bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of digital inequality in achieving sustainable development: a systematic literature review
Authors: Perera Prabath , Selvanathan Selva , Bandaralage Jayatilleke , Su Jen-Je
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Digital inequality is considered one of the leading causes of socioeconomic disparities nowadays and a barrier to sustainable development. However, a dearth of empirical research has examined the impact of digital inequality in attaining sustainable development. This study aims to systematically review the scientific publications on the impact of digital inequality in achieving sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA, 2020) guidelines were followed to carry out the systematic literature review (SLR) using Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest and Google Scholar electronic databases. Numerous inclusion/exclusion criteria were employed to obtain the most relevant literature. Finally, 54 articles were included to prepare the final database and qualitative synthesis was performed using 12 variables.

Findings

While the findings show that there has been a substantial expansion of scientific publications on the focused area in recent years, there is still a lack of empirical and comparative studies; less focus on the offline benefits of online activities were also demonstrated by the results. Moreover, SDGs 04 and 05 were identified as the predominant goals in the literature. Findings further highlighted the importance of an accurate conceptualization of digital inequality.

Originality/value

In general, this study investigates the level of impact of digital inequality on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Moreover, it shows the evolution of scientific publications on digital inequality in terms of its contribution when achieving sustainable development.
Omnichannel retailing with brand engagement, trust and loyalty in banking: the moderating role of personal innovativeness
Authors: Tran Xuan Quynh , Truong Hanh T.H. , Vo Quang Tri
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of integration quality, perceived fluency and assurance quality on brand engagement and trust, and their impacts on brand loyalty in the omnichannel banking setting. It further explores the critical role of personal innovativeness and demographic characteristics as moderating variables for the propositions in the research model.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey of 1,547 respondents was carried out with bank customers located in the three largest cities of Vietnam, who have already used at least two various transactional channels in the past. The results were analyzed by the partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique.

Findings

The findings denote that integration quality, perceived fluency and assurance quality significantly influence brand trust. Whereas, brand engagement is only affected by integration quality and perceived fluency. Further, brand engagement and trust are substantiated as critical drivers of brand loyalty in omnichannel banking. Customers with high personal innovativeness produce fewer effects of omnichannel properties on brand engagement and trust than other ones. The research context is found to be a significant moderator for the effect of perceived fluency on brand engagement.

Practical implications

This study offers several recommendations for bank managers to develop a successful omnichannel strategy that could enhance brand engagement and trust by improving integration quality, maintaining fluency across various channels and assuring security during the transactional process. It suggests various policies to improve the effectiveness of the omnichannel model towards the clients with high innovativeness.

Originality/value

This research extends the social exchange theory (SET) theory by examining the effects of omnichannel properties on brand engagement, trust and loyalty in the banking sector. The moderating role of personal innovativeness and research context is also explored.
Renewable energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in Ghana: the effect of financial strength of listed financial institutions
Authors: Kwakwa Paul Adjei , Aboagye Solomon , Acheampong Vera , Achaamah Abigail
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The desire for a sustainable environment has led to the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase renewable energy usage. Empirical evidence generally shows that financial development has a significant effect on these two variables. However, little is known about how the financial strength of financial institutions influences them in the fight against climate change. This study aims to assess the effect of the financial strength of listed financial institutions on renewable energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Regression analyses were used to estimate the effect of asset quality, credit management, return on equity/asset and firm size on renewable energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions for data covering from 2009 to 2018.

Findings

The results revealed that return on equity reduces renewable energy consumption and increases carbon dioxide emissions. It is also found that credit risk management and asset quality positively influence renewable energy consumption but reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Ghana.

Practical implications

Policymakers need to identify profitable but less polluting ventures and draw the attention of financial institutions in the country. This may cause banks and other lending-giving institutions to desist from giving credits to support environmentally harmful ventures.

Originality/value

The paper assessed the effect that the financial strength of financial institutions has on renewable energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
Bankruptcy law, creditors' rights and dividend policy: evidence from a quasi-natural experiment
Authors: Jadiyappa Nemiraja , Kakani Ram Kumar
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how changes in creditors' rights affect the dividend policy behavior of corporate firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the implementation of the bankruptcy and insolvency code (IBC) in India in 2016 as a quasi-natural experiment setup. Differential application of this law allows them to use the Difference in Differences approach to extract the marginal impact of change in creditors' rights on the dividend policy.

