High-priced Products Research Articles

Availability and cost of gluten-free products in Algeria

PurposeA strict gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only effective treatment for coeliac disease (CD), which has an increasing prevalence. However, the limited availability and high price of gluten-free products (GFPs) compared to their gluten-containing counterparts (GCCs) are still among the factors that may influence compliance with a strict GFD. The purpose of this study is to assess the availability and price of GFPs in retail stores in a major Algerian city and investigate how they compare to GCCs.Design/methodology/approachWe performed a cross-sectional study that targets a representative number of supermarkets and grocery stores in Constantine (Algeria). All available GFPs as well as their GCCs were recorded. The price per 100 g was recorded for each product.FindingsAmong the 285 visited stores, only 25.4% of them sold GFPs, which were more available at supermarkets than at grocery stores. The category “gluten-free pasta and couscous” was the most represented (43.8%). A total of 64 GFPs were observed across 285 stores investigated, and their price was two to six times higher than that of their GCCs.Originality/valueThis study showed the limited availability and diversity and higher price of processed GFPs in Algeria. This negatively influences compliance with GFD as well as the quality of life of patients with CD. Furthermore, the findings prompt the national government to provide financial support to coeliac individuals.

The Japanese Anime One Piece Drives Chinese Teenagers to Engage in Cross-border Consumption of Its Anime Peripherals

As One Piece has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon, particularly resonating with a strong fan base in China, it has become increasingly essential to delve into the underlying factors driving Chinese teenagers’ cross-border consumption. This exploration is particularly relevant within the broader context of globalization and the rapid growth of digital commerce. This study investigates the impact of the Japanese anime One Piece on the cross-border consumption behavior of Chinese teenagers, with a particular focus on their purchase of anime peripheral products. Through a combination of questionnaires and interviews, this study employs thematic analysis to decipher the potential factors driving this behavior. The findings suggest that Chinese adolescents are motivated to purchase One Piece by several factors, including the convenience and accessibility of international shopping, the allure of unique, rare, and collectible merchandise, and the symbolic status conferred by the high prices of cross-border products. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the cross-cultural consumption patterns prevalent among Chinese adolescents.

Widening the price gap: the effect of the Netherlands' 2020 tax increase on tobacco prices.

The public health impact of a tobacco tax increase depends on the extent to which the industry passes the increase onto consumers, also known as tax-pass through. In 2020, the Netherlands announced tax increases aimed to increase the retail price by €1 per 20 factory-made cigarettes and €2.50 per 50 grams of roll-your-own tobacco. This study examines the pass-through rate after the tax increase, and whether this differed by type of tobacco and brand segment. Self-reported prices of 117 tobacco brand varieties (cigarettes=72, roll-your-own=45) pre- and post-tax increase were extracted from the 2020 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Netherlands Surveys (n=2959 respondents). We calculated the tax pass-through rate per variant, examining differences between type of tobacco and brand segments. On average, cigarette prices increased by €1.12 (SD=0.49) (112% of €1) and roll-your-own prices by €2.53 (SD=0.60) (101% of €2.50). Evidence of differential shifting across segments was found, with evidence of overshifting in non-discount varieties. The average price of discount varieties increased with €0.20 less than non-discount varieties. Similarly, the net-of-tax price decreased in discount varieties (cigarettes=-€0.02; roll-your-own=-€0.05), but increased in non-discount varieties (cigarettes= +€0.14; roll-your-own= +€0.20). Despite the large tax increase, the industry increased prices in line or above the required level. Through differential shifting, the price gap between discount and non-discount varieties has widened, which may reduce the public health impact of the tax increase. Measures aimed at reducing price variability should be strengthened in taxation policy, such as the European Tobacco Tax Directive. We found that the industry used differential shifting after a significant tobacco tax increase in the Netherlands. Prices increased more than required in higher-priced products, but not in lower-priced products. This pattern was found both for factory-made cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco. Through differential shifting, the industry undermines the potential public health impact of tobacco tax increases, by offering a relatively cheaper alternative, which discourages people to quit or reduce consumption. The revision of the European Tobacco Tax Directive (TTD) provides an opportunity to address the widening price gap - both between and within product segments - across the European Union.

