A study by McCann-Ericson Thailand reveals interesting findings about Asian teens and their spending during the economic crisis. David McCaughan, managing director of the company, said that Asian teenagers, including thais, are less concerned with economic difficulties than they were a few years ago while having greater awareness about what they buy and how they entertain themselves. They feel that economic difficulties which present a serious problem to their parents have started to affect them directly as well. When buying goods or services, Thai teenagers now tend to look for more than one justification for any purchase.
The company conducted the three-year study, focusing on groups of teenagers in twenty Asian countries, in an effort to learn about modern teenage lifestyles and interests. The survey also looked into the different types of media affecting Asian teenagers, and how these media influenced them.
Young consumers in Asia have value system influenced by their families. Unlike their counterparts in Western and some other Asian countries such as japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Thai teens are fairly conservative and do not like challenge what they see as normal standards. Teens in the Philippines, similar to Thais, also take a more conservative approach.
Differing from individualistic Western teenagers, Asian teens value involvement and belonging. McCaughan said Thai and other Asian teens were more open in talking about their respect for their parents