Kuwaiti Consumers Research Articles

Assessing the influence of mobile direct social media advertising on consumer attitudes: a study of Kuwaiti consumers

Assessing the influence of mobile direct social media advertising on consumer attitudes: a study of Kuwaiti consumers

Covid-19 Effect on Consumers Perception toward E-Payment: A Case Study on Kuwaiti Consumers

As an act of risk management, most governments around the world started imposing curfews and lockdowns to contain the spread of covid-19. These restrictions led e-payment to become the main method of conducting financial transactions. It is well documented that the volume of e-payments transactions had risen dramatically during and after covid-19 lockdowns and Kuwait was no exception. This study aims to identify the sources of that increase in e-payment transactions. Using the data of a questionnaire that was distributed to 170 participants, results showed that covid-19 resulted in an increase of 136% in e-payment in Kuwait. Using ordinary least square regression (OLS) method, results revealed that the age of the consumer had a statistically significant direct effect on the increase in volume while the consumer income had a statistically significant inverse relation with the increase in e-payment transactions volume. On the other hand, factors such as consumer gender, education, and information technology (IT) literacy showed no statistically significant effect on the increase in e-payments volume.

THE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY IN KUWAIT: A COINTEGRATION ANALYSIS

In this paper, we investigate the determinants of electricity demand in Kuwait and evaluate their impact on electricity consumption. In order to do this, we use the standard demand equation, cointegration techniques, and the error correction model on annual time series data for Kuwait from 1972 to 2017. One of the important features of our contribution is that it covers the most recently available data, in which we use the longest annual period (45 years) compared to all other studies of electricity demand in the region. We find that income elasticity for Kuwaiti consumers is insignificant both in short-run and the long run. This indicates that income has no impact on the consumption of electricity in Kuwait. Additionally, the short-run price elasticity is -0.22 while the long-run is -1.22, suggesting a negative yet elastic relationship between the electricity price in Kuwait and the demand in the long-run, while the short-run is inelastic.Keywords: electricity demand, structural time series model, cointegration.JEL Classifications: C22, Q41, Q43DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.9855

What drives Kuwaiti consumers to purchase luxury brands?

ABSTRACTLuxury products evoke exclusivity and they compete in the market based on brand identity, brand awareness and perceived quality. The market for luxury products has grown exponentially in the last two decades. Thus, profiling luxury consumers is very important because it plays an important role in planning the target marketing strategy. This study investigates the influence of several functional, social and personal factors on Kuwaiti consumers’ luxury consumption. Using a large sample size (n = 880), logistic regression results show that brand image, social image, need for uniqueness, self-identity, cosmopolitanism, ethnocentrism, and materialism affect consumers’ luxury consumption in Kuwait. To the best of our knowledge this is the first empirical study to investigate luxury consumption in Kuwait. Thus, by focusing solely on luxury goods consumption in one of the richest nations in the Arab world, rather than on traditional commodities, this study enriches the knowledge base of this under-represented area.

Purchasing environmentally sustainable apparel: The attitudes and intentions of female Kuwaiti consumers

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to examine relationships among knowledge, environmental concern, attitudes about environmentally sustainable apparel (ESA) and ESA purchasing behaviours of Kuwaiti women. This was accomplished by surveying 236 participants using four preexisting scales, measuring knowledge about the impact of manufacturing apparel and textile products on the environment, levels of concern about environmental degradation, feelings about clothing that is environmentally sustainable and ESA purchase intentions. Data analysis determined several findings. First, female Kuwaiti nationals showed a low level of knowledge about the environmental impacts of the apparel and textile industry. The participants also held neutral attitudes of environmental concern and neutral attitudes towards ESA. Finally, despite their knowledge and attitudes, the participants did have positive intentions to purchase ESA in the future. To produce, market and sell ESA effectively in Kuwait, the conclusions from this study are important for manufacturers and retailers of ESA products. Kuwait provides a large market for apparel goods and this study is a contribution to a better understanding of consumers and ESA in that market.

