Search

The automotive industry introduces a sizable number of new automobile products annually. The naming of new products may have significant impact on their market performance. Diverging from prior research on the impact of product names, companies' innovative consciousness endows them with a certain level of proactive positioning, thereby implementing independent naming strategies after considering product factors and consumer preferences passively. This paper analyzes the drivers of the market performance of sequential products on the naming of new products in Chinese automotive industry. We collected market share data and names of various car series from January 2007 to September 2022. Then, we calculated semantic distances between names and performed empirical tests. Our findings show that firms demonstrate a risk preference pattern contrary to traditional prospect theory when using the previous car series' market share as a reference point. In the interplay between market orientation and risk preferences, the relationship between the market share of the last car series and the similarity in names between old and new car series follows an inverted U-shaped pattern. This study extends the discussion on risk preferences within the behavioral theory of the firm (BTOF) and proposes a decision mechanism for product naming that considers market and firm factors during the response phase of market orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides novel evidence on the magnitude of switching costs in auditing. Using a discrete choice approach, we infer switching costs from clients' audit firm choices. The demand estimation reveals that switching costs are significant and vary by direction, with the highest costs associated with switching from non-Big 4 to Big 4 audit firms. Counterfactual analyses of forced switches suggest that switching costs are substantial, ranging from 0.7 billion U.S. dollars (14.2 percent of audit fees) to 1.2 billion U.S. dollars (24.0 percent of audit fees) when aggregated across all clients. Counterfactual analyses of voluntary switching show that the audit market would become highly dynamic and more concentrated if switching costs were removed. Additionally, clients would gain consumer surplus of up to 306 million U.S. dollars (5.4 percent of audit fees) in such a scenario. Overall, our study documents the importance of switching costs for understanding audit market dynamics. Data Availability: Data are available from the public sources cited in the text. JEL Classifications: M42; M48; L11; L84. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the formation of R &D alliances and market sharing (MS) agreements by which firms commit not to enter in each other's territory in oligopolistic markets. We show that R &D alliance structures are stable only in the presence of MS agreements. Thus, long lasting R &D alliances could signal the existence of some MS agreement in the industry. We characterize the set of stable symmetric pairs of coalition structures with identical R &D and MS structure. In addition, we show the stability of a class of asymmetric pairs of coalition structures where the most efficient firms form both an R &D and a MS agreement while the other firms do not form any MS agreement but form two smaller R &D alliances. Even though MS agreements are detrimental for consumers, we show that the stable pairs of coalition structures are a better outcome for consumers than no cooperation at all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Food marketing restrictions often apply nutrient profile models (NPM) to distinguish unhealthy products that should not be advertised, however brand-only marketing remains largely unaddressed. We sought to test a threshold method for classifying packaged food, beverage, or fast-food brands as (non)permitted for marketing, based on the nutrient profile of their product-lines. Methods: We retrieved nutrient information from the Nutritrack databases for all products sold by the top 51 packaged food, beverage and fast-food brands in New Zealand, selected by market share. All products under each brand were classified as permitted (or not) to be marketed to children, using the NPM for WHO Western Pacific. The 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% threshold of brands' products permitted to market were compared. The 50% and 75% thresholds were compared to the WHO CLICK method, which is based on assessment of the brand's leading product. Results: The 90% threshold permitted 13% of the brands to be marketed to children. The 25% threshold permitted the marketing of 62% of brands. The 50% and 75% thresholds remained highly sensitive in identifying brands that should not be marketed to children. Comparison to the WHO CLICK method identified that a threshold method is more comprehensive and less arbitrary. Conclusions: A threshold model based on product-line nutrient profiling provides a robust and option for brand classification. The 50% and 75% thresholds may be the most politically preferred options for use in regulation, while remaining highly effective. Practitioner points: Brand marketing (e.g. sponsorship) remains largely unaddressed in existing restrictions on unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children. An established Nutrient Profile Model can be applied to a brand's entire product line, allowing calculation of the proportion of products that would not be permitted to be advertised to children. Restricting brand marketing for food and beverage brands with less than 50% or 75% of their products classified as 'permitted to be marketed to children' is a robust and evidence-based method that can be applied in regulation, with potential to mitigate industry challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for forest certification and certified forest products in Europe. This trend is related to major worldwide challenges, such as the need to decarbonize the economy and mitigate climate change but also social and consumer demands for wider fair trade. However, whether forest certification influences economic valorization in forestry remains a question. The aim of this study is to analyze forest certification levels across Europe and identify potential relationships between the level of certification in forest areas and relevant economic indicators at country level. This study collected openly available data on total and certified forest areas, economic indicators, and environmental indicators for 28 European countries and explored the correlation between certified forest areas and economic performance in the forestry sector. Findings show that forest certification can significantly improve the economic performance of European forests. It has a more pronounced positive effect on economic incomes than on costs' reduction. While certification costs do rise with the extent of forest area, they tend to stabilize at larger scales, suggesting that the certification process is economically sustainable and scale is relevant. Czechia and the Netherlands stand out for having the highest net values added related to forest certification, reflecting an effective economic exploration of forest resources. This study offers new perspectives to natural and social scientists, as well as to industry and policy makers, by proving contextualized data to support decision making. Additionally, it provides hints for further studies and policy guidelines on sustainable development and the impact of forest certification schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the market share of domestic children's furniture is increasing annually, some potential problems limit its long-term and stable development, and there is still a gap in China compared with foreign countries. This study focused on the demand preferences for growable children's beds and examined the design features that influence these preferences. This study introduces a combination of Hierarchical Analyses (AHP), Quality Function Development (QFD), and the Platts Conceptual Decision Matrix (PUGH) into the innovative design of a research model for children's furniture (AHP-QFD-PUGH). This study screened and classified the decision-making indicators obtained from the research, ranked their importance by quantitative calculation, and finally proposed an optimal design solution. Additionally, to further study the structural characteristics, the function-behavior-structure (FBS) model served as a supplementary analysis tool to effectively circumvent subjective factors in product design. This integrated model accurately explored user needs and product characteristics, providing substantial guidance and new ideas for optimizing the design of growable children's beds and enhancing growth of the children's furniture industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A well-designed marketing strategy is critical for the survival of any company in today's competitive market. To be formulated and implemented effectively, a marketing strategy must be phased and aligned to levels in the organization. This study aims to advance a three-tier hierarchical framework of marketing strategies, including corporate, business and functional levels. The authors use the proposed framework to select the most appropriate marketing strategy based on the factors relevant to a factory that produces sporting goods. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conduct a literature review to identify marketing strategies at corporate, business and functional levels. To appraise strategies at the corporate and business levels, the authors use market share as a key criterion. When evaluating functional strategies, the authors use criteria categorized into organizational, economic and customer dimensions. Additionally, the authors conduct interviews to assess strategies at the first level and use the best worst method to appraise strategies at the other two levels. Findings: The authors use the suggested structure for a company producing sports goods in Iran. According to the results, an offensive approach and customer orientation are the most appropriate strategies at corporate and business levels. Additionally, offensive advertising and managerial capabilities are identified as the best portfolio of strategies and the most important criterion at functional level, respectively. Originality/value: So far, a specific category of marketing strategies has not been implemented at corporate, business and functional levels. Accordingly, there is not a framework of criteria to evaluate the strategies at each level. The approach is implemented in the case of a sportswear manufacturer in a developing country, where quantitative analysis has been lacking until now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 21st century, various unexpected events such as the financial crisis and COVID‐19 have exacerbated the uncertainty of economic policies, whose influence, especially those at the firm level, on the labor share remains to be studied. This article constructs the firm‐level economic policy uncertainty (FEPU) through text analysis and empirically analyzes its impact on labor share. Empirical evidence suggests that FEPU can significantly decrease labor share, particularly among firms with financing constraints, low productivity, and high market shares. And the results hold up after a series of robustness tests. Moreover, mechanism analysis indicates that precautionary saving motives play a crucial role in driving firms' reduction in labor share rather than capital substitution motives. Finally, we further find that although FEPU harms the labor share, it significantly reduces executive payment and has no significant effect on the payment of ordinary employees, thus reducing within‐firm inequality. This study enhances our comprehension of how economic policy uncertainty at the firm level affects firm behavior and provides theoretical and practical guidance for increasing labor share and employee welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new factor driving the banking industry towards long-term, high-quality growth is digital marketing, which has arisen within the framework of the digital economy. The purpose of this research is to examine the effect of digital marketing on the financial results of MENA banks from 2010 to 2023. The research examines the impact of digital marketing techniques on the effectiveness of financial institutions through Tobit regression analysis, taking into account and controlling for sustainable practices (ESG), bank-specific characteristics (capital adequacy, bank size, liquidity, and cost efficiency), and macroeconomic variables (GDP and inflation). This empirical paper managed to collect the data for eleven countries in the MENA from the Refinitiv Eikon platform, world bank database, and the annual reports of relevant banks in the different stock markets. The final sample included 78 banks out of 120 listed banks. The results show that there is a clear association between the presence of digital marketing campaigns and improved profitability and market share growth for banks. Aligning digital initiatives with ESG principles is crucial for long-term value development, and sustainable practices increase these beneficial benefits even more. The research also shows that macroeconomic factors and bank-specific characteristics affect how effective digital marketing campaigns are. The significance of digital transformation and ESG integration in promoting competitive advantages and long-term growth in the MENA banking sector is highlighted by these findings, which have important implications for policy, investors, and bank executives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the development of modern food systems continues to reshape dietary habits, the need for effective food policies to counter the rise of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) becomes increasingly urgent. UPFs are industrial formulations of several highly refined ingredients and additives with little or no nutritional value but potentially harmful health effects. In this paper, we develop a simple model of duopolistic competition in which food manufacturers compete by choosing the degree of food sophistication of their products (i.e., the degree of food formulation and processing). We show that when firms compete for market shares, an unhealthy degree of food sophistication is a strategically stable Nash–Bertrand equilibrium outcome. Furthermore, we compare the effectiveness of alternative health-related food policies. Our model highlights the shortcomings of nutrient-to-limit regulations and suggests that policy interventions should prioritize whole-food reformulation-based approaches within an 'ecological' regulatory framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From an industry perspective, the past decade has been a whirlwind of innovation in automotive light detection and ranging (LiDAR). Numerous laser technologies and system solutions have been fiercely competing for market share. However, recent trends suggest a growing convergence on vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and antireflective VCSEL (AR-VCSEL) based solutions. This commentary, rooted in the practical realities of the industry, examines the historical trajectory of industrial laser technology for commercial automotive LiDAR. It specifically focuses on the recent applications of VCSEL/AR-VCSEL technologies and their future prospects. Liang et al. present an industrial perspective on the evolving landscape of laser technology used in advanced LiDAR systems. The authors discuss recent trends, practical considerations within the industry, current challenges, and potential solutions, explicitly focusing on VCSEL/AR-VCSEL-based technologies and their strong potential for commercial LiDAR applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competitive banks aggressively invest in information and communication technologies (ICT) to enhance their market share and reduce Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC). This study examines the impact of cumulative stock of ICT investment on (a) deposit and loan market share and (b) CAC of banks operating in India. The analysis uses a longitudinal dataset of 84 domestic and 70 foreign banks from 2000 to 2020, employing a two-step system Generalized Method of Moment (GMM). It is found that ICT investment adversely affects the market share of domestic banks, indicating a need for these banks to strategically invest more in CAC. Conversely, foreign banks are able to increase their market share through ICT investment and reduced CAC, thereby demonstrating greater efficiency in utilizing ICT. The study underscores the strategic importance of cumulative stock of ICT investment for banks. Nonetheless, it is emphasized that ICT investment must be complemented with innovative marketing strategies to enhance customer experience, reduce CAC, and increase market share. Overall, while foreign banks are able to leverage ICT to boost efficiency, domestic banks must leverage ICT to implement targeted marketing strategies and strive to enhance their customer service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

Urban transportation has changed dramatically in the recent years through the large scale implementation of shared micro-mobility services, especially bike sharing systems (BSS) and electric scooter sharing (ESS). The COVID-19 pandemic brought further changes and uncertainty to this turbulent business environment. In 2020, the major BSS operator in Poland filed for bankruptcy claiming that its problems arise from the COVID-19 pandemic. Market reports and media speculated that BSS business, despite being publicly financed, and considered to be a of part of public transportation system, could be unsustainable in face of the competition from ESS. We used Z‑score analysis to investigate if bike sharing systems operators' problems began before or during the COVID-19 pandemic and large scale development of ESS. Our study focuses on the Nextbike company, which held a dominant stake in the Polish BSS market. It also covers two other major Polish operators and includes a German operator for comparative analysis. To complement the quantitative findings from z‑score analysis, we have also interviewed representatives of major stakeholders, which deepened our understanding of BSS problems. The results of our research indicate that although the market was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and growing scooter-sharing competition, the problems of the largest BSS operator were specific to this company, and the entire market was not under the risk of failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Management Analysis / Revista Gestão em Análise is the property of Revista Gestao em Analise 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.)

We empirically advocate for UK regulators to increase the volume limit of 15% outstanding shares on open market repurchases. Our main framework initially tests the determinants of share repurchases based on their size, Small, Medium and Large. The findings reveal that consistent with extant literature, the payout is primarily determined by its capability of distributing excess cash to shareholders and signaling undervaluation. We then check the viability of increasing the volume limit by testing new levels at 2.50% increments, up to 30%. The results indicate that any increase does not broadly change the determinants' relationship with the payout, rather increased efficiency is realized at every interval, with the 20% and 30% levels being the most favorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basis of this research is motivated by the phenomenon that occurs where banking services in Indonesia have still known for a very long time and require a struggle to make a transaction. A network that is often problematic, strict regulations and the length of the account creation process are some examples of problems related to banking services in Indonesia. This study aims to find out how the development of electronic banking at Bank BJB, the Market Share Current Account Savings Account at Bank BJB, what obstacles are faced in the development of electronic banking at Bank BJB, and what strategies are carried out to increase CASA market share through the optimization of electronic banking development. The research method used is qualitative by interviewing resource persons from within the company, policymakers, and practitioners in the banking sector. The results obtained show that Bank BJB has carried out digital service transformation specifically in 2021. The company has made several developments in terms of core banking, switching, and networking. CASA's market share has not reached the expected target. Several strategies to increase Bank BJB's CASA market share through electronic banking optimization include the development of a user-friendly Mobile application. Focus on developing an intuitive and easy-to-use mobile app.

Abstract Non-financial companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange face considerable difficulties due to expensive funding and the need to make complex decisions about their capital structure. These problems impact their judgments about dividend policy, resulting in ambiguity and possible inefficiency. This study draws on the bird-in-hand theory to investigate the influence of the cost of capital on dividend policy decisions among non-financial firms listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, focusing on 227 companies from 2005 to 2022. The data for this study were sourced from Thomson Reuters Datastream. Employing the common shock autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) and two-step generalized method of moments (GMM) estimations, findings reveal that the cost of debt consistently negatively impacts dividend payouts and coverage ratios. In contrast, the cost of equity has an insignificant effect. Conversely, the weighted average cost of capital positively influences dividend payouts and coverage ratios but negatively influences dividend yield. All the findings supported the bird-in-hand theory except for the negative impact of WACC on dividend yield. These insights highlight the importance of considering the cost of capital and market share dynamics in dividend policy formulation. Firms should prioritize efficient debt management to sustain dividend distributions, and aligning dividend policies with overall capital structure management is crucial in this regard, providing a sense of reassurance and confidence to the firms and their stakeholders. This study provides valuable guidance for financial decision-makers navigating dividend-related strategies within corporate environments.

Pengembangan Usaha Kecil dan Menengah (UKM) diarahkan agar memberikan kontribusi yang signifikan terhadap penciptaan kesempatan kerja, peningkatan ekspor dan peningkatan daya saing. Sementara itu pengembangan usaha skala mikro diarahkan untuk memberikan kontribusi dalam peningkatan pendapatan masyarakat berpendapatan rendah, khususnya di sektor pertanian dan perdesaan. Kinerja nyata yang dihadapi oleh sebagian besar usaha terutama mikro, kecil, dan menengah (UMKM) di Indonesia yang paling menonjol adalah rendahnya tingkat produktivitas, rendahnya nilai tambah, dan rendahnya kualitas produk. Walau diakui pula bahwa UMKM menjadi lapangan kerja bagi sebagian besar pekerja di Indonesia, tetapi kontribusi dalam output nasional di katagorikan rendah. Hal ini dikarenakan UMKM, khususnya usaha mikro dan sektor pertanian (yang banyak menyerap tenaga kerja), mempunyai produktivitas yang sangat rendah. Bila upah dijadikan produktivitas, upah ratarata di usaha mikro dan kecil umumnya berada dibawah upah minimum. Hal tersebut juga terjadi pada para pelakun umkm petani bawang dan pelaku usaha kripik mlempeng di Desa Purworejo kecamatan Ngantang Kabupaten Malang. Dengan pemahaman tersebut maka diperlukan sebuah upaya penigkatan pengetahuan bagi pelaku UMKM yaitu berupa kegiatan sosialiasi dan juga pelatihan. The development of small and medium Enterprises (SMes) is directed towards making significant contributions to job creation , increasing exports, and anhancing competiviness, while the development of micro-scale business is aimed at contributing to the improvement of income for low income communities, particularly in the agricultural and rural sectors. The real performance challenges faced by most businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia, are notably low productivity levels, low value-added, and low product quality. Although it is acknowledged that MSMEs provide employment for a large portion of workers in Indonesia, their contribution to national output is categorized as low. This is because MSMEs, especially micro-enterprises and the agricultural sector (which employ a large workforce), have very low productivity. When wages are considered as productivity, average wages in micro and small businesses generally fall below the minimum wage. This situation also occurs among onion farmers and snack producers in the village of Purworejo, Ngantang District, Malang Regency. With this understanding, efforts to increase knowledge among MSME actors are needed, such as through socialization activities and training.

Non-financial companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange face considerable difficulties due to expensive funding and the need to make complex decisions about their capital structure. These problems impact their judgments about dividend policy, resulting in ambiguity and possible inefficiency. This study draws on the bird-in-hand theory to investigate the influence of the cost of capital on dividend policy decisions among non-financial firms listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, focusing on 227 companies from 2005 to 2022. The data for this study were sourced from Thomson Reuters Datastream. Employing the common shock autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) and two-step generalized method of moments (GMM) estimations, findings reveal that the cost of debt consistently negatively impacts dividend payouts and coverage ratios. In contrast, the cost of equity has an insignificant effect. Conversely, the weighted average cost of capital positively influences dividend payouts and coverage ratios but negatively influences dividend yield. All the findings supported the bird-in-hand theory except for the negative impact of WACC on dividend yield. These insights highlight the importance of considering the cost of capital and market share dynamics in dividend policy formulation. Firms should prioritize efficient debt management to sustain dividend distributions, and aligning dividend policies with overall capital structure management is crucial in this regard, providing a sense of reassurance and confidence to the firms and their stakeholders. This study provides valuable guidance for financial decision-makers navigating dividend-related strategies within corporate environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, China's new energy vehicles have developed rapidly, but there are significant differences in the motivation of consumers to buy new energy vehicles between restricted/restricted cities and non-restricted/non-restricted cities, which directly affects their decision-making and evaluation in the process of using vehicles. In addition, as joint ventures and foreign brands gradually enter the new energy vehicle market, high-end new energy vehicle consumers will gradually become the main consumers in the future. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of high-end new energy vehicle consumers and tapping their demand for new energy vehicles can provide a reference for enterprises to plan high-end new energy vehicles. Through analysis and comparison, the charging characteristics of different new energy vehicle consumers, as well as the main difficulties and inconveniences in the charging process, on the one hand, provide a reference for new energy vehicle enterprises to understand consumer charging behavior, on the other hand, provide a direction for the improvement and improvement of charging facilities. In addition, while analyzing the current situation of consumer charging, we also further understand their needs and expectations for charging facilities, pointing out the direction for the future layout of charging facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the settlement selection strategic analysis for self-operated e-commerce platforms on hybrid e-commerce platforms under market competition. Taking factors such as the market share, price competition, commission, and customer loyalty into account, a multi-leader–follower game model with the platforms as leaders and the manufacturers as followers is established. Then, we solve the model with the help of some mathematical techniques and describe some numerical experiments to analyze settlement strategies for the self-operated platforms and their impact on other members in the network. The numerical results reveal the following revelations: a lower commission rate is more suitable for the self-operated platforms; once the commission rates are determined, the self-operated platforms prefer to settle in the hybrid platforms under lower medium price competition; when the price competition is fierce, as customer loyalty increases, the self-operated platforms should settle with a low market share; if the self-operated platforms settle in the hybrid platforms, then a higher price competition is advantageous for all members and can facilitate supply chain coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We created experimental variation across markets in China in the share of firms having access to a new loan product. Access to finance had a large positive direct effect on the performance of treated firms but a similar-sized negative indirect effect on that of firms with treated competitors, leading to nondetectable gains in producer surplus. Access to finance had a positive direct effect on business quality and consumer satisfaction and a negative effect on price, which were not offset by indirect effects, implying net gains in consumer surplus. We document other indirect effects and combine effects in a welfare evaluation. (JEL D22, G21, G32, L81, O16, P31, P34) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Economics & Social Sciences is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) 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 current study makes a small but unique contribution to the current literature on brand management in the emerging EV market. It provides valuable suggestions for market players willing to enhance their brand management and organizational effectiveness. The paper has argued that as the market for EVs in India evolves, there will be a huge need to comprehend the relationship between brands and performance in a quest to develop sustainable growth strategies in this burgeoning industry. The research evidence strongly confirms that the extent of RM implemented in practicing brands follows a positive linear trend with business performance outcomes. Research shows that organizations that develop brand equity through conscious brand management, creative promotional campaigns, and communication with consumers receive far greater levels of consumer satisfaction and programed loyalty, which results in improved organizational performance. Further, the study also gives an insight into the problems faced by manufacturers of EV throughout India such as perceived brand image and pressures from other conventional automotive brands. Consequently, this research aims at establishing the correlation between brand management practices and business performance for a selected electronic or electric vehicle (EV) firms in India. Growing popularity of EVs and consequent customer demand for eco-friendly vehicles guarantee the importance of efficient brand management in the course of development of this market. The study uses both quantitative data collected through questionnaires given to industry players and qualitatively collected through interviews with major players in the industry. Marketing communication strategic dimensions namely brand equity, customer engagement, and brand positioning are analyzed to evaluate their influence on business objectives; comparing sales increase, market share, and customer retention rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to demonstrate the impact of digital marketing and evaluate the level of use through its strategies of search engine optimisation, search engine marketing, marketing content creation, social media marketing, mobile marketing, and email marketing on the market share of five-star hotels in Jordan. The current study focuses on the importance of digital marketing in the tourism industry. Both current and potential tourists depend on digital communication tools to obtain information about services, products, promotions and other related details online. Digital marketing allows for personalised communications and offers, but it is necessary to understand its types and value in tourism activities. As the industry becomes more complex and competitive, traditional marketing methods may no longer be sufficient. Therefore, tourism companies rely heavily on information and communications technology and work with global digital networks to distribute and sell their products. Effective digital marketing strategies are essential for increasing online exposure and attracting potential customers. The study adopted the descriptive and analytical field approach to collect data from the study sample of marketing managers, reservations and sales managers, and other participants in the marketing process. Moreover, the population consisted of all leadership and supervisory positions in twenty-one five-star hotels in Jordan, with approximately 500 employees. The sample selected was 222 employees. The author also used the PLS‒SEM technique to analyse the data. This finding revealed that dimensions such as email marketing have a significant and positive effect on the market share of five-star hotels in Jordan. Similarly, mobile marketing, search engine marketing and social media marketing also have significant positive effects on the market share of the hotels studied. On the other hand, the results did not show that marketing content creation and search engine optimisation had no noticeable effect on market share. Furthermore, more studies on search engine optimisation and the creation and promotion of attractive marketing content are recommended, given the inability of the current study to prove its impact on market share. It also recommends that hotels strengthen their digital strategy to keep pace with rapid developments and the strength of competition across networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical manufacturers are globally forced to follow international guidelines on cleaning validation. Cleaning validation is related to the concept of the worst-case product; however, the worst-case product is a function of the manufacturer and the product portfolio. Consequently, manufacturers are faced repeatedly by cycles of worst-case product alteration, and repeated cycles of worst-case oriented analytical method development. Generally, this problem is hardly controlled due to the various products manufactured by the same facility. However, Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) offers a possible solution through the development of robust and sensitive multicomponent analytical methods that span a wide spectrum of possible products. Cephalosporin antibiotics are a broadly manufactured class of antibiotics that can lead to anaphylaxis in extremely small quantities; therefore, an ultra-level of cleanness is required for facilities involved in such products. A group of the highest market share cephalosporin products was used to present the application of AQbD to introduce a reliable solution to cleaning validation that can be employed in pharmaceutical facilities. A multivariate optimization approach was utilized for the development of a sensitive multicomponent HPLC method; in addition to the proposal of a novel chemometric approach to troubleshoot the developed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more common in the transportation industry in recent times. However, the market share of EVs is still unrivalled by that of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), particularly in developing countries such as Malaysia. This study seeks to investigate the factors of consumer acceptance of EVs in Malaysia. This study specifically investigates six selected factors that may have a significant role in determining EV acceptance. The research was conducted using a quantitative approach, with data collected via an online questionnaire survey among consumers using snowball sampling. Based on 243 valid responses, the findings revealed that environmental concern, energy efficiency of EVs, cost consideration of EV purchases, government policy towards EVs, availability of charging infrastructure, and social influence are positively and significantly associated with consumer acceptance. This study highlights the importance of improving the user experience, resolving practical issues, and emphasising the benefits of EVs to expedite the transition to sustainable and eco-friendly EVs in the context of developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the significant "roles" within financial complex networks and their stability is of great importance for preventing financial risks. On one hand, this paper initially constructs a complex network model of the stock market based on mutual information theory and threshold methods, combined with the closing price returns of stocks. It then analyzes the basic topological characteristics of this network and examines its stability under random and targeted attacks by varying the threshold values. On the other hand, using systemic risk entropy as a metric to quantify the stability of the stock market, this paper validates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as a widespread, unexpected event on network stability. The research results indicate that this complex network exhibits small-world characteristics but cannot be strictly classified as a scale-free network. In this network, key roles are played by the industrial sector, media and information services, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, transportation, and utilities. Upon reducing the threshold, the network's resilience to random attacks is correspondingly strengthened. Dynamically, from 2000 to 2022, systemic risk in significant industrial share markets significantly increased. From a static perspective, the period around 2019, affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, experienced the most drastic fluctuations. Compared to the year 2000, systemic risk entropy in 2022 increased nearly sixtyfold, further indicating an increasing instability within this complex network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I Design thinking is a human-caused approach to sort out problems and prepare the mindset to deal with the challenges in business. This is a step-by-step method to deal with the entire aspects of production right from product decision to launch of the product. The proper method to know the consumer's need and formulation of suitable action plan to devise solutions is required before product decision. The constructive interaction between design thinking and entrepreneurship development is well-known. Reliable solutions can be derived through design thinking in developing ideas for start-up ventures. The upcoming entrepreneurs can explore many open-ended options and design the options to capture the market share. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to formalize the genesis of digital financial technologies (DFT), identify: the impact of its stages on the competitiveness of representatives of the financial and credit sector (RFKS), the features of digital competition; quantitative assessments of the specified impacts. Achieving this goal has scientific and practical significance, in particular, for the formation of an effective digital strategy of the RFKS. It is noted that the genesis of digitalization was not uniform and took place in stages, which are a consequence of the level of development of the DFT, the need to adapt the RFKS to them and determine the peculiarities of the competition of the RFKS. The dynamics of changes in the market share by types of digital financial services of fintech companies were studied, and a significant fluctuation in their competitive positions was noted. It is indicated that the complex application of DFT by fintech companies gives them the opportunity to strategically gain a significant competitive advantage over traditional RFKS. The prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation in the market of digital services of fintech companies and banks are indicated. It is noted that a new phenomenon is manifested on the example of fintech companies - mutual multiplicative strengthening of the development of DFT, which leads to increased competition. According to the results of the study of the effects of digitalization on the PFKS, the factors of the formation of threats to the competitiveness of banks in a strategic plan are determined and the directions of actions of institutional structures that will contribute to the strengthening of the market competitiveness of non-bank financial structures are indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depending on the scope of the concept of competitiveness, it is used in a variety of contexts in economic research, although there is a lack of a precise and generally accepted definition of what exactly it entails. In this study, competitiveness is considered from the point of view of market performance, using the developed theoretical framework for measuring the performance of an individual country or sector of the national economy, based on the definition of the Canadian Competitiveness Group: “The ability to sustainably win and maintain market share”. Two concepts are laid down in it – about the dynamics of market share and profit formation in order to achieve sustainable development over time. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the competitiveness of the Bulgarian vegetable production sector on the world market, to clearly note its change in a dynamic aspect. The research specifically adopted the methodology developed by B. Ivanov for calculating a composite index of competitiveness, containing two main components - production and value. The analysis shows the place of Bulgarian vegetable production in the national agriculture and in the world vegetable market, the dynamics and changes that reflect in the competitiveness of the sector during the years of EU membership – 2007 – 2021. The comprehensive assessment of the competitiveness of the vegetable crop sector in Bulgaria on world markets defines it as relatively low. The results obtained from the research confirm and complement the assessment of the competitiveness of the “Vegetable production” sector in Bulgaria, made by other Bulgarian researchers. Despite the favorable climate and natural features in our country, as well as our traditions in the production of vegetables, the sector is deteriorating its market position and the dynamics of competitiveness are rather negative. The research clearly shows that Bulgaria is losing positions in the production of vegetables, while at the same time its dependence on imports and foreign prices is increasing. The sector of vegetable production is among the vulnerable sectors of the Bulgarian agriculture, as the permanent negative trends of reduction of areas and production are projected in the inability to meet consumer needs in our country from high-quality domestic production. The future development of the sector and the increase of its competitiveness will depend on many factors, some of the most important of which are the extent to which vegetable producers will be able to be flexible and adapt to achieve the new environmental policy objectives; to what extent they will be able to respond to modern trends in agricultural production – digitalization, ecological/biological agriculture, new technological solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exporting agricultural products is considered as one of the strategies for developing non-oil exports and achieving sustainable economic growth in developing countries. Saffron, as an export commodity, holds particular significance in Iran's non-oil exports. Given Iran's position among the top four saffron-exporting countries globally, this study aims to prioritize Iran's saffron target markets based on market competition indices and calculate its relative advantage and export stability index in the world market and Iran's export target countries. Comparison of the global market structure of the product during 2003 to 2022 revealed that despite the significant shares of Iran, Spain, England, and Nigeria in most years, the market structure has been characterized by a multi-sided monopoly, open and closed, and in some years dominated by oligopoly, indicating an increase in the number of competitors and the competitiveness of the export market for this product. Iran, with an average share of 13.6% in the saffron export market and producing over 80% of saffron, does not have a direct share in global exports, and most of Iran's saffron is exported to countries such as the UAE, Spain, China, and Oman, and then re-exported to other countries, for which strategies such as market expansion and branding need to be prioritized. The results showed that in 2022, four countries, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Iran, and Spain, accounted for 93% of the total world exports, and Iran ranked second in terms of export volume in the saffron export market during the study period. Also, Iran had an export stability index of less than one (0.96) but the trend of this index indicates a decrease in Iran's stability. The results showed that the majority of Iran's saffron exports are concentrated in only four countries, with the composition of these countries varying over time. To enhance market stability and growth, it is crucial to expand the target export markets. Prioritization should be given to China, UAE, Spain, India, USA, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, and Kuwait, with average priority ranks of 4.15, 6.85, 7.7, 7.95, 8.9, 12.3, 14.35, 15.25, 15.5, and 16.45 respectively. Furthermore, the results indicated that the export market for saffron is oligopolistic. Therefore, it is essential for all exporting countries to collaborate in determining the price and market share for each country. This collaborative approach can help in stabilizing the market, ensuring fair