Boycotts have been making headlines lately, from the movement to boycott Israel over the war in Gaza, which has hit companies like Starbucks and McDonald’s, to a new right-wing boycott of Doritos over the brand’s decision to partner with a trans influencer. Consumer boycott campaigns are frequently tossed around in the news cycle. But do they really make a difference in the long run? On the show today, Brayden King at the Kellogg School of Management explains why boycotts don’t usually affect a company’s bottom line, where boycotts actually do make an impact and how social media has changed the way these campaigns work. Plus, the difference between boycotts and buycotts.

Then, a reminder that inflation’s ride down is a bumpy one. And, this week’s answer to the Make Me Smart question comes from Jasmine Harris, author of “Black Women, Ivory Tower.”

Here’s everything we talked about today:

- “Shopping has become a political act. Here’s how it happened.” from Vox

- “How Much Do Boycotts Affect a Company’s Bottom Line?” from KelloggInsight

- “What to Know About the Global Boycott Movement Against Israel” from Time

- “McDonald’s franchises emerge as new flashpoint in Israel-Hamas war” from The Washington Post

- “Right-Wing Boycotters Have a New Target: Doritos” from Business Insider

- “Inflation Picks Up to 3.2% in February, Slightly Hotter Than Expected” from The Wall Street Journal

- “Judge blocks US labor board rule on contract and franchise workers” from Reuters

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Boycotts, buycotts and the rise of consumer activism

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