Journal of Consumer Affairs最新文献

{"title":"When AI Sets the Price: How Consumers Interpret Price Formats and Intent","authors":"Alvaro Chacon,&nbsp;Ricardo Limongi","doi":"10.1111/joca.70080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70080","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>As algorithmic pricing becomes more prevalent, understanding consumer responses to AI-set prices is increasingly important. Across two experiments with Chilean students (<i>N</i> = 165) and U.S. consumers (<i>N</i> = 631), we examined how the price-setting agent (AI vs. human) and price format (round vs. just-below) influence consumer responses. Study 1 provides directional evidence that consumers respond less favorably to AI-set prices and supports a preference for round over just-below prices when pricing is attributed to AI. Study 2 supports the less favorable response to AI pricing and provides directional evidence for the predicted price-format effect. Importantly, Study 2 provides evidence consistent with perceived manipulation as an underlying mechanism: just-below prices heighten perceptions that AI pricing is intended to influence or exploit consumers, reducing recommendation likelihood and purchase intention. These findings extend research on algorithmic pricing, psychological pricing, and digital nudging.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47976,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Affairs","volume":"60 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149206042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Re-Examining Young Adults' Financial Overconfidence","authors":"Namhoon Kim,&nbsp;Travis P. Mountain,&nbsp;Kyoungae Lee","doi":"10.1111/joca.70079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70079","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study develops an alternative method for identifying financial overconfidence among young adults. Using data from the 2021 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS), we apply latent class analysis (LCA) to classify individuals based on multiple dimensions of financial knowledge: self-assessed knowledge, objective responses, and “Don't Know/Refuse” (DK/RF) selections. Unlike approaches based on discrepancy scores or median splits, LCA models the joint distribution of these indicators and assigns individuals to latent profiles, allowing heterogeneity in knowledge and response behavior to be retained. The model identifies four profiles: Consistently High Knowledge, Overconfident, Reluctant, and Consistently Low Knowledge. The Overconfident class reflects high subjective knowledge with lower objective accuracy, while the Reluctant class is characterized by frequent DK/RF responses. The Overconfident group shows the highest likelihood of alternative financial services (AFS) usage, whereas the Consistently High Knowledge group shows the lowest. These findings indicate that classification strategy shapes how overconfidence is defined and related to financial behavior.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47976,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Affairs","volume":"60 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149125893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Associations Between Cultural Belief Profiles and Financial Parenting in Chinese Families With Early Adolescents","authors":"Xiaomin Li,&nbsp;Muhammad Aamir Khan,&nbsp;Zuyi Zhao,&nbsp;Dexia Kong","doi":"10.1111/joca.70077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70077","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Financial parenting refers to how parents teach children about money. This plays a critical role in youth development, yet little is known about its cultural underpinnings. This study investigates how profiles of parental cultural beliefs (filial piety, gender ideology, and face) are associated with two dimensions of financial parenting: financial socialization (skill-oriented financial parenting) and material indulgence (material provision that may carry relational meaning). Using survey data from 1000 Chinese parents of early adolescents (aged 10–14 years), we identified four belief profiles: Pragmatic Individualist (P1, 13.6%), Status-Driven Conformist (P2, 1.4%), Traditionalist (P3, 13.8%), and Moderates in Transition (P4, 71.2%). Compared to P4, P1 was associated with higher-quality financial socialization; P2 was associated with lower-quality financial socialization and fewer material indulgence behaviors; P3 was associated with higher-quality financial socialization and more material indulgence behaviors. Parent–child gender combinations showed main effects in exploratory analyses. These findings underscore the implications for culturally sensitive financial education.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47976,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Affairs","volume":"60 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149048391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"When Doctors Become Influencers: How Social Media Presence Disarms Persuasion Knowledge and Shapes Consumer Behaviors","authors":"Suzanne C. Makarem,&nbsp;Brittany B. Beck,&nbsp;Jie G. Fowler","doi":"10.1111/joca.70078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70078","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This research integrates impression management theory and the persuasion knowledge model to examine how consumers perceive and respond to physicians on social media. Using a mixed-methods approach across two studies, we identify effective self-presentation practices used by these credentialed professional influencers to signal competence, authenticity, and benevolence. We enrich influencer marketing literature and extend impression management theory by illustrating a strategic professional–personal imbalance where credentialed professionals prioritize competence signaling and selectively incorporate personal elements. These strategies help them maintain authority while mitigating perceptions of overt persuasion and may foster increased recommendation adherence. We propose a theory-building mechanism, the <i>mere social media presence effect,</i> whereby credentialed professionals' social media presence disarms consumer persuasion knowledge and enhances perceived effectiveness beyond traditional expert–consumer interactions. These findings advance understanding of consumer persuasion in information-asymmetric digital environments and, in the healthcare context, offer implications for health communication, physician influencer effectiveness, and consumer