Prof. Stefano Puntoni

Professor of Marketing

Rotterdam School of Management (RSM)

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Profile

Stefano Puntoni is a professor of marketing at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM).

Stefano joined RSM after completing a PhD in marketing at London Business School. His research has appeared in many leading journals, including the Journal of Consumer Research, the Journal of Marketing Research, and Management Science, and has been featured in media outlet such as Harvard Business Review, The Times, and the Wall Street Journal.

Most of his ongoing research investigates how new technology is changing consumption and society, with a focus on automation, Artificial Intelligence, and the general topic of technological unemployment. He is a former MSI Young Scholar, a current MSI Scholar, and the winner of several grants and awards, including a Marie Curie Fellowship from the European Commission. He is currently an Associate Editor at both the Journal of Consumer Research and the Journal of Consumer Psychology, the two leading academic journals on consumer decision making.

Stefano teaches in the areas of marketing strategy, brand management, and decision making. He has taught at Lancaster University, London Business School, Bocconi University, and the American University in Cairo. The Financial Times named him a “Professor to Watch”.

Professional experience

Full Professor

Erasmus University Rotterdam
RSM - Rotterdam School of Management
Department of Marketing Management

Publications

Key Publications (26)

A. Granulo, C. Fuchs & S. Puntoni (2019). Psychological reactions to human versus robotic job replacement. Nature Human Behaviour . doi: 10.1038/s41562-019-0670-y
E. Leung, G. Paolacci & S. Puntoni (2018). Man Versus Machine: Resisting Automation in Identity-Based Consumer Behavior. Journal of Marketing Research, 55 (6), 818-831. doi: 10.1509/jmr.16.0443
B. de Langhe, S. Puntoni & R.P. Larrick (2017). Linear Thinking in a Nonlinear World. Harvard Business Review, 95 (3), 130-139.
B. Weijters, S. Puntoni & H. Baumgartner (2017). Methodological issues in cross-linguistic and multilingual advertising research. Journal of Advertising, 46 (1), 115-128. doi: 10.1080/00913367.2016.1180656
O. Acar & S. Puntoni (2016). Customer Empowerment in the Digital Age. Journal of Advertising Research, 56 (1), 4-8. doi: 10.2501/JAR-2016-007
B. de Langhe & S. Puntoni (2016). Productivity Metrics and Consumers' Misunderstanding of Time Savings. Journal of Marketing Research, 53 (3), 396-406. doi: 10.1509/jmr.13.0229
D. Fernandes, S. Puntoni, S.M.J. van Osselaer & E. Cowley (2016). When and Why We Forget to Buy. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 26 (2), 363-380. doi: 10.1016/j.jcps.2015.06.012
S. Puntoni (2015). Embracing Diversity. (2015, maart 13). Rotterdam: Erasmus Research Institute of Management
S. Puntoni, I.E. De Hooge & W.J.M.I. Verbeke (2015). Advertising-induced embarrassment. Journal of Advertising, 44 (1), 71-79. doi: 10.1080/00913367.2014.935899
B. de Langhe & S. Puntoni (2015). Bang for the buck: Gain-loss ratio as a driver of judgment and choice. Management Science, 61 (5), 1137-1163. doi: 10.1287/mnsc.2014.2045
O. Urminsky, D. Bartels, P. Giuliano, G. Newman, S. Puntoni & L. Rips (2014). Choice and Self: How Synchronic and Diachronic Identity Shape Choices and Decision Making. Marketing Letters, 25 (3), 281-291. doi: 10.1007/s11002-014-9312-3
S.T.L.R. Sweldens, S. Puntoni, G. Paolacci & M. Vissers (2014). The Bias in the Bias: Comparative Optimism as a Function of Event Social Undesirability. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 124 (2), 229-244. doi: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2014.03.007
B. de Langhe, S. van Osselaer, S. Puntoni & A. McGill (2014). Fooled by Heteroscedastic Randomness: Local Consistency Breeds Extremity in Price-Based Quality Inferences. Journal of Consumer Research, 41 (4), 978-994. doi: 10.1086/678035
A.S.I. Lenoir, S. Puntoni, A. Reed II & P.W.J. Verlegh (2013). The Impact of Cultural Symbols and Spokesperson Identity on Attitudes and Intentions. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 30 (4), 426-428. doi: 10.1016/j.ijresmar.2013.07.001
A. Reed, M. Forehand, S. Puntoni & L. Warlop (2012). Identity-based Consumer Behavior. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 29 (4), 310-321. doi: 10.1016/j.ijresmar.2012.08.002
L. Warlop & S. Puntoni (2012). Introduction to the Special Issue on Consumer identities. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 29 (4), 307-309. doi: 10.1016/j.ijresmar.2012.11.001
S. Puntoni, S.T.L.R. Sweldens & N.T. Tavassoli (2011). Gender Identity Salience and Perceived Vulnerability to Breast Cancer. Journal of Marketing Research, 48 (3), 413-424. doi: 10.1509/jmkr.48.3.413
B. de Langhe, S. Puntoni, D. Fernandes & S.M.J. van Osselaer (2011). The Anchor Contraction Effect in International Marketing Research. Journal of Marketing Research, 48 (2), 473-489. doi: 10.1509/jmkr.48.2.366
S. Puntoni (2011). The color pink is bad for fighting breast cancer. Harvard Business Review, 89 (7/8), 30-31.
S. Puntoni, J. Vanhamme & R. Visscher (2011). Two Birds and One Stone: Purposeful Polysemy in Minority Targeting and Advertising Evaluations. Journal of Advertising, 40 (1), 25-41. doi: 10.2753/JOA0091-3367400102
R.W. Hamilton, S. Puntoni & N.T. Tavassoli (2010). Categorization by Groups and Individuals. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 112 (1), 70-81. doi: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2010.01.002
S. Puntoni, J.E. Schroeder & M. Ritson (2010). Meaning Matters: Polysemy in Advertising. Journal of Advertising, 39 (2), 51-64. doi: 10.2753/JOA0091-3367390204
S. Puntoni, B. de Langhe & S.M.J. van Osselaer (2009). Bilingualism and the Emotional Intensity of Advertising Language. Journal of Consumer Research, 35 (6), 1012-1025. doi: 10.1086/595022
S. Puntoni & N.T. Tavassoli (2007). Social Context and Advertising Memory. Journal of Marketing Research, 44 (2), 284-296. doi: 10.1509/jmkr.44.2.284
T. Ambler, F. Kokkinaki & S. Puntoni (2004). Assessing Marketing Performance: Reasons for Metrics Selection. Journal of Marketing Management, 20 (2), 94-110.
T. Ambler & S. Puntoni (2003). Measuring marketing performance. In Susan Hart, ed. (Ed.), Marketing Changes (pp. 289-352). London: International Thompson Business Press