Findings

The authors show that firms responded to strengthening creditors' rights by decreasing their dividend payout. Further, the authors observe that this negative response is conditioned on firm leverage and the nature of the creditor, i.e. public or private. The firms with a greater leverage ratio and a greater proportion of private debt in the total debt in the pre-event period have shown greater response to the change in the law. Lastly, the authors show that stock markets positively respond to the observed decrease in dividends only when a corresponding decrease in the leverage accompanies such a decrease.

Originality/value

The authors contribute to the finance and law literature from several aspects. First, the authors extend this stream by bringing to light the dividend policy response of firms when they are subjected to a change in creditors' rights. Second, the authors also show how firm-level factors like financial policy and the nature of the creditor condition their response to IBC. Lastly, the authors also examine the market reaction to the dividend policy response of firms to the change in bankruptcy law.
Website quality evaluation: a model for developing comprehensive assessment instruments based on key quality factors
Authors: Morales-Vargas Alejandro , Pedraza-Jimenez Rafael , Codina Lluís
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The field of website quality evaluation attracts the interest of a range of disciplines, each bringing its own particular perspective to bear. This study aims to identify the main characteristics – methods, techniques and tools – of the instruments of evaluation described in this literature, with a specific concern for the factors analysed, and based on these, a multipurpose model is proposed for the development of new comprehensive instruments.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a systematic bibliographic review, 305 publications on website quality are examined, the field's leading authors, their disciplines of origin and the sectors to which the websites being assessed belong are identified, and the methods they employ characterised.

Findings

Evaluations of website quality tend to be conducted with one of three primary focuses: strategic, functional or experiential. The technique of expert analysis predominates over user studies and most of the instruments examined classify the characteristics to be evaluated – for example, usability and content – into factors that operate at different levels, albeit that there is little agreement on the names used in referring to them.

Originality/value

Based on the factors detected in the 50 most cited works, a model is developed that classifies these factors into 13 dimensions and more than 120 general parameters. The resulting model provides a comprehensive evaluation framework and constitutes an initial step towards a shared conceptualization of the discipline of website quality.
Effect of integration capabilities with channel distributors on supply chain agility in emerging markets: an institution-based view perspective
Authors: Zhu Zhen , Tang Xinlin
Published: February 2023

Purpose

With emerging markets representing great growth opportunities and serving as indispensable components in the global supply chain, it is unclear how well modern supply chain management theories developed in advanced markets apply to emerging markets. This study integrates the institution-based view with supply chain management literature to examine how integration capabilities can be leveraged to achieve supply chain agility in emerging markets and how the efficacy of integration capabilities is shaped by internal and external institutional contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines how firms in emerging markets can leverage their platform integration and knowledge integration capabilities with channel distributors to improve the supply chain agility and how such relationships are shaped by both the internal (proxy by ownership structure) and external (proxy by regional openness) institutional contexts in which firms operate. Survey and archival data collected from 207 firms operating in China, one of the largest emerging markets, were used to test the proposed research model.

Findings

The results reveal that platform integration and knowledge integration are two driving forces for supply chain agility in the emerging markets. Moreover, the results indicate that state-owned firms are able to achieve higher supply chain agility from their investments in knowledge integration with channel distributors than non-state-owned firms. While firms in regions with a high level of openness enjoy higher supply chain agility from knowledge integration, firms in regions with a low level of openness can catch up by investing in platform integration with their channel distributors.

Originality/value

The authors extend the extant study on supply chain integration (SCI) research to examine how operational and strategic integration with channel distributors can help the focal firm achieve supply chain agility in emerging markets. The study results also enrich the existing studies in emerging markets by revealing the importance of the institutional context in which firms operate on B2B channel management.
Examining the moderating role of principle-based entity of luxury brands and its effects on perceived CSR motives, consumer situational scepticism and brand resonance
Authors: Teah Kevin , Sung Billy , Phau Ian
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the moderating role of principle-based entity (PBE) of luxury brands and its effect on perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) motives, consumer situational scepticism and brand resonance.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modelling using multigroup analysis was used. Data were collected through a consumer panel.

Findings

Values-driven motives lowered consumer situational scepticism (CSS) significantly more in PBE than non-PBE. However, egoistic-driven motives increased CSS significantly more in PBE than non-PBE. Stakeholder-driven motives and strategic-driven motives did not elicit CSS, contrary to prior studies in non-luxury brands. PBE status also weakens the relationship between CSS and brand resonance more than non-PBE status.

