Labour market dualization and social policy in pandemic times: an in-depth analysis of private consumption services in Europe

PurposeThis article contributes to the debate on how social policies and labour market regulation have been used to limit the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic by focusing on one specific economic segment of European labour markets: private consumption services, such as trade, tourism, catering and other support services.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis combines mixed methods and a variety of sources. First, we built a set of indicators from the EU-LFS microdata for 2019 and the 2018 Eurostat "Structure of earnings survey” and performed a cluster analysis (k-means) on the dimensions and indicators considered. Second, we elaborated EU-LFS data covering 2019 and 2020 (by quarter) and OECD 2020 data, and finally we traced Covid-related policy reforms for the period March 2020–December 2021 and analysed documents and information collected in different policy repositories.FindingsThe paper shows the relevance and characteristics of private consumption services in different countries, demonstrating that so-called labour market "outsiders” are highly represented in this sector and illustrates the policies adopted to respond to the pandemic in different European countries. The paper asks whether this emergency has been a window of opportunity to redefine regulation in this sector, making it more inclusive. It demonstrates, however, that the common approach in Europe has been dominated by temporary, short-term and one-off measures, which do not represent major changes to the social security schemes that were in place before the pandemic.Originality/valueThis article builds on the literature on labour market dualization, but approaches the concept from a different perspective – one not centred on the nature of employment relations (stable/unstable) but on economic sectors/branches. This article does not, therefore, discuss in general terms what happened to labour market outsiders during the pandemic, but rather focus attention on a specific group of workers who are highly exposed to risks stemming from dualization: those employed in the private consumption services. The economic sector perspective is an integrative way of framing dualization which is still under-researched.

Seeking thrills during a crisis? A TSR and hierarchy of effects perspective of the transformative potential of travel

PurposeThis study aims to theorise and empirically test a model based on the hierarchy of effects behavioural learning approach ("do-think-feel”) to explain how travel during a crisis assists consumer well-being. The paper also examines whether the effect travel has on well-being is serially mediated by perceived risk and resilience and moderated by the personality trait of sensation-seeking.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a quasi-experimental design involving Australian consumers based on a sample of n = 307 who had travelled and n = 277 who had not during the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 584). A replication study (N = 290) is also undertaken to assess the robustness of the hierarchy of effects uncovered in the main study. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) and Hayes PROCESS macro.FindingsThe results reveal travellers have significantly higher levels of both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being than non-travellers, suggesting the transformative potential of travel experiences during a crisis. The transformative potential of travel is driven by perceived risk and psychological resilience, which mediate the relationship between travel frequency and well-being. Further, spotlight moderation analysis demonstrates that the effect of travel on well-being is most profound for those with lower levels of sensation-seeking. These relationships are also confirmed in the replication study.Originality/valueThis research is among the first in transformative service research (TSR) to test the mediators of perceived risk and resilience together in a singular study, showing how experiences such as travel are potentially transformative. It also evaluates personality traits such as sensation-seeking as a moderating factor, which is uncommon in TSR. Further, this study empirically validates a do–think–feel behavioural learning approach, as opposed to other hierarchy of effects sequences that are dominant in TSR and the wider services marketing literature.

Empirical Analysis of the Cruise Shipping Network in Asia

The cruise shipping market has been growing dynamically in the past two decades. This study presented an empirical analysis of the Asian cruise shipping network (ACSN) in which the nodes are cruise ports and links are cruise routes connecting the ports, using complex network analysis. An analysis of 245 voyages operated by 16 cruise lines between 215 ports in 26 countries found that ports in the ACSN are connected by 704 links. The ACSN is a small-world network with a small average path length and a high clustering coefficient, and its degree distribution follows an exponential function. A small number of ports have high connectivity, and most ports have low connections. Most high-degree ports connect to low-degree ports. The important roles and properties of ports vary depending on centrality measures.

Hotel Recovery Post Pandemic: Is Rebranding Required?

