Increasing a brand’s competitive clout: the role of market share,consumer preference,and price sensitivity

The market power (or ‘competitive clout’) of a brand is an increasingly important component of modern marketing strategies. However, the factors that enhance a brand’s competitive clout (BCC) are poorly understood. This study therefore suggests an integrated model of BCC and three factors that are proposed to play a role in its formation: (i) consumer price sensitivity; (ii) brand market share; and (iii) consumer brand preferences. These variables are examined both individually and simultaneously to demonstrate the direct effect of each on BCC and how their inter-relationships contribute to BCC. In doing so, a two-step empirical analysis is conducted. First, two multinomial logit models provide an own- and a cross-price response matrix for a chosen set of competitive brands. Secondly, BCC is regressed against the variables of market share, intrinsic preferences, and price sensitivity using an interaction effects regression model. The results of the analysis show that market share is not the only way to increase BCC; in particular, consumer preferences, and especially pricing decisions, are shown to play a key role in developing a strong brand.     

Who Leads More and Why? A Mediation Model from Gender to Leadership Role Occupancy

Previous research has shown that female leaders lead slightly more effective than male leaders. However, women are still underrepresented in higher management. In this study, we seek to contribute to a deeper understanding of this paradox by proposing and testing an innovative model that integrates different research streams on gender and leadership. Specifically, we propose power motivation and transformational leadership as two central yet opposing dynamics that underlie the relation between gender and leadership role occupancy. We tested this model in a sample of 256 employees. Results provided support for the proposed relations. These findings contribute to a more detailed and comprehensive understanding for central dynamics that link gender and leadership role occupancy. Moreover, they provide important insights for interventions that are targeted at reducing the gender gap in leadership. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.     

Price versus quantity in a duopoly of vertical differentiation with loss-averse consumers

In a model à la Mussa and Rosen (1978) in which consumers are loss-averse, I check the robustness of the result obtained by Tanaka (2001). As he did, I find that the quantity contract is a dominant strategy for both firms. Thus, Cournot is the outcome in equilibrium. Finally, I find that loss aversion in general intensifies competition.     

Motivation in the teaching of Physical Education according to the Achievement Goal Theory: methodological considerations

The present study shows how the evaluation of sport motivation according to Achievement Goal Theory is different if the criteria used are predominant goal orientation or motivational profile combination, as well as presenting its relationship with other variables such as the amount of sport practise or the level of competition and success achieved. Seventy two men and women participated, all students of Physical Educational and Sport Science, completing the Questionnaire on Motivational Orientation in Sport ((Guivernau and Duda, Revista de Psicología del Deporte, 5, 1994) a Spanish adaptation of the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire, TEOSQ, (Duda, J Sport Exerc Psychol, 11, 1989)). The results showed the existence of different motivational relationships with variables of the practise of sport, depending on the type of profile used. Finally, the practical implications of these findings are discussed with respect to the motivational climate generated in the teaching of Physical Education.     

Technical efficiency and metatechnology ratios for dairy farms in three southern cone countries: a stochastic meta-frontier model

This paper compares technical efficiency (TE) and metatechnology ratios (MTR) for dairy farms from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay using the meta-frontier (MF) approach. The estimated average MTRs for Argentina, Chile and Uruguay are 83.8, 79.6 and 91.4%, respectively, and these results are significantly different from each other. The TEs estimated with respect to the MF are 72.8, 65.8 and 73.4% for Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, respectively. The average TEs for Argentina and Uruguay are not significantly different from each other but are significantly higher than the value for Chile. The production frontiers for Argentina and Uruguay are relatively close to the MF, which suggests that these two countries might need to increase investments to promote local research to generate new technologies and/or search for technologies to adapt from more distant areas. By contrast, Chile could benefit from adaptive research, designed to make borrowed technology from Argentina and/or Uruguay applicable to local conditions, which could be a cost effective way to improve dairy farm performance.     

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Using Behavioural Economics For Rather than Against Consumers – A Practitioner’s Perspective

Behavioural economics can be a powerful tool in achieving consumer policy goals, by nudging people to make healthy, sustainable and cost-conscious choices. It can also, however, be used against consumers’ interests by misleading and deceiving them by exploiting their biases.     

Debt Sustainability Analyses for Italy,Spain and Portugal: Assessment and Recommendations

Despite the broad upswing in the euro area, it cannot be precluded that high public debts in some countries could spiral out of control if interest rates increase again. To analyse the relevance of this danger, a debt sustainability analysis is carried out using a narrow range of relatively realistic assumptions through 2022. While public debts will remain high for an extended period, reasonable fiscal primary surpluses will be sufficient to stabilise debt ratios, even if a moderate recession occurs.     

Paradigm Shifts in Economic Theory and Policy

In most countries, mainstream economic policy has not yet undergone any significant change, and there is little consensus on what, if anything, ought to replace it. However, there are some signs of an emerging transition, at several levels.