Overconsumption: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda

Abstract

Overconsumption is becoming a critical problem worldwide and adversely affects individual consumers, environment and society at large; due to which researchers' interest in this concern has grown. However, despite this increased attention, there is still a lack of a thorough evaluation, which has led to the fragmentation of the body of knowledge regarding overconsumption. As a result, it is acknowledged that a comprehensive overview of research that presents the literature on overconsumption is desirable. The study aims to fulfill such needs by conducting a detailed review of the literature by analyzing 62 related articles published in 37 peer-reviewed scientific publications. The study follows the guidelines outlined in the SPAR-4-SLR protocol and aims to identify the most cited and co-cited articles, keywords and researchers in overconsumption study. Leveraging the frameworks of Theory, Context, Characteristics, and Methods alongside Antecedents-Decisions-Outcomes, this study delves into a detailed examination of overconsumption outcomes and their interconnectedness. Through this comprehensive review, study aims to provide an insightful understanding on the multifaceted impacts of overconsumption. The review also encompasses overconsumption antecedents to the extent that they are linked to the resulting outcomes. Additionally, we determined that the current literature lacks comprehensive theories and primarily focuses on food overconsumption, neglecting various other industries. Therefore, this review provides an outline of the current scientific knowledge of overconsumption and makes substantial contributions to the literature and its implications. Ultimately, this study identifies gaps in existing body of knowledge and offers a well-organized roadmap for future research.