On the basis of an empirical investigation in the context of Romania, this paper identifies a moderating role of neutralization techniques within ethically questionable consumer behavior. The quantitative study is based on a synthesized model of theory of planned behavior incorporating the factor of perceived unfairness and neutralization techniques. Significantly, neutralization techniques are shown to have a negative, but definite impact on the action to behave unethically. This leads to their consideration as a process of thinking, rather than as static judgment. As such, neutralization techniques are conceptually distinctive to the other factors. The paper analyzes the results specific to the Romanian context, but noting implications for an understanding of the morality of markets with similar historical, political, and economic conditions. Overall, the findings offer a more nuanced reading of consumer behavior. The paper places moral flexibility in terms of a specific cultural context, but also reveals how neutralization techniques can moderate ethically questionable behaviors beyond matters of self‐interest, which, in turn, has implications for how companies can consider their responsibilities in relation to their customers.

Nowadays, sustainability is assumed to have high potential for promoting ethical consumer behavior. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of sustainable behavior on consumer intention to be ethical when it comes to political, social, and environmental dimensions. Therefore, insightful results can be brought forward to explain consumer ethical behavior from a different perspective. Covariance structural equation modelling in AMOS was used for data analysis. Three antecedents, namely environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable consumption, are found to have a significant and positive impact on intention to engage in ethically consumer behavior. In this context, companies seeking to proactively approach eco-friendly consumers will need to understand the complexity of the decision-making process of ethically minded consumers.

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"Video communication platforms have steadily risen in popularity in the last two decades, experiencing an exponential growth beginning with 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The main goal of this study was to explore the mechanism through which antecedents represented by utilitarian value, satisfaction, and privacy risk influence the reuse intention of the Zoom communication platform. A sample of 421 Romanian persons in the 18-26 age group was formed and data were collected using an online survey. Accounting for the reflective nature of the factors considered in this study, data analysis involved covariance-based structural equation modeling done in AMOS. Findings show that while utilitarian value and satisfaction both positively affect reuse intention, privacy risk negatively influences the same behavior. Thus, researchers and practitioners can better comprehend elements determining users’ loyalty of the Zoom platform. Keywords: Zoom platform, utilitarian value, satisfaction, privacy risk, reuse intention. JEL classification: L86, M39. "

Consumers usually consider themselves as more ethical than their peers, manifesting a need to appear more socially orientated than they actually are. The main objective of this study was to analyze the influence of social desirability bias on ethical consumer behavior considered at a component level. Data were collected from a sample of 332 Romanian individuals from the 18-26 age group. The data analysis process involved co-variance structural equation modeling performed with the help of AMOS. Results show that both the positive and negative sides of social desirability significantly influence the three dimension of ethical consumer behavior. Therefore, based on results from this study, researchers can better understand the complex structure of ethical consumer behavior form a different point of view.