title: Network effect and investor’s perceptions: An empirical investigation

authors: Feroz, Noushad Khan

subjects: Financial information

abstract: Investors’ perceptions, and their understanding related to an investment, are paramount to decision-making in economic and investment settings. Social media is increasingly playing a vital role in influencing investors’ perceptions and investors’ decisions in the financial arena. Social media is a comfortable and easy tool to use. That’s why it has just become a fundamental part of online news sharing and information distribution.

In the first study of this thesis, a network structure is constructed and built social ties circle based on the frequency of communication of investors within the network, and the network size of the investors to develop a comprehensive measurement scale for the social network index. Our findings indicate that the acquisition of information in the social network of investors depends on different components or factors. A significant factor in the network index is the network degree (network connectivity). It implies that network members with higher degrees or connections acquire vast amounts of information. Likewise, investors with larger networks receive enormous amounts of information, notably "following," which is the principal component in terms of network size. As a result, network size appears as the network index's second biggest factor. The smaller contribution comes from social tie circles. However, collectively, all these factors represent the social network index.

In the second study, we argue that the impact of financial information and news on investors’ perceptions is moderated by network factors such as network structure, social ties, and network size of the network. The impact of information on an individual’s perception is also called a social network or network effect. To tackle the moderating role of these network factors, we employed PLS-SEM as a statistical technique. The findings of this study indicate that network connectivity and social ties are crucial for the acquisition of information within the network. The findings of the study also show that network connectivity and social ties circle plays a central role in determining the impact of financial information. Our study further indicates that the impact of financial information and news on investors’ perceptions depends on their theme.

In the third essay of this thesis, we investigate how investors’ perceptions and preferences in terms of trading are influenced by their cultural background and network factors. In this study, we considered the moderating role of network factors in a cross-cultural context. The main subjects of our research datasets are investors who buy and sell shares and/or stocks of companies listed on the stock exchanges of New Zealand and South Korea. In this study, we examined data from 214 retail investors from the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) and South Korea. In comparison to non-kiwi investors, the study's findings show that network factors have a major impact on how information is disseminated among Kiwi investors. The results of this study also demonstrate that network factors' effects differ across cultures and countries.

To conclude, Twitter is a major social media platform that helps investors to connect with their counterparts and obtain financial information through back-and-forth interactions. However, access to information on social networks depends on network structure (network connectivity), social ties circle (family, friends, and colleagues), and network size (number of contact or followers and followings). Twitter also enables prompt dissemination of financial news and information, which can substantially impact investors’ perceptions. However, the impact of information on investors’ perceptions varied cross-culture because of varied network factors.

text: Network effect and investor’s perceptions: An empirical investigation Investors’ perceptions, and their understanding related to an investment, are paramount to decision-making in economic and investment settings. Social media is increasingly playing a vital role in influencing investors’ perceptions and investors’ decisions in the financial arena. Social media is a comfortable and easy tool to use. That’s why it has just become a fundamental part of online news sharing and information distribution.

In the first study of this thesis, a network structure is constructed and built social ties circle based on the frequency of communication of investors within the network, and the network size of the investors to develop a comprehensive measurement scale for the social network index. Our findings indicate that the acquisition of information in the social network of investors depends on different components or factors. A significant factor in the network index is the network degree (network connectivity). It implies that network members with higher degrees or connections acquire vast amounts of information. Likewise, investors with larger networks receive enormous amounts of information, notably "following," which is the principal component in terms of network size. As a result, network size appears as the network index's second biggest factor. The smaller contribution comes from social tie circles. However, collectively, all these factors represent the social network index.

In the second study, we argue that the impact of financial information and news on investors’ perceptions is moderated by network factors such as network structure, social ties, and network size of the network. The impact of information on an individual’s perception is also called a social network or network effect. To tackle the moderating role of these network factors, we employed PLS-SEM as a statistical technique. The findings of this study indicate that network connectivity and social ties are crucial for the acquisition of information within the network. The findings of the study also show that network connectivity and social ties circle plays a central role in determining the impact of financial information. Our study further indicates that the impact of financial information and news on investors’ perceptions depends on their theme.

In the third essay of this thesis, we investigate how investors’ perceptions and preferences in terms of trading are influenced by their cultural background and network factors. In this study, we considered the moderating role of network factors in a cross-cultural context. The main subjects of our research datasets are investors who buy and sell shares and/or stocks of companies listed on the stock exchanges of New Zealand and South Korea. In this study, we examined data from 214 retail investors from the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) and South Korea. In comparison to non-kiwi investors, the study's findings show that network factors have a major impact on how information is disseminated among Kiwi investors. The results of this study also demonstrate that network factors' effects differ across cultures and countries.

