Search

Anyone involved in processing corporate events and triparty collateral management needs automation and efficiency. A general transition to ISO 20022, the latest messaging standard available, will support further automation across Europe. Its rigorous structure and richer content — compared with the legacy standard ISO 15022 — enables efficient use of collateral across European financial markets and a harmonised process for asset servicing. The Eurosystem and the financial community have developed a Single Collateral Management Rulebook for Europe (SCoRE) setting out how to use ISO 20022. The adoption of this rulebook starts in November 2024 and use of the ISO 20022 format will then become increasingly common. The main issue is how long the legacy standard and local formats should run alongside ISO 20022. Market actors have not yet agreed on how long the transition should last because of a collective coordination problem. The result is a situation where everyone is worse off. To overcome this, a market-wide migration strategy is needed based on cooperation and incentives to define the point from which only ISO 20022 will be used. The Eurosystem is acting as catalyst for a common migration strategy to ISO 20022 because of the benefits it will bring to society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Neil Rollings and Laurent Warlouzet, the historical analysis of the European competition policy has been a priority in the research on institutions but the reaction of companies to these policies has received less attention. This study highlights the importance of analyzing how public policies affect business strategies in innovation. More specifically, how the policy adopted by the High Authority of the ECSC regarding the scrap market influenced the strategies implemented by the steelmakers in the innovation of their production processes. The High Authority banned exports and established maximum prices and a system to equalise internal prices with import prices. This policy was considered a success by both institutions and companies. It decisively influenced the scrap price to be maintained at affordable levels in Europe. But this success in resolving the scrap problem created a larger one as it delayed innovation. This was the scrap paradox suffered by Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of dual quality of products provided by the same manufacturers is not a novel one, however, the awareness of its existence and implications has only recently been noticed in Europe by the general public. The response of the media was immediate and massive. The reality of what dual quality represents for consumers was largely exaggerated and companies applying such strategies were criticised by public opinions. However, there is a lack of knowledge of how this phenomenon affects changes in buyers' behaviour and therefore, companies are unable to develop their strategies in accordance with current and believable data. This paper provides information on the relationship between the dual quality of goods and changes in buyers' behaviour, resulting in developed guidelines and recommendations for international producers on the issue of dual quality and how to incorporate it into their marketing strategies in order to gain competitive advantage. The findings based on research conducted in Slovak Republic include a detailed structure of customer segments and their response to dual quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the status of floating wind energy expansion, market needs, opportunities, and barriers. Even more expensive than many other generation technologies currently, the floating wind will contribute to the decarbonization of Europe. This document assesses the market strategies available to develop floating wind farms in Europe. The study includes four main phases in addition to the overview of the current state-of-the-art: a technology review, market outlook, opportunities, and commercialization barriers. During its development, the offshore wind has moved from experimentation to a final design (Semisubmersible/barge, Tension Leg Platform, and Spar). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ornamentals are the most diversified products and fast-changing industry of horticulture. A new flower and ornamental plant market scenario is developing: remarkable opportunities are emerging, but more efforts are required by both public and private stakeholders to seize them and assure a high-value positioning. Our paper aims at filling the gap in the availability of integrated data sources and structured theoretically sound studies on new consumption trends, marketing strategies, and governance settings. Specific objectives are: identifying an innovative ornamental horticulture market data framework; evidencing evolving dynamics of competition in Europe and necessary adaptions of public and private action; defining a new action-research agenda, capable of stimulating the interest of businesses, researchers, and institutions. In terms of methodology, we carry out an innovative integrative review analysis of the wide and most reliable grey literature and statistics, using a comprehensive approach. Results show the emerging consumption dynamics and high-value consumer profiles characterizing the European market, expected to significantly expand and transform, according to the impact of globalization, climate change, urbanization, digitalization, and the affirmation of neo-luxury and sustainability-oriented consumption patterns. The evolution of marketing strategies and governance settings is also highlighted, together with the necessity of developing and integrating public and private initiatives for realizing high-value sustainable and transparent production systems and supply chains. Accordingly, relevant action-research directions are described. These findings are expected to improve the current debate on the competitiveness of the European ornamental industry and contribute to taking a step towards a synergic combination of new differential advantages and wider sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive and semi-extensive production based on local swine breeds such as Majorcan Black Pig, Cinta Senese, Gascon, Krškopolje and Turopolje is becoming extremely rare and on the verge of disappearing in Europe. In this context, the main aim of this study was to assess the potential feasibility of marketing strategies to act as guidelines for stakeholders along the supply chain to create and improve added value and match market demands. The sustainability of five production systems was evaluated together with 60 stakeholders representing five local swine breeds, using a World Café (WC) method combined with an Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP). The results showed that the proposed strategies could differ slightly depending on each system, while the product strategy was a common marketing priority for most of the stakeholders and represented all the systems evaluated. Diversifying production toward quality, innovative products, enhanced standardization, and quality labeling or seals of guarantee, such as the protected geographical indication or the protected designation of origin, would contribute to the sustainability of these chains. Advertising the storytelling of the meat products and emphasizing their healthier properties were also considered as positive strategies. To this effect, promotion should involve improving knowledge of the local systems and raising the profile of the meat products via public relations (networks, web pages, food and gastronomic events, workshops and so on) in the Hotels, Restaurants and Catering (HORECA) sector, stores selling top-quality products and local food shops. Better showcasing of these products and keeping the price in the premium segment would indirectly help the primary sector. By way of conclusion, other more developed local swine systems could be strong competitors, hence it is extremely important to effectively identify and trace all autochthonous swine breed products throughout the production chain. Furthermore, the entire chain must place greater emphasis on grazing (extensive or semi-extensive), the origin of the swine and their meat products. However, of utmost importance is cooperation between farms, firms and institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraprocessed-food manufacturers have proposed product reformulation as a key strategy to tackle obesity. In determining the impact of reformulation on population dietary behaviors, policy makers often depend on data provided by these manufacturers. Where such data are "gifted" to regulators, there may be an implicit expectation of reciprocity that adversely influences nutrition policies. The authors aimed to assess Europe's industry-led reformulation strategy in five countries deploying critical policy studies as an approach. They found that interim results on industry-led food reformulation did not meet the countries' targets. Information asymmetries exist between food industry and policy makers: the latter are not privy to marketing intelligence and must instead rely on data that are voluntarily donated by food industry actors, which represent a distorted snippet of the marketing intelligence system from whence they came. Because these data indeed bear all the hallmarks of a gift, regulatory and public health authorities operate within a gift economy. The implications of this "data-gift economy" are strategic delay and the need to set goals when the field is not visible. Ultimately, this could diminish the implementation of public health nutrition policies that run counter to the commercial interests of ultraprocessed-food producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even tough it may seem incorrect to refer to a marketing strategy as to a melting pot, especially taking into account the fact that ahead of any marketing strategy there should be a phase of profound planning, well-organized implementation and subsequently a critical evaluation phase. All planned, everything organized. On the other hand, there suddenly has appeared a health and safety related incident imposing great social, economic and business challenges on both small and in the-size entrepreneurs. Large international companies have been reporting minor but unexpected business related situations, too. Foreign market in Europe has been partially closed or strictly regulated. This paper does not intend to provide a universal know-how preventing entrepreneurs from loosing their stable position; that would be much of a challenge for a pandemic halftime. If small and medium-size companies survive, they will need fresh ideas, either in new products and services creation or break throughs in marketing their old ones. Companies started to look for new perspectives. We come up with a silver lining of Covid19 pandemic and small but significantly important steps in marketing tendencies that may bring fresh air to manufacturers and service providers advertising their old products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coalition government that resulted from the 2010 general election represents a new scenario in the British political marketplace with implications for political marketing theory and practice. The modelling of political marketing in the UK has evolved in relatively stable market conditions in which majority governments are elected; the market restructure arising from the 2010 election outcome offers an opportunity for a revised understanding of the field. Political science has established an important and dynamic body of knowledge that explains the founding and operation of coalitions. A comparative appraisal of coalition government and commercial cooperative arrangements indicates some commonalities. Western European elections are characterised by multiple actors, regional preferences, smaller parties, cooperative distribution of power, and assumed negotiability of the offer. As the British political marketplace evolves to exhibit similar characteristics, insights from these markets are used to contribute to the more multifaceted, cooperative models of political marketing management required for the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite an extensive market segmentation literature, applied academic studies which bridge segmentation theory and practice remain a priority for researchers. The need for studies which examine the segmentation implementation barriers faced by organisations is particularly acute. We explore segmentation implementation through the eyes of a European utilities business, by following its progress through a major segmentation project. The study reveals the character and impact of implementation barriers occurring at different stages in the segmentation process. By classifying the barriers, we develop implementation "rules" for practitioners which are designed to minimise their occurrence and impact. We further contribute to the literature by developing a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which these implementation rules can be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the results of a survey of executives of subsidiaries of Japanese and U.S. firms operating in the European