Low Income Consumers Stigma Discrimination and the Stress Response in Services

2021 ◽  
Vol 111 (5) ◽  
pp. 1549-1574
Author(s):  
Richard Domurat ◽  
Isaac Menashe ◽  
Wesley Yin

We experimentally varied information mailed to 87,000 households in California’s health insurance marketplace to study the role of frictions in insurance take-up. Reminders about the enrollment deadline raised enrollment by 1.3 pp (16 percent) in this typically low take-up population. Heterogeneous effects of personalized subsidy information indicate misperceptions about program benefits. Consistent with an adverse selection model with frictional enrollment costs, the intervention lowered average spending risk by 5.1 percent, implying that marginal respondents were 37 percent less costly than inframarginal consumers. We observe the largest positive selection among low income consumers, who exhibit the largest frictions in enrollment. Finally, we estimate the implied value of the letter intervention to be $25 to $53 per month in subsidy dollars. These results suggest that frictions may partially explain low take-up for marketplace insurance, and that interventions reducing them can improve enrollment and market risk in exchanges. (JEL C93, G22, G52, H75, I13)


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia de Oliveira Campos ◽  
Marconi Freitas da Costa

PurposeThis study aims to further analyse the decision-making process of low-income consumer from an emerging market by verifying the influence of regulatory focus and construal level theory on indebtedness.Design/methodology/approachAn experimental study was carried out with a design 2 (regulatory focus: promotion vs prevention) × 2 (psychological distance: high vs low) between subjects, with 140 low-income consumers.FindingsOur study points out that the propensity towards indebtedness of low-income consumer is higher in a distal psychological distance. We found that promotion and prevention groups have the same propensity to indebtedness. Moreover, we highlight that low-income consumers are prone to propensity to indebtedness due to taking decisions focused on the present with an abstract mindset.Social implicationsFinancial awareness advertisements should focus on providing more concrete strategies in order to reduce decision-making complexity and provide ways to reduce competing situations that could deplete self-regulation resources. Also, public policy should organize educational programs to increase the low-income consumer's ability to deal with personal finances and reduce this task complexity. Finally, educational financial programs should also incorporate psychology professionals to teach mindfulness techniques applied to financial planning.Originality/valueThis study is the first to consider regulatory focus and construal level to explain low-income indebtedness. This paper provides a deeper analysis of the low-income consumers' decision process. Also, it supports and guides future academic and decision-making efforts.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Michael D Metzger ◽  
Arch G. Woodside ◽  
John C. Ickis

Title – Assessing algorithms for selecting countries to market new products to low-income consumers. Subject area – A consulting team to an international food packaging company (SDYesBox) is attempting to decide which algorithm is the most useful for selecting two national markets in Central America and the Caribbean. SDYesBox wants to work closely with its immediate customers – manufacturers in the dairy and food industry and their customers (retailers) – to develop and market innovative products to low-income consumers in emerging markets; the “next big opportunity for the dairy industry” according to SDYesBox. Study level/applicability – New product development and market selection in emerging markets in Latin America. Case overview – Five algorithms are “on the table” for assessing 14 countries by 12 performance indicators: weighted-benchmarking each country by the country leader ' s indicator scores; tallying by ignoring indicator weights and selecting the countries having the greatest number of positive standardized scores; applying a conjunctive and lexicographic combination algorithm; and using a “fluency metric” of how quickly consumers can say each country aloud. At least one member of the consulting team is championing one of these five algorithms. Which algorithm do you recommend? Why? Expected learning outcomes – Learners gain skills, insights, and experience in alternative decision tools for evaluating and selecting choices among emerging markets to enter with new products for low-income (bottom of the pyramid) products ands services. Supplementary materials – Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 707-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIRIAM SOSA ◽  
CAROLINA MARTINEZ ◽  
FERNANDO MARQUEZ ◽  
GUILLERMO HOUGH

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 882-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayantunji Gbadamosi

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the attitudes and behaviour of low‐income women consumers in respect of low‐involvement grocery products.Design/methodology/approachOne focus group and 30 in‐depth interviews on the subject‐matter are conducted with low‐income women in Salford (Northwest England). Given the nature of the topic and the target respondents involved, the subjects are recruited through the use of purposive and snowballing sampling methods.FindingsThe findings suggest that low‐income women consumers' purchases of low‐involvement grocery products are based on habit. They do not show strong loyalty to brands of these products, and do not perceive price as an indication of their quality. Their key motivation underlying their purchases of these products is value‐for‐money. Also they are very sensitive to sales promotional stimuli, albeit in varying degrees according to the respective attractiveness of these tools. However, while they indicate a positive attitude towards buy‐one‐get‐one‐free (BOGOF), free samples, discount and coupons, BOGOF stands out as their best preference; but they are not positively inclined towards gifts and competition.Originality/valueThe paper explores the motivation, attitudes and behaviour of a special group of consumers (low‐income women) in respect of low‐involvement grocery products. It indicates the directions of their sensitivity in terms of marketing stimuli. Hence, it will be valuable for marketing decision making towards providing this group of consumers with the utmost satisfaction needed in this increasingly complex marketing environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nkosinathi Sithole ◽  
Gillian Sullivan Mort ◽  
Clare D'Souza

PurposeThis paper aims to examine customer experience value orchestrated by non-banks' financial touchpoints to understand how they enhance the financial inclusion of low-income consumers.Design/methodology/approachTwo independent but related studies were conducted using qualitative comparative analyses (QCA) research design with semi-structured interviews to compare and contrast customer experience value at two rural locations in Southern Africa. The interview transcripts were analysed using ATLAS.ti, which is a powerful operating system for analysing qualitative data.FindingsThe results indicate that non-banks in the two countries design financial services that include functional, economic, humanic, social and mechanic customer experience value dimensions.Research limitations/implicationsThe data for this study was collected from financial services customers of retailers and mobile phone network operators in only one research setting in each country. Further research could extend the comparative context for qualitative studies across similar markets. Other limitations are discussed in the paper.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the body of knowledge by highlighting the salient and germane dimensions and components found to be important in understanding financial inclusion using customer experience value. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that incorporates customer experience value dimensions in understanding the financial inclusion of low-income consumers at the base of the social and economic pyramid in emerging markets.


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