For hotel business to survive during COVID-19 Pandemic requires to conduct major adjustment in almost all aspects of operation. This qualitative study was conducted to assess the operation adiustment that may affect the hotel brand. Data was gathered from respondents comprising managers and decision-makers of 5-to-3-star hotels in Bali, Indonesia that remain open during the pandemic, using online survey and interview. The results show that during the pandemic, hotels have made major operation adjustment to survive;whilst, maintaining the same quality standard, applying meticulous CHSE (Cleanliness Health Safety Environment) protocol, and keeping the customers informed through online promotion platforms regarding the hotel's condition being ready to host guests. The adjustment made includes reducing operation cost, shifting target market into domestic market to maintain cash flow to cover operation, adjusting the rate and prices to adapt the weaker customer's buying power, applying flexible booking and refund conditions, human resource policy and planning rearrangement, reducing the quantity of room offered and menu list items in Food and Beverage outlets. The hotel business resilient was owned to the professionalism of hoteliers, thus hotel rebranding is not required as the quality of the products offered is the same with those before the pandemic;at post-pandemic, it would be simply sifting the target market back to pre-pandemic.

Domain-based ambidexterity for managing a dual business model in the hospitality industry in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic: an exploratory study

PurposeThis study aims to analyse how a hotel company manages ambidexterity when operating different business models in different markets located in the same country.Design/methodology/approachThis research was conducted using a qualitative case study, and the subjects were selected using the theoretical sampling technique. A corporation managing two hotel business units located in the same city but operating different business models – a premium and a low-cost business model – were selected as subjects.FindingsThe empirical evidence revealed that an ambidextrous business model can be realized through integration or separation of appropriate domains of business activities. The empirical findings further showed that exploitations are easier to integrate than explorations.Practical implicationsThe authors found that firms using structural separation for managing premium and low-cost business models can avoid market cannibalism and achieve synergies between different business models if business model ambidexterity is well managed.Originality/valueThis study extends research in the area of ambidexterity and business models. It responds to calls to examine how firms using structural separation implement business model ambidexterity in practice, particularly in service sectors. By analysing the details of activities within the business model, the authors advance the understanding of which domains are suitable for an integration or separation approach.

Do emerging art market segments have their own price dynamics? Evidence from the Chinese art market

This study examines the nonlinear dynamics in the price series of Chinese art market segments between 2000 and 2019. We employ a hedonic price model to construct price indices of Chinese art market segments and analyze the nonlinearities and regime-switching properties of the individual segment using a series of Markov switching model specifications. We argue that occasional shocks would only temporarily alter their data-generating processes and have transitory effects. Moreover, we investigate the impact of COVID-19 on Chinese art market segments. Our findings have implications for market participants in identifying the price characteristics and dynamic behavior of art market segments. © 2022 The Author

Selling lowbrow art and cultural goods in times of pandemic: The case of a provincial art market

This article examines the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on a provincial art market to shed light on how gallerists, auctioneers, and antique dealers have coped with this exogenous event. Provincial intermediaries, active in the lower ends of the art market, are characterized by economic properties that differ from those of the upper-end markets. Their location at the periphery of metropolitan centers, combined with the characteristics of supply and demand, are likely to affect their ability to face a global crisis. Based on 15 semi-structured interviews with provincial intermediaries, this research reveals the unexpected performance of local auction houses and antique dealers active in the secondary art market. We attribute this performance to the use value of lowbrow cultural goods, the willingness of local auction houses to embrace the benefits of online two-sided markets, and their ability to offset a pent-up demand, especially among Generation Y. Recommendations to prompt provincial art market players to sustain the positive externalities of the crisis in the long run are provided.

The mediation role of organizational strategy orientation on the effect of environmental uncertainty on the performance of travel agency companies

The global pandemic has had a significant impact on the economic sector and the tourism sector and its supporting businesses, where many market segments of the tourism industry, such as hotels, restaurants, and travel agents, have reached a saturation point. Companies need to determine a clear strategy in the face of a dynamic change in the business environment to achieve the expected performance and maintain a sustainable competitive advantage. The discussion of strategies also focuses on the discussion on the strategic orientation of the organization. Research on the orientation of organizational strategies in the tourism industry, especially in the travel agent sector, has yet to be widely studied in depth, and how the impact of the pandemic on the sustainability of the performance of travel agent companies. This paper aims to examine the mediation role of the organization's strategic orientation on the influence of environmental uncertainty on the performance of travel agency companies. The respondents in this study were the manager of a travel agency company throughout Indonesia and we used a purposive sampling technique with a sample of 75 respondents. The method of collecting data is using a questionnaire and then the data is analyzed using PLS-SEM. The results showed that Technology Uncertainty affects Market Orientation & Entrepreneurial Orientation, but only Entrepreneurial Orientation affects performance. It also showed that Market Orientation and Entrepreneurial Orientation fully mediate the Technology Uncertainty variable with Organizational Performance. Therefore, travel agent companies must be adaptive and innovative in facing technological changes that occur through the choice of organizational strategy orientation, Entrepreneurial Orientation and Market Orientation to encourage performance improvement.