Union (EU). The fundamental issues addressed are the degree to which firms perceive EU national markets as similar, the degree to which firms use standardized advertising across the EU, and firms' reasons for standardizing advertising. Global marketing strategy theory contends that firms are more likely to follow a strategy if the environment is conducive to that strategy, suggesting that greater convergence of EU markets would lead to greater standardization of advertising. The findings of this study indicate that both Japanese and U.S. managers still note obstacles to the standardization of advertising in the EU. Consistent with global marketing strategy theory, overall levels of standardization of advertising are somewhat moderate. Firms in the United States are slightly more likely than Japanese firms to use a standardized advertising strategy in the EU. In addition, U.S. firms tend to put greater emphasis on the creation of a uniform brand image, whereas managers from both countries value cost savings. Japanese firms value the higher level of central control that can emanate from standardization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the direct influence of national culture on the cross-national diffusion of innovations. Focusing on seven technological innovations across 13 European countries, the authors use Hofstede's multidimensional approach to culture to investigate this relationship. They find support linking four cultural dimensions--individualism, masculinity, power distance, and long-term orientation--to cross-national product diffusion. The findings suggest that national culture explains a relatively sizable amount of variation in cross-national diffusion rates. The authors discuss theoretical and practical implications of these results, including prescriptive guidance with respect to product launch strategy and tactics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current context of globalization, firms have concentrated their efforts on the development of international brands. As a result, international brand portfolios have been restructured, and many successful local brands have been eliminated. This article's objective is to improve the understanding of local brand differences and competitive advantages relative to international brands. To achieve this, the authors reanalyzed the Young & Rubicam database Brand Asset Valuator and examined more than 744 brands across the four largest countries in Europe: the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. The authors discuss the managerial implications of the findings for international marketers as they develop their ideal international brand portfolios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formulating a strategy to compete effectively in international markets is one of the major challenges a firm faces. The authors provide insight into how automobile firms devise strategies that respond to the conflicting pressures for local responsiveness and integration in the context of Western Europe, where Japanese automobile firms compete with European-based manufacturers. The authors develop a conceptual framework to test integration-responsiveness in terms of marketing-mix responses and market conditions, using data that cover four major European markets (73% of Western European sales) and a critical period in European integration. The findings indicate that Japanese firms are successfully pursuing standardization strategies rather than fully combining integration and responsiveness. These firms competitively adapt to limited differences between markets, and this strategy appears to be quite successful compared with the European firms' strategies of combining integration and responsiveness. The European strategy appears to undermine the ability to respond to Japanese firms' targeted competitive moves, despite the presence of significant barriers to Japanese exports. Whereas Japanese firms were able to maintain market share, European firms' market shares decreased over the three-year period examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examine the influence of the firm's technology and marketing profile on foreign market entry mode by testing hypotheses based on data from 105 firms in four European countries. Four technology and marketing variables were the most important: (1) the firm's generic marketing strategy—market concentration versus diversification, (2) demand uncertainty—the position in the life cycle of the firm's principal product, (3) transaction costs—transaction uncertainty and research and development, and (4) value added—product patents. The authors suggest ways managers may be assisted in their foreign market entry decisions on the basis of their firms' technology and marketing profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to identify the challenges created by digitalization and the Digital Single Market for book markets in Europe. The research questions are, on the one hand, related to the nature of these challenges and the impact they have on European book markets, and on the other hand, the impact of the activities of EU institutions. This leads to the hypothesis that the digitization challenges that the book markets in Europe are facing are of a technological, economic, legal, political and judicial nature. Therefore, the key research method will be an analysis of these challenges and the (re)actions (under)taken by EU institutions. The book market in Europe is characterized by diversity and fragmentation in comparison with, for example, the American market, and is losing its share in the global book market with the development of book markets in emerging markets. Over the last decade, it shrank between 2008 and 2013 and started to rise again after 2014. In contrast to the European book market, the Polish book market is gradually decreasing. The e-book market, which developed dynamically between 2009 and 2014 (often at the expense of paper books), reached the level of about 6–7% of the entire book market in Europe. To meet the challenges of the ongoing digitization, the European Union has started to implement the Digital Single Market Strategy, which also affects the European book market through the directives and regulations adopted as part of the Strategy. European copyright law, by introducing exceptions and limitations, implemented to varying degrees in individual member states, affects the business models of European publishers. In addition, the activities of authors and publishers is influenced by the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Therefore, EU institutions, through the directive