bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contextual and cultural factors underlying Americanization
Authors: Samuel Craig C. , Douglas Susan P. , Bennett Aronte 
Published: January 2009

PurposeAmerican cultural influence is evident throughout the world to varying degrees. The purpose of this paper is to examine factors that influence the extent to which a particular country adopts elements of American culture. Factors related to information, ideas, technology, goods, and capital as well as cultural proximity are used to explain the degree of Americanization a country exhibits.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual framework is developed that looks at culture, Americanization and the related construct of internationalization. The extent of consumption of products related to American culture in a sample of 23 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries was examined. These included the number of McDonald's per capita, amount spent on US filmed entertainment, including television, and imports from the USA.FindingsCultural proximity to the USA was found to be associated with a greater degree of Americanization as evidenced by more McDonald's per capita and greater consumption of filmed entertainment from the USA. A country's openness to trade, as indicated by exports, foreign direct investment, and tourism, negatively influenced consumption of filmed entertainment. A country's progressiveness was weakly related to the number of McDonald's. None of the independent variables influenced imports from the USA.Practical implicationsThe role of cultural proximity in fostering the adoption of products with cultural content suggests that it may be useful, along with other factors, in identifying attractive markets. Further, while this study focused on the spread of American culture, the fundamental process underlying the spread of other cultures should be similar.Originality/valueThe paper is unique in that it attempts to look analytically at surrogates of American influence in other countries, rather than rely on anecdotal accounts. It uses measures that may have broader applicability and lays the foundation for additional inquiries.
Segmenting socially responsible mutual fund investors
Authors: Nilsson Jonas 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address reasons for consumer investment in socially responsible investment (SRI) profiled mutual funds. Specifically, the paper deals with the relative influence of financial return and social responsibility on the decision to invest in SRI profiled mutual funds.Design/methodology/approachA cluster analytic approach was used where 563 SR‐investors were classified into different segments based on their perception of importance of financial return and social responsibility. Furthermore, discriminant analysis and chi2 tests were used to profile the segments.FindingsThree segments of SR‐investors were formed. The “primarily concerned about profit” SR‐investors value financial return over social responsibility. The “primarily concerned about social responsibility” value social responsibility over financial return. The “socially responsible and return driven” SR‐investors value both return and social responsibility when deciding to invest in SRI. The segments displayed distinct differences with regard to various profiling variables.Research limitations/implicationsAs respondents were generated from one SRI provider, it is possible that the respondents are not fully representative of all SR‐investors.Practical implicationsSince there are segments of SR‐investors that invest in SRI because of different reasons, there is an opportunity for SRI providers to target and adapt communication to certain segments.Originality/valueFor both academia and the SRI industry this study provides useful knowledge on how private SR‐investors handle the issue of financial return and social responsibility when investing in SRI. This understanding of the differing motivations of the SR‐investor also holds practical importance for developing appropriate marketing strategies within the SRI industry.
Empirical analysis of internet banking adoption in Poland
Authors: Polasik Michal , Piotr Wisniewski Tomasz 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThis paper seeks to identify empirically the factors underlying the decision to adopt online banking in Poland.Design/methodology/approachThe sample used in this study is based on 3,519 interactive questionnaires completed by Polish internet users. The dichotomous decision of whether to adopt internet banking services was linked, via Binomial Logistic Regression, to numerous explanatory variables.FindingsGenerally, the behaviour of Polish internet users and that of consumers in more developed countries exhibit similar traits. One of the dominant relationships that has been observed in our study is the link between the decision to open an online account and the perceived level of security of internet transactions. Experience with the medium of internet and certain demographic variables also proved to be robust predictors of the adoption status. Moreover, this inquiry documents that advertising appears to be efficacious and that online banking interacts with consumption of other products offered by banks. These findings imply that financial institutions can encourage customers to use this cost‐effective distribution channel through carefully‐planned actions.Practical implicationsThe results presented in this paper can be of assistance to banks that either operate in Poland or intend to design a pan‐European strategy. Useful insights are also provided with regard to market segmentation, security and strategies fostering the acceptance of online banking.Originality/valueThe analysis is based on a large sample and broadens our understanding of the attitudes towards innovative financial products by considering factors rarely discussed in prior literature.
