Author: editor

Economic Cycles and Employment Growth in the WAEMU Zone: An Analysis Using a Non-Linear ARDL Panel Model

Economic Cycles and Employment Growth in the WAEMU Zone: An Analysis Using a Non-Linear ARDL Panel Model

Article Information
Journal: Business and Economics Research Journal
Title of Article: Economic Cycles and Employment Growth in the WAEMU Zone: An Analysis Using a Non-Linear ARDL Panel Model
Author(s): Vassy Pierre Sangare, Wadjamsse Baudelaire Djezou, Caroline Ble
Volume: 15
Number: 1
Year: 2024
Page: 1-18
ISSN: 2619-9491
DOI Number: 10.20409/berj.2024.431
Abstract
The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) is facing frequent and diverse crises that are affecting economic stability and employment opportunities in the region. It is important to analyze the impact of economic cycles on employment, as the response of employment supply differs during economic growth and contraction. This article uses a lagged non-linear auto-regressive model (NARDL) on panel data from 1990 to 2022, along with various filters, to examine the relationship between employment and business cycles. The study found that there is an asymmetric relationship between economic growth and employment, with the impact of economic recessions being stronger on long-term employment than on short-term employment. The study suggests that countries have not fully utilized their economic potential to benefit employment. To achieve sustainable economic growth and reduce the proliferation of the informal sector, economies should focus their efforts on translating their potential into action.

Keywords: Economic Cycles, Economic Growth, Employment, NARDL Model, WAEMU

JEL Classification: C23, E24, J21, O55

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Creative Message Strategies Used in the Digital Advertisements: A Content Analysis in the Context of the Six-Segment Message Strategy Wheel

Creative Message Strategies Used in the Digital Advertisements: A Content Analysis in the Context of the Six-Segment Message Strategy Wheel

Article Information
Journal: Business and Economics Research Journal
Title of Article: Creative Message Strategies Used in the Digital Advertisements: A Content Analysis in the Context of the Six-Segment Message Strategy Wheel
Author(s): Selin Köksal Araç
Volume: 14
Number: 4
Year: 2023
Page: 541-556
ISSN: 2619-9491
DOI Number: 10.20409/berj.2023.430
Abstract
The most popular advertisements listed on YouTube Ads Leaderboard Turkey between 2017 and 2022 were examined through content analysis in this study. Advertising contents that attract the most attention by consumers were analyzed based on the “six-segment message strategy wheel”. The digital advertisements were examined within the framework of informative message strategies that are (1) rational, (2) acute, (3) routine and within the framework of transformational message strategies that are (4) sensory, (5) social, and (6) ego. Research findings show that rational, social, sensory, and ego sub-strategies are mainly used in most popular digital advertisements and brands give weight to the transformational strategy as the main creative message strategy. One of the most distinctive features of the most watched digital advertisements is the effective use of music. Rhythmic elements that are compatible with the creative message strategy and that attract the attention of the target audience come to the fore in popular digital advertisements. Research findings are important in terms of defining the basic features of changing advertising and determining the trends in digital advertisements that consumers are most interested in.

Keywords: Digital Advertisement, YouTube Ads, Six Segment Message Strategy Wheel, Creative Message Strategy, Content Analysis

JEL Classification: M31, M37

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Moderating Effect of Flexible Work Arrangements on The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Innovative Work Behavior: Evidence from The Logistic Sector

Moderating Effect of Flexible Work Arrangements on The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Innovative Work Behavior: Evidence from The Logistic Sector

