Scholarlink

<p>This paper examines the unintended effects of public policy measures and social dynamics on e-commerce adoption, using a comprehensive dataset of household level transactions at Switzerland’s largest retailer matched to administrative registers. First, we study how the COVID-19 pandemic and temporary policy measures impacted the adoption of online grocery shopping in Switzerland, and we document a substantial increase in online expenditures. This shift is heterogeneous, with younger, larger, and richer households, as well as those with limited local store access, being particularly responsive. Moreover, we find that stricter mitigation policies intensify online usage. Second, we examine the role of social networks in accelerating the diffusion of e-commerce. We highlight strong peer effects: within multi-generational families and among neighbors, the adoption of online shopping by one household significantly raises the likelihood of adoption by others. These findings reveal the impact of policy measures and the importance of social networks in shaping digital consumption behavior.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Who shops online? the role of policy, household characteristics, and family networks

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月27日

查看全文
  • Frédéric Kluser,
  • Maximilian V. Ehrlich

摘要

This paper examines the unintended effects of public policy measures and social dynamics on e-commerce adoption, using a comprehensive dataset of household level transactions at Switzerland’s largest retailer matched to administrative registers. First, we study how the COVID-19 pandemic and temporary policy measures impacted the adoption of online grocery shopping in Switzerland, and we document a substantial increase in online expenditures. This shift is heterogeneous, with younger, larger, and richer households, as well as those with limited local store access, being particularly responsive. Moreover, we find that stricter mitigation policies intensify online usage. Second, we examine the role of social networks in accelerating the diffusion of e-commerce. We highlight strong peer effects: within multi-generational families and among neighbors, the adoption of online shopping by one household significantly raises the likelihood of adoption by others. These findings reveal the impact of policy measures and the importance of social networks in shaping digital consumption behavior.