Investigating boycotts and buycotts as antecedents towards attitude and intention to engage in ethical consumption

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the attitude towards ethical consumption and intention to engage in ethical consumption behaviour by consumers within a developing economy, building on the ethically minded consumer behaviour (EMCB) framework. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research approach was adopted in this research. A cross-sectional survey was further done in collecting data from 397 respondents through an online questionnaire. Collected data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25, as well as the structural equation model via the Analysis of Moment Structures version 23. Findings Corporate social responsibility-mindedness was found to lead to a positive attitude towards ethical consumption behaviour and an intention to engage in ethical consumption behaviour; recycling-mindedness did not influence a positive attitude towards ethical consumption behaviour but influenced an intention to engage in ethical consumption behaviour. However, eco-mindedness did not influence a positive attitude towards ethical consumption behaviour and an intention to engage in ethical consumption behaviour: findings from this research showed that a positive attitude towards ethical consumption behaviour led to an intention to engage in ethical consumption behaviour. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first within a Sub-Saharan African region of a developing economy to adapt the EMCB framework in investigating the extent to which consumers within a developing economy intend to engage in ethical consumption behaviour.