Spanish Sector Research Articles

A gender approach to the impact of COVID-19 on tourism employment

This paper analyses how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced employment in the Spanish tourism sector from a gender perspective and aims to infer its impact on sustainability. We use employment data from 2002 (Q1) to 2020 (Q4) on women and men in the Spanish hospitality sector and employ fractional integration methods to determine the temporary scope of the shock. Our results suggest that the impact of the pandemic will have a permanent effect, unless strong policy measures are adopted to resume pre-crisis trends. We also found that persistence is higher for women’s than for men’s employment. Therefore, women seem to be more vulnerable to the shocks of COVID-19, making sustainable development of tourism in Spain more difficult. Based on our results, we offer policy recommendations to counter the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender equality and tourism sustainability.

New realities of European labour market. Focus on Spain

The European labour market, being an integral part of the global one, is currently under the influence of cyclical macroeconomic trends when periods of positive growth are replaced by crises and economic recessions. The instability of the European economy during the protracted crisis, which started in 2008, led to the labour market slack, an increase in unemployment and the spread of nonstandard forms of employment. The post crisis period defined as the “new norm” and used to describe the socio-economic impact of the global recession, turned out to be short to stabilize working sectors: in early 2020 the world was struck down by the COVID-19 pandemic which caused unprecedented and widespread job loss. Countries of Southern Europe, including Spain, were among the most deeply affected. By using the Iberian case, the author tries to show the main patterns of employment situation during the pandemic and analyze the steps taken by the Spanish government to prevent further employment decline. To reduce unemployment and preserve jobs, Spain, following its neighbors’ model, introduced a shortterm underemployment regime (ERTE) which implies a temporary suspension of labour contracts. These measures had certain results; however, a cross-country analysis reveals their lower efficiency in comparison with the achievements in the states of the center and north of Europe. Spanish employment sector is predicted to recover slowly. The future will show how successful these initiatives of the Spanish government will be. However, on this path, a greater political consensus should be achieved.

Longest and still longer: The Messejana-Plasencia dyke and its links with later Alpine deformation belt in Iberia

The Messejana-Plasencia dyke (End-Triassic), NE-SW oriented, is the longest simple structure in Iberia (~500 km) and constitutes a first-order rheological discontinuity that crosses the entire crust. During the Alpine deformation, this discontinuity nucleated the Messejana-Plasencia left-lateral strike-slip fault and its related strike-slip deformation belt, consisting of a series of wide coalescent stepovers and small basins developed on the footwalls. Both structures can be followed from offshore of SW mainland Portugal to the central sector of the Spanish-Portuguese Central System. Using tectonic, geophysical, magnetic, and gravimetric analyses, our study demonstrated that it extends NE more than ~100 km below the continental sediments of the Duero Cenozoic Basin, until the Iberian Chain. We used a tectonostratigraphic analysis to determine the age of the wrench fault movement and that of the Spanish-Portuguese thrusts. In this range, the largest displacement during the Cenozoic occurred in the southern thrust of the Spanish sector of the Central System over the Madrid Cenozoic Basin, and NE-SW trending. This thrust displaces the Moho more than 10 km and probably joins the Messejana-Plasencia strike-slip fault at depth. The deduced age movement for both is Oligocene-Lower-Middle Miocene, related to the intraplate stresses transmitted from the Pyrenean orogen towards its foreland. A strain partitioning process was then deduced for the simultaneous movement of both main Alpine faults in Central Iberia.

