Higher Disposable Income Research Articles

Abstract P031: Does The Place Of Residence Influence Your Risk Of Being Hypertensive? A Case Study From Nepal

Introduction: Area level factors could be an independent risk factor for disease and negative health outcomes. Despite the multiple studies on risk factors for hypertension, area-level influence is poorly investigated especially in low- and middle-income countries. Hypothesis: This study aims to test the hypothesis that area-level deprivation (AD) is significantly associated with the risk of hypertension independent of individual risk factors in the context of Nepal. Methods: The study is based on the latest Nepal Demographic Health Survey conducted in 2016. The area-level deprivation index was constructed and validated based on the material (household assets, household structure), social and geospatial features. The index ranged from 52 to 146 with higher scores representing higher levels of deprivation. Individuals aged 15 and above were identified as hypertensive if they met any of the following criteria: i) systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg; ii) diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg; iii) taking antihypertensive medication irrespective of their blood pressure readings during the survey; iv) history of earlier diagnosis of hypertension by any health care provider. Associations between the quartiles of AD and hypertension were investigated using two-level logistic regression. Further, potential cross-level interaction and mediated pathways between AD and hypertension were explored. Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension was approximately 23% of which nearly 50% were unaware of their high blood pressure status at the time of the survey. Individuals from the least deprived areas seemed to have higher odds of hypertension compared to highly deprived areas (Odds Ratio=1.54 (95% CI 1.26, 1.89); p-trend=<0.001). Literate individuals from deprived areas were likely to have a higher risk of hypertension compared to those without formal education. However, the association was not significant in the least deprived areas (p-interaction <0.001). Overweight/obesity seems to explain a significant magnitude of the indirect pathway (67%) between AD and hypertension in the context of Nepal. Conclusion: Residing in the least deprived or more affluent areas might increase an individual’s risk of being hypertensive. Association between individual risk factors and hypertension is likely to vary across the areas with varying levels of deprivation. These results seem paradoxical and are inconsistent with epidemiological data from high-income countries. Over-nutrition and changing lifestyle, driven by affluence and higher disposable income, could explain this counterintuitive association in the context of a country like Nepal which is undergoing a rapid socio-demographic and epidemiological transition.

Individual, Social, and Environmental Correlates of Energy Drink Use Among Adolescents

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlates of adolescent energy drink (ED) use using a socioecological approach to inform future interventions. MethodsIn 2017–2018, 3,688 students attending 25 randomly selected Western Australian secondary schools completed a self-report survey. A backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to construct a model of the most significant individual (n = 12), social (n = 3), and environmental (n = 4) factors associated with being an ED user (ie, past month ED use). ResultsOverall, 18% of participants were ED users. The factors significantly associated with being an ED user included being male (P < 0.001), having a higher disposable income (P < 0.001), perceiving EDs as good for health (P = 0.009), perceiving EDs as safe for someone their age to drink (P < 0.001), having a sensation-seeking personality (P = 0.011), having friends who drink EDs (P < 0.001), having parents who would give them an ED if asked (P < 0.001), and having EDs available at home (P < 0.001). Conclusions and ImplicationsInitiatives to reduce ED intake among adolescents need to be multifaceted, addressing individual, social, and environmental factors. It is also important that educational interventions target both parents and adolescents.

Understanding determinants of the intention to buy rhino horn in Vietnam through the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour

Demand for rhino horn in Asian markets is driving a rhino poaching crisis in Africa. Despite the urgency of understanding consumers' motivations and demand, social-psychological factors underpinning the intention to buy rhino horn remain under-investigated. This study examined rhino horn demand using a novel approach combining the theory of planned behaviour and the theory of interpersonal behaviour. We conducted a survey on a unique sample of 427 high-income individuals in Hanoi, Vietnam, including 281 rhino horn users and 146 non-users. We empirically tested all constructs of the two theories predicting the intention to buy rhino horn using structural equation modelling. Perceived behavioural control and habit were the sole determinants of the intention to buy rhino horn. Respondents with higher disposable income and better knowledge about how to buy and use rhino horn and those with previous experience using rhino horn were more likely to intend to buy this good. However, frequent users had a lower intention to buy rhino horn in the near future than those having used rhino horn only once or a few times. We discuss the implications of our results for policy-making and the informed design of behaviour change campaigns to reduce rhino horn demand.

