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As a measure against plastic waste, Coca-Cola and Evian have begun introducing label-free plastic bottles. Food labels have long been recognized as an important marketing tool, but there is a lack of research on label-free products. To address this gap, this study examined the influence of label-free design on product attractiveness in the Japanese green tea market.

If existing products are used in an experiment, respondents would be subject to brand image bias. Hence, by mechanically combining the main design elements (cap shape, bottle style, decoration line, logo and label) with an orthogonal array, the conditions for bottles with and without labels are completely aligned. The authors conducted an online survey and applied the chi-square test to the attractiveness of 18 designs presented in random order.

Label-free designs were more attractive to consumers than labeled designs. The effect was higher among female, middle-aged and older adults; those with higher annual income and low-frequency purchasers.

Practitioners should adopt a label-free design that can satisfy both environmental considerations and customer value. It would be a formidable challenge to change the longstanding emphasis placed on label design, but this study demonstrates the value of doing so.

This is the first study in the package design literature on the advantages of label-free plastic bottles. The authors also applied an orthogonal array used for many years to optimize objective numerical values in marketing research.

This study aims to analyze the impact of digital transformation on firm performance within the banking sector, specifically focusing on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE)-listed banks from 2015 to 2022. Additionally, it explores the influence of gender dynamics on the implementation and outcomes of these digital transformation initiatives.

The study adopts a robust empirical approach, using manual content analysis of annual reports from ASE-listed banks. The Digital Transformation Disclosure Index (DTDI) is used to assess the extent and nature of digital transformation initiatives within these banks. The methodology is designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the correlation between digital transformation efforts, firm performance and gender dynamics.

The research reveals that digital transformation initiatives have a significant positive impact on the performance of ASE-listed banks. It also uncovers nuanced insights into the role of gender dynamics, indicating that gender diversity within firms influences the adoption and success of digital transformation strategies in complex ways.

The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of digital transformation in the banking sector, offering empirical evidence on its benefits for firm performance. Additionally, the study illuminates the intricate role of gender dynamics in digital transformation, providing a new perspective on organizational diversity within the context of technological change.

This research pioneers in academically linking digital transformation and gender dynamics within the banking sector, addressing a notable gap and introducing a fresh academic perspective. Practically, it equips banking executives and policymakers with actionable insights for gender-inclusive digital strategies, crucial for enhanced firm performance. Methodologically, the study sets a benchmark in research innovation, using the DTDI to offer a replicable model for future investigations in this evolving field.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the causal (not correlational) effect of women’s entrepreneurship on corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in Latin America.

This study builds on a hitherto unexploited sparse data set on Latin American B Corporations to identify the causal relationship of interest and on a (synthetic) instrumental variable method.

The results confirm that women’s entrepreneurship has a positive causal effect on social responsibility. This study finds that an increase of 1% in the proportion of women entrepreneurs leads to an increase of 0.5 in the B Impact Assessment score, the CSR indicator.

This study contributes to the literature by providing robust statistical evidence of a causal relationship between women entrepreneurs and social responsibility practices in the Latin American context. This research captures the multidimensional nature of social responsibility by using a comprehensive and vast metric of CSR obtained from the data of the B Impact Assessment tool. This study illustrates how machine learning methods can be used to address the lack of structure of the Latin American B Impact Assessment data.

El propósito de esta investigación es identificar el efecto causal (no correlacional) del emprendimiento de mujeres en las prácticas de responsabilidad social empresarial (RSE) en América Latina.

Nos basamos en un conjunto de datos escasamente explorado hasta el momento sobre las Empresas B en América Latina para identificar la relación causal de interés, y utilizamos un método de Variables Instrumentales (VI) sintéticas.

Nuestros resultados verifican el efecto causal positivo del emprendimiento de las mujeres en la responsabilidad social. Descubrimos que un aumento del 1% en la proporción de mujeres emprendedoras conduce a un aumento de 0.5 en la puntuación de la Evaluación de Impacto B, nuestro indicador de RSE.

Contribuimos a la literatura proporcionando evidencia estadística sólida de una relación causal entre emprendedoras mujeres y prácticas de responsabilidad social en el contexto de América Latina. Esta investigación captura la naturaleza multidimensional de la responsabilidad social mediante el uso de una métrica amplia y vasta de RSE obtenida de los datos de la herramienta de Evaluación de Impacto B. Ilustramos cómo se pueden utilizar métodos de aprendizaje automático para abordar la falta de estructura de los datos de evaluación de impacto B en América Latina.

O propósito desta pesquisa é identificar o efeito causal (não correlacional) do empreendedorismo feminino nas práticas de responsabilidade social corporativa (RSC) na América Latina.

