The Effects of Products’ Aesthetic Design on Demand and Marketing-Mix Effectiveness: The Role of Segment Prototypicality and Brand Consistency

2017 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Liu ◽  
Krista J. Li ◽  
Haipeng (Allan) Chen ◽  
Subramanian Balachander

A product's physical appearance is difficult to quantify, and the impact of product appearance on demand has rarely been studied using market data. The authors adopt a recently developed morphing technique to measure a product's aesthetic design and investigate its effect on consumer preference. Drawing upon categorization theory, the authors consider the effects of three dimensions of aesthetic design—segment prototypicality (SP), brand consistency (BC), and cross-segment mimicry (CSM)—and their moderating effects on marketing mix effectiveness in a unified framework. The empirical analysis uses a unique, large data set consisting of 202 car models from 33 brands sold in the United States from 2003 to 2010. The authors find that consumer preference peaks at moderate levels of SP and BC and that economy-segment products benefit from CSM of luxury products. Moreover, SP intensifies price sensitivity, and BC muffles price sensitivity while increasing advertising effectiveness. Two what-if studies illustrate how managers can use the empirical model to evaluate alternative aesthetic design choices.

2013 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 40-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Young ◽  
Philip Davignon ◽  
Margaret B. Hansen ◽  
Mark A. Eggen

ABSTRACT Recent media coverage has focused on the supply of physicians in the United States, especially with the impact of a growing physician shortage and the Affordable Care Act. State medical boards and other entities maintain data on physician licensure and discipline, as well as some biographical data describing their physician populations. However, there are gaps of workforce information in these sources. The Federation of State Medical Boards' (FSMB) Census of Licensed Physicians and the AMA Masterfile, for example, offer valuable information, but they provide a limited picture of the physician workforce. Furthermore, they are unable to shed light on some of the nuances in physician availability, such as how much time physicians spend providing direct patient care. In response to these gaps, policymakers and regulators have in recent years discussed the creation of a physician minimum data set (MDS), which would be gathered periodically and would provide key physician workforce information. While proponents of an MDS believe it would provide benefits to a variety of stakeholders, an effort has not been attempted to determine whether state medical boards think it is important to collect physician workforce data and if they currently collect workforce information from licensed physicians. To learn more, the FSMB sent surveys to the executive directors at state medical boards to determine their perceptions of collecting workforce data and current practices regarding their collection of such data. The purpose of this article is to convey results from this effort. Survey findings indicate that the vast majority of boards view physician workforce information as valuable in the determination of health care needs within their state, and that various boards are already collecting some data elements. Analysis of the data confirms the potential benefits of a physician minimum data set (MDS) and why state medical boards are in a unique position to collect MDS information from physicians.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S489-S490
Author(s):  
John T Henderson ◽  
Evelyn Villacorta Cari ◽  
Nicole Leedy ◽  
Alice Thornton ◽  
Donna R Burgess ◽  
...  

Abstract Background There has been a dramatic rise in IV drug use (IVDU) and its associated mortality and morbidity, however, the scope of this effect has not been described. Kentucky is at the epicenter of this epidemic and is an ideal place to better understand the health complications of IVDU in order to improve outcomes. Methods All adult in-patient admissions to University of Kentucky hospitals in 2018 with an Infectious Diseases (ID) consult and an ICD 9/10 code associated with IVDU underwent thorough retrospective chart review. Demographic, descriptive, and outcome data were collected and analyzed by standard statistical analysis. Results 390 patients (467 visits) met study criteria. The top illicit substances used were methamphetamine (37.2%), heroin (38.2%), and cocaine (10.3%). While only 4.1% of tested patients were HIV+, 74.2% were HCV antibody positive. Endocarditis (41.1%), vertebral osteomyelitis (20.8%), bacteremia without endocarditis (14.1%), abscess (12.4%), and septic arthritis (10.4%) were the most common infectious complications. The in-patient death rate was 3.0%, and 32.2% of patients were readmitted within the study period. The average length of stay was 26 days. In multivariable analysis, infectious endocarditis was associated with a statistically significant increase in risk of death, ICU admission, and hospital readmission. Although not statistically significant, trends toward mortality and ICU admission were identified for patients with prior endocarditis and methadone was correlated with decreased risk of readmission and ICU stay. FIGURE 1: Reported Substances Used FIGURE 2: Comorbidities FIGURE 3: Types of Severe Infectious Complications Conclusion We report on a novel, comprehensive perspective on the serious infectious complications of IVDU in an attempt to measure its cumulative impact in an unbiased way. This preliminary analysis of a much larger dataset (2008-2019) reveals some sobering statistics about the impact of IVDU in the United States. While it confirms the well accepted mortality and morbidity associated with infective endocarditis and bacteremia, there is a significant unrecognized impact of other infectious etiologies. Additional analysis of this data set will be aimed at identifying key predictive factors in poor outcomes in hopes of mitigating them. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
pp. 003232922110507
Author(s):  
Gillian Slee ◽  
Matthew Desmond

In recent years, housing costs have outpaced incomes in the United States, resulting in millions of eviction filings each year. Yet no study has examined the link between eviction and voting. Drawing on a novel data set that combines tens of millions of eviction and voting records, this article finds that residential eviction rates negatively impacted voter turnout during the 2016 presidential election. Results from a generalized additive model show eviction’s effect on voter turnout to be strongest in neighborhoods with relatively low rates of displacement. To address endogeneity bias and estimate the causal effect of eviction on voting, the analysis treats commercial evictions as an instrument for residential evictions, finding that increases in neighborhood eviction rates led to substantial declines in voter turnout. This study demonstrates that the impact of eviction reverberates far beyond housing loss, affecting democratic participation.