Professional Publications (6)

S. Puntoni (2018). Amazing Machines and the Quest for Meaning in Consumption. GfK Marketing Intelligence Review, 10 (2), 18-23. doi: 10.2478/gfkmir-2018-0013
S. Puntoni (2016). Why twice as fast doesn't always mean twice the value. RSM Discovery - Management Knowledge, 26 (2), 19-20.
A.S.I. Lenoir, S. Puntoni, A. Reed & P.W.J. Verlegh (2015). Het targeten van etnische minderheden: de ene generatie is de andere niet. In A.E. Bronner, P. Dekker, E. de Leeuw, L.J. Paas, K. de Ruyter, A. Smidts & J.E. Wieringa (Eds.), Ontwikkelingen in het marktonderzoek, Jaarboek MarktOnderzoekAssociatie (pp. 65-78). Haarlem: Spaar en Hout
A.S.I. Lenoir & S. Puntoni (2014). Consumer responses to ethnic targeted marketing. RSM Insight, 17 (1), 16-17.
S. Puntoni, J. Vanhamme & R. Visscher (2012). Strategic ambiguity in minority targeting. RSM Insight, 10 (2), 15-17.
S. Puntoni, S.T.L.R. Sweldens & N.T. Tavassoli (2011). Gender identity and breast cancer campaigns. RSM Insight, 7 (3), 4-6.