Do emerging art market segments have their own price dynamics? Evidence from the Chinese art market

This study examines the nonlinear dynamics in the price series of Chinese art market segments between 2000 and 2019. We employ a hedonic price model to construct price indices of Chinese art market segments and analyze the nonlinearities and regime-switching properties of the individual segment using a series of Markov switching model specifications. We argue that occasional shocks would only temporarily alter their data-generating processes and have transitory effects. Moreover, we investigate the impact of COVID-19 on Chinese art market segments. Our findings have implications for market participants in identifying the price characteristics and dynamic behavior of art market segments.

INFLUENCE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM AND MEASURES OF CREATING SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN UZBEKISTAN

The Covid-19 pandemic plunged the whole world into a protracted economic crisis, dealing a significant blow to all branches of human activity. Some areas have suffered serious losses, in particular, the tourism industry. This article discusses measures to restore and strengthen the tourism and hospitality sector after the pandemic in the Republic ofUzbekistan. A Safe Tourism program has been developed in the Republic of Uzbekistan;tourists will use tourist services, follow the sanitary and hygienic rules during trips. This project will provide travelling individually, choosing a destination and booking what they need during travelling online. The purpose of the article is to analyse the situation in the world and Uzbekistan as well, during the pandemic, as well as to develop practical measures to rehabilitate the tourism sector from the consequences of the economic crisis associated with the pandemic. New offers are being considered in the tourism market to attract tourists to our country. The primary attention in the paper is focused on the development of electronic platforms for the formation of "online tourism", architectural sights and monuments combining the history of different peoples and religious denominations. The article also provides information about alternative medicine, and lists of several of treatment methods used by our ancestors and actual nowadays. The report summarizes some of the study results, concluding that the tourism business of Uzbekistan needs to radically rethink existing business models through innovation and digitalization of tourism. Examples of the development of such market segments as agro and eco-tourism are given. This segments are currently beginning to develop and are of interest to tourists. It is mentioned that Uzbekistan is among the top 10 countries in terms of security.

A Sustainable Approach for the Development of Innovative Products from Fruit and Vegetable By-Products

The waste generated by small-scale ultra-fresh juice producers, such as bistros and restaurants, has been little studied so far, mainly because it is unevenly distributed and dissipated in the economic ecosystem and would require high costs associated with transportation and subsequent recovery of bio composites. The present article seeks to offer solutions by providing sustainable methods to reduce their waste losses to a minimum and transform them into valuable products, with affordable equipment and techniques. The study focuses on the preliminary phase of quantitative analysis of fruit and vegetable by-products generated on a small scale, the results showing a mean 55% productivity in fresh juices. Due to the high amount of remnant water content in waste, a new process of mechanically pressing the resulting squeezed pulp was introduced, generating an additional yield in juice, ranging from 3.98 to 51.4%. Due to the rising trend in healthier lifestyle, the by-products were frozen or airdried for conservation in each of the processing stages, and the total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity were analyzed in order to assess the traceability of these bioactive compounds to help maximize their transfer into future final products. The polyphenols transferred into by-products varied between 7 and 23% in pulps and between 6 and 20% in flours. The highest DPPH potential was found in flours, up to three-fold in comparison with the raw material, but the high dry substance content must be accounted for. The results highlight the potential of reusing the processing waste as a reliable source of bioactive compounds.

Prospects of Small Business Development in Russian Distribution Sector in the Context of Development of Communication Technology and Trade and Information Globalisation

The paper outlines research findings concerning the aspects and impact of the global environment for small, micro, individual, and family businesses and the self-employed engaged in the distribution sector. It also explores the potential of the information and communications sector for their online transformation. These findings allow the conclusion that internal and global information and communications resources combined with digital tools help to create conditions for a successful online transformation of small, micro, individual, and family businesses and the self-employed in the distribution sector on single digital platforms. This online transformation would help them avoid a direct competitive fight with major retail chains enjoying meaningful advantages in the online environment. One of the successful directions of online transformation for small, micro, individual, and family businesses and the self-employed in the distribution sector is the C2C market operating on global digital platforms.

