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Over the last decade there has been significant interest in international expansion of emerging market firms (EMFs) due to their distinctive patterns compared with developed market firms (DMFs). In this article, the authors develop an analytical model to generate prescriptive insights for pricing strategies when EMFs enter new foreign markets. Grounded in the international marketing and organizational learning literatures, the model accounts for local and multinational competition, the influence of country-of-origin effects, and the role of organizational learning in foreign markets. The results suggest that when an EMF enters a host market with a local competitor, it could generate higher profits even when charging a lower price than the local competitor. Additionally, the authors find that DMFs enjoy greater profitability than EMFs in foreign markets as a result of positive country-of-origin effects. Finally, the authors propose and validate the use of organizational learning as a process EMFs can use to surmount the negative impact of country-of-origin effects and achieve greater profitability than DMFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundant consumer data has made decision-making more complicated, rather than simple, for marketers. This raises an important question about which variables in the data contain reliable information for retailers to predict future consumer purchase value (CPV) to guide strategic decisions. The authors address this question by exploring the variables "distinctive choice of brand country of origin" (DBCOO) and "country of origin diversity" (COO diversity) as analytical tools to extract insights from consumer purchase data. Building on signaling theory, the authors theorize and empirically test that DBCOO and COO diversity in a consumer's purchase history can signal, and therefore help predict, CPV. Moreover, the authors explore high-involvement product categories and purchase frequency as boundary conditions to develop a comprehensive framework of COO signals as strategic analytical tools. They find that DBCOO in a consumer's purchase history indeed increases CPV and that this relationship is enhanced for high-involvement product categories but moderated curvilinearly by purchase frequency. Moreover, they find that the COO diversity–CPV link is positive but interacts negatively with both moderators. This allows retailers to successfully distinguish high- from low-CPV consumers and thus enables them to manage the marketing mix and resources more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast-growing middle class in emerging markets is leading luxury brands to adopt an affordable luxury (aka "masstige") approach to reach the mass market. However, academic research in this promising area is scarce. Focusing on China, the world's largest emerging market, this research shows a novel pattern of masstige brand consumption: Instead of always preferring foreign masstige brands (e.g., Coach) as implied in previous international marketing literature, consumers in emerging markets prefer domestic masstige brands (e.g., Goldlion) when their personally oriented motives are made salient. In contrast, consumers prefer foreign masstige brands when their socially oriented motives are made salient. This stems from domestic masstige brands better manifesting self-focused intangible attributes (i.e., the actual value to please oneself), whereas foreign masstige brands are superior in other-focused intangible attributes (i.e., the symbolic value to impress others). Three studies using a multimethod approach provide converging results that support this phenomenon. The findings bring significant contributions to the literature and offer actionable implications for managers, including positioning and price promotion strategies for masstige brands in emerging markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to estimate the influence of the modern lifestyle, known also as the Westernized lifestyle, on the eating and food shopping behavior of omnichannel retail consumers in Athens. To collect the required data, this study constructed a questionnaire, which was answered by 130 adults, aged 25–40, who lived in Athens and were omnichannel retail consumers. It was found that the Greek diet has begun to adopt Western characteristics, presenting an increase in the consumption of fast and convenience food. However, the population has not moved dramatically away from the Mediterranean diet, which constitutes their traditional food model. As for Greek shopping behavior, this study indicated the factors that affected consumers when purchasing food products. The findings may help food managers to understand food consumers' behavior and improve their strategies so as to better meet the needs of Greek individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybeans are grown worldwide owing to their protein, oil, and beneficial bioactive compounds. Genetic and environmental factors influence soybean seed isoflavones. In the present study, we profiled the seed isoflavones in world diverse soybean germplasm grown in two locations over two years in China. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed between the accessions, accession origins, seed coat colors, and maturity groups for individual and total isoflavone (TIF) content. TIF content of the soybean accessions ranged from 677.25 μg g−1 to 5823.29 μg g−1, representing an 8-fold difference. USA soybean accessions showed the highest mean TIF content (3263.07 μg g−1), followed by Japan (2521.26 μg g−1). Soybean with black seed coat showed the highest (3236.08 μg g−1) TIF concentration. Furthermore, isoflavone levels were significantly higher in late-maturity groups. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations between individual and TIF content. Malonyldaidzin and malonylgenistin showed higher correlations with TIF content (r = 0.92 and r = 0.94, respectively). The soybean accessions identified as having high and stable TIF content can be utilized in the food and pharmaceutical industries and breeding programs to develop soybean varieties with enhanced isoflavone content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Brand crisis has become an increasingly common phenomenon recently. While corporate social responsibility (CSR) plays a role in mitigating the negative consequences of brand crisis, it is not always effective, especially for foreign companies. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the differential effects of CSR on brand crisis, considering the impact of country of origin and consumer ethnocentrism. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a 2 (country of origins: domestic vs foreign) × 2 (consumer ethnocentrism: high vs low) × 2 (CSR: before vs after related information is presented) between-subjects experiment to simulate a brand crisis. A fictional WeChat Moment posting was used as a stimulus. Data from 210 Chinese respondents were analyzed. Findings: When consumer ethnocentrism is high, the impact of CSR on consumer attitude toward the company undergoing a crisis was greater for domestic than for foreign companies. Conversely, for consumers with low ethnocentrism, the effectiveness of CSR in attenuating the negative impact of the brand crisis (i.e. the insurance-like effect of CSR) was insignificant across domestic and foreign companies. Originality/value: This study extends the prior literature and clarifies the unclear results of previous studies on the effect of CSR on brand crisis by examining the impact of country of origin and consumer ethnocentrism. Novel insights into the insurance-like effect of CSR in brand crises were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilizes multi‐homing theory to assess international travelers' usage of social media platforms, revealing insights into their gender, country of origin, generation cohorts, and travel purposes. These insights can guide the development of effective social media marketing strategies for national destination management organizations (DMOs). Data from South Korea's 2019 International Visitor Survey (with 12,194 participants) was analyzed using chi‐square and correspondence analysis techniques. The results revealed distinctive preferences of international visitors among generational cohorts with different travel purposes across 19 countries in the usage of online travel communities, social network platforms, video‐sharing platforms, and travel blogs. Understanding the dynamics of social media platforms helps national DMOs enhance their social media marketing strategies for international visitors, based on the multi‐sided platform usage paradigm. Nevertheless, acknowledging the study's limitations points towards potential avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on the signaling theory perspective, this study examines the effect of perceived country of origin on brand performance during economic contractions. The authors specify an econometric model linking brand market share to recession periods and analyze the interaction with brand origin perception. They test the model on four years of longitudinal data on consumer packaged goods brands combined with a self-administrated consumer questionnaire to infer consumers' perceptions about brands' origins. The authors find that economic contractions differentially affect brands with different country-of-origin perceptions. The results indicate that the market share of brands that customers most identify as domestic suffers more damage during contractions than brands they perceive as foreign. The main contribution of this article is in generating a better understanding of brands' resistance to economic contractions based on their perceived country of origin. Moreover, the authors provide strategic recommendations to brands based on their origin perception and the country's economic situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research in international markets has yielded two seemly opposing views regarding customer engagement with local/domestic versus foreign-made brands: a preference for foreign brands based largely on country-of-origin effects or a preference for local/domestic brands based primarily on consumer ethnocentrism. In the present research, the authors contextualize the investigation across international markets and propose that, in two national markets with different cultural characteristics, a combination of local and foreign appeals leads to more favorable brand and product evaluations, compared with either local or foreign appeals alone, due to a heightened level of perceived brand globalness, a phenomenon called "the coalescence effect." The authors report results from seven studies conducted in China and the United States and discuss ways to design branding strategies that enhance customer engagement in an era of intensified global competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety is a pressing global concern, particularly in developing and emerging economies. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has further heightened consumer attention towards food safety, quality, and maintaining a healthy diet. This study provides insights into consumer awareness and perceptions related to food safety and the origin of beef products, with a specific focus on the impact of COVID-19. It draws comparisons between emerging economies, specifically Albania and Kosovo, where significant food safety challenges exist, and a highly developed economy, Austria. To assess consumer preferences, a discrete choice experiment was conducted, aiming to gauge the significance of various product attributes and consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for specific product features. The study's findings revealed a strikingly strong sense of consumer patriotism across all surveyed countries. WTP estimates indicated a clear preference for domestically sourced food over imported alternatives. While the COVID-19 pandemic exerted a notable influence, its effects were generally contained. However, respondents from emerging economies perceived the pandemic's impact to be more severe. Additionally, factors such as risk perception and risk acceptance played a role in shaping the importance of relevant product attributes in all the food markets examined in this study. Furthermore, distinct variations emerged between the countries concerning the importance of food safety standards. For instance, in Albania, the European Union (EU) food safety certificate holds higher utility compared to the national certificate, suggesting a potential lack of trust in national agencies. Notably, low trust in institutions, including those related to food safety, is a common issue in emerging and developing economies. This lack of trust, in turn, influences consumers' perceptions of personal food safety, given that it is a credence attribute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nationality is considered a highly relevant determinant of tourism expenditure. In this paper, we use survey data to estimate the main determinants of daily tourism expenditure in 2019 for five nationalities of a major coastal destination, the Canary Islands. A total of 38 regressors, based on literature, are used with the help of quantile regression analysis to understand the behaviour patterns of different expenditure segments. To obtain segmented information on the determinants of expenditure, independent quantile regression models for each nationality are estimated and compared. Results show that there are similarities but also some remarkable differences between nationalities regarding income, age, travel group, educational level, or content of the package that can be used in destination management and marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macro-algae is an umbrella term for seaweed, which is an important ingredient in many novel food products in New Zealand and other Australasian countries. While attitudes, consumption motivation, knowledge, and socio-demographic consumer profiles have been investigated in specific countries in the region, consumer behavior such as willingness to eat and factors driving this behavior have not yet been explored. Therefore, the present study fills this research gap in a New Zealand context and explores predictors of New Zealand consumers' willingness to eat macro-algae and their perceived trust towards the countries of origin of these products. The symbolic value of food, health importance, food safety concerns, and food fussiness were the factors under investigation. The work builds on an online questionnaire and a sample of 437 consumers mirroring the New Zealand population in terms of gender, age, and annual household income. Data were collected through an opt-in panel provider in November 2023. The data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and partial least square structural equation modeling. Results show that health importance and food fussiness tendencies are the strongest predictors of willingness to eat and trustworthiness of the two countries of origin. Best practice recommendations for marketing managers in New Zealand food retail are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the influence of two significant product labelling strategies (geographical indication [GI] vs country-of-origin [COO]) on shaping customer product attitude and purchase likelihood, considering consumers' ethnocentric and cosmopolitan tendencies. The authors also investigate the boundary conditions and intervening mechanisms to manage the adverse consumer product evaluations and present mitigating procedures which reinstate favourable product evaluations and purchase likelihood. Design/methodology/approach: The collected data from these all these studies were analysed using ANOVA and mediation anlaysis. The study tests the proposed hypotheses using three follow-up experimental investigations. Findings: The study found that GI (vs COO) labels have a more significant impact on customers' product evaluation and likelihood of purchase and supported the dispositional effect of ethnocentric and cosmopolitan inclinations. Further, the results indicated that self-product congruence can efficiently regulate consumer dispositions. Also, the results confirmed the significant impact of product identification on influencing consumer attitudes. Practical implications: The above-said insights add practical insights, particularly concerning product labelling. Also, the insights on product attitudes and purchase likelihood intricacies in the context of product labelling enable companies to comprehend better the significance of GI labels, COO labels and self-product congruence. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time a study has compared the role of two significant product labelling strategies (GI vs COO) in shaping customer product evaluations, confirmed its boundary conditions and shown how to transform them into helpful customer product outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on investigating two concepts, namely the country of origin effect and consumer ethnocentrism. The main goal of the article is 1) to investigate the current state of the level of consumer ethnocentrism in the cohort of young Slovaks; 2) to investigate the current state of the perceived preference of Slovaks or of foreign products in the youth cohort; and 3) to investigate the relationship between elements of country of origin effects on food products and the level of consumer ethnocentrism. As part of the methodological procedure, we demonstrate the feasibility and validity of the tool. In the paper, we use several elements of descriptive statistics, based on which we evaluate a primary survey. The results indicate a below-average level of consumer ethnocentrism. We identify preferences in the context of the country of origin. It is also possible to establish a link between the country of origin effect and consumer ethnocentrism, albeit at a lower level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the British government's measures for its civilian subjects stranded as 'enemy aliens' in Japanese-controlled areas in the Far East during World War II. The British government tried to protect the interests of these Far Eastern subjects during the war and in the immediate postwar period. Its manner of dealing with the latter's redress movement from the late 1980s was initially reluctant but eventually became relatively adequate, thanks to the twin pressures of domestic public opinion and precedents set by other former Allied governments and the resolute struggles of the ex–Far Eastern subjects themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the first ratings of international branch campuses (IBCs) by Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), which are further supported by findings in the literature, we investigated students' institution choices and satisfaction, focusing on country of origin and campus environment as possible key influences. The study adopts an inductive qualitative research design involving semi-structured interviews with 53 IBC students in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We found that an IBC's country of origin influences both students' institution choices and students' overall satisfaction with their institution. Although we also found that campus servicescape and facilities impact upon students' institution choices and satisfaction, these were secondary when compared to education-related factors. We conclude that while a favourable campus servicescape may contribute less to overall student satisfaction compared to other factors, a campus environment with poor or inadequate facilities and equipment may result in student dissatisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to propose a typology of Czech consumers with respect to their attitudes toward the country of origin when purchasing beverages. Attention is paid to four commonly purchased beverage categories: beer, wine, tea and coffee. Using the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing method, the total number of fully completed questionnaires obtained was 396. The selection of respondents was