1975 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Mittelhammer ◽  
Donald A. West

The USDA's Food Stamp Program (FSP) is a major item in the department's budget. In effect from 1939 to 1943 and revived as a pilot program in 1961, FSP has grown until, in 1973, it provided nearly $4 billion in food stamps to an average of 12 million persons per month. About 55 percent of the $4 billion is federal subsidy. The program is continuing to expand as a result of a congressional mandate that FSP be in effect nationwide after June 30, 1974. Because of the FSP's growth, questions are now being asked about the program's impact on demand for food in the United States.In its pre-World War II inception, FSP was developed as an alternative to direct distribution of commodities to relief families. Although the objective of improving food consumption among needy households was recognized, FSP was viewed primarily as a method for stimulating demand for farm products.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Barati ◽  
Hadiseh Fariditavana

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to first assess how the US healthcare financing system is influenced by income variation. Then, it examines whether or not the impact of income variation is asymmetric.Design/methodology/approachFor the analyses of this paper, the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model is implemented to a data set covering the period from 1960 to 2018.FindingsThe results provide evidence that major funding sources of aggregate healthcare expenditure (HCE) respond differently to changes in income. The results also imply that the effect of income is not always symmetric.Originality/valueMany studies have attempted to identify the relationship between income and HCE. A common feature of past studies is that they have only focused on aggregate HCE, while one might be interested in knowing how major funders of aggregate HCE would be affected by changes in income. Another common feature of past studies is that they have assumed that the relationship between income and HCE is symmetric.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. SQ1-SQ13
Author(s):  
Christoph G. Eichkitz ◽  
Sarah Schneider ◽  
Andreas B. Hölker ◽  
Philip Birkhäuser ◽  
Herfried Madritsch

The identification and characterization of tectonic faults in the subsurface represent key aspects of geologic exploration activities across the world. We have evaluated the impact of alternative seismic time imaging methods on initial subsurface fault mapping in three dimensions in the form of a case study situated in the most external foreland of the European Central Alps (the northernmost Molasse Basin). Four different seismic amplitude volumes of one and the same 3D seismic data set, differing in imaging technologies and parameterizations applied, were considered for the interpretation of a fault zone dissecting a Mesozoic sedimentary sequence that is characterized by a pronounced mechanical stratigraphy and has witnessed a multiphase tectonic evolution. For this purpose, we interpreted each seismic amplitude volume separately. In addition, we computed a series of seismic attributes individually for each volume. Comparison of the different data interpretations revealed consistent results concerning the mapping of the seismic marker horizons and main fault segments. Deviations concern the apparent degree of vertical and lateral fault zone segmentation and the occurrence of small-scale fault strands that may be regarded as important fault kinematic indicators. The compilation of all fault interpretations in map form allows the critical assessment of the robustness of the initial seismic fault mapping, highlighting well-constrained from poorly defined fault zone elements. We conclude that the consideration of multiple seismic processing products for subsurface fault mapping is advisable to evaluate general imaging uncertainties and potentially guide the development of fault zone model variants to tackle previously discussed aspects of conceptual interpretation uncertainties.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Stephanie Hall

Objective – To determine the effect of large bookstores (defined as those having 20 or more employees) on household library use. Design – Econometric analysis using cross-sectional data sets. Setting – The United States of America. Subjects – People in over 55,000 households across the U.S.A. Methods – Data from 3 1996 studies were examined using logit and multinomial logit estimation procedures: the National Center for Education Statistics’ National Household Education Survey (NHES) and Public Library Survey (PLS), and the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns (CBP). The county level results of the NHES telephone survey were merged with the county level data from the PLS and the CBP. Additionally, data on Internet use at the state level from the Statistical Abstract of the United States were incorporated into the data set. A logit regression model was used to estimate probability of library use based on several independent variables, evaluated at the mean. Main results – In general, Hemmeter found that "with regard to the impact of large bookstores on household library use, large bookstores do not appear to have an effect on overall library use among the general population” (613). While no significant changes in general library use were found among high and low income households where more large bookstores were present, nor in the population taken as a whole, middle income households (between $25,000 and $50,000 in annual income) showed notable declines in library use in these situations. These effects were strongest in the areas of borrowing (200% less likely) and recreational purposes (161%), but were also present in work-related use and job searching. Hemmeter also writes that “poorer households use the library more often for job search purposes. The probability of library use for recreation, work, and consumer information increases as income increases. This effect diminishes as households get richer” (611). Finally, home ownership was also correlated with higher library use. Households with children were more than 20% more likely to use the library (610). Their use of the library for school-related purposes, general borrowing, program activities, and so on was not affected by the presence of book superstores. White families with children were somewhat less likely to use the library, while families with higher earning and education levels were more likely to use the library. Library use also increased with the number of children in the family. Shorter distances to the nearest branch and a higher proportion of AV materials were also predictive of higher library use. Educational level was another important factor, with those having less than high school completion being significantly less likely to use the library than those with higher levels of educational attainment. Conclusions – The notable decline in public library use among middle income households where more large bookstores are present is seen as an important threat to libraries, as it may result in a decline in general support and support for funding among an important voting block. More current data are needed in this area. In addition to the type of information examined in this study, the author recommends the inclusion of information on funding, support for library referenda, and library quality as they relate to the presence of large bookstores.


