Cross-country Study Research Articles

How nostalgia in advertising increases brand love: a cross-country study

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the extent to which nostalgic advertising can foster brand love. It examines the effects of two common forms of nostalgia in advertising – that is, personal and historical nostalgia – on consumers’ love towards a brand in both a developed (the UK) and a developing country (India).Design/methodology/approachA pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental study was conducted with two representative samples of consumers (i.e. 277 British and 255 Indian). Respondents were randomly exposed to one ad evoking either personal or historical nostalgia, or a non-nostalgic ad.FindingsThe results indicate that the use of nostalgia in advertising increases brand love in both countries. However, the effectiveness of each type of nostalgia varies depending on the country considered. In the UK, personal nostalgia increases brand love more than historical nostalgia, whereas, in India, historical nostalgia was found to be more significantly related to brand love than personal nostalgia.Practical implicationsThe primary implication for marketers is to consider nostalgic advertising as a critical lever to building longer-term value for a brand (i.e. brand love) whilst being mindful of the country-specific differences regarding how such a lever should be executed to achieve effectiveness be effective.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the advancement of the brand love literature by clarifying whether, and under what circumstances, the use of specific types of nostalgia in advertising increases consumers’ love towards a brand.

Cross-Country Analysis of Inflation Experiences and Homeownership: A Qualitative Review

This qualitative literature review examines the relationship between inflation experiences and homeownership across countries. Drawing on a synthesis of existing research, the review explores how historical inflation contexts influence individuals' decisions to invest in real estate. Findings indicate that periods of high inflation often motivate individuals to view homeownership as a hedge against inflationary pressures, particularly in economies with volatile economic conditions. Institutional factors, such as mortgage market structures and housing policies, play a crucial role in shaping this relationship, influencing overall homeownership rates across different regions. Immigrant populations bring unique perspectives, as their housing decisions in host countries are influenced by inflation experiences in their countries of origin. The review highlights methodological diversity and calls for more longitudinal and cross-country studies to enhance the robustness and generalizability of findings. Addressing these dynamics can provide insights into effective policy interventions aimed at promoting sustainable housing markets globally.

Are there universal themes in story advertisements? a cross-country study on identification, usage, and attitudes towards story ad themes

Are there universal themes in story advertisements? a cross-country study on identification, usage, and attitudes towards story ad themes

Comparing healthcare systems between the Netherlands and Australia in management for children with acute gastroenteritis.

Acute gastroenteritis is a highly contagious disease demanding effective public health and clinical care systems for prevention and early intervention to avoid outbreaks and symptom deterioration. The Netherlands and Australia are both top-performing, high-income countries where general practitioners (GPs) act as healthcare gatekeepers. However, there is a lower annual incidence and per-case costs for childhood gastroenteritis in Australia. Understanding the systems and policies in different countries can lead to improvements in processes and care. Therefore, we aimed to compare public health systems and clinical care for children with acute gastroenteritis in both countries. A cross-country expert study was conducted for the Netherlands and Australia. Using the Health System Performance Assessment framework and discussions within the research group, two questionnaires (public health and clinical care) were developed. Questionnaires were delivered to local experts in the Netherlands and the state of Victoria, Australia. Data synthesis employed a narrative approach with constant comparison. In Australia, rotavirus vaccination is implemented in a national program with immunisation requirements and legislation for prevention, which is not the case in the Netherlands. Access to care differs, as Dutch children must visit their regular GP before the hospital, while in Australia, children have multiple options and can go directly to hospital. Funding varies, with the Netherlands providing fully funded healthcare for children, whilst in Australia it depends on which GP (co-payment required or not) and hospital (public or private) they visit. Additionally, the guideline-recommended dosage of the antiemetic ondansetron is lower in the Netherlands. Healthcare approaches for managing childhood gastroenteritis differ between the Netherlands and Australia. The lower annual incidence and per-case costs for childhood gastroenteritis in Australia cannot solely be explained by the differences in healthcare system functions. Nevertheless, Australia's robust public health system, characterized by legislation for vaccinations and quarantine, and the Netherland's well-established clinical care system, featuring fully funded continuity of care and lower ondansetron dosages, offer opportunities for enhancing healthcare in both countries.

