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1 – 10 of over 7000Djoni Hartono, Tony Irawan, Khoirunurrofik Khoirunurrofik, Ramadani Partama, Nurul Wajah Mujahid and Desi Setiadestriati
High numbers of housing backlogs as well as inadequate housing for low-income are one of the Indonesian government’s major concerns, especially in urban areas where the price of…
Abstract
Purpose
High numbers of housing backlogs as well as inadequate housing for low-income are one of the Indonesian government’s major concerns, especially in urban areas where the price of house is high. This study aims to identify low-income communities’ preferences on house ownership status, renting or buying and house provider, public or private, in Jakarta and surrounding areas.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adapts Longley multistage choice model in the Indonesian context to analyze people’s preferences in choosing a place to live in urban areas. This study analyzes two choices of models which are aspects of homeownership (buying or renting) and aspects of residential types (private or public).
Findings
Using data collected through a survey of 1,000 households in greater Jakarta (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi), this study found that households which have fixed employment status, an older age, a larger number of family members, higher level of education and literacy in housing policy, accessible house location and more affordable to own house have a higher probability to choose to own a house. In addition, education level, age, and family size are major determinants of a household’s decision to occupy a public house rather than a private house. The findings provide basic input to government development programs in designing housing policy for low-income people.
Originality/value
There are only a few studies related to house-ownership preferences in low-income people, especially in developing countries, including Indonesia. This study contributes to the housing studies literature by strengthening empirical evidence from developing countries that have large populations and mostly live in urban areas.
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Marco Tulio Zanini, Fernando Filardi, Fábio Villaça, Carmen Migueles and Aline Menezes Melo
The purpose of this paper is to identify the attributes of shopping streets and shopping malls that influence the satisfaction and patronage intention of low-income consumers in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the attributes of shopping streets and shopping malls that influence the satisfaction and patronage intention of low-income consumers in order to understand the consumers’ preferences when it comes to shopping in these retail agglomerations.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on quantitative and qualitative research, including in-depth interviews and focus groups with low-income consumers. The research collected data from 396 consumers at 3 retail agglomerations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and used a structured questionnaire to identify 12 attributes as the factors of the agglomerations’ attractiveness.
Findings
The results show that the items “selection” and “value” affect satisfaction and patronage intention at the same intensity in both shopping streets and shopping malls. However, the item “access” proved to be important for shopping malls, and the item “security” proved to be important for shopping streets. The results indicate that shopping streets have a preference for patronage intentions, despite the greater satisfaction generated by shopping malls. In addition, the study looked at consumers’ opinions on these retail agglomerations.
Originality/value
The research findings help to build a conceptual framework on evolved retail agglomerations in comparison to created retail agglomeration, represented by shopping streets and shopping malls, respectively. The findings allow a broader view of low-income consumption, offering insights so entrepreneurs and companies can direct their efforts to better capture value and improve the supply of products and services. Likewise, these findings will help public policy decision-makers to build and provide infrastructure for the preservation of shopping streets, maintaining this option for the consumer.
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Samantha Mogil, Evanah Hill and Jennifer Quinlan
Lack of access to supermarkets and fresh produce continues to be a problem for low income consumers in many countries. The purpose of this research was to identify the shopping…
Abstract
Purpose
Lack of access to supermarkets and fresh produce continues to be a problem for low income consumers in many countries. The purpose of this research was to identify the shopping preferences and needs of such consumers in the Eastern U.S. Additionally, the research sought to determine the interest and preferences of low income consumers in a mobile grocery intervention which would provide neighborhoods with a consistent, convenient shopping experience.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed methods approach included conducting focus groups in low-income neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. and a quantitative survey (n = 202) administered via Survey Monkey to low-income consumers. Thematic analysis was conducted on focus group data and surveys were administered and analyzed to assess applicability of themes identified to consumers over a larger geographic area.
Findings
Results indicated that consumers in food desert neighborhoods reported an interest in purchasing a wide range of food staples, household goods, and personal items from any shopping intervention. Participants indicated a need for a more convenient overall shopping experience for a range of foods and goods in addition to fresh food choices. Findings indicate that mobile interventions to increase food access may benefit from expanding products available through the intervention beyond fresh produce and perishable goods.
Originality/value
This research explored purchasing preferences with low income consumers living in food deserts. It identifies products and goods they would prefer to see in an intervention to increase food access and is unique in that it explores the wants and preferences of consumers living in food deserts.
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Colin C. Williams and Jan Windebank
Aims to explore the behaviour and preferences of lower income populations when acquiring goods and services. Drawing on empirical evidence from several UK cities, this paper finds…
Abstract
Aims to explore the behaviour and preferences of lower income populations when acquiring goods and services. Drawing on empirical evidence from several UK cities, this paper finds that, in the realm of goods acquisition, these consumers want new goods from formal retail outlets but, due to economic necessity, their first option but second choice is often to acquire them informally or second‐hand. In the sphere of consumer services, however, informal modes of provision are frequently preferred by these populations and actively chosen over formal consumer services. The paper concludes by discussing some policy implications of these findings.
