Greece’s foreign trade balance may worsen in 2019

Subject Balance of payments outlook. Significance Rising export revenues testify to the Greek economy’s improved international competitiveness. However, the increasing role of external demand in stimulating domestic economic growth leaves it more vulnerable to adverse external developments, such as decelerating EU growth, trade wars and main trading partners’ diminishing consumer demand. Achieving a more stable growth trajectory would require a sustainable recovery in domestic investment and more robust household spending. Impacts The expansion in the home-sharing economy is driving up rents, inflaming social tensions. Rising volumes of medium-to-high-value-added exports will support Greece’s deeper integration in global value-added chains. Large export-oriented firms’ increased profitability will undermine the competitiveness of SME counterparts restricted to the Greek market.

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-275
Author(s):  
Jake David Hoskins ◽  
Ryan Leick

Purpose This study aims to investigate a sharing economy context, where vacation rental units that are owned and operated by individuals throughout the world are rented out through a common website: vrbo.com. It is posited that gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, a common indicator of the level of economic development of a nation, will impact the likelihood that prospective travelers will choose to book accommodations in the sharing economy channel (vs traditional hotels). The role of online customer reviews in this process is investigated as well, building upon a significant body of extant research which shows their level of customer decision influence. Design/methodology/approach An empirical analysis is conducted using data from the website Vacation Rentals By Owner on 1,940 rental listings across 97 countries. Findings GDP per capita serves as risk deterrent to prospective travelers, making the sharing economy an acceptable alternative to traditional hotels for the average traveler. It is also found that the total number of online customer reviews (OCR volume) is a signal of popularity to prospective travelers, while the average star rating of those online customer reviews (OCR valence) is instead a signal of accommodation quality. Originality/value This study adds to a growing agenda of research investigating the effect of online customer reviews on consumer decisions, with a particularly focus on the burgeoning sharing economy. The findings help to explain when the sharing economy may serve as a stronger disruptive threat to incumbent offerings. It also provides the following key insights for managers: sharing economy rental units in developed nations are more successful in driving booking activity, managers should look to promote volume of online customer reviews and positive online customer reviews are particularly influential for sharing economy rental booking rates in less developed nations.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Oliveira ◽  
Iolanda Barbeitos ◽  
Antonela Calado

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine use and sharing economy (SE) continuance intention, and the mediation effects of use between individuals' motivations and SE continuance intention. A theoretical model is developed to explain use and SE continuance intention as intrinsic and extrinsic motivated behaviour, as proposed by self-determination theory. Factors are derived from SE context and supported by published research on SE.Design/methodology/approachThe partial least squares path modelling (PLS-PM) technique is used to test the model in a quantitative study involving 256 users of SE services.FindingsFindings suggest that use and SE continuance can be explained by concurrent intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. Moreover, high environmental concerns may restrain the use of SE services. Findings show that continuance intention is influenced by current use of SE services. Moreover, the study emphasizes the mediation effect of use between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and SE continuance intention.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis of use behaviour should be complemented with other measures of use and with data provided by qualitative methods of research. Further research should also consider the effect of different control variables and mediation effects.Practical implicationsBrand managers and companies providing services through digital platforms should address individuals' needs in order to stimulate voluntary engagement in persistent SE practices.Social implicationsThis study informs the consumer in general so that the SE can develop its potential alongside an economy based on the ownership of private property.Originality/valueThis study extends findings on continuance intention research by offering internal motivation factors as predictors of post-adoption behaviour and emphasizes the role of use on SE continuance intention.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay Jha ◽  
Rohit Sindhwani ◽  
Ashish Dwivedi ◽  
Venkataramanaiah Saddikuti

