Consumer Response to COVID-19 Induced Lockdown in India
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Author: Kamlesh Kumar Acharya, A.G. Adeeth Cariappa, Chaitanya A. Adhav, Sendhil R. and P. Ramasundaram
Author Address: ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001 (Haryana), Agriculture and Allied Sectors, NITI Aayog-110001 (New Delhi), G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145 (Uttarakhand), Department of Economics, Pondicherry Univer
Keywords: Consumer, COVID-19, Google mobility, panic purchases, regression tree.
JEL Codes: C21, D11, D12, D91.
Abstract
This study used online survey data from May-June 2020 and a regression tree to show that during the COVID-19 lockdown, consumers bought more semi-perishables with longer shelf lives, reduced consumption of non-vegetarian items, and stocked up. Food intake varied due to job loss, infection concerns, supply chain disruption, and mobility restrictions. Google mobility studies demonstrated that travel habits changed significantly. In India, travel to stores and entertainment (62.94 per cent), parks (53.16 per cent), public transportation (40.42 per cent), workplaces (31.71 per cent), supermarkets and pharmacies (6.03 per cent), and other places had gone down, but travel within residential areas had gone up (15.71 per cent). It suggested that consumers stop panic purchases along the food supply chain, set up social safety nets, and promote online shopping.
Description
Indian Journal of Economics and Development
Volume 19 No. 2, 2023, 303-311
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35716/IJED-21236
NAAS Score: 5.15 (2023)
Indexed in SCOPUS and ESCI (Clarivate Analytics)
Journal Citation Indicator: 0.04 (WoS)
UGC Approved