Assessing the Distributional Impacts of Transferable Pollution Permits: The Case of Phosphorus Pollution Management at a River Basin Scale

Although the initial allocation of pollution permits is neutral in terms of efficiency, it does have a significant impact on distributive equity. In this paper, we examine the two main categories of permit allocation rules, the distributive and the reductive, for controlling phosphorus pollution in a small catchment in South West England. Based on the premise that the regulatory choice compromises efficiency and equity, the main result of this paper is that an allocation of permits in proportion to the intensity of environmental preferences is a “win-win†choice. The reason is that it simultaneously achieves two goals. First, it is efficient (or cost-effective) since a permit system achieves a prespecified target at a minimum abatement cost, while second, it is the only allocation rule which reduces the income inequality of the baseline scenario.pollution permits, phosphorus, nutrient management, export coefficient model, water quality, distributive justice, income inequality, Atkinson Index, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Standardization versus customisation. The role of culture

Fast food restaurants have expanded globally in recent years. As companies become global marketers to acquire new knowledge and a greater understanding of the fast food business and the environment, in which they operate in order to determine and adopt an appropriate marketing mix. Managers can use knowledge of a market's national culture to develop successful image strategies. This paper aims to explore the role of culture in the formation of consumer perceptions. To measure cultural influences a store image scale was constructed for fast food restaurants. An eight - step process based on Churchill's (1979), model, guided the development, validation and refinement of the scale. The final structure of the scale included six factors consisting of 14 items. The six factors are a) Adaptation to Locality b) Service c) Facilities d) Food quality e) Place to be and g) Sales incentive program. Then the relative weights of the six factor dimensions in influencing customers' overall image, as well as satisfaction and loyalty ratings were explored. Adaptation to locality has been found as the most important factor in the formation of store image as well as in predicting satisfaction and loyalty. The results of structural equation analysis have shown that the local culture factor is strongly associated with 'food quality' and especially with the "Place to be factor". The results can be very useful to marketers who want to invest in the local or other foreign markets.Store image, internationalisation, Adaptation to locality, Consumer/Household Economics,

Improvement Axons for Ardas Cultural Festival in Evros, Greece, based on attendees perceptions

Festivals provide not only the hosting community but the wider destination area as well, with many benefits. In consequence they have gained increasing attention in the prism of tourism growth. The most popular festival in Evros prefecture in the Thrace region (Northern Greece) is Ardas festival which takes place annually near the banks of the Ardas River and is known as “Festival Arda: youth gathering”. In the highly competitive tourism market, festival organizers need to keep their customers satisfied in order to maintain and increase their market share. To accomplish this task, festival organizers must understand the visitors’ behaviour and intentions and formulate their strategy accordingly. In this context, this study aims to examine the current status of Ardas Festival based on attendees perceptions and, secondly to propose a segmentation of the attendees market, based on their overall visiting experience as well as the degree of their satisfaction. quantitative research study was conducted on the premises of Ardas festival .The questionnaire developed specifically for this purpose. It includes the following areas of improvement which were generated based on a prior qualitative study. The quantitative research obtained a sample of 410 visitors attending the festival. Statistical analysis included classical descriptive analysis, cluster analysis, and cross-tabulation tests. Results showed that all statements were considered important for attendees of the festival (MS>3.51), with cleanness being the most important (MS=4.53) and the increase of the number of Balkan countries bands the least (MS= 3.62). Three clusters (n1=116; n2=146; n3=140) were produced based on the points of development as well as visitors’ satisfaction and impression. Results also showed that clusters were statistically significantly different regarding gender, marital status, education, occupation, and net individual monthly income. Results of the research can be a valuable input for the Ardas festival organizers. The findings can contribute to the success of the festival by satisfying the visitors and consequently increasing retention rate and loyaltyFestival, tourism, destination marketing, improvement axons, consumer’s behaviour, marketing, Greece

Consumers attitudes towards fast food restaurants in Greece : an investigation of store image, satisfaction and loyalty

This study deals with the investigation of store image for fast food restaurants in Greece. Understanding factors that influence consumer behaviour is of critical importance for marketing managers of the restaurants under investigation. Image has had a long history in the study of marketing, and as a concept, is one of the cornerstones of consumer behaviour theory. The first research objective was to develop a customized store image scale for fast food restaurants in order to identify key image dimensions and their relative importance in determining consumer choice. An eight-stage process, based on Churchill's (1979), model, guided the development, validation and refinement of the scale. The primary instrument was developed from an extensive literature review and qualitative research. A quantitative survey with a sample of three hundred participants, followed. A seven-factor, 24-item measure was extracted from the purification process. The psychometric properties of the scale were re-evaluated through a second stage analysis with new data collected for the study. The final structure of the scale included six factors consisting of 14 items. The factors were labelled as: a) Adaptation to Locality b) Service c) Facilities d) Food quality e) Place to be and g) Sales incentive program. The scale's reliability, content and criterion validity was established. The construct validity of the scale was evaluated using a number of multivariate methods. The results showed that the scale has adequate construct validity. Much of the work in the marketing area emphasises the implications of image for purchasing behaviour. So, the next stage of the study was the exploration of the complex relationship between perceived store image satisfaction and loyalty using structural equation modelling. The results show that there is both a direct and indirect relationship between store image and loyalty whereby satisfaction acts as mediator. The knowledge and understanding of the underlying factors of store image would be a great help both for academic and commercial reasons. Moreover, the investigation of the complex relationship between store image customer satisfaction and loyalty would be a key tool for strategic marketing planning and implementation.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGreek State Scholarship FoundationGBUnited Kingdo

