Psychic distance in exporter–importer relationships: A grounded theory approach

Psychic distance is one of the most widely used, researched, and contentious constructs in the fields of international business and marketing. It has been applied to a variety of issues, often leading to inconsistent and conflicting results. In response to this problem, this study critically focuses on the construct of perceptual psychic distance and identifies the weaknesses and inconsistencies across major existing empirical studies regarding the conceptualization, operationalization, and measurement of psychic distance. We employ a grounded theory-based qualitative empirical study with export managers in French manufacturing companies to fill in the gaps identified in this evaluation, leading to a revised definition of psychic distance in the context of exporting. We discuss the major results and the limitations of the study, propose avenues for further research, and outline managerial implications for managing psychic distance in the internationalization strategy.     

Globalization and the Inequality–Unemployment Tradeoff

Over the last 20 years, advanced economies have experienced an “unemployment versus inequality” tradeoff that is critically uneven across countries. To explain this, we propose an extended HOS model in which: the factors are skilled and unskilled labor; there is a continuum of goods; the world comprises two North countries (one egalitarian and one nonegalitarian) and the South; there is no factor price equalization; globalization consists in the South cornering a growing share of world production. In the North, globalization entails an inequality–unemployment tradeoff and the adjustment to globalization is more painful for the country that was initially inequality‐oriented.     

Do I know you? How brand familiarity and perceived fit affect consumers’ attitudes towards brands placed in movies

The present study uses Associative Network Theory to construct a model that explains effects of brand placement in movies. Based on a field experiment (n?=?167), we investigate the effects of plot connection and prominence on brand attitude, as well as the mediating role of brand-movie fit and the moderating role of brand familiarity. Results show that more closely connecting a brand to the plot of a movie positively impacts brand attitude by increasing the perceived fit between the brand and the movie. Brand familiarity moderates the effect of the interaction between a placement’s plot connection and prominence on brand attitude. When brand familiarity is high, there is no significant effect of plot connection on brand attitude, nor is this effect moderated by the prominence of the placement. However, when brand familiarity is low, both prominently and subtly connecting the brand to the plot of the movie positively influences brand attitude. More importantly, the effect of plot connection is significantly stronger when an unfamiliar brand is prominently placed, than when it is subtly placed.     

Adapted or standardized copy: Is non-cultural English the answer?

International advertisers often wonder whether to adapt their copy to each country they operate in or to globally standardize their message, especially in non-Anglophone markets. While the current business lingua franca is English, how easily can it be introduced into advertising without alienating consumers, and would a simpler English message work better? Does the culture of a brand also influence the impact of English use in non-Anglophone markets? This research examines the interaction between language choice and brand culture in a non-Anglophone market. Specifically, the studies review the value of Globish, a non-cultural form of English. The results suggest that using standardized English copy has relevance in non-Anglophone countries for global brands, but that Globish can also be useful for local brands seeking to upgrade their value in a local market. Globish is shown to be an interesting alternative option in adapting or standardizing advertising strategies. Managerial implications close the paper.     

FDI in CEECs: How do Western investors survive?

This article emphasizes that knowledge transfer across a firm's boundaries, in a transition context, implies a specific involvement of Western investors. They need to promote specific relationships within affiliates. This article emphasizes two points. First, partners have few common practices and do not share the same perception of the firm. This is the problem with building new capabilities. Second, Western firms have to mobilize organizational resources to build efficient affiliates (new human resources management, introduction of new functions, management by expatriates). Setting up new management rules to run an affiliate in transition countries is costly and often underestimated by foreign investors. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Pricing-to-Market: Price Discrimination or Product Differentiation?

We employ a vertical differentiation model to examine the potential bias in pricing-to-market results when using export unit values aggregating differentiated products. Our results show that: (i) false evidence of pricing-to-market is always found when using unit values, whether the law of one price holds or not; and (ii) the size of the bias increases with the level of product differentiation. Our simulation results support those conceptual findings. Thus, some of the positive pricing-to-market results in the literature could be an artifact of the product heterogeneity embodied in unit values rather than evidence of imperfect competition.     

Mapping themes in the study of new work practices

Both shaping and shaped by technological, economic and social facets, the world of work has witnessed a wide array of changes. This review article sets out to provide a synthesis of some of the main directions and insights of existing research connected to the new world of work. In particular, we approached the topic of new work practices through four key dimensions: (1) Conceptual and methodological dimensions in the study of new work practices; (2) Spatial and temporal manifestations of new work practices in the collaborative economy; (3) Individuals, organizations and new work configurations; (4) Power and control. The review article critically discusses the future of work and argues that the ‘new’ world of work simply repeats asymmetrical power relations and inequalities that characterise work activities, with the potential of exacerbating even further disparities, inequalities and precarity.     

Higher education and stakeholders’ donations: successful civic crowdfunding in an Italian university

Can civic crowdfunding be used to improve the structures and services offered by public universities? Are stakeholders willing to make donations to such projects? This paper answers these questions by analysing a successful civic crowdfunding project in an Italian university. Stakeholders were found to be willing to engage in crowdfunding and make donations. The key to success is to ensure effective communication and to draw on feelings of belonging to the institution.     

Trend and Comparative Analysis of Inequality of Social Opportunity

This article sets out a new method for the analysis of inequality of social opportunity. The shortcomings of the previous concepts and measures attempting to assess the degree of openness of the mobility process independently of marginal effects are displayed. The suggested new approach refers to relative opportunity distributions of individuals according to their social origin. Starting from the premise that these distributions underlying the observed allocation of social positions are continuous, it is assumed that it is possible to compare them using straight lines. The various slopes of the lines represent inequality of social opportunity coefficients which permit trend and comparative analysis of the mobility process net results.