Consolidation, scale economies and technological change in Japanese banking

The paper examines the technological structure of the Japanese banking sector before the onset of the banking crisis and structural reforms of the 1990s in order to shade light on the logic of the recent trend to consolidation in the industry. While diseconomies of scale are shown to be pervasive in the large banks, defying the rationale for consolidation, the paper presents evidence of an underlying technological progress that operates to significantly increase the industry's efficient minimum size, generating economies at larger banks, thus justifying the ongoing trend in consolidation. The results suggest that, to the extent that consumers can benefit from lower costs of bank production, policies that promote a more concentrated banking structure might be consistent with public interest.     

The moderating effect of on‐line experience on the antecedents and consequences of on‐line satisfaction

The purpose of the present study is to test the moderating effect of on‐line experience on antecedents to on‐line satisfaction and on the relationship between on‐line satisfaction and loyalty. A survey (n = 836) was conducted to test the differences between high and low online experience respondents. The relationship between on‐line satisfaction and on‐line loyalty is stronger for consumers with more online experience than for consumers with less on‐line experience. Another key finding is that antecedents to on‐line satisfaction also differ between high and low on‐line experience consumers. Implications indicate that organizations may develop and provide differentiated services to high‐ and low‐experience consumers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Understanding the culture of markets: A reflection

This essay examines Virgil Storr’s (2013) Understanding the Culture of Markets, particularly the relationship between cultures and constitutions and the particulars of the ideal-typical ‘spirit’ of capitalism. Culture cannot be viewed as a constitution, I argue, because of fundamental differences between the two types of guidance to conduct, both for the actors within them and the researchers studying them. I also consider possibly conflicting interpretations of the idea of the animating spirit(s) of a market in the context of Storr’s example of the economic culture of the Bahamas.     

Development of a multi-dimensional measure for assessing entrepreneurial ecosystems

ABSTRACT

Researchers and theorist have put great effort into defining and examining entrepreneurial ecosystems and how business clusters develop in certain regions. Favourable entrepreneurship ecosystems are thought to drive business and innovation. However, a commonly accepted measure of entrepreneurial ecosystem favourableness has yet to be developed. The purpose of the present research is to contribute to ecosystems research by taking a two-study approach to developing and validating a perceptual measure of entrepreneurial ecosystems. The perceptual measure is based upon prior conceptual frameworks that outline ecosystems. In developing this measure, we are able to further unpack and illuminate the factor structure of ecosystems, the results of which have direct scholarly and practitioner uses.     

The impact of emotional self-management on benefit offerings and employment growth: an analysis of the fastest growing businesses in the United States

International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal - Increases in the cost of benefit offerings have led organizations to cut back benefits in an effort to reduce overall labor costs. Since...