Boycotts, buycotts and the rise of consumer activism

Boycotts have been making headlines lately, from the movement to boycott Israel over the war in Gaza, which has hit companies like Starbucks and McDonald’s, to a new right-wing boycott of Doritos over the brand’s decision to partner with a trans influencer. Consumer boycott campaigns are frequently tossed around in the news cycle. But do they really make a difference in the long run? On the show today, Brayden King at the Kellogg School of Management explains why boycotts don’t usually affect a company’s bottom line, where boycotts actually do make an impact and how social media has changed the way these campaigns work. Plus, the difference between boycotts and buycotts.

Then, a reminder that inflation’s ride down is a bumpy one. And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from Jasmine Harris, author of “Black Women, Ivory Tower.”

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• • “Shopping has become a political act. Here’s how it happened.” from Vox

• • “How Much Do Boycotts Affect a Company’s Bottom Line?”  from KelloggInsight

• • “What to Know About the Global Boycott Movement Against Israel” from Time

• • “McDonald’s franchises emerge as new flashpoint in Israel-Hamas war” from The Washington Post

• • “Right-Wing Boycotters Have a New Target: Doritos” from Business Insider

• • “Inflation Picks Up to 3.2% in February, Slightly Hotter Than Expected” from The Wall Street Journal

• • “Judge blocks US labor board rule on contract and franchise workers” from Reuters

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