Impact of customer experience on loyalty: a multichannel examination

This article examines the relation between the five dimensions of customer experience advocated by Schmitt [1999a. Experiential Marketing. Journal of Marketing Management, 15, 53–67] (cognitive, affective, sensory, behavioural and social) and service provider loyalty. The examination focuses on two different channels, namely branch/agency (physical) and online (Web-based). A total of 484 panellists of a large Canadian polling firm self-administered a Web-based questionnaire regarding banking experience. The exercise was subsequently replicated in the tourism sector. Findings demonstrate that the main dimension impacting loyalty is the affective dimension (negative), thereby contributing handsomely to experiential marketing literature since negative emotions are rarely investigated. Findings also reveal that choice of channel exerts a moderating effect on the different dimensions influencing loyalty and that results vary from one sector to another. The multidimensional, multichannel, multisector approach selected for this study substantiates customer experience as complex and context specific. The authors also suggest practical implications and set out avenues of future research.     

Asymmetry in first‐price auctions with affiliated private values

Collusion and heterogeneity across firms may introduce asymmetry in bidding games. A major difficulty in asymmetric auctions is that the Bayesian Nash equilibrium strategies are solutions of an intractable system of differential equations. We propose a simple method for estimating asymmetric first‐price auctions with affiliated private values. Considering two types of bidders, we show that these differential equations can be rewritten using the observed bid distribution. We establish the identification of the model, characterize its theoretical restrictions, and propose a two‐step non‐parametric estimation procedure for estimating the private value distributions. An empirical analysis of joint bidding in OCS auctions is provided. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Jobs specialization versus unemployment: more on the productivity effect of unemployment benefits

We use the Marimon and Zilibotti (Econ J 109: 266–291, 1999) circle model and we endogenize the choice of the degree of specialization of jobs. We show that an increase in unemployment benefits not only reduces the mismatch of talents (as in Marimon and Zilibotti), but it also raises the degree of specialization of jobs. This reinforces the productivity enhancing effects of unemployment benefits.      

Auctions with ex post uncertainty

Uncertainty about ex post realized values is an inherent component in many auction environments. In this article, we develop a structural framework to analyze auction data subject to ex post uncertainty as a pure risk. We consider a low‐price sealed‐bid auction model with heterogeneous bidders' preferences and ex post uncertainty. The uncertainty can be common to all bidders or idiosyncratic. We derive the model restrictions and study nonparametric and semiparametric identification of the model primitives under exogenous and endogenous participation. We then develop multistep nonparametric and semiparametric estimation procedures in both cases.     

What European Union in the “Age of Uncertainty”? Weathering the Geopolitical Storms in a World of Perpetual Crises

Intereconomics - A world of risks and uncertainties can also be a world of opportunities. How and how quickly the EU adapts to the socio-political, economic, energy and climate transitions at hand,...     

The Effect of Consumer Multifactorial Gender and Biological Sex on the Evaluation of Cross‐Gender Brand Extensions

Introducing cross‐gender brand extensions—masculine or feminine brands that extend to the opposite gender—is a growing trend on the marketplace, though not always a successful one. This research examines the effect of consumer multifactorial gender and biological sex on consumers’ evaluation of cross‐gender brand extensions. The influence of gender role attitudes is demonstrated: consumers with traditional gender attitudes are significantly more reluctant to accept these extensions than consumers with more liberal attitudes. Hence the extensions have a negative impact on the subsequent attitude of the former group toward the parent brand, contrary to their effect on more egalitarian consumers. No significant impact of the consumer's biological sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation is identified. The theoretical and managerial implications of these findings for the development of cross‐gender brand extensions are discussed.     

Perception versus Reality: Canadian Consumer Views of Local and Organic

During the past decade, Canadian consumers have developed a keen interest in local and organic foods. In response, the Canadian government established standards to regulate their labeling. However, many retail and media outlets offer varying definitions that fit their needs. Consumers utilize this often conflicting information to formulate their understanding of local and organic. The aim of this study was to investigate consumer understanding and perception of local and organic food, especially in regard to production characteristics. The results indicate that local is predominantly defined as decreased miles to transport, whereas organic is defined as food produced without the use of synthetic pesticides. However, a fairly large percentage of consumers perceive inaccurate definitions as being characteristics of local and organic. Furthermore, consumers with accurate definitions of local and organic share a similar consumer profile, while consumers with misguided perceptions do not. We also see that characteristics such as ethnic heritage, personal characteristics, geographic region, and length of stay in Canada not only influence consumer understanding and perception, but also the geographic boundaries associated with local.     

Dairy food consumption,supply, and policy in Japan

We investigate Japanese dairy markets. We first provide an overview of consumer demand and how it evolved after World War II. Using historical data and econometric estimates of Japanese dairy demand, we identify economic, cultural and demographic forces that have been shaping consumption patterns. Then we summarize the characteristics of Japanese milk production and dairy processing and policies affecting them. We then describe the import regime and trade flows in dairy products. The paper concludes with policy recommendations of how to reform the Japanese dairy sector.     

性别失衡与人口流动视角下的男男性行为:来自中国城市地区的证据

利用"城市地区流动大龄男性生殖健康和家庭生活调查"数据,通过与同年龄段已婚男性的对比,探究了性别失衡背景下流动大龄未婚男性的男男性行为。同性性行为发生率受到相关态度、婚姻状况等的显著影响。性别失衡所带来的"婚姻挤压"迫使流动大龄未婚男性"被动失婚",缺乏正常稳定的性伴侣,从而导致男男性行为发生率有增加的可能性;流动大龄未婚男性的男男性行为具有高风险特征,而对于艾滋病、性病知识的缺乏是高风险性行为发生的重要影响因素。     

Are Agricultural and Developable Land Prices Governed by the Same Spatial Rules? The Case of Belgium

In this paper, we test whether farmland and developable land prices are governed by the same determinants (mainly urbanization). We estimate here quasi‐identical econometric equations for both agricultural and developable land markets, instead of the conventional approach of adding variables that capture the urban influence. Using data aggregated at the level of the 589 municipalities of a highly urbanized country (Belgium), we found that the same determinants enter these equations, with slight differences in parameter values: land prices decrease with distance to central business district (developable land: –2.7% per km; farmland: –2.5% per km), and increase with the population of the commune as well as with its demographic growth and with the average income of its inhabitants.