International Market Research Articles

Domestic Barriers for Exporting Handicrafts from Bangladesh: An Investigation

Purpose: The goal of the study is to investigate and demonstrate the major domestic barriers that are adversely affecting our handicraft products to compete in the international market. Methodology: A self-administered questionnaire has been prepared to collect data from eight organizations who directly involved with exporting handicrafts from Bangladesh. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been used to identify the major domestic barriers. Also, face-to-face interview with the secretary of Banglacraft have been performed to gain detailed idea. Findings: The study has found three main domestic barriers which includes lack of skill, absence of creativity and lack of dedication. They have significant influence on the exporting process of handicraft items of Bangladesh. Practical Implications: Recently, handicraft articles have growing demand because of their environment-friendly type. Even in the covid-19 pandemic, customers use these green products in their daily doings. Thus, this study might help the authority to realize the situation and take necessary actions to expand the market. Originality/Value: Previously, a number of studies have been conducted on the overall obstacles of manufacturing, selling and exporting handicrafts. This study has specified a profound understanding on the local barriers for exporting handicrafts from Bangladesh. Research Limitations: Some limitations of the study are shortage of budget, time constrain and perceptional differences of the respondents. Also, use of mean value, small sample size might have an impact on the output of the analysis.

ВПЛИВ МІЖНАРОДНОЇ КОНКУРЕНЦІЇ НА СТРАТЕГІЧНИЙ РОЗВИТОК ЕКОНОМІКИ КРАЇНИ

The study draws attention to the problems and prospects of sustainable strategic development of the national economy. That is why the purpose of the article is the further development of methodological and applied principles and approaches to analyzing the impact of international competition on the strategic development of the country's economy. Scientific views on the interpretation of international competition are summarized, in particular, according to the geopolitical, economic, resource, political and institutional approach. The main factors of the influence of international competition on the strategic development of the national economy have been determined, namely in terms of the possible rapid accumulation of economic resources by the country, the availability of information about prospective and current needs of potential buyers, ensuring the country's competitiveness on the international market, the favorability of the national system of economic support and the development of factor competitive advantages. The trends of international competition and expected changes in the strategic development of the country's economy have been identified and characterized, in particular in terms of such components as the technologicalization of the world economy, the blurring of global industry boundaries, the globalization of international competitive relations, the polarization of world market segments, the deregulation of world market segments. The most significant manifestations of international competition have been identified, which relate to the global nature of international competition, its multifacetedness, dynamism and aggressiveness of competitive rivalry, which leads to violations in stability and balance in the economies of competing countries. The directions of the strategic development of the national economy are determined, depending on the influence of factors of international competition on it.

People – the forgotten chapter? From the EU’s neighbourhood policy to post-Brexit Ireland (north and south) – and lasting damage to the integrative capacity of the EU Internal Market project

People – the forgotten chapter? From the EU’s neighbourhood policy to post-Brexit Ireland (north and south) – and lasting damage to the integrative capacity of the EU Internal Market project

Gauging the impact of M-marketing capabilities on perceived sales performance of organization

The aim of this study to address the purposeful question for the managers and researchers is how organizational resources through mobile marketing (M-marketing) capabilities can improve sales performance of organizations. The study considered training, internal marketing, organizational culture and product-related knowledge as organizational resources that enhance perceived sales performance through different M-marketing capabilities like accessibility, cost saving and quick decision making. This research incorporated dynamic capability and resource-based view (RBV) theories to construct the research model. 396 responses were received from SMEs employees from ten big cities of Pakistan and structure equation modelling used to examine the research model. Findings showed that the organizational resources (training, internal marketing, organizational culture and product-related knowledge) and M-marketing capabilities (accessibility, cost saving and quick decision making) significantly impacted the PSP. M-marketing capabilities significantly partially mediate among the relationships of organizational resources and PSP.

