Nicolas Papadopoulos

Cosmopolitanism, Consumer Ethnocentrism, and Materialism: An Eight-Country Study of Antecedents and Outcomes

Although there is a consensus that industries are globalizing, the notion that consumer attitudes and behaviors worldwide are likewise homogenizing remains disputed. Despite widespread discourse on this topic, there is a dearth of empirical investigations. This international research examines similarities and differences with respect to the nature of three consumer attitudinal dispositions: cosmopolitanism, consumer ethnocentrism, and materialism. The authors cross-culturally compare demographic antecedents with these dispositions, as well as behavioral outcomes. They test the validation of the construct measures and associated hypotheses using survey data drawn from consumers in eight countries and structural equation modeling techniques, including multigroup analysis. Empirical findings broadly support the cross-cultural applicability of the constructs, though the links to the various demographic antecedents vary considerably from sample to sample. The role of each construct on behavior also varies substantially across the range of product categories considered and across and between national groups.

National Stereotypes and Product Evaluations in a Socialist Country

This article reports on a study of Hungarian consumer attitudes towards foreign and domestic products and their origin countries. Factor analysis of the findings indicates some consistency in the way consumers structure their assessment of foreign origins. The structure differs somewhat when respondents evaluate their own country and products. Implications for marketing and research are drawn.

An Integrative Model of Place Image: Exploring Relationships between Destination, Product, and Country Images

To advance place image theory, this study combines elements from two areas that have explored place image more than any others: tourism destination image (TDI) and product-country image (PCI). Key constructs from each are measured simultaneously in an Integrative Model of Place Image. The model test uses consumer survey data from South Korea to compare image measures of the United States and Japan using structural equation modeling. The results reveal that cognitive country image has greater influence on product factors than on destination factors, while affective country image has greater influence directly on receptivity than indirectly on beliefs. In addition, consumer beliefs exhibit a strong crossover effect between product beliefs and destination receptivity. Newly tested relationships point to a number of directions for future research in place image and branding, and provide empirical evidence of the need for place marketers to move toward greater integration between product- and tourism-oriented place image campaigns.

Toward a tradeoff model for international market selection

The literature on International Market Selection (IMS) contains many proposed models which make significant contributions but do not effectively address the IMS problems. A new tradeoff model is proposed that uses two key constructs, demand potential and trade barriers, as well as firm strategy as a contingency construct. Each key construct is measured by only four variables, resulting in simplicity and low application cost, and strategy is used to develop weights for the variables. The model is tested in real market conditions for 17 target countries and three diverse products over a six-year period. The weighting solution that favors demand potential is shown to have strong predictive power for the short to medium term. In addition to being tested and validated, the model introduces a number of advances including the weighting of indicators, an approach to quantifying nontrade barrieers, and validation for two different exporting countries.

Identity, demographics, and consumer behaviors: International market segmentation across product categories

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on two questions that are especially pertinent to international marketers. Is a strong ethnic identity (EID) generally incompatible with a globally‐oriented disposition (cosmopolitanism: COS), and to what extent is the EID‐COS relationship stable across cultures and countries? What roles do EID and COS play on consumer behavior alongside key demographic variables, and how do these relationships vary across countries and across consumption contexts?Design/methodology/approach – Using a sample of consumers drawn from eight countries, this study identifies and compares bases for international market segmentation. The antecedent roles of EID, COS, and the four demographics variables on the behaviors associated with nine product categories are examined.Findings – The findings imply that consumers are complementing an identity rooted in their traditional culture with one that is globally‐oriented. The roles played by demographic and psychographic variables varied ...

Who controls the purse strings: A study of consumers' and retail buyers' reactions in an America's FTA environment

Abstract Comparisons were made of the perceptions of Canadian retail buyers and consumers concerning the products, the countries and the people of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Chile to examine the differences in perceptions that might affect the buying behaviors of both groups. There was very close congruence of buyers and consumers in the images held of the countries and their products. Major differences were found for both groups in their views of developing and developed countries. A modeling approach revealed basic similarity of structure of relationships among beliefs sets and also some differences, which may affect the congruence of buying practices of retail buyers and their customers.

International market selection and segmentation: perspectives and challenges

Purpose – This paper has two overall goals. The first is to serve as a broad overview of the literature on the subject theme, with three main objectives in mind: to highlight the complexities of international market selection or segmentation as a field of study and as a strategic decision by international firms; to explore the various ways and perspectives from which this area has been studied; and to suggest areas for future research by drawing on the preceding discussion. The second goal of the paper is to act as an introduction to the IMR special issue on the title theme, by outlining the special issues objectives and the contributions to it.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on the relevant literatures, the paper begins by outlining the factors that make the field complex in both theoretical and applied terms, moves to consider the research streams that comprise its main components, and concludes by drawing conclusions and implications for future research.Findings – A large part of the complexity ...

Export Processing Zones in Development and International Marketing: An Integrative Review and Research Agenda:

Export processing zones (EPZs) are areas within developing countries that offer incentives and a barrier-free environment to promote economic growth by attracting foreign investment for export-oriented production. The number of zones internationally, countries hosting EPZs, and firms operating in them, and the business volume they handle, are all growing rapidly, suggesting their importance. Yet, business research on EPZs is virtually nonexistent, leading to poor understanding of their role in international marketing. This article draws from the literature in economics, macromarketing, and other disciplines to provide an integrative review of the concept. The authors then adopt a macromarketing perspective to develop a new definition of EPZs, typologies of free export zones and of their benefits for host nations and investors, and the notion of a “virtual network” of free zones as part of the international market system. The authors conclude by highlighting the need and potential directions for new research in this field.

Studying place image: an interdisciplinary and holistic approach

This study uses an interdisciplinary view informed by two related streams of research that have evolved independently of each other, “Tourism Destination Image” and “Product Country Image”, to research the place image construct. A theoretical model is applied to simultaneously measure image dimensions from both streams in order to better understand relationships between them. Australia, a country that has a strong “general country” and “tourism destination” image but a weaker “product” image, is used as the study target. We use comparative cross-national data from culturally similar (Canada) and dissimilar (South Korea) countries and a mixed method analysis culminating in a LISREL-tested, two-country, three-dimensional structural equation model.

Testing self-congruity theory in the context of nation brand personality

Purpose – The overall aim of the present study is to advance research by drawing from this body of work and applying the brand personality construct, which has so far been considered mostly in connection with commercial product brands, in the context of nation branding. More specifically, and also more importantly, the study aims to contribute to research both in nation branding, as well as, indirectly, in the broader domain of brand personality in general, by being one of the first to examine the relationship between individual personality (IP) and nation brand personality (NBP) traits. Design/methodology/approach – The study was conducted via a Web-based questionnaire in Arabic language to Saudi citizens living in Saudi Arabia. The study object was defined as the brand personality of the USA. To make possible the comparison between respondents’ personality and the US brand personality, the Big Five factors typology was used as a proxy (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeablene...