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Fashionable food: a latent class analysis of social status in food purchases

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  • Marco A. Palma
  • Meghan L. Ness
  • David P. Anderson

Abstract

A framed field experiment combined with a latent class econometric approach was used to investigate how prestige-seeking behaviour influences food choices. We propose a theoretical framework to test conspicuous consumption of specialty food products. We test the hypothesis empirically by categorizing individuals into unobserved latent classes according to their general prestige-seeking behaviour. We find evidence of food consumption driven by prestige to the point of becoming a symbol of social status. The prestige-seeking behaviour seems to be motivated by invidious comparison or higher-class individuals seeking to differentiate themselves from lower-class individuals; and pecuniary emulation, or lower-class individuals buying prestigious goods in order to be perceived as members of a higher class. Findings from this study revealed that the effects of differentiating labelling attributes had a higher impact for individuals classified into classes with prestige-seeking behaviour to attain an elevated social status.

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  • Marco A. Palma & Meghan L. Ness & David P. Anderson, 2017. "Fashionable food: a latent class analysis of social status in food purchases," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(3), pages 238-250, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:49:y:2017:i:3:p:238-250
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2016.1194965
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    5. Jessica M. Phelan & Richard R. Rosenkranz & Connor J. Phelan & Sara K. Rosenkranz, 2023. "Holistic Framework to Contextualize Dietary Quality Assessment: A Critical Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-13, February.
    6. Mathieu-Bolh, Nathalie & Wendner, Ronald, 2020. "We are what we eat: Obesity, income, and social comparisons," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    7. Ho Fai Chan & Franklin G. Mixon & Jayanta Sarkar & Benno Torgler, 2022. "Recognition and longevity: an examination of award timing and lifespan in Nobel laureates," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(6), pages 3629-3659, June.

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