Differences in Consumers’ Green Consumption Mindsets and Behavior Across South Africa, South Korea and the United States Based upon Measures of Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory

Samples of 513 South African consumers, 292 South Korean consumers, and 938 consumers in the United States were drawn using identical, but appropriately translated, questionnaires. The data collection instrument addressed a number of psychographic considerations germane to consumption – and anti-consumption – decisions. Using the index scores from Hofstede’s Theory of Cultural Dimensions as bases for differentiating among the three countries, meaningful differences related to issues germane to sustainability were identified. The three cultural dimensions used for comparative purposes were individualism (versus collectivism), indulgence (versus restraint) and long-term (versus short-term) orientation. Differences were documented for all eight of the sustainability-related phenomena under scrutiny. The results are significant for academicians who seek to teach and for practitioners who seek to operationalize differentiated marketing strategies on a global basis.