Pricing and Service Decisions of Products in a Dual-Channel Supply Chain Introducing Ship-to-Store

This study investigates the optimal pricing and service decisions when implementing ship-to-store (STS) in a dual-channel supply chain comprising one BM store and one manufacturer. Homogeneous products within the market are categorized into mainstream and niche products. The effects of consumer service sensitivity, channel preference, and degree of personalization on optimal decisions and profitability are analyzed, followed by numerical simulation and analysis. It is found that (1) the supply chain should charge high prices for mainstream products and low prices for niche products to maximize profits. (2) Implementing STS is conducive to expanding niche products in the market when facing highly service-sensitive consumer groups. (3) Based on highly service-sensitive consumer segments, supply chains are more profitable implementing STS strategies in a centralized decision-making model than in a traditional dual-channel one; however, under decentralized decision-making, it is only profitable to implement an STS strategy if consumers have a low level of personalization and have a particularly pronounced preference for online direct marketing channels.

How Do Digital Advertising Auctions Impact Product Prices?

Abstract We present a model of digital advertising with three key features: (1) advertisers can reach consumers on and off a platform, (2) additional data enhances the value of advertiser–consumer matches, and (3) the allocation of advertisements follows an auction-like mechanism. We contrast data-augmented auctions, which leverage the platform’s data advantage to improve match quality, with managed-campaign mechanisms that automate match formation and price-setting. The platform-optimal mechanism is a managed campaign that conditions the on-platform prices for sponsored products on the off-platform prices set by all advertisers. This mechanism yields the efficient on-platform allocation but inefficiently high off-platform product prices. It attains the vertical integration profit for the platform and the advertisers, and it increases off-platform product prices while decreasing consumer surplus, relative to data-augmented auctions.

Digital Marketing Strategies and Profitability in the Agri-Food Industry: Resource Efficiency and Value Chains

Agriculture is essential to any country’s economy. Agriculture is crucial not only for feeding a country’s population but also for its impact on other businesses. The paradox of agri-food companies generating substantial profits despite seemingly high product prices is explored in this article, focusing on the role of digital marketing within the agri-food industry. Enhanced digital marketing performance leads to efficient advertising campaigns, through reduced advertising costs and increased resource efficiency. To do so, the authors collected web analytical data from five established agri-food firms with the highest market capitalization. Then, linear regression and correlation analyses were used, followed by the utilization of fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) modeling. The analysis revealed that increased traffic through search sources is associated with reduced advertising costs. Additionally, enhanced website engagement contributes to lower advertising expenses, emphasizing the optimization of the user experience. However, it has been discovered that allocating funds for social media advertising eventually results in higher expenses with higher website-abandoning rate. Ultimately, successful management of the balance between product costs and profitability in the agri-food sector lies on the increased use of search sources and greatly reducing the use of social media sources.

The two‐stage presale pricing for online products considering anchoring effect and payment pain reduction

AbstractOnline product pricing is an important research field in the platform economy, and a two‐stage mixed presale is a mainstream mode of online sales. In the process of online consumption, the payment method and presale mode have an important impact on consumer behaviour and product pricing. Based on the two‐stage mixed presale mode, this study considers the impact of anchoring and the payment pain reduction effect on consumer behaviour, establishes the corresponding product pricing model and obtains the optimal presale price, sales and profit. It sheds light on the influence mechanism of anchoring and the payment pain reduction effect on consumer behaviour and online product pricing. Theoretical and numerical analyses reveal that the payment pain reduction effect can help to raise the product price, stimulate market vitality and bring higher profits for online retailers, and the anchoring effect and consumers' loss aversion psychology can enhance the profits and sales of online retailers, but they will discourage setting high prices for products. The research results will further enrich the relevant research on customer behaviour and product pricing in the platform economy and will provide decision bases for platform enterprises and online retailers to participate in presale activities and formulate product pricing strategies.

