IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ddj/fseeai/y2020i1p5-13.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Consumer Behavior in Crisis Situations. Research on the Effects of COVID-19 in Romania

Author

Listed:
  • Silvius STANCIU

    (Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Romania)

  • Riana Iren RADU

    (Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Romania)

  • Violeta SAPIRA

    (Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Romania)

  • Bogdan Dumitrache BRATOVEANU

    (Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Romania)

  • Andrei Mirel FLOREA

    (Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Romania)

Abstract

The emergence of some critical incidents of economic, biological type-crises, armed conflicts, natural cataclysms can affect significantly the activity of the human society. The article aims at analyzing the behavior of the Romanian consumer in the context of COVID-19 emergence. The performed research has highlighted the particularities of the emergence of this sanitary crisis at the local economy level. Although the Romanian population’s infection degree has been more reduced as compared to the Western states, the strict prevention measures imposed by the authorities have determined a model of behavior of the consumer close to the one of other states affected by the infection with the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV2. The market studies performed by specialized companies have shown that imposing home isolation conditions, due to the emergency state, has significantly reduced the social activities of the Romanian consumer, the actions being oriented mainly towards covering the basic necessities. The health of the consumers (purchase of medicines or visit to the physician), procuring food or financial activities at the banking units are the main motivations for leaving the residence. By comparison, the sports activities or the visits for supporting family members have the lowest weight. A segment of consumers, advocate of traditional commerce, has been forced to appeal to modern trade methods based on online shopping, and the specialists’ estimations provide the maintenance of the trade behavior. Companies will have to focus on understanding the consumer’s needs and to adapt their product offer and distribution system so that to reduce the new consumption limits and to facilitate the sales act. The main orientation during the crisis towards the local products can represent an opportunity for the Romanian companies, but Government support measures are necessary for the Romanian producers. The research results are a novelty, being among the first studies conducted at national level on the complex impact of COVID-19 on the health of the population, the national economy and consumer behavior start.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvius STANCIU & Riana Iren RADU & Violeta SAPIRA & Bogdan Dumitrache BRATOVEANU & Andrei Mirel FLOREA, 2020. "Consumer Behavior in Crisis Situations. Research on the Effects of COVID-19 in Romania," Economics and Applied Informatics, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 1, pages 5-13.
    • Handle: RePEc:ddj:fseeai:y:2020:i:1:p:5-13
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.35219/eai1584040975
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.eia.feaa.ugal.ro/images/eia/2020_1/Stanciu_Radu_Sapira_Bratoveanu_Florea.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/https://doi.org/10.35219/eai1584040975?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Simona Botti & Ann L. McGill, 2011. "The Locus of Choice: Personal Causality and Satisfaction with Hedonic and Utilitarian Decisions," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 37(6), pages 1065-1078.
    2. Fabian Stephany & Niklas Stoehr & Philipp Darius & Leonie Neuhauser & Ole Teutloff & Fabian Braesemann, 2020. "The CoRisk-Index: A data-mining approach to identify industry-specific risk assessments related to COVID-19 in real-time," Papers 2003.12432, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2020.
    3. Rajagopal, 2020. "Transgenerational Marketing," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-030-33926-5, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sanne Ichelle Dubbelink & Carolina Herrando & Efthymios Constantinides, 2021. "Social Media Marketing as a Branding Strategy in Extraordinary Times: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-21, September.
    2. Eulalia Skawińska & Romuald I. Zalewski & Joanna Wyrwa, 2023. "Students’ Food Consumption Behavior during COVID-19 Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-28, June.
    3. Kudaisi, Bosede Victoria & Olomola, P.A., 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on Food Intake in Nigeria," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 9(3), June.
    4. Lucia Morosan-Danila & Otilia-Maria Bordeianu, 2021. "Tax Facilities for Romanian Companies in Combating the Crisis Generated by COVID-19," Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(1), pages 369-376, August.
    5. Mihaela PILA & Silvius STANCIU, 2022. "Fisheries and Aquaculture in Romania. Market Overview," Economics and Applied Informatics, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 3, pages 251-256.
    6. Daniel Lucheș & Despina Saghin & Maria-Magdalena Lupchian, 2021. "Public Perception of the First Major SARS-Cov-2 Outbreak in the Suceava County, Romania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-16, February.
    7. Silvius STANCIU, 2022. "Post COVID-19 Lessons. Could the SARS-CoV-2 Virus be a Progress Factor? A Literature Review," Economics and Applied Informatics, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 2, pages 36-46.
    8. Ahmet Yağmur Ersoy & Metin Saygılı & Mustafa İlteriş Yılmaz & Mustafa Emre Uslu & İhsan Hakan Selvi, 2022. "Consumer Sentiment in Turkey, from Closure to the New Normal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-24, July.
