TITLE:
Mathematical Modeling of Second-Hand School Uniforms in the UK: Stigma, Policy Interventions, and Welfare Implications
AUTHORS:
Zhenyu Sheng, Weihong Wu
KEYWORDS:
Mathematical Modeling, Equilibrium Analysis, Welfare Analysis, Second Hand School Uniform
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.14 No.1,
December
31,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study develops a mathematical model to examine demand for second-hand school uniforms in the UK, focusing on key drivers (cost savings, environmental benefits) and barriers (social stigma). It evaluates how school-led initiatives, such as awareness campaigns, can reduce stigma and boost adoption, and assesses the welfare effects of policy interventions including subsidies and anti-stigma measures. Using primary survey data for calibration, the model is solved numerically to obtain the market equilibrium, from which the effectiveness of policy interventions is evaluated. The analysis shows how raising awareness of financial and environmental benefits, alongside leveraging schools’ institutional influence, can shift market equilibrium, increase adoption rates, and promote sustainable consumption.