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Explore the effects of competition policy on an important competitive dimension of digital platforms, namely quality.

The deterrence effect of competition policy should induce firms to compete on merits, with lower prices and higher quality for consumers. Deterrence, or the inducement not to infringe competition law, may depend on the harshness of penalties and/or the likelihood of conviction. We use competition policy indicators that are associated with these deterrence dimensions, allowing for non-linearities and interactions of the indicators. We use a unique data survey of digital gig platform users, that covers at least two dozen platforms and more than 50 countries. Quality is measured using multidimensional indicators of the level of satisfaction of platform users with different platform services. We control for platform user and country characteristics, including other regulatory indicators such as labor laws, to recover different effects.

Results suggest that competition policy is relevant for differences in product quality across platforms and countries. Important non-linearities are uncovered, where substantive rules of competition policy interact with competition authority power. The effects depend on either level of the indicators, suggesting that deterrence effects depend upon a combination of both law in the books and competition policy practice.

The estimates suggest a need to balance both dimension of deterrence, namely, strictness and effectiveness to expand the effects of competition policy on competition.

This is the first paper that explores the effect of competition policy on non-price or non-margin competition dimension. It is the first to study the effect on a sample of digital platforms. It contributes to the literature of deterrence effects of competition policy.

This study aims to examine how dynamic pricing impacts customer perceptions of restaurants and sentiment toward prices via online reputation metrics. In addition, to deepen the debate on dynamic pricing, a novel definition is drawn by exploring the specific forms of discrimination that can manifest in different industries.

Leveraging a comprehensive data set of restaurant reviews sourced from TripAdvisor, the study focuses on restaurants affiliated with one of the largest groups of restaurants in Spain. We used a quasi-experimental method (difference-in-differences), to study how dynamic pricing strategies influence customers’ perceptions of value based on numerical ratings. Meanwhile, we used a Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers model on the textual component of reviews to dissect the emotional nuances of dynamic pricing.

Results did not reveal a causal impact of dynamic pricing strategies on customers’ perceptions. Moreover, the sentiment analysis shows no heightened negative view after introducing dynamic pricing in restaurants compared to the control group. Contrary to what previous literature suggests, our findings indicate that implementing dynamic pricing does not adversely affect customers’ perceptions or sentiments regarding prices in restaurants.

The quasi-experimental setting of the study presents inherent challenges in establishing causality that require further investigation using controlled experimental settings. Nevertheless, our study reveals that restaurant customers do not perceive dynamic pricing as unfair. This finding is critical for restaurant managers when considering the implementation of dynamic pricing and revenue management strategies. In addition, our study highlights the importance of considering not only numerical ratings but customer sentiment analysis as well. This more holistic approach to assessing the impact of pricing strategies can give restaurant managers a deeper understanding of customer reactions. In addition, a more rigorous definition of dynamic pricing is provided, clarifying its nature and its distinction in using different price discrimination.

This study contributes to the evolving understanding of dynamic pricing strategies’ impact on customers’ perceptions and sentiments in the restaurant industry. It aims to fill the gap in understanding customer reactions to algorithmically determined prices (via revenue management systems such as DynamEat) in this industry. The combination of causal inference and sentiment analysis offers a novel perspective, shedding light on the nuanced connections between dynamic pricing implementation and customers’ emotions.

本研究考察动态定价如何通过在线声誉指标影响顾客对餐厅的感知和对价格的情绪。此外, 为了深化对动态定价的讨论, 通过探索不同行业中可能表现出的具体歧视形式, 提出了一个新的定义。

利用从TripAdvisor获取的餐厅评论的全面数据集, 研究聚焦于与西班牙最大的餐厅集团之一相关联的餐厅。我们采用了准实验方法（差异中的差异）, 研究动态定价策略如何根据数值评分影响顾客对价值的感知。同时, 我们运用BERT模型对评论的文本成分进行分析, 以解析动态定价的情感细微差别。

结果没有揭示动态定价策略对顾客感知产生因果影响。此外, 情绪分析显示, 在餐厅引入动态定价后, 与对照组相比, 没有增加消极观点。与以往文献所述相反, 我们的发现表明, 实施动态定价并不会对顾客对价格的感知或情绪产生负面影响。

研究的准实验设置存在确立因果关系的固有挑战, 需要通过控制实验设置进一步调查。尽管如此, 我们的研究揭示了餐厅顾客不认为动态定价不公平。这一发现对餐厅经理在考虑实施动态定价和收入管理策略时至关重要。此外, 我们的研究强调, 考虑顾客情绪分析和数值评分的重要性。这种更全面的方法评估定价策略的影响, 可以让餐厅经理更深入地理解顾客反应。此外, 提供了一个更严格的动态定价定义, 澄清了其性质及其在使用不同价格歧视中的区别。

