ECONOMIC RUMORS AND THE SCARCITY OF GOODS: WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP? - A FIELD STUDY OF A GROUP OF SHOPS IN KHENCHELA PROVINCE (ALGERIA) - (AN ECONOMETRIC STUDY)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the impact of economic rumors—particularly those spread through social media platforms—on the emergence of shortages of goods and services in Algeria. This is achieved by constructing an explanatory model based on a set of dimensions constituting rumors. The study targeted a group of 160 food retailers and employed both descriptive and analytical methodologies. Statistical analysis tools were used to test the relationships between variables and verify the study's hypotheses.

The results showed that economic rumors are among the most significant factors contributing to the creation of shortages. The spread of unreliable information contributes to negative perceptions among consumers, pushing them towards purchasing behaviors that can lead to market disruptions and speculation. The results also indicated that sharing the rumor, attributing it to a specific source, and its negative nature are all influential dimensions in amplifying the impact of rumors on the level of scarcity. However, the relative instability of rumors has not yet demonstrated a clear impact within the model used.

These findings collectively indicate that economic rumors play a pivotal role in amplifying the perception of scarcity and creating market instability. This necessitates that relevant authorities enhance information transparency, improve institutional communication mechanisms, and continuously monitor the flow of information in the digital sphere. The study also calls for raising public awareness of the dangers of rumors and their impact on economic behavior, and for developing a more effective regulatory framework to curb their spread.