Effect of Internal Marketing on Organisational Objectives of Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria (A Study of Nigerian Breweries Plc)

Effect of Internal Marketing on Organisational Objectives of Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria (A Study of Nigerian Breweries Plc)

The evolution of EU–US cybersecurity law and policy: on drivers of convergence

ABSTRACT The digitalisation of the economy increases the vulnerability of both economies in the EU and the US, as does its transborder dimension. Cyber policy has evolved over time on both sides of the Atlantic. The EU began initially to emphasise cybercrime regulation but its focus upon cybersecurity now dominates, similar to the US. The internal market has evolved as a rationale for regulation in the EU and to similar effect a market-led approach dominates in the US. While in the EU a comprehensive cybersecurity law has been adopted, the US lacks a uniform federal cybersecurity law. Despite many domestic divergences, there is considerable similarity between the US and the EU. Substantively, these divergences have not inhibited convergence. Geopolitical considerations as to cyber have accelerated an ongoing process, driven by the transborder nature of cyber security and the global leadership of the EU and the US.

Diversity Audit at Starbucks: Assessment of Workforce Demography, Inclusion Initiatives, and Corporate Culture

The main goal of this diversity audit is to evaluate Starbucks’ present diversity and inclusion programs for efficacy. This audit evaluates organizational policies, worker satisfaction, workforce inclusionary practices, and the results of diversity programs at two Starbucks locations. The audit uses a mixed-methods approach, combining the analysis of publicly available data and direct observational studies, in South Florida locations, to provide a comprehensive knowledge of Starbucks’ diversity policy. The findings demonstrate a noteworthy level of gender diversity and highlight areas in which minority representation in senior management roles needs to be strengthened. Creating employee resource groups, stepping up diversity training, using targeted recruitment techniques, and conducting frequent diversity audits to guarantee ongoing improvement are just a few of the recommendations. The paper provides actionable insights to help firms like Starbucks maintain a competitive edge in a diversified global market and enhance their inclusivity. The advancement of an inclusive culture that recognizes and benefits from diversity at all organizational levels depends on many measures that are tracked and improved consistently. By implementing practical suggestions, modern organizations can ensure that their diversity initiatives stay relevant and successful, upholding their standing as pioneers in corporate diversity programs. In addition to assisting Starbucks in navigating a challenging international market, a proactive commitment to diversity and inclusion will help create a more just society. In a culturally diverse work environment, a diversity audit is a crucial tool for corporations to assess and improve their workforce equity, accessibility to everyone, and inclusivity. By conducting a thorough review of existing policies, practices, and employee experiences, diversity audits help identify biases, barriers, and areas for growth before any costly lawsuits surface. This process enables companies to pinpoint disparities in hiring, promotion, and retention rates, as well as uncover hidden biases in decision-making processes. With audit findings, corporations can develop targeted strategies to foster a more inclusive culture, enhance employee engagement, and boost innovation. Ultimately, a diversity audit helps organizations ensure fairness, equity, and equal opportunities for all prospects and employees, thereby leading to increased productivity, better brand reputation, and a competitive advantage in both attracting and retaining diverse top talent for the firm.

Sustainable Development Strategy of Enterprises in International Markets: Opportunities and Challenges

A sustainable development strategy for businesses in international markets is crucial for achieving success in the globalized world. Scholars and practitioners emphasize that companies must pay attention to the economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable development. This implies the importance of developing strategies that help ensure economic profitability, maintain relationships with stakeholders, and reduce negative impacts on the environment. The experts' attention is focused on the performance of Ukrainian companies in international markets in the period from 2022 to 2024, during the full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Due to the significant obstacles and barriers that currently exist, these companies need support for sustainable development in international markets. In our research, we have developed new strategies to ensure the sustainable development of Ukrainian enterprises. These approaches cover various areas of activity, including the following aspects: establishing crisis communication with customers and stakeholders, who are provided with important information about the market situation and the company's actions; expanding international marketing by searching for new markets for products and services to reduce dependence on specific markets and risks; increasing sales through intensified marketing activities, market analysis and search for new opportunities for sales growth; building a positive image of the company through information and communication activities; ensuring competitiveness in the international market by improving goods and services. The study segmented the markets of grain importers and identified Segment A, which does not require financial investments in its development. This segment consists of the markets of Spain, China, and Romania, where grain importers in 2023 were characterized by significant purchases and successful market operations. Segment B includes the markets of Egypt, Turkey, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Portugal, Bangladesh, Israel, Germany, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Indonesia, where investments are needed to develop the promotion of goods and services, in particular, to improve marketing strategies, build partnerships with local companies and organizations, and implement innovative production technologies. Segment C included a set of markets that were assessed by several indicators, and eight international markets were identified as potential import partners: Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Algeria, Morocco, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Thailand. In assessing the attractiveness of new international markets, it was found that the markets of Korea, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom are the most suitable for Ukrainian enterprises. In this regard, we have developed recommendations on the strategy of marketing international business diversification of Ukrainian companies in these markets. If these recommendations are followed and a strategic approach to international diversification is applied, Ukrainian companies can successfully expand their business presence in South Korea, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. Keywords: international diversification, sustainable development strategy, sales volumes, information and communication activities, potential import partners, attractiveness of new international markets, market convergence.

