nep-mkt New Economics Papers
on Marketing
Issue of 2012‒01‒10
three papers chosen by
Joao Carlos Correia Leitao
University of Beira Interior and Technical University of Lisbon

  1. The crux of green marketing: an empirical effusive study By Hasan, Dr. Syed Akif; Subhani, Dr. Muhammad Imtiaz; Osman, Ms. Amber
  2. In Absolute or Relative Terms? How Framing Prices Affects the Consumer Price Sensitivity of Health Plan Choice By Schmitz, Hendrik; Ziebarth, Nicolas R.
  3. On the behavioural relevance of optional and mandatory impure public goods: results from a laboratory experiment By Dirk Engelmann; Alistair Munro; Marieta Valente

  1. By: Hasan, Dr. Syed Akif; Subhani, Dr. Muhammad Imtiaz; Osman, Ms. Amber
    Abstract: No product on this planet has a nix impact on the business and environment one is surrounded by and therefore, ‘green products/brands and environmental-friendly products/brands’ is the word used to express those products/brands that work to shield and care for atmosphere/environment by preserving the free energy and/or resources, in order to effectively manage to reduce the wastes from the environment as much as possible. By the topic, it is apparent that the study is all about green marketing and especially to assess the consumer’s perception about the products and brands, which are environmental-friendly i.e. whether green marketing really impresses an individual to buy the products/brands than a product/brand, which doesn’t promote environmental-friendly positioning. This study focuses the Asian market, which is challenged by economic development and opportunity due to gain in energy prices, terrorism, environmental and climatic changes and consequences. A sufficient sample of 2000 users of green products were selected via judgmental sampling and inquired via online structured questionnaire. It was revealed by Multiple Regression test that the associate variables of Consumer’s Environmental Consciousness, which are Social Influence, Environmental Concern, and Perceived Seriousness of Environmental Problems, indeed affect an individual’s Brand Perception/Preference. While, Environmental Attitude, which is the associate variable of Environmental Attitude and Brand’s Environmental Friendly Perception does not affect Brand Preference. However, when the data was split according to gender, Environmental Concern and Brand’s Environmentally Friendly Perception affect Male, while Social Influence and Environmental Concern affect Female in their choice of green-marketed product/brand.
    Keywords: Green marketing; Environmental friendliness; Environmental consciousness;Environmental problems; Brand preference
    JEL: M0
    Date: 2012
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:35688&r=mkt
  2. By: Schmitz, Hendrik (RWI); Ziebarth, Nicolas R. (Cornell University)
    Abstract: This paper provides field evidence on (a) how price framing affects consumers' decision to switch health insurance plans and (b) how the price elasticity of demand for health insurance can be influenced by policymakers through simple regulatory efforts. In 2009, in order to foster competition among health insurance companies, German federal regulation required health insurance companies to express price differences between health plans in absolute Euro values rather than percentage point payroll tax differences. Using individual-level panel data, as well as aggregated health plan-level panel data, we find that the reform led to a sixfold increase in an individual's switching probability and a threefold demand elasticity increase.
    Keywords: health insurance, health plan switching, price competition, price elasticity, SOEP
    JEL: H51 I11 I18
    Date: 2011–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6241&r=mkt
  3. By: Dirk Engelmann; Alistair Munro; Marieta Valente (NIMA, Universidade do Minho)
    Abstract: Ethical goods are increasingly available in markets for conventional goods giving pro-ethically motivated consumers a convenient option to contribute to public goods. In a previous experiment we explored the behavioural relevance of impure public goods in a within-subject setting and observed reduced aggregate pro-social behavior in the presence of impure goods that favor private consumption at the expense of public good provision. In this experiment, we implement a between-subject design to test the behavioural relevance of impure public goods with only a token contribution to a public good cause. From a theoretical perspective, assuming people demand private and public characteristics regardless of how they are provided, we would expect no behavioural relevance of the presence of impure public goods. However, this experiment establishes that pro-social behaviour defined as contributing to a public good, is negatively affected by impure goods with token contributions, in comparison to when they are absent. Furthermore, if the token impure good is mandatory instead of optional the negative effect on pro-social behaviour seems to be offset. The results from this experiment suggest impure public goods are not behaviourally irrelevant, can decrease pro-social behaviour but their optional or mandatory nature can have different behavioural consequences.
    Keywords: Experimental Economics, impure public goods, ethical goods, pro-social behaviour, social norms, experimental dictator games
    JEL: C91 D64 H41 Q59
    Date: 2011–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nim:nimawp:45/2011&r=mkt

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