Originality/value

This study is the first to provide empirical insights into PBE status and its effects on perceived motives, CSS of CSR initiatives and its influence in consumer and management outcomes in luxury brands.
Predictors of consumers' behaviour to recycle end-of-life garments in Australia
Authors: Rotimi Esther Oluwadamilola Olufemi , Johnson Lester W. , Kalantari Daronkola Hassan , Topple Cheree , Hopkins John
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to apply and extend the predictors within the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to understand consumers' behaviour toward recycling end-of-life garments among Australian consumers. The predictors explored within this study include attitude, perceived behavioural control, subjective norms, self-identity, general recycling behaviour eco-literacy, self-efficacy, intentions to recycle and behaviour to recycle end-of-life garments.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a sample of consumers across all eight recognised states/territories in Australia through survey questionnaires. A total of 481 usable responses were analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

Results show positive relationships between the factors explored with all hypotheses supported. The findings of this study have theoretical and managerial implications. They (1) provide an insight into the significant factors that influence consumers' recycling behaviour amongst Australian fashion consumers; (2) bridge the gap in the explanatory nature of TPB by extending this theory; (3) call to develop marketing campaigns to educate consumers on the impact of fashion waste; (4) suggest the need for provision of household textile collection bins at a national level and (5) highlight the need for policy reform on garment recycling enabled by the Australian government.

Originality/value

This study is part of the limited studies that focus on the recycling of consumer fashion waste within the Australian context. Little research has also applied the TPB to end-of-life fashion products with a focus on recycling. In addition, no study to the authors' knowledge has, in combination, explored self-efficacy, self-identity, general recycling behaviour and eco-literacy as predictors of intentions to recycle end-of-life garments.
Linkage role of ICT and Big Data in COVID-19: a case of Korea’s digital and social communication practices
Authors: Hong Paul , Ahn Na Young , Jung Euisung
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss characteristics of Korea’s system responses with a research framework of the structure, conduct and performance theory and explain the role of information, communication technologies (ICT) and Big Data from a technology-mediated control (TMC) perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the contextual nature of Korea’s diagnostic, preventive and treatment efforts. Particular attention is paid to issues related to the effective use of Big Data analytics and its applications, reporting mechanisms and public safety measures. The research model defines key factors in assessing the effectiveness of Korea’s responses.

Findings

Findings of this research suggest: effective strategic planning and operational execution use well-tested and designed crisis-responsive manuals; linkage role of ICT/Big Data is prominent in trace, test and treat and participation (3T + P); and aggressive epidemic investigations require synergistic efforts of national and local government units, broad societal support and participation and contribution of global firms offering their domestic and global supply chain network capabilities.

Research limitations/implications

The Korean Government's effective response experiences suggest the synergy of political, social, cultural and technological factors. Future studies may explore how personal privacy and public safety are both achieved in different social–cultural–political contexts (Ahnet al., 2020; Delgadoet al., 2020; Sharma and Bashir, 2020). Other emerging organizational issues and international comparative studies are worth further investigation in future studies.

Practical implications

This case study suggests how to apply ICT capabilities for organizing a national response to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) pandemic. Public and private partnership in the framework of sociotechnological synergy (i.e. integration of ICT and social orchestration) is essential for the 3T process. In support of public policy initiatives, global firms share their IT infrastructure and supply chain integration experiences to accommodate global-level crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social implications

This study extends the TMC framework to a national level. In the adapted TMC framework, the control source, control target and linkage mechanism are specified. Using TMC, this shows the dynamic roles of ICT/Big Data in Korea’s COVID-19 response experiences.

Originality/value

The impacts of the COVID-19 are rapid and enormous. Despite the controversial early policy decisions and the rapid rise of confirmed patients, the world has recognized Korea’s effective responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 pandemic shopping experience in Saudi Arabia: scale development and validation for Muslim customers
Authors: Zia Adil , Kalia Prateek
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to, first, propose a valid and reliable scale to document the COVID-19 Pandemic Shopping Experience (CPSE) and, second, determine the impact of its variables on the postpurchase shopping experience (PPSE).

Design/methodology/approach

For scale development, published studies were scanned and the variables were shortlisted. These shortlisted variables were validated by 52 faculties from four universities in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from 318 respondents to purify the CPSE Scale. In Study 2, a path analysis was performed on a sample of 354 respondents to determine the individual impact of each variable on PPSE.

Findings

A total of 14 items were found to be aligned under four variables, social distance (SD), shop hygiene, operational time and entertainment venues. SD was found to have the greatest influence on PPSE, followed by operational time and shop hygiene.

