bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regulation and entrepreneurial intention: cross-country evidence
Authors: Ghosh Sriparna 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
Entrepreneurship, along with its effect on economic growth, has been a major topic of research for quite some time now. However, none of these studies employs the use of entrepreneurial intention, a key indicator of latent entrepreneurs, as a measure of entrepreneurship. Till now, some small-scale studies have been done using survey data, with results indicating that external entrepreneurial environment affects entrepreneurial intention. A handful of studies have also looked at the linkages between economic freedom and entrepreneurial activities. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach
Using a panel data setting, this paper investigates the effects of economic freedom, especially regulation, on entrepreneurial intention. The empirical analysis uses data for 79 countries from 2001 to 2012.

Findings
The findings suggest that stricter credit market regulation reduces entrepreneurial intention whereas more stringent labor regulations restricts job availability and thereby encourage more people to take up entrepreneurship as a career choice.

Research limitations/implications
The entrepreneurial intention data available from GEM is a highly unbalanced data and the data also does not differentiate between latent entrepreneurship in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.

Practical implications
Future research should focus more on latent entrepreneurship which is a rough estimate of future entrepreneurs.

Social implications
Entrepreneurship acts as a channel to improve economic growth by creating more jobs and the institutional qualities might act as a barrier for aspiring entrepreneurs to take up entrepreneurship as their career choices in developing countries.

Originality/value
This study has a twofold contribution in the literature. First, it is the foremost large scale study that deals with entrepreneurial intention using secondary data from Global Economic Monitor (GEM) report. Second, this study explores the linkages between economic freedom index and entrepreneurial intention.
A PCA-DEA framework for stock selection in Indian stock market
Authors: Jothimani Dhanya , Shankar Ravi , Yadav Surendra S. 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
Portfolio optimization is the process of making an investment decision on a set of assets to realize high returns with low risk. It has three major stages: asset selection, asset weighting and asset management. Asset selection is an important phase because it influences asset allocation and ultimately affects the returns of a portfolio. Today, there is an increase in the number of listings on a stock exchange. Therefore, it is important for an investor to screen and select stocks for investment. This study focuses on the first stage of the portfolio optimization problem, namely, asset selection. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and select profitable stocks quoted on National Stock Exchange (NSE) for portfolio optimization.

Design/methodology/approach
Financial ratios are considered as the input and output parameters for evaluating the financial performance of the firms. This study adopts a hybrid principal component analysis (PCA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach to evaluate the efficiency of the firms. Based on the efficiency scores, the firms are selected for the investment process.

Findings
The model helps to determine the relative efficiencies of the firms. The efficient firms are considered to be the potential stocks for investment. It helps the investors to screen the stocks from a large number of stocks quoted on NSE.

Research limitations/implications
One of the limitations of the standard DEA model is that it fails to discriminate the firms when the number of input and output parameters are larger than the number of firms. To overcome this problem, either a parameter can be ignored or weight-restricted DEA can be applied. When an input/output parameter is dropped, the information in that variable is lost. Weight-restricted DEA model uses expert opinion for measuring the relative importance of input and output parameters. Expert opinion is subjective and might be biased. The PCA-DEA model helps to identify the efficient firms by improving the discriminatory power of standard DEA without any loss of information and without the need for expert opinion, which might be biased.

Practical implications
Asset selection is an important stage in the investment process. Selection of stocks based on the efficiency score is an easier option available to the investors. But the misclassification of firms either due to biased expert opinion or discrimination inability of DEA can be costly to an investor. The PCA-DEA model overcomes both these limitations. Investors can select the potential candidates for asset allocation based on the efficiency scores obtained using the PCA-DEA model. Further, the relative efficiencies obtained can help the firms to benchmark their performance against the best performing firms within their industry.

Originality/value
This paper is one of few papers to adopt the PCA-DEA framework to select stocks in the Indian stock market.
A memetic algorithm for maximizing earned attention in social media
Authors: Godinho Pedro , Moutinho Luiz , Pagani Margherita 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to propose a measure for earned attention and a model and procedure for the maximization of earned attention by a company over a period of time.

