Geographic Market Research Articles

Patient Travel Patterns and Concordance With Geographic Market Boundaries.

Patient Travel Patterns and Concordance With Geographic Market Boundaries.

Marketization of Shadow Education in Switzerland: How “Edupreneurs” Promote Preparation Programmes for a Selective School Transition

Private supplementary tutoring (PST) is a flourishing market for edupreneurs whose services relate closely to mainstream education. While international research elaborates on geographical variations in PST and edupreneurs’ marketing strategies, the PST market in Switzerland has been largely understudied. This paper contributes to fill this research gap by presenting a thematic analysis of the websites of edupreneurs offering preparation programmes for the highly selective central entrance examination (CEE) to the academically focused public school track of Gymnasium in Zurich. Conceptually, we draw on “problematization” and “commodificiation” as key terms elaborated by “geographies of marketization”. With this performative conceptualisation of the education market, we examine the marketing strategies of the edupreneurs offering CEE preparation courses. We offer two contributions to the existing research. First, the analysis elaborates that private CEE preparation courses are advertised as a market solution that compensates for an omission caused by public education. Second, we show how edupreneurs use rational and emotional arguments to convince families of the need of booking CEE preparation courses for their children. In the discussion, we engage with the findings of our local case study and argue that selective educational transitions have much wider relevance for policy and society elsewhere.

THE PHENOMENON OF EXPORT DIVERSIFICATION IN EXPORT SUCCESS AND TURKIYE CASE

Having stable sales and widespread markets in exports is as important as the success of export growth. The main problem of developing economies regarding the foreign world is not only increasing exports but also having stable sales and markets. This situation is especially important in terms of accelerating and stabilizing economic growth. For solve external equilibrium problems, developing countries need to focuse to develope to export and export diversification. Government inducements may be a supportive method for developing to export diversification. In this article, with dimension of export's effect on economic growth, phenomenon of export diversification and diversificartion's effects on export success is analysed. In the article, determined that product and market diversification are effective on success of export and on economic growth. It was concluded that there was less product diversification and more geographical market diversification in the 2000-2023 period, which was the subject of the research, in Turkey.

Facility location optimization with market segmentation for additive manufacturing material supplier network using quantum annealing

The determination of the material suppliers for additive manufacturing (AM) centers is a typical facility location problem (FLP). Current methods for solving the FLP in AM network design mainly focus on improving the cost, distance, and supply chain aspects and neglect market segmentation. However, AM feedstock suppliers need to understand the market size they serve so they can better prepare their inventory plans. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a new approach for the FLP with geographic market segmentation of AM material supplier networks, in which the facility locations and market segments of AM material suppliers are optimized in a multi-objective optimization problem. In order to confirm the feasibility of the proposed method, a simplified design case for a German state has been carried out.

The marketization of a selective school transition in Switzerland

This article seeks to contribute to ongoing debates on geographies of marketization, which are used in social and geographical research on education to account for the performativity and inherent inconsistencies of markets. This case study draws on students’ transition to the state-funded academically focused school track of Gymnasium in Zurich, Switzerland, which merges intellectual and social selectivity in a central entrance examination. This situation has fostered both a flourishing market of costly private preparation courses offered by educational entrepreneurs and free school courses. We elaborate a detailed picture of this educational market by showcasing the entanglement of public education, private supplementary education and parents obliged to advance their children’s educational careers and well-being. For this purpose, we draw linkages between these groups of actors and three key elements of geographies of marketization: problematization, commodification and calculative agents. Our findings show how this complex set of actors interacts in a constant reproduction and contestation of this market. The issues of social inequalities and subtle forms of resistance appear recurrently in our findings, and we argue that a geographies of marketization approach enables a fuller picture to be drawn of this educational transition market. In our conclusion, we suggest that this approach might also be helpful in critically questioning the borders between state-funded education and private supplementary education to improve the chances of transition to Gymnasium for all aspiring children regardless of their social or migration background.

