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The Role of Consumer’ Social Capital on Ethical Consumption and Consumer Happiness

Author

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  • Shi Ruo-Fei
  • Jing-Yun Zeng
  • Chang-Hyun Jin

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the components of consumer’ social capital which are social participation, social networking, and reciprocity and also analyzed how the social capitals possessed by consumers affect ethical consumption behaviors, and examine how ethical consumption behaviors affect consumer happiness. The samples were randomly extracted from a list of consumer panels registered with a multinational survey institute. Within the budget limit of this study, 2,000 persons were extracted considering the sample size. The main page of the questionnaire requested the subjects to answer to the question asking whether they had any experience in using ethical products or brands. Those who answered no were requested to quit answering the questionnaire. The total number of valid samples was 1,509. Social trust, social participation, and reciprocity, which are the components of social capitals, were found to have positive effects on eco-friendly ethical consumption behaviors, and social-economic-oriented ethical consumption behaviors. Eco-friendly and social-economic-oriented ethical consumption behaviors were found to affect consumer happiness. In additional analyses too, social capitals were found to affect the determination of consumer happiness to some extent. The findings of this study provide valuable information for the investigation of the causal relationships between the system of organization of the ethical consumption behaviors of consumers and the predisposing factors or outcomes of consumer happiness.

Suggested Citation

  • Shi Ruo-Fei & Jing-Yun Zeng & Chang-Hyun Jin, 2022. "The Role of Consumer’ Social Capital on Ethical Consumption and Consumer Happiness," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:12:y:2022:i:2:p:21582440221095026
    DOI: 10.1177/21582440221095026
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alexandra Ganglmair-Wooliscroft & Ben Wooliscroft, 2019. "Well-Being and Everyday Ethical Consumption," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 141-163, January.
    2. Toti, Jean-François & Diallo, Mbaye Fall & Huaman-Ramirez, Richard, 2021. "Ethical sensitivity in consumers’ decision-making: The mediating and moderating role of internal locus of control," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 168-182.
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    6. Thomas DeLeire & Ariel Kalil, 2010. "Does consumption buy happiness? Evidence from the United States," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 57(2), pages 163-176, June.
    7. Hye Jung Jung & HaeJung Kim & Kyung Wha Oh, 2016. "Green Leather for Ethical Consumers in China and Korea: Facilitating Ethical Consumption with Value–Belief–Attitude Logic," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(3), pages 483-502, May.
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    1. Takumi Kato & Katsuya Hayami & Kenta Kasahara & Minami Morino & Yui Ikuma & Ryosuke Ikeda & Masaki Koizumi, 2023. "Environmental vs. labor issues: evidence of influence on intention to purchase ethical coffee in Japan," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.

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