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In this article, we build on the existing literature on price endings in the fast-moving consumer goods and luxury pricing to highlight the potential paradox of adopting odd pricing (i.e. setting prices just below the round number) for luxury goods, which should mostly use even pricing (i.e. round numbers). In a first experiment concerning luxury handbags, we test the impact of three types of price endings (–90,–00, and “other”) on luxury image and its sub-facets. We propose four mediators of the relationship between price endings and overall luxury image, that is, quality, prestige, uniqueness, and expensiveness. In a second experiment, we find that price endings have connotations specific to the luxury sector and to different segments of consumers. We conclude with recommendations to help pricing managers strategically adjust their price-ending practice to target different consumer segments.

In this article, a new extension of the standard Laplace distribution is introduced for house price modeling. Certain important properties of the new distribution are deducted throughout this study. We used the new extension of the Laplace model to conduct a thorough economic risk assessment utilizing several metrics, including the value-at-risk (VaR), the peaks over a random threshold value-at-risk (PORT-VaR), the tail value-at-risk (TVaR), the mean of order-P (MOP), and the peaks over a random threshold based on the mean of order-P (PORT-MOP). These metrics capture different facets of the tail behavior, which is essential for comprehending the extreme median values in the Boston house price data. Notably, PORT-VaR improves the risk evaluations by incorporating randomness into the selection of the thresholds, whereas VaR and TVaR focus on measuring the potential losses at specific confidence levels, with TVaR offering insights into significant tail risks. The MOP method aids in balancing the reliability goals while optimizing the performance in the face of uncertainty.

PurposeDietary behaviours may be influenced by perceptions of barriers to healthy eating. Using data from a large cross-European study (N = 5900), we explored associations between various perceived barriers to healthy eating and dietary behaviours among adults from urban regions in five European countries and examined whether associations differed across regions and socio-demographic backgrounds.MethodsFrequency of consumption of fruit, vegetables, fish, fast food, sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets, breakfast and home-cooked meals were split by the median into higher and lower consumption. We tested associations between barriers (irregular working hours; giving up preferred foods; busy lifestyle; lack of willpower; price of healthy food; taste preferences of family and friends; lack of healthy options and unappealing foods) and dietary variables using multilevel logistic regression models. We explored whether associations differed by age, sex, education, urban region, weight status, household composition or employment.ResultsRespondents who perceived any barrier were less likely to report higher consumption of healthier foods and more likely to report higher consumption of fast food. ‘Lack of willpower’, ‘time constraints’ and ‘taste preferences’ were most consistently associated with consumption. For example, those perceiving lack of willpower ate less fruit [odds ratio (OR) 0.57; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50–0.64], and those with a busy lifestyle ate less vegetables (OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.47–0.62). Many associations differed in size, but not in direction, by region, sex, age and household composition.ConclusionPerceived ‘lack of willpower’, ‘time constraints’ and ‘taste preferences’ were barriers most strongly related to dietary behaviours, but the association between various barriers and lower intake of fruit and vegetables was somewhat more pronounced among younger participants and women.

New forms of hospitality grew increasingly more popular and successful during the last decades. Nowadays, they are chosen for different reasons, one of the most important certainly being price. Understanding the elements that can impact on price determination is crucial to increase profitability. We propose two price indicators for Airbnb accommodations, which are defined in three phases using proportional odds model as a reference model. The first phase focuses on the probability estimation of accommodations belonging to a specific class of price. The second phase aims to evaluate the ability of the model to make good predictions by computing three different indexes. Finally, the three indexes are combined to define the indicators q and r which evaluate, respectively, the impact that six different dimensions (transports, culture, crowd, property, management, and time) have with respect to price determination on Airbnb accommodations and their relative importance concerning neighborhoods. The analysis is focused on 61 neighborhoods of Rome. The findings show differences with respect to the impact of the dimensions on price for each neighborhood of Rome.

