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National Sentiment and Consumer Choice: The Iraq War and Sales of US Products in Arab Countries

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  • Sofronis Clerides
  • Peter Davis
  • Antonis Michis

Abstract

Did the rise in anti-American sentiment caused by the Iraq war affect sales of US goods abroad? We address this question using data on soft drinks and fabric detergents sales in nine Arab countries. We find a statistically significant negative impact of the war on sales of US soft drinks in seven countries. The impact dissipates after a few months in two countries but persists in the other five. In the case of detergents, we only find a significant negative impact in one country. We conclude that international politics can sometimes affect consumer behavior and market outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofronis Clerides & Peter Davis & Antonis Michis, 2015. "National Sentiment and Consumer Choice: The Iraq War and Sales of US Products in Arab Countries," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 117(3), pages 829-851, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:scandj:v:117:y:2015:i:3:p:829-851
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

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    3. Cuadras-Morató Xavier & Raya Josep Maria, 2016. "Boycott or Buycott?: Internal Politics and Consumer Choices," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 16(1), pages 185-218, January.
    4. Pablo A. Peña & Saidé Salazar & Carlos Serrano, 2022. "Trump’s wall and gourmet coffee sales: The effect of a consumer boycott in Mexico," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 113-141, March.
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    6. Shi, Wei & Wei, Jingran, 2023. "In the crossfire: Multinational companies and consumer boycotts," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    7. Margaryta Klymak, 2017. "The Trade Impacts of the Naming and Shaming of Forced and Child Labor," Trinity Economics Papers tep1517, Trinity College Dublin, Department of Economics.
    8. Zijun Luo & Yonghong Zhou, 2020. "Decomposing the effects of consumer boycotts: evidence from the anti-Japanese demonstration in China," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 58(6), pages 2615-2634, June.
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    11. Heilmann, Kilian, 2016. "Does political conflict hurt trade? Evidence from consumer boycotts," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 179-191.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • L66 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Food; Beverages; Cosmetics; Tobacco

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