Attribute Framework Validation for Wellness Tourism within the Context of Thailand

Background: Research on the theoretical integration of attributes of wellness tourism in the form of the physical, mental, spiritual, and environmental (PMSE) attribute framework and the effect of cultural differences on the framework validation has not been conducted before. Objectives: This study developed and validated the key underlying attributes of the wellness tourism experience framework within the Thailand context. Methods: From reviewing the related literature to identify potential sub attributes under the four dimensions of the PMSE framework, themes were developed using a theory- and prior research-driven method within different cultural contexts. The fitness of the PMSE attribute framework model within the context of Thailand wellness tourism was confirmed through a survey design with a quantitative approach from the generalities of the sample groups. The entire dataset was statistically tested with descriptive statistics and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results and Conclusions: After adjustments, the four-factors with a 28-item model substantiated the data. The results validated that the mental experience dimension accounted for the most variance, with an indicator value of 0.99 in the framework, predicting the effective wellness tourism experience better than the other attributes. Experience design should involve the participation of all stakeholders in the wellness tourism system in terms of managerial contribution. Recommendations for the planning of wellness experiences concerning each four-factor will be investigated in future studies.

Antecedents of tourists’ solo travel intentions

Purpose>This study aims to empirically investigate the antecedents of tourists’ intentions to continue solo traveling.Design/methodology/approach>Drawing on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), an extended model on solo travel intentions is developed that incorporates variables related to past solo travel experiences, namely, tourist satisfaction, pleasure and self-development. An online survey was applied to 187 solo tourists from different countries. Hypotheses were tested with structural equation modeling.Findings>All the variables, except for subjective norms, are significant predictors of tourists’ intentions to continue solo traveling. Results confirm a good explanatory power of the extended TPB model.Research limitations/implications>Caution must be exercised with the results as tourists’ actual solo travel behavior may differ from their intentions. Future research may investigate tourists’ actual behavior by using longitudinal methods and include additional demographic variables as antecedents.Originality/value>This study empirically investigated the antecedents of tourists’ intentions to continue solo traveling – an under-researched topic. Previous research is mostly exploratory and largely focuses on female solo travelers.

The role of socio-psychological and personality antecedents in luxury consumption: a meta-analytic review

Purpose>This paper conducts a meta-analytic review of literature focused on the salient socio-psychological and personality antecedents of luxury purchase intention. It investigates the role of moderators that can assist an effective market segmentation of the luxury market in both emerging and developed economies.Design/methodology/approach>The final analysis includes 95 effect sizes from 42 studies conducted in 15 countries, spanning 5 continents, from 2000 to 2020. The review examined moderating role of Hofstede's cultural dimensions, market type (emerging vs developed) and other study characteristics.Findings>Findings show that socio-psychological antecedents had a more salient role than personality antecedents in driving luxury purchase intention (LPI), across both emerging and developed markets. Normative influence, status consumption and materialism exhibited a stronger influence on LPI in emerging markets than developed markets. Further, stronger effects for normative influence and status consumption on LPI were found in high power distance cultures. The role of seeking uniqueness was more salient and the role of normative influence was less salient in studies with a higher percentage of females. Conspicuous consumption was a stronger driver of LPI for fashion luxury products than other luxury products. The study also proposes distinct definitions of status and conspicuous consumption as there is often theoretical overlap of these constructs in literature.Research limitations/implications>A meta-analytic review may leave blind-spots due to lack of sufficient number of studies investigating certain theoretically relevant moderators. The authors discuss these gaps, along with study limitations.Originality/value>To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous study has conducted a meta-analytic review of the antecedents and moderators of LPI. With the extension of luxury demand beyond the developed countries in the West to the “new rich” consumers in the East, it becomes imperative to conduct a meta-analysis for a richer understanding of the drivers of luxury demand across different cultural orientations and market segmentations.

MANAGING THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF ENTERPRISES IN COOPETITION