Indian women consumers’ wine choice: a study based on conjoint analysis

PurposeWine consumption among women in India is gradually increasing on the back of several factors such as increased urbanization, higher disposable income, rising affluence of the people, exposure to new cultures and a gradually changing perception about wine being a healthy beverage. Eventually, this offers tremendous opportunities for wine marketers to design appropriate strategies to target Indian women consumers. However, along with this growth, there is growing need to identify the attributes that the women desire in the wines of their choice. Toward this, the current study aims to identify the wine attributes that influence the purchasing behavior of Indian women consumers.Design/methodology/approachIn-depth interviews of 27 women wine consumers, aged between 25 to 46 years, were conducted to identify the topmost essential wine attributes. Later, a conjoint analysis using 1000minds, an Internet-based software implementing Potentially All Pairwise RanKings of all Possible Alternatives (PAPRIKA), was used to collect data from the participants. The total number of responses received was 271.FindingsThe type of wine, taste, price, familiarity and country of origin emerged as the five most crucial wine attributes in wine choice after the in-depth interview. Conjoint analysis results revealed that sweet red wine priced between Rs 600 to Rs 1,200 is the most preferred wine by Indian women consumers.Research limitations/implicationsThe study provides valuable and actionable insights for both domestic and international wine marketers and manufacturers in the identification of wine attributes that predominantly influence women consumers’ choice of wine in India.Originality/valueThe study contributes to wine consumers' literature by identifying wine attributes favored by women consumers in India. Our findings will be of great use to wine marketers who can leverage the insights to design appropriate marketing and advertising strategies, develop new products and make more informed branding and pricing decisions.

Nature-Based Solutions Benefit the Economic–Ecological Coordination of Pastoral Areas: An Outstanding Herdsman’s Experience in Xilin Gol, China

Grassland has always had a difficult economic–ecological relationship, as coordination between its ecological conservation and the sustainable development of animal husbandry is required. Nature-based Solutions (NbS), who make full use of the natural ecosystem services, have successfully solved some economic–ecological issues, but still have unclear implementation prospects for grassland management. The Xilin Gol grassland is one of the most typical pastoral areas in China; there is a village chief named Bateer, who has already used NbS for grassland management. To confirm whether the solutions employed by Bateer have been effective for both increasing economic profits and protecting grassland ecosystem, we interviewed him, and many other herdsmen, using questionnaires about their livelihood. Based on these questionnaires, we calculated and compared their income–cost ratios. Meanwhile, we analyzed the NDVI variations inside their rangelands through high-resolution remote sensing images. The results showed that the herdsmen in Bateer’s village had a much higher disposable income and income–cost ratio than others, and their rangelands also had a higher value and a more obvious increasing trend of NDVI. Bateer’s success proves that the NbS can also play a positive role in grassland management, which can provide a valuable guidance for economic–ecological coordination in pastoral areas.

THE INFLUENCE OF REFERENCE GROUPS ON THE BUYING BEHAVIOUR OF SINGLETONS

Little research has been conducted on the growing Singletons segment in South Africa. Singletons have greater purchasing power and a high disposable income due to their lack of dependents. Organisations tend to overlook this segment. The buying behaviour of Singletons are different compared to those of family households. One of the primaries aims of marketing is to study consumer decision-making and factors that affect buying behaviour. Understanding these factors will allow marketers to adapt their product offering and marketing messages accordingly to reach their target markets more effectively. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of reference groups on the buying behaviour of Singletons. Non-probability, convenience sampling was used, and data was collected by using a self-administrated questionnaire. A sample size 207 respondents was realised. The results of the study indicate that reference groups have a moderately low level of influence on the buying behaviour of Singletons.

Academic Careers in Transnational Higher Education: The Rewards and Challenges of Teaching at International Branch Campuses

This research investigates the attitudes, working conditions, experiences, and job satisfaction of academic staff employed at offshore campuses. An online survey questionnaire was completed by 72 academic staff in 10 different countries, which included China, Malaysia, Qatar, the UAE, and Vietnam. It was found that the desire for adventure and travel, and to experience a foreign culture, were the most popular motivations for working at an offshore campus. Common challenges and disadvantages of teaching at an offshore campus are the lack of job security, support for research, academic freedom, and opportunities for development and advancement. However, such academics often have motivated students, smaller class sizes, greater autonomy at work, fewer meetings, higher disposable income, and less of the ‘publish or perish’ culture. Almost three-quarters of our research participants believe that it is possible to have an attractive career teaching in transnational education, at offshore campuses.