International entrepreneurial culture of born global and non-born global family firms: a configurational approach

PurposeDelving into family business heterogeneity, this study applies fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analyses (fsQCA) to explain overlooked differences in the international performance of born global family firms (BGFFs) and non-born global family firms (n-BGFFs); through the lens of assemblage theory of family business internationalization, the study develops distinctive configurations of international entrepreneurial culture (IEC) for BGFFs and n-BGFFs.Design/methodology/approachThis study compares the theoretical tenets of IEC among 167 BGFFs versus 192 n-BGFFs in Malaysia using fsQCA – a configurational method. The study further deploys necessity analysis of fsQCA (NCA) to determine the necessity conditions within the identified configurations.FindingsBGFFs manifest elevated levels of international entrepreneurial orientation, international motivation and international non-competitor network orientation. In contrast, n-BGFFs rely on international markets, learning and competitor network orientations to secure international performance. Furthermore, necessary condition analysis (NCA) reveals that international entrepreneurial orientation and international motivation are the necessity conditions for BGFFs. In contrast, international market, learning and competitor network orientation are all required for n-BGFFs’ international performance.Originality/valueThis study is timely and contributes to advancing the international business theory of family firm internationalization. It also offers better theorizing for family firms’ heterogeneity, locating the source of that heterogeneity not just in the speed of internationalization but also in the composition of their different IECs.

Bewährungsprobe Europas: Wettbewerbsfähigkeit in einer Welt im Wandel

Abstract Competitiveness is increasingly becoming a political focus. In times of geopolitical uncertainty, a trend of de-globalization and changing economic structures, the EU must assert itself as a business location in the competition between nations. Location characteristics such as a successful digital and green transformation in the face of increasingly scarce human capital, an incomplete internal market and inadequate defense capabilities are important. A high level of competitiveness is only possible with a European single market that is equipped with sufficient resources and a sound cooperation between the member states in the EU.

Introduction to a Special Issue: Social Europe: The Changing Contours of Transnational Employment Relations in the European Union

Employment relations in Europe today differ from how they were prior to the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, as key terms and conditions (e.g., wages) and sectors of economic activity (e.g., platform work and the green economy) are now subject to direct political intervention by the European institutions. Transnational (horizontal) competition within the Single European Market has long provided a context for national employment relations in Europe, and various national institutions impacted workers’ rights and conditions of employment. Under the new economic governance (NEG) regime triggered by the financial crisis, political (vertical) intervention in employment relations created strong pressure toward the commodification of labor. The COVID pandemic involved policymaking in the opposite (decommodifying) direction. That said, and as the articles in this special issue clearly demonstrate, commodifying pressures are still strong, and the full realization of Social Europe is arguably as elusive as ever.