This paper examines how odd-ending pricing influences consumption of hedonic and utilitarian products. Four studies test the hypothesis that the discount image associated with odd-ending prices reduces anticipated guilt and provides justification for hedonic consumption – an effect the authors label the odd-ending price justification effect (OPJE). Study 1 reveals people are more likely to choose hedonic over utilitarian products when they have odd-ending prices. Study 2 finds that the effect of odd-ending prices on hedonic consumption is mediated by guilt reduction. Study 3 reveals a boundary condition for the OPJE – purchase likelihood of hedonic products increases only when monetary, not nonmonetary, guilt is reduced. Study 4 suggests the OPJE operates at an unconscious level, as consumers who are made aware of the trivial difference between odd- and round-ending prices are no longer influenced by odd-ending prices. The theoretical, practical, and research implications of these findings are discussed.

Background Food insecurity is a pressing social and public health issue that varies in degree and impact on individuals and social groups, requiring immediate attention for policymakers and decision-makers. This study was conducted to identify the prevalence and associated factors of food insecurity of rural households particularly in the Shebel Berenta and Machakel districts of East Gojjam zone. Methods A cross-sectional study design was conducted, in the fall of March 2017 among 504 households. Households are selected using a systematic sampling technique through multistage cluster sampling technique (two stage cluster sampling). The data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire covering a range of topics including 18 core food security modules (CFSM) question series, socioeconomic, demographic and related variables. Multivariable Partial proportional odds model (PPOM) was employed to identify the factors associated with food insecurity in rural households. Result Of a total of 504 households considered in the study, 54 (10.71%) were highly food secure, 75 (14.88%) were marginally food secure, 157 (31.15%) were low food secure, and 218 (43.25%) were severely food insecure. District (Machakel) (AOR = 3.28 95% CI: 1.73, 6.24), household head education status, illiterate (AOR = 113.4, 95% CI:7.02,1832.02), read and write (AOR = 169.29, 95%CI:11.64, 2461.39), and elementary completed (AOR = 119.75,95%CI:8.43,1700.74), agro-ecological zone, Woina Dega (AOR = 0.0021,95% CI: 0.00009,0.0514), Dega (AOR = 0.0323, 95%CI: 0.002, 0.5209), family size (AOR = 1.18, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.36), landholding (AOR = 0.767, 95% CI: 0.605, 0.972), TLU (AOR = 0.151, 95% CI: 0.0716, 0.3189), access to toilet (no) (AOR = 7.63, 95% CI: 1.459, 39.78), practicing irrigation (yes) (AOR = 0.121, 95% CI: 0.037, 0.38), loan (no) (AOR = 2.83, 95% CI:1.36, 5.89), access to energy, government electric (AOR = 0.468, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.94), solar panels (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.79), soil fertility, moderate (AOR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.87), fertile (AOR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.032, 0.72) were significant associated food insecurity factors in the study area. Conclusion In this study, a high prevalence of food insecurity and various associated food insecurity factors have been identified in the study area. Thus, the concerned stockholders should intervene in food insecure households via different irrigation practices and by considering household size, community-based household head education, and landholding in hectare.