Country of Origin Effect on Purchase Intention Towards Italian Luxury Fashion: Mediating Role of Brand Perception and Social Status

Economic growth, urbanization and higher disposable incomes have helped to propel growth of luxury fashion in India. Indian customers attach luxury fashion with their social status. Therefore, a need was felt to understand the drivers of purchase intention for luxury fashion goods. The purpose of study is to explain the role of factors which have influence on purchase intention for luxury fashion brands. The research tries to identify the mediating effect of brand perception and social status on interrelationship between country of origin (COO) and purchase intention. The data were collected by means of structured questionnaires from a total of 400 Indian customers residing in the Delhi NCR. Structural equation modelling has been used to find the outcomes. COO, brand perception and social status were found to significantly influence customer purchase intention. However, mediation effect of brand perception was found in relation between COO and purchase intention. Mediation effect of social status also exists in relation between COO and purchase intention. Brand perception and social status sequentially mediate the relationship between COO and purchase intention.

Economic and environmental explanations for the scale and scope of coastal management around the Mediterranean

Coastal management involves multiple possible actions at various spatial scales. Yet, what determines in practice the scale and scope of coastal management? To address this question we investigate two possible explanations for the scale and scope of coastal management regimes: an economic explanation, focusing on the costs and benefits of widening the scale and scope of such management regimes, and an environmental explanation, focusing on the environmental issues and threats. To test these explanations, we analyze the relations between the economic and environmental dimensions and the scale and scope of coastal management in 17 Mediterranean countries using the co-plot method based on The Mediterranean Action Plan data.While we do find wider scale and scope of coastal management in countries with higher disposable income, these do not seem to be clearly and directly related to the intensity of specific economic activities that are more sensitive to environmental degradation or to level of pollution in coastal zone.

“My Electricity” Program Effectiveness Supporting the Development of PV Installation in Poland

There are a lot of studies that show the legitimacy of subsidizing renewable energy; however, some mechanisms are defective, and there are problems with the appropriate allocation of funds. Therefore, this paper aims to look at the situation of allocating funds to photovoltaics (PV) micro-installations in Poland through the “My Electricity” program. The article presents the results of analyses aimed at identifying inequalities between provinces in the use of funds available under the “My Electricity” program and verifying whether these inequalities are getting worse and whether the intensity of support should not be territorially conditioned in terms of maximization an electricity production. As part of two editions of the “My Electricity” program (until 1 August 2020), over 64,000 PV micro-installations were created with an average power of approximately 5.7 kWp. The total installed PV capacity was 367.1 MWp (1st edition: 159.3 MWp, 2nd edition: 207.8 MWp). Financial resources (as a whole), in the second edition of “My Electricity” program, were distributed better than in the first edition. In the first edition, as much as 7.60% of funds were allocated inefficiently; in the second edition, it was only 3.88%. Allocation surpluses occur in provinces where the average disposable income is low and where there are a small number of households. There is a potential to introduce a territorial project selection criteria. The analysis shows that the criteria should promote provinces with higher disposable income and a larger number of households.

Family Wealth Accumulation and Fiscal Prudence among China’s Young Adults: Between the Privileged and the Common

Young adults in middle class Chinese families are seeing increased access to their family’s wealth. With the growing ubiquity of digital payments and consumer goods, they are spending at an ever increasing rate. But for young adults from less privileged financial backgrounds, high disposable incomes and glamorous shopping items may be out of reach. This paper is designed to analyze the development of financial literacy among all groups of young adults in China and assess the rationality of their financial behavior. I sought to determine the correlations between financial literacy, family income and fiscal prudence. I applied methods like OLS regression, entropy weight model and significance test to establish firm correlations. I hypothesized children of wealthier families would behave in a more financially reasonable way as they tend to have access to more education and general financial information. Thus, I would test using initial hypothesis that more privileged children will react and shop more prudently, which is further proved in the sections below.

What to Offer to the Newly Emerged Super Consumers! A Multimethod Approach in the Context of Wealthy Single Urbanites (WSUs)

What to Offer to the Newly Emerged Super Consumers! A Multimethod Approach in the Context of Wealthy Single Urbanites (WSUs)

Types of working-life sequences among people recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in Sweden: a nationwide register-based cohort study

ObjectivesTo explore sequences of annual states of activity and sickness absence (SA) or disability pension (DP) (SA/DP) among working-aged people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) as well as characteristics associated with...

Adolescent income and binge drinking initiation: prospective evidence from the MyLife study.