Practical implications

This research has important implications for retailers to initiate changes in store layout so that they can implement social distancing by physically marking stickers on the floors and by placing barricading on billing counters. Store hygiene can be ensured by making sanitizers and hand gloves available at the entry points, periodically cleaning the floor and sanitizing the premises. Rationing the operating time proved to be an effective tool to minimize the exposure time, thereby limiting consumers' time inside the store.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to propose a full-scale measure of the customer shopping experience (SE) during a pandemic. This scale can be generalized to measure SE in similar situations.
Drivers of green supply chain integration and green product innovation: a motivation-opportunity-ability framework and a dynamic capabilities perspective
Authors: Lee Hanna
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study provides an integrative model that facilitates green product innovation (GPI) by adopting dynamic capabilities theory and the motivation-opportunity-ability (MOA) framework. Drawing on dynamic capabilities theory, this study emphasizes green supply chain integration (GSCI), consisting of internal and external integration, as a dynamic capability that drives GPI. Moreover, this study analyzes the environmental conditions that benefit the development of dynamic capabilities using the MOA framework and focuses specifically on government support (GS) and market greenness (MG) as precursors to GSCI.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected from 300 Chinese manufacturing firms. The proposed hypotheses were tested using hierarchical multiple regression analysis.

Findings

The regression analysis reveals that (1) GS and MG positively affect both internal and external integration and (2) internal and external integration positively affect GPI.

Originality/value

In explicating a model of GPI, this study extends the theoretical lens of dynamic capabilities beyond the intraorganizational level to the supply chain level. Moreover, this study enhances the understanding of dynamic capability development by considering the environmental conditions that represent motivation- and opportunity-based drivers of GSCI.
Underlying factors of student engagement to E-learning
Authors: Dubey Pushkar , Pradhan Resham Lal , Sahu Kailash Kumar
Published: February 2023

Purpose

With the advent of the COVID-19 and increased access to Internet technologies, students tend to use e-learning technologies for improved academic results, and since then, improving student engagement in a virtual space became a difficult task for educational institutions globally. The present study aims to examine the effect of key e-learning factors (i.e. perception, hedonic motivation (HM), usefulness, empowerment and attitude) on student engagement among open and distance learners (ODLs) of the central region of India.

Design/methodology/approach

Simple random sampling was applied to collect data from ODLs of Chhattisgarh. ODLs who are using e-learning platforms for at least one year were chosen to be the participant in the study. The authors collected 1,137 responses using both online and offline modes of collection.

Findings

The test results indicated that usefulness, HM and attitude factors were found to have a significant relationship with student engagement in e-learning, while perception and empowerment variables did not contribute to the engagement of students.

Originality/value

The present study is novel in its approach. It clarifies the key factors to student engagement which might increase the students' level of involvement in e-learning technologies, if these factors are addressed tactfully by the educational institutions or concerned administration.
Urban property markets and security risk: explaining how neighborhood security shapes housing rental prices in Ojo Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Aliu Ibrahim Rotimi
Published: February 2023

Purpose

While the declining rate of urban security and its potential effects have been globally acknowledged, the ways urban neighborhood security shapes real estate markets in African cities remain largely unexplained. The purpose of this paper therefore is to present the findings from a study of the nexus between urban neighborhood security and home rental prices in Lagos, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the hedonic price theory, an objectively derived urban neighborhood security index (UNSI) and property rental price data in Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. This is a quantitative cross-sectional study that employs multistage sampling survey procedure. Data are analyzed using descriptive statistics, nonparametric correlation and hedonic price function with ordinary least squares (OLS).

Findings

Results show that nearly 50% of the study area is prone to insecurity and average rental values in Ojo, Lagos range from N151329.41 ($302.66) to N167333.33 ($334.67) per annum. Correlation analysis shows that home rental prices have high, positive and significant correlations (rs = 0.725 and p < 0) with UNSI. After controlling for neighborhood and structural factors, it is found that urban neighborhood security positively influences home rental values as a unit improvement in security leads to N81000.00 ($162.00) increase in rental value per annum.

Practical implications

Urban neighborhood security risk threatens residential property values, creates unintended residential mobility and destabilizes families. Findings from this study point to the facts that security is a key component of urban housing values and developers, and real estate investors must ensure that this component is well factored into property design, construction and valuation.

