Researcher finds people will forgo luxury for green products when status is on mind
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - 00:56
in Mathematics & Economics
Environmentally friendly products are everywhere one looks. Energy efficient dishwashers, bamboo towels, the paperless Kindle and, of course, the ubiquitous Prius are all around. But why do people buy these 'green' products? Do they care about the environment or is there something else at play? 'Green purchases are often motivated by status,' says Vladas Griskevicius, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. 'People want to be seen as being altruistic. Nothing communicates that better than by buying green products that often cost more and are of lower quality but benefit the environment for everyone'...