Status Symbol Research Articles

Oases in the grid

The essay investigates the Milanese street-front gardens of post-WWII middle-class housing. Spread around the city by hectic developers, these gardens reflect specific cultural- al, political and social conditions of Italy’s industrial capital during the economic miracle. Street-facing gardens are an essential feature of modern middle-class condominiums. They reflected the modernist urban vision of a park-city and the Milanese tradition of the street facade; they encapsulate the bourgeois culture with its urge for representative decorum and the freedom of architectural experimentation; their image was used as a marketing tool in real estate advertisement but also as an argument in negotiation for the building licence. In Post-WWII Milan urban nature radically changed its connotation: from a hygienic device, it transformed into a status symbol, and the Milanese started to take care of gardens precisely because of their decorative importance. Even though they are private, they are designed to be looked at from the street, and therefore they make an important part of the everyday urban experience. Beyond their speculative nature, the gardens of Milanese condominiums transformed the urban landscape, bringing density together with well-cared nature into the city streets. The essay explores this phenomenon through a series of distant and close-up views as if following a wandering gaze through the streets of the city. Cover image: Condominium in Piazzale Bacone, arch. Gustavo and Vito Latis, 1968

The Past, Present and Future of CAGE : Beyond National ideological Interests, Fulfilling the Responsibilities of Civil Association and Cooperating with Asian Partners for General Education

The purpose of the entire report will focus on three perspectives: why it is necessary to beyond national ideological interests, how to fulfill the ideals of civil society organizations, and how to serve as a partner of the ALEN (Asian Liberal Education Network), and will be divided into six parts to share what I would like to report here: the background of its establishment, the problems that have to be faced, how to solve the problems that have to be faced, what problems still need to be faced, how to contribute to the East Asia General Education Alliance, why insist on the Republic of China instead of Taiwan as a status symbol of CAGE?

Impact of Social Media Opinion Leaders Influencers on Individual Consumption Decisions of Visually Conspicuous Products

Social media has completely altered how businesses engage with their customers. Social media influencers have become an essential marketing tool for many industries. The consumption of conspicuous products is growing in today’s era. Therefore, most people prefer luxury products as a status symbol, ignoring what brands offer. Consequently, brands spend considerable resources on social media to promote their products and reach a wider audience. However, little research is available on how social media affects customer behavior and how to measure social media effectiveness. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the influence of social media influencers on customer attitudes, behaviors, and purchase intentions toward the consumption of conspicuous products in Pakistan. The study also examined the mediating effect of brand image on consumer attitude and purchase intention. The study used Smart PLS 4 for data analysis on a data set of 200 respondents. The results indicate that social medial Influencer positively affects brand image, consumer attitude and purchase intention.The findings also reveal that brand image mediates (i) social media influencer and consumer attitude and (ii) social media influencer and purchase intention. This research contributes to the current reservoir of knowledge by providing insights into the factors that make social media influencer successful in promoting conspicuous products. The study findings can benefit conspicuous/luxury brands in selecting suitable social media influencer and marketing strategies that enhance their brand image

Boys and Their Toys: Status Inconsistency in Non-democratic Regimes and the Import of Major Weapon Systems

Major weapon system imports are significant as they are useful for domestic and international security. However, states regularly imported weapons they want in addition to weapons they need. One explanation is that states import unnecessary weapons to gain status. We argue that states suffering from higher levels of negative status inconsistency (SI) import a greater proportion of status symbol weapons. To account for differing security motives, we also separate non-democratic regime types – strongman, junta, boss, and machine – as they vary in their international conflict propensity and domestic stability. Due to the differences across these regimes, we further argue that non-democratic personalist regimes will import more status symbol weapons. Using data covering 1965–1999, we find that negatively status inconsistent regimes import more status symbol weapons.

Reifying subaltern voices: a visual communication and figurative discourse of headloading practices in Nigeria

This study provides an understanding of how headloading practice signifies subaltern voices in Nigeria and Africa, among others. The study has sought to interpret the practice of headloading drawing from its images and representations from selected sources, which include Facebook and catalogues of artwork. This interpretive study constructs meaning through a discursive insight around the social practice of headloading. It expands interpretation and ideological structures to include social, economic, and political applications of the headloading subject within the framework of visual discourse and metaphor. This study directs a rethinking of headloading while underpinning the notion of ‘subalternity.’ While not necessarily asking for abolishing the social practice of headloading, the study communicates an understanding that the social phenomenon is a constant symbol of class and power status that many Africans have experienced. Headloading further ‘metaphorises’ the interaction between developed and developing societies (the Global North and South), and underscores related imports of colonisation.

Assessment of the Excessive Rehearses of Smartphones Affected Symptoms on Sound Health of University Students in Bangladesh

The usage of smartphone is increasing rapidly, and it is treated as a symbol of status among the young generation, especially university students. The study is conducted to determine symptoms of excessive use of smartphones on university students’ sound health. Among 350 students of Accounting and Information Systems (AIS), 289 voluntarily responded to answer the close-ended questionnaire with a five-point Likert Scale. To test and analyze the collected data, Cronbach’s Alpha, mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, correlation analysis, factor analysis, and regression analysis are applied with the help of SPSS v25. The eye problem, physically uncomfortable, decreased academic performance, headaches, frustration, abstaining from indoor/outdoor games, physical exercise, and woes in family bonding have a significant correlation with the health conditions of the students and a significant impact on the dependent variable indicating abstaining from gaming, headache, and frustration are liable for overall uneasy feelings. Proper authorities should formulate effective policies to engage the students in different types of indoor and outdoor games, extra-curricular activities like debating, cultural programs (such as singing, playing, and dancing), quiz competitions, science fairs, and job fairs for improving mental health as well as physical activities.

A Brief Analysis of Representation and Reflection of Chinese Traditional Garment of Women

Chinese clothing, especially women's clothing, is very exquisite. Not only the texture of the clothes but also the expression of each clothing style. A lot of information can be reflected in women's clothing. Through the combination of documents and historical materials, this paper analyzes the aesthetic characteristics and cultural connotations of Chinese women's clothing. The results show that Chinese traditional culture is all-encompassing and is the spiritual source of contemporary Chinese clothing design. From the choice of fabric to the colors and embroidery patterns, there is a unique meaning and status symbol. In the end, it is found that the influence of traditional Chinese women's clothing is profound. Women's clothing has not only become powerful evidence for ancient civilization study but also can make future generations strongly feel the spiritual abundance of ancient people. People can only effectively communicate profound cultural implications in fashion design and develop and innovate based on inheriting heritage by deeply comprehending traditional clothing culture and respecting its aesthetic meaning. The proper approach to carrying down traditional clothing culture is to continually improve upon, advance, and transcend it. Rather than concentrating just on the form of traditional Chinese cultural aspects, the vitality of traditional Chinese clothing culture lies in the harmonious fusion of form and connotation.

Triple-Layered Business Model Canvas Environment Based in the Fashion Industry

This qualitative study aims to investigate the Triple Layered Business Model Canvas (TLBMC) strategy to drive environmental progress within the Indonesian fashion industry. Employing the descriptive phenomenological method, the research focuses on applying the TLBMC model to enhance the environmental sustainability of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Yan An. The Yan An case study serves as a practical illustration, demonstrating the successful implementation of the TLBMC model and offering valuable insights into sustainable solutions for challenges faced by the Indonesian fashion industry. In contributing to the existing literature, this study introduces and applies the TLBMC strategy as an innovative approach to address environmental and competitiveness challenges within the Indonesian fashion industry. The research emphasizes the urgent need for a cost-effective and environmentally friendly business strategy, considering the industry’s substantial contribution to environmental issues, accounting for 20% of global wastewater production. The changing consumer perceptions, where fashion is seen as a symbol of social status, have fueled rapid industry growth and intensified challenges for local fashion products, especially those from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study underscores the critical importance of embracing sustainable business practices in the dynamic landscape of the Indonesian fashion industry. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2023-04-04-03 Full Text: PDF

The Growing Preference for Electric Vehicles from a Political and Economic Point of View