Originality/value

This is perhaps the first study that uses an objectively derived UNSI to study home rental price dynamics in Nigeria. The study extends knowledge on urban housing price determinants and contributes to literature on the crucial place of security in property management.
Religiosity and bank lending: evidence surrounding the pandemic in the USA
Authors: Baradwaj Babu G. , Dewally Michaël , Hong Liu , Shao Yingying
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of religiosity on banks’ lending behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the evidence from the issuance of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to relate local religiosity to banks’ participation in the PPP loan program and to banks’ loan portfolio performance during the pandemic.

Findings

The results of this study show that banks located in more religious counties have a higher level of lending through the PPP, supporting the ethical and moral concerns cultivated by local religious beliefs. In addition, banks’ lending before the pandemic is more prudential in more religious areas, as reflected in lower losses and higher returns at the onset of the crisis, especially in areas where business activities were most disrupted, supporting the stewardship role encouraged by religiosity.

Originality/value

Thanks to the structure of the PPP loans programs, the authors are able to disentangle the conflicting effects of morality and prudence on banks’ behavior.
Knowledge loss induced by organizational member turnover: a review of empirical literature, synthesis and future research directions (Part II)
Authors: Galan Nataliya
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this two-part study is to systematically review, analyze and critically synthesize the current state of empirical research on knowledge loss induced by organizational member turnover (KLT).

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on using a systematic literature review methodology reported in Part I.

Findings

Part II of this study contributes to the advancement of KLT scholarship by offering: an integrative narrative of KLT coping and preventive mechanisms as well as factors affecting them; an organizing framework of KLT empirical literature; and suggestions for future research, which are discussed with respect to the content, based on the proposed framework and by extending contextual dimensions of “who”, “where” and “when”, as well as use of theories and methods.

Research limitations/implications

This study has limitations related to inclusion/exclusion criteria used for creating the review sample and the “Antecedents–Phenomenon–Outcomes” logic used to synthesize the findings.

Originality/value

Part II of this study offers a systematic synthesis of KLT empirical research with respect to KLT coping and preventive mechanisms and a discussion of opportunities for future research.
The bi-directional relationship between community-oriented factors and residents’ emotional solidarity with tourists
Authors: Rao Yun , Lai Ivan Ka Wai
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to understand the bi-directional relationship between residents’ perceived community-oriented factors and residents’ emotional solidarity with tourists. It compares the mutual influences between the human–place relationship and the resident–tourist relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model with two arrows was constructed, presenting two sets of research hypotheses. Hypothesis A formalizes the effect of community-oriented factors on emotional solidarity, while Hypothesis B formalizes the effect of emotional solidarity on community-oriented factors. Using systematic sampling, this study received 462 valid questionnaires in Macau. These samples were used in confirmation factor analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis.

Findings

In the one-way influence of community-oriented factors on emotional solidarity, residents’ community attachment, commitment and involvement have the greatest effect, respectively, on their welcoming nature, sympathetic understanding and emotional closeness to tourists. In the one-way influence of emotional solidarity on community-oriented factors, residents’ welcoming nature to tourists has the greatest impact on community attachment and commitment while residents’ emotional closeness has the greatest impact on community involvement. Besides, the impact of community-oriented factors on emotional solidarity has stronger explanatory power than the impact of emotional solidarity on community-oriented factors.

Originality/value

Contrary to most tourism studies on residents’ perspectives that only focus on one-way influence, this study suggested a dual-way approach that helps researchers further build complex models to better explain the complex relationships between places, residents and tourists. Furthermore, this study provides a contribution to tourism research on emotional solidarity by clarifying the flexible roles of community-oriented factors on residents’ emotional solidarity.
Knowledge sharing on mobile social networking: motivational drivers and influence on productivity
Authors: Lim Fei Hui , Bahar Nurhidayah , Wahab Siti Norida , Hamzah Muhammad Iskandar
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the motivational drivers for knowledge sharing (KS) through the application of mobile social networking (MSN) and their influence on employee productivity in the Malaysian construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was collected by distributing a self-administered questionnaire among employees working in the construction industry. A total of 250 questionnaires were collected and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. This study used a variety of analysis methodologies including correlation analysis, reliability and validity testing, as well as a structural model in evaluating the relationships between KS, motivational factors and influence on productivity.

Findings

The empirical results of this study reveal that utilitarian motivation is positively related to internal and external KS. Similarly, internal and external KS have a positive influence on productivity, while internal and external hedonic motivation does not show any significant relationship with productivity.

Research limitations/implications

Considering the paucity of evidence regarding the determinants of KS motivational drives on employee productivity in the Malaysian construction industry, this study enriches the social cognitive theory-based literature on KS.