A novel discovery model for revealing substitution relationships from international stock markets: With association rule analysis

At present, the trading volume of the stock market is huge, and the traditional method can not effectively find the relationship between the rise and fall of the stock market, but the machine learning method can find their interrelated data from a large number of data. This research aims to determine the effectiveness of association mining technology in analyzing the relationship between the ups and downs of stock markets in various countries, and it found the highest level of association between stock market items as investor references. The research data takes Taiwan's stock market as the target market and the international mainstream stock index as the related stock market. Through the analysis, it is found that association mining can accurately find the associated stock market according to the relevant parameters. The Taiwan stock market is more closely related to the top ten economies such as the Mainland, the United States, the United Kingdom and France, which shows that the rise of the international or mainland stock market will drive foreign capital to actively buy the Taiwan stock market, and vice versa. At last, the study sorted out three groups of stocks with the highest correlation degree according to the results of association mining, Namely Foxconn Stock (2354) and TSMC (2330), which are most closely related to the rise and fall of the international stock market. Therefore, the results of this study can also be used as a reference for investors to choose the stock price of Taiwan stock market.

Customer Capital Spillovers: Evidence from Sales Managers in International Markets

Customer Capital Spillovers: Evidence from Sales Managers in International Markets

Technoeconomic analysis of alternatives to improve Cuban sugarcane wax‐refining technology using Superpro Designer

AbstractSugarcane wax is a co‐product with strong potential. It contains several bioactive components that can be used for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes. It is also considered a substitute for leading vegetable waxes in the international market. The extraction and refining technologies that have been reported in Cuba do not always manage to deliver a wax that meets the quality demanded by the market. This problem can be solved with the development of innovative technologies that allow increasing yields, higher quality, and the reduction of costs. The main objective of this work was to achieve a validated model of the Cuban sugarcane wax‐refining process using the SuperPro Designer simulator, and to evaluate the alternatives in order to reduce consumption rates and increase stability in the final product quality, as customers demand. The model successfully replicated 39 out of 44 variables used for process validation, with values falling within the historical range of the process. Deviations from historical values were less than 4 percentage points. Among the proposed modifications, the second of the two alternatives proposed resulted in lower consumption rates and more consistent quality of refined wax.

Decomposing Uncertainty: How Foreign Policy Risks Shape Chinese Stock Market Dynamics

This study examines the transmission mechanism of foreign economic policy uncertainty (FEPU) on the Chinese stock market from 1997 to 2022, using a vector autoregressive adaptation of the dividend discount model. By decomposing excess returns into cash flow (CF), excess return (ER), and risk-free rate (RF) components, we disentangle the effects of FEPU shocks on these distinct factors.Our findings indicate that FEPU primarily leads to a significant but temporary overestimation of impacts on cash flows and excess returns, with the market typically correcting itself after an initial overreaction. This pattern suggests a complex interplay between investor sentiment and market dynamics. Notably, trade stability amplifies the impact on CF, while closer monetary policy coordination enhances the transmission to RF and ER expectations. Additionally, economic cycles play a moderating role: downturns exacerbate the negative impacts on CF and RF, while bullish conditions foster resilience. Investor sentiment emerges as a crucial factor, with negative sentiment intensifying FEPU’s adverse effects during economic contractions.This research contributes a detailed perspective on how international relations, policy harmonization, and market psychology collectively influence FEPU transmission and affect China’s financial stability amidst global uncertainties. Our decomposition method illuminates the dynamic forces that drive market reactions over time, offering critical insights for refining risk management strategies and crafting policy measures that buffer the financial system against external economic shocks.

Assessing the relation between academic talent mobility and academic output

There is a great controversy between academic talent mobility and academic output. This paper obtains the list of mobile academic talents (experimental group) from NSF. It matches them into the control group list according to the indicators of an academic institution, department, research direction, entry time, age, and NSF fund obtained in the near year. It carries out a seven-year follow-up survey on the quantity and quality of papers published by the experimental and control groups, using the "quasi-experimental research" method for the first time. The results show that, on the one hand, the academic output of Chinese academic talents is highly stable. Mobility is not the critical variable affecting academic output, indicating that academic output is more related to talents' research habits and research ability, which shows the highly stable academic quality of scholars; on the other hand, the study finds that scholars returning from overseas manifest the stability of academic output whose number and quality of academic papers remain highly stable even if the mobility happens again. This study reveals the objective relationship between academic talent mobility and academic output. It has significant reference value for China in the next stage of attracting talent from the international academic labor market.