This paper examines the political and economic views of the benefits of electric vehicles, through government funding and consumer taste, the preference for electric vehicles has been growing as the years progress. The current problem of global warming caused world leaders to fund and subsidize more and more electrical vehicle components and research on these components. The funding and subsidizing results in Consumer able to buy these electric vehicles for cheaper. The electric vehicles are also cheaper for consumers to maintain as of the gradual rise in oil prices becoming harder to maintain traditional gasoline powered cars. The finical crisis and the plummet of the stock market, especially during COVID 19 also contributed to consumers favoring electric vehicles. Consumer favoring SUVs also contributed to the growing preference for electric vehicles, as consumers see SUV as a type of status symbol, but as SUVs are low fuel economy cars, meaning they contribute a lot to carbon emissions, and are hard to maintain as they need too much oil, drove consumers to purchase electrical SUVs, as it can fulfill the sense of status and be cheaper to maintain at the same time. The future of the electrical car market seems to be on the positive side, as more and more funding by the environmentally-conscious governments allows for more research and time spent on finding cheaper and better ways of producing the components these electrical cars need, making it more accessible for a even wider range of consumers.

A Study to assess level of Nomophobia among people residing in selected areas

Background: Mobile phones have become an important part of everyone’s lives. In recent times, there seems to have been a transformation of the mobile phone from a status symbol to a necessity because of the countless advantages it provides. Excessive and addicting use of mobile phone, especially smart phone results in physical and psychological symptoms such as loneliness, interpersonal anxiety, poor self-control, and low self-esteem. Material and Method: A quantitative, nonexperimental, descriptive, cross-sectional survey research approach was used to assess the level of nomophobia of conveniently selected 390 people from selected areas. The standardized scale was used for the data collection. The data collection was carried out in three phases and the data was analysed by using the descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The results reveal that majority 160 (41%) the respondents had severe nomophobia, 33% of the respondents had moderate level of nomophobia, 23% of the respondents had mild level of nomophobia and only 3% have no nomophobia. Conclusion: It is concluded that 97% of the respondents had nomophobia. Of them, majority (41%) of the participants had severe level of nomophobia and majority of the study participants (33%) had moderate level of nomophobia. Excessive use of smart phone may result in dependency on mobile phone. It is an alarming sign for the public and health-care professionals. More focus should be given for the early detection and intervention for treat nomophobia.

Perception of Psychology Students on Cremation

This study explored the perception of Cremation from psychology students who have finished taking clinical psychology. It explores their views of Cremation and the factors behind those views. At the same time, provide an intervention plan. The study was primarily anchored by the Constructivist Theory of Perception by Richard Gregory (1970) and supported by the Mere Exposure Effect by Robert Zajonc (1968) and the Gateway Belief Model by Van der Linden (2019). In this qualitative study, a phenomenological research design was applied. The sixteen (16) participants were selected using the purposive sampling technique. The researcher used a semi-structured questionnaire with an open-ended interview to gather data. The qualitative data were analyzed thematically through transcription of interviews, coding, significant statements, formed meanings, clustering themes, and emerging themes. Based on the analyzed data, it resulted in nineteen (9) emergent themes, which were divided into two (2) that offered results from the sub-problems. For the participants' views on Cremation, the emerging themes are Facial and Body Deformation, Expensive Process Fees, Clean Process, and Double Killing. For the factors that affect the participants; views on Cremation, the emerging themes are Lack of Knowledge on Cremation, Influence of Status Symbols, Influence of Religion and Tradition, Family and Financial Conflict, and Before Funeral Promise. This study's conclusions and recommendations were used to help the crematorium homes and the potential client. Thus, to further explore the cremation practice in the Philippines and how it affects an enormous scope and to make a more strategic action plan.

Antimicrobial Compounds in Wine.