Special Education Teachers’ Perceived Work Stress, Burnout Symptoms, Towards Adoption of Transformational Teaching in Inclusive Schools: A Cross-Country Study Between Indonesia and Thailand

Special Education Teachers’ Perceived Work Stress, Burnout Symptoms, Towards Adoption of Transformational Teaching in Inclusive Schools: A Cross-Country Study Between Indonesia and Thailand

Cross Country Study of Human Capital Formation and USFDI Inflows

Purpose: The neo-classical theory of economic growth features the positive impact of the human capital of an economy on its growth. The inflow of foreign direct investment is one of the main components to carry forward the growth effect, this study investigates the impact of country-specific institutional quality and human capital on the cross-country variations of US-Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows. Our core hypothesis is that Countries with better Human capital will attract more FDI if they have good quality institutions in terms of less risk in investment opportunities. Method: Using a set of panel data of US-Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows for both developed and developing countries over the period 1984-2021. Result: The country-specific quality of institutions reinforces the impact of human capital on the inflow of US foreign direct investment in this study. Using two-dimensional panel data we find strong support for our hypothesis using a two-way fixed effects model. Our results are robust to the alternative measures of institutional quality. Implications: The strength of our approach is that in contrast to the previous works (1) we have used the USFDI inflow across countries that have been widely neglected in the related literature and (2) emphasis has been given to the conditional or joint impact of human capital and country-specific institutional quality in determining the cross-country variations in USFDI inflows.

Can E-Government Influence Well-Being? An Empirical Investigation

ABSTRACT While electronic government (e-government) is conceived as an innovative digital tool to bring economic and social benefits to a country, it remains largely underexplored whether it could help citizens have a meaningful, thriving, and happy life. A country’s development does not just depend on its economic performance or GDP; it is also contingent on the well-being of its citizens. Nevertheless, the literature lacks a theoretical and empirical understanding of the linkage between e-government and well-being. To fill this gap, this cross-country study examines (a) the direct influence of e-government maturity on well-being and (b) the mediating role of corruption perception, education, healthy life expectancy, and inequality in the above relationship. Hypotheses were tested using archival data from 123 countries. The results suggest that a higher level of e-government maturity in a country directly contributes to its well-being and indirectly by influencing corruption perception and healthy life expectancy.

Young muslim generation’s preferences for using digital platforms for Zakat payments: A cross-country study of Indonesia and Malaysia

The young Muslim generation’s embracing digital platforms for Zakat payments represents a dynamic fusion of enduring religious values with the modern digital landscape, heralding a new era in Islamic charitable practices. This trend illustrates a profound transformation within the Islamic world, where the pillars of faith are being reimagined and revitalized through the lens of technological advancement. The present study delved into the factors influencing the young Muslim generation’s preference for digital platforms in Zakat transactions across Indonesia and Malaysia. We examined variables such as Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Trust, Zakat Literacy, and Digital Infrastructure, aiming to discern their impact on the propensity for digital Zakat contributions with the extension of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. The research encompassed a diverse sample of 382 participants and utilized advanced methodologies, specifically Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and PLS Multi Group Analysis (PLS-MGA), for rigorous data analysis. The results indicated that Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Digital Infrastructure, and Zakat Literacy notably influenced the use of digital platforms for Zakat. Furthermore, PLS-MGA uncovered significant cross-country differences where Digital Infrastructure showed a more pronounced positive impact in Malaysian context, whereas Social Influence had a greater effect in Indonesia. These findings offer critical insights into the young Muslim community’s digital engagement for religious financial obligations, underscoring the need for tailored digital Zakat solutions that cater to the unique preferences of this demographic. This research not only enriches the understanding of digital adoption in religious practices but also challenges the notion of a universal approach, advocating for context-specific strategies in the realm of digital religious financial services. Future researchers are suggested to consider longitudinal investigations as well as examining cross-regional contexts in this realm of research.

Wealth inequality, income inequality, and subjective well-being: A cross-country study

Abstract There are conflicting theories about whether individuals like or dislike inequality, or in other words, whether living in an unequal country increases or decreases their subjective well-being. Empirical literature has so far focused on income inequality and has not yet reached a consensus. In the present paper, we focus on wealth inequality, an aspect that has so far been overlooked in the happiness literature. The aim of the present paper is to systematically investigate the wealth inequality–happiness relationship and compare the results to the income inequality–happiness association. Furthermore, we focus on different parts of income or wealth distribution, rather than using a single inequality measure. We use data from the integrated World Values Surveys and European Values Surveys for over 50 countries, matched with the World Inequality Database data over the years 1981–2020. Following our analyses, we find some evidence supporting the “tunnel effect” theory: individuals are happier with increases in the top 10% and top 1% shares of wealth and less happy with increases in the middle 40% share of wealth, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In high-income countries, increasing the bottom 50% share of wealth increases individuals’ life satisfaction, suggesting that they favor redistribution.