A Study on Consumer Preference Buying Pattern Towards Amul Curd in Haridwar Uttarakhand

This master's thesis or dissertation “A study on consumer preference buying pattern towards Amul curd in Haridwar Uttarakhand”. Consumer preference towards Amul Curd in Haridwar Uttarakhand stand as center point of this comprehensive research focused on uncover the complex perceptions and preference within this deep market geography With a careful blend of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, This article examines the consumer buying preference towards Amul curd products. A questionnaire technique was adopted for data collection. Sample size taken in this is 100 consumers. The buying preference is positive which reveals that the buying preference of the consumers is high. The advertising strategies of the product can be improved to increase the sale of the company as much. Thus, the project concludes that the buying preference pattern of the consumers are very likely. The utilization of statistical tools such as t-tests analysis underscores the trial and finesse of this research endeavor. By me these analytical techniques, this study endeavors to not only uncover patterns and trends within the data but also to calculate its research objectives and hypotheses with original evidence. Through careful analysis and interpretation of results, this research focus to offer practical insights and strategic recommendations to top level management within the dairy industry and area. Formed into six’s chapters, the study advice a comprehensive analysis :1 Introduction, 2 Review of Literature, 3Consumer Attitudes towards Amul Curd,4 Analysis of Results and 5 Interpretations, and 6 Conclusions, Findings/Discussion & Recommendations.

Advancing One Health in Urban Seafood Markets: A Genetic and Social Analysis of Dried Sea Cucumber in Three New York City Chinatowns

This study employs a multidisciplinary methodology across natural and social sciences to examine relationships between biodiversity loss at sea and urban consumption with a focus on sea cucumber and dried seafood markets in New York City (NYC). The study identified 34 dried seafood retailers across three NYC Chinatown boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Samples of sea cucumber were collected with Chinese-language labels indicating the commodity was from South America, a region of conservation concern. Comparison samples were taken from sea cucumbers labeled from Mexico and Japan. A mitochondrial DNA barcoding method was used to examine the taxonomic origin of 103 samples. Sequence data were successfully obtained from 74 of the samples, 8 of which were classified as brown sea cucumber (Isostichopus fuscus), an endangered species for which harvest is banned in several locations. Semi-structured interviews with dried seafood retailers and consumers (n = 64), moreover, revealed associations between consuming sea cucumber and enhancing human health and limited knowledge of product origins. Collectively, the findings reveal socio-ecological dynamics wherein endangered species on the market coupled with geographic market labeling practices and varying degrees of retailer and consumer knowledge negatively bear on marine biodiversity. Furthermore, given that brown sea cucumbers are abundant on the market, there is a need for developing genetic markers that can trace geographic origin to determine if species were legally harvested. These results indicate that more robust market labeling, training, genetic research, and public outreach are required to advance One Health in urban seafood markets.

Examining the Beachside Oasis: A Competitive Analysis and Market Share Case Study

The Beachside Oasis has a mix of positives and challenges in critical operational areas for investigation and examination. This case study, based on typical asset management, provides an opportunity to examine key financial indicators, competitive analysis, and operating market segments with comparative resources including comparable geographic market information, HOST report by STR, and created property income statement. Students are required to conduct a comprehensive analysis and provide detailed recommendations to the hotel’s ownership, which will include the creation of plans to simulate future business growth.

The role of geographic market definition in analysis of grocery retailing

AbstractWe examine how estimates of household food demand elasticities and store profit margins vary with alternative geographic market extents using structural models of household store choice and retailer competition. Our consumer store choice model is novel, simultaneously accounting for the heterogeneity of store choice sets, households' travel distance to stores, and their store‐specific shopping basket prices. We estimate the models using a unique combination of datasets on grocery purchases. We find that the geographic market extent is positively associated with household demand elasticity and negatively associated with store profit margins. The maximum market extent at which changes in demand elasticities become statistically insignificant varies by retailers, ranging between 10 and 16 km. These findings are robust to alternative assumptions of store competition. Our results imply that overlooking the locality of retail competition can result in overestimating the magnitudes of household demand elasticities while underestimating store profit margins, characterizing a relatively more competitive market.

