Ethics in Consumer Choice

An Empirical Analysis based on the Example of Coffee

verfasst von: Nina Langen

Verlag: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Über dieses Buch

This dissertation elaborates differences and similarities of forms of ethical behaviour in general and analyses whether German consumers differentiate between different types of ethical behaviour in particular. The thesis is characterised by its intensive combination of theoretical and empirical research. It furthermore contributes to the literature as the method triangulation applied in the different surveys reveals previously unknown relationships between different kinds of ethical behaviour, such as ethical consumption and charitable giving, as well as between different forms of ethical products. Choice experiment, latent class analysis, information display matrix and item-based attitude assessment allowed the comparison of stated and revealed preferences as well as an analysis of the relevance of ethical product features within the context of different product and process attributes. The dissertation provides insights into a research field which is becoming more and more relevant and improves the understanding of consumers’ assessment and the interdependencies of the possibilities of ethical behaviour. This allows the development of recommendations for consumer policy makers, business and NGOs concerned with the ethics of consumer choice as well as future research on ethical behaviour in general and ethical consumption in particular.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

A. What this Dissertation is about: Relevance, questions and approaches to arrive at the Ethics in Consumer Choice

Abstract

The following introduction provides the reader with an overview of the reasons and questions which have led to this dissertation. It describes the motivations to conduct the research on the ethics in consumer choice, explains and presents the goal and research questions as well as suitable methods to arrive at the answers to these questions. Thus, the introduction presents a comprehensive picture of the thesis.

Nina Langen

B. Ethics and Consumers’ Choice

Abstract

This thesis is about the ethics in consumer choice. Ethics is a branch of philosophy addressing questions about actions raising a claim on morality. It is about the relationship between moral action and judgements. Values and customs of persons are studied. The main areas of questions that ethics as science deals with are happiness, freedom, good and evil. Ethics has been applied to various fields of life such as economics, business, politics, environment, etc. (PIEPER 1994, p. 17ff.; 100ff.).

Nina Langen

C. Empirical Studies based on the Example of Coffee

Abstract

This part C presents the results of the three empirical studies carried out in 2008 and 2009 using the example of coffee. As described in the introduction, each of the studies focussed on different aspects of the central research question of the thesis. The results have been reported in five papers which were all presented at international conferences; two of them are already published in peer-revied journals. The respective journal or conference where the paper has been published/presented is indicated in footnotes related to the title of the study.

Nina Langen

D. Synthesis: Ethics in Consumer Choice and Empirical Analysis based on the Example of Coffee

Abstract

This chapter provides a synthesis of part B and part C of the dissertation. It brings together the findings of the more theoretical analysis of ethical behaviour with the empirical findings from face-to-face interviews and experiments with consumers in Germany. In a short summary the major issues of this thesis, such as the question as to whether consumers distinguish between different forms of ethical behaviour, are brought together with the findings of chapter 4 and conclusions and implications are drawn accordingly. Limitations of the thesis are discussed and suggestions are made for researchers as well as consumer policy, business and NGOs concerned about the ethics of consumer choices.

Nina Langen

Titel: Ethics in Consumer Choice
verfasst von: Nina Langen
Verlag: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-658-00759-1
Print ISBN: 978-3-658-00758-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-00759-1