To conclude, Twitter is a major social media platform that helps investors to connect with their counterparts and obtain financial information through back-and-forth interactions. However, access to information on social networks depends on network structure (network connectivity), social ties circle (family, friends, and colleagues), and network size (number of contact or followers and followings). Twitter also enables prompt dissemination of financial news and information, which can substantially impact investors’ perceptions. However, the impact of information on investors’ perceptions varied cross-culture because of varied network factors.

year: 2023

title: Thomas Gavin: ‘Tommy Chairman’, a mine manager and local government politician at Te Aroha

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: After starting mining on the Thames goldfield at the age of 17, Thomas Gavin quickly became a competent miner. As later at Te Aroha, he was active in the wider community, especially as a rower and a Volunteer. After participating in the Te Aroha rush of 1880, he became a mine manager for the first time, and on the Waiorongomai field managed several mines for over two decades (with the consequence that he would die from miners’ complaint). He also managed the tramway on several occasions and supervised repairs to the mining tracks. As another way of assisting the mining industry, he was a member of the accident relief fund.
Gavin acquired land close to Te Aroha and farmed it for many years, the combination of farming and mining providing a modest income for his large family. He was notable for being active in all aspects of life in the community, notably his church, sport, horse racing, and social and cultural life. In local government, he was an active member of several bodies: the licensing committee, the domain board, the county council, and town board followed by its replacement, the borough council, and missed out on being the first mayor of Te Aroha by the closest of margins. A supporter of the Liberal Party, he did not, as some expected, stand for parliament.
With strong views on many issues, he was impatient with criticism, but despite his occasional irritability his reputation was high in the community of which he was one of its most prominent members.

text: Thomas Gavin: ‘Tommy Chairman’, a mine manager and local government politician at Te Aroha After starting mining on the Thames goldfield at the age of 17, Thomas Gavin quickly became a competent miner. As later at Te Aroha, he was active in the wider community, especially as a rower and a Volunteer. After participating in the Te Aroha rush of 1880, he became a mine manager for the first time, and on the Waiorongomai field managed several mines for over two decades (with the consequence that he would die from miners’ complaint). He also managed the tramway on several occasions and supervised repairs to the mining tracks. As another way of assisting the mining industry, he was a member of the accident relief fund.
Gavin acquired land close to Te Aroha and farmed it for many years, the combination of farming and mining providing a modest income for his large family. He was notable for being active in all aspects of life in the community, notably his church, sport, horse racing, and social and cultural life. In local government, he was an active member of several bodies: the licensing committee, the domain board, the county council, and town board followed by its replacement, the borough council, and missed out on being the first mayor of Te Aroha by the closest of margins. A supporter of the Liberal Party, he did not, as some expected, stand for parliament.
With strong views on many issues, he was impatient with criticism, but despite his occasional irritability his reputation was high in the community of which he was one of its most prominent members.

year: 2016

title: Haumanu Hauora: refining public health institution policy to include Māori and climate change

authors: Masters-Awatere, Bridgette

abstract: The deepening climate crisis generates specific impacts that will exacerbate the already disproportionately negative health outcomes experienced by Indigenous people. Disparate health outcomes have not spontaneously emerged, but rather have been foreshadowed by existing inequities. This article summarizes a sample of the work from a two-year research project in Aotearoa New Zealand to understand existing policy processes and ascertain the extent to which health institutions give serious consideration to climate change impacts on Māori (Indigenous people) with health vulnerabilities. Speaking to tāngata whenua (Indigenous Māori), District Health Board (DHB) employees, and subject matter experts (SMEs), it was clear that policy processes were ad hoc and problematically silenced consistent Māori input. While research participants expressed their experiences of, and aspirations for, dealing with climate change, their voices were not evident in DHB policy development processes. The deficit within existing policy process reflects a lack of preparedness in the face of climate change. Despite clear resilience and adaptation strategies, structural change is needed to address identified disadvantages. Through a co-designed policy framework (“Haumanu Hauora”), we guide policy formation to mitigate climate change risk to Māori (and others). Central to the revised policy framework is the creation of space for both internal and external Māori voices to ensure consistent Māori input throughout the policy process. We also introduce a commissioning, refining, and monitoring stage (that includes evaluation). Haumanu Hauora considers whānau-centered healthcare knowledge, needs, resources, and aspirations, to contribute to a transformed and responsive health system. Above all, we believe that strengthening health institution responsiveness to Māori health needs is essential.

text: Haumanu Hauora: refining public health institution policy to include Māori and climate change The deepening climate crisis generates specific impacts that will exacerbate the already disproportionately negative health outcomes experienced by Indigenous people. Disparate health outcomes have not spontaneously emerged, but rather have been foreshadowed by existing inequities. This article summarizes a sample of the work from a two-year research project in Aotearoa New Zealand to understand existing policy processes and ascertain the extent to which health institutions give serious consideration to climate change impacts on Māori (Indigenous people) with health vulnerabilities. Speaking to tāngata whenua (Indigenous Māori), District Health Board (DHB) employees, and subject matter experts (SMEs), it was clear that policy processes were ad hoc and problematically silenced consistent Māori input. While research participants expressed their experiences of, and aspirations for, dealing with climate change, their voices were not evident in DHB policy development processes. The deficit within existing policy process reflects a lack of preparedness in the face of climate change. Despite clear resilience and adaptation strategies, structural change is needed to address identified disadvantages. Through a co-designed policy framework (“Haumanu Hauora”), we guide policy formation to mitigate climate change risk to Māori (and others). Central to the revised policy framework is the creation of space for both internal and external Māori voices to ensure consistent Māori input throughout the policy process. We also introduce a commissioning, refining, and monitoring stage (that includes evaluation). Haumanu Hauora considers whānau-centered healthcare knowledge, needs, resources, and aspirations, to contribute to a transformed and responsive health system. Above all, we believe that strengthening health institution responsiveness to Māori health needs is essential.

year: 2023-05-05