What drives buycotters, boycotters and dualcotters? An analysis of political consumerism in Spain

• Published in: Empiria (Madrid) no. 62; pp. 187 - 213
• Main Authors: Vázquez, Amparo Novo, Vicente, María Rosalía
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Madrid Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia (UNED) 01-09-2024
• Subjects: Boycotts; Consumer behavior; Consumerism; Consumers; Efficacy; Ethics; Markets; Materialism; Participation; Political science; Politics; Social networks; Spain
• ISSN: 1139-5737; 2174-0682
• DOI: 10.5944/empiria.62.2024.42015

Political consumerism, as a means of participation through the marketplace, is increasing in most Western democracies. Consequently, companies have been obliged to make themselves accountable to customers. This paper analyses the factors associated with three types of political consumers: boycotters, buycotters, and dualcotters as opposed to those consumers who are not politically involved. Using data from a representative sample of the Spanish population, we focus on the role that the self-perceived efficacy of individuals as consumers plays on political consumerism. Results show that the predictors of the behaviour of boycotters and buycotters are generally different. Internal political efficacy is significant for dualcotters and buycotters whereas consumer efficacy is more predictive in the case of boycotters. The use of social networks is common to all political consumers.