SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
 issue97Spatial spillover effects of Covid-19 infections: An approach using regional spatial econometrics applied to Antioquia, ColombiaRegulatory accumulation and economic growth: An empirical approach for Colombia author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Journal

Article

Indicators

Related links

  • On index processCited by Google
  • Have no similar articlesSimilars in SciELO
  • On index processSimilars in Google

Share


Desarrollo y Sociedad

Print version ISSN 0120-3584

Abstract

LEITES, Martin; SALAS, Gonzalo  and  VIGORITO, Andrea. Visible goods, personality traits, Sociedad. and preferences for status. New evidence for Uruguay. Desarro. soc. [online]. 2024, n.97, pp.111-140.  Epub May 01, 2024. ISSN 0120-3584.  https://doi.org/10.13043/dys.97.5.

The identification of positional goods is crucial for understanding how social interactions motivate consumption decisions. Drawing on micro-data from the Estudio Longitudinal del Bienestar en Uruguay (ELBU), we identify a list of visible goods and assess whether their visibility varies according to respondents’ characteristics. We find that expenditure on automobiles, jewelry and watches, clothing, and personal care rank at the top of the scale. The expenditure visibility index does not significantly vary across socio-economic groups but exhibits a positive and significant association with conscientiousness. Individuals who report a higher propensity to compare themselves with others are more likely to notice third parties’ expenditures on visible goods. Preferences for status and personality traits also provide complementary information about expenditure visibility, with considerably greater effects in the former case. Our findings may contribute to explaining a substantial portion of the observed heterogeneity in consumer choices.

Keywords : visible goods; positional goods; visibility index; social status; Big Five Inventory; D12; D31; D91.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )