Rivalries and sponsor affiliation: Examining the effects of social identity and argument strength on responses to sponsorship-related advertising messages

This study examines how social identities and message characteristics influence the processing of sponsorship associations and persuasive messages. Using an experimental approach we found that sponsor affiliation with a rival team results in a negative response by highly identified fans, even when message characteristics include strong, favorable arguments. Conversely, less identified fans formed evaluations based on message characteristics, such that strong arguments were evaluated more favorably than weak arguments, independent of sponsorship affiliation. Overall, the study confirmed that strong social identities influence information processing in ways that are favorable for in-group associations and unfavorable for out-group associations. The implications for both consumers and marketing communications practitioners are discussed.     

Virtual special issue on urban development

This virtual special issue of Spatial Economic Analysis marks the keynote lecture at the 47th Annual Conference of the Regional Science Association International – British and Irish Section in Harrogate by Professor Bob Stimson of the University of Queensland, Australia. With over half the world’s population now living in urban areas, which according to the United Nations is expected rise to 66% by 2050, the theme of Professor Stimson’s lecture – urban development – is of critical importance. Cities provide significant opportunities for economic growth and development as long as urban design models are not only effective but also sustainable, inclusive and equitable. This virtual special issue draws together 10 articles from earlier issues of the journal, which inform a successful urban design agenda.     

Advances in random utility models report of the workshop on advances in random utility models duke invitational symposium on choice modeling behavior

In recent years, major advances have taken place in three areas of random utility modeling: (1) semiparametric estimation, (2) computational methods for multinomial probit models, and (3) computational methods for Bayesian estimation. This paper summarizes these developments and discusses their implications for practice.     

International big business revisited: On the size and growth of the world's largest firms

This paper explores the association between the growth of sales and the size of the world's largest industrial firms for the period 1967–77. The tests follow the methodology introduced by Rowthorn and Hymer (1971) who, for an earlier period, had remarked that although there was slight evidence amongst smaller firms of a negative relationship between growth and size, at no time, and in no area, were there signs of a positive relationship. Our results are, in general, similar to those of Rowthorn and Hymer. The main difference being the large numbers of firms (mostly American) exhibiting a positive relationship between size and growth for 1972–7.     

Political cycles in Greece’s municipal employment

We consider the politically motivated fluctuations in Greece’s municipal employment, constructing a data-set from primary data and focusing on the composition of municipal employment in terms of employment relationship forms. Our analysis produces strong evidence of pre-electoral manipulation through increases in the number of contract employees. Considering a number of control variables and robustness checks does not affect the key results. Such variables include whether mayors run for reelection, incumbents’ political alignment with central government, partisan shifts, general elections, mayors’ turnover rate, and timing patterns. Our evidence provides insights into Greece’s political economy in the run-up to the current economic crisis.     

Optimal portfolio allocation with higher moments

We model the risky asset as driven by a pure jump process, with non-trivial and tractable higher moments. We compute the optimal portfolio strategy of an investor with CRRA utility and study the sensitivity of the investment in the risky asset to the higher moments, as well as the resulting wealth loss from ignoring higher moments. We find that ignoring higher moments can lead to significant overinvestment in risky securities, especially when volatility is high.      

Linking creativity with entrepreneurial intentions: A structural approach

The article presents a preliminary model, which links creativity with entrepreneurial intention. Model formulation is based on a random survey of students from two engineering schools. Model parameter estimation is supported by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Extensive statistical analysis demonstrated model and parameter validity. Results indicate that student’s self-perception of creativity and a family environment that promotes creative thinking can predict increased levels of entrepreneurial intention. Moreover, the present study argues that the contemporary university environment does not promote entrepreneurial intention through the development of creative thinking. The article ends with discussion and conclusion of the results and overview of research limitations.