Nonstandard consumption forms: A comparative analysis

Abstract

The author introduces a category of nonstandard consumption, which remarkably differs from conventional patterns of pursuing economic self-interests. Based upon previous studies, a comparative analysis of panic, impulsive and compulsive buying as well as status and ethical consumption is conducted. Empirically, spread of these forms of consumption and their associations with the consumer preferences are revealed along with antecedents of each form. Data were collected from a nationwide representative survey of the Russian population aged 18+. The survey was conducted by the HSE University in June—July 2023 in 55 regions of Russia as face-to-face interviews by place of residence. The sample includes 6,000 respondents. Apart from descriptive statistics, factor analysis is used for structuring consumer preferences and logistic regressions are used to estimate the main predictors of nonstandard forms of consumption. It has been revealed that all five forms of nonstandard consumption are associated at a high level of significance and characterize more active groups of consumers. Significant relations of each consumption form are investigated with the social and demographic parameters, per capita income, types of residence, involvement into online shopping, use of various information channels, and the level of psychological distress.