Design/methodology/approach
Utility functions are used as the base of the earned attention measure. An evolutionary algorithm – a memetic algorithm – is applied to identify strategies that aim to maximize earned attention. Computational analysis is performed resorting to simulated data, and the memetic algorithm is assessed through the comparison with a standard steepest ascent heuristic.

Findings
The shape of the utility functions considered in the model has a huge impact on the characteristics of the best strategies, with actions focused on increasing a single variable being preferred in case of constant marginal utility, and more balanced strategies having a better performance in the case of decreasing marginal utility. The memetic algorithm is shown to have a much better performance that the steepest ascent procedure.

Originality/value
A new mathematical model for earned attention is proposed, and an approach that has few applications in business problems – a memetic algorithm – is tailored to the model and applied to identify solutions.
The magic of place branding: regional brand identity in transition
Authors: Cassinger Cecilia , Eksell Jörgen 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the transition of a place brand identity from a cultural anthropological perspective. More specifically, the paper analyses the ritual features and magical qualities of the development process of a regional brand in Scandinavia.

Design/methodology/approach
The study consists of an exploratory, longitudinal single case study of regional branding. An abductive research design was used in which the data, consisting of qualitative interviews, policy and promotional documents, were analysed with an interpretive approach.

Findings
Three place branding rituals of re-naming, managing ambiguity and instilling faith are identified as central in the transition process. These practices generate different forms of magic that facilitate transition and accommodate change.

Research limitations/implications
The study suggests that the theoretical lens of the anthropological concept of the rite of passage is useful to capture the mechanisms and practices of the transition from an old to a new place brand identity.

Practical implications
The approach outlined in this paper is relevant for brand development and planning in that it demonstrates the ritual features and magical qualities of branding. In contrast to the linear step-by-step approach to brand planning, the study visualises brand development as overlapping phases in a process.

Originality/value
The study demonstrates the value of anthropological insights into transition rituals for understanding how change is alleviated in the development of place brands.
Participatory planning in Israel: from theory to practice
Authors: Eshkol Batel , Eshkol Alon 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the gap between the declarations regarding participatory planning and its actual implementation in practice within the Israeli spatial planning context.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper explores the gap between theory of participatory spatial planning and its implementation in practice by a comparative analysis of three participatory case studies in the Israeli planning context. The data collected to analyze the case studies is secondary data, including previous research on the three case studies and their re-evaluation on the basis of indicators for participation.

Findings
Participatory spatial planning processes are not often implemented in the Israeli context, as they are not required by law. All the three case studies explored in this paper deal with local spatial plans at the neighborhood level, but each expresses a very different participation mode: one is a national, government-led program; the second is a residents-led opposition to a municipal plan; and the third is a third-sector initiative offering an alternative plan to an existing one. The findings suggest that there is a correlation between the initiating body, its commitment to participation and the level of success of the participatory process.

Research limitations/implications
This paper focuses on three specific participatory spatial planning projects in Israel. Further exploration of additional participatory projects may prove useful to verify or refute the conclusions reached in this paper.

Originality/value
There is very little exploration and evaluation of participatory spatial planning processes in Israel. This paper provides a valuable, although limited, analysis, linking participatory planning theory to practice within the Israeli context.
Dealing with missing data as it pertains of e-maintenance
Authors: Loukopoulos Panagiotis , Zolkiewski George , Bennett Ian , Pilidis Pericles , Duan Fang , Mba David 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
Centrifugal compressors are integral components in oil industry, thus effective maintenance is required. Condition-based maintenance and prognostics and health management (CBM/PHM) have been gaining popularity. CBM/PHM can also be performed remotely leading to e-maintenance. Its success depends on the quality of the data used for analysis and decision making. A major issue associated with it is the missing data. Their presence may compromise the information within a set, causing bias or misleading results. Addressing this matter is crucial. The purpose of this paper is to review and compare the most widely used imputation techniques in a case study using condition monitoring measurements from an operational industrial centrifugal compressor.