本研究对于理解动态定价策略对餐厅行业顾客感知和情绪影响的不断发展有所贡献。它旨在填补对客户对算法确定的价格（通过收入管理系统（RMS）例如DynamEat）在此行业中反应的理解空白。因果推断与情绪分析的结合提供了新的视角, 揭示了动态定价实施与顾客情绪之间微妙的联系。

Este estudio examina cómo la fijación dinámica de precios impacta en las percepciones de los clientes de los restaurantes y en el sentimiento hacia los precios a través de métricas de reputación en línea. Además, para profundizar en el debate sobre la fijación dinámica de precios, se propone una definición novedosa explorando las formas específicas de discriminación que pueden manifestarse en diferentes industrias.

Utilizando un conjunto de datos exhaustivo de reseñas de restaurantes obtenidas de TripAdvisor, el estudio se centra en los restaurantes afiliados a uno de los mayores grupos de restaurantes en España. Empleamos un método cuasiexperimental (diferencias en diferencias) para estudiar cómo las estrategias de precios dinámicos influyen en las percepciones de valor de los clientes basándonos en las calificaciones numéricas. Mientras tanto, empleamos un modelo BERT en el componente textual de las reseñas para desentrañar los matices emocionales de la fijación dinámica de precios.

Los resultados no revelaron un impacto causal de las estrategias de precios dinámicos en las percepciones de los clientes. Además, el análisis de sentimiento no muestra una visión negativa aumentada después de introducir la fijación dinámica de precios en los restaurantes en comparación con el grupo de control. Contrariamente a lo que sugiere la literatura previa, nuestros hallazgos indican que la implementación de precios dinámicos no afecta negativamente las percepciones o los sentimientos de los clientes respecto a los precios en los restaurantes.

La configuración cuasiexperimental del estudio presenta desafíos inherentes para establecer la causalidad que requieren una investigación más profunda utilizando entornos experimentales controlados. Sin embargo, nuestro estudio revela que los clientes de restaurantes no perciben la fijación de precios dinámica como injusta. Este hallazgo es crítico para los gerentes de restaurantes al considerar la implementación de la fijación de precios dinámica y estrategias de gestión de ingresos. Además, nuestro estudio resalta la importancia de considerar no solo las calificaciones numéricas sino también el análisis del sentimiento del cliente. Este enfoque más holístico para evaluar el impacto de las estrategias de precios puede dar a los gerentes de restaurantes una comprensión más profunda de las reacciones de los clientes. Además, se proporciona una definición de fijación de precios dinámica más rigurosa, aclarando su naturaleza y su distinción en el uso de diferentes discriminaciones de precios.

Este estudio contribuye a la comprensión en evolución del impacto de las estrategias de fijación de precios dinámicos en las percepciones y sentimientos de los clientes en la industria restaurantera. Su objetivo es llenar el vacío en la comprensión de las reacciones de los clientes a los precios determinados algorítmicamente (a través de sistemas de gestión de ingresos (RMS) como DynamEat) en esta industria. La combinación de inferencia causal y análisis de sentimientos ofrece una perspectiva novedosa, arrojando luz sobre las conexiones matizadas entre la implementación de la fijación de precios dinámicos y las emociones de los clientes.

The paper's purpose is to investigate the effects of digital finance on the risk of stock price crashes and the underlying transmission mechanisms, and to provide suggestions to inhibit the stock crash risk (CR).

This paper selects all companies that were listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange from 2011 to 2020. It then uses the two-way fixed effect model and the intermediary effect model to verify such effects.

The overall outcomes demonstrate such a result that the CR of listed companies in China can be significantly reduced by the development of digital finance, and the overall transparency of business financial information and the equity pledge of controlling shareholders are the two underlying transmission mechanisms that digital finance can cause effects on the CR of stocks.

The main limitations are that there may exist some problems in the method for evaluating the CR of stocks. And there may be a problem of endogeneity caused by the empirical model cannot control all correlation variables.

This paper would provide policy implications, for different roles, to inhibit the stock CR and to make the development of the economy more stabilize.

Digital finance can promote economic development while restraining financial risks at the same time. Therefore, although this study is based on the relevant data from China, it can also provide a reference for other economies with different basic conditions from China, to promote the overall development of the world economy.