The role of consumer innovativeness and perceived risk in online banking usage
Authors: Aldás‐Manzano Joaquín , Lassala‐Navarré Carlos , Ruiz‐Mafé Carla , Sanz‐Blas Silvia 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse how consumer innovativeness can be used as a variable to positively influence internet banking adoption both directly and reducing consumer perceived risk.Design/methodology/approachThe impact of innovativeness and risk on internet banking adoption has been tested through structural equation modelling techniques. The sample consists of 511 Spanish internet banking services users accessed through an internet survey. Risk has been measured as a formative construct.FindingsResults reveals consumer innovativeness as a key construct to improve e‐banking adoption both directly and by its effective role in reducing consumer risk perception of using internet channel in the financial services context.Practical implicationsPractical guidelines are provided to bank managers on how to use consumer innovativeness level as a segmentation variable to increase the use of internet banking among actual customers who are non users or light users of the electronic channel.Originality/valueThere is a lack of studies which connect consumer innovativeness and perceived risk in the electronic commerce context and specially on e‐banking research. Formative configuration of risk is quite an innovative approach to measure this construct.
Evaluation of pure tin plated copper alloy substrates for tin whiskers
Authors: Mathew Sony , Osterman Michael , Pecht Michael , Dunlevey Frank 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the results from work on a project aimed at evaluating six different copper alloy substrates coated with pure tin for tin whisker growth. The influence of intermetallic growth between the copper alloy substrate and the tin‐plating on the growth of tin whiskers has been investigated.Design/methodology/approachThe experiment consisted of six substrates of different alloys of copper, plated with bright tin including copper beryllium, cartridge brass, phosphor bronze, Cu‐Ni‐Si “7025” and Cu‐Ni‐Sn “spinodal”. The samples were mechanically stressed and then subjected to temperature humidity storage conditions for 1,000 h. These samples were then evaluated for tin whisker growth and intermetallic layer thickness.FindingsOf the six samples five showed tin whisker growth. For these samples the intermetallic layer thickness has little effect on tin whisker growth. Sample with Cu‐Ni‐Sn “spinodal” alloy substrate showed very low whisker density and comparatively lower maximum whisker length than the other tested substrate material.Research limitations/implicationsMore samples per condition should be evaluated to bolster the conclusions. For the sample without tin whisker growth, holes on the surface of the plating were observed. The holes in the plating provide an opportunity for stress relaxation after the plating process. Since stress in the plating layer is low, tin whiskers are not formed on the sample surface.Originality/valueThe paper details the tin whisker growth on six tin plated copper substrate samples. The intermetallic layer thickness for each copper alloy substrate is calculated. The relationship between the intermetallic layer thickness and tin whisker growth for the six substrates are discussed.
Intrinsically conductive polymer for PWB direct metallization: process reliability by process management
Authors: Rasmussen Jean 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe in detail the direct metallization of printed wiring boards using ENVISION® HDI for the selective formation of intrinsic conductive polymer.Design/methodology/approachThe process technology offers several advantages over the most commonly used electroless copper process: including higher through‐put; no deposition on metallic surfaces eliminating needs for post‐treatment in a micro‐etch, few process steps; significant reductions in water consumption and waste water, which does not contain hazardeous components such as metal, chelators and formaldehyde.FindingsENVISION HDI consists of only three process modules (conditioner, initiator and catalyst), each controlled by standard analytical technologies. In addition the quality out‐put of each module is monitored using a second set of standardized procedures, ensuring total process management, hence documenting complete process reliability.Originality/valueThis paper describes in detail quality control approaches for each process segment to provide a high level of performance and quality assurance for the process as a whole.
A compact ultra‐wideband bandpass filter with ultra‐fine conductor trace based on liquid crystal polymer substrates
Authors: Zhang Xia , Liu Johan , Kärnfelt Camilla , Ma Shiwei , Wang Xu , Meng Linqin , Zirath Herbert 
Published: January 2009

PurposeLiquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) materials are considered to be promising substrates for wireless applications because of their excellent properties. The purpose of this paper is to describe now a novel and compact microstrip ultra‐wideband bandpass filter (UWB BPF) with ultra‐fine conductor traces working over 22 to 29 GHz is fabricated on LCP substrates.Design/methodology/approachUsing standard processing technology, such as photolithography, plasma pretreatment, sputter deposition and wet etching, a microstrip UWB BPF is fabricated on LCP substrates. In order to obtain better adhesion between LCP substrate and copper, the oxygen plasma pretreatment of the LCP substrate surface and a thin titanium adhesion layer are introduced before a copper layer is sputter‐deposited onto the substrate.FindingsThe measured and the simulated results agree well. The measured insertion loss is about 8 dB in the passband of the bandpass filter, which is a little high compared to the simulated result (∼5 dB). The out of band performance at both the high frequency and low frequency is very good, almost higher than 35 dB.Originality/valueThis paper presents the realization of (UWB BPF) working over 22 to 29 GHz based on an LCP substrate, which demonstrates the feasibility of the application of the LCP substrate in RF wireless systems and also gives some useful information for later research.