Ethnic fractionalization and income inequality: the case of Kazakhstan

Ethnic diversity has an impact on many areas of social life, which has led to an extensive layer of research on relationships in this area. Many authors have studied in detail the impact of ethnic diversity on conflicts, instability, domestic politics, other various social and cultural aspects. At the same time, the relationship between ethnic fractionalization and economic parameters remains insufficiently studied, which leaves a wide field for relevant research, especially at the level of individual countries, since most of the work is devoted to cross-country comparative analysis of the relevant parameters. One of the most actual problems in the context of ethnic heterogeneity is its relationship with income inequality. This article presents the results of a study of the relationship between ethnic diversity, estimated on the basis of the ethno-linguistic fractionalization (ELF) index, and two indicators of income inequality — the Gini coefficient and the inter-decile income share ratio (S90/S10). The analysis of this relationship was carried out on the example of one country — Kazakhstan — by comparing the corresponding indicators for seventeen regions. The results of the analysis showed the presence of a stable and noticeable relationship, expressed in the growth of income inequality as ethnic diversity grows in the regions of the country. It was revealed that in the most ethnically homogeneous regions, income inequality indicators are minimal, while in the most ethnically diverse regions they are much higher. A significant correlation was also found between ethnic fractionalization and indicators of income inequality. The results obtained are generally correspond to the results of a number of cross-country studies, but in the case of Kazakhstan they are more distinct, which can be interpreted as confirmation of the relationship between ethnic diversity and income inequality in general.

The relationship between market competition and accrual earnings management: A cross-country study

The relationship between market competition and accrual earnings management: A cross-country study

Intimate partner femicide (IPF): Medico-legal investigation at the Institutes of Legal Medicine of Freiburg (Germany) and Padova (Italy)

Violence against women is a significant public health concern, with femicide as its most extreme manifestation. This crime is often perpetrated by current or former intimate partners, thus taking the name of intimate partner femicide (IPF). Although international comparisons are essential for prevention policies, cross-country comparative studies are scarce in this context. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare clinical, epidemiological and medico-legal characteristics of IPF autopsy cases investigated at the Institutes of Legal Medicine of two Western European cities, in order to identify a potential medico-legal pattern of IPF. Autopsy and police reports of IPF cases occurred in the judicial district of Freiburg (Germany) and Padova (Italy) from 2000 to 2022 were analyzed. Data relating to victims, perpetrators, relationship context, and circumstantial and pathological-forensic characteristics of the homicide were collected. Statistical analyses were performed to explore potential relationships between the data collected. Additionally, a review of the literature dealing with autopsy-based studies on IPF was performed. Overall, 82 cases of IPF were analyzed, 39 from Freiburg and 43 from Padova. A total of 6 papers fulfilled the review inclusion criteria. Our study identified a medico-legal pattern of IPF and demonstrated that it did not vary substantially between the two European Countries considered, suggesting that certain IPF characteristics are shared at the European level. However, a significant finding emerged regarding the higher prevalence of firearm-related IPFs in Italy compared to Germany. Forensic pathology research might contribute to developing targeted prevention policies to protect women from this lethal form of violence.

‘Whatever we have is what we eat’: How marginalised urban populations in the Philippines and Thailand experienced their food environments, food security and diets through COVID-19

This qualitative cross-country comparative study investigated the lived experience of marginalised urban populations (unemployed, daily wage earners/street vendors, and internal/external migrants) in Manila (Philippines) and Bangkok (Thailand) on food environments, food security and diets during COVID-19. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals (n = 59) in April–May 2022. Thematic analysis revealed loss of income and strict mobility restrictions (Philippines) as key drivers of dietary changes and hunger. Common narratives included financial hardship, loss of personal agency, and daily survival. Coping strategies included drawing on social networks, cash and food aid, and ‘scheming’ around restrictions. Contextualised crisis policy planning should explicitly consider the lived experience of marginalised populations for future shocks.

