How has uncontrolled and addictive buying behavior developed in Germany and what implications can be derived from it?
The object of the research project funded by the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe (Science Promotion and Advisory Service Money and Household) is to investigate the development and prevalence of uncontrolled and "addictive" (pathological) buying behavior, thus following up on a representative study conducted in 1991 and 2001 (longitudinal study). The study in 2001 was already financially supported by the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe. The results, supplementing the research findings available to date, will provide a better understanding of the prevalence and development of this behavior in Germany. In addition, possible implications for promoting financial and consumer competence and for avoiding (preventing) uncontrolled and "addictive" buying behavior are to be identified.
The topic of uncontrolled and "addictive" buying behavior has received a great deal of attention from the scientific community (e.g., medicine, psychology, economics) and the public in recent years. This is due to the prevalence and negative consequences of this behavior for those affected and for society (e.g., indebtedness, over-indebtedness). In this context, the research project is integrated into two research projects running at the same time and representative studies in Denmark (Prof. Dr. Lucia Reisch, Copenhagen Business School) and Austria (Prof. Dr. Karl Kollmann, Vienna).
Significant research on uncontrolled and "addictive" buying behavior has been conducted and published since the late 1980s under the direction and collaboration of Prof. Dr. Gerhard Raab (see Publications).
