In-Depth Analysis: COVID-19 Impact on Consumer Buying Behavior

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer buying behavior. It begins by outlining the background of the study, highlighting the emergence of the virus and its global impact, including lockdowns and social distancing measures. The report then delves into the problem statement, emphasizing the changes in consumer behavior during crises, particularly the 2008 financial crisis and the anticipated greater impact of COVID-19. Research questions are posed to investigate the effects of the pandemic on consumer behavior, factors influencing buying decisions, and the potential for permanent changes in consumption habits. The study aims to understand consumer behavior during the pandemic, evaluate pre- and post-COVID-19 behaviors, and identify the key factors driving changes. The report reviews existing literature, including empirical and theoretical frameworks, to provide context for the analysis. The methodology includes a mixed-method approach, utilizing both secondary data from existing literature and primary data gathered through interviews to gain an in-depth understanding of consumer behavior. The report also addresses ethical considerations and limitations, acknowledging the challenges in predicting future impacts. The conclusion summarizes the findings and offers insights into the long-term effects of the pandemic on consumer behavior. The report also includes references and appendices for further study.

The In-Depth Analysis of The Impact Caused by Covid_19 on Consumer
Buying Behavior: The Prevailing Paradigm of Society.

Abstract
In the wake of global crisis in the form of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 there observed
lockdowns and social distancing which results into closure of super markets due to trends in the
buying behaviors of consumers. Markets face changes in consumption patterns in almost every
market. Therefore, the study aims to analyze the extent to which the pandemic has changed the
consumption patterns of the consumers. Also, study will try to draw inferences about post-
COVID consumer behaviors for which interviews will be conducted. Study uses mixed method
approach to analyze the consumer behaviors during the pandemic and after the pandemic. Study
presented results on the basis of existing literature while for in-depth analysis field studies will
be carried out which helps to address the issue appropriately.
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Table of Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................ii
Chapter 1..........................................................................................................................................1
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
1. Introduction...........................................................................................................................1
1.1 Background of the study................................................................................................2
1.2 Problem Statement........................................................................................................3
1.3 Research Questions.......................................................................................................3
1.4 Research Aim and Objectives.......................................................................................3
1.5 Significance...................................................................................................................4
1.6 Limitations.....................................................................................................................5
Chapter 2..........................................................................................................................................6
Literature Review............................................................................................................................6
2.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................6
2.2 Empirical Framework.......................................................................................................6
2.2 Theoretical framework......................................................................................................7
Chapter 3..........................................................................................................................................9
Research Methodology....................................................................................................................9
3.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................9
3.2 Research Methodology.....................................................................................................9
3.3 Research Philosophy.........................................................................................................9
3.4 Research Approach...........................................................................................................9
3.5 Research Purpose............................................................................................................10
3.6 Research Design..............................................................................................................10
3.7 Target Population............................................................................................................10
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3.8 Sample Size.....................................................................................................................10
3.9 Sampling Technique.......................................................................................................11
3.10 Data Source.....................................................................................................................11
3.10.1 Secondary Data........................................................................................................11
3.10.2 Primary Data............................................................................................................11
3.11 Statistical Technique.......................................................................................................11
3.12 Ethical Considerations....................................................................................................12
Chapter 4........................................................................................................................................13
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................13
4.1 Conclusion......................................................................................................................13
References......................................................................................................................................15
Appendices....................................................................................................................................18
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Chapter 1
Introduction
1. Introduction
It is matter of fact that pandemics are not a novel phenomenon and every time there
observed major economic, regional, and global changes which tends to bring change in the social
behavior and mentalities of the peoples. The most significant changes recorded as a result of
these pandemics were institutionalized which bring different psychological changes. Similarly, it
was observed that due to emergence of pandemic COVID-19 there observed significant changes
in over all living patterns of the masses as everyone across the globe get affected by the deadly
virus due to which it seems difficult to return to the normal life as was before the wake of
pandemic.
In this study researcher will investigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the purchasing
behavior of the consumers where the focus will be to find out the trends in consumers behaviors
before and after the spread of pandemic. As we know that due to outbreak of coronavirus
governments across the globe ordered to keep social distancing and lockdown in almost every
sector of the life. Such practices give rise to changes in psychological behaviors. Various studies
pose that due to pandemic several changes were introduced across the countries which give rise
to practices like curfews, closures, lockdowns, quarantine, boarder closures etc. (Harrison, 2020).
