A Conceptual Model to Measure the Impact of Consumer Behaviour on E-Retailing in India

21st century is the era of information technology. Be it social networking, banking, ticket booking or e-retailing, the presence of information technology is ubiquitous in our day-to-day affairs. IT has transcended the physical distance between the service providers and the service receivers. It has also provided the consumers the much needed convenience and offered them competitive price for various products and services. In this context, e-retailing has become a major shopping medium for customers specially the younger generations. The tech savvy young generation has taken to e-retailing like a fish takes to water. Even the older generations are becoming comfortable with the use of information technology for shopping purpose. India despite being a late starter, has become a major force in e-retailing and managed to achieve the tag of the fastest growing market in this category within a very short period. Apart from the home grown Flipkart, Snapdeal, Paytm, Shopclues, the largest e-tailer in the world Amazon has also made it into the country. Top retailers like Walmart and Alibaba have picked up major stakes in various e-tailers. The competition has become intense with large discounts and large assortment of products the order of the day. In this context, it has become essential for e-tailers to gauge the consumer behaviour to effectively target them. The present study is an effort to find out the various essential factors impacting e-retail purchase in India and develop a conceptual model for the same.

A European late starter: lessons from the history of reform in Irish health care

The Irish health care system is unusual within Europe in not providing universal, equitable access to either primary or acute hospital care. The majority of the population pays out-of-pocket fees to access primary health care. Due to long waits for public hospital care, many purchase private health insurance, which facilitates faster access to public and private hospital services. The system has been the subject of much criticism and repeated reform attempts. Proposals in 2011 to develop a universal health care system, funded by Universal Health Insurance, were abandoned in 2015 largely due to cost concerns. Despite this experience, there remains strong political support for developing a universal health care system. By applying an historical institutionalist approach, the paper develops an understanding of why Ireland has been a European outlier. The aim of the paper is to identify and discuss issues that may arise in introducing a universal healthcare system to Ireland informed by an understanding of previous unsuccessful reform proposals. Challenges in system design faced by a late-starter country like Ireland, including overcoming stakeholder resistance, achieving clarity in the definition of universality and avoiding barriers to access, may be shared by countries whose universal systems have been compromised in the period of austerity.

The natural history of risky drinking and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood: findings from the Australian Temperament Project

BackgroundWe aimed to describe the natural history of heavy episodic drinking (HED) and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood in a large Australian population cohort study.MethodThe Australian Temperament Project consists of mothers and babies (4–8 months) recruited from Infant Welfare Centres and followed every 2 to 4 years until age 28 years. Analyses were based on data from 1156 young people (497 male; 659 female) surveyed repeatedly at ages 16, 18, 20, 24 and 28 years. We used dual processes latent class growth analysis to estimate trajectories of HED and associated harms, employing a piecewise approach to model the hypothesized rise and subsequent fall across adolescence and the late twenties, respectively.ResultsWe identified four sex-specific trajectories and observed little evidence of maturing-out across the twenties. In males, a normative pattern of increasing HED across the twenties with little related harm was observed (40% of the male sample). Early and late starter groups that peaked in harms at age 20 years with only minor attenuation in binging thereafter were also observed (6.1% and 35%, respectively). In females, a normative pattern of increasing, but moderate, HED with little related harm was observed (44% of the female sample). Early and late starter groups were also identified (18% and 17%, respectively); however, unlike males, the female late starter group showed a pattern of increasing HED and related harms.ConclusionsContinued patterns of risky alcohol use and related harms are apparent for both males and females across the twenties.

Exploring determinants of internationalisation: the case of late starters

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the determinants of internationalisation among late starters in the wine sector. Strategic implications for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in a young wine producing region are derived based on the findings. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through a quantitative survey among 38 wineries that are engaged in export activity in the Romagna wine producing area (Italy). Both multivariate analysis of cardinal company data through multiple and fractional regression models as well as nonparametric analysis of Likert-type survey elements were carried out. Findings The study identifies several determinants that affect the export intensity of businesses in the sample: Resources within the business turn out to be important, as well as the choice of distribution partners. Characteristics of exported goods were found to differ on comparing intra- and extra-EU exports. Practical implications Competitiveness in the international marketplace is closely linked to the product quality, distribution network and productivity of a firm. Regional networks can help businesses to develop these factors, overcome export barriers and strengthen the competitiveness of a region as a whole. Originality/value This study investigated the determinants of internationalisation in a wine producing region which is considered a late starter of internationalisation in the wine industry and it is the first one spotlighting on a regional firm-level in the Italian wine industry.

Rural Tourism : An Emerging Paradigm In Rural Entrepreneurship

Tourism has become a leading industry in the world and continues to grow rapidly, contributing essentially to economic growth and employment in many countries. Tourism as it looks today poses serious threats to the environment and considerable social and cultural challenges. Tourism can be an important contributor to the growth of an economy. Growth of tourism is a significant part of the global expression of new service economy. With the weakening of many other aspects of the economy, tourism is a new opportunity. India, though a late starter in tourism, is giving increasing priority to this sector. Tourism is one of the strategically important emerging sectors in Indian economy with tremendous potential to assist the process of sustainable rural development. Rural tourism has been a major concept under the new tourism paradigm wherein agro-based rural community and culture are treated to be the major components of the tourism market.

Ecommerce in Colombia: exploding opportunities?

RESUMENEl comercio electrónico en Colombia ha experimentado un reciente y atípicocrecimiento comparado con la tendencia latinoamericana de las últimas décadas. Colombia puede ser vista como un competidor tardío en términos de crecimiento de su conectividad y sus transacciones. Sin embargo, su mercado ha venido evolucionando rápidamente a través de políticas gubernamentales, bancarización y esfuerzos individuales enfocados en la creación de confianza en el sector del comercio electrónico. Con un mercado prometedor, Colombia puede llegar a superar el ritmo de desarrollo de otros países latinoamericanos pioneros en este sector, tal como Brasil. Esta base es usada para proponer recomendaciones de tipo empresarial para actores que se desempeñan en el sector del eCommerce.Recibido: 22/07/2015 Aceptado: 04/11/2015 ABSTRACTeCommerce in Colombia has recently experienced an atypical growth incomparison to a common trend observed in Latin America in recent years. Colombia can be seen as a late starter in terms of transactional and connectivity growth. However, its market has been evolving rapidly due to government policy, banking penetration and individual efforts to create trust in the eCommerce sector. With a promising market, Colombia may be set to outpace the development of pioneering Latin American countries such as Brazil. This analysis is then used to provide a set of entrepreneurial recommendations for actors involved in the eCommerce sector.Received: 22/07/2015 Accepted: 04/11/2015

Longitudinal Smoking Patterns: Do They Predict Symptoms of ADHD in Adults?

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether comparisons of longitudinal smoking trajectories predict differences in symptoms of ADHD in adults. Method: Participants were interviewed 7 times between 14 and 43 years of age. ADHD symptoms at outcome were assessed with the World Health Organization ADHD Self-Report Scale. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses assessed the associations between the trajectories of smoking and ADHD symptoms. Results: The multivariate analysis ( R2 = .12) indicated that compared with being nonsmokers, the probability of being in the heavy/continuous group (standardized regression coefficient [SRC] = .17, p < .01) and in the late starter group (SRC = .11, p < .05) were significantly associated with adult ADHD symptoms. Conclusion: Longitudinal smoking patterns were associated with ADHD symptoms in adults. Chronic smoking jeopardizes both physical health and the ability to fulfill adult roles as employees, family members, and friends. Smoking cessation in adolescence may lessen the likelihood of ADHD symptoms in adulthood.