Comunicación Integral y transparencia en las organizaciones del tercer sector / Integral Communication and transparency of the third sector organizations

Third sector organizations are organizational structures that contribute to the countries social welfare. This type of organizations requires their audiences support and understanding in order to accomplish their organizational objectives and, to obtain such support, they must communicate in a transparent form with their audiences. Transparency must be understood as a third sector organizations ethical duty with a view to announce their audiences not only detailed information about the use of financial resources but also to keep them informed about their actions, decisions and daily behaviors. Third sector organizations must manage their transparency and best practices not as designed action within a logistical or merely operational plan, but as the core idea of a strategic plan that allows them to create bonds of trust with strategic audiences such as: collaborators, donors, volunteers, government, other third sector organizations and society. When the audiences notice that a third sector organization puts their transparency and best practices into practice as an ethical and voluntary attitude for making visible and explaining each one of their actions, decisions, projects, profits and results, they will not hesitate to participate with it and offer their unconditional support. Comprehensive communication plays a fundamental role in the transparency strategic management of the third sector organizations, since it is through it that the audiences are able to know in detail the organization actions. Owing to, currently, digital media own a great reach, third sector organizations transparency and best practices must be communicated using digital media in a proper form. That is, organizations must not only design strategies to strengthen their transparency, but they also must communicate them with their audiences. With that said, the objective of this research was to analyze and to compare through a content analysis the comprehensive communication level in digital media owned by the third sector organizations from Mexico and Spain with NGO certification accredited to communicate their transparency and best practices to their audiences via their website and official social media: Facebook and Twitter. The third sector organizations sample was of 104 Spanish organizations and 104 Mexican organizations. This research was performed through a quantitative content analysis. Such analysis is digital and it was carried out in the official website and in two social media: Facebook and Twitter. It is a cross-sectional research, since the information gathering was performed during the period January-August, 2020. The research stages were: definition of the sample, definition of variables, information coding and analysis and interpretation of results. The study categories were determined from the nine transparency and best practices principles of Lealtad y Confío foundation; indications based on international standards recommended by the ICFO (International Committee on Fundraising Organizations). The main findings were that the communication level in the Spanish third sector organizations was better than in the Mexican organizations; however, both organizations have the challenge to efficiently communicate their transparency using digital media. Although it is true that Spain owns a better level of transparency and best practices comprehensive communication in digital media compared to Mexico, it has merely focused in taking advantage of its website, leaving the advantages of social media, Facebook and Twitter, aside.

SPAIN AS AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT

The aim of this paper is to examine the Spanish economy, identify key areas for investment and assess the risks and opportunities associated with this. The article examines all aspects related to determining the degree of investment attractiveness of Spain, as well as the current state of the Spanish investment environment and the latest trends in the Spanish investment sector. Other objectives of this study include examining the Spanish economy, identifying key areas for investment and current trends in potential investment. An analysis of the threats and opportunities associated with investing in Spain was also conducted. Various resources have been used to provide reliable, up-to-date, in-depth, detailed and comprehensive analysis. First, the world’s leading databases, such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, UNCTAD, and so on. Second, data from Spanish government and financial institutions were taken into account. In order to study the problem from different angles, the media, scientific papers and journals were also involved in gathering the necessary information. The analysis allowed us to identify the most significant advantages of the Spanish economy as an object of investment, in particular: – highly developed service sectors, such as financial and insurance services, telecommunications, D&R, etc., which are constantly fueled by FDI inflows; – strategic location and opportunity to enter the EU market; – successful internal structural reforms have been implemented, which have led to increased labor flexibility; – favorable conditions for immigration (including labor immigration); – leading positions in terms of solvency and trust; – economic openness of the country and its participation in a large number of international trade agreements; – measures taken to weaken business and investment regulation; – non-interference of the state in business, fair competition and not perverted trade; – excellent infrastructure that stimulates economic growth; – one of the most innovative and efficient tax agencies – AEAT; – absence of other significant socio-economic, legal and criminal risks that hinder investment. Although Spain faces high unemployment, the current economic crisis caused by the Crown virus, and huge public debt, most of them can be turned into the benefits of foreign investment projects. Similarly, to overcome the economic crisis, the country needs an influx of money from outside, so now the conditions for foreign investors are even more favorable

Facing Innovation and Digitization: The Case of Spanish Printing Houses

This paper deals with how technological change and digitization in the Spanish printing sector are challenging existing business models and encouraging printing houses to modify their product portfolio and core competencies. This research has as a general objective to understand the impact of digitization on the business models of printing houses. Both the case studies and the survey conducted conclude that (a) printing houses, although aware of the necessary digital transformation, continue to maintain the traditional business model alongside the new one, (b) customers are the main driver of the digital transition of their business models, (c) there is a trade-off between cultural and environmental policies as drivers of the paradigm shift in printing houses and (d) the digital context is a motivating factor for vertical integration downstream of printing houses.

