This handbook surveys the social aspects of consumer behavior, offering latest data and original research on current consumer needs as well as identifying emerging areas of research. This accessible volume (which can be read without advanced training in the field) starts with current concepts of risk tolerance, consumer socialization, and financial well-being, and moves on to salient data on specific settings and populations such as high school students and the older consumer.

Author Biography

Jing Jian Xiao, Ph.D., is Professor of Consumer Economics at the University of Rhode Island. This book was developd when he was the Take Charge America Professor and Director of the Take Charge America Institute for Consumer Financial Education and Research at the University of Arizona in 2005-07. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Family and Economic Issues and also serves on editorial boards of five other academic journals in consumer economics and finance. In addition, he is the Editor-in-Chief of a new book series, International Series on Consumer Science. Dr. Xiao earned his B.S. and M.S. in economics from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, China and his Ph.D. in consumer economics from Oregon State University, USA.