Article Information
Journal: Business and Economics Research Journal
Title of Article: Moderating Effect of Flexible Work Arrangements on The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Innovative Work Behavior: Evidence from The Logistic Sector
Author(s): Handan Akkaş
Volume: 14
Number: 4
Year: 2023
Page: 525-540
ISSN: 2619-9491
DOI Number: 10.20409/berj.2023.429
Abstract
This study examines the moderating effect of flexible work arrangements on the relationship between self-efficacy and innovative work behavior. Data were collected from 202 logistics employees working in Ankara, Türkiye. SPSS process macro plugin was used to test the moderation effect. The theoretical basis of the study was analyzed within the framework of Conservation of Resources (Hobfoll, 1989), Social Cognition Theory (Bandura, 1986), and Job-Demand Resources models (Bakker & Demerouti, 2007). Within the scope of the study, the perception of flexible working was examined in two sub-dimensions as time and structure flexibility perception. The results revealed that an increase in both structure and time flexibility perception dimensions increased the strength of the relationship between self-efficacy and innovative work behavior. The study is important because it is one of the few studies that examine logistics employees despite their significant contribution to the global economy. Understanding the behaviors of sector employees is of great importance in terms of optimizing operational efficiency and improving overall performance in the sector.

Keywords: Flexible Work Arrangements, Innovative Work Behavior, Self-Efficacy

JEL Classification: M10, L20, J24

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3D Printer Technology Selection in Rapid Prototyping: A Spherical Fuzzy AHP Approach

3D Printer Technology Selection in Rapid Prototyping: A Spherical Fuzzy AHP Approach

Article Information
Journal: Business and Economics Research Journal
Title of Article: 3D Printer Technology Selection in Rapid Prototyping: A Spherical Fuzzy AHP Approach
Author(s): Damla Çevik Aka
Volume: 14
Number: 4
Year: 2023
Page: 503-523
ISSN: 2619-9491
DOI Number: 10.20409/berj.2023.428
Abstract
The aim of this study is to make the best technology decision for an enterprise in the automotive sector that plans to purchase a 3D printer for the purpose of obtaining rapid product prototypes. The study includes seven criteria as accuracy, complex design, surface quality, ease of use, throughput, material cost, and equipment cost, and three alternative technologies as fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser sintering (SLS), and stereolithography (SLA). The weighting of the criteria has been carried out by three experts in the product development department, and the evaluation of alternatives has been carried out by a team of 3D printer manufacturers. The spherical fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (SF-AHP) method is applied in the study. It’s considered important for making the right technology decision in product development processes since this study seeks a solution to a real problem. As a result of the study, while the accuracy criterion is the highest priority, the ease of use of the selected printer is the least priority criterion. On the other hand, SLA 3D printer technology has been seen as the most ideal technology in terms of many criteria for prototyping automotive plastic material parts.

Keywords: 3D Printer, Additive Manufacturing, Rapid Prototyping, Product Prototyping, Spherical Fuzzy AHP

JEL Classification: L62, M11, O32

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Evaluation of the Corporate Sustainability Performance of Manufacturing Companies in the BIST Sustainability Index with Multi-Criteria Decision Making Methods

Evaluation of the Corporate Sustainability Performance of Manufacturing Companies in the BIST Sustainability Index with Multi-Criteria Decision Making Methods

Article Information
Journal: Business and Economics Research Journal
Title of Article: Evaluation of the Corporate Sustainability Performance of Manufacturing Companies in the BIST Sustainability Index with Multi-Criteria Decision Making Methods
Author(s): Şerife Uğuz Arsu, Talip Arsu
Volume: 14
Number: 4
Year: 2023
Page: 479-501
ISSN: 2619-9491
DOI Number: 10.20409/berj.2023.427
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the corporate sustainability performance of manufacturing companies listed in the Borsa Istanbul (BIST) Sustainability Index using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. For this purpose, by examining the literature, 11 criteria, including economic, social, and environmental, were determined and the criteria were weighted with method based on the removal effects of criteria (MEREC), one of the objective MCDM methods. According to the weights obtained through the MEREC method, the most important criteria were “return on equity”, “operating profitability”, and “asset profitability”, while the least important criteria were “employee turnover rate”, “training hours per employee” and “proportion of female employees”. Subsequently, using the weights derived from the MEREC method, the companies were ranked using the CoCoSo (Combined Compromise Solution) method. According to the rankings, the companies demonstrating the highest corporate sustainability performance are Türk Traktor, Ford, Tofaş, and Otokar, while the companies with the lowest corporate sustainability performance are Kerevitaş, Coca-Cola, Petkim, and Tüpraş, respectively. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to test the consistency of the results obtained. Although these results contribute to the literature, in subsequent studies, MEREC and CoCoSo methods can be used to measure different performance criteria of companies. The fact remains that corporate sustainability performances of companies can be measured by using combinations of different MCDM methods.