Japan’s role in the emerging global hydrogen market

The article analyzes the current state of the emerging low-carbon hydrogen market in terms of its main parameters: capacity, geographical segments, technologies, investments, and announced projects. Estimates for the development of the low-carbon hydrogen market up to 2050 have been summarized. Barriers to its development and the reasons for different estimates of market capacity have been identified. There are three large-scale geographic market segments: the Asia-Pacific region, North America, and the European Union. The reasons why the energy transition in Japan will be based on low-carbon hydrogen are described. Japan’s state policy in this area is supported by investments and institutional conditions. The timeline of Japan’s energy policy development shows the determination to create a hydrogen economy. The goals of Japan’s international cooperation are to solve the problems of resource provision (agreements with potential exporters of hydrogen and countries provided with resources necessary for the production of new materials and equipment within the entire technological chain of hydrogen production) and to search for markets for Japanese hydrogen technologies. Japan’s main agreements with countries and regions of the world in this area and large-scale projects implemented to date in terms of creating international hydrogen supply chains are systematized. The role of Japan as an initiator of the development of international interactions and the formation of a global market for low-carbon hydrogen, as well as a market leader in terms of public policy, availability of technology, large-scale investment and international cooperation is substantiated. It has been determined that Japan’s high activity in international projects and agreements on the development of hydrogen technologies and hydrogen supply chains determines the country’s leading role in stimulating the development of the global hydrogen market at the current stage. Japan’s activity is leading to an increase in the number of international cooperation agreements, recognition by other countries of the key role of hydrogen in the energy transition, and the adoption by more and more countries of their national hydrogen strategies. It was revealed that due to the high cost of Japanese equipment used in the production of “green” hydrogen, the country is likely to lose in competition for market niches in the global hydrogen market.

Five Factors that Impact the Globalization of Innovation

Overview: Many multinational companies develop innovative new businesses in one geographic market that they would like to expand to another. This is often challenging, however, because market, economic, and cultural factors, as well as the regulatory environment, make direct transfer unlikely to succeed. Strong internal factors also can impede the transfer of an offering or business from one region to another. This article uses the experience of three businesses developed at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in the commercial trucking sector. All of these businesses started in one market and were later reshaped to enable their success in very different markets. We discuss the challenges these market expansions faced and the ways in which they were addressed. We propose a simple set of five factors (MERCI) for other companies seeking to grow through global expansion of innovative new businesses.

Uncovering the Sources of Geographic Market Segmentation: Evidence from the EU and the US

Uncovering the Sources of Geographic Market Segmentation: Evidence from the EU and the US

Barriers and Facilitators to Clinical Practice Development in Men and Women Surgeons

Many early-career surgeons struggle to develop their clinical practices, leading to high rates of burnout and attrition. Furthermore, women in surgery receive fewer, less complex, and less remunerative referrals compared with men. An enhanced understanding of the social and structural barriers to optimal growth and equity in clinical practice development is fundamental to guiding interventions to support academic surgeons. To identify the barriers and facilitators to clinical practice development with attention to differences related to surgeon gender. A multi-institutional qualitative descriptive study was performed using semistructured interviews analyzed with a grounded theory approach. Interviews were conducted at 5 academic medical centers in the US between July 12, 2022, and January 31, 2023. Surgeons with at least 1 year of independent practice experience were selected using purposeful sampling to obtain a representative sample by gender, specialty, academic rank, and years of experience. Surgeon perspectives on external barriers and facilitators of clinical practice development and strategies to support practice development for new academic surgeons. A total of 45 surgeons were interviewed (23 women [51%], 18 with ≤5 years of experience [40%], and 20 with ≥10 years of experience [44%]). Surgeons reported barriers and facilitators related to their colleagues, department, institution, and environment. Dominant themes for both genders were related to competition, case distribution among partners, resource allocation, and geographic market saturation. Women surgeons reported additional challenges related to gender-based discrimination (exclusion, questioning of expertise, role misidentification, salary disparities, and unequal resource allocation) and additional demands (related to appearance, self-advocacy, and nonoperative patient care). Gender concordance with patients and referring physicians was a facilitator of practice development for women. Surgeons suggested several strategies for their colleagues, department, and institution to improve practice development by amplifying facilitators and promoting objectivity and transparency in resource allocation and referrals. The findings of this qualitative study suggest that a surgeon's external context has a substantial influence on their practice development. Academic institutions and departments of surgery may consider the influence of their structures and policies on early career surgeons to accelerate practice development and workplace equity.