Baseamo-nos em um conjunto de dados escasso até então não explorado sobre as Empresas B na América Latina para identificar a relação causal de interesse, e utilizamos um método de Variáveis Instrumentais (VI) sintéticas.

Nossos resultados verificam o efeito causal positivo do empreendedorismo feminino na responsabilidade social. Descobrimos que um aumento de 1% na proporção de mulheres empreendedoras leva a um aumento de 0,5 no escore de Avaliação de Impacto B, nosso indicador de RSC.

Contribuímos para a literatura fornecendo evidências estatísticas robustas de uma relação causal entre empreendedoras mulheres e práticas de responsabilidade social na América Latina. Esta pesquisa captura a natureza multidimensional da responsabilidade social usando uma métrica abrangente e vasta de RSC obtida a partir dos dados da ferramenta de Avaliação de Impacto B. Ilustramos como métodos de aprendizado de máquina podem ser usados para lidar com a falta de estrutura dos dados de avaliação de impacto B na América Latina.

In recent years, the field of financial technology (Fintech) has garnered significant attention due to advancements in technology, evolving consumer preferences and the growing need for financial services that are more accessible and user-friendly. The exponential expansion of Fintech is presenting novel prospects and obstacles for business. This study aims to investigate the relationship between gender diversity on corporate boards and firms’ performance, with a particular focus on the moderating role of Fintech.

The study sample consisted of financial sector firms listed on the Bahrain Bourse (banks and insurance firms) during the period 2016–2022. The data were gathered primarily from annual reports and the Bahrain Bourse website. The independent variable represents the percentage of female directors on corporate boards while firms’ accounting and market-based performance were measured using return on assets and Tobin’s Q variables. The moderating variable, Fintech, was measured using a checklist developed using the Global Fintech Adoption Index. Fixed effect (FE) regression was used to analyze the study data. An alternative gender diversity measure was used to test the reliability of the main regression analysis.

The results of the study indicate a positive relationship between gender diversity on corporate boards and financial performance. Additionally, the findings of the study highlighted the positive impact of Fintech practices on firms’ performance. Nevertheless, the impact of Fintech on the relationship between board gender diversity and corporate performance was found to be insignificant.

The study sample included a particular sector in a single country, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Also, the current study applied FE regression to analyze the data; however, other econometric approaches could be used to overcome the endogeneity issue.

The findings of this study may have implications for policymakers and society, particularly in terms of promoting gender diversity and Fintech innovation.

This study contributes to the existing body of research by examining the potential impact of the percentage of female directors and the utilization of Fintech on firms’ performance in Bahrain. Given the ongoing endeavors to provide advanced Fintech solutions in the financial sector and the increasing focus on enhancing gender diversity in Bahraini corporate boards, this research aims to provide additional evidence in this domain. Moreover, this study stands out as one of the limited number of research endeavors that use Fintech as a moderating variable in the investigation of the impact of female directors on firms’ performance.

The purpose of this study was to examine the boundary conditions of Kanter's (1977) tokenism theory as applied to the gender wage gap. The authors aimed to discover if there was a point where the relationship between the percentage of women in a job category and the gender wage gap changed, and, if so, where the threshold was located and what was the nature of the shift in relationship.

The authors used the Andrews’ (1993) threshold effects technique. Using 22 separate years of publicly available Canadian wage data, they examined the relationship between the percentage of females in 40 unique occupational categories and the female-to-male earnings ratio (for a total of 880 observations).

The results showed the existence of a threshold point, and that early gains in percent female within an occupation, up to approximately 14% female in the occupation, associate with strong gains in the female-to-male wage ratio. However, beyond that point, further gains in percent female associate with smaller improvements in the female-to-male wage ratio.

The findings are useful in understanding the dynamics of occupational group gender composition, potential theoretical reasons for the nuances in relationship, as well as opportunities that may facilitate more equitable outcomes.

The results show that, though improvements were made above and below the threshold point, enhancements in the wage gap are actually larger when there are less women in the job category (e.g. tokens).

Japan has made some progress in recognizing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) rights, such as passing laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in some cities. However, there is still a long way to go in terms of legal protection and social acceptance. Understanding citizens' attitudes toward homosexuality can help inform policies and interventions that promote LGBTQ rights and reduce discrimination. This study explores factors that influence citizens' attitudes toward homosexuality in Japan.

The research was conducted through a web-based questionnaire with 1,806 participants, where they were asked about their views on same-sex partnership recognition, homosexual rights and traditional Japanese family systems. The collected data were statistically analyzed to determine the factors that affect individuals' opinions regarding homosexuality.

The study determined that in Japan, traditional views are inversely related to same-sex partnership registration. Conversely, local government support for LGBTQ+ rights is directly associated with societal acceptance. Additionally, closer contact with the LGBTQ+ community promotes acceptance.