The mediating effect of environmental policy on the relationship between satisfaction and loyalty in the hotel industry

Customer satisfaction and loyalty, according to the literature, are influenced by many factors such as perceived value, corporate image, perceived quality, trust, communication etc. This study investigates the mediating effect of environmental policy in the relationship between satisfaction and loyalty. For this purpose, empirical research on Greek hotels’ customers, with the use of a structured questionnaire, was conducted. In data analysis, the S.P.S.S 20 and LISREL software were used. The results indicate that the degree of perceived, by customers, environmental policy is not related to satisfaction, and moreover to their loyalty towards the hotel

Investing in Greek Agriculture: A Case Study on Farmers in the Regional Unity of Serres, Greece

The Greek Ministry of Food and Agriculture is proceeding in its commitment to apply reforms of the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2014-2020. Among other measures, in November 2017 two fundamental agricultural projects were introduced: the 4.1.1., which focuses on potential investments in fixed assets and machinery, and the 4.2.3., which relates to potential investments in renewable energy resources such as net-metering systems. Investments in agriculture are considered of critical importance given their potential contribution to the Greek economy. The CAP is undoubtedly an integral and crucial part of the general Common European Policy in terms of agriculture. Nevertheless, European policies have attracted intense negative criticism including from distinguished and Nobel Prize-awarded writers and researchers such as Krugman and Stiglitz. This paper focuses on the probability and sustainability of rural investments dealing simultaneously with a profile analysis of the prospective investors. It consists of two main parts. The theoretical first part presents the special characteristics of the two implemented measures. The second part presents the empirical research carried out with farmers of the area, which was conducted via questionnaires. Participants submitted Action Improvement Plans supporting the 4.1.1 or/and 4.1.3 measures. Data were collected through personal interviews and the opportunity sampling method was used. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inducted statistical methods. This research expands the discussions around the rural investments concept. Keywords: Common Agricultural Policy, rural development, investment

Measuring Destination Image and Consumer Choice Criteria: The Case of Mykonos Island

Destination image has long been identified as an environmental characteristic that influences consumer behaviour and choice. As destinations compete nowadays globally, marketers need to acquire new knowledge and a greater understanding of the business and the environment, in which they operate in order to determine and adopt an appropriate marketing mix. So, first research objective was to measure attitudes towards island of Mykonos in order to identify key dimensions and their relative importance in determining consumer choice. Then, Cluster analysis was performed in order to segment the market and identify different clusters of tourists. Four different clusters were identified based on choice criteria and attitudes. Results can be a valuable input for both marketers and practitioners

Measuring Destination Image and Consumer Choice Criteria: The Case of Mykonos Island

Destination image has long been identified as an environmental characteristic that influences consumer behaviour and choice. As destinations compete nowadays globally, marketers need to acquire new knowledge and a greater understanding of the business and the environment, in which they operate in order to determine and adopt an appropriate marketing mix. So, first research objective was to measure attitudes towards island of Mykonos in order to identify key dimensions and their relative importance in determining consumer choice. Then, Cluster analysis was performed in order to segment the market and identify different clusters of tourists. Four different clusters were identified based on choice criteria and attitudes. Results can be a valuable input for both marketers and practitioners

Social media for cultural communication: A critical investigation of museums’ Instagram practices

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate the use of Instagram by museums in the Greek cultural scene. Specifically, the study focuses on examining the use of Instagram by museum communication professionals and aims at carrying out a twofold investigation: Firstly, if and how the Instagram is used to reach out to their visitors and secondly, the public response to this type of communication. Methods: A list of all archaeological museums in Greece was obtained and related Instagram accounts were retrieved. The dataset structure was enhanced by eleven variables, which were measured and visualized by a descriptive statistics analysis. Inter-variable correlations, normality and equality tests were also performed. Moreover, a linear predictive model for the number of museum tags was investigated. Results: Only one museum in Greece maintains an Instagram account. Visitors usually tag museum exhibits or people and exhibits on the photographs they upload on their personal accounts. T-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests revealed equal distributions for all variables between central and peripheral museums. Implications: Museum officials have not seized the opportunity offered by social media and especially Instagram today. Their importance seems to be underestimated. With respect to the linear model derived, results suggest that more features should be surveyed; this could be the subject of future research studies