A Study on Constraints Faced by Millet Stakeholders in Tamil Nadu, India

Millets, highly nutritious grains, are crucial for food security and nutrition due to their resilience in challenging agricultural conditions and rich nutritional content. This study investigates the constraints faced by stakeholders involved in the millet industry in Tamil Nadu, The research focuses on farmers, market intermediaries, and consumers, highlighting their challenges within the millet supply chain. A purposive sample of 90 millet-growing farmers and various market intermediaries was selected from key millet-producing districts. Data collection involved structured interviews and analysis using descriptive statistics and Garrett Ranking Technique. Results reveal significant production constraints for farmers, including price fluctuation, high seed costs, and pest and disease occurrence. Market intermediaries face challenges such as supply-demand imbalance and high transportation costs. Consumers encounter issues like limited availability and high prices of millet-based products. These findings underscore the multifaceted challenges within the millet industry, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address constraints and enhance the sustainability and accessibility of millets in Tamil Nadu.

Examining Behavioral Biases in Discretionary Pricing: Evidence from Field and Lab Experiments

In theory, discretionary pricing enhances company performance by enabling managers to incorporate local information. However, in practice, managers may be prone to behavioral biases that can lead to suboptimal decisions. This paper investigates the effectiveness of discretionary pricing and behavioral elements on pricing decisions via field and lab experiments. Collaborating with a pharmacy chain retailer, we first analyzed a field experiment that delegated pricing authority to store managers. We find that managers began engaging in discretionary pricing after two months of experiment implementation and tended to raise the prices of high-priced drugs, resulting in significant sales and revenue losses. This effect was particularly prominent among less-experienced managers and in low-competition stores. We further designed a set of lab experiments to generalize our field observations and explore possible behavioral drivers. We requested lab participants to make pricing decisions under different information display scenarios and compared the average price adjustments between the direct display and click-to-view designs. We observe that participants also tended to raise product prices, and the magnitude of elevation was higher in the click-to-view group where the demand function information is less salient and accessible. Follow-up lab experiments support our field observations, suggesting that experience through repeated decisions and real-time feedback could alleviate the bias effect. Additionally, participants focused on high-priced products when given a list of items for discretionary pricing. Our results highlight the need to consider behavioral biases in human–algorithm collaborations and provide practical insights for improving information provision and training in discretionary settings.

Profitability Analysis of Markets Traded on Borsa Istanbul

Supermarkets significantly increased product prices in response to the sudden and sharp rise in the exchange rate in July 2018. A similar situation unfolded in 2021 when interest rates dropped, and the exchange rate experienced a steep increase. The surge in demand for foreign currency and subsequent interest rate cuts led to an escalation in the exchange rate. Consequently, production costs rose due to inflated raw material prices, resulting in higher product prices. Additionally, supermarkets allegedly engaged in cartel-like behavior, purposely withholding products from sale, further contributing to price hikes between 2021 and 2022. This study evaluates whether supermarkets garnered substantial profits during the period. Financial statement data from 2018 to 2022 was analyzed using vertical, trend, and ratio analyses to assess the financial position and profitability of five companies listed on Borsa Istanbul. Throughout the 2018-2022 period, except for 2022, BIM demonstrated the highest return on assets ratio. The return on assets ratios for 2022 and 2021 exhibited an upward trend, indicating an increase in profitability during 2022. SOK recorded the highest return on equity ratio in the 2018-2022 period, while CarrefourSA reported the lowest. Furthermore, the companies witnessed notable growth in revenues, gross sales profitability, and net profitability in 2022, surpassing previous years. This suggests they earned more profit by increasing prices at a greater rate than their costs in 2022. The operating profitability of the companies also experienced an upswing during this period. BIM held the largest share of operating profit in revenues in 2022, while CarrefourSA possessed the smallest share. In terms of net profitability, the companies fared better in 2022 compared to 2021, with net profitability exhibiting a more substantial increase during 2022.

