An exploratory study of the relationship between counterfeiting and culture

 

J. Freitas Santos^*, J. Cadima Ribeiro^**

 

jfsantos@iscap.ipp.pt, jcadima@eeg.uminho.pt

 

Resumo. A contrafacção internacional afecta negativamente produtores, consumidores e as economias nacionais. Nos últimos anos, algumas tentativas têm sido empreendidas por organizações internacionais (União Europeia, Organização Mundial do Comércio) para resolver este problema complexo. Embora alguns sucessos tenham sido obtidos, o número de apreensões na fronteira externa da União Europeia de mercadoria contrafaccionada não tem parado de crescer. Este estudo analisa a influência das variáveis culturais de Hofstede (distância ao poder, individualismo, masculinidade e aversão à incerteza) na atracção de mercadoria contrafaccionada para os países da União Europeia. O perfil de um país receptor de contrafacção caracteriza-se pela baixa distância ao poder.

Palavras-chave: Contrafacção; Cultura; Hofstede; União Europeia

 

Abstract. International counterfeiting affects adversely producers, consumers and domestic economies. Some attempts have been made in the last years by international organisations (European Union, World Trade Organisation) to deal with this complex problem. Though some success has been achieved, the number of seizures of counterfeited goods detected in the external borders of EU has increased. This study examines the impact of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions (power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance) on the attraction of international counterfeiting to European Union member countries. A cultural profile of a counterfeiter country is one in which there is low power distance, low uncertainty avoidance, and low individualism

Keywords: Counterfeiting; Culture; Hofstede; European Union

 

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^* Professor Coordenador do ISCAP/IPPorto e Membro do NIPE/EEG/Uminho

^** Professor Catedrático da Escola de Economia e Gestão da Universidade do Minho e Membro do NIPE.