Design/methodology/approach
Brief overview and comparison of most widely used imputation techniques using a complete set with artificial missing values. They were tested regarding the effects of the amount, the location within the set and the variable containing the missing values.

Findings
Univariate and multivariate imputation techniques were compared, with the latter offering the smallest error levels. They seemed unaffected by the amount or location of the missing data although they were affected by the variable containing them.

Research limitations/implications
During the analysis, it was assumed that at any time only one variable contained missing data. Further research is still required to address this point.

Originality/value
This study can serve as a guide for selecting the appropriate imputation method for missing values in centrifugal compressor condition monitoring data.
Corporate social responsibility: Internet social and environmental reporting by banks
Authors: Khalil Sandra , O’sullivan Patrick 
Published: July 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide further insight into internet social and environmental reporting (ISER) in the Middle East by investigating the ISER of Lebanese banks as well as their greenwashing behaviour and identifying its extent, quality and association with different variables such as profitability, size, religion and other variables.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a mixed methodology. Interviews were conducted to seek the opinions of banks towards corporate social responsibility (CSR). Content analysis of bank’s websites was used to examine the extent, quality and association of ISER with several bank characteristics.FindingsThe results show the prevalent use of ISER and greenwashing by Lebanese banks. The most disclosed category of ISER is community, whereas the least disclosed is environment. The study found a positive association between ISER and bank profitability, size, leverage and ownership concentration and an insignificant relationship with age and religion.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors recognise that the sample is small and addresses a single context and that it could have been expanded to other Middle Eastern contexts. However, the study is exploratory focusing on the Lebanese banking sector which is one of the most developed in the region. Further longitudinal studies could also be conducted to complement the work. The process used to measure greenwashing could be enhanced by addressing the materiality of CSR disclosures to stakeholders and the purpose of communicating CSR information.Practical implicationsIn light of the empirical findings, banks will gain a better understanding of the status and importance of ISER and will understand the risks of greenwashing leading them towards higher standard ISER and more ethical activities, which will have a positive impact on the Lebanese economy and society.Originality/valueThis study examines almost all aspects of online social and environmental disclosures including the webpage, CSR sections in addition to online published reports; it is an investigation about ISER with reference to Lebanon which has perhaps the most significant banking sector in the Middle East. It tackles the greenwashing issue in a new context and in a different way by examining its association with several variables. The study also investigates the association between religion and ISER which has seldom been tackled in similar studies.
Determinants of capital structure in Australia: an analysis of important factors
Authors: Li Hui , Stathis Petros 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the many factors that affect the leverage decisions of publicly traded Australian companies, and tests to see whether these factors are reliably important. The relationship between these factors and the leverage decision is examined.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a multiple linear panel regressions to study the relationship between the factors and leverage.

Findings
The authors find a set of eight factors which are reliably important for capital structure decision making. These factors include: profitability, log of assets, median industry leverage, industry growth, market to book ratio, tangibility, capital expenditure, and investment tax credits. The empirical evidence indicates weakening support for the pecking order hypothesis and increasing support for the trade-off theory in Australia.

Originality/value
This paper examines the determinants of capital structure using Australian firms and provides a comprehensive empirical support for the capital structure theories.
Relationship between resistance, TCR and stabilization temperature of amorphous Ni-P alloy
Authors: Filipowski Wojciech , Pruszowski Zbigniew , Waczynski Krzysztof , Kowalik Piotr , Kulawik Jan 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The paper aims to present a research on the impact of the stabilization process of a thin metallic layer (Ni-P) produced on a ceramic surface (Al2O3) by means of electroless metallization on its electric parameters and structure. On the basis of the research conducted, the existence of a relationship between resistance (R) and the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the test structure with a Ni-P alloy-based layer and the temperature of stabilization was proposed.