well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":47976,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Affairs","volume":"60 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/joca.70078","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149048061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Local Cash Transfers and Household Debt: Evidence From Johnson County's Direct Assistance Program","authors":"David Frisvold,&nbsp;Phuong Nguyen-Hoang,&nbsp;Christopher K. Odinet","doi":"10.1111/joca.70076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70076","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Using administrative credit report data, we examine how recipients of an unconditional, unrestricted cash transfer program in Johnson County, Iowa used their one-time $1400 payment for debt-related purposes. Unlike previous studies of federal stimulus payments where recipients primarily used the funds to reduce existing debt, we find that DAP recipients took on additional housing and auto debt. Specifically, the assistance significantly increased total debt by $2060 (10% above mean), with the largest increases being in mortgage debt ($1129) and auto debt ($435). These effects appeared immediately after recipients cashed their checks and lasted for 9 months. This study provides insights into how unrestricted local cash transfers affect recipients' debt management decisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":47976,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Affairs","volume":"60 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/joca.70076","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148994570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revisiting the Financial Knowledge–Behavior Link: Longitudinal, Bidirectional, and Item-Level Evidence on Financial Deliberation","authors":"Piotr Bialowolski,&nbsp;Andrzej Cwynar,&nbsp;Dorota Weziak-Bialowolska","doi":"10.1111/joca.70075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70075","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study re-examines the relationship between financial knowledge and financial behavior using three-wave panel data from a baseline-representative sample of 4389 adults in Poland. We compare cross-sectional regressions, random-effects panel models, long-difference models, and random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM). We estimate the relationship between financial knowledge and 24 individual financial behaviors, three factor-informed behavioral domains, and an aggregated financial behavior index. We use RI-CLPM to examine both knowledge-to-behavior and behavior-to-knowledge pathways. The results depend strongly on model specification. Cross-sectional and random-effects models indicate broad positive associations, but these associations narrow substantially in long-difference and RI-CLPM specifications. Changes in financial knowledge are associated with changes in only five behaviors, mainly deliberative actions such as assessing affordability, weighing alternatives, evaluating needs, and comparing prices. No individual financial behavior significantly predicts subsequent financial knowledge.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47976,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Affairs","volume":"60 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148943205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Compulsive Buying: A Systematic Review and Lexicometric Analysis","authors":"Haneena Fatima,&nbsp;Muhammad Vasil,&nbsp;C. Manu,&nbsp;K. C. Sirajudheen","doi":"10.1111/joca.70074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70074","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Compulsive buying is a maladaptive behavior that adversely affects consumers' psychological and financial well-being. To understand the current state of research on this phenomenon, we conduct a systematic literature review of 195 studies following the SPAR-4-SLR protocol. We find that traits and values, psychological factors, retail and shopping factors, socio-cultural factors, branding, buyer–seller dynamics, disruptive events, family dynamics, addictions, financial factors, behavioral factors, and socio-demographic factors drive compulsive buying. The findings also show how compulsive buying impairs consumers' psychological and financial well-being and suggest several psycho-social interventions, financial practices, and policy recommendations that may help mitigate it. In addition, the lexicometric analysis reveals major conceptual clusters in compulsive buying research centered around credit card debt, brands, personality traits, self, family, money management, values, social influence, life, and anxiety. Finally, we identify gaps in the literature and propose directions for future research.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47976,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Affairs","volume":"60 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148942675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction to “Capturing Adults' Familiarity With Financial Fraud: Relationships With Targeting, Engagement, and Victimization”","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/joca.70063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70063","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;\u0000 &lt;span&gt;Başaran Şahin, D.&lt;/span&gt;, &lt;span&gt;O. Valdes&lt;/span&gt;, &lt;span&gt;G. R. Mottola&lt;/span&gt;, et al. &lt;span&gt;2026&lt;/span&gt;. “ &lt;span&gt;Capturing Adults' Familiarity With Financial Fraud: Relationships With Targeting, Engagement, and Victimization&lt;/span&gt;.” &lt;i&gt;Journal of Consumer Affairs&lt;/i&gt; &lt;span&gt;60&lt;/span&gt;, no. &lt;span&gt;2&lt;/span&gt;: e70051. https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70051.\u0000 &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We noticed small formatting mistakes in our published paper. We apologize for these errors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Error #1&lt;/b&gt;: In Table 6, the coefficients corresponding to consumer-based, ID-based and threat-based were mixed up. Our results and their interpretation have not changed; however, their presentation in Table 6 is erroneous. The coefficients for Hispanic/Latino were missing from the table as well.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Error #2&lt;/b&gt;: In the “Results” section paragraphs related to Table 4 and Table 6, some coefficients and their statistical significance are not accurate and appear to report findings from an earlier version of the paper. Our results in the paper have not changed. The changes we are making are very minimal.