An analysis of cross-border shopping behavior among Czech citizens in response to the impact of COVID-19 and inflation

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants of cross-border shopping among citizens of the Czech Republic across three distinct periods: pre-COVID, during COVID, and post-COVID. Employing identical questionnaires in each period, we observed a notable shift in determinants. During the last period, the Czech Republic experienced heightened inflation compared to neighbouring countries, resulting in a surge in families shopping abroad. Utilizing logistic regression, we analyze two key determinants: distance from abroad and household sizes. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, families have reduced cross-border shopping. This is explicable by the elevation in the regression parameter for distance, the decrease in the parameter for family size, and the diminished statistical significance of these parameters. Conversely, during the inflationary period, there was a marked increase in cross-border shopping, with all families augmenting their shopping abroad. The parameters associated with distance and family size are lower and lack statistical significance during this period.