Consumption Gap Research Articles

Impact of fruit powders incorporation on probiotic viability and sensory properties of yogurt

Purpose The primary objective of this study was to investigate the viability of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GR-1 (LGR-1) when combined with four prebiotic-rich fruit powders – apple, papaya, mango, and red beetroot – in probiotic yogurt. Additionally, the study aims to assess customer acceptability of the yogurt fortified with these fruit powders through a sensory evaluation using a nine-point hedonic scale. Design/methodology/approach The yogurt samples, inoculated with the LGR-1 probiotic strain, underwent fermentation at 38 °C for 0, 2, 4 and 6 h. Following fermentation, the samples were stored in a refrigerator at 4 °C for 1, 15 and 30 days. Throughout the study, microbial counts and pH level measurements were performed to assess the viability of LGR-1. A sensory evaluation consisted of 89 participants. A nine-point hedonic scale, ranging from 1 (dislike extremely) to 9 (like extremely), along with a questionnaire were used to assess criteria such as appearance, flavor, texture and overall acceptability of the samples. Findings All treatments at all time points maintained a minimum viable microbial count of 107 CFU/mL (colony-forming units per mL), which indicated that the addition of fruit powders supported the growth and survival of LGR-1 in yogurt. Treatment 5, fortified with papaya powder, was the only group that exhibited a significant change of microbial count after 30 days of fermentation (p = 0.018). Although there were no statistically significant differences in pH values at the 0- and 2-h time points within each treatment, the pH remained relatively stable after day 15, with an average mean pH of 4.29. Treatment 2 fortified with mango powder obtained the highest overall acceptability score because of its smooth and firm texture as well as mild mango-sweet flavor. Originality/value This study explored the viability of probiotics and the sensory properties of yogurt fortified with various fruit powders, while also examining the potential prebiotic effects of fruit powders in enhancing overall sensory appeal. The findings suggested that papain may play a role in increasing probiotic viability in yogurt. Given the inconvenience and inaccessibility of fresh fruits and the generally inadequate prebiotic intake, this research addressed the gap in prebiotic consumption by offering novel ideas for health-enhancing dairy products.

Can Corporate Social Responsibility Shift Consumer Behavior? Insights from Scenario-Based Experiment in the Fast Fashion Industry

This study investigates the interplay between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagement and pricing strategies in shaping consumer purchase intentions in the fast fashion industry. Using a scenario-based experimental design with 267 participants, this research explores how different levels of CSR and two distinct price points influence purchasing behavior. Additionally, the moderating effects of individual differences, such as consumer wealth, motivations for sustainable behavior, and income, are examined. The findings indicate that higher levels of CSR engagement significantly enhance purchase intentions, particularly when combined with higher price points, perhaps due to consumer perceptions of CSR programs associated with more expensive brands as more authentic. However, price remains a critical factor for lower-income consumers, revealing an “ethical consumption gap” where affordability outweighs ethical concerns. Extrinsic motivations, such as social pressure, strongly influence wealthier consumers’ decisions, while intrinsic motivations show a more complex relationship with purchasing behavior. The findings provide practical insights for fast fashion brands, suggesting that aligning CSR with competitive pricing and authentic messaging is crucial for appealing to both price-sensitive and ethically conscious consumers.

The Impact of Economic Incentives on the Purchase Behavior of Recycled Fashion and Footwear

This study investigates the impact of economic incentives on the purchase behavior of recycled fashion and footwear in Vietnam, addressing a critical gap in sustainable consumption research within emerging markets. Employing a mixed-methods approach, including a large-scale survey (n=1,023) and field experiments across 120 stores, we examine the effectiveness of various incentive types: discounts, loyalty programs, and government subsidies. Our findings reveal that while price discounts drive immediate sales increases (28.3% volume increase), loyalty programs foster superior long-term engagement (23.5% increase in repeat purchases) and higher average order values (31.7% increase). Government subsidies, particularly when combined with educational initiatives, also prove effective (27.3% sales volume increase). The study identifies key moderating factors, including environmental consciousness, age, and urban-rural location, which significantly influence the impact of these incentives. By providing empirical evidence on the nuanced effectiveness of economic incentives in promoting sustainable fashion choices, this research offers valuable insights for retailers, policymakers, and sustainability advocates. The findings contribute to bridging the intention-action gap in sustainable consumption and provide a foundation for developing targeted strategies to promote recycled fashion in emerging markets.

