Can institutional forces create competitive advantage? An empirical examination of environmental innovation

We examine institutional pressures as antecedents of environmental innovation. Drawing on institutional theory and a resource-based view of the firm, we argue that regulatory and normative forces influence companies' propensity to innovate in environment-related projects. Furthermore, we suggest that this relationship is contingent on the availability and specificity of the companies' resources. These relationships were tested using environmental patents and citations of 340 publicly-traded companies from polluting industries in the U.S. Results suggest that institutional pressures can be a source of competitive advantage, and regulatory forces are becoming more strongly associated with environmental innovations as the intensity of companies' R&D activities increase.environmental innovation; institutional theory; resource-based view;

Uruguay 2007-2015

Utilizando datos uruguayos de 2007 a 2015, examinamos si, y cómo, la manera en la cual se distribuye el apoyo público dentro de los sectores de producción impacta en el esfuerzo innovador de las empresas. Nuestro análisis empírico muestra que la forma en la cual se asigna el apoyo público dentro de un sector afecta los incentivos de una empresa para realizar gastos de innovación. Cuando el apoyo público a las actividades de innovación se distribuye de manera más equitativa dentro de un sector, las empresas que realizan de manera persistente actividades de innovación aumentan sus gastos en innovación, sean o no receptores directos de este apoyo. Estos resultados destacan un nuevo mecanismo indirecto por el cual la política de apoyo a la innovación afecta los incentivos de una empresa para emprender innovación privada. [resumen de los autores

Social anxiety and negative early life events in university students

Abstract Introduction: There is substantial evidence regarding the impact of negative life events during childhood on the aetiology of psychiatric disorders. We examined the association between negative early life events and social anxiety in a sample of 571 Spanish University students. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2007, we collected data through a semistructured questionnaire of sociodemographic variables, personal and family psychiatric history, and substance abuse. We assessed the five early negative life events: (i) the loss of someone close, (ii) emotional abuse, (iii) physical abuse, (iv) family violence, and (v) sexual abuse. All participants completed the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Results: Mean (SD) age was 21 (4.5), 75% female, LSAS score was 40 (DP = 22), 14.2% had a psychiatric family history and 50.6% had negative life events during childhood. Linear regression analyses, after controlling for age, gender, and family psychiatric history, showed a positive association between family violence and social anxiety score (p = 0.03). None of the remaining stressors produced a significant increase in LSAS score (p > 0.05). Conclusion: University students with high levels of social anxiety presented higher prevalence of negative early life events. Thus, childhood family violence could be a risk factor for social anxiety in such a population

The Impact of Symbolic and Substantive Actions on Environmental Legitimacy

Drawing on institutional theory and insights from stakeholder theory and impression management, we empirically analyze the impact of both environmental symbolic polices (participation in voluntary environmental programs, green trademarks, environmental-dedicated board committees, environmental pay policies and community communication) and substantive actions (environmental patents and pollution prevention practices) on environmental legitimacy. We show that (1) symbolic actions have a weaker positive effect on legitimacy than substantive actions, (2) that the impact of symbolic actions is greater when they are combined with substantive actions, (3) that this impact is only short-term while substantive actions have both short- and long-term effects

Can Institutional Forces Create Competitive Advantage? An Empirical Examination of Environmental Innovation

We examine institutional pressures as antecedents of environmental innovation. Drawing on institutional theory and a resource-based view of the firm, we argue that regulatory and normative forces influence companies' propensity to innovate in environment-related projects. Furthermore, we suggest that this relationship is contingent on the availability and specificity of the companies' resources. These relationships were tested using environmental patents and citations of 340 publicly-traded companies from polluting industries in the U.S. Results suggest that institutional pressures can be a source of competitive advantage, and regulatory forces are becoming more strongly associated with environmental innovations as the intensity of companies' R&D activities increase

Does greenwashing pay off? Understanding the relationship between environmental actions and environmental legitimacy

Drawing on institutional logic and signaling theory, we investigate sources of heterogeneity in the impacts of environmental actions on environmental legitimacy. Longitudinal data (1997–2001) about 325 publicly traded U.S. firms in polluting industries support the notion that environmental actions help firms gain environmental legitimacy. However, some actions instead can harm this legitimacy if environmental performance deteriorates and the firm is subject to intense scrutiny from nongovernmental organizations

Heroin Use And Injection Risk Behaviors In Colombia: Implications For Hiv/Aids Prevention

Background: Heroin production in Colombia has increased dramatically in recent decades, and some studies point to an increase in local heroin use since the mid-1990s. Despite this rapid increase, little is known about the effects of these activities on heroin injection within Colombia. One of the biggest concerns surrounding heroin injection is the potential spread of HIV through drug user networks. Objectives: This article examines injection risk behaviors among heroin injectors in the Colombian cities of Medellín and Pereira to explore the implications for possible increased HIV transmission within this group. Methods: A cross-sectional study used respondent-driving sampling to recruit a sample of 540 people who inject drugs (PWID) over 18 years of age (Medellín: n = 242, Pereira: n = 298). Structured interviews with each participant were conducted using the World Health Organization Drug Injection Study Phase II Survey. An HIV test was also administered. Results: Information regarding the socio-demographics, injection drug use, HIV risk and transmission behaviors, injection risk management, and HIV knowledge and prevalence of participants are reported. The study identified many young, newly initiated injectors who engage in risky injection practices. The study also found that HIV prevalence is fairly low among participants (2.7%). Conclusions/Importance: Findings indicate a potential risk for the spread of HIV among PWID in Colombia given their widespread sharing practices, high rate of new injector initiation, and unsafe syringe cleaning practices. Colombia has a possibly time-limited opportunity to prevent an HIV epidemic by implementing harm reduction interventions among young, newly initiated PWID

Sociological notes of the South American female inmigrants (Ecuador, Bolivia and Colombia) in Mallorca

Se trata de visibilizar y mostrar las desigualdades de género en el marco de la diversidad cultural, en un contexto de multiculturalidad transcultural jerarquizada en Mallorca como sociedad receptora. Para constatar estos planteamientos se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad a mujeres afro-ecuatorianas y originarias, emigradas de Suramérica hacia Mallorca, registrando sus respuestas en un cuestionario-guía preestablecido. Éste fue contestado por 39 mujeres de origen étnico afro-ecuatoriano y originarias de Ecuador, Colombia y Bolivia. Estas mujeres constituyen una muestra y un ejemplo significativo de la feminización de la migración y la supervivencia colectivaThe aim is to make visible and show gender inequalities within the framework of cultural diversity, in a context of hierarchical cross-cultural multiculturalism in Mallorca as a host society. In order to verify these approaches, in-depth interviews were conducted with Afro-Ecuadorian women and indigenous natives, emigrated from South America to Mallorca, recording their responses in a pre-established questionnaire-guide. This was answered by 39 women of Afro-Ecuadorian and indigenous ethnicity from Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. They represent a significant aspect of the feminization of migration and collective surviva