Metropolitan Markets Research Articles

Economic Analysis of Irish Potato (Solanum tuberusum) Marketing in Metropolitan Markets of Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Aims: This paper evaluates the economic analysis of Irish Potato (Solanum tuberosum) marketing in the metropolitan markets of Bauchi State.
 Study Design: A sample random sampling technique was used in selecting eighty (80) respondents (30 wholesalers and 50 retailers).
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was done at Bauchi State, Nigeria.
 Methodology: Questionnaire was used to collect data on the socio-economic characteristics of the marketers and other information on cost/return from the respondents. It was however complemented with oral interviews.
 Results: The results shows that the enterprise is a profitable venture in the metropolitan markets of Bauchi with a Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of (1.84) Yelwa Tudu market compared to other markets, while acquisition cost constitutes the highest proportion of the total cost of marketing potato. The majority of the marketers were female (57.75%) with 70% of the total respondents falling within the age bracket of 30-50 years. Majority of the marketers had a marketing experience of 1-10 years (58.73%). Also 70% of the marketers were married and 57% started their business with personal savings.
 Conclusion: The present study identified different challenges in Irish potatoes production and marketing in Bauchi State, Nigeria.

Comparative Analysis of User‐Generated Online Yelp Reviews for Periodontal Practices in Multiple Metropolitan Markets

Previously published research for a single metropolitan market (Austin, Texas) found that periodontists fare poorly on the Yelp website for nearly all measured metrics, including average star ratings, number of reviews, review removal rate, and evaluations by "elite" Yelp users. The purpose of the current study is to confirm or refute these findings by expanding datasets to additional metropolitan markets of various sizes and geographic locations. A total of 6,559 Yelp reviews were examined for general dentists, endodontists, pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, orthodontists, and periodontists in small (Austin, Texas), medium (Seattle, Washington), and large (New York City, New York) metropolitan markets. Numerous review characteristics were evaluated, including: 1) total number of reviews; 2) average star rating; 3) review filtering rate; and 4) number of reviews by Yelp members with elite status. Results were compared in multiple ways to determine whether statistically significant differences existed. In all metropolitan markets, periodontists were outperformed by all other dental specialties for all measured Yelp metrics in this study. Intermetropolitan comparisons of periodontal practices showed no statistically significant differences. Periodontists were outperformed consistently by all other dental specialties in every measured metric on the Yelp website. These results were consistent and repeated in all three metropolitan markets evaluated in this study. Poor performance of periodontists on Yelp may be related to the age profile of patients in the typical periodontal practice. This may result in inadvertently biased filtering of periodontal reviews and subsequently poor performance in multiple other categories.

A Multimarket Analysis of Inter-dependent Consumer Response Sensitivities

AbstractWe investigate variation in aggregate consumer response sensitivities to the price, promotion and distribution elements of the marketing mix across US metropolitan markets. Primarily, three questions of research interest are examined – (i) the nature of the relationship between different aggregate response sensitivities and the implications therein, (ii) the usefulness of aggregate area-wide macroeconomic indicators such as inflation, unemployment and poverty in the context of a marketing problem, and (iii) the usefulness of geo-spatial information under a distribution-free approach. Beer category sales data across 49 major US metropolitan markets are analyzed. We find a pattern of strong inter-dependence among aggregate response sensitivities that indicates the existence of distinct, non-overlapping consumer segments. This enables a characterization of metropolitan market areas at an aggregate level. Ignoring inter-dependence mis-characterizes response sensitivity in two-thirds of the markets sampled. Further, on a standalone basis, neither area-wide economic indicators nor geo-spatial information help the analysis, but in conjunction, they vastly improve model fit (by almost 40%), explained variance (by over twice), parameter significance and consequently, insight.

Hedonic Analysis of Apple Attributes in Metropolitan Markets of Western Canada

ABSTRACTOver the last decade, the level of competition in the Canadian apple industry has been affected by growing competitive pressures from increasing imports and the availability of other fresh fruits. In response to intensifying competition, the industry has introduced new apple varieties that are more desirable to consumers in terms of eating quality and improve growers’ profitability. British Columbia (BC) apple sales data were employed to examine the implicit value of apple attributes for apples sold in several metropolitan areas of western Canada (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg). Linear hedonic price functions were estimated to determine price premiums paid for newer varieties, higher grades, and larger fruit size. In addition, the price effects of cold storage and seasonality were considered because of their association with apple quality. Wholesale prices were significantly influenced by apple fruits of newer varieties, grades, fruit sizes, and metropolitan area. Wholesalers also distinguished between Canadian and BC grades of different varieties. Wholesale prices varied across urban centers; they were relatively higher in Winnipeg and Saskatoon than in Vancouver [EconLit Classifications: Q110, Q130].