on copyright in the Digital Single Market, are trying to create an appropriate legal framework for out-of-commerce works or confirm the right to fair compensation for publishers. A separate issue remains e-lending, which is related to the possibility of borrowing e-books. The development of the e-book market was limited by different VAT rates of print and digital books, which was finally resolved by the European Parliament and the Council in 2017–2018. European institutions have an impact on the book market in Europe, where the European Commission has recently been trying to solve problems resulting from the interpretation of existing directives by the CJEU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper aims to make a contribution by providing a comprehensive understanding of the scope of the implementation of sustainable marketing tools in SMEs operating in the food and drink industry in Europe. The focus will be put on the identification of differences between companies operating in business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C) context. Design/methodology/approach: The empirical basis is a survey of 770 European SMEs, of which 369 operate in Western European countries (including UK, Germany and Spain) and 401 in Central and Eastern Europe (including Poland, Croatia and Russia). The respondents in the particular countries were stratified according to company size, measured by the number of employees. The research covered 316 micro companies, 5 small companies and 209 medium ones. The questionnaire was completed by the managing directors of the enterprises (CEOs) or heads of the marketing departments (CMOs). The research was conducted between April 2016 and January 2017. An in-depth analysis of the findings helped to identify differences between the two groups of SMEs, i.e. operating in the B2B and B2C context, in terms of the extent of sustainable marketing implementation. The non-parametric U Mann–Whitney test was used to examine the significance of the differences between the two groups of companies. Findings: The research results suggest that both groups of B2B and B2C companies implement sustainable marketing tools to some extent. However, in most cases, B2B organizations do it to a significantly greater extent. Nevertheless, these activities relate mainly to those tools, which are directly visible to customers, both institutional and individual, such as packaging, product ingredients or certificates. To a lesser extent, they involve marketing activities of an internal nature, such as production process and the level of energy, water or resources used. Originality/value: To the best knowledge of the author, this is the first empirical research study on the implementation of the sustainable marketing concept in SMEs operating in European countries. The study is a comparative analysis of the phenomenon between B2B and B2C companies, which has not been previously researched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The move toward European integration entails significant adjustments in a firm's marketing strategy. Despite the dismantling of legislative barriers, cultural milieu of the various member nations will continue to be an obstacle toward true integration. This study clusters 17 European nations on Hofstede's (1980) cultural dimensions. Three distinct clusters emerge, each with its unique cultural composition. Scrutinizing the cultural make-up of each cluster offers the possibility of selecting an appropriate marketing mix across nations belonging to the same cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Should firms treat Europe as a single market with standardized marketing, or should national European markets be treated differently? Which aspects of marketing lend themselves to a more Europe-wide or "Pan-European" approach? What is the relevant definition of Europe? Although currently "Pan-European" marketing is more of a myth than a reality, the trends point toward greater integration, therefore companies need to reassess their European marketing strategies and adapt their marketing operations and programs accordingly, using a coherent framework such as the one proposed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study reports sourcing strategies used by European and Japanese multinational firms and their implications on the transferability of the firms' product and manufacturing process technology. Globalization of markets has a strong impact on firms' sourcing and marketing strategies. The results suggest the uncoupling of innovation location from actual production location. It is strongly motivated both by the growing competitive threat in the global marketplace and by the expectation of increased payoffs to rapid introduction of advanced product and manufacturing process innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on studies dealing with the transfer of marketing strategy to determine the effect of national identity on multinational promotional strategy in Europe. The author focuses on analyzing data collected on a series of failed marketing campaigns initiated by corporations in the U.S. It is suggested that the failed campaigns, which were targeted at European consumers, signal a shift in consumer preferences in European countries. Data from another study illustrates that a decline in the influence of international print and broadcast media in countries including Scotland and France is the result of a resurgence of national identity in Northern European nations. The author also discusses decision making variables that impact marketing strategy and sales promotion.

This paper combines the statistical insights of dynamic strategic group analysis with the qualitative richness of historical analysis to explore the modes of entry, expansion paths and competitive postures of European firms in the U.S. pharmaceutical market. Patterns of entry and market development over a 20-year period are analyzed. The roles of strategic assets and competencies in determining both the entry strategy and the final competitive posture of these firms in the U.S. market are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determinants of retail patronage were identified and compared in a series of analyses of covariance of multinomial logit parameters. These parameters, estimated from random samples drawn from six North American and European markets over a seven-year period, revealed insignificant seasonal changes in a single market, significant changes in a single market over the seven years, and significant differences between markets and across cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, the