Keywords: Corporate Sustainability, BIST Sustainability Index, Corporate Sustainability Performance, MEREC, CoCoSo

JEL Classification: Q56, C44, L60

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Immigrants, Foreign Workers and Bilateral Trade: Evidence from Türkiye

Immigrants, Foreign Workers and Bilateral Trade: Evidence from Türkiye

Article Information
Journal: Business and Economics Research Journal
Title of Article: Immigrants, Foreign Workers and Bilateral Trade: Evidence from Türkiye
Author(s): Ömer Tarık Gençosmanoğlu
Volume: 14
Number: 4
Year: 2023
Page: 465-477
ISSN: 2619-9491
DOI Number: 10.20409/berj.2023.426
Abstract
This study scrutinizes distinctively the impact of immigrants and foreign workers on Türkiye’s bilateral trade with their countries of origin. For this purpose, we use data related to the total migration stock of the country and the foreign workers in Turkish firms from 2015 to 2021. Poisson Pseudo Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimation results indicate a positive association between migration and trade in Türkiye in line with previous studies. The results show that a 10% growth in the immigrant stock from a country contributes to Türkiye’s exports to that country by 1.8% and imports from that country by 1.4%. These effects are 1.6% and 2.4%, respectively, in the case of foreign workers per se. The findings partially confirm that the trade facilitating effects of foreign workers, which are assumed to be more qualified than the average in terms of education, skill, and experience, are larger than all immigrants. To put it differently, immigrants generally improve Türkiye’s exports more than skilled immigrants who increase its imports less than immigrants overall.

Keywords: Immigrants, Trade, Foreign Workers

JEL Classification: F14, F16, F22, J61

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Drivers of Popularity of Online Information: Content, Context and Psychological Processes

Drivers of Popularity of Online Information: Content, Context and Psychological Processes

Article Information
Journal: Business and Economics Research Journal
Title of Article: Drivers of Popularity of Online Information: Content, Context and Psychological Processes
Author(s): M. Utku Özmen, M. Eray Yücel
Volume: 14
Number: 4
Year: 2023
Page: 445-464
ISSN: 2619-9491
DOI Number: 10.20409/berj.2023.425
Abstract
This paper aims to study how people utilize (search for, choose, process, and evaluate) information provided on online domains, emphasizing the balance between context identifiers and the actual content of information and the psychological processes. The study assesses the popularity of online provided materials, TED Talks, in relation to the length of information, user ratings, and several content-related features. The paper employs a comprehensive naturalistic data set that covers the titles, duration, viewer-assigned ratings/tags, transcripts, various content identifiers, and popularity (number of views) of 2685 TED Talks. The results reveal the relevance of both content and context-related factors, as well as psychological processes, on the popularity of the talks. On the context side, using certain words in the title and the text, optimizing the talk pace and the length of the talk; on the content side, carefully incorporating rhetorical features are major factors that influence the popularity of the talks. On the psychological processes front, the popularity of talks is associated with positive emotions and anxiety among affective processes, and insight and tentativeness among cognitive processes.

Keywords: TED Talks, Online viewing behavior, Popularity, Content and context, Psychological processes, LIWC, Economics of online information

JEL Classification: D91, L86

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Color Selection in Brand Management: Color Clustering Model

Color Selection in Brand Management: Color Clustering Model

Article Information
Journal: Business and Economics Research Journal
Title of Article: Color Selection in Brand Management: Color Clustering Model
Author(s): Doğuş Yüksel
Volume: 14
Number: 3
Year: 2023
Page: 433-444
ISSN: 2619-9491
DOI Number: 10.20409/berj.2023.424
Abstract
Color choice is crucial in branding. Starting with logo design, brands use a consistent color theme across all corporate identity and marketing materials. This applies both to newly established brands and their repositioning processes. Consumers are constantly exposed to the visual elements of brands through traditional and digital media channels. Herein, consumers have a color perception developed towards brands, products, and sectors. Today’s technology makes it possible to determine the colors that consumers are most exposed to in a particular subject. Determining those colors has a role in influencing the color decision in the branding process. To this end, the research aims to present a model proposal for color selection in brand management. The model presented is explained with a case analysis. In the analysis, a database was created for the banking sector, the obtained images were analyzed using the “k-means” clustering method, and the five most commonly used colors in the banking sector were identified. This study is one of the first in Turkish literature to systematically present outcomes regarding brand color selection and propose a color selection model.