MODERN DIGITAL TOOLS OF OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

The article explores the options for implementing digital transformation tools in the operational management of business organizations to overcome the problems that arose as a result of a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine: market instability, reduction of markets due to the temporary occupation of the territory of Ukraine, a decrease in the number of customers and suppliers since a significant part of the population of Ukraine migrated abroad; the reduction of financial resources of business organizations, the existence of high prices for certain IT products and the low level of digital skills among employees. The advantages of digital products are explored, in particular, corporate communication systems such as Slack and Microsoft Teams, project management tools such as Jira and Trello, modern Ukrainian programs for interaction with consumers, such as KeyCRM and SalesDrive CRM, as well as the Weblium site builder, which is including it can realize synergy between various other services.

Development of commercial trout breeding in southern Russia in the context of the import substitution strategy

Aquaculture is the main promising direction for the development of the fisheries industry. Analysis of the general condition of fish breeding enterprises and the potential for expanding production shows that the growth trend of traditional for the southern regions pond fish breeding is weak. A significant problem for the development of aquaculture is the high price of fish products and, accordingly, low demand. A substantial reduction in the cost of fish production is currently unlikely to be achieved, so switching to more valuable fish varieties can stimulate consumption. To ensure the development of the fish products market and increase demand, entrepreneurs in southern Russia are improving technologies for growing such valuable fish varieties as salmonoids, in particular, rainbow trout. Studying the activities of trout farms requires taking into account which area of activity is prioritized. A farm can produce marketable fish or fish planting material, as well as execute both types of production. The work observes the organizational features of trout farms and promising directions of their development. Solving such key issues as the provision of qualified personnel, high-quality feed of domestic, preferably regional production, and provision of logistically affordable and high-quality planting material is the basis for achieving the goals of import substitution for high-quality fish products in Russia.

Sustainable oral hygiene products and practices: Perspectives, expectations, and barriers of portuguese residents

Objectives: In recent decades, there has been a growing awareness of the impact of daily practices on the environment and a greater concern of companies to develop sustainable products; consequently, a wide variety of sustainable oral hygiene products is available. The study aims to analyze the consumer's perspective regarding the use of sustainable products for oral health self-care, namely practices, opinions, and difficulties felt regarding the use of these products. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on individuals 18 years old or older living in Portugal. Data were obtained through an online questionnaire, which collected information on the use of sustainable oral hygiene products, practices, perceptions, and difficulties experienced in adopting a sustainable lifestyle. Descriptive statistics were performed for the variables. Results: The sample consisted of 185 participants. The majority (64.3%) considered it “very important” to invest in developing sustainable oral hygiene products. However, only 37.3% reported having already used these products. Of these, most were satisfied or very satisfied with the sustainable products used. Personal lack of interest (93.0%), difficulty in accessing products in commercial establishments (69.2%), and the high price of products (61.1%) were the main difficulties experienced in using these products. Conclusions: Participants were aware of more sustainable oral hygiene products, but there is still a low frequency of use. It would be important to study the efficacy and safety of these products to promote the use of more environmentally friendly oral hygiene products.

Assessing the Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility, Green Shared Vision on Voluntary Green Work Behavior: Mediating Role of Green Human Resource Management