The current academic research on digital finance or stock price CR has been relatively sufficient, but there are few papers that combined both. By combining digital finance with stock CR, this paper researches the influence of digital finance on the CR of stocks through empirical analysis. So, this paper would provide new research ideas and evidence for potential influence factors of the CR of stocks, fill the gap in this research field and provide certain help for subsequent scholars to conduct relevant research.

In today's advanced economy, there is a broader presence of information revolution, such as artificial intelligence (AI). AI primarily drives modern banking, leading to innovative banking channels, services and solutions disruptions. Thus, this chapter intends to determine AI's place in contemporary banking and stock market trading.

Stock market forecasting is hampered by the inherently noisy environments and significant volatility surrounding market trends. There needs to be more research on the mantle of AI in revolutionising banking and stock market trading. Attempting to bridge this gap, the present research study looks at the function of AI in banking and stock market trading.

The researchers have synthesised the literature pool. They undertook a systematic review and meta-synthesis method by identifying the major themes and a systematic literature review aided in the critical analysis, synthesis and mapping of the body of existing material.

The study's conclusions demonstrated the efficacy of AI, which has played a robust role in banking and finance by reducing risk and operational costs, enabling better customer experience, improving regulatory complaints and fraud detection and improving credit and loan decisions. AI has revolutionised stock market trading by forecasting future prices or trends in financial assets, optimising financial portfolios and analysing news or social media comments on the assets or firms.

AI's debut in banking and finance has brought sea changes in banking and stock market trading. AI in the banking industry and capital market can provide timely and apt information to its customers and customise the products as per their requirements.

This study aims to explore why Chinese consumers pay for digital content products by investigating the experiences of Chinese consumers living in first-tier and second-tier cities regarding paid digital knowledge products.

A total of 19 in-depth interviews were conducted to collect data, and the phenomenological reduction was adopted to analyze data.

This study reveals that Chinese consumers use paid digital knowledge products to alleviate stress and anxiety stemming from real-life competition and the fear of falling behind. While consumers acknowledge the limited assistance that paid knowledge products can offer, their acceptance and expectations of paid digital knowledge products remain positive.

Paid digital knowledge represents an innovative phenomenon, with few scholars outside China having studied it. This study contributes a conceptual framework to understand the motivations of Chinese consumers with high purchasing power residing in first-tier and second-tier cities to invest in digital content.

Even if digital financial services have a positive impact on financial inclusion, it creates a digital as well as gender divide within and across countries, creating regional disparity even within developing nations. Though pandemic has initiated digitalization of various services, there has been scanty research on whether digital transfer of income can improve digital financial inclusion in post-pandemic era, especially in developing countries. The purpose of the current study is to explain the regional disparity within developing countries from three regions East Asia Pacific, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, using latest World Findex data, 2021.

The author takes an instrumental variable approach to run bivariate probit model to find the factors that motivate the users to make digital payments.

The study observes that electronic transfer of wages, government transfers and remittances can motivate individuals to make use of digital mode of transactions and mobile. The practice of formal saving and borrowings are the prerequisites. However, this mechanism holds good for East Asia Pacific and not for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, which are poor in information and communication technology infrastructure. Women are lagging behind men, but digital transfer of wages motivate them to make digital transaction.

Digitalization of all government services and provision of affordable mobile network and internet services are necessary for regions like South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. In East Asia Pacific region, data protection, data governance and better regulatory framework are required. Higher female labor force participation with digital transfer of wages and empowerment with smartphones are key to reducing the Gender gap.

The current study corrects for the possible endogeneity issue, which the extant literature has not paid attention to, and provides region-specific and gender-specific policy recommendations for an improved digital inclusion.

This study examines the dualities of digital services – that is, how customers’ favorite everyday digital services can positively and negatively contribute to their well-being. Thus, the study describes the meanings of favorite digital services as part of customers’ everyday lives and the types of well-being to which such services can contribute.

We used a qualitative research approach through semi-structured interviews conducted in 2021 to collect data from 14 young adults (22–31 years old) who actively used digital services in their daily lives.

Our findings revealed that customers’ favorite everyday digital services can contribute to their mental well-being, social well-being, and intellectual well-being. Within these three dimensions of well-being, we identified nine dualities of digital services that describe their positive and negative contributions: (1) digital escapism versus digital disruption, (2) digital relaxation versus digital stress, (3) digital empowerment versus digital subjugation, (4) digital augmentation versus digital emptiness, (5) digital socialization versus digital isolation, (6) digital togetherness versus digital exclusion, (7) digital self-expression versus digital pressure, (8) digital learning versus digital dependence, and (9) digital inspiration versus digital stagnation.