Design/methodology/approach
Metallic Ni-P layers were deposited on sensitized and activated substrates. Metallization was conducted in an aqueous solution containing two primary ingredients: sodium hypophosphite and nickel chloride. The concentration of both ingredients was (50-70) g/dm3. The process lasted 60 min, and the metallization bath pH was kept at 2.1-2.2, whereas the temperature was maintained at 363 K. The thermal stabilization process was conducted in different temperatures between 453 and 623 K. After the technological processes, the resistance and TCR of the test structures were measured with a micro ohmmeter. The composition and the morphology of the resistive layer of the structures examined was also determined.

Findings
The dependence of the resistance on the temperature of the stabilization process for the temperature range 553 to 623 K was described using mathematical relationships. The TCR of test resistors at the same thermal stabilization temperature range was also described using a mathematical equation. The measurements show that the resistive layer contains 82.01 at.% of nickel (Ni) and 17.99 at.% of phosphorus (P).

Originality/value
The results associate a surface morphology Ni-P alloy with the resistance and TCR according to temperature stabilization. The paper presents mathematical relationships that have not been described in the literature available.
Prediction performance of compressive strength of cementitious materials containing rubber aggregates and filler using fuzzy logic method
Authors: Turki Mohamed , Zarrad Ines , Quéneudec Michéle , Bouaziz Jamel 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on compressive strength modelling of cementitious mixtures like mortar and Roller-compacted concrete (RCC) containing rubber aggregates from shredded worn tires and filler using adaptive neuro fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS).

Design/methodology/approach
The volume substitution contains a ratio of rubber aggregates vs sand in mortar and with crushed sand in RCC and ranges from 0 to 50 per cent. As for the filler, they are substituted with sand by 5 per cent in mortar mixture. The methodology consists of optimizing the percentage of substitution in cementitious mixtures to ensure better mechanical properties of materials like compressive strength. The prediction of compressive strength and the optimization of cementitious mixtures encourage their uses in such construction pavements, in area games or in other special constructions. These cementitious materials are considered as friendly to the environment by focussing on their improved deformability.

Findings
The results of this paper show that the performance of the constructed fuzzy method was measured by correlation of experimental and model results of mortar and RCC mixtures containing both rubber aggregates and filler. The comparison between elaborated models through the error and the accuracy calculations confirms the reliability of the ANFIS method.

Originality/value
The purpose of this paper is to assess the performance of the constructed fuzzy model by the ANFIS method for two types of cementitious materials like mortar and RCC containing rubber aggregates and filler. The fuzzy method could predict the compressive strength based on the limited measurement values in the mechanical experiment. Furthermore, the comparison between the elaborated models confirms the reliability of the ANFIS method through the error and the accuracy calculations for the best cementitious material mixtures.
CEO’s political connections, institutions and audit opinions
Authors: Hu Fang , Stewart Jenny , Tan Weiqiang 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether audit opinions of listed firms in China vary systematically with the political connections of the firm’s chief executive officer (CEO). Prior literature only shows the importance of political influence to auditor choice and audit quality.

Design/methodology/approach
A politically connected firm is defined as a firm in which the CEO has a political background. The authors use a “difference-in-difference” model to control for self-selection problems.

Findings
The authors find that the likelihood of receiving a favourable opinion in the subsequent period is positively associated with a CEO’s political connections. This positive association is stronger with CEOs connected to local government within the same region. The authors further find that the CEO’s political connections have more influence on favourable audit opinions in non-state-owned enterprises (non-SOEs) in a less developed and lower investor protection region. The influence is also less significant in the regions where there are more non-state-owned or foreign banks and where there are greater penalties for political corruption and relationship-based contracting.

Originality/value
The study complements and extends the existing literature on the role of political connections in the economy by providing evidence on the effect of a CEO’s political connections on audit opinions. The authors extend the research on auditing in emerging markets by explicitly accounting for unique institutional and market factors in China. They explore audit quality by observing how audit opinions are directly shaped by political and institutional factors.