pricing, and promoting sustainable growth in the saffron industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo breeding strategies are essential in realizing "Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic (BASP)". This review article aims to explore the crucial role of breeding strategies in achieving the substitution of plastic products with bamboo as outlined under the BASP Initiative. Firstly, we address the issue of plastic pollution, along with the background of reducing the market share and demand for plastic products. It categorizes the types of bamboo products that can fully or partially replace plastic products in various categories, such as daily necessities, building materials, and industrial products. Then, we investigate which bamboo species can replace which plastic products and propose the need for bamboo improvement. Furthermore, it presents data from positioning observation research stations for bamboo forest ecosystems in China and outlines the essential traits necessary for bamboo substitution, including characteristics like long internode length, extended fiber length, thick culm wall, and optimal cellulose-to-lignin content ratio, among others. Finally, we discuss breeding methods and genetic improvement as key strategies to achieve bamboo substitution and suggest the potential of enhancing bamboo traits to serve as a viable replacement source for plastics. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance bamboo's growth features and physical properties to meet the criteria for substituting bamboo for plastics effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Optimizing the pharmaceutical industrial structure is the key mission of China’s healthcare reform. From the industrial structure perspective, this study empirically evaluated the impact of China’s national volume-based procurement (NVBP) policy on market concentration in the hospital-end drug market. Methods: This study used drug procurement data of China’s public medical institutions which obtained from the national database. A quasi-natural experiment was designed involving eleven pairs of matched treatment-control region combinations, with NVBP policy as the intervention measure. The market was defined by drug name (molecular boundary) and city/province (geographical boundary). Market changes were measured from three dimensions: the number of enterprises and products, market share, and Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI). Dual comparison approach and difference-in-difference (DID) method with fixed effect model were applied to quantify policy impacts. Results: The number of enterprises and products decreased by 18 and 83 in pilot regions after NVBP policy, far more than the decreases in control regions (6 and 21). The accumulative market share of 15 bid-winning enterprises increased by 53.67% in volume and 18.79% in value, among which the increment of enterprises with low baseline market share was more prominent (66.64% and 36.40%). Among three enterprise types, the market share of generic consistency evaluation (GCE) certificated generics significantly increased, GCE uncertificated generics significantly decreased, and originators slightly decreased. DID models indicated significantly positive impact of NVBP policy on market concentration, with HHI-volume and HHI-value increasing by 49.33% (β = 0.401, p < 0.01) and 21.05% (β = 0.191, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The implementation of NVBP promoted the intensive drug circulation and supply of Chinese public hospitals, intensifying the exit of GCE uncertificated generics from the hospital-end market. NVBP combined with GCE standards significantly improved market concentration, which brought a positive signal of pharmaceutical industrial structure optimization in China. In the future context of normalized and institutionalized NVBP, the balance should be further sought between low drug prices and reliable hospital drug supply, sustainable industry development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Sharing economy" refers to a transformative socio-economic phenomenon where individuals or institution with idle resources transfer the right to use resources for economic compensation. With the widespread adoption of distributed photovoltaic generation and energy storage (ES) device in residential communities, there is a growing interest in establishing a suitable platform for residential users to share their ES capacity with community shared equipment controllers (CSECs). This paper proposes a local ES capacity sharing market, and presents the market trading process, pricing and allocation rules using an iterative uniform-price bidding mechanism Acknowledging the selfish-interest of both RUs and CSECs, we introduce the resource management organization (RMO) as a regulated third-party organization responsible for administering the market. To evaluate the proposed scheme, we conduct case studies based on real-life data from Pecan Street. The numerical experiment results demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the effects of generic entry on the market share of different statins. We use administrative records from a representative sample of Australians between 2003 and 2014 and analyse over 21 million prescriptions to quantify the change in the total market share of each statin after experiencing generic entry for the first time. With detailed information on patients' benefits and prices, we also estimate potential savings from increasing the use of statins where generics became available. Our results indicate that despite the price decrease, the market share of the molecule experiencing generic entry does not significantly increase, and there is some evidence of substitution away from statins with generic availability. For the most commonly used molecules, this association is stronger in patients receiving higher government subsidies. We calculate potential savings of A\$17 million if patients had initiated treatment with the most prescribed off‐patent statin rather than a patent‐protected statin. Generic entry after patent expiry presents an opportunity for a significant reduction in pharmaceutical expenditure if these are preferred. This study highlights the importance of improving prescription systems that help doctors recommend lower cost, clinically appropriate alternatives and enhance the effectiveness of policies promoting generic substitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defaunation and extinction undermine the resilience and functioning of ecological communities and ecosystems. Relative to other disturbances, overexploitation for the global wildlife trade presents a unique case of trait‐based selection, as demand for specific individuals is often tied to unique morphological or aesthetic traits desired by consumers ('market traits'). Because evolutionary history leads to species that share both market and functional traits, we posit that non‐random patterns of exploitation will result in non‐random loss of functional diversity.We applied a trait‐based framework to the global songbird trade for 4616 species, 148 of which are plausibly threatened by the trade. We quantified select market traits, such as unique coloration and song quality, and ecological traits related to body size, diet, and foraging strategy to assess whether the trade disproportionately threatens particular functional groups. We additionally looked for patterns of association between market traits and functional traits to assess whether selection on certain market traits could drive selection on associated functional traits.We found that overexploited birds are a distinct functional subset of the global songbird pool, with the trade disproportionately threatening large bodied, frugivorous, and seed eating birds. Across all songbirds, there were multiple non‐random associations between market traits and functional traits, with the strongest associations observed among trade‐threatened birds; this was consistent with our theory that consumer‐driven selection on market traits could theoretically result in selection on functional traits. However, there was mixed evidence for this hypothesis at a global scale, suggesting that disproportionate threat to functional diversity may be more likely in regions where there is heavy demand for associated market traits.Policy implications. Our results highlight the need for increased focus on the mechanistic drivers of trait‐based selection on the consumer side of wildlife trade, and how patterns of overexploitation can systematically affect ecological communities and ecosystem services. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the impact of knowledge capital (KC), a key element of firms' innovation and competitiveness, on stock returns during economic crises when sustainable competitiveness becomes particularly important. We analyze the impact of the Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19 as economic crises, focusing on manufacturing industries with a high proportion of investment shifts from physical capital to KC. Our findings indicate that KC is positively associated with stock returns during the Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19. This positive relationship is strengthened by the firm's ability to leverage KC, as measured by greater product market share, higher Tobin's Q, and larger cash holdings. This study emphasizes the protective role of KC during the economic crisis when the market pays more attention to corporate sustainability and provides implications to corporate managers and investors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the underlying mechanisms through which entrepreneurial marketing (EM) promotes the development of a favorable brand image and enhances sales growth and market share in new ventures (NVs). Design/methodology/approach: The authors tested the theoretical model using a multi-informant design in which survey data were collected from NV entrepreneurs and marketing managers. Hypotheses were tested using linear regression and PROCESS analysis. Findings: The authors demonstrate the significance of EM as comprising two NV capabilities – first, the level of complementarity between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and market orientation (MO) as a dynamic capability, and second, brand management capabilities (BMCs) as an operational capability – in shaping a favorable NV brand image and promoting market performance. Research limitations/implications: The authors offer a novel perspective by demonstrating that EO and MO yield complementarities in driving NVs' BMCs, which, in turn, drive brand image development and market performance for NVs. In doing so, the authors demonstrate novel theoretical implications for the relevance of EM to NV branding, which, to date, has received scant attention in the literature. Practical implications: The authors identify a potential avenue for entrepreneurs and NV managers to mitigate the potential failure rates by simultaneously pursuing a higher level of EO and MO and investing in brand-building activities. Such efforts can help enhance brand image, drive sales growth and foster long-term success. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to include brand capabilities as an element of EM, examine EM in NV brand image development and identify the role of EM capabilities relevant to NV brand building and market performance simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a dynamic model of price competition with differentiated products in which new generations of consumers acquire information about available products from their friends of previous generations. The social network, which links consumers across generations, affects the evolution of consumers' awareness of products and firms' long‐term (steady‐state) market shares. Focusing on steady‐state equilibria, we examine how the structure of the social network—including connectivity and homophily—influences market shares, pricing, and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel decomposition approach for measuring deterrence motives in dynamic oligopoly games. Our approach yields a formalized, scale-free, and interpretable measure of deterrence motives that informs researchers about the proportion for which deterrence motives account of all entry motives. In addition, the decomposition leads to a set of conditions for counterfactual analysis where hypothetical scenarios with deterrence motives eliminated can be explored. We illustrate the use of our measure and counterfactual by conducting an empirical case study about the dynamics of coffee chain stores in Toronto, Canada. The inferred deterrence motives suggest that a noticeable proportion of entry motives can be attributed to deterrence; it can be as high as 43% for the increasingly dominant coffee chain, Starbucks, in certain types of markets. Finally, counterfactual analysis confirms that deterrence motives are indeed associated with Starbucks' aggressive presence as the number of its outlets and its market share are markedly lower once these motives are eliminated. This paper was accepted by Matthew Shum, marketing. Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4864. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a monopoly and Stackelberg duopoly model for "new economy" markets—with a Beckerian S-shaped demand curve at its center—that allows for intermediate degrees of firm focality and consumer heterogeneity. Because of network externalities, firms compete for the dominant market share, rather than the marginal consumer. This leads to a type of limit pricing—from within, rather than from outside the market—where the nondominant firm captures a positive market share that serves as a consolation prize. We characterize how firms' technologies, "consumer impulses" (which might be influenced by past sales, defaults, or advertising), and network externalities affect competition, and derive implications for firm strategy. Broadly speaking, we find that the dominant firm should adopt an aggressive "top-dog" stance (akin to, but not identical to, that of a firm seeking to deter rival entry), whereas the nondominant firm should respond with an accommodating "puppy-dog" approach. This paper was accepted by Alfonso Gambardella, business strategy. Funding: R. Akerlof received financial support from the Institute for New Economic Thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for forest certification and certified forest products in Europe. This trend is related to major worldwide challenges, such as the need to decarbonize the economy and mitigate climate change but also social and consumer demands for wider fair trade. However, whether forest certification influences economic valorization in forestry remains a question. The aim of this study is to analyze forest certification levels across Europe and identify potential relationships between the level of certification in forest areas and relevant economic indicators at country level. This study collected openly available data on total and certified forest areas, economic indicators, and environmental indicators for 28 European countries and explored the correlation between certified forest areas and economic performance in the forestry sector. Findings show that forest certification can significantly improve the economic performance of European forests. It has a more pronounced positive effect on economic incomes than on costs’ reduction. While certification costs do rise with the extent of forest area, they tend to stabilize at larger scales, suggesting that the certification process is economically sustainable and scale is relevant. Czechia and the Netherlands stand out for having the highest net values added related to forest certification, reflecting an effective economic exploration of forest resources. This study offers new perspectives to natural and social scientists, as well as to industry and policy makers, by proving contextualized data to support decision making. Additionally, it provides hints for further studies and policy guidelines on sustainable development and the impact of forest certification schemes.