Purchase Intention Through Social Media Commerce with Age and Gender as Moderating Variables: An Empirical Study

Purchase intention helps entrepreneurs to decide where the geographic market is and how to segment the customers where the products and services are sold on social commerce media. The aim of this studyto be able to find out empirically about the influence of attitude, ease of use, perceived usefulness, on purchase intention through social commerce media which is moderated by gender and ageThis research was conducted in early July - late July 2023. The data collection process was carried out by distributing questionnaires online in the form of Google forms. This research was conducted on 125 Tiktok social media users in Indonesia. The data obtained was analyzed usingmethodPartial Squares Structural Equation Modeling(PLS-SEM). The results of this research show that attitude has a positive and significant effect on purchase intention. Next, ease of use has a positive and significant effect on purchase intention. Then, perceived usefulness has a positive and insignificant effect on purchase intention. Furthermore, young age has no influence on the relationship between ease of use and purchase intention. Next, women have no influence on perceived usefulness and it is not significant on purchase intention.

Geographic Market Definition in Commercial Health Insurer Matters: A Unified Approach for Merger Review, Monopolization Claims, and Monopsonization Claims

We provide a methodology for geographic market definition when the product(s) being purchased or sold has an intrinsic geographic component, such as (1) the sale of commercial health plans and (2) the purchase of health care providers’ services by commercial health plans. In these situations, we show that a straightforward application of the Horizontal Merger Guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (hereafter, Guidelines) that uses the customer or supplier location to define the geographic market is not sufficient and can result in markets that are unintuitively small. This is often addressed by applying an assumption about aggregating based on similar competitive conditions. The practice of relying on the assumption of similar competitive conditions across counties, metropolitan statistical areas, or other geographic areas, without a methodology to support this assumption, could lead to market definitions that are too narrow or too broad and could influence the assessments of the extent of market concentration and the presence or absence of market power. We outline a framework that is consistent with the Guidelines and does not require a reliance on the assumption of aggregation based on similar competitive conditions. JEL Classification L12, L40, K21, D42, I11

