The impact of consumer knowledge on socially responsible spending on products from underdeveloped countries

Today's consumers are increasingly aware of social issues in developing countries. When making purchases, they take into account the production and transportation methods of goods. Particularly, younger individuals actively display their commitment to promoting social values through their purchasing behaviors, a phenomenon termed meaning-out . The aim of this study is to explore how knowledge influences such spending patterns. Utilizing recent literature reviews and the theory of planned behavior, statistical analysis was followed by a case study. The results reveal that action-related and effectiveness-based knowledge of social issues boosts sustainable purchasing behaviors. It is imperative to augment knowledge and awareness about the beneficial impacts of such sustainable consumption on developing economies. This study advances the integration of subjective knowledge and objective knowledge components into the theory of planned behavior to elucidate the role of knowledge in fostering socially responsible purchasing. The practical contributions of this research include examining consumers' intentions regarding socially responsible purchases and targeting market segments that prioritize social issues.