Clustering Kuwaiti consumer attitudes towards Sharia-compliant financial products

PurposeThis purpose of this paper is to clustering Kuwaiti consumers choice of Sharia-complaint financial products and services based on several factors such as religiosity, financial knowledge, customer value, satisfaction, trust, service quality, relationship with service providers and innovation.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses self-organizing maps, a neural network technique, in order to cluster and segment consumers of Sharia-compliant financial products and services in Kuwait. From a marketing perspective, SOM can be viewed as a flexible clustering technique in which different clusters are identified without the rigid traditional statistical assumptions of linearity or normality.FindingsThis paper shows that consumers of Sharia-compliant financial products in Kuwait can be clustered into three distinct segments: enthusiasts, laggards and rejectors. The enthusiasts represent the largest cluster with a frequency of around 66 percent, while the Rejectors represent the smallest segment with a frequency of 10 percent.Originality/valueThis paper advances our knowledge about the behavioral aspects of financial consumer choice within a non-traditional Sharia-compliant financial products context.

Chronological age vs. cognitive age: an examination of lifecycle and gender differences

The current study examines the concept of self-perceived age in the Middle Eastern market through the use of the cognitive age construct. The results of a survey of 613 respondents in the Kuwait market reveal that the five-item cognitive age measure scored 0.949 on Cronbach's coefficient alpha, which is indicative of a reliable variable. The results also indicate that the differences between chronological age and cognitive age vary across lifecycle age groups. Specifically, Kuwaiti consumers overall tend to perceive their cognitive ages to be below their actual chronological ages, and this pattern becomes stronger as consumers get older. The analyses also find that age differences exist by gender. Men under the age of 25 in the Kuwait market perceive themselves to be almost four years older than their actual chronological ages. The study suggests that the cognitive age construct might be a useful segmentation variable in the Middle Eastern market.

Kuwaiti consumers’ willingness to pay for environmental protection in Failaka island: a contingent valuation analysis

PurposeEvidence suggests that a growing number of consumers across the world are becoming more environmentally responsible in terms of their personal habits and lifestyles. In this paper, the authors aim to use both parametric and non-parametric econometric models to estimate Kuwaiti consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for environmental protection in Failaka island.Design/methodology/approachContingent valuation methods based on log-logistic and log-normal regression models revealed that consumers in Kuwait are willing to pay a price premium of approximately 40 Kuwaiti dinars for environmental protection in Failaka island based on the double-bound dichotomous choice model.FindingsSocio-economic variables have no significant influence on the respondent’s WTP. As expected income has a positive relationship with WTP and bid price has negative relationship with WTP to protect the environment in Failaka island.Originality/valueThis study highlight the fact that understanding consumers’ environmental-friendly behaviors may play an important role in formulating environmental policy changes to face complex problems as diverse as environmental pollution or environmental degradation.

An Investigation of Chronological Versus Cognitive Age Impact in the Kuwait Coffee Shop Market

Given the growing body of research dedicated to self-perceived age and the cognitive age construct, it is widely believed that one’s self-perceived age may actually be a better predictor of age-related psychological states or attitudes than mere chronological age. Extending the research on cognitive age, the current study examines the impact of both cognitive age and traditional chronological age on the behaviors of coffee shop users in Kuwait. The study finds that chronological age and cognitive age are highly correlated, both in age levels and in terms of consumer behavior. Nevertheless, a large portion of the sample perceived themselves to be younger than their chronological age. This is especially true of consumers aged 55 and over. The main findings that differentiate chronological age from cognitive age are that as Kuwaiti consumers become chronologically older, coffee drinks become more important to them. Also, as cognitive age increases, consumers are less likely to drink coffee with friends.

Using an Extended Technology Acceptance Model to Explore Factors Affecting Online Shopping Intention in Developing Countries: A field Study of Kuwait

This paper applies an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to assess the Behavioral Intention (BI) of Kuwaiti consumers to shop online. Reliability analysis was performed to validate the research model and to analyze the research data. Regression analysis was also used to assess the direct effect of variables such as Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and Perceived Usefulness (PU) on (BI). Results showed that (PEOU) has a positive direct effect on Kuwaiti consumer’s (PU) of online shopping, and (PEOU) and (PU) significantly predicted the (BI) of Kuwaiti consumers to shop online. Other factors that were significant determinants of (BI) included Customer Satisfaction (CS), Perceived Online Risk (POR), and age.

Lead, nickel and vanadium in seafood: An exposure assessment for Kuwaiti consumers

Human exposure to lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) and vanadium (V) through the ingestion of six species of fish and two species of shrimp in Kuwait are determined. The study on seafood consumed by the Kuwaiti residents was analyzed by conducting a survey in five districts of the country, namely, Kuwait city (Capital), Farwaniya, Jahra, Hawaly and Ahmedi. Samples consisting of fish and shrimp were purchased from the local fish market during November 1995 and June 1996. Based on the survey, three major factors were investigated: (i) Pb, Ni and V concentration in the fish of locally consumed fish and shrimp; (ii) daily dietary intake of these elements in humans through consumption of seafood; and (iii) characterizing potential health risks associated with the estimated daily intakes. The risk associated with Pb, Ni and V in seafood was estimated based on a Hazard Index (HI). Although the highest HI (using the 95th percentiles of the daily intake of the element as the dose of concern) was observed for zobaidy, hamoor and shrimp, it is always <1. This indicated that no serious health threats are associated with oil-related elements in fish and shrimp.