determined by gender and age quotas. The measurement of attitudes involved utilizing a set of 22 statements concerning the beverage origin which were evaluated on a five-point scale. As confirmed by the research results, in each beverage category, the country of origin influences consumers' purchasing decisions differently. When purchasing wine, Czech consumers most commonly verify the country from which it originates. The origin is also important to them when it comes to beer, with the strongest preference for beer produced in their own country. The country from which the beverage originates has a considerably lower importance for coffee and is the least important when buying tea. Based on respondents' attitudes toward the country of beverage origin, four consumer segments were identified, namely "Experimenters," "Picky consumers," "Patriots," and "Pro-European consumers." Factor and cluster analysis were used for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to determine the extent to which consumers perceive food-related information to be tied to the intrinsic characteristics of food, particularly safety. Design/methodology/approach: The authors examined Japanese consumers' preferences regarding domestic or foreign perishables, as well as how they interpret origin information, focusing on their perceptions of safety using descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression analysis. Findings: The results indicated that a high proportion of Japanese consumers considered domestic foods to be safer; in particular, people affected by food safety information obtained through personal communication, books and magazines tended to choose domestically produced perishables rather than imported ones. Originality/value: The belief that domestic foods are safer than imported ones was highly universal among Japanese consumers, although this belief is not necessarily grounded in scientific evidence. When considering strategies to improve consumers' information literacy, factors that have fostered this belief must be discussed. For consumers to make logical food choices, both food businesses and consumers require scientific and informational literacy and policy support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to investigate the role of intrinsic and extrinsic cues on consumers' perceptions of product quality, and the moderating role of product knowledge using products that are at different stages of product life cycle. Two survey-based studies were conducted with distinct samples for products (automobiles and smartwatches) in an emerging market. The findings suggest that consumers use more (less) diagnostic extrinsic marketing cues such as country of origin (COO) effects, event sponsorships, and celebrity endorsements to develop perceived quality for automobiles (smartwatches). Furthermore, product knowledge moderates the impact of cues on the perceived quality of products, which further depends on the product life cycle stage. This research brings out significant differences between consumers with differing knowledge levels across a wide range of marketing cues, especially given that first-time buyers have limited exposure to the category before their first purchase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, European soccer leagues have strengthened their internationalization efforts by relocating games abroad. In this context, we empirically investigate the impact of the political relations between the importing and the exporting countries on on-site demand for such games. While there is a rich literature addressing this issue in more general settings, it has never been explored in sports. We use a stated-preference approach and survey data of a representative sample of soccer-interested US residents, which we combine with data from the American Community Survey. The effects are estimated using Tobit regressions and an instrumental variable approach. We find that the willingness-to-pay for admission to relocated games is higher if the country where the competing teams come from is perceived as friendly. We provide preliminary empirical evidence that the political relations between importing and exporting countries may be important for international demand of spectator sports. As such, the public perception about political relations between countries may constitute a crucial component for sport leagues' expansion strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few countries provided multiple COVID-19 vaccines for their citizens right from the start of mass immunization. In Serbia, four vaccines were available. Circumstances in which people had several options to choose from are unique. The purpose of this study was to identify motivators behind COVID-19 vaccination and the choice of COVID-19 vaccine among people who were immunized against COVID-19. Qualitative interviews with 35 vaccinated people aged > 18 years were conducted in May 2021 at the Institute of Public Health of Serbia, a reference institution for vaccination. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Four topics emerged: 1) Decision to receive COVID-19 vaccine; 2) Sources of information about the vaccine; 3) Choice of the COVID-19 vaccine and 4) Anti-vaccination sentiment around the vaccinated people. Participants were classified in two groups: those who were determined to receive the vaccine and those who were hesitant. People who were hesitant decided to receive the vaccine after reviewing the information collected from various sources, especially physicians. Although some participants accepted any vaccine regardless of their characteristics, there were others who had explicit preferences. These preferences stemmed mainly from their beliefs about particular vaccine's efficacy and safety, COVID-19 status (previous infection), living or lifestyle circumstances (residence or travel abroad), doctor's recommendation (underlying health status) or trust in expertise of that particular manufacturer's country of origin. Opting for appropriate vaccine was motivated by reasons specific to various individuals, which enabled them to make choices in line with their preferences and values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the complex relationships that influence consumers' decisions to buy foreign car brands. In order to understand how these three crucial elements together affect customers' choices and preferences, the study focuses on three key variables: brand image, product knowledge, and country of origin (COO). Using a thorough approach that includes surveys and case studies, this study attempts to offer a nuanced understanding of how the origin, consumer product knowledge, and brand image of imported vehicles affect the perceived elegance associated with