Ipsum vinum est potestas et possession (wine itself is power and possession). Wine is a complex system that triggers multisensory cognitive stimuli. Wine and its consumption are thoroughly intertwined with the development of human society. The beverage was appreciated in many ancient mythologies and plays an essential part in Christianity and rituals to this day. Wine has been said to enlighten and inspire artists and has even been prohibited by law and some religions, but has nevertheless played a role in human civilizations since the beginning. Winemaking is also a prospering and economically important industry and a longtime symbol of status and luxury. In winemaking, the formation of the final product is influenced by several factors that contribute to the chemical and sensory complexity often associated with quality vintages. Factors such as terroir, climatic conditions, variety of the grape, all aspects of the winemaking process to the smallest details, including metabolic processes carried out by yeast and malolactic bacteria, and the conditions for the maturation and storage of the final product, up to, and even beyond the point of deciding to open the bottle and enjoy the wine. In conjunction with the empiric and scientific process of winemaking, different molecules with antibacterial activity can be identified in wine during the production process, and several of them are clearly present in the final product. Some of these antibacterial components are phytochemicals, such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds, that may be delivered to the final product (wine) as a part of the grape, a variety of potential additive compounds, or from the oak barrels or clay amphoras used during the maturation process. Others are produced by yeasts and malolactic bacteria and play a role not only in the moderation of the fermentation process but contributing to the microbiological safety and beneficial properties spectra of the final product. Lactic acid bacteria, responsible for conducting malolactic fermentation, contribute to the final balance of the wine but are also directly involved in the production of different compounds exhibiting antibacterial activity. Some examples of these compounds include bacteriocins (antibacterial peptides), diacetyl, organic acids, reuterin, hydrogen peroxide, and carbon dioxide. Major aspects of these different beneficial metabolites are the subject of discussion in this review with the aim of highlighting their beneficial functions.

Antecedents and Consequences of Brand Pride: An Investigation of The Causes of Brand Pride and Its Consequences for Willingness to Pay A Premium Price

In addition to protecting the product, the brand is also a guarantee of quality. Therefore, consumers often pay a premium price for branded goods. In some cases, branded goods also often become status symbols that reflect the prestige that gives brand pride so that consumers will align their brand choice with their self-concept (self-brand congruity). This study investigates the effect of self-brand congruity on willingness to pay a premium price through its impact on brand pride. The study was conducted on Smartphone users with the iPhone brand, a smartphone with a premium price. The study involved 120 respondents with various occupations. The test was carried out using Structural Equation Modeling, which was processed with Smart PLS4.0. The results show that self-brand congruity positively significantly Individual Brand Pride, Collective Brand Pride, and willingness to pay a premium price. Meanwhile, Individual Brand Pride is positively willing to pay premium prices, while collective brand pride does not. Individual Brand Pride is proven as a partial variable mediating the effect of self-brand congruity on willingness to pay a premium price.

性齋 許傳의 『士儀』에 나타난 19세기 영남 예학의 위상

Throughout the 19th century, Sungjae Heo Jeon’s (1797~1886) ritual studies book 『SaUi』 which was active in near-capital area and Yeongnam quickly emerged as a problematic text for scholars in Yeongnam region rather than in near-capital area. It is difficult to guess why scholars in Yeongnam critically accepted and discussed the text of 『SaUi』 written by Heo Jeon of near-capital area, leaving behind many books published in his hometown, Yeongnam. This paper is a small attempt to find an answer to the original question of the influence of 『SaUi』 on the history of Youngnam Ritual Studies.
 As a result of contrasting with 『Sangbyeon Tonggo』, which holds a symbolic status in the history of Youngnam Ritual Studies in the 18th century, the theory of Simui dealt with in the <Beobbok> compilation of 『SaUi』 was the most characteristic. Heo Jeon’s 『SaUi』 came to the stage of expressing his personal opinions by questioning the point of doubt in earnest not only in 『Garye』but also in old rituals. The practical use of 『SaUi』 means a deeper approach to daily life. The clear difference between ritual studies books representing the 18th century in Yeongnam and 『SaUi』 appearing in the 19th century is evident at this point.
 The original theory related to deliberation advocated by Heo Jeon's writers and Lee Jin-sang's writers in 『SaUi』 was the subject of academic discussion, and a total of 11 of Heo Jeon's writers wrote writings related to <Beobbok>. The theory of the compilation of 『SaUi』 was the closest to daily life considering the customs of Korea by restoring the essence of rituals based on old rituals such as 『Garye』 and Yeongnam. 『SaUi』provided a foundation for scholars in Yeongnam to expand the base of historical evidence and discussion on old rituals and to present practical theories based on reality. At this point, this paper can confirm where the coordinates of『SaUi』 are in the history of 19th-century Youngnam Ritual Studies.