Stay-at-home orders have abruptly altered food purchasing behaviour, dietary habits, and food choice motives. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the trajectory of food choice motives and their associations with the weight status of Malaysian youths in the time of COVID-19. Socio-demographic information and anthropometric measurements were self-reported by the respondents, while the food choice motives were assessed using a validated 38-item food choice questionnaire (FCQ). Of the 1013 Malaysian youths, 48.6% gained weight due to the confinement, with an average weight gain of 3.90 ± 2.92 kg. On the other hand, 47.0% to 73.0% of the youths changed their food choice motives in the time of COVID-19. Of the 10 motives, convenience (48.5%) had the largest percentage increase, followed by weight control (47.0%) and health (45.3%). Moreover, the mean scores of health (t = −3.324, p = 0.001), convenience (t = −5.869, p < 0.001), weight control (t = −7.532, p < 0.001), natural content (t = −5.957, p < 0.001), ethical concern (t = −4.419, p < 0.001) and price (t = −3.737, p < 0.001) were significantly higher during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic. Findings from the multinomial regression model revealed that youths highly concerned for weight control were more likely to be in the weight loss category (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.633, Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.230–2.168, p = 0.001). Conversely, those who gained weight due to the pandemic confinement highly valued natural content in foods (AOR = 0.653, CI = 0.481–0.886, p = 0.006) when making their food choices in this unprecedented pandemic. In conclusion, Malaysian youths made healthier food choices to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Objective: In France, an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages was introduced on 1 January 2012. Our objective was to assess perception of this tax as well as the sociodemographic characteristics of its supporters and opponents. Design: Cross-sectional study within the Nutrinet-Sante cohort. A sub-sample of 1996 individuals was selected among participants in the Nutrinet-Sante cohort study. Perceptions of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax were assessed via self-administered questionnaires. The sociodemographic and dietary profiles of supporters and opponents of this tax were explored by multinomial logistic regression. Setting: Nationally representative French sample, 2012. Subjects: Adults aged > 18 years (largest sample n 1996). Results: Half of the study sample was generally supportive of the tax and 57.7% perceived it as helpful in improving population health. Participants were more likely to support the tax model if the revenue it generated would be used for health-care system improvement (72.7%) and if such taxing was associated with a corresponding decrease in the prices of other foodstuffs (71.5%). Older participants were more likely to support the tax than were their younger counterparts (OR = 2.37; 95 % CI 1.60, 3.49 for > 65 years v.26-45 years; P < 0.001). Participants with lower educational levels were less likely to support the tax than were those with more formal education (OR = 0.31; 95 % CI 0.19, 0.52 for low educational level v.high education level; P < 0.001). In our models, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was not associated with tax perception. Conclusions: The French sugar-sweetened beverage tax appeared to be favourably perceived by the public. Sociodemographic factors modulated such perceptions and should thus be taken into consideration when drafting future public health measures.

Background The phenomenon of fathers refusing responsibility during pregnancy has not received adequate attention in African studies. This paper assesses associated factors and pregnancy-related outcomes when fathers refuse to support partners’ pregnancies and undertake parental responsibilities. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 15–49-year-old postnatal (1–6 weeks) women was conducted at six urban health facilities in Harare. Participants were interviewed about their male partners’ refusal to support their pregnancies and parenting, bride price payments (indicating marriage commitment), partner violence and control, alcohol abuse and family planning decision-making. Pregnancy health outcome data including antenatal care attendance, low birth weight (LBW)(< 2500 g) and postnatal depression were collected through interviews and clinic records. Multiple regression models were built to assess gender-related factors and health outcomes associated with male partners’ refusal of parenting responsibilities. Results Of the 2042 women interviewed, 6.4% reported partner refusal to support the pregnancy or parenting. Higher odds of partner refusal of fathering responsibility were associated with partners not paying bride price (aOR 9.31; 95% CI 1.16–74.59), violence perpetration during pregnancy (aOR 2.84; 1.28–6.23), highly controlling behaviours (aOR 4.96; 2.83–8.69), alcohol abuse (aOR 1.78; 1.05–3.02), unintended pregnancy (aOR 3.72; 1.84–7.53) and partner refusal to use contraceptives (aOR 3.64; 1.86–7.14). Women who used contraceptives (aOR 0.40; 0.23–0.71), made joint (aOR 0.30; 0.14–0.67) or individual (aOR 0.25; 0.07–0.94) pregnancy decisions were protected from partner refusal of parenting responsibility. Women’s depressive symptomatology (aOR2.64; 1.52–4.59), LBW (aOR5.30; 1.18–23.74) and partner discouragement of antenatal care attendance (aOR 3.86; 1.13–13.17) were pregnancy outcomes associated with partner refusal of parenting responsibility. Conclusions Male partners’ refusal to acknowledge parenting responsibility was associated with men’s abusiveness, absence of commitment to long-term relationship/marriage, gender unequal practices and negative maternal and child health outcomes. Parenting programmes must be instituted and prioritise transforming traditional gender norms to improve fathering responsibilities.