FEATURES OF LOCAL-LEVEL TOURIST DESTINATIONS AS GEOGRAPHICAL OBJECTS

The tourist destination, both in terms of its ontological essence and, especially, in terms of the variety of epistemological reflections, is imagined as a rather specific object, moreover, it is rather variegated and controversially covered in scientific publications. Following the evolution of scientific positions, it is worth noting their gradual structuring, which was manifested in the formation of four methodological directions of research: geographical, marketing (management), client-oriented, socio-cultural.
 Geographical studies combine the interpretation of the destination as a certain territory, a geographical object that has real boundaries (continent, country, island, city, center of purposeful development of tourism, etc.) and is visited by tourists. This approach is probably the most common, and it gives an idea of the tourism product of a destination as a "typical model", which includes at least the following elements: attractions, tourism services and infrastructure, accessibility, image and price.
 The results of the study and analysis of a large number of scientific and educational publications provide the necessary grounds for the following conclusions: first, all authors agree that a tourist destination is a rather complex socio-geographical system; secondly, the vast majority of authors directly point to such an important fact that an integral basic element of a tourist destination is the territory (geotory), this is a very significant argument in favor of the need to apply the epistemological model of the destination as a geographical system; thirdly, there is a rather large disagreement regarding the formulation of the actual term "tourist destination", where there are disagreements or even contradictions in different approaches (organizational, technological, economic, territorial, etc.); fourthly, the biggest, in our opinion, disagreements are observed regarding the definition of the concept of tourist destination, it is this aspect that deserves detailed consideration.
 From the above, it can be concluded that a tourist destination is a relatively small tourist system (local territory), which is characterized by territorial integrity (compactness and isolation) and within which the visitor consumes a specific tourist product.
 In order to substantiate the territorial dimensions (scales), typical dimensions of the destination, establishing the differences (similarities) of the tourist destination and the tourist region, it is necessary to start from geographical positions, while creatively using the results of scientific investigations and practical experience of the tourist process. The necessity and expediency of applying the principle of interdisciplinarity, adopting the development of traditional and modern concepts of geography of tourism, economics, management and marketing, socio-cultural studies, etc., is quite obvious.
 The geographic approach combines the interpretation of the destination as a certain territory, a geographical object that has real boundaries (continent, country, island, city, center of purposeful development of tourism, etc.) and is visited by tourists. It usually combines geospatial, economic, infrastructural and resource aspects of a tourist destination.
 Thus, a tourist destination should be understood as a territorially compact tourist system at the micro-regional level, which has a certain specialization and concentration of tourist activity, and usually includes one or several attractions. The provisions and arguments presented here, in our opinion, outline sufficiently unsolved scientific tasks regarding the geographical methodology of tourist destinations and indicate certain directions for deepening scientific research and should be perceived as a continuation of discussions.
 Key words: tourist destination, local level, socio-geographical system, attraction.

Exploring the generational influence on social media-based tourist decision-making in India

Purpose This study aims to explore how social media affects decision-making among tourists and whether there is a potential effect of age, which is studied through generations. For this purpose, baby boomers, Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z tourists are studied and real-time implications are offered. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a descriptive and exploratory design where the conceptual model of social media-based decision-making is developed through a review of the literature. Quantitative analysis is conducted on primary data from 600 Indian tourists. This is done using a self-administered questionnaire adopted from Gulati (2022) after checking its validity and reliability. The statistical analysis for hypothesis testing is done using PLS-SEM path modelling on pooled data. To study the categorical moderating effect of generations, partial least squares multigroup analysis (PLS-MGA) is performed as a paired comparison on every successive generation. Findings After testing every successive younger generation with an older generation through PLS-MGA, none of the pairs found any significant differences in path coefficients, as the values obtained were 0.05 < p < 0.95 for all five paths (SM → NR, SM → IS, SM → E, SM → P, SM → PPB). This indicates all the generations behave in a similar manner irrespective of them being older or younger, and age does not moderate social media’s impact on decision-making among Indian tourists. Research limitations/implications The study establishes India as a unique geographical market and suggests tourism marketers to treat all generations at par, irrespective of age, as they behave and interact with social media in a similar manner. But, because this study is restricted to a single geographical location, i.e. India, further regions can be explored for global generalisation. Future research can also explore other demographics for combined, moderated analysis. Findings from the study suggest that marketers should ensure that equal attention is given to all generations as they engage with social media in a similar manner. Targeted marketing using artificial intelligence can help in ensuring custom ads. Personalisation according to generations can also facilitate greater purchases. Originality/value The study fills a major population and knowledge gap by exploring a topic that has been highly under-researched. Also, the study adopts an inclusive approach by analysing all the generations, both younger and older, to understand the potential effect of age on moderating the impact that social media has on tourist decision-making. Further, real-time suggestions and implications are offered to tourism marketers with special reference to the Indian tourism industry.

The Local Market of Major Teaching Hospitals.

