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A social institutional approach to identifying generation cohorts in China with a comparison with American consumers

Author

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  • Kineta H Hung

    (School of Business, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

  • Flora Fang Gu

    (Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)

  • Chi Kin (Bennett) Yim

    (School of Business, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

Abstract

Identifying distinctive target segments is a fundamental challenge faced by international marketers. This paper describes an approach to understanding consumer market structures in an important international market, China, and to segmenting Chinese consumers by integrating insights from generational cohort and social institutional theories. We conduct two empirical studies to verify how China's recent momentous ideological events could give rise to and affect the life experiences of different generation cohorts in the country. The results of Study 1 support the conceptual framework and establish three distinct cohorts in China: Red Guards, Modern Realists, and Global Materialists. Study 2 builds on the findings of Study 1: it links cohort differences to differences in consumer values (materialism) and choice behaviors (foreign vs local brands), and then compares them with parallel consumers in the United States. This paper outlines and tests an approach to segmentation that can help international firms identify distinct segments in and design effective marketing strategies for China. Journal of International Business Studies (2007) 38, 836–853. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400288

Suggested Citation

  • Kineta H Hung & Flora Fang Gu & Chi Kin (Bennett) Yim, 2007. "A social institutional approach to identifying generation cohorts in China with a comparison with American consumers," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(5), pages 836-853, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:jintbs:v:38:y:2007:i:5:p:836-853
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    Cited by:

    1. Maribel Guerrero & José Ernesto Amorós & David Urbano, 2021. "Do employees’ generational cohorts influence corporate venturing? A multilevel analysis," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 47-74, June.
    2. Kotler, Philip & Manrai, Lalita A. & Lascu, Dana-Nicoleta & Manrai, Ajay K., 2019. "Influence of country and company characteristics on international business decisions: A review, conceptual model, and propositions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 482-498.
    3. Sabina Lissitsa & Ofrit Kol, 2021. "Four generational cohorts and hedonic m-shopping: association between personality traits and purchase intention," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 545-570, June.
    4. Strizhakova, Yuliya & Coulter, Robin A., 2013. "The “green” side of materialism in emerging BRIC and developed markets: The moderating role of global cultural identity," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 69-82.
    5. Oksana S. Karashchuk & Elena A. Mayorova & Alexander F. Nikishin & Olena V. Kornilova, 2020. "The Method for Determining Time-Generation Range," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(4), pages 21582440209, October.
    6. Yang, Song & Ding, Shiqing & D’Alessandro, Steven, 2018. "Are all Chinese shoppers the same? Evidence of differences in values, decision making and shopping motivations between the Han majority and other minorities in China," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 24-34.
    7. Magdalena Grebosz-Krawczyk, 2020. "How Nostalgia Affects Brand Equity? Consumers’ Attitudes Towards Nostalgic Generational and Transgenerational Brands," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 1019-1034.
    8. Jing Yang & Frank Tipton & Jiatao Li, 2011. "A review of foreign business management in China," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 28(3), pages 627-659, September.
    9. Jorge Vieira & Carla Gomes da Costa & Vasco Santos, 2024. "Talent Management and Generation Z: A Systematic Literature Review through the Lens of Employer Branding," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-24, March.
    10. Martin Heinberg & Constantine S. Katsikeas & H. Erkan Ozkaya & Markus Taube, 2020. "How nostalgic brand positioning shapes brand equity: differences between emerging and developed markets," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 48(5), pages 869-890, September.
    11. Jackson, Vanessa & Stoel, Leslie & Brantley, Aquia, 2011. "Mall attributes and shopping value: Differences by gender and generational cohort," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 1-9.
    12. Si-ming Li & Sanqin Mao, 2017. "Exploring residential mobility in Chinese cities: An empirical analysis of Guangzhou," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 54(16), pages 3718-3737, December.
    13. Parment, Anders, 2013. "Generation Y vs. Baby Boomers: Shopping behavior, buyer involvement and implications for retailing," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 189-199.
    14. Uncles, Mark D. & Kwok, Simon, 2013. "Designing research with in-built differentiated replication," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(9), pages 1398-1405.
    15. Dian Wang & Bowen Zhang & Yingying Wu & Xinwen Zhang, 2023. "Generational homogeneity and heterogeneity in city image perception: an explorative study of Guangzhou," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(1), pages 128-142, March.
    16. Arslan Rafi & Sharjeel Saqib & Ali Iftikhar Choudhary & Syed Azeem Akhtar, 2012. "Exploring the Purchasing Motives of Young Pakistani Consumers for Foreign Brands," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 4(3), pages 136-144.
    17. Lissitsa, Sabina & Kol, Ofrit, 2016. "Generation X vs. Generation Y – A decade of online shopping," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 304-312.
    18. Fazli-Salehi, Reza & Torres, Ivonne M. & Madadi, Rozbeh & Zúñiga, Miguel Ángel, 2021. "Multicultural advertising: The impact of consumers’ self-concept clarity and materialism on self-brand connection and communal-brand connection," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 46-57.
    19. Zhilong Tian & Rui Wang & Wen Yang, 2011. "Consumer Responses to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 101(2), pages 197-212, June.
    20. Ghazal Shams & Mohsin Abdur Rehman & Sarminah Samad & Eeva-Liisa Oikarinen, 2020. "Exploring customer’s mobile banking experiences and expectations among generations X, Y and Z," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 25(1), pages 1-13, June.
    21. Rašković, Matevž & Ding, Zhonghui & Hirose, Morikazu & Žabkar, Vesna & Fam, Kim-Shyan, 2020. "Segmenting young-adult consumers in East Asia and Central and Eastern Europe – The role of consumer ethnocentrism and decision-making styles," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 496-507.
    22. Robert Harmel & Yao-Yuan Yeh, 2015. "China's Age Cohorts: Differences in Political Attitudes and Behavior," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 96(1), pages 214-234, March.
    23. David A. Ralston & Carolyn P. Egri & Charlotte M. Karam & Yongjuan Li & Ping Ping Fu, 2018. "Changes in work values across the regions of China," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 145-179, March.

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