Comparative Analysis of Emerging Green Certificate Markets from a Computable General Equilibrium Perspective

Whether using market mechanisms to allocate green certificates in various countries is an optimal solution for stimulating green electricity production represents a question proposed by numerous recent comparative analyses, with opinions being split. Our paper proposes a differing perspective, employing modern computational economics techniques in order to study if general equilibrium is achievable, nationally and internationally, and how it compares with the non-market steady state. We analyse the field, determining exogenous and endogenous factors of influence that we cast into functional relationships via econometric estimation. Subsequently, we study four multi-period general equilibrium models, recursive and non-recursive, solving the latter ones via a Johansen/Euler method for simultaneous all-year computation. General equilibrium is shown to be achievable but dependent on country specific conditions, with optimality being relative in a globalised context. In closing, we present a case study focused on providing useful guidelines for future international marketing efforts in this domain.computational economics, general equilibrium, globalisation, multi-period model, optimising behaviour.

Consumer Behaviour Research: Jacquard Weaving in the Social Sciences

In the context of globalization, neither the study of consumption, nor the study of consumer buying behaviour, can be explained as the mere interaction between a limited number of personal and impersonal (or external factors), but as an utterly complex and undoubtedly progressive process. Moreover, what today is often referred to as consumer behaviour research, represents the result of interweaving various and prolonged efforts coming from a wide spanning array of heterogeneous disciplines. Analysing consumers and their purchase decisions/ consumption patterns/ post-consumption attitudes etc. only from an economic or psychological perspective will lead to an over-constrained problem, for which the solution will be at the same time academically unsound, and practically infeasible. Sallying forth on the wings of this realisation, the present essay sheds some light on the significance of consumer behaviour research from a historical and multidisciplinary perspective, arguing against the isolation of the field within the narrow confines of a single discipline. The main objectives underpinning this work are the following: (1) to provide a straightforward conceptualization for consumer behaviour as a research domain; (2) to provide an extensive review of the main paradigms in the study of consumer behaviour; (3) to underline the importance of multidisciplinary approaches for a correct understanding of consumer behaviour. Even though this research represents a theoretical inquiry of previous literature, exhaustiveness is not one of its goals. Moreover, whilst they present evidence coming from previous works, the authors do not shy away from stating their own beliefs and ideas, thus imbuing the present work with an unmistakable subjective perspective.  Keywords: consumer behaviour research, the positivist-traditionalist paradigm, the interpretative paradigm

Special Session: Multicultural marketplaces (Theoretical and empirical ground advances)

Several disciplines such as sociology and human geography have recognized that the new era of ‘superdiversity’, where social actors all evolve in ‘lived multiculture’ (e.g., Neal, Bennet, Cochrane, & Mohan 2013; Vertovec 2007; Wessendorf 2013), poses new questions and requires theoretical development. Similarly, in marketing and consumer research, several authors have pointed to the need to distinguish between international and multicultural marketing (e.g., Askegaard, Arnould, & Kjeldgaard 2005; Craig & Douglas, 2006; Jamal 2003; Laroche, Papadopoulos, Heslop, & Bergeron 2003; Yaprak 2008). Large proportions of contemporary marketplaces become increasingly culturally diverse – in terms of their populations’ composition, the cultural origin of the marketers and brands active in the marketplace, and their consumers’ exposure to brands, advertising, media and ideologies from multiple cultural origins. Such continuous multicultural interactions and experiences facilitate the integration, appropriation and, in some cases, transformation of cultural meanings from other marketplaces to consumers’ lived multiculture realities in a given marketplace (Cayla & Eckhardt 2008; Demangeot, Broderick & Craig 2015; Eckhardt & Mahi 2004; Kipnis, Broderick, & Demangeot 2014). While international marketing research has primarily focused on cultural differences between geographically distant markets and, more recently, on the globalization of markets (Akaka, Vargo, & Lusch, 2013; Cavusgil, Deligonul, & Yaprak, 2005), multicultural marketplaces pose new questions and require theoretical development to reflect and cater for the complexities brought about by the unprecedented magnitude of cultural heterogeneity and interconnectedness in the majority of contemporary national markets. The purpose of this special session is to spotlight some of the recent theoretical and empirical advances in the ‘multicultural marketplaces’ research stream. The session brings together studies that each deploys different research lenses addressing four areas (identity complexity, intergroup conviviality, differentiation of socio-political contexts and multicultural adaptiveness) recently posed as requiring development in the multicultural marketplaces paradigm (Demangeot et al. 2015). Specifically, the study by Cross, Harrison and Thomas distinguishes unique phenomenological complexities of multiracial consumer identity and discuss whether and how advertising representations of multiracial populations affect these consumers’ perceptions of acceptance by the marketplace. Regany and Emontspool consider how the ethnic-focused product representation practices by retail spaces elevate recognition of cultural difference by consumers within one multicultural marketplace, contributing to the rise of new intergroup barriers. Johnson, Cadairo and Grier, conversely, consider the role of country-level ideological stances on cultural diversity in driving differential consumer responses to ethnocultural-specific meanings represented in restaurant environments. Finally, Galalae, Kipnis and Demangeot propose the concept of consumer psychological mobility to capture and explain variations in consumers’ capacity to adapt and adopt multicultural living as a consistent, active practice extending beyond cultural consumption tourism. The session highlights that mundane intersection of multiple cultural meanings and varying contextualizations of lived multiculture within societal ideologies facilitate emergence of new individual and group discourses informing distinctly different consumption expectations and practices. This necessitates innovative approaches to recognize and account for these differences. By empirically identifying specific challenges faced by marketing researchers and practitioners and debating their theoretical implications the session contributes to advancement of consumer behaviour and marketing research in multicultural marketplaces’ contexts

Opportunities for promoting societal inclusion through higher education cultural and creative industries courses:Evidence from UK business schools

The Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) workforce is reportedly highly skilled yet lacking diversity, with higher education institutions playing a key role in developing graduates and their capacity to contribute to positive societal change. Consequently, this contribution explores how inclusivity is embedded and promoted via collaboration with businesses and communities in undergraduate and postgraduate CCI courses offered by UK business schools, where many of these courses are based. This is addressed via a qualitative content analysis of public-facing course materials commonly used by students when deciding on their course of study. Findings showcase how inclusive practices feature in curriculum design and delivery, assessment and feedback, engagement with businesses and the community, and employability support for graduates. These inform recommendations for higher education institutions on how to contribute to broadening inclusivity in the CCI labour market and beyond.</p