Purpose. Formulation of the main conditions for the emergence of cooperatives, study of its features in the perspective of economic security of cooperative enterprises and its inherent specific risks, definition of basic measures to ensure economic security in the cooperative. Methodology. The study used general and special research methods: the method of critical analysis, scientific ion and generalization of scientific experience of modern theoretical research, system-integrated approach. Findings. From many economic factors, the main conditions for the emergence of coopetition are distinguished;its features are identified, which can significantly affect the level of economic security of cooperative enterprises. The existing organizational and legal forms of association of enterprises with different degrees of strength and development of structural and functional relations in the application of coopetition and their classification are studied. Specific risks of economic security of business activity at cooperative are defined. Based on the research, a list and content of the main measures to ensure economic security in the cooperative are formulated. Originality. The given definition of co-operation, in contrast to the existing ones, reveals its security essence as a strategy of coopetition, which allows optimal use of resource potentials of interdependent entities of consolidated management structures with respect to the acceptable level of their economic security. The features and specific risks of coopetition identified in the article in the perspective of economic security of cooperating enterprises allow adjusting the task of increasing the level of their protection, and contribute to the development of a strategy for maximum security of coopetition of interconnected business structures. A methodological approach was further developed to choosing organizational and legal forms of establishing enterprises with different capacity and development of structural and functional links when applying cooperation. Practical value. Theoretical provisions of the study on specific risks and the content of the main measures to ensure economic security can be used in strategic and tactical planning of enterprises in coopetition.

Examining the influences of perceived exclusivity and perceived rarity on consumers' perception of luxury

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate how exclusivity and rarity (natural versus virtual) influence consumers' perceptions of luxury. Further, it examines whether exclusivity and rarity can function as distinct marketing strategies in today's luxury market environment.Design/methodology/approachOnline questionnaires were administered by adapting developed scales from prior research. Research stimuli were chosen from three luxury categories including bags, wine and cruise. Confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regressions were used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results confirmed that exclusivity, natural rarity and virtual rarity were perceived as relatively distinct constructs among our sample. Findings also highlighted that perceived natural rarity (PNR) has consistently emerged as a positive and significant contributor to consumers' perceptions of luxury across all three luxury categories. The influence of perceived exclusivity (PE) on perceptions of luxury has also shown to be significant for two product categories (luxury bag and luxury wine), whereas perceived virtual rarity (PVR) did not show any significant effects across all three categories.Practical implicationsThe results indicate that consumers perceive natural rarity, virtual rarity and exclusivity as relatively distinctive marketing strategies. This suggests that luxury businesses can adopt each strategy independently to achieve desired marketing outcomes.Originality/valueThis study offers theoretical support for the proposition that exclusivity and rarity may have different functions in luxury marketing implementations. It provides empirical evidence showing the distinctiveness of perceived exclusivity and perceived rarity, which have not be done in previous research.

International luxury marketing

Purpose:This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.Design:This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.Findings:The authors outline pivotal changes in luxury marketing including the growing prominence of emerging nations and technology adoption. A systematic review of luxury marketing literature reveals that most research is still centered around developed nations. The field has a relatively low impact and no dominant authors. The research content does not converge with luxury industry trends. This provides an exciting contribution opportunity for academic researchers.Originality:The briefing saves busy executives, strategists, and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format

Landscape of Wearable Technology in India: A Quarterly Peer Reviewed Multi-Disciplinary International Journal

Wearable technology have emerged in the early 2000. Different devices embedded with sensors and analytical algorithms have been innovated, designed and delivered to consumers as unique value preposition to the niche market segment. But the adoption rate has been sluggish in the initial few years of the launch. In the prevailing turbulence of Covid environment worldwide, consumer attitude towards health and physical activities has undergone a lot of change. Moreover, pollution as a common hazard against health, has made people more concerned with the lifestyle, dietary-concern and physical activities. In addition to these concerns, the wide spread use of Information Communication and Technology, number of new digital products have been introduced in the market world wide. Marketers have explored new avenues to create value in the market of wearables, matching with the requirements of health conscious digizen/ netizen segment. Further, through repositioning the current market offerings, marketers can capture and increase the market share. In wearable segment smart watches, initially, launched by Apple as a lifestyle accessory can be made integral part of a healthy lifestyle. This research is aimed to classify product category falling under wearable and quantify market size and the growth trends. Thus, this paper is an attempt to explore the trend and present a complete landscape of these new digital wearable devices. Further, the deterrent to the future potential of these wearables devices deserve attention of the marketers. This paper is an attempt to explore insight about the adoption rate and related marketer activities.

International luxury marketing: Emerging Trends

Purpose:This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.Design:This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.Findings:The authors outline pivotal changes in luxury marketing including the growing prominence of emerging nations and technology adoption. A systematic review of luxury marketing literature reveals that most research is still centered around developed nations. The field has a relatively low impact and no dominant authors. The research content does not converge with luxury industry trends. This provides an exciting contribution opportunity for academic researchers.Originality:The briefing saves busy executives, strategists, and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format