Scholarly Publications (31)

A. Granulo, C. Fuchs & S. Puntoni (2019). Psychological reactions to human versus robotic job replacement. Nature Human Behaviour . doi: 10.1038/s41562-019-0670-y
E. Leung, G. Paolacci & S. Puntoni (2018). Man Versus Machine: Resisting Automation in Identity-Based Consumer Behavior. Journal of Marketing Research, 55 (6), 818-831. doi: 10.1509/jmr.16.0443
B. de Langhe, S. Puntoni & R.P. Larrick (2017). Linear Thinking in a Nonlinear World. Harvard Business Review, 95 (3), 130-139.
B. Weijters, S. Puntoni & H. Baumgartner (2017). Methodological issues in cross-linguistic and multilingual advertising research. Journal of Advertising, 46 (1), 115-128. doi: 10.1080/00913367.2016.1180656
O. Acar & S. Puntoni (2016). Customer Empowerment in the Digital Age. Journal of Advertising Research, 56 (1), 4-8. doi: 10.2501/JAR-2016-007
B. de Langhe & S. Puntoni (2016). Productivity Metrics and Consumers' Misunderstanding of Time Savings. Journal of Marketing Research, 53 (3), 396-406. doi: 10.1509/jmr.13.0229
D. Fernandes, S. Puntoni, S.M.J. van Osselaer & E. Cowley (2016). When and Why We Forget to Buy. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 26 (2), 363-380. doi: 10.1016/j.jcps.2015.06.012
S. Puntoni (2015). Embracing Diversity. (2015, maart 13). Rotterdam: Erasmus Research Institute of Management
S. Puntoni, I.E. De Hooge & W.J.M.I. Verbeke (2015). Advertising-induced embarrassment. Journal of Advertising, 44 (1), 71-79. doi: 10.1080/00913367.2014.935899
B. de Langhe & S. Puntoni (2015). Bang for the buck: Gain-loss ratio as a driver of judgment and choice. Management Science, 61 (5), 1137-1163. doi: 10.1287/mnsc.2014.2045
O. Urminsky, D. Bartels, P. Giuliano, G. Newman, S. Puntoni & L. Rips (2014). Choice and Self: How Synchronic and Diachronic Identity Shape Choices and Decision Making. Marketing Letters, 25 (3), 281-291. doi: 10.1007/s11002-014-9312-3
S.T.L.R. Sweldens, S. Puntoni, G. Paolacci & M. Vissers (2014). The Bias in the Bias: Comparative Optimism as a Function of Event Social Undesirability. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 124 (2), 229-244. doi: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2014.03.007
B. de Langhe, S. van Osselaer, S. Puntoni & A. McGill (2014). Fooled by Heteroscedastic Randomness: Local Consistency Breeds Extremity in Price-Based Quality Inferences. Journal of Consumer Research, 41 (4), 978-994. doi: 10.1086/678035
A.S.I. Lenoir, S. Puntoni, A. Reed II & P.W.J. Verlegh (2013). The Impact of Cultural Symbols and Spokesperson Identity on Attitudes and Intentions. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 30 (4), 426-428. doi: 10.1016/j.ijresmar.2013.07.001
S.T.L.R. Sweldens, S. Puntoni, J. Kruger & M. Vissers (2012). The Bias in the Bias: Socially Desirable Responding in Comparative Optimism. In Advances in Consumer Research
A. Reed, M. Forehand, S. Puntoni & L. Warlop (2012). Identity-based Consumer Behavior. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 29 (4), 310-321. doi: 10.1016/j.ijresmar.2012.08.002
L. Warlop & S. Puntoni (2012). Introduction to the Special Issue on Consumer identities. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 29 (4), 307-309. doi: 10.1016/j.ijresmar.2012.11.001
B. de Langhe, S.M.J. van Osselaer, S. Puntoni & D. Fernandes (2012). Can you feel it? Emoties adverteren en meten in een vreemde taal. Ontwikkelingen in het Marktonderzoek / Jaarboek MOA, 2012 (4), 59-74.
S. Puntoni, S.T.L.R. Sweldens & N.T. Tavassoli (2011). Gender Identity Salience and Perceived Vulnerability to Breast Cancer. Journal of Marketing Research, 48 (3), 413-424. doi: 10.1509/jmkr.48.3.413
B. de Langhe, S. Puntoni, D. Fernandes & S.M.J. van Osselaer (2011). The Anchor Contraction Effect in International Marketing Research. Journal of Marketing Research, 48 (2), 473-489. doi: 10.1509/jmkr.48.2.366
S. Puntoni (2011). The color pink is bad for fighting breast cancer. Harvard Business Review, 89 (7/8), 30-31.
S. Puntoni, J. Vanhamme & R. Visscher (2011). Two Birds and One Stone: Purposeful Polysemy in Minority Targeting and Advertising Evaluations. Journal of Advertising, 40 (1), 25-41. doi: 10.2753/JOA0091-3367400102
R.W. Hamilton, S. Puntoni & N.T. Tavassoli (2010). Categorization by Groups and Individuals. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 112 (1), 70-81. doi: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2010.01.002
S. Puntoni, J.E. Schroeder & M. Ritson (2010). Meaning Matters: Polysemy in Advertising. Journal of Advertising, 39 (2), 51-64. doi: 10.2753/JOA0091-3367390204
S.T.L.R. Sweldens, S. Puntoni & N.T. Tavassoli (2009). Gender Identity Salience and Perceived Vulnerability to Breast Cancer. In A.L. McGill & S. Shavitt (Eds.), Advances in Consumer Research (pp. 667)
S. Puntoni, B. de Langhe & S.M.J. van Osselaer (2009). Bilingualism and the Emotional Intensity of Advertising Language. Journal of Consumer Research, 35 (6), 1012-1025. doi: 10.1086/595022
S.T.L.R. Sweldens, S. Puntoni & N.T. Tavassoli (2007). At Your Own Risk: The Influence of Self-Identity on Perceived Vulnerability to Identity-Specific Risks. In D. Lerman & D. Luna (Eds.), Proceedings of the Society for Consumer Psychology (pp. 230-231)
S. Puntoni & N.T. Tavassoli (2007). Social Context and Advertising Memory. Journal of Marketing Research, 44 (2), 284-296. doi: 10.1509/jmkr.44.2.284
S. Puntoni & N.T. Tavassoli (2005). Motivational Influences of Social Context on Consumer Behavior. In Advances in Consumer Research (pp. 280-282)
T. Ambler, F. Kokkinaki & S. Puntoni (2004). Assessing Marketing Performance: Reasons for Metrics Selection. Journal of Marketing Management, 20 (2), 94-110.
T. Ambler & S. Puntoni (2003). Measuring marketing performance. In Susan Hart, ed. (Ed.), Marketing Changes (pp. 289-352). London: International Thompson Business Press