Practical implications

This study provides some insights to the players in the construction industry in implementing the most appropriate KS promotion strategies that could potentially influence employee productivity. Organisations in the construction industry that place great emphasis on utilitarian motivation including competency, reward and incentives are more likely to have a better influence on KS and, in turn, positively impact employee productivity.

Originality/value

This study meaningfully contributes to enhancing the understanding of the motivational drivers for sharing knowledge on MSN and its influence on productivity. The findings of this study potentially assist construction practitioners in developing a holistic blueprint for managing their KS towards improving the overall productivity of their employees.
Multiple co‐occurring bioeconomic drivers of overexploitation can accelerate rare species extinction risk
Authors: Almeida Ryan J. , Bonachela Juan A. , Lockwood Julie L.
Published: February 2023

The unsustainable harvest of species for the global wildlife trade is a major cause of vertebrate extinction. Through the anthropogenic Allee effect (AAE), overexploitation to extinction can occur when a species' rarity drives up its market price, enabling profitable harvest of all remaining individuals. Even in the absence of rarity value, however, the harvest of other species can subsidize the overexploitation of a rare species to the point of extinction, a phenomenon termed opportunistic exploitation. These two pathways to extinction have been considered independently, but many traded species experience them simultaneously.

In this study, we develop a simple model that incorporates these mechanisms simultaneously and demonstrate that including multiple harvest strategies with market‐based feedbacks fundamentally alters rare species extinction risk and the rate at which overexploitation occurs. As a pertinent case study, we consider the harvest of ground pangolinsSmutsia temminckii.

Our results show that pangolin extinction was generally associated with high rarity value, the use of multiple harvest strategies and the simultaneous harvest of a common species that has a fast life history. Pangolin population depletion and short‐term extinction risk were greatest when harvesters used a combination of pursuit and opportunistic (i.e. multi‐species) harvest strategies.

Policy implications.Our results suggest that feedbacks between multiple financial incentives to overharvest can exacerbate the risk of extinction of rare species. As a result, continuing to address AAE and opportunistic exploitation as separate extinction pathways may insufficiently capture extinction risk for many exploited species. Criteria for assessing extinction risk or harvest sustainability of exploited species should incorporate multiple drivers of harvest pressure, with an expanded focus on including species with high rarity value that are exploited in multi‐species harvest regimes.
External validity of economic experiments on Agri‐environmental scheme design
Authors: Ferré Marie , Engel Stefanie , Gsottbauer Elisabeth
Published: February 2023

The use of laboratory experiments to study issues in agricultural policy has grown in prominence within the fields of agricultural and environmental economics. Such experiments are often conducted with university students and framed in an abstract manner. This raises questions about whether the findings of these experiments provide reliable insights on the behaviour of actual agents in real settings. We contribute to this methodological debate by analysing the impacts of sample population and framing on behaviour in the experiment and on two policy effects: the direction and the magnitude of the policy impact. We also examine the channels through which differences in results may occur. For this, we test if behaviour is correlated with a set of covariates collected from our samples, including socio‐demographics, social and risk preferences. Our main finding is that the type of subject significantly affects the magnitude of the policy impact. The two populations differ substantially in the representation of key characteristics and preferences, which in consequence affects behaviour in the experiment. We find no significant impact of framing on behaviour.
Product promotional strategies in supermarkets and their effects on sales: A case study of breakfast cereals and drinks in New Zealand
Authors: Rosin Magda , Young Leanne , Jiang Yannan , Vandevijvere Stefanie , Waterlander Wilma , Mackay Sally , Ni Mhurchu Cliona
Published: February 2023

Aims

To examine the frequency of promotions on breakfast cereals and drinks in a major New Zealand supermarket chain, determine the healthiness of promoted versus non‐promoted products, and quantify the effects of promotions on sales.

Methods

Weekly data on product promotions and sales were collected in six Auckland supermarkets for 198 breakfast products over 12 weeks. The healthiness of products was determined using the Health Star Rating system, and the effect of promotions on sales was estimated using linear mixed models.

Results

On average, 47% of breakfast products in a given week were promoted using on‐shelf tickets, 12% in weekly mailers, and 9% via promotional displays. The healthiness of promoted and non‐promoted breakfast products was comparable. In relation to weekly sales of non‐promoted products, all three promotional strategies had substantial (2 to 2.5 times higher sales) and statistically significant (P < 0.001) effects on product sales.

Conclusion

Promotions are frequently used and effective at increasing sales. Marketing strategies focusing solely on promoting healthier products could be an important nudging strategy to improve the healthiness of supermarket food purchases.
Financial incentives for quitting smoking in pregnancy: Are they cost‐effective?
Authors: McMeekin Nicola , Sinclair Lesley , Robinson‐Smith Lyn , Mitchell Alex , Bauld Linda , Tappin David M. , Boyd Kathleen A.
Published: February 2023

Aims

To evaluate whether adding financial incentives to usual care is cost‐effective in encouraging pregnant women to quit tobacco smoking, compared with usual care alone.

Design

Cost‐effectiveness analysis (CEA) and cost–utility analysis (CUA) from a health‐care provider's perspective, embedded in the Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy Incentives Trial (CPIT III). Long‐term analyses were conducted from the same perspective, using an existing Markov model over a life‐time horizon.

Setting

Seven maternity smoking cessation sites in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom.

Participants

In the short‐term analysis, CPIT III participants were assessed: women 16 years or older, self‐reporting as smokers, fewer than 24 weeks pregnant and English‐speaking (n = 944). The same population was used for the life‐time analysis, plus their infants.

Measurements

Costs included financial incentive vouchers and postage, cessation support and nicotine replacement therapy and neonatal stays. The outcome measure was a biochemically verified quit rate for the CEA and quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs) for CUA. Costs are presented in 2020 GBP sterling (£). Data for the life‐time analysis came from the trial and were combined with data from published literature embedded in the model, reporting incremental cost per quitter and QALY. A 3.5% discount rate was applied.

Findings

The short‐term incremental cost per quitter was £4400 and cost per QALY was £150 000. Results of sensitivity analyses confirmed these results. The long‐term analysis combined costs and outcomes for mother and infants; results showed a cost saving of £37 [95% confidence interval (CI]) = £35–106] and increase in QALYs of 0.171 (95% CI = 0.124–0.229). These findings indicate that, over a life‐time, financial incentives are cost‐saving and improve health outcomes.

Conclusions

In the United Kingdom, offering up to £400 financial incentives, in addition to usual care, to support pregnant women to stop smoking appears to be highly cost‐effective over a life‐time for mother and infants.
Gravity trade model with firm heterogeneity and horizontal foreign direct investment
Authors: Luckstead Jeff , Devadoss Stephen , Zhao Xin
Published: February 2023

We develop a gravity trade model based on a theoretical analysis of heterogeneous firms that engage in horizontal Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) or exporting. The model allows firms' endogenous choice between exporting or FDI to impact the proportion of exporting firms and subsequently bilateral trade. Based on the theoretical results, we propose a three‐stage estimation procedure: First, estimate firm selection into horizontal FDI; second, use predicted probabilities from the first stage in the estimation of firm selection into exporting; and third, use predicted probabilities from the previous two stages in the gravity estimation of bilateral trade. We apply this procedure to the European Union (EU) processed food industry, which engages in worldwide FDI and trade. We estimate a baseline model of a standard gravity equation, a two‐stage model without FDI selection, and our proposed three‐stage model and quantify bias corrections in the coefficient estimates of the trade friction variables in the baseline and two‐stage gravity models. The bias corrections can be large. For instance, the inclusion of the proportion of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) in the trade‐selection equation leads to a sign reversal of the distance coefficient estimate and results in an upward bias correction of . The three‐stage gravity corrects a downward bias of in the coefficient estimate of distance in the baseline but an upward bias of in the two‐stage method, which indicates that the two‐stage method overcorrects the downward bias in the baseline gravity.
Exploring barriers and enablers to the delivery of Making Every Contact Count brief behavioural interventions in Ireland: A cross‐sectional survey study
Authors: Meade Oonagh , O'Brien Maria , Noone Chris , Lawless Agatha , McSharry Jenny , Deely Helen , Hart Jo , Hayes Catherine B. , Keyworth Chris , Lavoie Kim , McGowan Orla , Murphy Andrew W. , Murphy Patrick J. , O'Reilly Orlaith ,   The Health Psychology Public Advisory Panel, Byrne Molly
Published: February 2023

Objectives

The public health impact of the Irish Making Every Contact Count (MECC) brief intervention programme is dependent on delivery by health care professionals. We aimed to identify enablers and modifiable barriers to MECC intervention delivery to optimize MECC implementation.

Design

Online cross‐sectional survey design.