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u0000 &lt;b&gt;Corrected Paragraphs&lt;/b&gt;\u0000 &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;6.3 RQ2: What Demographic, Socioeconomic, and Psychosocial Factors Are Associated With Knowledge of Distinct Fraud Types?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Table 4 presents coefficients from logistic regressions predicting the odds of listing each fraud type. Adults aged 40–64 and 65–90 are significantly more likely (OR = 2.97, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.01, and OR = 4.08, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001, respectively, Column 3) than adults aged 21–39 to list consumer-based fraud, after controlling for other factors in the model; however, we do not find age differences in the odds of listing other fraud types. Compared to men, women are more likely to list imposter-based fraud (OR = 1.9, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05, Column 5) but less likely to list ID-based scams (OR = 0.58, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.01, Column 4). Hispanic adults are less likely to mention ID-based fraud compared to NH White adults (OR = 0.53, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05, Column 4). While adults in the NH American Indian, NH Alaskan Native, NH Asian, NH Pacific Islander, and NH Other group are less likely to mention threat-based fraud (OR = 0.21, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.01, Column 1), they are more likely to mention opportunity-based fraud (OR = 4.22, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001, Column 2). It is worth noting that the sample size for this racial/ethnic group is the smallest (&lt;i&gt;N&lt;/i&gt; = 88), and findings should be considered accordingly.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Among socioeconomic factors, we found that an increase in the number of correct financial literacy answers significantly increased the odds of mentioning most fraud types, including threat-based (OR = 1.87, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001, Column 1), ID-based (OR = 1.68, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001, Column 4), imposter-based (OR = 1.53, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.01, Column 5). We conducted supplemental analysis to test whether the number of fraud types that respondents listed would affect the relation betwee","PeriodicalId":47976,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Affairs","volume":"60 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/joca.70063","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148848813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Generative AI in Brand Activism: Impacts on Consumers’ Negative Affect and Decision Comfort","authors":"Lin Zhao,&nbsp;Alexis Yim,&nbsp;Annie Peng Cui","doi":"10.1111/joca.70072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70072","url":null,"abstract":"<p>With the prevalence of emerging technologies, brands are increasingly using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to craft branding messages, including those reflecting sociopolitical views through brand activism. Although generative AI is effective in content creation, its use in value-laden contexts may differentially alter individual affective responses, thereby impacting consumer well-being. We address this gap by examining how AI-created brand activism messages influence consumers' negative affect and decision comfort. Across five studies, we find that AI-created activism elicits greater negative affect, ultimately reducing decision comfort. This occurs because consumers perceive these messages as less authentic. This effect attenuates when consumers are conservative (vs. liberal) or have a high tendency to anthropomorphize AI. This work advances the literature on brand activism, generative AI, and consumer affect by clarifying how AI use in brand activism reshapes consumers' emotional and decisional experiences and offering insights into how brands can effectively navigate such sociopolitical communication.</p>","PeriodicalId":47976,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Affairs","volume":"60 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/joca.70072","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148784495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"RETRACTION: Enhancing Financial Knowledge Through High School Education: The Effect of Mandated Economics and Personal Finance Courses","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/joca.70071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70071","url":null,"abstract":"<p>\u0000 <b>RETRACTION</b>: <span>T. H. Quadria</span> and <span>I. Jahan</span>, <span>\"Enhancing Financial Knowledge Through High School Education: The Effect of Mandated Economics and Personal Finance Courses,\" <i>The</i></span> <i>Journal of Consumer Affairs</i> <span>59</span>, no. <span>3</span> (<span>2025</span>): e70019. https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70019.\u0000 </p><p>The above article, published online on 13 August 2025 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief, Rui Yao; the American Council on Consumer Interests, and Wiley Periodicals LLC. A reader reported that a significant number of references in this article were either incorrect or nonexistent and a review by the journal editors confirmed that a significant number of references cited in the article's introduction, literature review, methodology, and discussion sections contained errors or were nonexistent.</p><p>The author responded to an inquiry by the publisher and confirmed that generative AI software was used to assist with reference list formatting. The author further declared that generative AI was not used to produce the article's content, data, or statistical analysis.</p><p>The editors have determined that the large number of incorrect references constitutes a major error and leaves significant portions of the article unsupported. These errors were too numerous to be resolved through a correction. This retraction has been agreed to because the major errors in the reference list compromise the reliability of the content and conclusions in the article. The authors agree with the retraction.</p>","PeriodicalId":47976,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Consumer Affairs","volume":"60 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/joca.70071","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148752859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}