How local conditions affect global banking: the case of BBVA and Santander

Este artículo explora por qué los bancos españoles se internacionalizan y por qué América Latina ha sido la región principal para la expansión internacional de BBVA y Santander. Se muestra que antes de 1986 la banca española tenía una presencia limitada en el exterior y se analizan los principales impulsores de esta expansión inicial (remesas y conexiones comerciales). Sin embargo, a partir de 1986 se produjo una confluencia de factores internos (liberalización bancaria española, creciente competencia y aumento de la IED española) y externos (cambios económicos y regulatorios en América Latina) que incentivaron las incursiones internacionales de BBVA y Santander.

Spanish non-financial corporations and the COVID pandemic: vulnerability, resilience and transformation

Purpose This paper aims to assess the vulnerability and resilience of the Spanish non-financial corporations (NFC) to the shock from the COVID pandemic with consolidated income accounts data, and shows comparative labor productivity and endowment of organizational capital of Spanish firms, as indicators of their capabilities at the outset of the new digital transformation wave proposed by the next generation EU program. Design/methodology/approach The paper first describes the recent evolution (quarterly 2020 data) of the Spanish non-financial corporate sector (gross value added, labor cost, capital formation, profits) in the assessment of the vulnerability and resilience of the sector to the shock of the COVID pandemic. Then second, it estimates a probit model to evaluate the EU country effects in the explanation of the different propensity firms in the European Company Survey database to adopt innovative management and organization practices. Findings In the Spring of 2020, the Spanish NFC were still recovering from the great recession (low resilience), and the severe contraction in value-added and profits of the corporate sector in the first three quarters of the year evidences its high vulnerability. The proved complementarity between organizational and information related assets implies that the low endowment of organizational capital of Spanish firms, could be a severe limitation for the advancement toward digitalization. Research limitations/implications The aggregate corporate sector data used in the analysis of vulnerability and resilience of Spanish firms does not account for the heterogeneous effects of the pandemic across economic sectors (manufacturing and services, for example) and across firms (large versus small ones). Originality/value The paper complements the country-level analysis of the impact of the COVID pandemic in the Spanish economy with the analysis of the impact of the pandemic in the performance of the corporate sector. It provides one of the first analysis of the current endowment of organization capital of Spanish firms and highlights its relevance for productivity growth.

Analysis of Product-Country Image from Consumer’s Perspective: The Impact of Subjective Knowledge, Perceived Risk and Media Influence

Limited research has empirically explored the antecedents that explain product-country image in the context of international marketing. This topic is particularly important as consumers’ concerns about sustainability and the country of origin are relevant factors influencing purchase decisions relating to foreign products. This study addresses the gap by developing a causal relationship model to explain which are the main determinants of how consumers perceive product-country image on the basis of key aspects that define sustainability (environmental, social, quality/safety, and economic factors). This research is focused on the Spanish horticultural sector, Europe’s leading fresh produce supplier, which has historically experienced major crises that have affected its image abroad. The model is tested by using PLS-SEM on a sample of 303 consumers in Germany, one of the main destination markets of Spanish horticultural products. The results indicate that consumers’ subjective knowledge about image crises of the country and its products/services and consumers’ perceived risk of these products and information sources (organic and induced image) influence the formation of product-country image. The results have implications in the design of marketing campaigns and in the improvement of sustainable strategies for international companies.