    9. Sabri Mekimah, 2020. "The Phases Of Covid-19 Crisis Managment By The Directorates Of Commerce In Algeria And Its Effect On The Consumer Behavior," Review of Economic and Business Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 26, pages 9-28, December.
    10. Alina Butu & Ioan Sebastian Brumă & Lucian Tanasă & Steliana Rodino & Codrin Dinu Vasiliu & Sebastian Doboș & Marian Butu, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 Crisis upon the Consumer Buying Behavior of Fresh Vegetables Directly from Local Producers. Case Study: The Quarantined Area of Suceava County, Romania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-25, July.
    11. Mirica Andreea & Petcu Ionela-Roxana, 2022. "Papers About Covid-19 In Romanian Social Sciences Isi Journals – What Are They About And What Is Their Impact?," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 3, pages 103-110, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Brodeur, Abel & Clark, Andrew E. & Fleche, Sarah & Powdthavee, Nattavudh, 2021. "COVID-19, lockdowns and well-being: Evidence from Google Trends," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    2. Ma, Qingguo & He, Yijin & Tan, Yulin & Cheng, Lu & Wang, Manlin, 2024. "Unveiling the Impact of Payment Methods on Consumer Behavior: Insights and Future Directions," OSF Preprints 3fphk, Center for Open Science.
    3. Erin Percival Carter & Stephanie Welcomer, 2021. "Designing and Distinguishing Meaningful Artisan Food Experiences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-13, July.
    4. Agnieszka Izabela Baruk, 2021. "Prosumers’ Needs Satisfied Due to Cooperation with Offerors in the Context of Attitudes toward Such Cooperation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-16, November.
    5. Gul Ekinci, 2021. "Covidomics & covidocial impacts:The relation between consumers’ fear of Covid-19, panic spending and saving behavior," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 10(3), pages 01-23, April.
    6. Brodeur, Abel & Cook, Nikolai & Wright, Taylor, 2021. "On the effects of COVID-19 safer-at-home policies on social distancing, car crashes and pollution," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    7. Stephany, Fabian, 2021. "When Does it Pay Off to Learn a New Skill? Revealing the Complementary Benefit of Cross-Skilling," SocArXiv sv9de, Center for Open Science.
    8. Tarek Ben Hassen & Hamid El Bilali & Mohammad S. Allahyari & Sinisa Berjan & Darjan Karabašević & Adriana Radosavac & Goran Dašić & Ružica Đervida, 2021. "Preparing for the Worst? Household Food Stockpiling during the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Serbia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-19, October.
    9. Kovacheva, Aleksandra & Nikolova, Hristina & Lamberton, Cait, 2022. "Will he buy a surprise? Gender differences in the purchase of surprise offerings," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 98(4), pages 667-684.
    10. Jean-Pierre Thomassen & Marijke C. Leliveld & Kees Ahaus & Steven Walle, 2020. "Prosocial Compensation Following a Service Failure: Fulfilling an Organization’s Ethical and Philanthropic Responsibilities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(1), pages 123-147, February.
    11. Fabian Stephany & Michael Dunn & Steven Sawyer & Vili Lehdonvirta, 2020. "Distancing Bonus Or Downscaling Loss? The Changing Livelihood of Us Online Workers in Times of COVID‐19," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 111(3), pages 561-573, July.
    12. Hepola, Janne & Leppäniemi, Matti & Karjaluoto, Heikki, 2020. "Is it all about consumer engagement? Explaining continuance intention for utilitarian and hedonic service consumption," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    13. Gu, Yangjie & Wu, Yuechen, 2023. "Highlighting supply-abundance increases attraction to small-assortment retailers," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 99(3), pages 420-439.
    14. Axel Berger & Tobias Schlager & David E. Sprott & Andreas Herrmann, 2018. "Gamified interactions: whether, when, and how games facilitate self–brand connections," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 652-673, July.
    15. Davide Furceri & Mr. Jonathan David Ostry, 2021. "Initial Output Losses from the Covid-19 Pandemic: Robust Determinants," IMF Working Papers 2021/018, International Monetary Fund.
    16. Chen, Lele & Jing, Kunpeng & Mei, Yupeng, 2024. "The effect of consumption goals on review helpfulness: Behavioral and eye-tracking research," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    17. Zhang, Yaqiong & Wang, Shifu, 2023. "The influence of anthropomorphic appearance of artificial intelligence products on consumer behavior and brand evaluation under different product types," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    18. Valenti, Albert & Yildirim, Gokhan & Vanhuele, Marc & Srinivasan, Shuba & Pauwels, Koen, 2023. "Advertising’s sequence of effects on consumer mindset and sales: A comparison across brands and product categories," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 435-454.
    19. Byun, Jaemun & Jang, SooCheong (Shawn), 2015. "Effective destination advertising: Matching effect between advertising language and destination type," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 31-40.
    20. Hai Lan & Xiaofei Tang & Yong Ye & Huiqin Zhang, 2024. "Abstract or concrete? The effects of language style and service context on continuous usage intention for AI voice assistants," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ddj:fseeai:y:2020:i:1:p:5-13. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Gianina Mihai (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/fegalro.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.