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Francis K. Bondinuba, Devine Hedidor, Alex Opoku and Alfred L. Teye
The purpose of this paper is to explore the de/motivation variables in the delivery of housing microfinance (HMF) in the low-income housing market in Ghana.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the de/motivation variables in the delivery of housing microfinance (HMF) in the low-income housing market in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper relied on a survey of 125 respondents of microfinance institutions (MFIs) to understand the interactions and effects of these variables on HMF delivery in Ghana. Descriptive and bivariate statistical methods were used to analyse the data.
Findings
The findings revealed that both internal and external variables motivate MFIs to engage in the low-income housing market. These variables are: MFIs desire for expansion, the potential size of the low-income housing market, the market potential for MFIs growth, the availability of local resources, unique features and products of the market, low-income housing offering an opportunity for leveraging resources and the preference for homeownership than rental among individuals in the low-income segment of the population. However, variables such as capital lock-up in HMF delivery, high-interest rates in the country, high cost and land prices, high cost and price of building materials, lack of sufficient collaterals and the different interest rates required on HMF loans also served as demotivation in the low-income housing market in Ghana.
Research limitations/implications
The paper findings are limited in context to Ghana.
Practical implications
The paper, although limited to Ghana, contributes to the much-needed body of knowledge on low-income housing finance in developing countries.
Originality/value
The paper is the first of its kind in using empirical data to explore the motivational and demotivational variables in the delivery of HMF in a developing country context such as Ghana.
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The purpose of this paper is to conduct an exploratory analysis of low‐income women consumers' consumption of low‐involvement grocery products, and to explore the relevance of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conduct an exploratory analysis of low‐income women consumers' consumption of low‐involvement grocery products, and to explore the relevance of cognitive dissonance in this consumption.
Design/methodology/approach
One focus group discussion and 30 in‐depth interviews are conducted with low‐income women consumer at Salford area of the north‐west of England to explore their salient beliefs, motivations, attitudes and behaviours in respect of their consumption of low‐involvement grocery products.
Findings
Findings suggest that low‐income women consumers engage in habitual purchasing and are not loyal to brands of grocery products. However, they often buy stores' own value‐range brands as they believe that these products are similar to manufacturers' brands. They do not perceive price to be an indication of quality, rather they attribute basic differences between the stores' own value‐range and manufacturers' brands as “expensive packaging” and the popularity of the brand name. Value for money is revealed as a key motivation underlying their purchasing of grocery products. Consequently, they are very sensitive to sales promotions and actively engage in making comparisons between the promotions in different stores within their locality. These confirm the incidence of cognitive dissonance in their consumption of these products.
Originality/value
This paper shows that generalisation in consumer behaviour without due reference to the contextual factors identified among low‐income women consumers provides a limited understanding of their decision making and purchase behaviour. It also supplements the limited empirical information on low‐income consumers, and consequently will be of interest to marketing practitioners, as it will reveal potential directions for low‐involvement product strategies in respect of the low‐income consumer.
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Alina Delgado and Frank De Troyer
The purpose of this paper is to describe the principles of a conceptual model to help developers and housing users achieve their expectations regarding quality, affordability and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the principles of a conceptual model to help developers and housing users achieve their expectations regarding quality, affordability and reasonable profits. Based on the identification of housing user’s preferences extracted from the survey, data are incorporated into model simulations considering budget restrictions for developers as well as for housing users.
Design/methodology/approach
The models’ development was based on fieldwork in Guayaquil, Ecuador, using a method that includes housing users’ preferences. Developed through a “methodological pluralism”, this study identifies people-oriented variables and assumptions. Thus, a more integrated approach is proposed, crossing and covering the fields of different disciplines.
Findings
The study concludes with findings regarding the identification of the most preferred attributes of housing users and the proposal of an alternative method to incorporate quality into model simulations for estimating housing market prices. Through optimizations, it is found that the optimal number of housing units per housing types in urban projects, which translates into more reasonable profits for the developers and the provision of better and more affordable houses for the users.
Research limitations/implications
A more complete assessment of the principles described in this paper will require a larger timeframe and location of application.
Practical implications
The identification of the most preferred attributes of housing users and the inclusion in a conceptual simulation model would help private and public developers to provide better and more affordable houses for users as well as to attain reasonable profits. Further, housing national policy could also be influenced by model’s results.
Social implications
The consideration of housing user’s preferences will entail an improvement of quality of life for social housing projects.
Originality/value
The study’s main original and novel contribution is the development of an approach for the inclusion of housing preferences into model simulations by using quality points and housing demand curves.