Bridging the knowledge-intention gap in sustainable consumption: an extended model

Bridging the knowledge-intention gap in sustainable consumption: an extended model

Inequality as determinant of donation: A theoretical modeling and empirical analysis of Korea.

Recipient financial need is a crucial factor in donation decisions. This study proposes a novel model for determining financial donations, incorporating consumption levels of both donor and recipient within a societal context. Solving our model's utility maximization problem reveals how consumption, donation, and savings are interlinked. Empirical evidence reinforces these findings, aligning with prior research and showing that larger consumption gaps between donors and recipients lead to increased donations. Our findings point towards an inherent altruistic motivation in donation, where elevating the recipient's well-being ultimately enhances the donor's own utility. This reinforces the notion that consideration of the recipient's financial hardship, as reflected by their consumption patterns, is crucial when making donation decisions. Shifting beyond traditional models, this study introduces a groundbreaking approach to financial donations. Our novel model factors in consumption levels of both the donor and recipient, along with the broader societal context, using utility maximization to unravel the intertwined decisions of consumption, donation, and savings. Real-world data validates our model, confirming known donation factors and revealing a key finding: larger disparities in consumption lead to increased giving, suggesting an altruistic drive where helping others boosts personal satisfaction.

Empirical Study on the Development of Digital Inclusive Finance on Narrowing the Consumption Gap between Urban and Rural Areas--Taking Shanxi Province as an Example

Based on the panel data of 11 cities and regions in Shanxi Province from 2011 to 2020, the study empirically investigates the impact of digital financial inclusion on the urban-rural consumption gap in Shanxi Province from the perspective of the overall effect and regional effect of digital financial inclusion development. The study finds that, in general, digital inclusive finance has narrowed the consumption gap between urban and rural residents through the high-quality features of low threshold and accessibility, from the perspective of regional heterogeneity, the uneven development of digital inclusive finance has led to significant differences in its effect on the consumption gap between urban and rural residents among regions, showing the characteristics of a ladder with a high level in the south and a low level in the north, and from the perspective of structural heterogeneity, the structure of digital inclusive finance development also has a significant impact on the consumption gap between urban and rural residents in Shanxi Province. From the perspective of structural heterogeneity, the impact of the development structure of digital inclusive finance on the consumption gap between urban and rural residents in Shanxi Province also varies, with the breadth of coverage bringing better bridging effects than the depth of use, while the degree of digitization creates the problem of digital divide and widens the consumption gap, finally, relevant suggestions are put forward with a view to narrowing the consumption gap between urban and rural areas and promoting the coordinated development of urban and rural areas.

Is the Behavioural Gender Gap Decreasing? Evidence from Food Consumption in Swiss Single-Person Households.

While Switzerland has made some progress over the past few decades in treating men and women more equally, this study intends to find out whether Swiss men and women's food consumption patterns also converged between 1990 and 2017. After analysing 1.8 million observations of one-member households' food baskets, we found that gender gaps are increasing significantly for 16 of 70 studied foods, decreasing significantly for another 16 of 70 studied foods and not changing significantly for more than half of the studied foods. On average, the gender gap in food consumption in Switzerland has increased over time. We conclude that behavioural differences between genders and culturally induced gender differences (e.g., unequal career chances) are largely unrelated.