These findings suggest that everyday digital services have the potential to contribute to customer well-being in various aspects – both positively and negatively – accentuating the need for service providers to decipher the impacts of their offerings on well-being. Indeed, understanding the relationship between digital services and customer well-being can help companies tailor their services to customers’ needs. Companies that prioritize customer well-being not only benefit their customers but also create sustainable growth opportunities in the long run. Further, companies can use the derived information in service design to develop marketing strategies that emphasize the positive impacts of their digital services on customer well-being.

Although prior transformative service studies have investigated the well-being of multiple stakeholders, such studies have focused on services related to the physical and healthcare domains. Consequently, the role of everyday digital services as contributors to customer well-being is an under-researched topic. In addition, the concept of well-being and its various dimensions has received limited attention in previous service research. By investigating everyday digital services and their multidimensional contribution to customer well-being, this study broadens the perspective on well-being within TSR and aids in refining a more precise conceptualization.

The existence of a wedding organizer plays an essential role in realizing the dream wedding of the bride and groom and the progression of a family-centred structure. The wedding organizer industry is one of the business sectors that experienced a significant impact during the COVID-19 pandemic due to various policies restricting mobility and interaction. This study aims to answer research questions: What challenges are experienced by wedding organizers in the context of COVID-19? What factors drive entrepreneurial resilience for family business continuity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic?

This study uses a qualitative research design through semi-structured in-depth interviews with eight wedding organizers in Indonesia with questions centred around the context of the family in the event.

This study found several challenges faced by wedding organizers, including personal barriers and environmental challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The four drivers of entrepreneurial resilience of wedding organizers in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis include entrepreneurial motivations, entrepreneurial characteristics, firm strategies, and environmental support. These factors create a positive interaction effect for the continuity of the wedding event organizers.

This study contributes to the literature by providing valuable insights into the broader entrepreneurial resilience issue and offering practical recommendations for wedding organizers and other entrepreneurs facing similar challenges. This study has both academic and practical implications in providing event management guidance and future avenues of research in this field.

Studies on technology and interpreting have increasingly explored how technology influences the role and performance of interpreters in their practice; however, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews and analyses. This paper aims to synthetically review the state-of-the-art application and integration of various interpreting technologies, identify the key trends of recent studies, and evaluate the associated opportunities and challenges.

Adopting a systematic review approach, 40 articles on technology and interpreting practice from 2013 to 2024 were selected and analysed.

A growing number of empirical studies on technology-mediated remote interpreting and technology-supported interpreting is observed in public service settings, suggesting that mobile and emerging technologies have gained more attention alongside phone and video. In addition, mixed results are revealed with respect to the impact of technology on interpreting performance.

This review not only provides a bird’s-eye view of how interpreting practice has reconciled with different technologies but also offers insights into the changing role of interpreters, the need for training, and the direction for future research.

Consumers send billions of messages with high ephemerality each day, yet the effects of this type of communication are relatively unknown. Online ephemeral communication refers to sending and receiving information with a predetermined, finite lifespan in computer-mediated environments. The purpose of this paper is to conceptually understand online marketing communications with high ephemerality relative to messages with low ephemerality within a consumer’s goal system.

This paper is an attempt to conceptually understand how high ephemerality differs from low ephemerality, particularly as online ephemeral communication has emerged and is widely used by consumers and firms. Goal systems theory is applied to understand how ephemerality is a means for consumers to reach their communication goals.

Consumers are more likely to use messages with high ephemerality to impress with narrowly relevant content, regulate emotions, build social relationships, persuade others through peripheral cues and protect privacy, but messages with high ephemerality are less likely to help consumers manage their impression, acquire or share useful information or present strong arguments. It is also proposed that messages with high ephemerality can help marketers increase interest through frequent peripheral cues, including fun and friendly content, drive sales by creating a sense of urgency and increase loyalty, but are less likely to increase awareness, build interest through flattering or informative content or drive sales through transactional messages.

This study primarily advances the goal systems literature by introducing ephemerality. The defining feature of ephemerality, lifespan, also has research implications for studies of word-of-mouth marketing. The propositions in this study are ready for empirical investigation as to when consumers and firms choose to send messages with low or high ephemerality.

Firms need to understand how consumers are using messages sent with low and high ephemerality in order for firms to best move consumers through the sales funnel.

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first paper to differentiate messages with low and high ephemerality, identify the presence and effects of ephemerality in offline and online communication and explain how and why sending messages with low or high ephemerality can help consumers and firms reach their communication goals. There is only one other paper in marketing on ephemerality in online marketing communications and no other conceptual work.