No previous studies have examined the prospective association between disposable income and binge-drinking initiation among adolescents. We aimed to examine whether there is such an association and, if so, whether it is robust to confounders, uniform across individual characteristics and linear versus non-linear. Prospective study of adolescents from 32 middle schools, stratified according to geographic location, urban and rural locations and standard of living. Adolescents were assessed in 2017 (T1) and 1 year later (T2). Norway. A nation-wide sample of 1845 adolescents (mean age 13.5years, 44% boys) with no binge-drinking experience at T1. Data were collected on binge drinking at T1 and T2. Data on disposable income and on a range of demographic, individual and family factors were collected at T1. Overall, 7.2% initiated binge drinking between T1 and T2. Logistic regression showed that the crude linear effect of disposable income on binge drinking initiation was substantial, and only slightly attenuated in the fully adjusted model including all putative confounders [odds ratio (OR)=1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.08, 1.31, P<0.001]. However, interaction analyses showed disposable income to be negatively related to binge drinking initiation for adolescents who had experienced light drinking at T1 (OR=0.66, 95% CI=0.49, 0.89, P=0.006) or who had seen their mothers intoxicated [OR=0.62, 95% CI=0.39, 0.99, P=0.043). Norwegian adolescents with higher disposable income have a greater risk of subsequent binge drinking initiation than those with lower disposable income. Each additional 100 NOK (≈ €10) of weekly income increased the risk of binge drinking initiation in the following year by approximately 20%.

Liquidity and prices: a cluster analysis of the German residential real estate market

This paper analyses the highly under-researched German residential real estate market. Quality- and spatial-adjusted price and liquidity indices are calculated separately for the investment and rental market on a regional basis. Applying the “Partitioning Around Medoids (PAM)” clustering algorithm, the regions are clustered with respect to their price and liquidity development after the average silhouette method is applied to find the optimal number of clusters. The dataset underlying this analysis comprises more than 4.5 million observations in 380 German regions from 2013 Q1 to 2018 Q4. The clusters are then analysed by means of further economic and socioeconomic data in order to identify similarities. Furthermore, the clusters are interpreted from a geographic perspective. We find that the allocation to cluster 1 is always supported by higher growth rates in the variables, population, working population and real GDP, implying higher demand for space. Moreover, in each of the analysed categories cluster 1 reveals a lower unemployment rate as well as a higher disposable income. One of the most interesting implications is, that apparently a large part of the German population has developed into professional real estate investors. In Germany the largest share of landlords is the one of the so-called non-professional landlords. As the regions assigned to cluster 1, displaying the most significant price increase, seem to be chosen based on a very sophisticated market analysis by identifying the regions with the strongest fundamental data, it seems like the dominating market players have significantly increased their knowledge and approach for investing in residential real estate.

A narrative review of online food delivery in Australia: challenges and opportunities for public health nutrition policy.

Online food delivery (OFD) platforms offer consumers a convenient and fast delivery service of foods and drinks sourced from foodservice partners (e.g. restaurants, quick service restaurants). There is a need to assess the impact of this emergent segment of the foodservice sector on diet and diet-related health. The aim of this narrative review was to describe the OFD sector in Australia, its use and identify potential ways to include OFD platforms in existing public health nutrition policy. A search was conducted in peer-reviewed and grey literature. Sources were analysed and synthesised to report the characteristics of OFD platforms, delivery process, users and potential drivers of usage. The aim and scope of public health nutrition policies were analysed to identify ways of including OFD platforms. Australia. General population. There are three main operators with 9000-16000 foodservice partners based predominantly in the main cities of Australia. OFD revenue has grown by 72 % in the last 5 years and is predicted to increase driven by usage by working adults with high disposable income who demand convenience. Current policies and initiatives aimed at manufacturers, retailers and foodservice outlets do not specifically regulate OFD platforms, although there is scope for these to be extended to such platforms. OFD platforms are disruptors of the foodservice sector. Innovative and consistent health policy options that target the unique challenges and opportunities posed by OFD platforms are required to limit the potentially negative impact of OFD platforms on diet and diet-related health.

Dynamics of Asset Poverty in South Korea

Studies of economic insecurity tend to focus on changes in incomes and transitions in and out of income poverty. Yet family economic conditions are shaped by more than just income. Levels of assets and wealth, and changes in these over time also play a role. To identify which groups of the poor have been structurally trapped in poverty over time, using the Korean Welfare Panel Study, we examined the dynamics of asset poverty from 2005 to 2014. We defined three asset poverty lines by operationalizing assets as resources for either future consumption or development. Findings show that asset poverty experience in a previous year significantly increased the probability to incur asset poverty by 5–12% for all analysis samples. In addition, the probability of incurring asset poverty decreased with home ownership, higher disposable income, and greater diversification of the household portfolio. Our findings suggest that the asset poor are likely to fall into structural and persistent poverty over time, and an asset-building approach is needed to improve the asset poverty status of households in South Korea.

