Shifts in Privacy Concerns

30 Pages Posted: 23 Dec 2011 Last revised: 1 Feb 2014

See all articles by Avi Goldfarb

Avi Goldfarb

University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management

Catherine E. Tucker

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Management Science (MS)

Date Written: January 21, 2011

Abstract

This paper explores how digitization and the associated use of customer data have affected the evolution of consumer privacy concerns. We measure privacy concerns by reluctance to disclose income in an online marketing research survey. Using over three million responses over eight years, our data show: (1) Refusals to reveal information have risen over time, (2) Older people are less likely to reveal information, and (3) The difference between older and younger people has increased over time. Further analysis suggests that the trends over time are partly due to broadening perceptions of the contexts in which privacy is relevant.

Keywords: Privacy, IT

Suggested Citation

Goldfarb, Avi and Tucker, Catherine E., Shifts in Privacy Concerns (January 21, 2011). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1976321 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1976321

Avi Goldfarb

University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management ( email )

105 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E6 M5S1S4
Canada
416-946-8604 (Phone)
416-978-5433 (Fax)

Catherine E. Tucker (Contact Author)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Management Science (MS) ( email )

100 Main St
E62-536
Cambridge, MA 02142
United States

HOME PAGE: http://cetucker.scripts.mit.edu

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
438
Abstract Views
3,679
Rank
121,109
PlumX Metrics