Media

Media items

Robotic replacement and psychological responses to technology

Ambition Tuesday, 10 December 2019
"Het moet niet ‘robot says no’ worden"

Stefano Puntoni, professor Marketing at the Rotterdam School of Management, has been mentioned in an article. The article discusses Artificial Intelligence, robots and why we should not fear them, but there needs to be a change....
Erasmus University Rotterdam Tuesday, 5 November 2019
Workers would prefer to lose a job to a robot than a human

Stefano Puntoni, professor, has been mentioned in the article 'Workers would prefer to lose a job to a robot than a human'. The article discusses that workers would prefer to be replaced by a robot rather than a human.
Workplace Insight Friday, 11 October 2019
I'd Rather Be Replaced By A Robot Than A Human Being

Research conducted by Stefano Puntoni of RSM, which found that while people generally prefer to see jobs go to people rather than to robots, this preference reverses when they consider their own jobs.
twinfm Monday, 9 September 2019
Most Workers Would Prefer to be Replaced by a Robot Than by Another Human

An article that discusses new research my Stefano Puntino, Professor of Marketing at RSM. His research suggests that while people generally prefer to see jobs go to people rather than to robots, this preference reverses when they...
recruitment buzz Thursday, 8 August 2019
You're replacing me with a robot? That's fine