Due to increasing concerns and pressure from stakeholders, firms are eager to initiate green initiatives to produce ecofriendly products and services, which are less harmful for the environment. Consumers are willing to pay high prices for ecofriendly products and services. Thus, firms need a motivated workforce to achieve their green objectives. This is only possible if firms adopt their green policies in their green shared vision and start socially responsible activities to gain society’s and stakeholders’ attention, which is possible if firms start CSR activities at regular intervals. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of “Green Human Resource Management” (GHRM) on the relation between corporate social responsibility (CSR), green shared vision (GSV), and voluntary green work behavior (VGWB). Employees of manufacturing companies were the participants of the present study and a non-probability convenience sampling technique was employed to determine the sample size. Data were gathered from manufacturing companies using a cross-sectional survey method. The total number of firms included was 100, and information on the firms included in the study included cement (10), sugar (26), leather (22), steel (8), food (21), beverages (2), furniture (3), construction (2), pharmaceutical (2), plastic (2), and dairy (2). The total number of questionnaires distributed among employees of the above-mentioned manufacturing firms was 700, and 500 completed questionnaires were used in the analysis, thus yielding a response rate of 71.42%. Using the smart PLS partial least square software (Version 4), the structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was applied for the statistical analysis. It was evident from the results that the measurement model had established convergent and discriminant validities. A structural model for testing hypotheses was established in the second step. Findings of the study revealed that CSR, GSV, and GHRM practices and VGWB were significantly related with each other. CSR, GSV, and GHRM have significant effects on VGWB. Additionally, it can be inferred from the results that GHRM significantly mediated the relationship between corporate social responsibility and green shared vision and VGWB. From Pakistan’s perspective, the research study has applied and validated the natural resource-based view (NRBV) theory, and practitioners and researchers may benefit from its findings. This study has opened doors and paved a path for future studies to use this model and come up with interesting findings by adding more mediating variables. For any organization, it is imperative to have a motivated team which is capable enough to help firms to achieve their green targets. Hiring talented and hardworking employees and initiating socially responsible activities help firms to obtain a competitive advantage and enhance the VGWB of their employees.

Use of Locally Food Attractants for Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The high price of commercial products against pests impose small farmers to use a locally available baits against C.capitata that is the most fruit fly in our country. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of food-based attractants for the capture of C. capitata as well as their selectivity on the populations of beneficial arthropods. we tested some local fermentation products compared to commercial lures (CeraTrap®). Four attractants were evaluated in two peach orchads. Field evaluations show that local fermentation products, particularly the red wine solution outperformed other food-based attractants. However, the average of fruit damage was differed between the four attractants and it was high in the border than in the center of each attractants plot. These attractants also were selective, capturing few beneficial arthropods. It will be necessary to focus our research on how to optimally employ such a trap in conjunction or alternative with other control techniques to drive concerted and integrated pest management due to its low environmental impacts and selectivity toward beneficial insects.

Farmers' Views on Organic Grape Production in Adıyaman Province: Method Adoption and Problems

Healthy life in a sustainable environment is possible with accessible food production. The Covid-19 epidemic is a serious threat worldwide. This epidemic has revealed the importance of agricultural products. One of the most important areas of the epidemic affecting the whole world is exports; however, increased demand for agricultural products and exports in the epidemic process in Turkey. Turkey has a say in the trade of seedless dried grapes in the world. Seedless dried grape is on the healthy products list of the WHO. In 2019/2020, it had a share of 36% of world exports (with 246 thousand tons of export). This study was performed to evaluate their thoughts and farmers’ problems with the adoption of organic farming in Besni district of Adıyaman. The research conducted in-depth interviews with the farmers producing organic grapes. Also, a face-to-face survey was conducted with 50 farmers. According to the findings, the land width of the farmers is not much. It has an average growing area of 37.52 decares. An average yield of 1.808 kg da-1 is obtained from this area. Serious differences have been found between conventional and organic farming. Moreover, government supports, high product prices, income, health, sustainability, and environmental protection are reasons farmers switch to organic farming. However, farmers argue that organic farming is less costly than conventional farming. Access to chemicals and marketing are major problems. As a result, farmers should be informed about organic farming. Additionally, it is thought that these studies will increase the productivity and product quality of the farmers. It is predicted that it will prevent rural to urban migration in the region.

Consumers Attitude Towards Purchase Decisions of Counterfeits Fashion Products Moderated by Personal Income

The luxury fashion products industry is a highly profitable business that has experienced phenomenal growth over the last few decades. However, concurrently, consumers have shifted their preference towards counterfeit luxury brand fashion products (hereafter referred to as counterfeit fashion products). The shift in consumer preferences towards counterfeit fashion products may be attributed to the high prices of authentic luxury brand fashion products. Consumers are drawn to counterfeit fashion products because they believe that wearing such products can enhance their social status and boost self-confidence. Up to 40% of imported products entering Indonesia are counterfeit and of substandard quality The primary factor driving the high demand for counterfeit fashion products is the consumer's attitude, which encompasses factors such as value consciousness, brand consciousness, perceived risk, materialism, and social influences, with personal income included as a moderating variable. The research utilized a sample of 270 data points selected through purposive sampling. The data collected were analyzed using Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis with the assistance of the AMOS 24 software application. The results indicated that value consciousness and social influences had an insignificant impact. Conversely, brand consciousness, perceived risk, and materialism significantly influenced attitudes. Personal income has been demonstrated to moderate individuals' attitudes towards purchasing counterfeit fashion products.

