To Buy or Not to Buy: Who are Political Consumers? What do they Think and How do they Participate?

Abstract

Political consumerism has recently generated academic interest among political participation researchers. While some scholars underscore political consumerism as an emerging civic and political engagement, others discredit its democratic potentials. Drawing on two national survey samples in 2002 that measured both boycotting and ‘buycotting’, this study examines political consumers' demographic backgrounds, socio‐political attitudes, issue orientations and their status of civic and political participation. Findings suggest that: (1) boycotters and buycotters should be distinguished because their demographic backgrounds are substantially different; (2) political consumers possess post‐material values and are mainly interested in lifestyle‐oriented social issues; and (3) political consumers are more active political participants. Theoretical implications of the findings and an agenda for future studies are also discussed.

Ethical Consumers in Greece: Who are They?

“…As mentioned in the literature review, two such studies were located, those by Cowe and Williams (2000) in U.K. and by Baek (2010) in U.S.A. The ethical consumers' segments in those two studies were found around 20%, which is quite similar with the relevant finding of this study.…”

“…The ethical consumers' segments in those two studies were found around 20%, which is quite similar with the relevant finding of this study. Of course, there is a phase difference time wise, as the Cowe and Williams's (2000) data most probably refer to the end of the nineties while the Baek's (2010) data have been gathered in 2002. This observation indicates the already mentioned delay in the formulation of an ethical segment in the Greek market.…”

“…Ten years later in the U.S.A., Baek (2010) found the Dualcotters segment of consumers, who concurrently buycotted and boycotted products for social or ethical reasons. These consumers were found to be white Americans, graduates and post-graduates, earning higher incomes and belonging in the categories either of 26-37 years old or 38-56 years old, which respectively represent the Generation X or the Baby Boomers (to an extent).…”

“…Baek (2010), in U.S.A., examined political consumption (boycotting and buycotting) and found 4 clusters, namely Nocotters (55%), Dualcotters (both boycott and buycott) (22%), Boycotters (12%) and Buycotters (10%).…”

“…In fact, there have been just few in number exploratory attempts to examine the several aspects and types of ethical consumption [e.g. Carrigan & Attalla, 2001;Baek, 2010;Delistavrou & Tilikidou, 2012].…”