The adoption of renewable energy (RE) enterprises in the UK

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurelian Mbzibain ◽  
Graham Tate ◽  
Ali Shaukat
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
National Level ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Profile ◽  
Regulatory Institutions ◽  
The Uk

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how national institutional structures affect farmers’ intentions to invest in renewable energy enterprises in the UK agricultural sector. Design/methodology/approach – The authors draw on the construct of national institutional profile to identify the regulatory, cognitive and normative institutions affecting entrepreneurial intentions. A postal questionnaire survey of 2,000 farmers was carried out in the West Midlands Region of the UK and 393 usable responses were obtained. Principal component analysis and multivariate data analysis techniques are employed. Findings – Cognitive institutions were positively related to intentions. Contrary to expectations, the regulatory institutions were not associated with entrepreneurial intentions. Normative institutions were significantly related to intentions and interestingly, moderated the efficacy of regulatory institutions on entrepreneurial intentions. Practical implications – Cognitive and normative institutions may play a far more important role in determining farm entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector than has been previously considered. Given that much of policy research is often biased towards regulatory institutions, this research shows that the construct of institutional profile offers a useful framework to investigate the effect of national level institutions on entrepreneurship. Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature on entrepreneurship in the UK farm sector. It is the first study that demonstrates the role of the country’s institutional profile on farmers’ intentions to invest in RE. The existence of moderation effects between national institutions suggests that research focusing on single dimensions is likely to provide biased results.

scholarly journals Exploring the entrepreneurial intentions of Syrian refugees in the UK

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1128-1146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Mawson ◽  
Laila Kasem
Keyword(s):  
Personal Development ◽  
Forced Migration ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Migration Experience ◽  
The Uk

Purpose Few studies have sought to explore the issue of entrepreneurial intention (EI) within refugees, despite wide recognition of refugee entrepreneurial potential. The purpose of this paper is to explore EI among recently arrived Syrian refugees in the UK, including the role that their migration experience plays in shaping these intentions. Design/methodology/approach This paper follows an interpretive phenomenological research approach, contextualised within the EI literature. It draws on data collected from in-depth interviews with nine Syrian refugees, five of whom arrived independently and four of whom arrived via the UK Government’s Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme. Findings All participants were found to have strong perceptions of desirability towards entrepreneurship. Individuals who arrived independently demonstrated more confidence in their abilities, and in turn somewhat stronger start-up intentions. The findings indicate that the personal development of independent refugee arrivals linked to their migration experiences may help shape the intention to engage in entrepreneurship. Research limitations/implications As this paper draws on a small sample in a single geographic location, the findings presented are phenomenological, context specific and not necessarily applicable to other spatial locations or to other (refugee) groups. Social implications A number of practical and social implications are provided. Support interventions focussed on strengthening the perceived abilities and capabilities of refugees would be of considerable benefit. Originality/value This paper provides new and important insight into the nature of EI within a novel focal group. It makes a valuable contribution to the literature by considering the issues of context and process, specifically the relationship between personal forced migration experience and the perceived capability to start a business.

scholarly journals Mediating the form and direction of regional sustainable development: The role of the state in renewable energy deployment in selected regions

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-317
Author(s):  
Carla De Laurentis
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
National Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Nation States ◽  
Ability To Act ◽  
Role Of The State ◽  
Strategic Goals ◽  
The Uk ◽  
National Governments

This paper analyses and critically discusses the role of regions in implementing renewable energy (RE) policies, examining the relationship between state policy and RE deployment. Using evidence from four case study regions, Apulia and Tuscany in Italy and Wales and Scotland in the UK, the paper teases out some differences in terms of regional competencies to implement RE policies across the two countries. The national governments in both Italy and the UK have constructed regulatory and governance relationships to orchestrate and reorder economic, social and ecological challenges and devolve responsibilities at the sub-national level. This has offered an opportunity for the peculiarities of regional setups to be taken into account and regions have contributed towards the promotion of green and sustainable path development via the route of promoting RE deployment. The paper argues that the downscaling and distribution of responsibility in the cases investigated reflect the capacity and willingness of nation states to respond to and mediate the strategic goals and outcomes formulated at national and international levels. Nevertheless, while the regions investigated display differences in their incentives, capacities and capabilities to increase RE deployment, their ability to act is very much influenced by nation states, stressing the important role of the state in mediating the form and direction of RE deployment.

Financial development and agricultural performance in Nigeria: what role do institutions play?