THE MARKETING MYOPIA OF SERBIAN RAKIJA DISTILLERS

The aim of this explanatory research is to contribute to the knowledge of the marketing of spirits through research into Serbian rakija producers, with an emphasis on the marketing of their alcoholic beverages. In order to demonstrate that marketing results in higher product prices and revenues, three hypotheses related to the elements of the marketing mix will be investigated. In this quantitative survey, the questionnaire was distributed online to Serbian distillers (N = 104); hence, the sample was intentional and predetermined. The key finding is that only 4% of distillers have fully mastered marketing in the sense that they use all four elements of the marketing mix in their businesses; they also achieved significantly higher prices. It seems that it is not clear to Serbian rakija distillers exactly who they are targeting with their marketing and who will buy their products.

Assessing the Different Economic Feasibility Scenarios of a Hydroponic Tomato Greenhouse Farm: A Case Study from Western Greece

Among other agricultural systems that can contribute to sustainable food production, hydroponic systems are constantly gaining attention in terms of their economic viability and sustainability, while their ability to produce nutritious food has become more apparent in recent decades. The purpose of the study is to shed light on the potential of hydroponics to conduce sustainable food production systems, by focusing on the economic evaluation of a hydroponic greenhouse farm located in Western Greece. Particularly, the study aims at presenting an investment plan for a greenhouse farm of a total acreage of 0.2 hectares, where fresh tomato will be produced via hydroponic methods. The appraisal of the economic viability of the investment plan covers a 5-year period, while the Net Present Value (NPV) and the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) are used as criteria of feasibility and performance assessment. The study uses detailed technical and economic data—related to all costs and benefits deriving from the annual operation of the greenhouse farm—to assess three different economic feasibility scenarios based on the range of input, energy and product prices, taking into account the high volatility governing agricultural markets. The results show that economic viability is achieved during the 5-year assessment period in most scenarios, which is mainly due to the efficiency of the hydroponic systems. Investment performance indicators are adverse only for an “extreme” scenario with increased installation and production costs that are not counterbalanced by higher product prices or by financial support from the State. Despite the promising perspectives of hydroponics in Greece, its use is not yet widespread within the country. Further research should explore ways to increase adoption of such production methods, considering that immediate action is needed worldwide to improve the resilience of the food industry and promote environmentally friendly food production systems.

A Blockchain-Enabled IoT Logistics System for Efficient Tracking and Management of High-Price Shipments: A Resilient, Scalable and Sustainable Approach to Smart Cities

The concept of a smart city is aimed at enhancing the quality of life for urban residents, and logistic services are a crucial component of this effort. Despite this, the logistics industry has encountered issues due to the exponential growth of logistics volumes, as well as the complexity of processes and lack of transparency. Consequently, it is necessary to develop an efficient management system that offers traceability and condition monitoring capabilities to ensure the safe and high-quality delivery of goods. Moreover, it is crucial to guarantee the accuracy and dependability of distribution data. In this context, this paper proposes a blockchain-enabled IoT logistics system for the efficient tracking and management of high-price shipments. A smart contract based on blockchain technology has been designed for automatic approval and payment, with the aim of distributing shipping information exclusively among legitimate logistics parties. To ensure authentication, a zero-knowledge proof is used to conceal the blockchain address. Moreover, an intelligent parcel (iParcel) containing piezoresistive sensors is developed to pack delivered goods during the shipping process for violation detection such as severe falls or theft. The iParcels are automatically tracked and traced, and if a violation occurs, the contract is cancelled, and payment is refunded. The transaction fee per party is reasonable, particularly for high-price products that guarantee successful shipment.