What inhibits consumers in emerging countries from engaging in status consumption? A latent class conjoint analysis approach
International Journal of Emerging Markets
ISSN: 1746-8809
Article publication date: 3 August 2021
Issue publication date: 14 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to address how the status consumption tendency of consumers in emerging markets is negatively influenced by five individual traits: self-control, self-actualization, religiosity, future orientation and self-efficacy.
Design/methodology/approach
A conjoint experiment measured the importance of certain smartphone product attributes. A latent class regression analysis was then employed to estimate segment-level part-worths using conjoint data collected from 500 Bangladeshi consumers.
Findings
The results revealed three segments with members that differ in how they evaluate smartphone product attributes. Those susceptible to a product's brand name (i.e. status seekers) appear to have low self-control, are less religious and are more myopic.
Research limitations/implications
An issue may exist with generalizability, as the analysis was conducted based on data collected in one country and for one product category. However, this study's framework provides direction for future researchers to better understand status consumption in emerging countries.
Practical implications
The findings are useful for marketers selling status products to improve market segmentation and target their offerings more efficiently.
Originality/value
The originality of this paper is twofold. First, it investigates the influencing factors of status consumption that have not been addressed in the extant literature. Second, it is the first to use experimental data to measure segment-level status consumption accurately.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by JSPS KAKENHI [grant number A21H007570].
Citation
Ali, A.R.S.I. and Dahana, W.D. (2023), "What inhibits consumers in emerging countries from engaging in status consumption? A latent class conjoint analysis approach", International Journal of Emerging Markets, Vol. 18 No. 9, pp. 2765-2789. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-02-2021-0223
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited