Alfonso Rosales, Adriana Yepes-Mayorga, Alejandro Arias, Fabiano Franz, Joanne Thomas, Jamo Huddle, Ramón Jeremías Soto, Maya Haynes, Monica Prado and Dennis Cherian
Zika virus (ZIKV) statistics in Honduras are the highest among countries in Central America. National risk communication strategies have primarily focused on vector control and…
Abstract
Purpose
Zika virus (ZIKV) statistics in Honduras are the highest among countries in Central America. National risk communication strategies have primarily focused on vector control and are integrated into existing approaches for Dengue and Chikungunya. Given the new evidence on ZIKV, there is a need to revamp risk communication strategies so that they are informed by dynamic listening methods such as knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey was administered to 604 respondents in 21 designated Honduran communities using a two-stage, 30-cluster sampling method.
Findings
Almost eight out of ten Hondurans knew that Zika can be transmitted by the bite of a mosquito; however, only 2 and 0.1 percent, respectively, were aware that Zika can be spread by sexual intercourse and from a pregnant woman to her fetus. In total, four out of ten Hondurans knew that there is a causal relationship between Zika and microcephaly in newborns, and three out of ten knew that there is an association between Zika and Guillian-Barré syndrome. Overall, 50 percent of respondents said that they did not have enough information about the disease.
Social implications
The findings of this study clearly identify information priority gaps that need to be urgently addressed by national stakeholders involved in public health activities to protect the most vulnerable population against Zika disease and its complications.
Originality/value
This study is the first of its kind in Central America to inform any national risk communication strategy since the inception of the ZIKV response, particularly among at risk populations.
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José María Martín Martín, Juan F. Prados-Castillo, Mónica de Castro-Pardo and Juan De Dios Jimenez Aguilera
The expansion of online platforms for renting tourist accommodations has given rise to a great deal of controversy in society. Likewise, the arrival of tourists in residential…
Abstract
Purpose
The expansion of online platforms for renting tourist accommodations has given rise to a great deal of controversy in society. Likewise, the arrival of tourists in residential settings has led to a wide range of positive and negative impacts, resulting in conflicts between different stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether there is variation in the perception of the impacts associated with peer-to-peer accommodation platforms among different stakeholders? Additionally, it also seeks to investigate what kind of impacts generate the highest level of conflict among stakeholders?
Design/methodology/approach
Given the relative novelty of the problem, this paper proposes an exploratory study that sheds light on some of the main issues with the purpose of supporting further research in the future. The aim is to analyze which impacts are perceived as more positive or negative by each group and to create indexes of conflict for these groups regarding their perception of the impacts. This study is based on fieldwork carried out in April 2020, which consists of 600 online surveys of local residents in the city of Granada. This city, one of Spain’s main tourist spots, suffers the highest tourist pressure in the country.
Findings
The exploratory study suggests that the greatest consensus is generated in the assessment of economic impacts, either negative or positive. The greatest conflicts are related to the assessment of the effect of this activity on housing preservation. The group comprising accommodation owners of tourist flats is the one that shows a more dissenting opinion from the rest, confronting especially the group formed by citizens whose income depends on tourism.
Originality/value
There is a lack of studies on the perception of tourism impacts associated with online tourism rental platforms. This is the first study to analyze both, how the main stakeholders associated with this activity assess the different impacts derived from this form of tourist accommodation as a whole and the conflicts derived from such an assessment. An additional innovation is that the analysis investigates the potential fear of disease transmission caused by tourists. It would be interesting to continue this research by applying the same questionnaire in different environments, such as rural areas or societies with different structures from the one analyzed here. Likewise, future in-depth analysis of some of the conflicts is recommended so as to ascertain their origin.
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Mónica Blanco-Jiménez, Ana Gabriela Víquez-Paniagua, Diana Maricela Vásquez-Treviño and Priscila Elizabeth Muñoz-Castro
The purpose of this study is to analyze the strategies that allow sowing social entrepreneurship initiatives among young university students in Latin America. This study will also…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to analyze the strategies that allow sowing social entrepreneurship initiatives among young university students in Latin America. This study will also help to understand the different needs and expectations currently treated in higher education in developing its role as a promoter of entrepreneurship in students.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a multinomial logistic regression method analysis based on data collected through an online survey and applied to a sample of 599 advanced business administration students in five Latin American countries.
Findings
The results indicate that three of the independent variables under study are relevant as strategies to instill in university students the initiative for creating social entrepreneurship: establishing links with social communities, providing entrepreneurial education with a social orientation, and offering financial education.
Research limitations/implications
These research findings indicate the role universities should have in promoting social entrepreneurship in university students. Therefore, the proposed strategies are crucial to improving this type of entrepreneurship.
Originality/value
The main contribution of this study is to analyze issues as crucial as social entrepreneurship in Latin American university students and broaden knowledge of the main strategies universities in this region must adopt so that students launch into the social area.
Propósito
El propósito de este estudio es analizar las estrategias que permitan sembrar iniciativas de emprendimiento social entre jóvenes universitarios de América Latina. Esto permitirá conocer las diferentes necesidades y expectativas que se tienen actualmente en la educación superior en el desarrollo de su papel como promotor del emprendimiento en los estudiantes.
Diseño/metodología
El estudio utiliza un análisis método regresión logística multinomial basado en datos recopilados a través de una encuesta en línea, aplicada a una muestra de 599 estudiantes avanzados de administración de empresas en cinco países latinoamericanos.
Hallazgos
Los resultados evidencian que tres de las variables independientes en estudio son relevantes como estrategia para sembrar en los estudiantes universitarios la iniciativa de crear emprendimiento social: el tener vínculos con las comunidades sociales, otorgar educación emprendedora con orientación social y el brindar educación financiera.
Implicaciones
Los hallazgos de esta investigación señalan el rol que deben de tener las universidades para fomentar el emprendimiento social en los estudiantes universitarios. Por lo tanto, se proponen estrategias claves para mejorar este tipo de emprendimientos.
Originalidad
La principal contribución de este estudio es analizar temas tan importantes como el emprendimiento social en los estudiantes universitarios de América Latina y ampliar el conocimiento de las principales estrategias que deben adoptar las universidades de esta región para que los estudiantes se lancen en el área social.
Objetivo
O objetivo deste estudo é an analisar as estratégias que permitem semear iniciativas de empreendedorismo social entre jovens universitários da América Latina. Permitirá conhecer as diferentes necessidades e expectativas atualmente tratadas no ensino superior no desenvolvimento do seu papel de promotor do empreendedorismo nos alunos.
Desenho/metodología
O estudo utiliza um método de análise de regressão logística multinomial baseado em dados coletados por meio de uma pesquisa on-line, aplicada a uma amostra de 599 estudantes avançados de administração de empresas em cinco países latino-americanos.
Resultados
Os resultados mostram que três das variáveis independentes em estudo são relevantes como estratégia para incutir nos estudantes universitários a iniciativa de criar empreendedorismo social: ter ligações com comunidades sociais, proporcionar educação empreendedora com orientação social e fornecer educação financeira.
Implicações
Os resultados desta investigação indicam o papel que as universidades devem ter na promoção do empreendedorismo social nos estudantes universitários. Portanto, as estratégias propostas são fundamentais para melhorar esse tipo de empreendedorismo.
Originalidade
A principal contribuição deste estudo é analisar temas tão importantes quanto o empreendedorismo social nos universitários latino-americanos, e ampliar o conhecimento das principais estratégias que as universidades desta região devem adotar, para que os estudantes se lancem na área social.
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Monica Singhania and Ibna Bhan
This study aims to systematically consolidate and quantitatively integrate the mixed empirical results on the association between ownership mechanisms and voluntary carbon…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to systematically consolidate and quantitatively integrate the mixed empirical results on the association between ownership mechanisms and voluntary carbon disclosure using meta-analysis and further propose potential country-level moderators of this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors apply meta-analytic procedures on 55 empirical studies conducted during 2008–2022, covering 13 countries, 85 effect sizes and 226,473 firm-year observations. To gauge the significance of the estimated mean effect size, a random-effects Hedges and Olkin meta-analysis procedure is adopted, followed by a restricted maximum likelihood based meta-regression, to test the effect of possible moderators.
Findings
Aligned with agency and stakeholder theories, the results highlight institutional and state ownership (SO) as having a significant positive impact on voluntary carbon disclosure. On the other hand, ownership concentration, managerial and foreign ownership have an insignificant effect on voluntary carbon disclosure. Based on institutional theory perspectives, the authors confirm the impact of institutional ownership on voluntary carbon disclosure to be more prominent in civil law countries and those countries that have implemented an emission trading scheme (ETS).
Practical implications
The finding that institutional and SO in firms can translate into higher voluntary disclosures deems investors and the government as crucial stakeholders in achieving carbon neutrality. Furthermore, the finding that the effect of institutional investors on carbon disclosure is heightened in ETS-implemented countries provides evidence to the regulatory authorities in favour of this scheme.
Social implications
The positive impact of institutional and government ownership on voluntary carbon disclosure highlights that these ownership structures not only have the potential to transform corporate decisions but also have implications for the wider society. As firms owned by institutional investors disclose their carbon information, it provides access to critical information about their environmental practices to the public. This fosters an environment of transparency and trust between the firm and its stakeholders (the community), leading to an overall well-informed society.
Originality/value
While prior meta-reviews studied the impact of corporate governance on voluntary disclosures, the meta-literature, as of 2024, has yet to address its influence specifically on carbon disclosures, which are pertinent amidst the ongoing global climate change crisis. The findings inform policymakers about the pivotal institutional factors that can amplify the impact of effective ownership structures on voluntary carbon disclosure. Future scope exists for investigating the effects of ownership mechanisms on firm-level sustainable investments. Furthermore, future empirical analysis could consider the moderating influence of “culture” and “ease of doing business” on the ownership-carbon disclosure relationship.
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Mónica Blanco-Jiménez, Georgina Parra-Irineo, Nayra González-González and Arturo Tavizon-Salazar
This chapter discusses the creation of the Pacific Alliance comprising four countries: Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Colombia. It shows that is not only a free trade agreement between…
Abstract
This chapter discusses the creation of the Pacific Alliance comprising four countries: Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Colombia. It shows that is not only a free trade agreement between these countries but also a multidimensional regional integration with political, economic, and cultural perspectives. Programs and actions have been structured in a way that allows and promotes integral growth of Latin American citizens. For this reason, it is important to analyze in this chapter the opportunities that Alliance Pacific generates with respect to each of these three aspects. (1) Political and diplomatic implications like eliminating visa requirements for the members, sharing some embassies, facilitating labor mobility between these countries, and proposing the creation of a joint parliament. (2) Economic and trade implications with a gradual elimination of tariffs that will allow companies to be more competitive, creation of different government agencies in each country to support business and promote intra-regional trade of goods and services, and create a joint platform to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and gender equity. Finally, (3) Cultural and educational implications, as the creation of “Student and Academic Mobility Platform” of the Pacific Alliance with scholarships for students and researchers, the integration of a “Technical Education Group” to foster integration and social inclusion of children and adolescents, and the creation of “Sports Diplomacy Program” and a “Scientific Research Network on Climate Change.” Although there are still several challenges for improvement in the Pacific Alliance, it is an agreement that will bring stability, welfare, and development effects for the members of these countries.
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Monica Nehemia-Maletzky, Tiko Iyamu and Irja Shaanika
This study aims to examine how both activity theory (AT) and actor network theory (ANT) can be complementarily applied in information system (IS) studies.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine how both activity theory (AT) and actor network theory (ANT) can be complementarily applied in information system (IS) studies.
Design/methodology/approach
The interpretivist approach was followed, within which the qualitative methods were used. Existing literature was gathered as data. The analysis was done by following the interpretive approach.
Findings
Based on the analysis and discussion, a guide for complementary use of both AT and ANT in IS studies was developed. The guide is divided into two parts, which helps to achieve the objectives of the study: complimentary use of AT and ANT in an IS study and order-of-use of both theories in a study, as depicted in the framework.
Originality/value
This study is original in that it has not previously been published in part or full. The results of the study is intended to be of value to both IS postgraduate students and researchers.
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Emily F. Wood and Monica K. Miller
The number of immigrants in the USA has increased steadily in recent decades. Two studies investigated individual differences that relate to attitudes toward immigrants in student…
Abstract
Purpose
The number of immigrants in the USA has increased steadily in recent decades. Two studies investigated individual differences that relate to attitudes toward immigrants in student and community samples. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
US university students and a community sampler were surveyed.
Findings
In both samples, higher scores on attributional complexity were associated with more positive attitudes toward immigrants and individuals who make dispositional attributions for the causes of crime and/or who are higher in faith in intuition tended to have more negative attitudes. Political orientation was a significant predictor in both samples; being more liberal and identifying as a Democrat compared to a Republican was related to more positive attitudes. Higher need for cognition scores were associated with more positive attitudes and higher legal authoritarianism scores were associated with more negative attitudes; however these were only significant predictors in the community sample.
Originality/value
Prejudicial attitudes toward immigrants can have adverse effects on immigrants in the realms of the legal system, workplace, healthcare, and education.
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Lea Iaia, Demetris Vrontis, Amedeo Maizza, Monica Fait, Paola Scorrano and Federica Cavallo
The purpose of this paper is to identify the distinctive elements of CSR communications that characterize the communications models of family businesses in the Italian wine…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the distinctive elements of CSR communications that characterize the communications models of family businesses in the Italian wine industry, and to compare them with nonfamily businesses.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a case study approach, a sample of large and medium companies practicing corporate social responsibility was identified. The content of their websites was examined using content analysis and text mining (correspondence analysis techniques and word association analysis using the T-Lab software).
Findings
The analysis indicates that the ownership structure nature makes a difference in the online CSR communications process. The cultural identity in both family and nonfamily businesses is founded on intangible factors such as tradition; however, being a family business is a fundamental driver in the online CSR communications process, no longer forming a bond among players in the wine industry, but rather linking with other wine family businesses.
Research limitations/implications
One limitation of this work is the small size of the investigated sample. An added value it contributes is its focus on the Italian wine industry. The paper provides the essential elements that family and nonfamily wine businesses should consider in customizing their CSR communications with the brand’s specific details.
Originality/value
The authors highlighted the similarities and differences of family and nonfamily wine businesses in terms of their online CSR communications. The authors also observed how the family wine business identity, in its multidimensional construct, has common factors with what we call “familiness.” This research could establish a starting point for further work within this important sector.
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The purpose of this paper is to analyse the metaverse platform in a social context to better understand the future of this tool in tourism cities and how this can help to improve…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the metaverse platform in a social context to better understand the future of this tool in tourism cities and how this can help to improve the well-being of residents in both digital and physical scenarios.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the current and probable developments in the metaverse, and its use in tourism cities and companies have been investigated. Moreover, this study develops, collects and examines the main metaverse definitions by expert authors and organizations as a methodology to ensure the transparency and credibility of the metaverse analysis.
Findings
Findings suggest that the fusion of the metaverse and tourism cities must create residents’ services and experiences in the new MetaTourPolis to help interact and connect citizens with the city’s institutions and companies, as well as make tourism cities more attractive, innovative, environmentally friendly and healthier places to live. Metaverse will bring new changes for residents and tourists, in fact, this virtual platform is already changing and improving the residents’ quality of life and people with disabilities in tourism cities. For instance, the metaverse platform has been implemented in Seoul, Santa Monica and Dubai MetaTourPolis to interact with their residents, including people with disabilities, to resolve bureaucratic and administrative problems, avoiding this group and the rest of the residents travelling by bus or car to the city’s institutions. In addition, several metaverse applications based on softbot tutors or metaverse virtual social centres have been developed to improve blind and impaired people, and elderly people’ quality of life, respectively.
Originality/value
A new concept called “MetaTourPolis” has been included to stage the relationship between tourism cities and the metaverse platform, where the fusion of metaverse and the new tourism polis of the 21st century will be at the service of citizens, tourists and companies, to create more sustainable, efficient, quantitative and environmental tourism cities.
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Monica Singhania and Gurmani Chadha
As of 2022, the scope of the engagement and interest of debt capital providers in ESG reporting is mainly untapped. However, a vast amount of literature has produced conflicting…
Abstract
Purpose
As of 2022, the scope of the engagement and interest of debt capital providers in ESG reporting is mainly untapped. However, a vast amount of literature has produced conflicting findings about the importance of debt capital (leverage) as a factor in sustainability reporting (SR). This is the first meta-analysis reconciling the mixed results of 85 single country studies containing 131 effect sizes across 24,482 firms conducted over past three decades (1999–2022) investigating the influence of leverage on SR. The study emphasizes the significance of contextualizing research by identifying the macro-environmental elements modifying debt's impact on SR, through the use of the institutional theory. Eleven country variables were tested on the collected dataset, spread across 36 countries.
Design/methodology/approach
Meta-analysis technique for aggregation of existing extant empirical work. Continuous and categorical variable-based moderator analysis to demystify the influence of country characteristics affecting the leverage–SR relationship.
Findings
Results show positive significant impact of debt capital providers on SR. Country's level of development, GDP, extent of capital constraints in a country, financial sector development within a nation, country governance factors and corruption levels, country's culture, number of sustainability reporting instruments operational in a country and geographical location proved to be significant moderators.
Research limitations/implications
The study details relevant meaningful research gaps, worthy of uptake by researchers to produce targeted research.
Practical implications
Governments must increasingly go beyond their mandated disclosure role and acknowledge the important institutional factors that have contributed to the expansion of ESG reporting through the creation of nation-specific tools, incentive structures and disclosure-encouraging regulations. To secure a steady flow of funding and prevent negative effects on company value and cost of capital in the midst of prolonged global economic upheaval, businesses must address the information requirements of lenders. The limited total effect size emphasizes the necessity for debt providers to step up their ESG activism and exercise their maximum power and potential in stimulating extensive SR firm-level practices.
Originality/value
The present study is the first meta-analysis reconciling the mixed results of 85 single-country studies containing 131 effect sizes across 24,482 firms conducted over the past three decades (1999–2022) investigating the influence of leverage on SR and demystifying the macro-environmental factors affecting the leverage–SR association.