Design and performance of metal conductors for stretchable electronic circuits
Authors: Gonzalez Mario , Axisa Fabrice , Bossuyt Frederick , Hsu Yung‐Yu , Vandevelde Bart , Vanfleteren Jan 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present an update on the progress of the design and reliability of stretchable interconnections for electronic circuits.Design/methodology/approachFinite element modelling (FEM) is used to analyse the physical behaviour of stretchable interconnects under different loading conditions. The fatigue life of a copper interconnect embedded into a silicone matrix has been evaluated using the Coffin‐Manson relation and FEM.FindingsThe mechanical properties of the substrate and the design of the metal interconnection play an important role on the fatigue lifetime of circuit. In the case of copper embedded into a PDMS Sylgard 186, more than 2,500 tensile cycles have been observed for a periodic deformation of 10 per cent.Research limitations/implicationsReliability results are limited and need further work to create a more accurate empirical model to estimate the lifetime of stretchable interconnections.Originality/valueThe combined use of FEM and experimental analysis enable a more reliable design of the stretchable metal interconnections. The proposed horseshoe design offers the benefit of reduced permanent damage during elongation.
Replacement of vias with polymer thick film pastes (PTF) for use on flexible substrates
Authors: Detert Markus , Zeise Michael , Wolter Klaus‐Jürgen 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the benefits and challenges of different technologies for via replacement in the realization of flexible substrates with more than one layer.Design/methodology/approachThe paper details the use of traditional technology for via formation and discusses the placement of jumpers (0 Ω resistors) and polymer thick film printing as alternative methods.FindingsThe paper covers a selection of possible techniques for replacement of vias. The results demonstrate the capability of polymer thick film pastes on flexible substrates. Depending on the requirements of the application and the operating environment, use of other substrate materials opens up a large variety of possible solutions.Originality/valueThe paper details the different techniques for via replacement and gives information about the different technological approaches.
Efficiency, ownership and financial structure in European banking
Authors: Girardone Claudia , Nankervis John C. , Velentza Ekaterini‐Fotini 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to compare the cost efficiencies across bank‐and market‐based EU countries for the different groups of commercial, savings and co‐operative banks; and between listed and non‐listed banking institutions. In addition, it attempts to determine any potential implications for bank efficiency originating from differences in financial structure.Design/methodology/approachEfficiency scores are estimated using the Battese and Coelli's time‐varying stochastic frontier approach. The classification of bank‐ and market‐based financial systems is based on the World Bank's Financial Structure Database.FindingsOn the whole the results reject the agency theory hypothesis that managers of privately‐owned banks are more cost efficient than those of mutual banking institutions because of capital market devices as it is found that mutual banks operating in EU‐15 countries are significantly more cost efficient than commercial banks. Furthermore, results are mixed concerning the financial structure hypothesis that in developed financial systems bank efficiency should not be statistically different across bank‐vs market‐based economies.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis suggests that differences in cost efficiency across bank types can often be explained by the prevailing financial system in each economy.Practical implicationsThe evidence illustrates the national diversity of corporate governance systems in Europe and can be important to policy makers who are concerned with the full integration of the European financial system.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no previous similar empirical works for the EU banking sector. Such a study has important policy implications especially due to the fact that the EU banking sector is experiencing profound structural changes and a full integration has not yet been achieved.