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Maria Teresa Trentinaglia, Daniele Cavicchioli, Cristina Bianca Pocol and Lucia Baldi
The goal of this study is to understand if ethnocentrism exists at the sub-regional level among honey consumers living in the same production area as a protected designation of…
Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this study is to understand if ethnocentrism exists at the sub-regional level among honey consumers living in the same production area as a protected designation of origin (PDO). Moreover, this analysis explores if ethnocentrism is influenced by individual economic conditions, among other socio-demographic characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 725 consumers was collected through the use of a questionnaire that was circulated in the province of Varese, one of the few honey PDO areas in Italy. The authors performed a principal component analysis and a two-step cluster analysis to identify different PDO honey consumer segments, focusing on their interest for PDO attributes.
Findings
The authors identified four consumer segments, depending on socio-demographic, consumption habits, frequencies, preferred attributes and preferences for the PDO product. One cluster exhibited strong preferences for the PDO honey, in the spirit of ethnocentrism, and was characterised by low-income levels; ethnocentric preferences were also observed in another cluster that had a different socio-economic profile.
Research limitations/implications
Honey is a niche product and not universally diffused among consumers: further analyses should investigate sub-national ethnocentrism for more universal food products. Yet, through the inspection of the different profiles found, it was possible to devise marketing strategies to boost PDO honey purchasing and to bring consumers closer to PDO products.
Originality/value
This analysis considers ethnocentrism as a segmentation criterion for PDO honey consumers that live in the very same PDO honey production area and enriches the existing literature on the relationship between ethnocentrism and individual economic status.
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Sohail Kamran and Outi Uusitalo
The present study aimed to provide an understanding of the roles of community-based financial service organizations (i.e. rotating savings and credit associations [ROSCAs] as…
Abstract
Purpose
The present study aimed to provide an understanding of the roles of community-based financial service organizations (i.e. rotating savings and credit associations [ROSCAs] as institutional pillars in facilitating low-income, unbanked consumers’ access to informal financial services).
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 39 low-income, unbanked consumers participating in ROSCAs in Pakistan, where only 21% of adults have a bank account and almost four out of five individuals live on a low income. The obtained data were analyzed using the thematic analysis technique.
Findings
ROSCAs’ regulatory, sociocultural and cognitive aspects facilitate low-income, unbanked consumers’ utilization of informal financial services owing to their approachability by, suitability for, and fairness to such consumers. Thus, they promote such consumers’ financial inclusion.
Practical implications
Low-income consumers are mostly unable to access formal financial services due to the existing supply- and demand-side impediments. Understanding ROSCAs’ institutional functioning can help formal financial service providers create more transformative financial services based on the positive institutional aspects of ROSCAs to enhance poor consumers’ financial inclusion and well-being.
Social implications
The inclusion of low-income, unbanked consumers in formal banking services will help them better control their finances.
Originality/value
Many low-income, unbanked consumers in developing countries utilize informal financial services to meet their basic financial needs, but service researchers have rarely investigated how informal financial institutions function. The present study showed that ROSCAs, as informal institutions, meet low-income, unbanked consumers’ personal, social and financial needs in a befitting manner, which encourages such consumers to use the financial services offered by ROSCAs.
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Pavan Namdeo Ghumare, Krupesh A. Chauhan and Sanjay Kumar M. Yadav
The purpose of this paper is to provide affordable housing to low- and middle-income groups. The gravity of India’s housing affordability problem has led us to study and analyse…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide affordable housing to low- and middle-income groups. The gravity of India’s housing affordability problem has led us to study and analyse the attributes hindering affordable housing for economically weaker section (EWS) and low-income group (LIG). The attributes such as viable parameters, economic parameters, location and communication, regulatory, source of finance, construction, services and infrastructure parameters affect the supply and demand of affordable housing in Indian urban areas for EWS and LIG with an annual household income below 2 lakhs.
Design/methodology/approach
The judgement sampling is used amongst housing and planning professionals working in five different sectors, including local authorities, housing developers, housing sectors, town planning and property/affordable housing consultant. The Analytical hierarchy process method of multi-criteria decision-making was used to analyse the data collected.
Findings
A detailed analysis of the data collected reveals that a viable parameter is the most governing attribute in the supply and demand process of developing affordable housing. Major reforms can be implemented at various levels of housing development in the urban area that can help in reducing the affordability gap for EWS/LIG. The suggested approach will be helpful for developers, urban planners and decision makers while designing an affordable housing project.
Originality/value
The model being proposed in this paper seeks for a proficient allotment of policies and assets, to some extent, by remedying the current market distortions and different inconsistencies that negatively influence the incentive structure of the affordable housing section in India. This paper offers a plan for a housing procedure that is applicable to all measurements of housing poverty and the groups that sustain it. In this way, the current study is, to a greater extent, a facilitator, and not an immediate solution of affordable housing.
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