Topic: The Demand for Counterfeits

Speaker: Dr. Nan Chen

Assistant Professor, Department of Information Systems and Analytics

National University of Singapore

Time: 10:00 AM, July 8, 2025

Location: Room 319, School of Economics and Management

Host: Department of Marketing and Tourism Management, Wuhan University

Abstract:

This study investigates consumer demand for counterfeit products through analysis of 11 million orders from a U.S. cross-border e-commerce platform. Key findings reveal a U-shaped pattern across income levels: both low-income (<$15k) and high-income (>$150k) households show stronger demand than middle-income groups ($50k–100k). These consumers purchase more counterfeits, prefer higher-priced items, make repeat purchases, and experiment with new products. Cultural factors, measured through a behavioral trustworthiness index derived from credit scores, significantly influence demand. The research also identifies severe information asymmetry in counterfeit markets, where buyer reviews substitute for restricted seller disclosures. The study discusses important theoretical and practical implications for understanding counterfeit consumption.

Speaker Profile:

Dr. Nan Chen specializes in digital economy research at the intersection of information systems, quantitative marketing, and industrial organization. His work has been published in leading journals including Marketing Science and RAND Journal of Economics. He holds a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and a bachelor's degree from Wuhan University.