Measuring and explaining the impact of vertical product differentiation on banking efficiency
Authors: Lozano‐Vivas Ana 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe paper attempts to analyze vertical product differentiation as a strategy pursued by European banks seeking greater market power and higher reputation for quality, and to examine whether this entails losses in banking efficiency.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the empirical analysis seeks to demonstrate whether borrowers at banks in Europe are willing to pay a premium to operate with banks that attempt to increase their reputation for quality in the market, i.e. whether banks use quality to vertically differentiate and so soften competition. To test such hypothesis requires us to define an empirical model with variables that describe certain characteristics of banking quality as explanatory variables of the loan interest to the market interest rate margin. This model is estimated by two stage least squares. Second, the paper seeks to test whether the market power derived from vertical product differentiation (quality reputation) prevents banks from operating efficiently. To test this hypothesis first we estimated cost efficiency taking into account bank risk preferences and then we define an empirical model that relates the results on efficiency with the margin of interest loan rate over the market interest rate.FindingsThe results show that less competition, deriving from a bank's ability to differentiate its services from those of its rivals through quality, is positive because it helps to provide a more stable banking system. Moreover, the banking market power generated by investing in quality does not prevent banks from operating efficiently from a production point of view.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are consistent with the view that European banks soften competition by being more stable, and this does not prevent cost efficiency. So it seems that the regulatory authorities should improve their solvency measures since borrowers’ preferences are to maintain relationships with non‐fragile banks, and on the other hand banks’ risk preferences seem to be to look for sound borrowers.Practical implicationsFrontier cost efficiency scores that account for bank's risk preference are able to be related with customer preferences based on the model of the industrial organization (10) based on vertical product differentiation in banking.Originality/valueThis is the first paper that relates vertical product differentiation with the results obtained from the literature on x‐efficiency. It is also the first paper that studies the impact of banking market power jointly with cost efficiency in social efficiency when market power comes as result of investing in reputation for banking quality.
Determinants of bank efficiency: evidence from a semi‐parametric methodology
Authors: Delis Manthos D. , Papanikolaou Nikolaos I. 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to analyze bank efficiency into a number of bank‐specific, industry‐specific and macroeconomic determinants.Design/methodology/approachThe authors follow a semi‐parametric two‐stage methodology, where productive efficiency is derived via a non‐parametric technique in the first stage and then the scores obtained are linked to a series of determinants of bank efficiency, using a double bootstrapping procedure.FindingsOverall, it is found that the banking sectors of almost all the sample countries show a gradual improvement in their efficiency levels. The model used shows that a number of determinants like bank size, industry concentration and the investment environment have a positive impact on bank efficiency, which is not the case when standard Tobit models are employed.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings have important implications for the relevance of well‐known hypotheses that refer to the performance of the banking sectors, like the structure‐conduct‐performance and the efficient structure hypotheses. These implications are not necessarily verified when past conventional econometric methodologies are used.Practical implicationsThe paper offers new insights to policy makers, bank managers and practitioners on the relevance of a number of driving factors of bank efficiency that might help them to improve the performance of the banking system and enhance the quality of services provided.Originality/valueThis is the first paper in the bank efficiency literature that employs a semi‐parametric two‐stage model, which relaxes several deficiencies of previous two‐stage empirical approaches thus, offering a solution to the many problematic features of standard censored regressions.
Profit efficiency under a directional technology distance function approach
Authors: Koutsomanoli‐Filippaki Anastasia , Margaritis Dimitris , Staikouras Christos 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe aim of this study is to investigate profit efficiency in the banking industries of 11 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries for the period 1998‐2005.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employ a directional technology distance function approach to measure profit efficiency and decompose it into its technical and allocative components. They use these efficiency measures to investigate potential differences in banking performance across countries and across banks of different size and with different ownership status.FindingsThe results indicate that the highest proportion of profit inefficiency in the CEE region is attributed to allocative inefficiency, recognizing that considerable variation and different patterns in inefficiency levels across banking systems can be observed. Small and domestic private banks appear to be the most efficient. A negative relationship between efficiency and bank size, the capitalization ratio and market concentration, and a positive relationship with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development index of banking reform are also found.Research limitations/implicationsBank performance relative to best practice is measured across the CEE region. While it is found that on average technical inefficiency is relatively small and about one quarter of the banks lie on the technological frontier, the size of technical inefficiencies is likely to be exacerbated if the sample were to include Western European banks.Practical implicationsThe effects of banking reforms are evident by recent positive trends in profit and allocative efficiencies estimated for CEE banking sectors. These trends suggest that policy makers should intensify efforts to further improve the financial services regulatory and supervisory framework while freeing any remaining explicit or implicit barriers to bank competition.Originality/valueThe study departs from the traditional literature of efficiency. It uses a directional distance function approach to model multi input – multi output banking technology and to investigate profit efficiency in CEE countries.