Life-cycle assessment as a tool to evaluate the environmental impact of hot-dip galvanisation

Abstract Hot-dip galvanisation (HDG) is the method most commonly used to protect steel surfaces from corrosion. However, HDG involves very intensive consumption of energy and resources. This paper aims to evaluate the environmental performance and hotspots in the Spanish HDG sector using cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA). Two Spanish HDG industrial plants, with different galvanisation capacities and manufacturing processes, were selected for the case study. The LCA revealed that the consumption of energy, fuels and nonrenewable resources were the most relevant environmental burdens at both plants. Steel was the main contributor, as it had the greatest influence on the plants’ environmental profiles. The consumption of primary zinc and natural gas, used to dry and heat the molten zinc bath, also contributed to the impact of the HDG plants. This work proposes a normalisation to compare the Spanish sector against a European reference based on the average of 66 companies in 14 countries. The impacts of the Spanish HDG plants being studied were generally below the EGGA values, although the results are strongly influenced by the type of steel and the degree of material reuse implemented in the steel manufacturing process. The study lays the foundations for improvements in the resource efficiency and productivity of galvanisation plants. We propose alternatives such as the use of secondary zinc or modifications that will extend the lifespan of pickling baths, which would contribute to a more sustainable use of resources in the galvanising industry.

El audiolibro en España: ¿industria o modelo de negocio?

This research has the general goal of analyzing, through an exploratory methodology, the impact that audiobooks have on the internal processes in the value chain of Spanish publishing companies, to which two more specific goals are added: a) How can the new roles from audiobook be added in an publishing circuit?, and b) is it possible to affirm that the new business model can already be considered an industry within the Spanish publishing sector? Through the analysis of the publishing circuit and the production flow chart carried out in this study, it is observed not only the impact of the audiobook on the entire operational process of a publishing house, but also the new actors on the publishing business scene. Based on the existing data from the audiobook business in Spain, the study concludes that, nowadays, the existence of an audiobook industry that is fully independent from the other consolidated business models in the Spanish publishing sector cannot be affirmed. Resumen Esta investigación tiene como objetivo general analizar a través de una metodología exploratoria el impacto que los audiolibros tienen sobre los procesos internos en la cadena de valor de las editoriales españolas. A este se añaden dos preguntas de investigación específicas: a) ¿Cómo se puede incluir a los actores del audiolibro en un circuito editorial?, y b) ¿se puede afirmar que el nuevo modelo de negocio es una industria dentro del sector editorial español? A través del análisis del circuito editorial y del flujograma de producción realizado en este estudio se observa no solo el impacto del audiolibro sobre todo el proceso operacional de una editorial, sino que además se advierten los nuevos actores en la escena del negocio editorial. Partiendo de los datos existentes sobre el negocio del audiolibro en España, el trabajo concluye que hoy por hoy no se puede afirmar la existencia de una industria audio-editorial independizada plenamente de los otros modelos de negocio consolidados en el sector editorial español.

Static and dynamic connectedness between oil price shocks and Spanish equities: a sector analysis

This paper explores the static and dynamic connectedness between oil price shocks (risk, demand and supply shocks) and Spanish sector equity indices from January-2000 to July-2019. We document sizable system-wide connectedness between the variables under study. Among the oil shocks, demand and risk shocks are the main transmitter (receiver) of shocks to (from) the system and are overall net receiver of shocks from the system. Among the equity indices, Industrials, Financials, Utilities and Telecommunications as the major net transmitters whereas; Consumer Goods, Technology, Retail and Telecommunications are the main net receivers. The dynamic connectedness changes over time and between sectors. We document important differences over time and between sectors, mainly during the recent global financial crisis and the European sovereign debt crisis. Overall, Financials, Telecommunications, Industrials and Utilities as the most influential sectors.

