This research paper provides a background and overview of how cultural influences affect consumer buying behaviours to identify any commonalities and differences between consumers in the United States and Russia, and to determine what impact these differences and commonalities have on online and brick-and-mortar outlet purchasing behaviours. Chapter one introduces the topics under consideration, provides a statement of the problem, the purpose and importance of the study, as well as its scope and rationale. Chapter two provides a critical review of the relevant and peer-reviewed literature concerning e-commerce and e-tailing and a discussion of the respective economies of Russia and the United States today. Chapter three presents the study's methodology, a description of the study approach, the data-gathering method and the database of study consulted. Chapter four is comprised of an analysis of the data developed during the research process and chapter five presents the study's conclusions, a summary of the research and salient recommendations for companies seeking to establish or expand their online presence in the future.
Outline:
Introduction
Review of Related Literature
Methodology
Data Analysis
Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
From the Paper:
"The trends are clear and unmistakable. Just a decade ago, online sales were a very small part of the national economy of the United States and were virtually nonexistent in the former Soviet Union, and online sales in total comprised a tiny fraction of global trade. Today, though, online sales are in the tens of billions of dollars, and electronic commerce is becoming increasingly important to consumers, sellers, and entire economies. Though considered to be in its relative infancy, Internet usage and on-line marketing are also growing explosively. In fact, during 2003 alone, approximately 40 million households in the U.S. made at least one purchase from the Internet, up from only six