Social Connections in Urban Consumer Behaviour

EasyChair Preprint 15746

Abstract

Understanding and depicting human purchasing patterns in urban areas can have a profound effect on

urban economics research and can shape city planning and development. This study investigates

consumer purchasing behavior at the community level, proposing that individuals living in different

communities but working in close proximity can act as "social bridges," connecting these communities

and exhibiting a relationship with shared patterns in their purchasing activities.We present empirical

evidence through the analysis of a large dataset consisting of credit card transactions from a diverse

sample of urban individuals over a three-month period. Specifically, we illustrate that the presence of

social connections connecting communities acts as a notably more influential indicator of congruence

in their consumption patterns than conventional considerations such as income and socio-

demographic factors. Our findings suggest that the impact of this phenomenon varies across different

types of merchants, with female customers in social networks proving to be a more reliable predictor

than their male counterparts. Furthermore, a geographical constraint seems to influence the

manifestation of this effect, highlighting important considerations for studies on urban economies and

data-driven urban planning.

Keyphrases: Credit card transaction, Purchase Behaviour, physical environment, social bridge

@booklet{EasyChair:15746,
  author    = {B Meenal},
  title     = {Social Connections in Urban Consumer Behaviour},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 15746},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2025}}