Date of Award
12-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Economics
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Robert Fleck
Committee Member
Dr. Thomas Hazlett
Committee Member
Dr. Curtis Simon
Abstract
This thesis examines if annual earnings influence consumers’ likelihood of avoiding clothing brands associated with labor exploitation. To examine this question, the study draws on four major U.S. datasets that together capture two decades of consumer attitudes and self-reported behaviors. The results show that income has a strong and statistically significant effect: household income increases the odds of avoiding exploitative brands by roughly 27 percentage points. Education, ideology, and gender also exhibit meaningful positive associations with ethical consumption, while age slightly reduces the likelihood of boycott participation. Overall, the analysis provides evidence that ethical consumption behaves like a normal good and that financial constraints limit lower-income consumers’ ability to act on their values.
Recommended Citation
Minton, Ava M., "Earnings, Ethics, and Fast Fashion: How Does Income Affect Consumers’ Decisions?" (2025). All Theses. 4667.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4667