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The substitutability of brands

Author

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  • Gordon R. Foxall

    (Departments of Management and Psychology, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK)

Abstract

A behavior analytical interpretation of consumer brand choice is proposed. The brands studied are of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) which are functionally substitutable but differentiated by marketing activity ('branding'). If functional equivalence was the sole basis of brand substitutability, consumers would either practice single brand purchasing or allocate purchases approximately indifferently (and approximately equally) among competing brands. Brand shares would tend at equilibrium toward equal size. But consumers typically buy several brands of those available, while brand shares vary markedly. The observed patterns of consumer choice are consistent with the predictions of matching theory if brands are assumed to be imperfect substitutes that provide qualitatively different reinforcers. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Gordon R. Foxall, 1999. "The substitutability of brands," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(5), pages 241-257.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:20:y:1999:i:5:p:241-257
    DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1468(199908)20:5<241::AID-MDE936>3.0.CO;2-U
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kagel,John H. & Battalio,Raymond C. & Green,Leonard, 2007. "Economic Choice Theory," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521035927, October.
    2. Raymond Battalio & Leonard Green & John Kagel, 1995. "Economic choice theory. an experimental analysis of animal behavior," Framed Field Experiments 00166, The Field Experiments Website.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chaudhuri, Arjun & Ligas, Mark, 2009. "Consequences of Value in Retail Markets," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 85(3), pages 406-419.
    2. Ehrenberg, Andrew S. C. & Uncles, Mark D. & Goodhardt, Gerald J., 2004. "Understanding brand performance measures: using Dirichlet benchmarks," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(12), pages 1307-1325, December.
    3. Jorge M. Oliveira-Castro & Gordon R. Foxall & Victoria K. James, 2008. "Individual differences in price responsiveness within and across food brands," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(6), pages 733-753, July.
    4. Foxall, Gordon R. & Schrezenmaier, Teresa C., 2003. "The behavioral economics of consumer brand choice: Establishing a methodology," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 675-695, October.
    5. Jorge M. Oliveira-Castro & Gordon R. Foxall & Victoria K. James & Roberta H.B.F. Pohl & Moema B. Dias & Shing W. Chang, 2008. "Consumer-based brand equity and brand performance," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(4), pages 445-461, May.
    6. George Baltas, 2002. "An applied analysis of brand demand structure," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(9), pages 1171-1175.
    7. Rafael Barreiros Porto & Jorge Mendes de Oliveira-Castro & Diogo Conque Seco-Ferreira, 2010. "What consumers say and do: planned and actual amounts bought in relation to brand benefits," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(15), pages 2559-2570, September.

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