with a SWOT analysis that briefly identifies strengths in environmental sustainability and consumer awareness, balanced against weaknesses like data gaps and complex consumer decision‐making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the stakeholders' pressure and the high cost/risk of green technological innovation (GTI), the tech firms are challenged over whether or not both of its components, namely green process innovation (GPsI) and green product innovation (GPdI), should be adopted. Focusing on both components raises the final product price, adversely affecting the consumers' willingness to pay. In this study, evolutionary game theory and system dynamics were employed following a combinatory approach to analyze the evolutionary behavior of the GTI system with emphasis on both GPdI and GPsI through a feedback process. For this purpose, the tech firms' environmental performance under evolutionary stable strategies was examined. In addition, the impact of the tech firms' environmental performance on their evolutionary behavior and the consumers' purchasing approach was analyzed. The simulation results indicate that tech firms exhibit different environmental behaviors in various game scenarios. In the fourth scenario, where tech firms choose both GPsI and GPdI and consumers prefer the first-type green product, the environmental performance of tech firms is superior compared to other scenarios. Conversely, in the second scenario, where tech firms opt for GPdI and consumers lean toward the second type of green product, tech firms demonstrate poor environmental performance. When consumer environmental awareness is dynamic. The evolutionary rate of tech firms and consumers exceeds that of the other scenarios. It was also found that effective government intervention can accelerate the system's evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Credibly representing category-of-goods mental accounting in an intertemporal optimisation framework is notoriously difficult, as this modelling approach imposes interrelations between the demand for different categories through first-order conditions. This breaks the principle of nonfungibility, contrary to the rationale of mental-accounting theory. Proofs that using intertemporal optimisation is futile in modelling this kind of behaviour are provided, and an alternative is developed: a procedural-behavioural merger of mental accounting and categorisation theories. The merger is necessary to enhance mental-accounting theory, which by itself does not inform about how mental budgets are formed, what they include and how money is spent from various accounts. A classification of six basic consumer types was devised, basing on the differences between their mental-accounting systems and variations of changes of expenditure in response to fluctuations of net disposable income and other possible stimuli. Representing the consumer problem as a behavioural procedure including spending on nondurable and frequently-bought durable goods as well as decisions whether or not to purchase very expensive durable goods, such as houses and flats, allows to model real-world features such as infrequent purchases and rare debt-taking. The devised working-life cycle models of consumer behaviour are consistent with microeconomic evidence on consumption, including those features that are not accounted for by various versions of the permanent income or buffer-stock models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A new approach to marketing an inventive product is needed as the development of a new natural toothpaste product is challenging. When choosing herbal-based products, consumers value taste and flavor, preferring natural, appealing flavors over synthetic flavors. Health advantages are also noteworthy, especially, herbal smells promote well-being and satisfaction. Purpose: The study main objective aimed to examine how the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to create a new natural toothpaste product. The study also aimed to design a strategy for innovative toothpaste commercialization based on nanohydroxyapatite (nanoHAP) and Curcuma aeruginosa. Design/methodology/approach: The AHP technique used to evaluate and prioritize elements of natural ingredient, and consumer preferences. The study framework identified herbal toothpaste benefits with known oral health benefits, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and desensitizing qualities, as well as consumer preferences for tooth paste. These attributes were ranked according to their performance using the AHP framework. Findings/Result: The results of the study stated that the new natural toothpaste, based on nanoHAP and Curcuma aeruginosa, was designed based on quality natural ingredients and consumer preference for naturalness, influencing formula design and marketing efforts. The strategy to develop new toothpaste aimed to provide a holistic health solution, emphasizing natural components and general health perspectives. This strategy could capture the attention of the target market and outpace competitors, attracting customers interested in natural health products. Conclusion: This study addresses the possibility of using nanoHAP alongside Curcuma aeruginosa in a natural toothpaste product that can enhance the remineralization and antibacterial characteristics of the dental product. The research suggests incorporating nanoHAP with Curcuma aeruginosa in a natural toothpaste product for holistic health solutions. Strategies include targeted marketing, loyalty programs, and strategic partnerships, ensuring a comprehensive and data-driven approach to reach and engage target audiences. Originality/value (State of the art): The AHP facilitates complete review, data-driven planning, and commercial viability for commercialization strategy. AHP aids in balancing functional benefits with quantifying subjective assessments, and incorporating customer feedback to increase product success in the competitive oral care industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cookly is a bread manufacturer that uses cassava as the main ingredient to produce gluten-free products. Cookly requires innovative development of derived products that cater to consumer needs. Purpose: This study aims to identify consumer characteristics, analyze consumer preferences, and formulate an innovation plan for Cookly gluten-free derived bread products. Design/methodology/approach: The sample for this study consisted of 100 participants selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data analysis utilized descriptive analysis and conjoint analysis. Findings/Result: The study found that Cookly consumers were evenly distributed in terms of gender, aged between 18-25, mostly unmarried, residing in Bogor, with a high school education, and working as students or employees, with a monthly expenditure ranging from IDR500,000-IDR3,000,000. Conclusion: The most preferred attribute combination by respondents was a dominant savory taste with relatively low sugar content, a soft texture, bread with color, packaged in environmentally friendly boxes, and priced between IDR10,000- IDR25,000 Originality/value (State of the art): Cookly developed a convenient gluten-free bread product, the Gluten-Free Toasted Cassava Bread, with savory flavors offered as signature menu items and a "make your own" option. Additionally, Cookly switched from plastic packaging to eco-friendly packaging and improved production efficiency through the use of new tools and adjustments to raw material restocking schedules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming concerns have emphasized the need for carbon neutrality. Improving the efficiency of the electricity industry is one method of reducing CO2 emissions. There is a demand response policy that trades the saved electricity through voluntary adjustment of consumption patterns. The introduction of real-time pricing (RTP) based on advanced power supply systems is a method of transitioning to a demand-oriented power system. However, as Korea's power supply system is a relatively less efficient single-rate system, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of demand management. To transition to a demand-oriented power system in Korea, consumer preference is first investigated. This study evaluates the willingness to pay (WTP) for the introduction of RTP in Korea. Based on a survey of 500 households using the contingent valuation method, the monthly average WTP was found to be 2465 Korean won per household ($2.18 per household), which is approximately 7.8% of the electricity rate. Several additional factors influencing WTP were analyzed. Further analysis indicated that it is more effective to establish infrastructure for introducing RTP in local areas with low average electricity rates. These findings are beneficial for the development of future demand response policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the analysis of the preferences of different customer generations in Slovakia in the field of marketing communication and its influence on consumer behaviour. Currently, marketing communication is an integral part of company strategies and has a key influence on how customers choose products or services. With the increasing importance of the generational segmentation of customers, understanding their individual preferences and tendencies in communication becomes an essential prerequisite for success. In this paper, we explore how preferences differ between Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z, and how these preferences influence their consumer behaviour. Based on the analysis of primary and secondary data, the main trends and preferences of generations in the field of marketing communication were identified. This paper provides useful information that can be used by companies in the creation and implementation of marketing strategies. At the same time, the paper enables a better understanding of the dynamics of consumer behaviour in the context of generational preferences and will help identify opportunities for improving marketing activities and more effective communication with target groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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