Open AccessConsumer’s demand for Disinfectants and Protective Gear from COVID-19 infection in Al-Hofuf, Saudi
Author(s) -
Mohammed Al-Mahish,
Noura AlDossari,
Amal Almarri
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of infection in developing countries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2036-6590
pISSN - 1972-2680
DOI - 10.3855/jidc.13332
Subject(s) - hand sanitizer , covid-19 , revenue , sample (material) , product (mathematics) , economics , business , test (biology) , unit price , agricultural economics , microeconomics , finance , medicine , paleontology , chemistry , geometry , mathematics , disease , pathology , chromatography , infectious disease (medical specialty) , biology
The paper aims to estimate consumers’ demand for personal protecting products (PPP) from COVID-19. Thus, the paper collected primary data on consumers’ demand for PPP utilizing the timeframe of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methodology: The paper uses two sample t-test and Anova test to examine mean differences in the quantity consumed of PPP. Also, the paper uses Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) to estimate the responsiveness of quantity demanded of PPP for changes in prices and consumers’ income.
Results: The results show that there is a significant difference in the mean of quantity demanded of facemasks among men and women. Also, the results show that there is a significant difference in the mean of quantity demand for facemasks, gloves, and hand sanitizer based on respondents’ level of education. In addition, the paper analyzed the effect of price and income changes on quantity demanded of PPP. The findings indicate that the quantity demanded of facemask and gloves are sensitive to changes in consumers’ income. Also, soap, hand sanitizer, and gloves were recognized as complementary products. Furthermore, facemasks were identified as a complementary product with glove use. Lastly, the own-price elasticities of demand revealed that the demand for PPP is price insensitive.
Conclusions: the paper recommends that the consumer protection unit closely monitor the prices of PPP since the sellers have an opportunity to increase those products prices and maximize their revenue by exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic.