Understanding determinants of government and consumer behavior relative to product safety : an application of the theory of planned behavior to China and the United States

摘要

The following thesis applies Icek Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior to explainconsumer and government response to safety of Chinese-made products sold inChina and the United States. The thesis relies on secondary data as it considersthe responses and actions relative to product safety by four different groups:Chinese government, U.S. government, Chinese consumers and U.S. consumers.Increased globalization has heightened the need for a better understanding andagreement about product safety and quality among countries. A comprehensivepresentation of laws and factors related to Chinese product quality is made. Eachgroup was considered at the aggregate level. Conclusions were made about themotivations and responses of each group to product safety issues, and propositionswere developed to further expand the theoretical model for the theory of plannedbehavior and thereby evoke a model of planned behavior regarding product safety.These propositions may form the basis for further research into this field. As such,this thesis presents the theory of planned behavior as a viable theory to use inconsidering issues related to purchase, export and import of safe products. Futureprimary research is needed to support or reject the concepts and propositionspresented in this thesis.