The study provides insights into the factors that shape societal attitudes toward homosexuality in Japan and highlights the importance of policies promoting diversity and inclusivity. By identifying these determinants, this study could help policymakers and advocates create effective strategies for promoting acceptance and equality for the LGBTQ+ community in Japan.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that focuses on understanding the factors that influence the attitudes of Japanese citizens toward homosexuality.

A woman's nutritional status significantly determines her overall well-being. The authors critically examine the trends — including socioeconomic disparities — in undernutrition among Muslim women in India, a notably socio-economically disadvantaged group. The authors also investigate trends and variations across the dimensions of caste, place of residence (rural/urban), education, economic status and geographic regions.

The analysis leverages the nationally representative National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) of India conducted between 1998 and 2021. The authors examined poor–rich ratios, concentration indices, disparity ratios and predicted probabilities of being underweight (captured using Body Mass Index).

From 1998 to 2021, there has been a decline in undernutrition prevalence among Muslim women. However, stark socioeconomic variations persist. While the prevalence has decreased over time across all socioeconomic groups, disparities — both within and between groups — remain significant and, in many cases, have expanded. For certain socioeconomic subgroups (e.g. Muslim women with no formal education or those in the Central and Northeast regions), the disparity doubled between 1998 and 2021. In regions like the South, where undernutrition prevalence is low or has reduced, disparities remain significant and generally have increased.

To the authors’ knowledge, the study is the first to provide a comprehensive examination of the prevalence, trends and socioeconomic disparities in undernutrition among Muslim women in India over the past two decades.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-04-2023-0320

In China, having a home before getting married is viewed as being a crucial indicator of the sincerity of romance. Despite recent increases in housing costs, men who have their homes ready for marriage stand out in the marriage market. This study aims to explore the association between readiness to marry, marriage age and the home that men purchase prior to marriage using the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey, the first countrywide follow-up survey with the theme of labor force.

The authors suggest new standards for determining the marital residence. In addition, contrary to the existing literature, which focuses on “Sheng Nu” (women who do not marry by the traditional marriage age in China), the authors focus on “Sheng Nan” (men who do not marry by the traditional marriage age in China).

The results show that men who own a house before marriage are reluctant to get married. The authors document robust evidence that the preexistence of the marital house decreases the willingness to marry and postpones the marriage date, regardless of location and time.

The authors document robust evidence that the preexistence of the marital house decreases the willingness to marry and postpones the marriage date, regardless of location and time.

All entrepreneurs interact simultaneously with multiple entrepreneurial contexts throughout their entrepreneurial journey. This conceptual paper has two central aims: (1) it synthesises the current literature on gender and entrepreneurship, and (2) it increases our understanding of how gender norms, contextual embeddedness and (in)equality mechanisms interact within contexts. Illustrative contexts that are discussed include entrepreneurship education, business networks and finance.

This conceptual paper draws upon extant literature to develop its proposed conceptual framework. It provides suggestions for systemic policy interventions as well as pointing to promising paths for future research.

A literature-generated conceptual framework is developed to explain and address the systemic barriers faced by opportunity-driven women as they engage in entrepreneurial contexts. This conceptual framework visualises the interplay between gender norms, contextual embeddedness and inequality mechanisms to explain systemic disparities. An extra dimension is integrated in the framework to account for the power of agency within women and with others, whereby agency, either individually or collectively, may disrupt and subvert the current interplay with inequality mechanisms.

This work advances understanding of the underrepresentation of women entrepreneurs. The paper offers a conceptual framework that provides policymakers with a useful tool to understand how to intervene and increase contextual embeddedness for all entrepreneurs. Additionally, this paper suggests moving beyond “fixing” women entrepreneurs and points towards disrupting systemic disparities to accomplish this contextual embeddedness for all entrepreneurs. By doing so, this research adds to academic knowledge on the construction and reconstruction of gender in the field of entrepreneurship.

This study aims to examine the effects of the historical prevalence of infectious diseases on contemporary gender equality. Previous studies reveal the persistence of the effects of historical diseases on innovation, through the channel of culture.

Drawing on the parasite stress theory, the authors propose a framework which argues that historical prevalence of infectious disease reduces contemporary gender equality. The study uses ordinary least squares and two-stage least squares in a cross-section with data from 122 countries between 2000 and 2021.

This study provide support for the underlying hypothesis. Past diseases reduce gender equality both directly and indirectly. The strongest indirect effects occur through innovation output. Gender equality analysis may take these findings into account and incorporate disease pathogens into the design of international social policy.

This study complements the extant literature by assessing the nexus between historical prevalence of infectious diseases and gender equality.