Cognitive Scaffold

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MENTAL MODEL · M2050

Shrinkflation

Shrinkflation
BehaviorHigh supportConsumer Psychology
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Refers to manufacturers, in response to rising costs, keeping product prices unchanged but quietly reducing the product's weight, size, or quantity (e.g., smaller chocolates, fewer chips).

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Identify hidden price increases. It exploits consumers' psychological vulnerability of being sensitive to "price" but insensitive to "quantity". When analyzing inflation, one should not only look at the CPI price index, but also at changes in "unit price".

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Anchor fast decisions

Keep the listed price unchanged but reduce the quantity, achieving a hidden price increase.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ShrinkflationZH · Explicit
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