Northern and southern Italian social cooperatives during the economic crisis: a multiple factor analysis

A multiple factor analysis is developed to assess the differences in the economic performance and employment levels of social cooperatives in three main geographical areas: North, Central and South Italy, between 2008 and 2011. The results showed that despite the global economic and financial meltdown, the social cooperatives in these areas increased their overall turnover and total assets between 2008 and 2011. Furthermore, the employment data showed a positive trend during this period. The analysis also found that the prolonged crisis in 2010 and 2011 affected mainly the southern regions, where conjunctural factors exacerbated long-term structural deficiencies.     

Green consumers and their identities: how identities change the motivation for green consumption

This research aims to fill the gap in green consumption literature from the perspective of values as types of intentions and identity‐based motivation. In two studies, we examine how the salience of personal and social identities can change the relationship between types of intentions and green consumption. The results demonstrate that when personal identity is salient, self‐transcendence intentions influence green consumption more than self‐enhancement intentions. This is because personal identity (compared with social identity) increases the positive effect of congruent intentions (self‐transcendence) on green consumption. However, when social identity is salient, self‐transcendence and self‐enhancement intentions have a similar impact on green consumption. This is because social identity (compared with personal identity) reduces the negative effect of self‐enhancement intentions on green consumption. Finally, we discuss theoretical and managerial implications for values as types of intentions, identity‐based motivation and green consumption.     

Who is going to save the Brazilian Amazon forest? Reflections on deforestation,wildlife eviction,and stewardship behavior

The Brazilian Amazon deforestation is the context for this article, approached as a crime against humanity and wildlife. Recently, Amazon forest fires have also worried most of the economically developed nations, generating criticism and demanding that the Brazilian Government be more active in preventing fires and deforestation. It is necessary to guarantee the wellbeing and health of millions of animal species that live in this habitat, avoiding their extinctions and encouraging the preservation of the forest and its inhabitants. Agribusiness, together with illegal timber trade, are blamed for most of the deforestation. In this paper, we present and discuss Brazilian Amazon deforestation data, addressing the role of agribusiness as dependent on good environmental governance. We argue how stewardship behavior needs to become a path to stop deforestation and wildlife eviction and we reflect on what marketers in Brazil and the world can do to better protect the Amazon rainforest. We conclude that the Government, companies, and society must be coresponsible for the protection of the Amazon rainforest through conservation transparency, dialogue, environmental awareness, and sustainability in production and consumption practices.     

Trade and the Effect of Public Investment on Regional Inequalities in Heterogeneously Integrated Areas

Regional integration, it is argued, challenges the distribution of economic activity among regions. However, the government role in shifting the patterns of regional inequalities is still under debate and has received small comprehensive empirical evidence. This paper examines the hypothesis of trade as channelling public investment and, thus, perpetuating regional inequalities. We argue that the interplay of public and private investment plays a key role in stimulating trade and economic activity. To avoid problems of cross‐country heterogeneity and comparability this study examines data for two countries; Mexico and Spain, both followers of trade integration arrangements. Findings indicate that regional inequalities in Mexico are significantly explained by differences in export capacity serving to boost private investment whereas inequalities in Spain are appreciably driven by previous endowments and private capital formation.     

Fashion consumer profiles in the Portuguese market: involvement,innovativeness, self‐expression and impulsiveness as segmentation criteria

This study identified fashion consumer profiles among Portuguese young adults. The work was based on four constructs: fashion involvement, fashion innovativeness, self‐expression through fashion products and impulsiveness. Another purpose of this study was to test these instruments in this cultural context in order to contribute to the generalizability of the scales. A cluster analysis uncovered three groups: Moderates, Apathetic and Enthusiasts. On the whole, this study proposes a new way of segmenting Portuguese fashion consumers and demonstrates that the four constructs employed can be used in different cultural contexts.     

The internationalization process of Brazilian software firms and the born global phenomenon: Examining firm,network, and entrepreneur variables

This paper examines the born-global phenomenon in the context of an emerging country, Brazil. A literature review was conducted in order to develop an integrative model of the phenomenon under study. Three sets of internal variables were identified in the literature which seemed to explain why a firm would follow a born global, rather than a traditional, internationalization process: firm, network, and entrepreneur variables. The final conceptual model was tested in a Brazilian sample of 79 software firms, of which 35 followed the born-global process of internationalization and 44 followed the traditional process. Logistic regression was used to test the research hypotheses. Results showed that certain firm and entrepreneur variables seemed to be associated to the type of internationalization process chosen by these firms. Network variables did not significantly differentiate the two groups.     

Strategic profiles of Brazilian exporters and performance implications

This study presents a taxonomic classification of manufactured products exporters based on strategic orientation which is the result of an analysis of a sample of 414 Brazilian exporters of manufactured goods. The analyses used Cluster analysis, MANOVA, ANOVA, post-hoc tests and crosstabs. The study identified four patterns of strategic orientation of Brazilian exporters and provided indications of correlations with firm and manager characteristics. The article includes a discussion of implications for export performance. Findings suggest that joint attention to planning and differentiation seems to pay off, but planning alone is insufficient to ensure winning results. The study has contributed to the literature by identifying clearly discernible patterns of strategic orientation of Brazilian exporters and their association with firm and manager characteristics. The study also discusses how export performance correlates with strategic orientation.     

基于第三方物流实施的延迟制造

目前针对由第三方物流企业实施的延迟制造研究很少。本文阐述了第三方物流提供的四种延迟制造服务以及该服务给第三方物流客户创造的价值。分析了第三方物流的组织方法——平台方法,也即资源共享方法。同时对第三方物流开展延迟制造业务提出了战略性建议,从而为第三方物流开展延迟制造业务提供了指南。     

新疆小微企业寻求新常态发展良方

中小微企业想要有长远的发展,就应该苦练内功,在选择正确经营方向的基础上,根据市场需求研制适销对路的产品,不断提升企业效益和市场竞争力;要建立完善公司治理机制,切实提升企业规范化水平.要按照本土化、专业化、精细化、信息化、国家化的方向或思路提高自身的市场适应能力.记者走访新疆几家发展中的中小微企业时发现,发展创新已被企业作为在新常态下开辟市场空间的良方.     

Education and financial mistakes: The case of avoidable trading fees in stock markets

Portuguese Economic Journal - We study a quasi-natural experiment that altered the structure of commission fee schedules applied to retail investors in the Portuguese stock market in 2003. Using a...