consumers. The study postulates that customers' decision-making process while choosing an imported car is greatly influenced by the interaction of these elements. This research aims to provide significant insights to the automobile industry as well as academics by examining the relationships and conflicts that exist between COO, product knowledge, and brand image. Marketers, politicians, and industry stakeholders might find the findings useful in fine-tuning tactics to improve the attractiveness and market placement of imported automobile brands. "Imported Elegance" ultimately hopes to illuminate the complex decisions that consumers make in the global car industry, providing useful advice for companies that operate in this fast-paced and cutthroat industry. The method of analysis technique in this study is quantitative research method, sampling conducted with purposive sampling technique from questionnaire result that was shared to 130 respondents who lives in Jakarta, Indonesia and have at least 1 unit of imported car. The results of this study indicates that there are the direct effects of Country of Origin, product knowledge and brand image to purchase decision significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study shows the effect of the value of country of origin and brand image on the purchasing decision of South Korean skincare with halal product knowledge as a moderator variable. Design/methodology/approach: The research method used is descriptive quantitative by analyzing the responses to questionnaires distributed to 212 respondents from all over Indonesia. Based on previous research, four hypotheses were built, and the collected data were processed using a path analysis tool through the SmartPLS 3.3.3 application. Findings: The results showed that the country of origin and brand image variables had a significant effect on the purchasing decision of South Korean skincare with halal product knowledge as a moderator variable. Meanwhile, the halal product knowledge variable does not moderate the influence of country of origin and brand image on South Korean skincare purchasing decisions. This finding confirms that the halal product knowledge factor has not been sufficient to strengthen the influence of country of origin and brand image on South Korean skincare purchasing decisions. Practical implications: To increase knowledge about Muslim halal in South Korea's skincare purchasing decisions, the role of halal assurance institutions and South Korean and Indonesian skincare manufacturers is needed in optimizing halal certification and international agreements related to halal guarantees. In addition, halal cosmetics business actors in Indonesia and Korea must increase halal awareness of the products they sell through brand image and halal product knowledge so that they can convince and encourage Muslim consumers in making decisions to buy South Korean skincare in Indonesia. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to test country of origin and brand image on the decision to purchase South Korean skincare with halal product knowledge as a moderator variable. This study succeeded in revealing the strengths and weaknesses of the value of country of origin and brand image in influencing the purchasing decisions of South Korean skincare in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Religious tendencies have increased in post-Arab Spring countries, raising the question of whether this geopolitical event has affected consumers' orientations towards foreign products, including those that have positive country-of-origin image. This paper investigates the effect of Islamic religiosity on the relationship between consumer ethnocentrism and buying intention towards products from a developed country (France) in an Arab Spring country (Tunisia). Design/methodology/approach: A survey questionnaire was lunched and data was collected from 492 Tunisian consumers living in both rural and urban areas. Research hypotheses were tested using a Partial Least Square- Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) method. Findings: Tunisian consumers do not associate their ethnocentric feelings towards French products with their Islamic religiosity. Results show that both highly and moderately religious Tunisians trust French products because of their high country-of-origin image and their potential social connotations. Originality/value: The results of this paper contribute to the literature that focuses on understanding consumption behaviours in developing countries in the aftermath of geopolitical events such as the Arab Spring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geotagged social media data have been used widely for visitor monitoring in protected areas. The data might, however, over or underestimate visitors from specific countries due to nationality bias, i.e., differences between nationality of actual visitors versus those visitors who post on social media. This study aimed to quantify nationality bias in social media data for visitor monitoring. We conducted a questionnaire survey in Nikko National Park, Japan. Questions covered the nationality of visitors and their usage of social media, and other visitor attributes and behavior. Foreign visitors had significantly different attributes and behaviors compared to Japanese. Non-Japanese Asian visitors were overrepresented in Instagram and Facebook data. In comparison, the X platform was more representative of all visitors. Nationality bias in different platforms needs more attention and further study in different areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hispanics of Mexican descent have disproportionate rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The purpose of this work is to investigate the association between the traditional Mexican diet score (tMexS) and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, two NAFLD-related clinical endpoints, in Hispanic adults of Mexican descent. Data from 280 Hispanic adults of Mexican descent (n = 102 men, 178 women) with overweight or obesity enrolled in a cross-sectional observational study were analyzed. The tMexS was calculated from 24 h dietary recalls. Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis measurements were assessed using transient elastography (Fibroscan®). Linear regression models testing the association between tMexS and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were run individually and through the stratification of significant modifiers. Mean tMexS were 5.9 ± 2.1, hepatic steatosis scores were 288.9 ± 48.9 dB/m, and fibrosis scores were 5.6 ± 2.2 kPa. Among the US-born group, with every point increase in the tMexS, there was a statistically significant 5.7 lower hepatic steatosis point (95% CI: −10.9, −0.6, p-value = 0.07). Higher adherence to a traditional Mexican diet was associated with lower hepatic steatosis in US-born Hispanics of Mexican descent. Findings from the current work may serve to inform future culturally relevant interventions for NAFLD prevention and management in individuals of Mexican descent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union has become a new ideal destination for Vietnamese migrant workers in recent years, but with this comes challenges in integrating into the labour market and society of host countries. Integrating third-country migrant workers has been a top priority in the EU's policies for many years, and the role of the country of origin in the integration process of migrant workers is also increasingly being recognized. This article focuses on the role of the country of origin and analyses Vietnam's current policies to see whether they support the integration process of Vietnamese migrant workers into the EU. Based on the evaluation, recommendations are made to strengthen Vietnam's legal mechanisms to enhance the effectiveness of the integration process for Vietnamese migrant workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The favourable perception of Ukraine, bolstered by global support during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, has profoundly influenced the country's national brand. This has increased receptiveness towards Ukrainian products, particularly in Europe and North America. These perceptual shifts have yielded notable ramifications for Ukraine's export patterns and trade dynamics. This article investigates the relationship between the positive perception of Ukraine, the "Made in Ukraine" concept, and the consumption of Ukrainian goods. It specifically emphasises the impact of the country of origin on consumer perceptions and decision-making processes. By examining these factors, the study endeavours to enrich the comprehension of consumer preferences while furnishing practical insights relevant to Ukrainian brands engaged in international markets. The research findings contribute to the existing literature on a nation's image, national branding, and consumer behaviour. Furthermore, they offer invaluable guidance for Ukrainian enterprises seeking to leverage their national brand and promote "Made in Ukraine" products globally. Method: The research methodology encompasses a two-stage approach that includes desk research and a survey to investigate the external environmental factors and comprehend German residents' attitudes and purchasing behaviour regarding Ukrainian pharmaceutical products. The formulated research questions aim to reveal the drivers behind product choices and perceptions of Ukraine as a nation. Several factors, including the established Ukrainian pharmaceutical industry, the potential for increased support and investment, geopolitical dynamics, the demand within the German healthcare system, and future growth opportunities, underpin the German market selection as this study's focal point. Results and Conclusions: The desk research analysis has identified numerous market opportunities available to Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturers in the German market. These opportunities encompass leveraging the COVID-19 crisis, addressing medicine shortages, and strategically targeting specific demographic segments. The survey analysis, on the other hand, sheds light on the motivations and attitudes of Germans toward Ukrainian pharmaceutical products. It highlights the significance of doctors' prescriptions and pharmacists' influential recommendations. The survey indicates a strong willingness among Germans to support Ukraine by purchasing its pharmaceutical offerings. To harness Ukraine's positive perception in the German market, Ukrainian manufacturers should proactively implement communication strategies and cultivate robust relationships with healthcare professionals. They should focus on augmenting their product portfolio and optimising supply chain efficiency while raising awareness and collaborating with pertinent stakeholders. Ultimately, this study underscores the potential for Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturers to leverage the favourable perception of Ukraine within the German market, offering invaluable for successful market entry and sustainable growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The intent of displaying country of origin (COO) detail on food packaging is to inform consumers' purchase decisions. Of interest is whether how the COO information is displayed is important to consumers. This study examines the importance of attributes associated with the visibility of COO labelling in the context of packaged fresh meat. Design/methodology/approach: Best–worst Scaling (BWS) is used to investigate consumers' preferences for label attributes. Treatments involved two countries (New Zealand and Australia), four font sizes and two placement positionings of COO information on the packaging. Findings: First, the study indicated consumers' preference for domestic than imported meat. This finding supports the intent of COO labelling, which is to inform product selection. Second, the authors ascertained that how COO information is displayed in terms of visibility is important also. Consumers indicated a preference for larger than smaller font size. However, where the COO detail is located on the packaging is of less importance. Originality/value: While regulations increasingly apply to provision of COO labelling of fresh foods, surprisingly little research has considered consumers' preferences for labelling practice. The study's findings have implications for public policy decisions and contribute guidelines for retail practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the value of provenance representations in the marketing and promotion of craft beers, which have seen an increase in sales in recent years. A cross-comparative analysis of qualitative data from the labels of 118 craft beers in Wales (UK) and 124 in Brittany (France) identifies an abundant use of cultural representations, especially language, symbols and folklore. Findings point to the value of craft brewing in supporting local economies through social terroir, and consumers' connections to place, which promote social and economic sustainability, and could be harnessed through marketing strategies to stimulate local beer tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article represents a comprehensive and insightful study aiming to unravel the intricate dynamics of foreign tourism within Romania. This research delves into various key aspects, employing a geostatistical approach to offer a nuanced understanding of the