La gestión de la marca del programa frente a la marca corporativa en redes sociales. Caso: La Casa de Papel

Ante el desarrollo de la televisión digital y la llegada de nuevos operadores, el sector audiovisual español se ha visto obligado a implementar nuevas estrategias de comunicación de sus marcas. Entre los canales que vienen utilizando para esta comunicación, las redes sociales ocupan un lugar destacado. En este trabajo se examina el caso de La casa de papel analizando la comunicación de Atresmedia, Netflix España y Vancouver Media en sus cuentas corporativas y del programa en Twitter, Facebook e Instagram. El periodo de estudio se centra en las dos semanas previas y posteriores al lanzamiento de la tercera temporada de esta serie el 19 de julio de 2019. Se analizaron un total de 748 tuits que muestran que la comunicación de las marcas en redes sociales de La casa de papel difiere en el número de publicaciones, utilización de recursos y el papel de la marca corporativa.

Method to assess biomass in scrap tires: Spanish cement sector as a case study

The objective of the study is to develop a methodology to assess natural rubber content in scrap tires. Sampling and statistical methodology have been implemented in order to define an undifferentiated tire which is independent of brand tires or light or heavy tires. Sampling preparation, thermogravimetry analysis and statistical methodology have been implemented, and the method was validated using calibrated samples. It allows to establish a simple methodology to determine the fraction of biomass in the alternative fuel under study. According to the results achieved, the proposed methodology would be used in facilities which use scrap tires as fuel. This research simplifies the determination of biomass content in scrap tires in a specific region or country, and it could be a reference to be consulted by stakeholders.

Accountability through Environmental and Social Reporting by Wind Energy Sector Companies in Spain

At present, energy transition is a crucial phenomenon that is at the very heart of governmental policies. There are a huge number of stakeholders involved in the change, but among these, the main socioeconomic actors that affect environmental and social impacts are energy companies. In this research, we analyze their institutionalized role in the Spanish wind energy sector, in the framework of the ecological movement. We consult the special views, opinions and motivations given by managers responsible for Institutional Relations in the main wind energy companies in Spain, and their perceptions of environmental reporting. We therefore tackle aspects related to the drivers of the social and environmental disclosure of environmental and social information. Research has been carried out based on documentary secondary analysis, and the use of a qualitative method with semi-structured interviews has revealed tendencies and pressures in the sector. Results suggest that the social context and public opinion pressure organizations to reveal environmental and social information. We also put forward how information is conveyed to the society through accountability practices, and the different institutionalized ways in which this is achieved.

Cointegration and causality: considering Iberian economic activity sectors to test the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis

Few studies have attempted to study the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis at the individual sector level using more than one sector at once. This paper investigates the existence of the EKC hypothesis in the Iberian countries (Portugal and Spain) using thirteen economic activity sectors for each, analyzing each individual sector’s cointegration and causality relationships considering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, sector gross value added and energy consumption. The findings of this paper using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach only validate cointegration in six Portuguese sectors and in five of the Spanish sectors. Results confirm both short- and long-run bi-directional and unidirectional causality between economic growth, energy consumption and CO2 emissions, using the error correction model (ECM) and Toda and Yamamoto’s causality approaches. Moreover, results for Portuguese and Spanish sectors indicate an inverted U-shaped relationship only for one sector each. In some sectors there was evidence of a U-shaped relationship and in others the EKC hypothesis could be verified but no statistical significance was obtained. The study has significant contributions for sector policy, including implications to curtail energy pollutants by implementing environmental friendly regulations to sustain economic development at the sector level in the Iberian market. It also allows inferences to be made about the existence of different behaviors in comparative terms for the same economic activity sectors of the individual countries.

Evaluation of the economics of sport hunting in Spain through regional surveys

ABSTRACT This paper reports an examination of the economic contribution to Spain provided by sport hunting. This paper identifies the main stakeholders, the overall expenses and contribution to the Spanish Gross Domestic Product (GDP), tax revenue, and the number of jobs supported. The results confirm that hunting can be considered a key economic activity for the Spanish environment and primary sector, and a measure combatting rural depopulation.

