THREE STUDIES ON ONLINE CONSUMER BEHAVIOR: PRODUCT SCARCITY, PRICE EXPECTATION, AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The emergence of Internet has provided great opportunities for businesses and organizations to get in touch with the public. E-commerce, or online shipping websites, makes it easy for companies to improve their presence among consumers and increases their sale opportunities. Online crowdfunding platforms enable individuals and charities to raise money from a large group of people. Study One and Study Two each explores an important feature of online shopping, the product quantity and the price. The COVID-19 pandemic has put the human being into an unprecedented crisis. Though people are stuck inside to contain the transmission of the virus, they are able to make donations online via crowdfunding to support disadvantaged groups, medical workers, and vaccine research. Study Three examines individuals’ online prosocial behavior when confronted with such a disaster.