Impact of high-speed railway network improvement on consumption synergy in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

This paper investigates the impact of high-speed rail (HSR) network improvement on the consumption synergy of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region by using the panel data of 13 prefectural-level cities from 2006 to 2021. The results show that: (1) The improvement of the HSR network in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has a significant positive impact on raising overall regional consumption levels. (2) The HSR network improvement has a heterogeneous impact on consumption in different cities within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. (3) The promotional effect on peripheral cities is greater than on central cities, thereby promoting the coordinated consumption development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The findings of this study have important policy implications, confirming that the construction of the HSR network can narrow the consumption gap within the region and promote consumption synergy across the region.

Bridging the Intention-Behavior Gap in Sustainable Consumption (WITHDRAWN)

Bridging the Intention-Behavior Gap in Sustainable Consumption (WITHDRAWN)

The Influence of Psychological Factors on Consumer Purchase Intention for Electric Vehicles: Case Study from China: Integrating the Necessary Condition Analysis Methodology from the Perspective of Self-Determination Theory

This paper examines the impact of psychological factors on consumer purchase intention for electric vehicles (EVs) through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). By integrating the three dimensions of autonomy, relatedness, and competence, this study addresses a research gap in consumer innovative consumption, offering a deeper understanding of green transportation. The research reveals that psychological factors significantly influence innovative consumption and the purchase intention of EVs, aligning with the existing literature. In sustainable transportation, psychological factors such as motivation, attitude, and inner activities increasingly drive purchase decisions. This study examines the direct and indirect effects of psychological factors on purchase intention by employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA). It also considers the moderating role of driving experience in the relationship between psychological factors and innovative consumption. This combined data analysis approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms influencing purchase intention, highlighting the intricate interplay between psychological determinants and consumer behavior in the adoption of electric vehicles.

The Impact of Agricultural Insurance on Urban-Rural Consumption Gap

Based on panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2020, this paper analyzes the impact and mechanism of the level of agricultural insurance (AI) coverage on the urban-rural consumption gap (URCG). The study finds: (1) Long-term development of AI can promote the narrowing of URCG. (2) Regional heterogeneity tests reveal that the impact of AI on URCG is particularly significant in eastern regions but weak in central and western regions. (3) From the perspective of intermediary effects, accelerating urbanization (UR) is an important mechanism for AI to narrow URCG and enhance economic quality and efficiency. (4) Based on the threshold effect of fiscal support for agriculture on the level of AI and URCG, it is found that when fiscal support for agriculture is moderate, the development of AI is conducive to narrowing URCG. However, during periods of excessive fiscal support for agriculture, the role of AI in narrowing URCG is not significant. If fiscal support for agriculture continues to increase, the development of AI may even widen the consumption gap between urban and rural areas.

Bridging the Intention-Behavior Gap in Organic Food Consumption: Empirical Evidence from China.

The transition to a low-carbon economy emphasizes the importance of green and low-carbon consumption; yet, there is often a discrepancy between consumers' intentions and their actual behavior regarding organic foods. This study aims to identify strategies to bridge this gap. The research model of organic food consumption intention and behavior is constructed, and a structural equation model is used to test the research hypotheses based on a valid sample of 480 residents of Guangdong Province through an online questionnaire survey. Further, the intention‒behavior gap is defined and its determinants are investigated through multiclass logistic regression. Finally, we categorize and forecast the alignment between consumption intentions and behaviors using machine learning algorithms. The results reveal that attitudes, social interactions, and cognitive information play crucial roles in aligning intentions with behaviors. By enhancing social information exchange or improving cognitive understanding, consumers can reduce their intention‒behavior discrepancy. This research offers valuable policy recommendations for fostering green consumption among residents from various perspectives.

