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Consumerism in the Digital Age
Author(s) -
Kucuk S. Umit
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of consumer affairs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.582
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1745-6606
pISSN - 0022-0078
DOI - 10.1111/joca.12101
Subject(s) - consumerism , consumer society , business , order (exchange) , consumer behaviour , consumption (sociology) , consumer choice , marketing , empowerment , economics , sociology , social science , market economy , economic growth , neoclassical economics , finance
This paper discusses “digital consumerism,” which is the application of traditional concepts of consumerism to consumer vulnerabilities in digital markets. The relationship of digital consumerism to paradigms of consumer empowerment and consumer vulnerabilities is discussed using examples from the relevant literature. The findings of this literature survey identify new aspects of consumerism in digital markets that have the potential to enhance consumer well‐being. The literature survey also revealed that consumer vulnerabilities have grown in complexity faster than regulative efforts. Therefore, there is a need for a reconceptualization of consumerism in order to improve consumer protections and to develop better functioning and healthier digital markets.