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify important criteria for sustainable recovery of digital entrepreneurship from distress situation using shared resources. During pandemic disruption, the importance of sharing economy in managing business efficiency is reflected through this research. Design/methodology/approach The present study advances the knowledge on shared resources in business by integrating case study approach with multi criteria decision-making (MCDM) model. A fuzzy analytic hierarchy process approach is adopted to compute criteria weights, and a fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) technique is used to rank the sharing economy entrepreneurial ventures during COVID-19 pandemic in the context of emerging economy. Findings The present study identified five most important enablers (technological innovation, technology expertise, convergence of virtual and physical spaces, collaboration rather than competition, and benefits to underserved groups through transparency) for sustainable recovery of sharing economy ventures in emerging economy. For example, the study highlights online tutoring through shared intellect as the most sought after sharing economy venture during pandemic disruption, which fulfills the identified enablers. Practical implications The proposed framework provides an accurate decision support tool to rank the various identified potential enablers of sharing economy during disruptions. Further, the approach is practically relevant to sharing economy entrepreneurs in selecting the best approach to recover sustainability during pandemic. Originality/value The study is unique in addressing the need of sustainability for digital ventures via sharing economy approach in emerging economy (India). To develop a conceptual framework, the present study incorporates a case based approach together with the hybrid MCDM model. Further, the extant literature on disruptions is enhanced by prioritizing the enablers for sharing economy during pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngozi Adeleye ◽  
Evans Osabuohien ◽  
Simplice Asongu

PurposeThe study aims to analyse the role of finance in the agro-industrialisation nexus in Nigeria using annual data on manufacturing value added, agricultural value added and volume of finance availed to the agricultural sector from 1981 to 2015.Design/methodology/approachTo establish the presence of a long-run relationship, the error correction model and bounds cointegration techniques are employed. Likewise, the model is augmented to test whether the associated relationship between industrial output and agricultural output depends on access to finance by farmers with the inclusion of an interaction term.FindingsSome salient contributions to the literature are as follows: agriculture and finance are strong and positive predictors of industrialisation in the long run; in the short run, past realisations of industrial output and finance have significant asymmetric effects on industrial output; the explanatory power of agriculture decreases with the growth of the financial system; and the long-run results validate the role of finance in the agro-industrialisation nexus.Originality/valueGiven these findings, achieving growth in the agricultural sector that will induce desired industrialisation should be prioritised by the government through agencies such as the central bank, financial intermediaries and other stakeholders with a view to making agricultural financing a major concern for sustainable domestic consumption and industrial growth.


2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walid Ali ◽  
Ali Mna

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to show how foreign direct investment (FDI) affects domestic investment and economic growth. This study empirically examines this question in the case of three developing countries (Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco).Design/methodology/approachUsing the GMM estimator technique, the authors constructed a system with simultaneous equations by three endogenous variables: economic growth (GDP), FDI and domestic investment (DI).FindingsThe study was a nuance, its results, at the role of investment–growth relationship, are of paramount importance though subtle and slightly different.Originality/valueThe authors used data from international institutions such as the IMF, UNCTAD, OECD and the World Bank for macroeconomic aggregates. However, the interest rate variables are derived from the central banks of the three countries in the sample. The analysis covers the period from 1980 to 2014.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenqing Wu ◽  
Hongxin Wang ◽  
Chun-Wang Wei ◽  
Chundong Zheng

PurposeThis study explores the influence of sharing achievement (i.e. sustainability, enjoyment, and economic benefits) obtained by participating in the sharing economy on social entrepreneurial intention (SEI), as well as the role of perceived social worth and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SESE).Design/methodology/approachThis study used multiple regression analysis on a sample of 331 MBA students aged between 24 and 48 years.FindingsThe findings indicate that sharing achievement is positively related with SEI, and perceived social worth mediates the relationship between them. Moreover, SESE not only has a moderating effect on the relationship between perceived social worth and SEI but also positively moderates the overall mediation model.Practical implicationsEntrepreneurship educators could focus on improving students' SESE through courses and training. Whereas, policymakers and decision makers should actively promote the sharing economy model and regulate its management. Moreover, existing organizers of the sharing economy should improve participants' sharing achievement.Originality/valueThis study determines the relationship between sharing achievement and SEI and enriches the push/pull theory from the perspective of pull factors in the context of the sharing economy. Moreover, by exploring the mediating effect of perceived social worth and the moderating effect of SESE, the study provides understanding on the influence mechanisms of sharing achievements on SEI.


Kybernetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodica Ianole-Calin ◽  
Elena Druica ◽  
Geoffrey Hubona ◽  
Bingyi Wu

Purpose This study aims to explore the relationship between different categories of motivation and the intention to engage in collaborative consumption (CC), using attitude as a mediator. Design/methodology/approach The authors extend an existing measurement scale focused on sustainability, enjoyment, reputation and economic benefits, as factors relevant in shaping how people perceive CC. The extension includes the role of personal beliefs and social relationships. The authors conduct a mediation analysis using partial least squares path modelling. Findings This study partially confirms existing literature: sustainability and enjoyment are positively related and statistically significant in predicting attitude towards CC, while only enjoyment impacts behavioural intention; attitude further impacts behavioural intention. Further, reputation and economic benefits positively and significantly impact attitude; economic benefits are not significant for behavioural intention in this study’s Romanian sample, but reputation is. Neither beliefs nor relationships are significantly associated with behavioural intention. Originality/value The authors investigate CC determinants in a post-communist economy, a novel setting for the development of sharing economy, as most studies focus on traditionally developed economies.


Subject Asia's changing role in global supply chains. Significance Asian supply chains and their role in the global economy are undergoing far-reaching change. They are shifting from a low-cost model based on a set of particular exports to Western developed countries to prioritising high value-added trade and putting stronger emphasis on Asian markets. Handling a wider variety of products and matching rapidly changing demand is becoming a top priority, making the role of technologically advanced suppliers of key inputs, including small and medium companies (SMEs), increasingly important. Impacts Demographic change will catalyse changes in consumption patterns and supply chains. Supply chains' development will drive demand for automation technology. South-east Asian supply chains will be constrained until infrastructure improves.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Yunus Ali ◽  
Puteri Zahrah Aminan Abdul Ghaffar ◽  
Shahriar Kabir ◽  
Sa'adiah Munir

Purpose The gravity theory of trade explains the potential for trade between nations, but its application to trade in halal food has been questioned by previous studies. This study aims to investigate this issue and the role of trading partners’ economic strength and their distance from one another to identify Malaysia’s potential to export food to key halal markets. Design/methodology/approach The gravity theory of trade was used to examine Malaysia’s top 10 food exports to key halal markets from 2000–2017. The gravity panels were estimated using the Hausman-Taylor modelling technique to control for endogeneity within the model. Findings The application of the gravity theory of trade to a halal market context provides mixed results. Although the high economic strength (gross domestic product) of the trading partners enhances halal trade, the distance between the partners does not affect the volume of halal food exports. Moreover, the study identifies Malaysia’s potential to export only a few food commodities to key halal markets. Originality/value This study challenges the applicability of the gravity theory of trade to the halal food market. The study extends the model with additional controls for behavioural aspects and applies it to commodity-specific segregated trade in halal food. The findings underscore the need to extend the theory beyond its current focus when explaining trade opportunities in halal markets.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 547-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bibhuti Ranjan Mishra

Despite the global downturn since 2008, the growth in BRICS countries as a group is least hampered as compared to the growth in the world, in general, and developed countries, in particular. Is it due to the strong domestic demand factors or external factors is an empirical question to be answered. Further, some economists are promulgating for a new development strategy of domestic demand-led growth. Hence, this article tries to examine the role of domestic and external demand to growth in BRICS countries. Domestic investment is taken to explore the impact of domestic demand on growth, while export and import variables are used to investigate the role of external demand in economic growth. To cater to the objective, causality analysis is done among exports, imports, domestic investment and economic growth using the vector auto regression analysis. Generalized impulse response functions are plotted to get an insight of dynamic interrelationships among these variables. The results are country-specific and mixed evidence of export-led and domestic demand-led growth is found depending on the individual countries of BRICS.


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