Methods

Health care professionals (n = 4050) who completed MECC eLearning were invited to complete an online survey based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Multiple regression analysis identified predictors of MECC delivery (logistic regression to predict delivery or not; linear regression to predict frequency of delivery). Data were visualized using Confidence Interval‐Based Estimates of Relevance (CIBER).

Results

Seventy‐nine per cent of participants (n = 283/357) had delivered a MECC intervention. In the multiple logistic regression (Nagelkerke's R2 = .34), the significant enablers of intervention delivery were ‘professional role’ (OR = 1.86 [1.10, 3.15]) and ‘intentions/goals’ (OR = 4.75 [1.97, 11.45]); significant barriers included ‘optimistic beliefs about consequences’ (OR = .41 [.18, .94]) and ‘negative emotions’ (OR = .50 [.32, .77]). In the multiple linear regression (R2 = .29), the significant enablers of frequency of MECC delivery were ‘intentions/goals’ (b = 10.16, p = .02) and professional role (b = 6.72, p = .03); the significant barriers were ‘negative emotions’ (b = −4.74, p = .04) and ‘barriers to prioritisation’ (b = −5.00, p = .01). CIBER analyses suggested six predictive domains with substantial room for improvement: ‘intentions and goals’, ‘barriers to prioritisation’, ‘environmental resources’, ‘beliefs about capabilities’, ‘negative emotions’ and ‘skills’.

Conclusion

Implementation interventions to enhance MECC delivery should target intentions and goals, beliefs about capabilities, negative emotions, environmental resources, skills and barriers to prioritization.
Veklury® (remdesivir) formulations inhibit initial membrane‐coupled events of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection due to their sulfobutylether‐β‐cyclodextrin content
Authors: Kovacs Tamas , Kurtan Kitti , Varga Zoltan , Nagy Peter , Panyi Gyorgy , Zakany Florina
Published: February 2023

Background and Purpose

Despite its contradictory clinical performance, remdesivir (Veklury®) has a pivotal role in COVID‐19 therapy. Possible contributions of the vehicle, sulfobutylether‐β‐cyclodextrin (SBECD) to Veklury® effects have been overlooked. The powder and solution formulations of Veklury® are treated equivalently despite their different vehicle content. Our objective was to study Veklury® effects on initial membrane‐coupled events of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection focusing on the cholesterol depletion‐mediated role of SBECD.

Experimental Approach

Using time‐correlated flow cytometry and quantitative three‐dimensional confocal microscopy, we studied early molecular events of SARS‐CoV‐2–host cell membrane interactions.

Key Results

Veklury® and different cholesterol‐depleting cyclodextrins (CDs) reduced binding of the spike receptor‐binding domain (RBD) to ACE2 and spike trimer internalization for Wuhan‐Hu‐1, Delta and Omicron variants. Correlations of these effects with cholesterol‐dependent changes in membrane structure and decreased lipid raft‐dependent ACE2–TMPRSS2 interaction establish that SBECD is not simply a vehicle but also an effector along with remdesivir due to its cholesterol‐depleting potential. Veklury® solution inhibited RBD binding more efficiently due to its twice higher SBECD content. The CD‐induced inhibitory effects were more prominent at lower RBD concentrations and in cells with lower endogenous ACE2 expression, indicating that the supportive CD actions can be even more pronounced during in vivo infection when viral load and ACE expression are typically low.

Conclusion and Implications

Our findings call for the differentiation of Veklury® formulations in meta‐analyses of clinical trials, potentially revealing neglected benefits of the solution formulation, and also raise the possibility of adjuvant cyclodextrin (CD) therapy, even at higher doses, in COVID‐19.
Preventing bank panics: The role of the regulator's preferences
Authors: Gao Jiahong , Reed Robert R.
Published: February 2023

How do the preferences of a banking authority affect its decision making in periods of distress and thus financial stability? We study this question in a version of Diamond and Dybvig (1983) with a monopolistic bank and a time‐consistent policy response by a banking authority. We show that limited commitment on the part of the banking authority may induce fragility but the banking authority's incentives are also an important determining factor in the degree of financial stability. In particular, under a simple suspension scheme, delegating a banking authority who places sufficient weight on a banker's welfare acts as a commitment device and prevents runs, in analogy with how a Rogoff (1985) “conservative” central banker helps reduce inflation bias. In contrast, once interventions take the form of payment rescheduling, the scope for the bank's susceptibility to a panic increases should the banking authority put more weight on monopoly rents. Identifying such an aspect of vulnerability suggests that appointing a banking authority whose objective function deviates from that of depositors may have unintended consequences.