Intention-behaviour gap in organic food consumption: a dual-moderated mediation model

Intention-behaviour gap in organic food consumption: a dual-moderated mediation model

Air-conditioning anthropogenic heat in high-density residential areas: Spatial patterns and impacts

The overheated urban environment has drastically increased air-conditioning (AC) usage, which induces extensive heat emissions from outdoor units. This phenomenon is more adverse in high-density residential areas as the air-conditioning anthropogenic heat (ACAH) would further cause localized heat accumulation in canyons, negatively impacting AC energy consumption and residents’ comfort. While previous research has explored the impact of ACAH on urban canyons, there is a lack of studies that systematically investigate the pattern, impacts, and mitigations of ACAH at a refined scale in high-density residential areas. This study aims to investigate the temperature distribution under ACAH and quantify its impact on cooling energy consumption and pedestrian thermal discomfort. High-density residential areas were categorized by different heights of buildings and directions of outdoor unit placement. Numerical simulations were conducted to study ambient temperature distribution. Results showed that the worst heat accumulation was at the windward position of the AC outdoor unit, and the outdoor temperature on the middle floor was 2.3 °C higher than that on the upper floor, resulting in a higher energy consumption of 6.3 W/m2. The worst case with taller windward buildings caused 55 % of the pedestrian areas to be more uncomfortable. Mitigation strategies were also proposed from multiple perspectives, including heat source optimization (e.g., cross-layout of AC outdoor units) and offering subsidies for AC electricity consumption gaps. The study provides a systematic research perspective on spatial heat accumulation patterns in high-density residential areas, which is instructive for mitigating urban warming and promoting sustainable urban development.

Paradoxical gender effects in meat consumption across cultures

Men tend to eat more meat than women, but it is not clear why. We tested three hypotheses in a cross-cultural design (20,802 individuals in 23 countries across four continents): that gender differences are (a) universal, (b) related to gender roles and thus weaker in countries with higher gender equality and human development, or (c) related to opportunities to express gender roles and thus stronger in countries with higher gender equality and human development. Across all countries, men tended to consume more meat than women. However, this difference increased significantly in countries with greater human development and gender equality. The paradoxical gender gap in meat consumption aligns with previous research that suggests greater differences in behavior across genders in contexts that are more developed and gender equal. We discuss implications for theories of culture and gender as well as practical implications for global meat reduction.

Household health and medical care consumption decisions considering intertemporal uncertainty

To assist residents in exploring the optimal household health and medical care consumption decision-making strategies in an intertemporal uncertain environment, a consumption decision model based on a three-dimensional (3D) path planning PSO-GA-ACO was constructed. The results showed significant differences in the average optimal paths for household health and medical care consumption decisions among residents with different consumption preferences during the three different periods of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the Covid-19 period, the gap in household health and medical care consumption narrowed among residents with different consumption preferences, especially between steady and impulsive consumers. When comparing the post-Covid-19 period with the pandemic period, the monthly health and medical care consumption amounts decreased for both conservative and impulsive consumers, while it continued to rise for steady consumers. The 3D path planning PSO-GA-ACO algorithm improved the speed and accuracy of searching for optimal solutions and better described the decision-making behavior of household health and medical consumption compared to the traditional 3D path planning algorithms PSO, GA, and ACO. This study not only provides optimal household health and medical care consumption decision-making strategies for residents facing complex and uncertain environments but also offers scientific evidence for healthcare manufacturers and suppliers to take effective production and supply actions.

Research On the Influencing Factors of Pulp Import Trade in China

Paper industry is an important basic industry of the national economy, is recognized as "never exhausted" industry. In the 21st century, with the development of social economy, China has become the world's paper products consumer power. Since 2003, China's pulp imports ranked first in the world, and the gradually expanding trade deficit will not only have an impact on China's pulp industry, but also is not conducive to the sustainable development of import trade. Based on the production and consumption gap in China's pulp market, this paper analyzes the demand, scale and structure of pulp import trade, and then empirically analyzes the influencing factors of China's pulp import trade, and finally puts forward the suggestions for safeguarding the safety and interests of China's pulp import trade according to the research results.

