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Relationship between Panic Buying and Per Capita Income during COVID-19

Author

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  • Hugo T. Y. Yoshizaki

    (Graduate Program in Logistics Systems Engineering, São Paulo University, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil
    Department of Production Engineering, São Paulo University, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil)

  • Irineu de Brito Junior

    (Graduate Program in Logistics Systems Engineering, São Paulo University, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil
    Environmental Engineering Department, São Paulo State University, São José dos Campos 12247-004, Brazil)

  • Celso Mitsuo Hino

    (Department of Production Engineering, São Paulo University, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil)

  • Larrisa Limongi Aguiar

    (Graduate Program in Logistics Systems Engineering, São Paulo University, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil)

  • Maria Clara Rodrigues Pinheiro

    (Department of Production Engineering, São Paulo University, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil)

Abstract

Panic buying and hoarding express common human behavior in times of crisis. Early in COVID-19, as the pandemic crisis intensified, toilet paper was one of the emblematic cases of panic buying. Using a Geographic Information System (GIS) to cross official per capita income data and real toilet paper transactions obtained from groceries spread around the city of São Paulo (Brazil), this study compares sales levels during the period in which panic purchases took place to the sales levels off that period. As expected, that data disclose noticeable panic buying. Regression analysis reveals that there is a significant positive correlation between average income per capita and panic buying. The results also indicate that panic buying happens in every income class, including low-income ones and contribute to enhancing the understanding of demand behavior during periods of crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Hugo T. Y. Yoshizaki & Irineu de Brito Junior & Celso Mitsuo Hino & Larrisa Limongi Aguiar & Maria Clara Rodrigues Pinheiro, 2020. "Relationship between Panic Buying and Per Capita Income during COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:23:p:9968-:d:452933
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Ahmadi, Iman & Habel, Johannes & Jia, Miaolei & Wei, Sarah, 2022. "Consumer stockpiling under the impact of a global disaster: The evolution of affective and cognitive motives," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 56-71.
    3. Guohua He & Zirun Hu, 2022. "A Model of Panic Buying and Workforce under COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Chen, Tinggui & Jin, Yumei & Yang, Jianjun & Cong, Guodong, 2022. "Identifying emergence process of group panic buying behavior under the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    5. Renato Quiliche & Rafael Rentería-Ramos & Irineu de Brito Junior & Ana Luna & Mario Chong, 2021. "Using Spatial Patterns of COVID-19 to Build a Framework for Economic Reactivation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-23, September.
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    7. Brenda Cardoso & Luiza Cunha & Adriana Leiras & Paulo Gonçalves & Hugo Yoshizaki & Irineu de Brito Junior & Frederico Pedroso, 2021. "Causal Impacts of Epidemics and Pandemics on Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-28, August.
    8. Taniellen Miranda Coelho & Julianna Zambon Moscon & Irineu de Brito Junior & Angélica Alebrant Mendes & Hugo Tsugunobu Yoshida Yoshizaki, 2022. "Public School Food Supply Chain during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of the City of Vitória (Brazil)," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-13, March.
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    10. C. Michael Hall & Peter Fieger & Girish Prayag & David Dyason, 2021. "Panic Buying and Consumption Displacement during COVID-19: Evidence from New Zealand," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-13, April.

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