spatial and temporal dimensions of foreign tourist flows. One of the primary inquiries addressed by the study revolves around the quantitative assessment of foreign tourists visiting Romania. By meticulously analyzing arrival data, the research seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the sheer number of foreign visitors the country attracts. This quantitative dimension is crucial for assessing the overall impact of tourism on the national economy and informing strategic decisions in the tourism sector. Moving beyond mere numbers, the study ventures into the temporal aspect of foreign tourism in Romania. By scrutinizing patterns over time, researchers aim to answer the question of when foreign tourists predominantly choose to visit the country. Understanding the temporal preferences of tourists is invaluable for both businesses and policymakers, enabling them to optimize resource allocation, marketing efforts, and infrastructure management during peak tourism seasons. Furthermore, the research explores the destinations chosen by foreign tourists within Romania. The geostatistical analysis differentiates arrivals based on specific tourist destinations and counties, shedding light on the preferences of international visitors. This information is pivotal for local authorities, businesses, and stakeholders, offering insights into which regions benefit the most from foreign tourism, thus facilitating targeted development strategies and resource allocation. In addition to destination preferences, the study investigates the accommodation choices made by foreign tourists. Through geostatistical analysis, the research categorizes accommodation preferences based on various criteria, including types of accommodation units and comfort categories. This information proves invaluable for the hospitality industry, guiding investments, and helping businesses tailor their offerings to meet the diverse needs of international visit ors. The temporal aspect of foreign tourists' stays in Romania is another focal point of the study. By examining the duration of visits, researchers aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of how long foreign tourists typically stay in the country. This data is instrumental in shaping tourism policies, influencing marketing strategies, and optimizing servic es to enhance the overall tourist experience. Beyond the borders of Romania, the study investigates the means of transportation foreign tourist s employ to reach the country. By understanding the modes of transportation preferred by international visitors, Romania can improve its infrastructure and connectivity, ensuring a seamless and positive experience for tourists from various origins. Lastly, the research explores the geographical origins of foreign tourists who visit Romania. This analysis not only pro vides insights into the diverse cultural backgrounds of visitors but also aids in crafting targeted marketing campaigns to attract specific international markets. The article goes beyond a mere exploration of tourist numbers. It offers a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the spatial and temporal dimensions of foreign tourism, providing valuable insights for policymakers, businesses, and stakeholders. This geostatistical approach not only enriches our understanding of the complex dynamics of foreign tourist flows but also lays the foundation for strategic and sustainable tourism development in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores consumer ethnocentrism, consumer knowledge of countries of origin of automobiles, and the relationship between these and consumers' preferences and purchases of vehicles. Consumer ethnocentrism varies significantly within the U.S. population, resulting in groups that are not ethnocentric, moderately ethnocentric, and highly ethnocentric. While ethnocentrism is a significant factor in perceptions, attitudes, and purchase intentions, consumers have limited knowledge of where vehicles are made. Consumers rely primarily on country of brand rather than country of origin, and their attitudes and purchases reflect those brand perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An individual possesses multiple social identities, and different identities are temporarily salient at different points in time. A particular social identity, such as national identity (NI), may have little or no impact on consumer response unless that identity is activated. This study explores how NI activated through different contexts of international sporting events and associated group-based emotions (happiness vs. anger) would exert differential influence on consumers' responses to patriotic ads. Further, this study proposes that this effect would vary depending on the corporate origin of the brand, which refers to whether the advertised brand is domestic or foreign. Findings show that (1) while both happiness and anger improve consumer responses to patriotic ads, such an effect is significantly stronger in the happiness-eliciting context, and (2) while NI activation in the happiness-eliciting context has an effect on increasing consumers' responses to patriotic ads regardless of the corporate origin of the brands, the effect of activating NI is greater for a domestic (vs. foreign) brand in the anger-eliciting context. This study contributes to extending previous findings by applying two important variables—contexts of activating NI that elicit specific group-based emotions and a corporate origin of the brand—that influence consumer response to a patriotic ad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics (2097-2806) is the property of China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The rise in the world's demand for fish is increasingly met by aquaculture. However, this sector still shows various criticalities in terms of sustainability of practices, first and foremost, that of feed availability. Nowadays, the use of insect meal represents one of the potential sustainable solutions, but consumption intention of fish fed with insect meal and the factors affecting it have not yet been adequately understood. This study investigates 318 Italian consumers' intentions to buy fish fed with insect meal using an extended version of the Theory of Planned Behavior, including consumers' moral attitude and sustainability consciousness as additional constructs. The results of structural equation models show that consumers' high sustainability consciousness (6.16 on a scale from 1 to 7) does not influence their consumption intention of this product. Also, the two moderating variables involved in the model, i.e., the country of origin and price sensitivity, do not significantly affect consumers' intentions. Since the analysis demonstrates