Does the Covid-19 affect food consumption patterns? A Transaction Cost Perspective

Titolo Rivista Economia agro-alimentare
Autori/Curatori Bianca Polenzani, Andrea Marchini
Anno di pubblicazione 2022 Fascicolo 2022/2 Lingua Inglese
Numero pagine 28 P. 1-28 Dimensione file 0 KB
DOI 10.3280/ecag2022oa13161
Il DOI è il codice a barre della proprietà intellettuale: per saperne di più clicca qui

FrancoAngeli è membro della Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA)associazione indipendente e non profit per facilitare (attraverso i servizi tecnologici implementati da CrossRef.org) l’accesso degli studiosi ai contenuti digitali nelle pubblicazioni professionali e scientifiche

The purpose of this research is to study transaction costs and their antecedents, in relation to the willingness to buy groceries online in Italy, and to observe the effect of Covid-19 is having in those. The study used a positivist deductive approach to the theory development. To evaluate the relations, we developed a PLS-SEM using SmartPLS version 3.3.3, and tested the model using WarpPLS 7.0. The pandemic’s discomforts impact significantly the willingness to buy food online, and it is also a mediator between transaction costs and willingness to buy online. The findings may help those manufacturers struggling with low-performing e-commerce during the Covid-19 pandemic. When restrictions are enforced, manufacturers should take action to reduce the uncertainty associated with online shopping. From the political point of view, it highlights the need for institutional help in organising online supply chains.