95/05386 Preliminary exposure assessment for Kuwaiti consumers to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seafood

95/05386 Preliminary exposure assessment for Kuwaiti consumers to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seafood

Preliminary exposure assessment for Kuwaiti consumers to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seafood

Levels of PAHs in seafood from Kuwaiti market were determined. Results showed that most of the samples contained significant amounts of total PAHs. Naphthalene constituted the highest PAH burden of the samples. Nuwaibi had the highest level of total PAHs (472.6 μg/kg, dry wt.). Others ranged from 83.8 to 357.5 μg/kg, dry wt). PAH levels were reassessed as BaP equivalents using equivalency factors. Nakroor contained the highest levels of BaP equivalents (88.42 μg/kg dry wt). Others ranged from 0.86 to 55.96 μg/kg dry wt. The results of exposure assessment for the average consumer indicated a daily intake of 0.231 μg of total PAH from seafood. BaP equivalent intake was calculated to be 0.0167 μg/d. For the above average consumer, total PAH intake was 0.326 μg/d; and BaP equivalents were 0.025 μg/d. These daily intake levels were quite comparable with those reported for the average American consumer.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in fish: Exposure assessment for Kuwaiti consumers after the gulf oil spill of 1991

This investigation involves a preliminary assessment of public health hazards associated with exposure to PAHs in locally consumed fish from oil-impacted areas after the Gulf oil spill in 1991. Based on levels of 10 PAHs determined in edible parts of fish collected during the NOAA-Mt. Mitchell scientific cruise (April–May 1992), two exposure scenarios were hypothesized. The first scenario considers that the extent of exposure to PAHs is influenced by the frequency of occurrence and the mean concentration of individual PAH compounds. In the second scenario, the maximum detected PAH concentrations are considered as potential extremes in exposure based on the likely preference of consumption of highly contaminated fish. The mean concentration of the frequently occurring pyrene (75%) poses 3.8, 2.37, and 5.85 times the carcinogenic equivalency, carcinogenic potency, and mutagenic potency, respectively, posed by the mean B(a)P concentration. The maximum concentration of pyrene poses 5.81, 3.62, 8.94 times the carcinogenic equivalency, carcinogenic potency, and mutagenic potency, respectively, posed by the maximum B(a)P concentration. The mean concentration of anthracene (frequency of occurrence = 10%) poses 8.05 and 1.51 times the carcinogenic potency and mutagenic potency, respectively, posed by the mean B(a)P concentration. The maximum concentration of anthracene poses 3.29 and 0.62 times the carcinogenic potency and mutagenic potency, respectively, posed by the maximum B(a)P concentration. The maximum daily intake rate (MDI) of B(a)P equivalencies was estimated at 0.15 μg/d. A preliminary cancer assessment is performed indicating a need for a complete risk assessment.

Mercury in seafood: A preliminary risk assessment for Kuwaiti consumers

Fish is a significant source of high quality protein in Kuwait, whose population was believed to be at relatively high risk from hazards associated with the ingestion of mercury. In an effort to determine if a health hazard exists among fish consumers in Kuwait, fish consumption and mercury residues in fish from Kuwait are evaluated in this study. The concentration levels in edible portions of Kuwaiti fish ranged from not detected to a record maximum of 1.57 mg/kg. The most unfortunate group of consumers preferring to eat the highest polluted fish will be exposed to a total intake of 8.1 μg Hg/d. To assess the risk of mercury to Kuwaiti fish consumers, a safety factor of 10 was incorporated in the minimum level currently known to be associated with adverse effects (300 μg/d·person). Kuwait fish consumption data do not indicate any cause for concern from methylmercury poisoning for the average Kuwaiti consumer. At the current, relatively low fish consumption rate the acceptable daily intake has never been exceeded even at the worst, extreme consumption scenarios. All of the fish and shrimp consumers in Kuwait could easily double their current intake and still remain below the mercury acceptable daily intake of 30 μg Hg/d·person.