Nielsen (2020a) in his studies postulates that due to pandemic there observed there observed
changes in the consumer behavior. In the study the researcher uses a six key model to present the
changing patterns of consumer behavior during pandemic which includes the spending on
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different emergency items, food and health. In the study it was found that at each threshold level
households have different levels of consumption.
1.1 Background of the study
In December 2019 there reported several pneumonia cases in the Wuhan city of China
which emerged from unknown sources (Lu et al., 2020). In January 2020 based on the analysis
of lower respiratory tract a virus was identified which was held responsible for the pneumonia
cluster (Huang, 2020). However, later on in February 2020 WHO named the disease spread from
this virus as COVID-19 which when was causing a lot of deaths was declared as a pandemic
(WHO, 2020). In December 2019 a new form of virus was identified in the Wuhan city of China.
The officials of Chinese government informed WHO about the mysterious deadly virus which
was causing various lung disease. Several of the infected patients work in the “wet market” i.e.,
farmers market where perishable food and animals were being sold by the farmers. World Health
Organization named the disease COVID-19 that was affecting the respiratory system of the
infected people (WHO, 2020a). The cases of this disease increased 10-fold in other countries just
in 2 weeks after the introduction of the disease in China. After observing the deadly effects of the
virus WHO declared this disease as pandemic (WHO, 2020b). In ancient time there observed that
diseases jumped from men to animal but due to COVID-19 it was observed that it was man who
transfer this disease more rapidly to other men due to close interactions and therefore the virus
spread across the globe. In his studies Garthwaite (2020) maintained that disease come up with
people and spread from one region to another in no time by air connections, thus it turned out to
be a global pandemic which affect every sector of life and changes the living patterns of masses
to large extent.
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1.2 Problem Statement
It has been observed that whenever crisis occurred the buying behavior of masses
changed. In the sense, Vukasovic (2010) postulates that various crisis i.e., health crisis, financial
crisis etc. the perceptions of consumers towards the prices and quality of goods and services
changed. Moreover, Hampson and McGoldrick (2013) theorized that 2008 financial crisis
resulted into uncertainties like job, income patterns etc. consumers perceptions towards prices
changes under those circumstances and hence their buying behavior changes. However,
economic theorists are researchers believed that with the wake of pandemic COVID-19 there
observed more sever situation than those observed during the financial crisis of 2008. Therefore,
different studies pose that the COVID-19 affects the buying behavior of consumers largely. In
the regard, present study tries to find out the extent to which the pandemic has affected the
consumer’s behavior. Also, the study will try to investigate the buying behavior before pandemic
on the basis of which inference will be drawn on the buying behavior of consumers after the
pandemic.
1.3 Research Questions
1. Whether or not the consumer behavior effected due to Covid-19?
2. What are the factors that affect consumer buying behavior in pandemic of Covid-19?
3. Will the consumers’ consumption habits have changed permanently?
1.4 Research Aim and Objectives
1.4.1 Research Aim
Research aims to investigate the consumer buying behavior which get affected as the result of
pandemic arisen due to Covid-19.
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1.4.2 Research Objectives
The objectives of the research are:
 To understand consumer buying behavior under the course of pandemic of Covid-19
 To find out the effects of Covid-19 on consumer buying behavior.
 To evaluate the consumer buying behavior before and after Covid-19.
 To evaluate the factors in pandemic which are responsible for changing consumers
buying behavior.
 To what extent such changes in behavior prevail.
 Whether or not consumers’ return to their previously adopted consumption pattern after
the pandemic.
1.5 Significance
Keeping in view the deadly effects of pandemic COVID-19 it has been observed it
negatively affect every sector of life due to social distancing and lockdowns which in turn bring
changes in the daily routine of people in the form of job loss, lower working hours, income cut-
off or no income at all etc. Such instance give rise to bring changes in the consumption patterns
of the consumers. Different studies shed light on the changing consumer behavior due to deadly
virus however no one shed light to the extent to which these behaviors changes. Therefore, the
study tends to analyze the extent to which consumer behaviors change on one hand while on the
other hand it will investigate what will be the consumer behavior when the deadly crisis
observed due to pandemic will over.