Diplomatic Gender Patterns and Symbolic Status Signaling: Introducing the GenDip Dataset on Gender and Diplomatic Representation

Abstract This research note introduces a new dyadic dataset on gender and diplomatic representation and shows its potential to address questions about international status, gender patterns in international politics, and more. The GenDip dataset includes the names and gender classification of all bilateral ambassadors heading embassies 1968–2019 (74,549), structured as dyad/decade for 1968–1998 and dyad/lustrum for 1998–2019. Cross-fertilizing the quantitative study of status with qualitative studies on women's symbolic meaning for the status of states, we illustrate the utility of this data by showing that the gender of ambassadors is implicated in status hierarchies among states. For instance, states with a reputation as strongly patriarchal are more likely than others to post their female ambassadors to states with an international gender equality profile, for status and to signal policy alignment. We also show that shares of female ambassadors vary considerably among sending states, in unexpected ways, identifying the need for more research explaining why. This dataset enables new, crucial questions to be asked of international relations, mapping gender changes in diplomacy over time and place and explaining their causes and effects.

Sustainability and culinary traditions? Understand the role of historical markets in the development of agri-food and local gastronomy from the perspective of behavioral economics

Food and gastronomic products are an integral part of a community. In fact, their diffusion on the territory is the result of history, tradition, and culture and they undoubtedly represent a significant part of the identity of the companies as an expression of the presence of man in the territory. The offer of food products takes place in the markets which represent a place of aggregation and exchange of ideas, and cultures, a place where the consumer socializes. For traditional food products, the consumer attributes a particular value to the place of purchase and to the food itself. The aim of this work is to discover the relationship between food and place as a "status symbol" of the supply and demand of the food markets, from the point of view of behavioral economics. Based on a case study in the city of Palermo in Sicily, in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, 30 food stands and 520 consumers (between city residents and tourists) were analyzed. Drawing on the availability of food products during the summer season, this document shows the diversity and uniqueness of local food landscapes and provides examples of the foods that are symbols or images and which constitute the Sicilian food identity. Based on the interviews, the results show the diversity of the food and gastronomic products offered, and the sales methods constitute the "quid" of differentiation of the historical Sicilian markets. On the demand side, the consumer buys according to the convenience of the price, the freshness of the product, and above all the social relationships that are established in the markets. The tourist declared that he visits the market as a "culinary heritage" of the city of Palermo. In summary, if the offer of a food market constitutes the culinary heritage of a given place, the demand for consumption (expressed by residents and non-residents) represents the expression of a response to the history of this heritage which over the years has been handed down from generation to generation up to the present day. So the historical markets are a distinctive trait of the city that it is necessary to enhance in order to promote strategies for the development and growth of the urban environment. The results highlight aspects that refer to the civil economy, which preceded the current market economy approach.

Worth Your Weight: Experimental Evidence on the Benefits of Obesity in Low-Income Countries

I study the economic value of obesity—a status symbol in poor countries associated with raised health risks. Randomizing decision-makers in Kampala, Uganda to view weight-manipulated portraits, I find that obesity is perceived as a reliable signal of wealth but not of beauty or health. Thus, leveraging a real-stakes experiment involving professional loan officers, I show that being obese facilitates access to credit. The large obesity premium, comparable to raising borrower self-reported earnings by over 60 percent, is driven by asymmetric information and drops significantly when providing more financial information. Notably, obesity benefits and wealth-signaling value are commonly overestimated, suggesting market distortions. (JEL D82, G21, G51, I12, O16, Z13)

Tales of a state of mind, body and space: The quest for the next luxury

Once upon a time, luxury was defined by rare and expensive materials, exceptional craftsmanship and iconic design. It was about acquiring something that only a select few could afford and displaying it as a symbol of wealth and status. However, as the world changed, so too did the definition of luxury. Today, the luxury market is experiencing a transformation that is rewriting the rules of what it means to be luxurious. In order to succeed in this rapidly changing landscape, luxury brands must embrace a new paradigm of leadership. They must be proactive in their approach, seeking out new opportunities for growth and innovation. And they must be willing to take bold risks and embrace new technologies and business models. So what does all of this mean for the future of luxury beyond 2023? It means that in order to survive and thrive, luxury brands must be able to adapt to their changing environment, to balance the tension between opposing forces and to create their own unique interpretation of what luxury means. They must also be able to innovate and create new and relevant experiences for consumers, and to do so, they must be able to think creatively and to think beyond the constraints of traditional models and conventions. This article details the rationale behind how luxury brands have an opportunity to lead the way in shaping a more responsible, sustainable and equitable future. It offers actions and strategies to understand how to embrace their mantle of greater expectation and responsibility, in order to use their comparative advantage to drive positive change in society.

