Autonomous University of Lisbon

PurposeThis study investigates how functional and symbolic utilities at both product and brand levels influence perceived quality, price sensitivity, and purchase intention in sports footwear consumption among lower-middle-income Generation Z consumers in Brazil and Portugal, considering cultural and socioeconomic contexts.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative cross-national survey was conducted with 259 Generation Z consumers from Brazil and Portugal. Validated scales were used to measure functional and symbolic utilities, perceived quality, price sensitivity, and purchase intention. Data were analysed using multi-group Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), complemented by psychographic cluster analysis.FindingsValue formation differs across contexts. In Brazil, functional utilities at both product and brand levels had a significant influence on perceived quality, suggesting a pragmatic consumption orientation. In Portugal, symbolic product utility played a more prominent role in shaping perceived quality. Price sensitivity was not directly associated with functional utility in either country, but it was positively associated with the symbolic utility of the brand in Brazil. Both perceived quality and price sensitivity were positively associated with purchase intention in both markets. Psychographic analysis identified six distinct consumer profiles in each country, with Brazilian consumers displaying stronger emotional brand engagement, while Portuguese consumers showed more utilitarian and sceptical orientations.Practical implicationsIn Brazil, branding should emphasise functional performance and value for money. In Portugal, symbolic positioning and lifestyle alignment are more effective when supported by functional credibility.Originality/valueThis study contributes to sports marketing and consumer behaviour by demonstrating that value formation among Generation Z is segmented and context-dependent, rather than universal.

This study examines the mortality of fashion retail companies, adopting a behavioral perspective that relates intentions, behaviors, resources, and contextual conditions. Business survival is conceptualized as the result of behavioral and governance processes through which entrepreneurs regulate decisions in situations of uncertainty. Based on data from 579 Brazilian entrepreneurs, the study compares the predictive power of intrinsic behavioral factors and extrinsic contextual conditions. The results show that entrepreneurial intentions are necessary but insufficient for business continuity, requiring self-regulatory behaviors to transform motivation into sustained action. Persistence, proactivity, and innovation exhibit contingent and nonmonotonic patterns on mortality, while human capital and initial financial resources act as facilitating conditions, not guarantees of survival. Demographic attributes have limited explanatory power when disconnected from behavioral processes. Overall, the results indicate that business mortality arises from the interaction between entrepreneurial behavior and context, with individual behaviors playing a central, albeit interdependent, role in explaining business mortality.

This study introduces Craft-Tourism Orientation (CTO) — the motivation to engage with local crafts during travel — as a novel construct and examines how it shapes purchase intentions for handcrafted fashion. Drawing on value theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior, a model is proposed in which CTO's association with purchase intention is mediated by perceived value and attitude. Survey data from 810 respondents were analyzed using PLS-SEM. Results show that CTO's relationship with behavioral outcomes is fully mediated by perceived value: a tourism mindset is associated with enhanced value perceptions of craft garments, which in turn foster positive attitudes and purchase intentions. Among craft-oriented slow fashion attributes, functionality and exclusivity show the strongest associations with perceived value, while localism shows no significant relationship. The findings offer practical guidance for destination marketing organizations and craft retailers. Strategies should move beyond attracting craft-oriented tourists and instead focus on activating value perceptions — through narrative storytelling, immersive artisan experiences, and positioning craft garments as the "ultimate souvenir" that combines functional durability with cultural exclusivity. The study makes three contributions: it introduces and empirically validates CTO as a contextual value-amplifying mindset; it delineates the cognitive pathway through which tourism engagement translates into commercial action; and it bridges tourism studies and consumer behavior research by integrating situational context into core models of purchase decision-making.

Abstract: The digitalization of psychological assessment has introduced new paradigms in the collection, processing, and analysis of data. This paper explores the transformation of psychological testing and assessment in the context of digital footprints and the rise of machine learning (ML) tools. The emergence of smartphones, wearables, and social media platforms has allowed for the collection of passive data, significantly impacting how psychological states are evaluated. This shift offers enhanced insights into personality traits and psychological symptoms, while reducing reliance on traditional self-report methods. However, the use of machine learning to interpret large volumes of behavioral data raises concerns about ethical implications, particularly regarding privacy, consent, and algorithmic transparency. Furthermore, methodological challenges, such as the reliability and validity of AI-based assessments, complicate the integration of these tools into mainstream psychological practice. This paper aims to critically evaluate the benefits and limitations of digital footprints and ML in psychological assessment, emphasizing the need for ethical frameworks and robust methodologies to ensure their effective and safe implementation.

A educação inclusiva constitui um direito humano e um compromisso assumido internacionalmente, fundamentado em documentos como a Declaração de Salamanca, a Convenção sobre os Direitos das Pessoas com Deficiência e a Agenda Educação 2030. No Brasil, esse princípio foi incorporado ao ordenamento jurídico por meio da Constituição Federal de 1988, da Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional, da Política Nacional de Educação Especial na Perspectiva da Educação Inclusiva e da Lei Brasileira de Inclusão. Este estudo analisa a evolução da inclusão escolar brasileira em diálogo com as recomendações da UNESCO, articulando indicadores do Censo Escolar produzidos pelo Inep. Os dados evidenciam crescimento expressivo das matrículas da educação especial, que passaram de 1,35 milhão em 2021 para 2,46 milhões em 2025, além da ampliação da escolarização em classes comuns, que alcançou 96% dos estudantes. Também houve crescimento do Atendimento Educacional Especializado, embora sua oferta ainda não alcance mais da metade dos estudantes incluídos. A análise demonstra convergência entre as políticas brasileiras e as recomendações internacionais quanto ao acesso e à escolarização em classes comuns, mas revela desigualdades regionais e necessidades relacionadas à formação docente, acessibilidade, recursos pedagógicos e AEE. Conclui-se que a consolidação da inclusão exige articular acesso, permanência, participação, aprendizagem, qualidade e equidade.