Lodging Demand for Urban Hotels in Major Metropolitan Markets

Analyzing urban hotel properties located in major metropolitan markets during the 1989 to 2000 period, this study provides empirical evidence that various measures of current income, expectations of future income, the own price, and the price of substitutes, are statistically important factors influencing lodging demand at the property level. This study examines the relationship between lodging demand and these economic factors at the property level using a large cross section of properties and a long time horizon. The results show that income elasticities computed at the property level are significantly lower than those computed using aggregate lodging data. The results also show that the magnitude of the impact of GDP on lodging demand is similar to the magnitude of the sum of disposable personal income and corporate income. The relative magnitude of the impact of each of these economic factors on lodging demand varies across lodging market segments.

Office Rent Processes: The Case of U.S. Metropolitan Markets

This paper synthesizes elements of the traditional and contemporary theory of real estate markets to formulate an empirical framework for exploring metropolitan office rent processes. Such a framework is then applied to the analysis of office rents across 18 U.S. office markets during 1986–1995. The empirical results underscore the sluggishness of rental adjustments, highlight the extent of rental disequilibria across markets, and uncover the role of office employment factors (such as size, diversity, spatial organization, growth rates, and volatility), construction costs, interest rates, amenities, and zoning in shaping interarea differentials in the equilibrium component of office rents.

EXPLORING KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF NEWSPAPER JOURNALISTS IN METROPOLITAN MARKETS IN THE UNITED STATES REGARDING FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY

Mass media are the primary source that increases people 's awareness about agriculture and are an important resource for the diffusion of innovations. Educating journalists is important because journalists play a significant role in shaping public perceptions. The public has a stake in the outcomes of science because of the social, economic and environmental implications of innovations; therefore, a scientifically literate public is important to a democracy. This descriptive study may encourage agricultural educators who work in the contexts of extension education and agricultural communications to collaborate with journalists and the social institution of mass media to inform consumers about food biotechnology. Eighty-eight journalists for 62 of the nation's largest metropolitan newspapers provided data for the study. Major findings and recommendations are as follows: journalists’ knowledge of food biotechnology was relatively low; most journalists considered genetic modification of plants as “acceptable " and of animals as “somewhat acceptable," and journalists had greatest faith in "university scientists” as sources. Journalists perceived genes moving to other organisms, food safety, and environmental harm as obstacles to the acceptance of biotechnology innovations. These journalists considered that farmers would accept food biotechnology as a farm practice within three years while consumer acceptance would take almost eight years.

419 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Journalists for Newspapers in Metropolitan Markets in the United States Regarding Food Biotechnology

This study enhances knowledge of and information for food systems educators and industry about multiplying their efforts—enlisting collaboration of journalists and the social institution of mass media—in educating consumers about food biotechnology. The focus of this study (diffusion of innovations of food biotechnology) may change behaviors of researchers, agricultural educators, and those in the food biotechnology industry. The researchers investigated journalists' knowledge about, attitudes toward, and perceptions of food biotechnology. Eighty-eight journalists practicing at the nation's largest newspapers and representing “beats” of business, environment, agribusiness, features, food, health/medical, and science/technology provided data for the study. A researcher-developed instrument measured journalists' knowledge, journalists' attitudes (acceptance of genetically modified organisms, acceptance of food biotech practices, effects of biotechnology, level of importance of research, faith in sources, level of importance placed on investigative reporting style, and fear of using food biotechnology), and journalists' perceptions regarding acceptance of food biotechnology as a farm practice. Major findings were journalists' knowledge was low (mean 30.2%), most journalists considered genetic modification of plants as “acceptable,” journalists had greatest faith in “university scientists” and “health professionals” as sources of biotechnology information, journalists do further investigation and interpretation of information given by sources based on their faith in the source, journalists believed that farmers would accept food biotechnology more rapidly than consumers, journalists with higher perceived scientific knowledge had greater acceptance of genetically modified organisms, journalists with more knowledge about biotechnology saw fewer obstacles to acceptance of food biotechnology; and “Writers” rather than “Editors/Managers” accepted more readily genetically modified organisms, had greater faith in sources, had less fear of using food biotechnology, and perceived a more rapid rate of acceptance of food biotechnology as a farm practice.

Stages of Shopping Center Development in Major Latin American Metropolitan Markets

Stages of Shopping Center Development in Major Latin American Metropolitan Markets

Metropolitan Markets in the United States

Metropolitan Markets in the United States