Application of the Kano model for insights into business students' sustainability transformation expectations from higher educational institutions: A cross-country study

While previous research focused on investigating students' perceptions, few studies have analyzed students' future-oriented normative sustainability expectations from their Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in various cultural contexts. The goal of this study is to (1) identify business students' sustainability transformation expectations from their HEIs, (2) uncover potential differences in expectations across cultural environments, and (3) explain how students' sustainability expectations impact their behaviors towards HEIs. A mixed qualitative-quantitative research design using a semi-standardized questionnaire based on a sample of 239 business students from the USA and Germany was applied. Sustainability topics at HEIs are derived both from a literature review and through interviews and were categorized using content analysis. Data for the study was collected from business students in Bachelor programs at two state universities in the USA and one public university in Germany and the Kano analysis was utilized to examine students' sustainability expectations. Our analysis uncovered 19 distinct topic areas of sustainability at HEIs. Across both countries, students considered the integration of sustainability in production and consumption, as well as gender equality and inclusion, as basic requirements for future sustainability transformations. Other attributes were evaluated as indifferent. Students from the USA considered staff and faculty development opportunities or institutional support as performance attributes, while students from Germany evaluated them as indifferent. Country variations in students' expectations of key sustainability attributes from their HEIs are significantly influenced by their level of involvement in sustainability. Finally, students' expectations significantly impact their behavioral intentions. We provide managerial implications suggesting a tailored focus on sustainability attributes based on Kano categories and the country context. Furthermore, we highlight the need for further research, including replication studies in diverse cultural settings using longitudinal study designs.

Reflective smartphone disengagement as a coping strategy against cyberbullying: A cross-country study with emerging adults from the United States and Indonesia

Cyberbullying is a highly prevalent phenomenon among emerging adults, and it may lead to severe psychosocial harm for some targets. Understanding how emerging adults can cope with cyberbullying by altering their media use but without risking one of their crucial social lifelines, mobile social media, during the process is essential. To this end, this study examines a stress-coping process that involves cyberbullying as a stressor and reflective smartphone disengagement as a well-balanced coping strategy, accounting for gender-related, dispositional, and cultural specificities of emerging adults (aged 16–25, N = 4029) from the United States and Indonesia. With substantial invariance across countries, findings show that cyberbullying is related to higher perceived stress, especially for men and people with high levels of self-esteem, which, then again, is associated with reflective smartphone disengagement, in particular among American men and people with higher self-esteem.

Do Sex Toys Make Me Satisfied? The Use of Sex Toys in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, France, and the UK

ABSTRACT Sex toys are easily accessible in many countries in the Western world. Yet, cross-country studies on sex toy ownership and use and their association with relationship, sexual, and life satisfaction are rare. Using a cross-country convenience sample of 11,944 respondents from six European countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, UK), we investigated the rate and factors linked to sex toy ownership and use and their associations with sexual, relationship, and life satisfaction. Data were collected in May and June 2022 through respondent panels by Cint, a market research software platform. Participants received an e-mail invitation for the study and completed an online self-report survey. We found that more than half of respondents owned or had owned a sex toy, with the most common sex toys owned being dildos and vibrators, followed by handcuffs, penis rings, and anal sex toys. Across countries, the majority of sex toy owners reporting using these either alone or with a steady partner (55–65%) and a minority with casual partners (10–15%). Controlling for socio-demographics, parental status, sexual orientation, number of sex partners, and relationship status and length, we found that sex toy ownership and use were significantly associated with higher sexual and life satisfaction, while higher relationship satisfaction was only significantly associated with currently owning a sex toy (but not number of sex toys) and frequency of use with a partner (but not alone). Across results, we generally found little cross-country variation.

Reflections on How Social Protection and Social Welfare Policies are Unfolding in Low- and Middle-Income Countries around the World

Social protection in the form of cash transfers to reduce poverty and inequality is described as the “big idea” that emerged in the Global South over the past three decades. This article reflects on the direction that social protection is taking and reviews its achievements. A key challenge is how social protection policies are delinked from a wider system of social welfare and development programs in low- and middle-income countries. Drawing on lessons learned from cross-country studies, pointers are provided on how to overcome this bifurcation, including ways of strengthening social development theory, policy, and practice.

