Nonparametric efficiency and productivity change measurement of banks with corporate social responsibilities : the case for Ghana

This thesis has twofold objectives. The first is to develop a framework based on the existing theory and method of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) for measuring performance of financial firms that have the dual goals of profit maximisation and Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSRs). The second is to examine the impact of banking regulatory reforms including bank ownership, specialisation, and capitalisation types on the average efficiency and frontier differences of banking subgroups. The objectives are achieved using the standard DEA, the metafrontier analysis and the global frontier differences (GFD). DEA can handle multidimensional inputs and outputs without specifying specific functional forms. CSR is conceptually justified and modelled as an additional output into the banking intermediation approach. Two DEA models, one with CSR and another without CSR are measured and compared. Parametric and nonparametric tests and regressions are utilised to support, empirically, the relevance of CSR in bank performance evaluation. Do foreign banks outperform private-domestic and state banks? Should banks diversify their products or focus in narrow range of products and services? Are listed banks more efficient than non-listed banks? The second part of the thesis contributes to the extant literature by answering these questions using the metafrontier analysis and the GFD to provide new evidence on the effect that the entry of foreign and private-domestic banks, universal banking and listing of banks on the stock market, have on bank performance. Banks are segmented into groups based on their bank-specific attributes and their average efficiencies and bestpractice differences compared. Relevant policy recommendations are drawn from the analysis for both the banking regulator and bank management. The final methodological contribution extends the GFD by defining a further decomposition of the global frontier shift, into components that indicate whether an observation is situated in a more or less favourable location in the production possibility set. Consequently, a four-factor “Newly-decomposed Malmquist productivity change index” is proposed. The index and its decompositions have potentially interesting policy implications, which are illustrated using the empirical data on Ghanaian banks. The index is in the spirit of the standard Malmquist index but the intuition is that some components can be used to draw conclusions about productivity changes for a whole population of firms whilst others determine whether individual firms are in favourable locations and/or moving towards locations that are more favourable over time. More importantly, arguably, a listed, universal or foreign bank can be located in a favourable position and move towards location that is more favourable by virtue of its bank-specific attributes or by contributing more towards CSR. These factors are explored and policy measures prescribed in the final contribution of the thesis

Similarity to prototypical heavy drinkers and non-drinkers predicts AUDIT-C and risky drinking in young adults: prospective study

Objective. The aim of the present study was to explore whether constructs within the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) predicted risky drinking as measured by AUDIT-C, drinking harms and unplanned drunkenness in a sample of UK young adults. Previous studies exploring the PWM often do not use validated measures of alcohol consumption, and the outcomes of risky drinking are underexplored. Design. An online prospective study design with four week follow up was employed and 385 young adults completed the study (M age = 21.76, SD = 3.39, 69.6% female; 85.2% students). Main outcome measures. Intentions to get drunk, AUDIT-C, drinking harms experienced in the last four weeks, and unplanned drunkenness in the last four weeks. Results. Heavy and non-drinker prototype similarity predicted AUDIT-C, drinking harms and unplanned drunkenness when controlling for past behaviour and reasoned action pathway constructs. Intentions and willingness both mediated the relationship between prototype perceptions and AUDIT-C. Conclusion. This study supports the use of the PWM in the prediction of AUDIT-C, drinking harms and unplanned drinking in a UK sample. Prototype perceptions influenced behaviour via both reasoned and reactive cognitions. Targeting similarity to heavy and non-drinker prototypes should be the focus of future interventions in this population

Complementing the Pleistocene biogeography of European amphibians: Testimony from a southern Atlantic species

To reconstruct the historical biogeography of Hyla molleri, a tree frog endemic to the Eurosiberian and Mediterranean bioclimatic zones in the Iberian Peninsula. Location: Iberian Peninsul

Adoption of foreign institutional practices and industrial development: Understanding the cross-level interaction effects

Foreign market knowledge has been at the epicentre of international business research for decades and differences in institutional practices across countries have been found to influence performance of internationalised firms. Dominant scholarship in this area has been significantly influenced by insights and experiences from developed countries, usually to the detriment of understanding the influence of foreign institutional knowledge acquisition at both the firm and country levels in developing economies. Using a developing country lens, the objective of this study is to determine if foreign institutional practices acquired by SSA firms has a significant effect on their home country's industrial development. The study employs a quantitative cross-sectional survey research approach and collects data from 874 formally registered manufacturing firms in 28 SSA countries. The countries are stratified along two dimensions, noticeable and unnoticeable levels of industrial development. This allowed for cross-country comparison across the industrial development spectrum. The data collected was subsequently analysed in MLWin 3.02 for multilevel and involved a two-tier regression analysis to examine the relative importance of foreign institutional practice adoption as a source of variation in the home country's industrial development. The study finds statistically significant influences with respect to foreign practice adoption. This implies that adoption of foreign institutional practices by an internationalised firm from a foreign country benefits the home country. This study further opens new discussions about firm internationalisation and home country industrial development by demonstrating the significant influence of interaction effects between adoption of foreign institutional practices by an internationalised firm and four firm level variables and one country level variable on home country's industrial development

Examining the influence of corporate website favourability on corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer company identification and loyalty: a study of consumers’ perception in the context of the financial setting in the United Kingdom and Russia

The main aim of this study is to add to the current knowledge about the corporate website favourability within the discipline of marketing by developing a rigorous conceptual framework of factors that influence corporate website favourability, and to explore how corporate website favourability contributes to building corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer-company identification and loyalty within the context of the financial setting in the UK and Russia. This research addresses two main questions: 1) what is the impact of the specific antecedents of corporate website favourability on corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer-company identification and loyalty? 2) what are the main favourable influences of corporate website favourability on corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer-company identification and loyalty? To achieve the goals of this research, the thesis adopts a mixed method research design - a predominantly quantitative approach, which is supported by insights from an exploratory phase that embodies in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The thesis draws on attribution, social identity and signalling theories. Based on the multi-disciplinary approach, this study resulted in the introduction of a validated conceptual framework that explains the phenomenon of corporate website favourability. The conceptual framework was supported and enhanced by a qualitative study (in-depth interviews and focus groups) that added three factors which influence corporate website favourability: customer service, website credibility and perceived corporate social responsibility. The conceptual framework was empirically evaluated through the insights from 555 questionnaires in the UK and 563 questionnaires in Russia. The sample of respondents permitted multivariate data analysis to be conducted in both contexts. The data from two contexts (consumers from HSBC in the UK and Sberbank in Russia) were analysed separately. This research employed exploratory factor analysis (EFA), cronbach’s alpha, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to ensure that the scales developed and adapted were robust in terms of validity and reliability. Afterwards, structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to conduct the hypothesis testing for each context. The model confirmed a good fit to the data, good convergent, discriminant and nomological validity and stable reliability in both contexts. The proposed conceptual model showed that 17 hypotheses in the UK and 14 hypotheses in Russia were supported out of the 19 hypotheses. Thus, overall, the research framework was generally supported in both contexts. The results indicated that navigation, information, security, availability, perceived corporate social responsibility, and perceived corporate culture influence corporate website favourability in the UK and Russia. Furthermore, the findings showed that the usability factor does not influence corporate website favourability in either country. Unexpectedly, the visual, customisation, website credibility, and customer service factors were rejected in Russia, but accepted in the UK. Additionally, corporate website favourability was found to have a direct positive affect on corporate image and satisfaction in both the UK and Russia. However, the relationship between attractiveness and corporate image was only supported in Russia, and not in the UK. In addition, in both contexts, corporate image was positively related to corporate reputation, corporate reputation was positively connected to consumer-company identification, and, finally, consumer-company identification was positively related to loyalty. This study is the first systematic research which has conceptualised and operationalised the notion of corporate website favourability, its antecedents and its consequences. It is anticipated to be of value in advancing existing knowledge by proposing a threefold theoretical contribution to the literature: 1) theoretical extension (level of conceptualisation and measurement); 2) assessment of theory; and 3) investigation of generalisation. Additionally, it is hoped that the findings of this research would make a substantial managerial contribution to the understanding of marketing and communication managers and website designers regarding the entire association among corporate website favourability, its antecedents and consequence. Furthermore, it is expected that this examination will enhance the knowledge of company decision-makers, communication professionals and website specialists about the building of a favourable corporate website in line with the corporate identity strategy of the company. Corporate website favourability should be adopted by companies, as part of the overall corporate identity management

Answers to questions on uncertainty in geography: old lessons and new scenario tools

In many domains, including geography, there can be the implicit assumption that improved data-analysis and statistical modelling must lead to improved policymaking, and its perceived failure to do so can be disconcerting. Yet, this assumption overlooks the fundamental distinction between epistemological and ontological uncertainty, as discussed herein. Epistemological uncertainty describes the known and bounded inaccuracy of our knowledge about the world as now. Whereas ontological uncertainty describes the rendering completely obsolete of this present knowledge by surprises in the form of currently unknown future events, and by cascading changes to beliefs, attitudes and behaviours made by diverse actors in response to - and in anticipation of others’ responses to - new developments. This paper does the following: 1) shows that, because of ontological uncertainty, improved data-analysis and statistical modelling can never lead straightforwardly to improved policymaking, no matter how well implemented; 2) outlines how probability-based tools offer little assistance with ontological uncertainty because they are based on present perceptions of future possibilities; 3) urges geographers to reconcile with ontological uncertainty as a source of potentially transformational change, rather than viewing it as a problem to be overcome, or something to be defended against; 4) reviews a range of new, non-probabilistic scenario tools that, when used in combination, can assist in harnessing ontological uncertainty for transformational purposes by surfacing what is to be gained and by whom from enabling, blocking or altering intended policy outcomes, and by searching for future possibilities unconstrained by the present

Does It Work? Examining the Effectiveness of Place Branding in Local Economic Development

For cities in advanced economies, the past three decades have been characterized by a steady increase in the use of place branding, with it becoming an integral part local economic development policy. In the context of this study, place branding goes beyond the traditional understanding of logos and slogans, and instead is understood to be the culmination of intentional and unintentional actions by cities that help create and attenuate the network of connections of the place held in the mind of target audiences. Place branding is now viewed by local policymakers as a necessary undertaking to respond to local issues that emerge (i.e. the decline of traditional economic sectors, changing demographics and population decline, the rise of the knowledge and creative economies changing position of cities in regional and global competitions for footloose economic resources). Indeed, local governments are now pinning their hopes on place branding as a way to counter many of the ills that their city faces. Despite the increased attention that place branding has received as a local economic development policy, there is considerable uncertainty over whether it is effective in meeting the hopes and aspirations of the cities that employ it. In short, does it work? To address this question, this dissertation considers place branding’s role in the attraction of three mobile economic resources (talent, immigrants, and businesses) to examine whether it is able to effectively influence these target audiences. Within this dissertation, influence is measured in several ways: place brand awareness, place brand equity, and decision-making of the target audiences. A key contribution of this dissertation is that it reframes the concept of equity to align with the geographical concept of sense-of-place. Using the Province of Ontario, Canada as the study area, the effectiveness of place branding is quantified through multiple surveys of talent (n = 3951), immigrants (n = 739), and businesses (n = 659). The influence is examined across eight studies through a series of quantitative approaches (i.e. descriptive statistics, ANOVA, regression, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, conjoint analysis, and Hierarchical Bayesian estimation). Overall, this dissertation demonstrates that place branding does have an influence on attracting mobile economic resources, and as a result has the potential to be an effective local economic development strategy. However, cities and other local governments need to be strategic in their branding efforts, and consider the brand to more than logos and slogan, to ensure it promotes the correct feature of the city that are meaningful to the target audiences being pursued

Axe’s brand personality and equity, consumers’ perspective on the brand’s personality and equity

search to establish a type of communication which is not only unique but also coherent, in order to ascertain certain types of associations within the minds of consumers. It is the composition of all the associations transmitted that forms the personality of a brand. However, this is a very demanding process, requiring years of investment and a need to be entirely coherent when communicating, through the years. Axe is a perfect example of this intention, with not only a distinctive type of communication but also a consistent one, trespassing always the ideas of sensuality and self-confidence. Nevertheless, not always do the intentions of brand managers coincide with the perceptions of consumers. Additionally, implications of a brand personality in its value, is still somewhat an uncertain subject. This dissertation aims to analyse Axe’s brand personality and its inferences on its own equity, analysing what consumers perceive the brand to be and furthermore how they value those attributes. For that purpose a practical application of Jennifer Aaker’s “Big Five” model was carried out, in order to understand how the brand is perceived, in what way does this perception influence the brand’s equity and what can be the future options for the brand to undertake. The study evidenced the predicted strong facet of the brand, the emotional side, as well as the relationships between the brand personality dimensions and Axe brand equity. This emotional side is in fact the most differentiating asset of the brand, although it is not the dimension with the strongest effect on brand equity.As empresas procuram desenvolver um tipo de comunicação que seja não só único mas também coerente, de maneira a estabelecer certo tipo de associações nas mentes dos consumidores. É a composição de todas estas associações que forma a personalidade de uma marca. Contudo, este processo é bastante exigente, requirindo anos de investimento e uma necessidade de coerência total na comunicação, ao longo desses anos. Axe é um exemplo perfeito desta intenção, apresentando não só um tipo de comunicação distintivo como também consistente, transmitindo ideias de sensualidade e confiançã pessoal. No entanto, nem sempre as intenções dos gestores das marcas coincidem com as percepções dos consumidores. Adicionalmente, as implicações da personalidade de uma marca no seu valor, é ainda de certa maneira um tópico incerto. Esta tese visa analisar a personalidade da marca Axe e as suas repercussões no seu próprio valor, analisando o modo como os consumidores interpretam a marca e adicionalmente como avaliam esses atributos. Com este propósito foi desenvolvida uma aplicação práctica do modelo “Big Five” de Jennifer Aaker, de maneira a compreender como a marca é percebida, de que maneira esta percepção influencia o valor da marca e quais poderão ser as opções futuras para a marca desenvolver. O estudo evidenciou a faceta forte da marca, o seu lado emocional, bem como as relações entre as dimensões da personalidade da marca e o valor da Axe. Este lado emocional é de facto o activo diferenciador da marca, contudo não é a dimensão com o maior efeito no valor da marca

Linking identity and heritage with image and a reputation for competition

Our study investigates the role of identity and heritage of a place in creating competitiveness of the place and its retailers by utilizing its image and reputation to improve its attraction to tourists. We explored the perceptions of tourists to test a conceptual model which was developed using concepts available in current academic literature. Data were collected relating to a famous retail store in London which is a popular destination. Findings from a survey of 294 store tourists visiting the store suggest that place heritage is the key to driver of competitiveness of both the retailer and place, through their image and reputation. The study has important implications for the expansion of current literature, theory development and business practices. Limitations of the study are outlined and directions for future research are considered