Interpersonal effects in consumption
Subtitle: evidence from the automobile purchases of neighbors
By: Mark Grinblatt, Matti Keloharju, Seppo Ikaheimo.
Contributors: Keloharju, Matti.; Ikäheimo, Seppo.; National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series ;; working paper 10226; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) ;; working paper no. 10226.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2004
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Subjects: Automobiles -- Purchasing -- Finland.; Consumer behavior -- Finland.
Description: "This study analyzes the automobile purchase behavior of all residents of two Finnish provinces over several years.  It finds that a consumer's purchases are strongly influenced by the purchases of his neighbors, particularly purchases in the recent past and by neighbors who are geographically most proximate.  There is little evidence that emotional biases, like envy or an urge to conform, lie behind the interpersonal influence in automobile consumption.  The most reasonable alternative explanation for these findings is some form of information sharing among neighbors"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
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