Stimulating Constructive and Destructive Leadership Behaviours through the Emperor of Lanka and Villain of Ramayana

Purpose: All are kings. But some follow rules and some break rules. The question is why? Ram and Krishna act for the benefit of others, the larger group. Ravan and Duryodhan are more interested in their glory even if their respective kingdoms are destroyed. On a parallel track, it constantly distinguishes Durga, the symbol of social status, from Shakti, the inner power - physical and mental prowess. On exemplifying positive and negative leadership through Ram, Ravan, Krishna and Duryodhan. The journey towards leadership is a journey from ‘me’ to ‘we’. Thus, linking mythological themes & management with the present-day materialistic world is not easy. The present research links and contextualizes the concepts of virtue & vice leadership behaviours and personality types through the king of Lanka to business and management with the ancient Indian texts. Objectives: The researchers have set the following primary objectives and the current study investigates 2 broad research questions: (1) To evaluate Ramayan's character Ravan stimulates constructive and destructive leadership behaviours. (2) To identify the personality type (MBTI) of the Anti-Hero, Ravana. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study is based on both secondary & primary evidence. Hypotheses are stated for the various variables selected and analyzed to prove or disprove the same without any errors. Findings/Result: There were stimulating virtue and vice leadership behaviours through the emperor of Lanka and the villain of Ramayana. Also, there was a personality type (MBTI) of Anti-Hero, Ravana to business and management with the ancient Indian texts. Research Limitations/Implications: In the present research an attempt is made by the researchers to understand the research gap in the area hence a conceptual idea is proposed and the research goes further to advance significance to discover the degree of relationship to evaluate Ramayan character Ravan stimulates behaviours showing high moral standards (constructive leadership behaviours ) & bad behaviours (destructive leadership behaviours) & to identify personality type (MBTI) of Anti-Hero, Ravana. Originality/New Knowledge/Interpretation/Value: Many of the earlier studies have proved that, Indian mythology has a deeper meaning than basic good and evil. There is an intriguing narrative at every turn, if one is willing to go deep. Ravana portrayed a villain, but it's crucial to understand why he chose to do so. Actually, the goal was to balance the forces of good and evil. It is understandable why he is still revered in some areas of the world. Ravana is often looked down upon as an evil character in the Ramayana. But nobody can be really classified as completely black or white. Like every other mortal, Ravana also had shades of grey. But none of us can ever deny the fact that he was the most dexterous character in the epic as well. Hence, this study helps in concluding that, a comparative look at virtue and vice leadership behaviours and personality type makes Ravana the most interesting Ramayana character ever and offers insight into business and management with the ancient Indian texts. Paper Type: The study is based on both secondary & primary evidence.

Indonesian Islamic Intellectual Fashion Style in The Early 20th Century: Photo Narrative Analysis

The development of clothing began to have a variety of functions ranging from the symbol of social status to the symbol of a person's position. Indonesia stretches from the Hindhu-Buddhist, Islam to the modern era Indonesia clothing is very dispersed and coloured by customs and culture that developed in its time. Entering the beginning of the 20th century, with the emergence of Indonesian Intellectuals as a result of the Dutch ethical politics fashion style of Indonesian to be varied. Among Indonesian Islamic Intellectuals, a similar change occurred. Robes or sarongs are often synonymous with the characteristics of a Muslim's clothes are no longer a major symbol. The purpose of this study is to know Indonesian Islamic Intellectuals' clothing style in the early 20th century. The method used is a historical research method consisting of 4 stages, namely heuristics, criticism, interpretation, and historiography. The study's results found that Western fashion styles influenced the fashion styles of Indonesian Islamic Intellectuals in the early 20th century. Suits, ties, hats and shirts are the common Western clothes these people wear.