2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isiaka Akande Raifu ◽  
Alarudeen Aminu
Keyword(s):  
Financial Development ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Institutional Variables ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Agricultural Performance

Purpose The centrality of agricultural sector to the economy, particularly in developing countries, has drawn the attention of researchers to critically examine different factors determining the performance of the sector. Given that massive investment is required to ensure maximum productivity in the sector, one of the factors identified is the issue of financing. However, financing agricultural sector in a poor institutional environment can be depressing. In the light of this, the purpose of this paper is to examine the nexus between financial development and agricultural performance in Nigeria with a view to investigating the role of institutions. Design/methodology/approach The study employed annual data spanning the period from 1981 to 2016. Three indicators of financial development and five institutional variables were used. Besides, for robust analysis, the study also computed an aggregate measure of financial development and institutions using principal component method. Autoregressive distributed lag method of estimation was used to examine the short-run and long-run effects of financial development on agricultural performance in Nigeria. Findings The findings showed that financial development has a positive impact on agricultural performance in Nigeria. However, this positive impact is being undermined by institutional variables. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the only study that examines the mediating role of institutional factors such as the rule of law, control of corruption, etc., in the financial development–agricultural performance nexus in Nigeria.

scholarly journals Convergence in the UK direct real estate market

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-396
Author(s):  
Stephen Lee
Keyword(s):  
Real Estate ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Common Factor ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Spillover Effects ◽  
Real Estate Market ◽  
Sample Period ◽  
Market Segments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the issue of convergence in the monthly returns, rental growth and yields for ten market segments in the UK direct real estate market, using monthly data over the period from January 1987 to December 2014. Design/methodology/approach The methodology used to determine convergence is principal component analysis as it provides an assessment of the extent to which the variance of the market segments can be represented by a single common factor, explaining their long-run behaviour, and the degree of independence between the market segments. Findings The results suggest that there is strong evidence of convergence over the entire sample period in relation to monthly returns and yields but less evidence of convergence in rental growth, which confirms the findings in previous studies in international markets. Practical implications The evidence also suggests that convergence has increased over the sample period and that convergence is period specific and was particularly strong during and after the period of the Global Financial Crisis, which implies that the UK direct real estate market is largely integrated and as a consequence the extent of diversification potential in the market is still severely limited. Social implications The convergence in returns has crucial implications for investors as it leaves investors exposed to the same structural shocks and so magnifies the importance of volatility spillover effects, limits their ability to create well-diversified portfolios and make it more difficult for fund managers to outperform the market. Originality/value This is the first paper to examine the convergence in the UK direct real estate market.

Rwandan agriculture strategy unlikely to be replicated

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
National Level ◽  
National Development ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Vision 2020 ◽  
East African ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Content Type ◽  
East African Community ◽  
Income Status

Subject Rwandan agricultural interventions. Significance On May 15, the IMF completed its latest Article IV consultation and review with Kigali, predicting a return to growth of 6.2% per annum. According to the Fund, the main driver of this rebound is the agricultural sector, which is rapidly recovering from a severe drought in 2015-16. President Paul Kagame’s ambitious national development plan, Vision 2020, aims for the country to achieve middle income status by 2025, with transformation of the agricultural sector crucial to this. Impacts The government’s drought response will boost Kagame’s popularity among poorer rural households. However, if Kagame steps down after his next term in office, this could create disorder across many sectors. National-level disaster responses will prove more effective than their East African Community (EAC) equivalent.

Buy online collect in-store: exploring grocery click&collect using a national case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alec Davies ◽  
Les Dolega ◽  
Daniel Arribas-Bel
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Interaction ◽  
National Level ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Gravity Modeling ◽  
Grocery Shopping ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Online Retailing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Retail Geography ◽  
The Uk

Purpose Twenty-first century online retailing has reshaped the retail landscape. Grocery shopping is emerging as the next fastest growing category in online retailing in the UK, having implications for the channels we use to purchase goods. Using Sainsbury’s data, the authors create a bespoke set of grocery click&collect catchments. The resultant catchments allow an investigation of performance within the emerging channel of grocery click&collect. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The spatial interaction method of “Huff gravity modeling” is applied in a semi-automated approach, used to calculate grocery click&collect catchments for 95 Sainsbury’s stores in England. The catchments allow investigation of the spatial variation and particularly rural-urban differences. Store and catchment characteristics are extracted and explored using ordinary least squares regression applied to investigate “demand per day” (a confidentiality transformed revenue value) as a function of competition, performance and geodemographic factors. Findings The findings show that rural stores exhibit a larger catchment extent for grocery click&collect when compared with urban stores. Linear regression finds store characteristics as having the greatest impact on demand per day, adhering to wider retail competition literature. Conclusions display a need for further investigation (e.g. quantifying loyalty). Originality/value New insights are contributed at a national level for grocery click&collect, as well as e-commerce, multichannel shopping and retail geography. Areas for further investigation are identified, particularly quantitatively capturing brand loyalty. The research has commercial impact as the catchments are being applied by Sainsbury’s to decide the next 100 stores and plan for the next five years of their grocery click&collect offering.

scholarly journals Implications of transforming climate change risks into security risks

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 460-477
Author(s):  
Ksenia Chmutina ◽  
Peter Fussey ◽  
Andrew Dainty ◽  
Lee Bosher
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Political Action ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
National Level ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Security Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Climate Change Risks ◽  
The Uk