Die neue Geoökonomik und ihre Auswirkungen auf den Wirtschaftsstandort

Abstract Geopolitical rivalries create mistrust between trading partners. These try to guard themselves against the opportunistic abuse of trade policy by de-risking and de-coupling. Indeed, first empirical evidence points towards an increasing division of the world economy into an US-centered and a China-centered block. Western sanctions against Russia have strongly accel-erated this tendency. Increased fragmentation disincentivizes corporate strategies based on serving foreign markets by exports and favors local-for-local models. This endangers value-added creation in small, open economies such as Austria. Countermeasures must include deepening the European Single Market, striking trade agreements with aligned and neutral countries, and promoting cost efficiency of European production.

30 Years of the Economic European Area; a Tax Law Perspective

In 2024, the European Economic Area (EEA) will have existed for thirty years. During that time, the EEA Agreement has served its cause to enlarge the European internal market to Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. Covering fundamental freedoms that need to be interpreted comparably to the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU’s (TFEU’s) fundamental freedoms, a significant amount of case law interpreting the EEA Agreement’s fundamental freedoms has been established from both the CJEU and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Court. The author attempts to elucidate the approach taken by both courts to come to judgments creating a homogenous interpretation and application of EU law to the largest possible extent. Besides that, the extension of EU directives to cover EEA situations is relevant. The EEA Agreement foresees a procedure for that, but it does not thus far cover substantive direct tax directives. The author argues that some arguments still exist following which EU direct tax directives should actually be added to the EEA Agreement.

Modeling dynamic higher-order comoments for portfolio selection based on copula approach

This paper introduces a novel approach to estimating time-varying higher-order comoments from a theoretical standpoint. We present how to estimate the dynamic higher-order comoments of asset returns under the copula framework, which builds on the ARCD and copula-DCC models to capture the time variation in higher-order moments and correlations of asset returns. Additionally, the elements in the coskewness and cokurtosis matrices are calculated by the double, triple, and quadruple integrals associated with the joint density function of asset returns. The empirical application to five international market indexes shows that the portfolio with time-varying higher-order comoments estimated by the copula approach significantly outperforms equally weighted and mean–variance strategies in economic performance. The robustness analysis verifies the validity and robustness of the proposed estimation method. Our research offers fresh insights for portfolio analysis and risk management decision-making in practical scenarios.

Seed quality and relative lignan profiles of sesame prospected from northern Ghana

The sesame seed contains oil, protein, dietary fibre, and several minerals and it is also a store of lignans. Lignans are key selection factors for sesame quality due to their health, nutritive and market value. In Ghana sesame growers rely on wild or undocumented planting seeds which are of mixed colouration and its lignan content is ambiguous. The objective of this study was to segregate street sesame seeds into component colour fractions and subsequently evaluate the consistency of lignans in the seed fractions. Sesame seeds were collected from street vendors in northern Ghana and were segregated into seed fractions based on the pericarp colour. The viability of seed fractions stored at different temperatures (ambient, 5 °C, 0 °C) over time and lignan contents of single or bulk mixed seeds were verified. The collected seeds were of mixed colouration with approximately 4 % debris, 40 % white, 36 % cream, and 20 % dark coloured seeds by weight. The viability of the seeds was 67–85 % depending on pericarp colour. White seed fractions which had the highest proportion by weight had a significantly (p = 0.0275) higher viability (85 %) than the dark seeds which had the least viability (67 %). The seeds lost viability over time. However, seeds stored at 0 °C maintained a viability of 77 % at the fourth year. There were differences in the relative abundance of lignans for both bulk seeds and, single seeds with different pericarp colours. The most abundant occurring lignans in the seeds were sesamin, sesamolin and sesaminol and its downstream glucosides. The source of seed or pericarp colour was not predictive of seed viability or lignan composition. These findings provide baseline data on seed quality including an improved storability under cold environments. It also gives an insight into how mixed seeds of variable pericarp colours can have distinct characteristics. Although the mixed coloured seeds had no implications for varied quality including lignan content, the international market for sesame requires that seeds are of consistent colour.