  1. Achadinha, N.M.-J., Jama, L., & Nel, P. (2014). The drivers of consumers’ intention to redeem a push mobile coupon. Behaviour & Information Technology, 33(12), 1306-1316. DOI: 10.1080/0144929X.2014.883641
  2. Akerlof, G.A. (1978). The market for “lemons”: Quality uncertainty and the market mechanism. In Uncertainty in economics (pp. 235-251). Elsevier. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-214850-7.50022-X
  3. Alt, R. (2017). Electronic markets on transaction costs. Electronic Markets, 27(4), 297-301.
  4. Alt, R., & Zimmermann, H.-D. (2015). Editorial 25/3: Electronic markets on ecosystems and tourism.
  5. Armstrong, G., Adam, S., Denize, S., & Kotler, P. (2014). Principles of marketing. Pearson Australia.
  6. Brewster, J. (2011). Studying technology adoption behaviors with linear or non-linear pls: does it make a difference? In First International Conference on Engaged Management Scholarship. -- Retrieved from: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1852598.
  7. Hobbs, J.E. (2020). Food supply chains during the Covid-19 pandemic. Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d’agroeconomie, 68(2), 171-176.
  8. Broutsou, A., & Fitsilis, P. (2012). Online trust: the influence of perceived company’s reputation on consumers’ trust and the effects of trust on intention for online transactions. Journal of Service Science and Management, 5(04), 365.
  9. Chin, S.-L., & Goh, Y.-N. (2017). Consumer purchase intention toward online grocery shopping: View from malaysia. Global Business & Management Research, 9. -- Retrieved from: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib,url,uid&db=bth&AN=127011683&site=ehost-live.
  10. Choi, Y.K., Miracle, G.E., & Biocca, F. (2001). The effects of anthropomorphic agents on advertising effectiveness and the mediating role of presence. Journal of Interactive Advertising, 2(1), 19-32. DOI: 10.1080/15252019.2001.10722055
  11. Coase, R.H. (1937). The nature of the firm. Economica, 4(16), 386-405. DOI: 10.2307/2626876
  12. Consorzio Netcomm (2021). Osservatorio Digital FMCG – Giugno 2021. -- www. consorzionetcomm.it/osservatorio-digital-fmcg-giugno-2021.
  13. Dahlstrom, R., &Nygaard, A. (1999). An empirical investigation of ex post transaction costs in franchised distribution channels. Journal of marketing Research, 36(2), 160-170. DOI: 10.1177/002224379903600202
  14. Dannenberg, P., Fuchs, M., Riedler, T., & Wiedemann, C. (2020). Digital transition by Covid-19 pandemic? the german food online retail. Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie, 111(3), 543-560.
  15. Dimoka, A., Hong, Y., & Pavlou, P. A. (2012). On product uncertainty in online markets: Theory and evidence. MIS quarterly, 395-426. DOI: 10.2307/41703461
  16. Dodds, W.B., Monroe, K.B., & Grewal, D. (1991). Effects of price, brand, and store information on buyers’ product evaluations. Journal of marketing research, 28(3), 307-319. DOI: 10.1177/002224379102800305
  17. Eastlick, M.A., & Feinberg, R.A. (1999). Shopping motives for mail catalog shopping. Journal of Business Research, 45(3), 281-290. DOI: 10.1016/S0148-2963(97)00240-3
  18. Eurostat (2020). Digital economy and society statistics – households and individuals. -- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Digital_economy_and_society_statistics_households_and_individuals.
  19. Everaert, P., Sarens, G., & Rommel, J. (2010). Using transaction cost economics to explain outsourcing of accounting. Small Business Economics, 35(1), 93-112.
  20. Galanakis, C.M. (2020). The food systems in the era of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic crisis. Foods, 9(4), 523.
  21. Gao, X., Shi, X., Guo, H., & Liu, Y. (2020). To buy or not buy food online: The impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on the adoption of e-commerce in China. PloS one, 15(8), e0237900.
  22. Gibbons, R.S., & Roberts, J. (2013). The handbook of organizational economics. Princeton University Press.
  23. Glassberg, B.C. (2007). Electronic markets hypothesis redux: where are we now? Communications of the ACM, 50(2), 51-55. DOI: 10.1145/1216016.1216020
  24. Goddard, E. (2020). The impact of Covid-19 on food retail and food service in Canada: Preliminary assessment. Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d’agroeconomie.
  25. Hair Jr, J.F., Sarstedt, M., Hopkins, L., & Kuppelwieser, V.G. (2014). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (pls-sem): An emerging tool in business research. European business review. DOI: 10.1108/EBR-10-2013-0128
  26. Henseler, J., Ringle, C.M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the academy of marketing science, 43(1), 115-135.
  27. Ismea (2020). Emergenza Covid-19: 3° rapporto sulla domanda e l’offerta dei prodotti alimentari nell’emergenza Covid-19 -- www.ismea.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/11036.
  28. Jiang, L., Jiang, N., & Liu, S. (2011). Consumer perceptions of e-service convenience: an exploratory study. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 11, 406-410.
  29. John, G., & Weitz, B.A. (1988). Forward integration into distribution: an empirical test of transaction cost analysis. JL Econ. & Org., 4, 337. -- Retrieved from: https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/jleo4&div=25&id=&page=.
  30. Joshi, A.W., & Stump, R.L. (1999). Determinants of commitment and opportunism: Integrating and extending insights from transaction cost analysis and relational exchange theory. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences/Revue Canadienne des sciences de l’administration, 16(4), 334-352.
  31. Kempf, D.S., & Smith, R.E. (1998). Consumer processing of product trial and the influence of prior advertising: A structural modeling approach. Journal of Marketing Research, 35(3), 325-338. DOI: 10.1177/002224379803500304
  32. Kim, J., Kim, J., & Wang, Y. (2021).Uncertainty risks and strategic reaction of restaurant firms amid Covid-19: Evidence from China. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 92, 102752.
  33. Kinsey, E.W., Kinsey, D., & Rundle, A.G. (2020). Covid-19 and food insecurity: An uneven patchwork of responses. Journal of Urban Health, 97, 332-335.
  34. Kock, N. (2010) Using warppls in e-collaboration studies: An overview of five main analysis steps. International Journal of e-Collaboration (IJeC), 6(4), 1-11.
  35. Kock, N. (2014). Advanced mediating effects tests, multi-group analyses, and measurement model assessments in pls-based sem. International Journal of e-Collaboration (IJeC), 10(1), 1-13.
  36. Kock, N. (2017). Warppls user manual: Version 6.0. ScriptWarp Systems: Laredo, TX, USA.
  37. Kumar, D.S., & Purani, K. (2018). Model specification issues in pls-sem: Illustrating linear and non-linear models in hospitality services context. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology. DOI: 10.1108/JHTT-09-2017-0105