Keywords: Color, Brand Management, Marketing Communication, Sensory Marketing, Color Clustering Model

JEL Classification: M30, M31, M37

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The Effect of Ethnocentric Consumer Behaviors on Brand Evangelism, Brand Loyalty and Brand Commitment about Domestic and National Brands

The Effect of Ethnocentric Consumer Behaviors on Brand Evangelism, Brand Loyalty and Brand Commitment about Domestic and National Brands

Article Information
Journal: Business and Economics Research Journal
Title of Article: The Effect of Ethnocentric Consumer Behaviors on Brand Evangelism, Brand Loyalty and Brand Commitment about Domestic and National Brands
Author(s): Bora Göktaş
Volume: 14
Number: 3
Year: 2023
Page: 409-432
ISSN: 2619-9491
DOI Number: 10.20409/berj.2023.423
Abstract
Domestic and national brands are issues that have come to the fore in Turkey recently; therefore, consumers often encounter this concept. This study aims to examine the attitudes of ethnocentric consumers towards domestic and national brands, their levels of commitment, loyalty, or evangelistic tendencies, and the effects of consumer ethnocentrism on brand commitment, brand loyalty, and brand evangelism. When the literature is reviewed, it is determined that the number of studies testing the effect of consumer ethnocentrism on brand loyalty, brand commitment, and brand evangelism together with all of its subjects is quite limited, and it seems that not enough research has been done. In this study, using the convenience sampling method, data were collected from 654 participants with the online survey technique, and regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. According to the research findings, it was concluded that consumer ethnocentrism has a significant and positive linear effect on brand commitment, brand loyalty, and brand evangelism. In addition, for participants with ethnocentric tendencies, it was seen that attitudes towards the elements of “positive brand referrals” of brand evangelism, “cognitive loyalty” of brand loyalty, and “affective commitment” of brand commitment were higher.

Keywords: Consumer Ethnocentrism, Brand Evangelism, Brand Loyalty, Brand Commitment, Consumer Attitudes

JEL Classification: M30, M31, M38

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Examination of the Existence of Month of the Year, Day Effect of the Week, and Seasonal Anomalies in Gold Futures Contracts: The Case of Turkey

Examination of the Existence of Month of the Year, Day Effect of the Week, and Seasonal Anomalies in Gold Futures Contracts: The Case of Turkey

Article Information
Journal: Business and Economics Research Journal
Title of Article: Examination of the Existence of Month of the Year, Day Effect of the Week, and Seasonal Anomalies in Gold Futures Contracts: The Case of Turkey
Author(s): Yasemin Karataş Elçiçek
Volume: 14
Number: 3
Year: 2023
Page: 369-387
ISSN: 2619-9491
DOI Number: 10.20409/berj.2023.422
Abstract
This study aims to examine the existence of the month of the year effect, the day of the week effect, and seasonal anomalies in the return of gold futures contracts traded in the Borsa Istanbul Derivatives Market (BIST-VIOP) in the period of 02.09.2013 – 30.11.2022 through the Autoregressive Moving Average Models (ARMA)(2,2) and Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedastic (GARCH)(1,1) model. According to the results, positive returns were found on other days except Thursday from the model examining the relationship between the gold futures contract and the day of the week effect, positive returns were found in January and March from the model results examining the relationship between the gold futures contract and the month of the year effect, and positive as well as statistically significant returns were found in other seasons except for summer from the model examining the relationship between the gold futures contract and seasonal anomalies.

Keywords: Gold Futures Contract, Anomaly, Seasonal Effect, Month of the Year Effect, Day of the Week Effect

JEL Classification: C13, G14, G40

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