An article that discusses new research my Stefano Puntino, Professor of Marketing at RSM. His research suggests that while people generally prefer to see jobs go to people rather than to robots, this preference reverses when they...
beta news Wednesday, 7 August 2019
Losing a job is better if it is to a robot

The prospect of robots coming for our jobs is a modern-day fear — but we would rather be pushed out by a machine than some whippersnapper. That is the conclusion of researchers who polled workers on their attitudes to...
The Times UK Wednesday, 7 August 2019
Most workers would prefer to be replaced by a robot than by another human

While people generally prefer to see jobs go to people rather than to robots, this preference reverses when they consider their own jobs. In that case, they prefer to be replaced by robots, new research from Stefano Puntoni,...
bdaily.co.uk Tuesday, 6 August 2019
Most people feel better about a ROBOT taking their job than they do about losing out to another person, survey reveals

An article that discusses new research my Stefano Puntino, Professor of Marketing at RSM. His research suggests that while people generally prefer to see jobs go to people rather than to robots, this preference reverses when they...
dailymail.co.cuk Tuesday, 6 August 2019
Worden wij beter van platforms?

This month there was an article in the Harvard Business Review by Bart de Langhe, Stefano Puntoni (of RSM) and Richard Larrick about estimates of errors. Intuitively, we usually assume that all relationships are linear, while most...
Het Financieele Dagblad Sunday, 18 June 2017
Worden wij beter van platforms?

This month there was a beautiful article in the Harvard Business Review by Bart de Langhe, Stefano Puntoni (of the Rotterdam School of Management) and Richard Larrick about estimates of errors. Intuitively, we usually assume that...
Het Financieele Dagblad Thursday, 18 May 2017
The Fine Line Between Optimism and Fakery

To fill in the gaps, my co-authors (Stefano Puntoni, Gabriele Paolacci, and Maarten Vissers of Rotterdam School of Management) and I revisited data from 28 past studies on optimism bias, encompassing 8,826 participants in all. Our...
Knowledge Monday, 23 January 2017
Unilever spruces up profits but sees gloomy outlook

Unilever posted yesterday a rise in sales for the first half of 2016, boosted by mens’ grooming products, but warned of “no sign of an improving global economy.” Stefan Puntoni comments on Unilever's acquisition of a company that...
The Brunei Times Friday, 22 July 2016
Unilever spruces up profits but sees gloomy global outlook

Unilever posted yesterday a rise in sales for the first half of 2016, boosted by mens’ grooming products, but warned of “no sign of an improving global economy.” Stefan Puntoni comments on Unilever's acquisition of a company that...
Expatica Thursday, 21 July 2016

Discovery items

How consumers consume technology – and are affected by it

Technology shapes behaviour of consumers and their consumption and poses opportunities and challenges for future development.

Most workers would prefer to be replaced by a robot than by another human

When and why we forget to buy

It’s very common to forget to buy grocery items. Dr Daniel Fernandes, Prof. Stefano Puntoni and Prof. Stijn van Osselaer researched this phenomenon and won the prestigious C.W. Park Award for it.

Automation: is your product too good?

Making products more automated is good, right? Not always. Sometimes customers prefer less-automation, and it has everything to do with self-image.

When faster products don’t save time

Why a faster broadband connection doesn’t save you as much time as you might think. New research from Stefano Puntoni

BLOG: Marketing without Marketers

Will intelligent machines get better at marketing than you? That might just depend on how creative you need to be in your job.

BLOG: How to sacrifice short-term rewards for long-term benefits?

It’s hard to sacrifice short-term rewards for long-term benefits. Marketers, and companies more generally, face equally difficult trade-offs on a daily basis.

BLOG: Marketing - here, there, everywhere

What is marketing? I always start “introduction to marketing” sessions with this question.

Stefano Puntoni: Marketing is the channel that allows firms to reach customers

Stefano Puntoni, Associate Professor of Marketing Management at RSM, explains that even the most brilliant and unique products and services won’t survive without marketing.