Sustainable energy consumption – Empirical evidence of a household in Poland

There is an expected increase in the demand for electricity from households in European countries. The outcome of the growing proportion of renewable energy sources in the energy supply mix should result in improved customer awareness regarding their electricity usage. Additionally, they must assume a more proactive role in overseeing their electricity usage. Innovation and pollution management have become crucial catalysts for promoting sustainable economic development and environmental protection. This is a response to the increasing threats posed by climate change. This study addresses this existing research gap in sustainable energy consumption. The research aims to examine the advantages of replacing traditional sources of heating with renewable ones. The empirical case study of households in Poland serves as an illustration of the theoretical foundation. The purpose of the study entails the construction of a multi-equation econometric model describing the mechanisms of electricity consumption in a specific household. The model hypothesis indicates that the model should take the form of a system of interdependent equations. The following will be described: the monthly volume of electricity consumption, the cost of this energy payment (in PLN), and the price per one MWh in a given month. Monthly time series from September 2015 to June 2023 were used. The resulting time series amounted to a count of 94 statistical observations. The results in the form of a multi-level empirical econometric model indicate that the economic, environmental, and social benefits of using renewable sources of heating can make a significant contribution to reducing fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In the context of growing environmental awareness and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, heat pumps are becoming an increasingly important element in the discussion of the future of heating. Their role in transforming the energy sector in the direction of sustainability is crucial.

MACRO AND MICRO: TRADE FRICTION AND WEALTH INEQUALITY IN TWO-COUNTRY HANK

This paper develops the Two-Country HANK model to analyze the impact of tariffs on economic variables and wealth distribution from both macro and micro perspectives. In Macro analysis, trade wars are likely to only exist in situations of asymmetry between the two countries. In Micro analysis, differences in consumption, investment, and labor decisions between the poor and the rich, resulting from different capital stocks, reshape the wealth structure. In a symmetric economy, on the investment side, the rigid constraint imposed by the level of capital stock leads to inconsistent investment behavior in illiquid assets between the poor and the rich. On the consumption side, tariff increases primarily suppress the consumption of imported goods by the poor, while their impact on the consumption of the rich is limited. In an asymmetric economy, the widening gaps in consumption and labor resulting from differential tariff sensitivity between the rich and the poor exacerbate wealth distribution. This paper suggests the implementation of differentiated policies to navigate the economy out of recession.

청년과의 여가 격차에 대한 시니어의 인식과 경험

As South Korea is predicted to become a super-aging society in 2025, utilizing leisure time for many older adults is becoming an even more important issue. According to the Korean National Leisure Activities Survey, older adults have more leisure time than younger adults, but their satisfaction with leisure activities is lower, and the generation gaps in leisure activity diversity, leisure consumption, and leisure awareness are widening. Not only policymakers and researchers but also seniors themselves must recognize and proactively address the problem of the leisure gaps so that more effective and practical solutions can be devised. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore older adults' perceptions and experiences of the leisure gaps with younger adults. By adopting the photovoice research method, which is a participatory research method, this study sought to understand the problem of the leisure gaps faced by the senior generation through their own voices. From eight seniors in their 60s or older, statement data were collected through photographs taken by the research participants themselves, focus group interviews (FGI), and individual in-depth interviews. Data analysis revealed a total of six high-level thematic categories, or leisure gaps, as follows: the gaps in trying new activities, consumption perception, leisure perception, relationship perception, care conditions, and adaptability. From the results, the leisure reality faced by older adults was derived, and solutions to the leisure gaps were organized into the following six categories: developing inexpensive and diverse leisure programs, expanding access to leisure information, supporting the formation of leisure communities, developing and supporting leisure education programs, supporting leisure for family caregivers, and operating detailed multi-level programs. By applying the photovoice method, this study enabled a deeper understanding of the experiences of the leisure gaps as perceived by older adults, captured various perspectives of theirs, and demonstrated that seniors were able to consider and contemplate the issue of the leisure gaps on their own and derive improvement measures.