International capital movement towards the Spanish real estate sector

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants that affect international capital flows (ICF) toward the Spanish real estate market over the period 1995 first quarter to 2017 fourth quarter.Design/methodology/approachVECM methodology is used to analyze time series and panel methods using pooled EGLS regression.FindingsVECM parameter results for construction and real estate activities sectors, quickly suggesting a stable performance of capital flows toward Spanish real estate sector that the short-term fluctuation of foreign investment results contributes to the long-term equilibrium relatively soon. By applying the Monetary theory of Johnson, the model identifies a relevant role of M3 explaining capital flows to real estate, together with the lagged variables of construction and real estate activities capital flows, Spanish real interest rate and Spain’s economic growth rate; they are the significant determinants on capital movement to Spanish real estate sector. Interestingly, Spanish housing prices as an exogenous variable, directly, significantly and negatively affect real estate capital flows in all cases as a way to capture the assets price bubble.Practical implicationsFindings highlight reasons affecting capital flows to real estate and construction activities to Spanish sectors which allow capital Funds to take into account those drivers in their investment decisions.Originality/valueThis paper is the first attempt to analyze the determinants of ICF to Spanish real estate market; it has a significant meaning for both Spanish economy and international investors.

Virtu@l-ApS: Technological Support for Virtual Service-Learning

El Aprendizaje-Servicio Virtual (ApSV) es el Aprendizaje-Servicio (ApS) mediado por las TIC (Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación) –tanto para la prestación del servicio como para el apoyo, monitorización y evaluación del aprendizaje por parte de los docentes− y concebido para situaciones en que la comunicación cara a cara entre estudiantes, profesores y beneficiarios del servicio no es posible. La experiencia ha demostrado que sería de gran interés disponer de una aplicación web para el soporte del ApSV (y, en general, de ApS). Presentamos aquí el desarrollo de dicha aplicación web: Virtu@l-ApS. Hasta la fecha, este proyecto de desarrollo de software se ha llevado a cabo en el marco de dos Proyectos de Fin de Grado colaborativos e interdisciplinares de la Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), de los grados en Educación Social e Ingeniería Informática, respectivamente. Aunque la versión de la aplicación web actualmente disponible carece de importantes funcionalidades, la experiencia de su desarrollo ha sido extremadamente útil, en particular, para la clarificación de los requisitos de una aplicación real, completamente operativa, que esperamos contribuya al soporte y la expansión del ApS en la Enseñanza Superior en España.

Water competition through the ‘water-energy’ nexus: Assessing the economic impacts of climate change in a Mediterranean context

The impacts of climate change on water resources availability are expected to be adverse, especially in drier climate regions such as the Mediterranean. Increased water scarcity will exacerbate competition for water resources, not only between sectors but also between countries sharing transboundary river basins. Due to the mutual dependence of the energy sector on water resources and of the water services provision sector on energy inputs, the ‘water-energy’ nexus is acknowledged as a major challenge for the near future – with hydropower representing one of the most direct links in this nexus. The aim of this paper is to assess the economy-wide impacts of the concurrent effects of climate change-driven impacts on water availability and the sectoral and regional competition for scarcer water resources. In order to accomplish that goal, an integrated modelling approach is developed, where a computable general equilibrium model including raw water as a production factor is linked to TIMES_PT, a bottom-up model of the energy sector. A case study is provided for the Mediterranean country of Portugal. Results for 2050 show that macroeconomic impacts are significant, and encompass important inter-sectoral differences that, in turn, depend on the degree of competition between sectors. Impacts are stronger when water consumption by Spanish sectors is considered, as this intensifies water scarcity in Portugal. Thus the paper allows to gain insight in the broader ‘water-energy-economy’ nexus and the additional costs that the dependence on water resources availability in transboundary river basins represents to an economy – both aspects being of utmost importance for climate adaptation and energy policy making.