Effects of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership on Tunisian FDI Inflows

This article focuses on the effect of regional integration agreements (RIA) on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to developing countries, particularly on the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement signed by the Tunisian government in 1995. The econometric study is based on an extended gravity model treated with the Heckman technique to account for censorship of the explained variable. The main findings are that traditional economic determinants are still the main motivation for foreign investors to invest in Tunisia and that the regional integration process had no effect on this choice.     

Effect of Experiential vs. Cognitive Involvement on Consumer Preferences: Application to Region of Origin Labeled Food Products

Region of origin labeled food products consumption is influenced both by cognitive motives related to the individuals' health and safety concerns and by affective motives in relation within the pleasure, the emotional states and the social values. The objective of our study is to examine the effect of involvement and its nature (cognitive vs. experiential) on consumer preferences toward region of origin labeled food products. Discriminant analysis shows that both the cognitive and experiential dimensions of involvement discriminate between the two groups: those who prefer regional food products and those who prefer either national or foreign products. By targeting each profile by an adequate communication strategy, food labels could meet consumer expectations. Thus, their acceptance becomes higher.     

From Elicitation to Persuasion: Assessing the Structure and Effectiveness of Differential Emotions in Anti-Drunk-Driving Campaigns

In this paper, we test whether the DES III structure of emotions as described by Izard (1977) can be found in self-report data collected in the context of a campaign to deter drunk driving. Indeed, when exposed to a shocking advertisement about the consequences of drunk-driving, young adults express a range of emotions from surprise to contempt. The purpose of this research is to study and understand the structure of these emotions and their impact on persuasion.

126 social drinkers aged between 20 and 28 years old, who were also students belonging to different French universities, were exposed to a dramatic printed advertisement about drinking and driving. After viewing the ad, subjects answered a survey including different measures of emotions using Izard's DES III scale, and measures of self-efficacy and persuasion.

Factor analysis results reveal a four dimensional structure of the original DES III. Both “primary emotions” and “repulsion” have direct effects on persuasion. However, the effect of “repulsion” on persuasion is negative. This paper is, to our knowledge, the first to show that surprise comes ahead of all other emotions elicited by a shocking advertisement. It is the precursor for all other emotional responses. This research also tests an original model explaining how people respond to shocking advertisements along two distinct pathways: one leading to persuasion and another one leading to resistance to persuasion.