Preference for Imported and Domestic Goods (Essay Sample)

Preference for Imported and Domestic Goods

Research on consumer behavior reveals mixed results on preference for imported and domestic goods. However, qualitative data suggest a disproportionate preference for imported foods and ostentatious goods, especially in middle-income and developing economies. There is a general preference for imports in developing economies, although such consumption phenomena extend in developed economies, especially for foods, based on consumer perceptual biases or assumptions. Consumers prefer imported foods based on superior value and quality assumptions.
There is an increased perceptual bias that imported foods are better quality than domestic alternatives. The perceptual bias is due to the notion that imported food products undergo rigorous quality assessment for safety and standards. In contrast, consumers perceive domestic foods to have less quality control and safety regulations (Hoffman and Taylor 67). Based on such perceptions, individuals develop an increased preference for imports. Case context study findings revealed that Chinese consumers perceive imported food products as higher quality than domestic alternatives (Nuttavuthisit and Thøgersen 2).