2017 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannes Datta ◽  
Kusum L. Ailawadi ◽  
Harald J. van Heerde

Brand equity is the differential preference and response to marketing effort that a product obtains because of its brand identification. Brand equity can be measured using either consumer perceptions or sales. Consumer-based brand equity (CBBE) measures what consumers think and feel about the brand, whereas sales-based brand equity (SBBE) is the brand intercept in a choice or market share model. This article studies the extent to which CBBE manifests itself in SBBE and marketing-mix response using ten years of IRI scanner and Brand Asset Valuator data for 290 brands spanning 25 packaged good categories. The authors uncover a fairly strong positive association of SBBE with three dimensions of CBBE—relevance, esteem, and knowledge—but a slight negative correspondence with the fourth dimension, energized differentiation. They also reveal new insights on the category characteristics that moderate the CBBE–SBBE relationship and document a more nuanced association of the CBBE dimensions with response to the major marketing-mix variables than heretofore assumed. The authors discuss implications for academic researchers who predict and test the impact of brand equity, for market researchers who measure it, and for marketers who want to translate their brand equity into marketplace success.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 4138-4138
Author(s):  
A. B. Siegel ◽  
R. McBride ◽  
D. Hershman ◽  
R. S. Brown ◽  
J. Emond ◽  
...  

4138 Background: Multiple case series have described the use of current therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but recent estimates of treatment utilization in the general population and the impact of various treatments on survival are not known. Methods: We first identified 2898 adults diagnosed with HCC with known tumor size and stage in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results Program (SEER), from 1998–2002. Treatment was categorized as transplant, resection, ablation, or none of these. We created a second data set of 1856 HCC patients who were potentially operable, as defined by SEER. We used these patients to construct Kaplan-Meier survival curves and adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The median age of the larger cohort at HCC diagnosis was 62 (range:18–96). Approximately 42% were white, 32% Asian, 16% Hispanic, and 10% African American. Overall, 10% received a transplant, 18% resection, 8% ablation, and 65% none of these. Only 5% of African Americans with HCC received a transplant, versus 12% of whites, 10% of Hispanics, and 8% of Asians. Asians were most likely to receive resection (24%) and ablation (9%), and least likely to have non-surgical treatment (60%). Using the restricted cohort, improved survival in the multivariate analysis was seen with later year of diagnosis, younger age, female sex, Asian race, smaller tumor size, lower tumor grade, and localized disease. Treatment was highly correlated with survival. This was greatest in the transplanted group (1, 3, and 5-year survivals 93%, 79%, and 71%), followed by resection (70%, 45%, and 29%), and ablation (71%, 33%, and 18%). The non-surgical group had poor survival (33%, 9%, and 0%). Conclusions: Transplantation yields excellent survival on a population scale, similar to reported series, and resection gives relatively good outcomes as well. Asians are more likely to be resected and ablated than other groups. They also had better survival than other groups, perhaps due to underlying etiology of HCC (hepatitis B) and better preserved liver function. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samara Mendez

Tracking the capability of the egg production industry to supply the food industry with enough cage-free eggs to meet retailers' and restaurants' animal welfare commitments is important to industry groups and farm animal advocacy organizations alike. In this project, we synthesize an analysis-ready data set that tracks cage-free hens and the supply of cage-free eggs relative to the overall numbers of hens and table eggs in the United States. The data set is based on reports produced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which are published weekly or monthly. The data will be updated periodically as new USDA reports are released. We supplement these data with definitions and a taxonomy of egg products drawn from USDA and industry publications. The data include flock size (both absolute and relative) and egg production of cage-free hens as well as all table-egg-laying hens in the US, collected to understand the impact of the industry's cage-free transition on hens. Data coverage ranges from December 2007 to present. Initial analysis of cage-free trends shows that, as of the most recent version of this report, 26% of all table-egg-laying hens lived in cage-free systems. This figure represents an increase of 23 percentage points over the entire sample period of December 2007 to April 2020.Revised: May 29, 2020


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