The volatility of tourism demand and real effective exchange rates: a disaggregated analysis

Purpose One of the main factors that can impact the cost of holidays to a particular destination is the exchange rate; exchange rate fluctuations impact the overall price of the holiday and should be expected to effect tourism demand. This paper aims to scrutinize the volatility of the real effective exchange rate between the source market relative to the holiday destination and tourism demand volatility, where the influence of disaggregated data is noted. Design/methodology/approach The study uses multivariate conditional volatility regressions to simulate the time-varying conditional variances of international visitor demand and exchange rates for the relatively mature Caribbean tourist destination of Barbados. Data on the country’s main source markets, the UK, the USA and Canada is used, where the decision to disaggregate the analysis by market allows the authors to contribute to policymaking, particularly the future of tourism marketing. Findings The volatility models used in the paper suggests that shocks to total arrivals, as well as the USA and UK markets tend to die out relatively quickly. Asymmetric effects were observed for total arrivals, mainly due to the combination of the different source markets and potential evidence of Butler’s (1980) concept of a tourist area’s cycle of growth. The results also highlight the significance of using disaggregated tourism demand models to simulate volatility, as aggregated models do not adequately capture source market specific shocks, due to the potential model misspecification. Exchange rate volatility is postulated to have resulted in the greater utilization of packaged tours in some markets, while the effects of the market’s online presence moderates the impact of exchange rate volatility on tourist arrivals. Markets should also explore the potential of attracting higher numbers of older tourist, as this group may have higher disposable incomes, thereby mitigating the influence of exchange rate volatility. Research limitations/implications Some of the explanatory variables were not available on a high enough frequency and proxies had to be used. However, the approach used was consistent with other papers in the literature. Practical implications The results from the paper suggest that the effects of exchange rate volatility in key source markets were offset by non-price factors in some markets and the existence of the exchange rate peg in others. In particular, the online presence of the destination was one of those non-price factors highlighted as being important. Originality/value In most theoretical models of tourism demand, disaggregation is not normally considered a significant aspect of the model. This paper contributes to the literature by investigating the impact real effective exchange rate volatility has on tourism demand at a disaggregated source country level. The approach highlights the importance of modeling tourism demand at a disaggregated level and provides important perspective from a mature small island destination.

THE SHOEMAKER’S CHILDREN GO BAREFOOT. THE PROBLEM OF FOOD INSECURITY IN SMALL-SCALE FARMS IN POLAND

The problem of food insecurity of small-scale farms is often addressed in the literature, but there is a research gap with regard to food insecurity of small-scale farms in developed countries. This issue is important especially in countries with a fragmented agrarian structure, including Poland. Hence, this article aims to identify the level of food insecurity of small-scale farms in Poland and its determinants. It is based on a survey (710 questionnaires) distributed among small-scale farmers in Poland. The survey was conducted in 2018 and included the modified Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). According to the HFIAS algorithm, 56.5% of small-scale farms in Poland declared to be food secure, 23.5% of farms were classified as mild food insecure, 11.3% as moderate food insecure and 8.6% as severe food insecure. In order to find determinants of the level of food insecurity of small-scale farms, a zero-inflated Poisson regression model was used. Results revealed that farm households with an older manager, with children, with a higher disposable income per capita and using own products in the daily diet experienced a lower level of food insecurity. Farm households producing dairy cows and having five or more household members experienced higher food insecurity.

Characteristics, influencing factors, and environmental effects of plate waste at university canteens in Beijing, China

Food waste in China has gained increased attention in recent years due to its rising quantity and adverse environmental, economic, and societal impacts. As university students are an indispensable part of Chinese society and will become the backbone of China’s future sustainable development, their dietary habits and food-wasting behaviors are of both societal and scientific relevance. In this study, we combined direct weighing, questionnaire surveys, and regression analysis to quantify the plate waste of university students in Beijing and identified key influencing factors, based on 551 observations from 6 sample universities. We also evaluated the environmental impacts of university plate waste from the perspective of nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, and ecological footprints. The results showed that the average plate waste generated by university students in Beijing was 73.7 g/cap/meal in 2018, with staple foods and vegetables contributing the most. There were apparent correlations between plate waste and both grade level and financial condition: lower educational levels and higher disposable incomes both led to more food waste. Male students wasted significantly less staple food than female students. Students’ self-report difficulty of avoiding waste significantly related to plate waste. Dietary preference and personal appetite were prominent considerations when students ordered food, corresponding to problems in food quality and quantity at university canteens. Attitudes most likely to reduce plate waste included a sense of guilt and considering saving food a positive lifestyle. The estimated annual environmental footprints caused by plate waste were considerable, mainly deriving from staple foods and meats.