European defence industry has had to respond to increasing pressures of reduced defence spending, exacerbated more recently by removal of the immediate military threat from the former Soviet Union. Under the "Options for Change", the UK has abandoned certain weapons programmes, while Germany has had the additional economic and social problems brought on by re-unification. The industry's options comprise conversion, diversification or specialization, thus continuing to face structure change and competition from defence imports and "off-the-shelf" systems and equipment. Given the high exit barriers and past "cushioning" of the industry by governments, the presence of skills and know-how to compete effectively is questionable. The case for strategic marketing approach for those suppliers remaining is clear; as buyer (monopsonistic) power strengthens, the threat of new entrants increases and the associated competitive rivalry intensifies. However, the ingrained "defence culture" in many supplier organizations may be an impediment to change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a study which investigated the international advertising practices of a sample of major advertising spending multinationals, and the rationales behind their policies. The objective was to obtain insights into the efficacy of international advertising standardization options. When the rationales behind the international advertising practices of the sampled companies were examined, it was found that the executives concerned brought a wide-ranging agenda to the decision-making process and that factors beyond the specific benefits of standardization influenced their policies. As regards their actual policies, the practice of some form of standardization was found to be widespread, but the practice of total standardization was rare. As such, the data indicate that standardization is a flexible option, with many possible variants, i.e. it can be adapted to circumstances and is not an either/or policy. The paper concludes that the focus on whether or not multinationals should practice international advertising is misplaced, if only because, just as at the local or national level, there will be good and bad international advertising. Accordingly, more emphasis should be placed on reviewing issues relating to how to improve the quality of international advertising campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of certain important gaps observed in the export marketing literature, a study was conducted to investigate the presence of significant differences in the profile and behaviour between the two generic export market expansion strategic alternatives of concentration and spreading. Following a review of the extant literature, certain firm characteristics, export marketing effort and policy elements, and export-related perception variables were viewed as potentially important discriminating factors between these two approaches. Based upon data generated from a focus on firms in a small EU country, the findings suggest the existence of several significant differences between market concentration and market spreading. These differences facilitate the development of extensive export profiles of concentrators and spreaders. The implications of the study for managers and public policy markers are discussed, and future research directions identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The globalisation of markets and the completion of the single market in Europe raise issues that require a better understanding and analysis of long term industry dynamics. This paper develops a model to show an industry can be analysed in terms of its strategic groups, its mobility barriers and its sub-structures and spaces. The paper focuses on the food processing industry in Europe and uses the idea of strategic space to analyse the effect of industry dynamics on marketing strategy and organisation of the marketing function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The writer reviews applications of mathematical models to European marketing problems selected because they foreshadow or complement comparable problems in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to assess the attitudes of company managers in the food and drink sector in Western Europe and Central-Eastern Europe towards implementing marketing strategies that take into account not only economic, but social and ecological aspects as well. Innovation is a growing topic among scholars when discussing issues related to the enhancement of company performance and competitiveness. Such innovation may refer to technological changes (new products, processes), as well as non-technological ones referring to various marketing and organizational methods. In the paper the authors focus on innovations in marketing activities arising from the application of a more socio-ecological orientation. The paper comprises two parts: one theoretical, one empirical. In the first part the role of innovation in the process of creating company competitiveness is presented, as well as the concept of an innovative marketing strategy. In the second part the results of international research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Current discussions in the international business community have demonstrated that the focus of MNCs operations tends to be more regional than global. This paper aims to investigate the performance effects of intra-regional and inter-regional strategy among large companies in European countries.Design/methodology/approach The authors test the research hypothesis on a sample of 25 largest European companies from six regional, as well as global-oriented, industries using the random effects model.Findings The authors find that an increase in a firm’s degree of regionalization leads to value enhancement. On the other side, the results reveal that an inter-regional strategy is associated with value discount. Moreover, empirical findings show that the higher the degree of inter-regional expansion the more pronounced is the effect of firm-specific assets related to marketing on performance. Hence, the negative valuation impact of an inter-regional strategy may be attenuated or even overcome through the interplay of inter-regional internationalization and firm-specific assets related to marketing.Originality/value By introducing a theoretical framework, the authors discuss the performance effects of regional-oriented and inter-regional-oriented strategies. Furthermore, they investigate the moderating effect of inter-regional expansion on the performance impact of firm-specific assets