A MODEL FOR CONSTRUCTION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE-INCOME SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Buildings and other constructed facilities form the essential framework of a country’s physical and economic infrastructure. Construction serves as a key capital input to production, driving economic growth and wealth generation. This impact can be particularly transformative in low-to-middle-income countries. Physical infrastructure, including construction, is a powerful engine of economic growth and is closely related to national economic performance. However, not all studies agree with the commonly held belief that construction investment has a positive impact on economic growth, particularly concerning the amount of investment and the relationship between construction investment and economic growth. So far, cross-country studies dealing with the construction sector-economic growth relationship have used indicators of national output and construction that are not strictly comparable between countries. This article reviews the main strands of the literature on the role that the construction sector plays in the national economy and economic development. It also uses novel data drawn from the “capital file” of the PENN World Table (version 10.1) to assess the development pattern of the construction sector in two groups of sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries on the middle-income status of economic development, for the period between 1990 and 2019. The study reveals that construction shares, measured as the proportion of gross fixed capital formation attributable to construction in the gross domestic product, revolve around a norm determined by the level of built assets preceding the reference period. The results of the study could have policy implications for the economic sustainability of the construction industry in SSA.

A Cross-Country Study of Cigarette Affordability and Single-Stick Purchases Using Survey Data From African Countries.

Reducing cigarette affordability is paramount for reducing cigarette consumption. Measuring affordability requires data on cigarette prices. Unlike the commonly used retail price of a 20-pack of the most-sold cigarette domestically, survey-derived cigarette prices reflect differences arising from the brand variety and the types of packaging in which cigarettes are purchased. This paper uses self-reported cigarette price data from the eight African countries that have implemented the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) to construct country-level Relative Income Prices. The relationship between cigarette affordability, cigarette smoking prevalence, and cigarette smoking intensity, is examined using logit models for smoking participation (N = 51122) and generalized linear models for conditional cigarette demand (N = 2443). GATS data are also used to produce nationally representative estimates of the prevalence of single-stick cigarette purchases in the sampled countries. The estimated affordability elasticity of cigarette smoking participation is -0.245 (95% CI = -0.411 to -0.078). The estimated affordability elasticity of smoking intensity is -0.155 (95% CI = -0.286 to -0.023). Single-stick cigarette sales dominate all-markets. The proportion of smokers who reported buying cigarettes in the form of single sticks during their most recent cigarette purchase exceeds 90% in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The results point to the need for governments in the countries sampled to increase excise taxes in a manner that renders cigarettes less affordable over time, and to enact and enforce legislation that prohibits the sale of single cigarettes. These findings highlight that measures to reduce both the demand and supply of cigarettes will be required to reduce their use in the region. This study is the first to examine the prevalence of single-stick cigarette purchases, and the association between cigarette affordability and smoking outcomes, in the African setting, using data from the GATS. Findings provide local evidence for the countries sampled, which represent over half of sub-Saharan Africa's adult population (aged 15 and older), on the importance of implementing excise tax increases that reduce cigarette affordability over time. They also highlight the need to enact and enforce legislation that prohibits the sale of single cigarettes.

Digital-inclusive Transformation and Teacher Preparedness for Foreign Language Education – A Bilateral German-Norwegian Perspective

Digitalisation and inclusion can be understood as transversal topics in pre- and in-service teachers’ professional development. Both topics have attracted considerable research activity. However, questions of digital-inclusive transformation have only rarely been discussed within the field of foreign language teaching. Researchers in the field state a pressing need to increase digital-inclusive transformation uptake in foreign language teacher education programmes to develop a transformation ‘mindset’ in (educational) stakeholders and (future) teachers. Transformation processes in education, however, interact with preparedness for digitalisation and inclusion among pre- and in-service teachers, since the attitude and the willingness of teachers to adapt to digital reality play a decisive role in improving the quality of (digitally enhanced) teaching and learning. Currently, little is known about the interrelationship between the preparedness to use digital technology for foreign language teaching and learning and the preparedness to include foreign language learners with diverse learning needs (DLN) in the digital-inclusive classroom. To this end, this bilateral cross-country study investigates factors that constitute an attitudinal component of foreign language teachers’ perceived preparedness for using digital technology with learners with diverse learning needs in Germany and Norway. The Teacher of English Preparedness to Diverse Learning Needs in the digital inclusive classroom questionnaire was administered to 221 participants. The results show a fresh perspective on preparedness for digitally enhanced inclusive teaching linked to educational system requirements for foreign language teaching. Importantly, confidence when using digital technology in the inclusive classroom is decisive. For teacher education, it is vital that the attitudinal component of teacher preparedness receives more attention throughout teacher training. It should be related to previous experience of teachers with DT in digital-inclusive environments and be part of a heuristic conceptualisation of teacher preparedness for digitalinclusive contexts.