that, for consumers, insect meal-fed fish conforms to their moral principles and a significant positive attitude toward this practice it could be argued that fish fed with insect meal can match the demand from consumers who feel responsible for their consumer behavior. Although the limited area of investigations and the high education of interviewed do not allow for generalizing of the results, this paper provides pivotal food for thought for companies, policymakers, and academics responding to previous research calls on understanding the role of some constructs of consumption intention and highlighting the levers on which to act to foster the consumption intention of insect-fed fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the question of the resources that consumers rely on when faced with products that communicate very little. When consumers purchase items from Christian abbeys, this question is particularly significant given that these organizations, while sharing a common history, are spatially dispersed. Through qualitative interviews with purchasers of monastic products, our research confirms the contagion process from products' origin to consumers, and proposes the new concept of World of Origin (WOO), a cloud-like representation serving as an extrinsic source of meaning and acting as a substitute for strong brand narratives. Distinct from Country of Origin, terroir, brand aura, and heritage, WOO is an addition to the marketing conceptual toolbox, facilitating a thinner grain analysis of consumption phenomena. The contagious power of WOO enriches the research on the context's influence and enables a discussion of the consequences of consumers themselves creating embellished or even false inventions of the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the research of consumer nationalism by examining the meaning of corporate country-of-origin as a product of communication, rather than individual perception. The paper focuses in particular on the Japanese electronic and auto companies in China. Using frame analysis to analyze data from the Chinese social media platform of Weibo, it identifies four overall frames from the interaction among the Chinese government, the companies, and the public. The coexisting frames of Foe, Friend, Power, and Reason simultaneously shape the meaning of Japanese-ness, which affords practical implications to corporations' management of their perceived nationality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese government has recently introduced an updated beef quality-grade system. We implemented a shelf-simulation choice experiment and estimated random parameter logit models with error components to analyse Chinese consumer willingness to pay for domestic and imported beef flank labelled with the new quality grades and other relevant beef labels. Results indicated that Chinese consumers were willing to pay more for Premium quality domestic beef compared to ungraded beef, while Regular quality beef was discounted by consumers, particularly for imported beef. The results suggest that foreign beef producers could compete more closely with domestic beef if it was labelled as Premium quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to explain the factors associated with receiving a specific brand of COVID-19 vaccine within the framework of the theory of reasoned action (TRA). This study extends the TRA with the country-of-origin image (COI), brand image and electronic word of mouth variables. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on a cross-sectional survey conducted among 460 people who received the Sinofarm vaccine. Participants were selected using an online convenience sampling method. The structural equation modeling technique tests the proposed hypotheses. Findings: The results showed that the essential factor associated with the intent to get the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine is the attitude toward the Signopharm vaccine. Also, word of mouth, subjective norms and brand image are the most critical factors that play a role in forming a favorable attitude toward the Sinopharm vaccine. Finally, the country-of-origin image does not affect attitudes toward the Sinopharm vaccine. Originality/value: The area of vaccine marketing has been given limited attention in academic literature. This study addresses this area with little research and is greatly attractive to many brands targeting the consumer market. The study results can form a foundation for creating the branding strategy for this product category and assessing its demand in various markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central European Agriculture is the property of Journal of Central European Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Country-of-origin (COO) research cites the influence of country-level actions on consumers' attitudes but does not specify how such actions might influence the COO image, particularly in a climate change context. However, various countries adopt different climate change actions, with notable potential implications for products associated with the nations' images; therefore, it is vital to understand the relationship between climate change actions and consumers' attitudes toward their country. This study, which solicits responses from 1,389 consumers in France, Morocco, and the United States, investigates whether and how climate change actions influence each COO image and consumers' attitudes toward it, which vary with consumers' level of climate change concern. Such climate change actions also exert distinct effects that are moderated by the cultural context. Therefore, this study extends the COO literature to a climate change context and provides relevant implications for policy makers and marketing managers aiming to improve their COO image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to test and analyze the influence of country of origin, brand awareness, and perceived price on the purchase decision of MCB CHINT products with perceived quality as a mediation variable. The data used in this study are the results of questionnaires distributed directly in March - April 2023. Sampling is done through the purposive sampling method, where researchers have set several criteria. There were 149 respondents in this study. This research analysis method uses PLS-SEM with the help of SMART PLS. Perceived Quality mediates the influence of Country of Origin on Purchase Decisions partially (Partial Mediation). Perceived Quality does not mediate the influence of Brand Awareness on Purchase Decision (No Mediation) Perceived Quality fully mediates the influence of Perceived Price on Purchase Decision (Full Mediation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]