related to marketing in the case of large companies. Empirically, they test the hypotheses on a sample of large firms for an 11-year period using different measurements regarding the degree of intra-regional and inter-regional expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze how two multinational companies (MNCs) faced the challenge of market uncertainty and political instability in a newly emerging market, and how it affected the impact of their product marketing strategy (PMS) and product (brand) performance. Design/methodology/approach - A comparative longitudinal paired case study of a market entry by two global MNCs. Twelve global brands (products) were studied, which were locally manufactured and launched by the two MNCs during their first ten years of operation in Vietnam. Findings - The authors approached the investigation from a conventional point of view: standardization versus adaptation. The results showed that in addition to these two traditional processes, a third one was also operating, which the authors labeled semi-adaptation, or the midway PMS. Semi-adaptation refers to a product that has been introduced to Vietnam from a neighboring country. Research limitations/implications - This research is based on two European MNCs active in the food and consumer-household goods industry in a newly emerging market: Vietnam. Practical implications - This primary data indicate that the product standardization, semi-adaptation and adaptation process in practice is a technique applied to fit a product to a newly emerging market more by degree of change than by product category. Originality/value - This paper supports a recent stream of research, which views Standardization or Adaptation as the two ends of the same continuum, where the degree of the firm's PMS can range between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research is to emphasize the importance of online E-commerce on a worldwide scale in the context of the benefits it provides to the national governments. Special attention is paid to the key E-market trends in Russia and European Community with a brief overview of the statistics and analysis data, which proves the necessity for its future development. However, the potential development of e-market in Russia has certain restrictions, connected with the current economic downtown, lack of legal provision and general consumer's distrust to online transactions. Authors dwell upon the possible ways of overcoming these urgent obstacles according to the European policy of bringing down barriers to unlock online opportunities, which is called the Digital Single Market (DSM). To do that, the paper explores the benefits of the DSM Strategy's introduction in Europe and the reasons whether it could be implemented into the Russia's frontiers or not. Finally, authors reckon that despite the fact that the several legislative improvements relating to electronic market has been introduced in recent years, there are several efficient suggestions to our government to scrutinize in order to achieve high rates of online sales, bring the economy up and enforce cross-border cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a survey approach to measuring the "transaction footprints" of rural small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Combined with a graphical presentation of results, this contributes to the evidence base on the roles of local and global linkages. Findings suggest that the food and drink industry of Scotland is relatively localised in its input and sales interaction pattern, although substantial variations, associated with product specialisms, remoteness/ accessibility, input purchasing and marketing strategies, exist. Localised SMEs have weathered the recession slightly better, but more outward-looking in firms tend to have greater optimism about the future. Transaction footprint analysis should be viewed as component of an ongoing process of re-mapping the network infrastructure of the rural economy, alongside analysis of untraded interdependencies, and institutional networks in the realm of governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with a new informational problem in the financial markets and shows how increasing reliance on standardized sources of information (rating agencies, financial media, journals etc.) can potentially lead to crises. It examines the way in which the problem of information on the markets has changed -- partly as a result of current legal frames on disclosure and information obligation. Furthermore, it links the phenomenon of increasing reliance on information sources to the current problems and deficiencies of investment decisions. The analysis examines the standard legal responses of the financial markets in order to search for a viable solution to the problem of market deficiencies in this regard. Attention is drawn to a serious flaw in the financial markets and to an increasing shift of power towards private information-supplying entities, all of which could lead to disruptions of financial stability in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Karamanoglu Mehmetbey University Journal of Social & Economic Research / Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey Üniversitesi Sosyal ve Ekonomi̇k Araştırmalar Dergi̇si is the property of Karamanoglu Mehmetbey Universitesi Iktisadi ve Idari Bilimler Fakultesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The importance of users as a source of information for company innovation activity was raised in the 1980s by von Hippel. Today, a concept of a similar basis is known and developed in Europe under the name of User-Driven Innovation (UDI). The UDI is based on the belief that enterprises which are able to create, often in close cooperation with customers, products and services with features desired by users will survive in the market. In order to achieve the above, companies are trying to identify the hidden, often unconscious, needs of users, in order to try to meet these needs (UDI - Consumer Voice) or implement ready-made innovative solutions attributed to consumers (UDI - Consumer Leadership) (Warzybok, et al., 2008; NORDEN, 2006). Due to the growing significance of users as a source of information for innovation activities it is important to find measures which could assess the impact of this source on company innovativeness (Krawczyk, 2013b). The aim of this paper is to show that marketing indicators focused on measuring the relationship with customers can be used to measure the effects of implementation of UDI in innovative companies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]