The purpose of this study was to describe the local communities served by major teaching hospitals. Using a dataset of hospitals around the United States provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges, we identified major teaching hospitals (MTHs) using the Association of American Medical Colleges' definition of those with an intern-to-resident bed ratio above 0.25 and more than 100 beds. We defined the local geographic market surrounding these hospitals as the Dartmouth Atlas hospital service area (HSA). Using MATLAB R2020b software, data from each ZIP Code Tabulation Area from the US Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimate Data tables were grouped by HSA and attributed to each MTH. One-sample t tests were used to evaluate for statistical differences between the HSAs and the US average data. We further stratified the data into regions as defined by the US Census Bureau: West, Midwest, Northeast, and South. One-sample t tests were used to evaluate for statistical differences between MTH HSA regional populations with their respective US regional population. The local population surrounding 299 unique MTHs covered 180 HSAs and was 57% White, 51% female, 14% older than 65 years old, 37% with public insurance coverage, 12% with any disability, and 40% with at least a bachelor's degree. Compared with the overall US population, HSAs surrounding MTHs had higher percentages of female residents, Black/African American residents, and residents enrolled in Medicare. In contrast, these communities also showed higher average household and per capita income, higher percentages of bachelor's degree attainment, and lower rates of any disability or Medicaid insurance. Our analysis suggests that the local population surrounding MTHs is representative of the wide-ranging ethnic and economic diversity of the US population that is advantaged in some ways and disadvantaged in others. MTHs continue to play an important role in caring for a diverse population. To support and improve policy related to the reimbursement of uncompensated care and care of underserved populations, researchers and policy makers must work to better delineate and make transparent local hospital markets.

Hospital Survival In Rural Markets: Closures, Mergers, And Profitability.

Financial distress among rural hospitals in the US has increased in recent years. Using national hospital data, we investigated how the decline in profitability has affected hospital survival, either independently or with a merger. The answer has direct implications for access to care and competition in rural markets. We assessed the rate of hospital closures and mergers in predominantly rural markets during the period 2010-18, focusing on hospitals that were unprofitable at baseline. A minority of unprofitable hospitals (7percent) closed. A larger share (17percent) merged, most commonly with organizations from outside of their local geographic market. Most unprofitable hospitals (77percent) continued to operate through 2018 without closure or merger. About half of these hospitals returned to profitability. At the market level, 22percent of markets served by unprofitable hospitals lost a competitor to closure or within-market merger. Out-of-market mergers affected 33percent of markets with an unprofitable hospital. Overall, our results suggest that rural markets are experiencing meaningful rates of hospital closures and mergers, yet many hospitals have survived despite poor financial performance. Policies targeting access to care will continue to be important. Similar attention will be needed to address the competitive effects of hospital closures and mergers on prices and quality.

Event Space and Firm Value: Chinese Listed Firms in the US–China Trade War

Although past studies in crisis management usually have taken a geography-focused approach to study how physical proximity increases firms’ exposure to a crisis, this study draws on event system theory and proposes that independent of firms’ geographic locations, an event can have multiple spatial directions and proximities to the firms in the event space. To further unpack the effects of event space, we develop an integrated framework that considers how the event space interacts with entity attributes—which are found to help firms cope with external challenges affecting their market value. Using the shock of the 2018 US–China trade war on listed firms in China's stock market, we find that the trade war has significantly reduced the market value of firms that have spatial proximity to the product market (i.e., firms that belong to target industries) and to the geographic market (i.e., firms that export to the United States) in event space. This negative effect also spills over onto peer organizations with business activities related to target industries or the United States. Moreover, there are differential moderating effects from entity attributes, such as corporate political connections and corporate social responsibility, on the different event spatial directions, pointing to the distinct natures of event spatial directions. This study introduces a novel, multidimensional view of event space and uses it to develop an event space model for geopolitical events, and in so doing, we complement extant work on the role of crises in shaping corporate strategy and performance.