  38. Liang, T.-P., & Huang, J.-S. (1998). An empirical study on consumer acceptance of products in electronic markets: a transaction cost model. Decision support systems, 24(1), 29-43. DOI: 10.1016/S0167-9236(98)00061-X
  39. Lu, Y., Cao, Y., Wang, B., & Yang, S. (2011). A study on factors that affect users’ behavioral intention to transfer usage from the offline to the online channel. Computers in Human Behavior, 27(1), 355-364.
  40. Luo, X. (2002). Trust production and privacy concerns on the internet: A framework based on relationship marketing and social exchange theory. Industrial Marketing Management, 31(2), 111-118. DOI: 10.1016/S0019-8501(01)00182-1
  41. Marchini, A., Riganelli, C., Diotallevi, F., & Polenzani, B. (2021). Label information and consumer behaviour: evidence on drinking milk sector. Agricultural and Food Economics, 9(1), 1-24.
  42. McKnight, D.H., Choudhury, V., & Kacmar, C. (2002). The impact of initial consumer trust on intentions to transact with a web site: a trust building model. The journal of strategic information systems, 11(3-4), 297-323. DOI: 10.1016/S0963-8687(02)00020-3
  43. Nomisma Wine Monitor (2021). L’e-commerce nel vino prima e dopo l’emergenza coronavirus: un’analisi dell’Osservatorio Nomisma Wine Monitor. -- www.nomisma.it/ecommerce-vino-dati-da-nomisma-wine-monitor/.
  44. Oncini, F., Bozzini, E., Forno, F., & Magnani, N. (2020). Towards food platforms? An analysis of online food provisioning services in Italy. Geoforum, 114, 172-180.
  45. Osservatori.net (2020). Come il lockdown ha accelerato il processo di digitalizzazione e aumentato gli acquisti online del comparto food and grocery. -- www.osservatori.net/ en/home.
  46. Pavlou, P.A., Liang, H., & Xue, Y. (2007). Understanding and mitigating uncertainty in online exchange relationships: A principal-agent perspective. MIS quarterly, 105-136. DOI: 10.2307/25148783
  47. Perdana, T., Chaerani, D., Achmad, A.L.H., & Hermiatin, F.R. (2020). Scenarios for handling the impact of Covid-19 based on food supply network through regional food hubs under uncertainty. Heliyon, 6(10), e05128.
  48. Polenzani, B., Riganelli, C., & Marchini, A. (2020). Sustainability perception of local extra virgin olive oil and consumers’ attitude: A new italian perspective. Sustainability, 12(3), 920.
  49. Pressman, P., Naidu, A.S., & Clemens, R. (2020). Covid-19 and food safety: risk management and future considerations. Nutrition Today, 55(3), 125-128. DOI: 10.1097/NT.0000000000000415
  50. Rahman, M.S., & Mannan, M. (2018). Consumer online purchase behavior of local fashion clothing brands: Information adoption, e-WOM, online brand familiarity and online brand experience. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal. DOI: 10.1108/JFMM-11-2017-0118
  51. Ramayah, T., Cheah, J., Chuah, F., Ting, H., & Memon, M.A. (2018). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using smartPLS 3.0.
  52. Riganelli, C., & Marchini, A. (2016). The strategy of voluntary certification in italian olive oil industry: who and why?. Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture, 8(1), 9-18. -- Retrieved from: www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/pfna/2016/00000008/00000001/art00006.
  53. Ringle, C.M., Sarstedt, M., Mitchell, R., & Gudergan, S.P. (2020). Partial least squares structural equation modeling in hrm research. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 31(12), 1617-1643. DOI: 10.1080/09585192.2017.1416655
  54. Ringle, C.M., Wende, S., Becker, J.-M. et al. (2015). Smartpls 3. Boenningstedt: SmartPLS GmbH.
  55. Rodríguez, P.G., Villarreal, R., Valiño, P.C., & Blozis, S. (2020). A pls-sem approach to understanding e-sq, e-satisfaction and e-loyalty for fashion e-retailers in Spain. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 57, 102201.
  56. Rohm, A.J., & Swaminathan, V. (2004). A typology of online shoppers based on shopping motivations. Journal of business research, 57(7), 748-757. DOI: 10.1016/S0148-2963(02)00351-X
  57. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students. Pearson education.
  58. Schuberth, F., Henseler, J., & Dijkstra, T.K. (2018). Confirmatory composite analysis. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 2541.
  59. Scuderi, A., Foti, V., & Timpanaro, G. (2019). The supply chain value of pod and pgi food products through the application of blockchain. Calitatea, 20(S2), 580-587.
  60. Short, J., Williams, E., & Christie, B. (1976). The social psychology of telecommunications. Toronto; London; New York: Wiley.
  61. Socialmeter (2020). Report-e-commerce e mercato del vino. -- https://socialmeter.it/project/ecommerce-vino.
  62. Stump, R.L., & Heide, J.B. (1996). Controlling supplier opportunism in industrial relationships. Journal of marketing research, 33(4), 431-441. DOI: 10.1177/002224379603300405
  63. Suki, N.M., & Suki, N.M. (2017). Modeling the determinants of consumers’ attitudes toward online group buying: Do risks and trusts matters? Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 36, 180-188.
  64. Teo, T.S., Wang, P., & Leong, C.H. (2004). Understanding online shopping behaviour using a transaction cost economics approach. International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising, 1(1), 62-84. -- Retrieved from: www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1504/IJIMA.2004.003690.
  65. Teo, T.S., & Yu, Y. (2005). Online buying behavior: a transaction cost economics perspective. Omega, 33(5), 451-465.
  66. Wigand, R.T. (1997). Electronic commerce: Definition, theory, and context. The information society, 13(1), 1-16. DOI: 10.1080/019722497129241
  67. Williamson, O.E. (1979). Transaction-cost economics: the governance of contractual relations. The journal of Law and Economics, 22(2), 233-261. DOI: 10.1086/466942
  68. Williamson, O.E. (1981). The economics of organization: The transaction cost approach. American journal of sociology, 87(3), 548-577. DOI: 10.1086/227496
  69. Williamson, O.E. (1991). Comparative economic organization: The analysis of discrete structural alternatives. Administrative science quarterly, 269-296. DOI: 10.2307/2393356
  70. Yeo, V.C.S., Goh, S.-K., & Rezaei, S. (2017). Consumer experiences, attitude and behavioral intention toward online food delivery (ofd) services. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 35, 150-162.

  • Pre- and during COVID-19: Households’ Willingness to Pay for Local Organic Food in Italy Simona Bigerna, Andrea Marchini, Silvia Micheli, Paolo Polinori, in Sustainability /2023 pp.10247
    DOI: 10.3390/su151310247

Bianca Polenzani, Andrea Marchini, Does the Covid-19 affect food consumption patterns? A Transaction Cost Perspective in "Economia agro-alimentare" 2/2022, pp 1-28, DOI: 10.3280/ecag2022oa13161