Purpose A number of severe weather events have influenced a shift in UK policy concerning how climate-induced hazards are managed. Whist this shift has encouraged improvements in emergency management and preparedness, the risk of climate change is increasingly becoming securitised within policy discourses, and enmeshed with broader agendas traditionally associated with human-induced threats. Climate change is seen as a security risk because it can impede development of a nation. The purpose of this paper is to explore the evolution of the securitisation of climate change, and interrogates how such framings influence a range of conceptual and policy focused approaches towards both security and climate change. Design/methodology/approach Drawing upon the UK context, the paper uses a novel methodological approach combining critical discourse analysis and focus groups with security experts and policymakers. Findings The resulting policy landscape appears inexorably skewed towards short-term decision cycles that do little to mitigate longer-term threats to the nation’s assets. Whilst a prominent political action on a global level is required in order to mitigate the root causes (i.e. GHG emissions), national level efforts focus on adaptation (preparedness to the impacts of climate-induced hazards), and are forming part of the security agenda. Originality/value These issues are not restricted to the UK: understanding the role of security and its relationship to climate change becomes more pressing and urgent, as it informs the consequences of securitising climate change risks for development-disaster risk system.

The impact of locus of control and motivations in predicting entrepreneurial intentions among farmers: a field research

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Panagiotis Pliakoura ◽  
Grigorios N. Beligiannis ◽  
Fotios Chatzitheodoridis ◽  
Achilleas Kontogeorgos
Keyword(s):  
Locus Of Control ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Western Greece

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain the impact of locus of control (LOC) and motivations on entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) among agri-entrepreneurs in the region of Western Greece.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted in 2019 in the Western Greece region. Primary data were collected through a survey. A researcher-administered questionnaire was the data collection instrument while the individual farmer was the unit of analysis. Many data analysis methods were applied: a validity and reliability test, exploratory factor analysis, regression analysis, Kruskal–Wallis test and correlations.FindingsThe results show that the proposed model explains almost 33% of the variance for the EI. Internal LOC and pull motivations have a positive relationship with the intention of entrepreneurship. EI in the agricultural sector is more dependent on LOC, motivations, age and level of education than gender and type of holding.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study provide several theoretical and practical contributions, which can be useful for other researchers.Originality/valueThis research study adds to the existing literature of the EI by using a different type of sample compared to previous contributions. Mostly EI studies used student sample to measure intentions. The present study extends the antecedents of intention by using a sample of existing agri-entrepreneurs. Farmers are one of the best potential segments, and as a result, this research will help predicting how the intention process of existing entrepreneurs works, especially in the primary sector.

scholarly journals Retirement in a global labour market: a call for abolishing the fixed retirement age

2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 464-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yehuda Baruch ◽  
Susan Sayce ◽  
Andros Gregoriou
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Financial Analysis ◽  
Current System ◽  
National Level ◽  
Retirement Age ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
The Uk

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore potential benefits and possible pitfalls of the removal of the default retirement age. Design/methodology/approach – A human capital and labour market perspective provide theoretical lenses for exploring the potential implications for individuals, organizations and societies. The paper employs financial costing analysis to demonstrate. Findings – The paper uses the UK case to illustrate anticipated managerial and societal outcomes. The main finding from the discussion and the financial analysis is that indeed the current system is unsustainable. Originality/value – The paper offers areas where lessons about age management can be learnt from other experiences of flexible retirement strategies such as enhancing older workers ' human capital. The idea is of global nature and relevance and forms a “wake-up call” for decision makers at national level.

Multi-dimensional public–private partnership readiness index: a sub-national analysis of India

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakshi Malik ◽  
Simrit Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
National Level ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
State Level ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Indian States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Analysis

Purpose Despite being a global public–private partnerships (PPPs) leader, India faces a vast PPP divide at a sub-national level, wherein a few states receive the majority of PPP projects, whereas other states face severe issues in attracting PPP investments. This necessitates the identification of factors that make some states attractive to PPP investors. The purpose of this study is to construct a “PPP readiness index” at the Indian state-level, which aims to assess the readiness of states for the diffusion of PPPs. Design/methodology/approach Using a quantitative method on secondary data, the study scores 17 Indian states on dimensions such as experience with PPPs, physical infrastructure, financial sector development, market conditions, institutional quality and political stability and fiscal constraints for each of the years during 2009–2018. Principal component analysis is used for assigning weights to the dimensions, thereby arriving at the composite index. Findings Results highlight that Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra offer the most favorable environment for PPPs to flourish. In contrast, Jharkhand and Bihar are laggards because they score the least and have limited PPP experience. Practical implications The index will assist the private sector in conducting a comparative analysis between state-specific PPP arrangements, thereby enabling them to make informed decisions prior to forging PPP arrangements. Further, the index will help the state governments in improving their PPP readiness by following the policies of the leading states. Social implications Improvement in PPP readiness of the states will enable higher PPP investments in infrastructure, thereby reducing infrastructure deficits. This, in turn, will lead to economic growth, development and an improvement in the quality of life. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that comprehensively analyzes the PPP readiness at a sub-national level in India.

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