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1.6 Limitations
Due to unawareness of the future impacts of virus on masses study does not pose any
policy recommendations. Also, as no one knows the length of the virus and the magnitude in
future therefore, the results of the study will be limited to draw inferences to date. It is unable to
tell the impacts of present behaviors on future behaviors of consumers due to psychological
changes.
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Chapter 2
Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
In this chapter researcher will study the phenomenon under consideration in the light of
previous studies. Also, the conceptual and empirical frameworks of the study will be presented
by using past literature.
2.2 Empirical Framework
Organization often faces challenges and uncertainty which affect the practices of their
daily routine (Ferraro et al., 2015). Such uncertainties and risk affect economies at large (Jarus,
2020). Stanciu and Str (2015) carried out a study in which they found that over the course of
history various pandemics occurred which adversely affect businesses and economies by
affecting the daily activities of people. It has been found that COVID-19 has cause damage to the
world economy where governments in any countries ordered to shut down their business
activities. Closing offices, cancelling events and all those activities which involve social
gatherings. Such instances not only affect the economies but also humans associated with them
also suffered which results in low level of consumption and investment patterns (Ozili and Arun,
2020). This change in consumption was observed along different markets for example in China it
has been observed that the outbreak of pandemic has negatively affected the market (Chen et al.,
2020). Similarly in Great Britain there observed a cut down in economic spending which was
relaced by necessities i.e., groceries and hence there observed a shift in the consumer behavior
(Chronopoulos et al., 2020). Studies carried out by Andersen et al. (2020) postulates that due to
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COVID-19 there observed 27% reduction in consumption in the market of Denmark where the
consumers redirected their consumption where protective equipment become part of daily
necessities (Addo et al., 2020). Besides this similar trends were observed in case of Romania,
where the economic habits of people changed which forces companies to change their strategies
which give rise to the trend of online shopping so that consumers can have their desired products
by maintaining social distancing caution at home. Such practices result into online consumption
(Stanciu et al., 2020). Due to change in consumer behaviors and consumption patterns hotel and
retail industry suffered a lot (Baker et al., 2020). According to Roggeveen and Sethuraman
(2020) due to outbreak of pandemic luxury retailers suffered a lot. While at the same time some
brands modified largely which pose their growth during the pandemic (Knowles et al., 2020).
2.2 Theoretical framework
For years researchers are engaged in studying consumers and their behavior to the extent
that now a consumer has not been regarded only a term associated with marketing. Research in
analyzing consumer behavior has been rooted back in mid-1960s. in marketing it has become
mandatory to study the consumer behavior as overall marketing activities lies in perceptions and
attitudes of end consumers towards market. Studies carried out by Solomon (2017) postulates
that consumer is an individual who come u with a specific desire or need, he then purchases his
desired product and then consumes it. Therefore, the consumer goes through three stage of
consumption process i.e., need, purchase and consume. However, it has been found that during
the consumption process the role of consumer changes under different contexts i.e., parents buy
products for their children. In this case children are the end consumer of the products. Solomon
(2017) in his studies maintained that the term consumer used for those individuals who are the
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end users of a certain product of service whereas buyer is regarded as one who buys a product
either he will be end user or someone else will be.
It has been observed that the buying behavior of masses is purpose oriented i.e., there lies
some purpose behind it. Some consumers only aim at needs satisfaction by purchasing where
they suppressed their wishes, while some consumers want to some kind of prestige which
motivates them to buy luxurious items where they usually choose high price products or services.
However, it has been observed that during the times of crisis in the form of recession, inflation,
pandemics etc. consumers tend to buy only those products and services which does not have high
prices. From past 25 years there observed some major trends in the buying behaviors of
consumers which passes on from generation to generation (Solomon, 2017). In his study on
consumer behavior Kar (2010) maintained that there observed a significant change in the
behavior of consumers after major crisis which prevailed throughout the history in different
forms i.e., recession, financial crisis, pandemic etc. Hence it has been found that crisis in
whatever form they occurred always affect consumers behavior negatively. Keeping in view the
above scenario and by studying several theories researcher concludes that the consumer behavior
will be affected largely during the outbreak of pandemic COVID-19.
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