Purpose Systemic crises disrupt the explanations of competitiveness by destabilizing the relationships between market structure, conduct and performance. This study aims to revisit the structure–conduct–performance (SCP) paradigm by examining how dynamic capabilities (DC) mediate competitiveness reconfiguration across longitudinal crisis phases to achieve superior performance. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a longitudinal single-case, theory-building design using archival evidence from PT Bayu Buana Tbk from 2020 to 2024. The analysis combines temporal crisis phases – collapse, lagged impact, recovery take-off and stabilization – with SCP classification, dynamic capability coding, pattern matching and cross-phase comparison to trace how structural disruption, conduct, capability deployment and performance outcomes evolve over time. Findings The findings indicate a dynamic SCP process in which structural disruption does not immediately translate into performance. DC mediate this relationship through phase-dependent sensing, seizing and reconfiguration. The case reveals a lagged shock effect in 2021 and nonlinear recovery in 2022, showing that capability-mediated adaptation shapes the timing and magnitude of competitiveness recovery. Originality/value This study makes three consistent contributions. First, it reconceptualizes SCP as a temporally dynamic process rather than as a static sequence. Second, it positions DC as the adaptive mechanism through which structural change is translated into organizational behavior. Third, it explains temporal competitiveness through lagged shock effects and nonlinear recovery, showing why performance need not move proportionately to structural change. Together, these contributions integrate SCP and DC without creating separate novelty claims for crisis responsiveness, adaptive advantage or the emerging-market context. The resulting dynamic SCP framework is positioned as an initial theory-building explanation that requires validation across firms, industries and institutional settings in crisis contexts.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how cluster-specific collective assets enable clustered small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to recover selected activities and how this process relates to competitiveness and environmental sustainability. More specifically, this paper seeks to explain when and how process reshoring becomes feasible in clustered SMEs. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a qualitative multiple-case study based on semistructured interviews with senior managers from six SMEs located in the Valencian textile cluster. The analysis combines within-case and cross-case comparison and is supported by secondary sources, including company websites, press coverage, ORBIS data and prior research on the cluster. This design enables the capture of selective, process-specific forms of reshoring in clustered SMEs. Findings The findings show that reshoring in clustered SMEs is better understood as process reshoring rather than full production return. Firms selectively recover strategically relevant and locally feasible activities while maintaining offshore sourcing for other inputs or stages, resulting in hybrid configurations. This study also shows that technical knowledge, complementary capabilities and institutional intermediation within the cluster enable this selective recovery. Finally, process reshoring can strengthen competitiveness and, under specific conditions, also support environmental sustainability through better traceability, reduced transport intensity and cleaner production processes. Research limitations/implications This study is based on a limited number of qualitative cases within a single cluster, which constrains the transferability of the findings. In addition, the role of collective assets may differ in weaker or less organized local production systems. Future research could compare different clusters and industries and assess the longer-term effects of process reshoring using mixed methods or quantitative designs. Practical implications For managers, the key issue is not whether to reshore production in general, but which specific processes are worth recovering to improve control over quality, responsiveness, customization and service. The findings also suggest that firms should evaluate not only their internal capabilities but also the availability of local support structures, technical institutes, business associations and complementary firms that can enable selective recovery. Social implications The paper suggests that selective local recovery may contribute to more resilient and potentially more sustainable regional production systems. Where process reshoring improves traceability, reduces transport and supports cleaner or more circular production, it may help align industrial renewal with environmental goals. The findings also point to the broader value of maintaining local industrial capabilities and support infrastructures. Originality/value This paper refines the concept of reshoring for clustered SMEs by introducing process reshoring as a more appropriate unit of analysis than full production relocation. It also contributes to cluster research by showing that collective assets operate as enabling conditions for selective productive reconfiguration. Finally, it adds to the sustainability debate by explaining when competitiveness and environmental sustainability can become aligned in clustered SMEs.
Purpose This investigation aims to test the structural strength, directional effects, and threshold curvature of sustainability capabilities, where two objectives are emphasized: identifying feedback pathways within the partial least squares structural equation modeling models and verifying the quadratic turning point of social inclusion and governance strategies at the country and company levels, respectively. Design/methodology/approach In its most general design of the study, quadratic regression analysis of social inclusion and community impact on the outcome of ecosystem-biodiversity performance (R2 = 0.41; p < 0.01) at the company level was used in STATA to measure the curvature and significance of the turning point (1.56) within the mediation of governance and strategy variable (0.009). A large number of bootstrap outcomes at SMART-PLS show that the eco-social nonlinearity model enhances predictive accuracy, thus reducing the uncertainty of emissions-profitability dependence. Findings The results show that the integrated effect of ecological foundations, institutional eco-governance, and knowledge and innovation capacity is strongly positive and significant (p < 0.001), which is better than the single-dimension estimations and has achieved good cross-country validation results. Practical implications In an applied managerial context, nonlinear feedback from ecological performance, governance strength, and innovation capacity allows stronger eco-marketing alignment of sustainability messaging compared to traditional linear data; maximizing reliability and threshold-based triggers strengthens the interpretive capacity of each sustainability signal when compared to static eco-labels. Originality/value The originality of this research lies in its rigorous methodology and specific focus to reveal threshold-based, synergistic sustainability capabilities that reasonably describe and predict green market competitiveness.
Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship between firm-level markups, resource misallocation and total factor productivity (TFP) among Vietnamese manufacturing exporters. Design/methodology/approach Firm-level markups are estimated following a production-based De Loecker and Warzynski (2012) approach using panel data from 2012 to 2020. Resource misallocation is measured by the dispersion of markups within industries. Findings The results reveal a robust inverted U-shaped relationship between markups and productivity, suggesting that moderate market power supports upgrading, whereas excessive markups are associated with resource misallocation and lower efficiency. Resource misallocation is negatively associated with TFP among Vietnamese manufacturing exporters. Productivity is higher in firms with greater liquidity flexibility, technological catch-up, capital intensity, human capital and larger firm size, while excessive external borrowing and firm age are linked to weaker TFP performance. Industry characteristics also matter, as forward linkages, foreign ownership and market concentration positively affect productivity, whereas horizontal and backward linkages reduce TFP. At the macro level, number of free trade agreements, exchange rate depreciation and government effectiveness enhance exporters’ productivity, while inflation weakens the productivity gains associated with export activities. Research limitations/implications The estimation of markup and resource misallocation relies on production function approaches that may be sensitive to measurement error and model specification. The De Loecker–Warzynski (2012) approach assumes cost minimization and freely adjustable intermediate inputs, which may be restrictive in the Vietnamese context due to credit constraints and input market frictions. The sample focuses on exporting manufacturing firms, which are typically more productive and internationally connected than non-exporting firms, thereby limiting the generalizability of the findings. Future research could apply alternative estimation approaches and broader samples to address these limitations. Originality/value The study provides new firm-level evidence on market power and allocative efficiency in an emerging export-oriented economy. It contributes to the literature by jointly analyzing markups, productivity and resource misallocation using a rich firm-level dataset from Vietnam’s manufacturing export sector, offering context-specific evidence from a rapidly integrating developing economy.
Purpose This study investigates the impact of education and research and development (R&D) expenditures on nation brand value (NBV), while also considering the roles of government effectiveness (GE) and human development. This study aims to provide insights into how investments in education, R&D and governance influence a nation’s global brand competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach This study uses panel data analysis of eight countries over a 10-year period (2011–2020). Using econometric modeling, including fixed-effects regression, this research examines the relationships between government expenditure on education (GEE), R&D expenditures (RDE), GE, the human development index (HDI) and NBV. The analysis is based on data from the World Bank, UNDP and Brand Finance. Findings The results of this study reveal a significant positive correlation between the HDI and NBV, indicating that higher levels of human development contribute to a stronger national brand. However, this study finds no significant impact of RDE and GEE on NBV. Originality/value This research offers a novel perspective on the role of education and R&D investments in shaping NBV, emphasizing the importance of human capital and GE. By focusing on cross-country panel data and using robust econometric methods, this study contributes to the growing literature on nation branding. The findings of this study provide practical implications for policymakers aiming to strengthen their nation’s brand through targeted investments in education, R&D and governance, while highlighting the critical role of human development in enhancing global competitiveness.
Purpose Despite the growing challenges related to digital transformation and sustainability, literature offers limited solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for managing these issues concurrently. To bridge this gap, this paper draws on the dynamic capabilities view to explore how a person-centric view contributes to addressing digital transformation and sustainability in SMEs. Design/methodology/approach Case studies were conducted on three SMEs in the Basque manufacturing industry. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, followed by a thematic analysis. Findings Findings indicate that SMEs effectively adopting a person-centric view on their digital transformation are more successful in achieving sustainability. Originality/value This study offers a novel contribution to the literature on the person-centric view on digital transformation for sustainability. It provides empirical evidence for proposing a conceptual framework that identifies and concedes different prominence to the critical dynamic capabilities driving digital transformation, considers the three dimensions of sustainability and recognises a cyclical feedback loop between social sustainability and dynamic capabilities.
Purpose This paper aims to investigate the relationship between environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices and the financial performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through a sustainable marketing lens. It conceptualizes ESG engagement not merely as a compliance mechanism but as a strategic market-facing capability that enhances SME competitiveness by signaling credibility, legitimacy and differentiation in sustainability-conscious markets. Design/methodology/approach The analysis uses a firm-level panel data set of European SMEs, combining multidimensional ESG indicators with accounting-based financial metrics that capture market outcomes associated with competitive positioning, such as profitability and growth. The empirical strategy uses fixed-effects estimations to account for unobserved firm heterogeneity and uses lagged ESG variables to mitigate endogeneity concerns, providing a robust assessment of how sustainability signals translate into economic outcomes. Findings The results indicate a positive association between overall ESG engagement and SME financial performance, supporting the view that sustainability functions as a value-creating and competitiveness-enhancing mechanism. When disaggregated, the environmental component emerges as the primary driver of profitability and growth, suggesting that highly visible and tangible environmental signals are most effectively rewarded by the market. The social dimension shows a positive but less robust relationship, reflecting its role in building long-term relational capital, while governance practices do not display a statistically significant direct effect, likely due to their lower visibility as market signals in the SME context. Research limitations/implications The study is subject to data availability constraints typical of SME-level indicators and focuses on accounting-based measures. Theoretically, it contributes by distinguishing between market-visible and market-invisible sustainability dimensions and by urging a move away from aggregate ESG scores in SME research. Practical implications For SME managers, the findings suggest that ESG initiatives - particularly environmental ones - should be leveraged as strategic marketing and competitive positioning tools rather than being viewed as mere operational costs. Originality/value This study extends the ESG-performance literature to SMEs and highlights the importance of a disaggregated and context-sensitive approach to understanding how sustainability engagement supports competitive advantage in smaller firms.
Purpose Tourism destinations must transition toward climate neutrality without eroding long-term competitiveness. By treating destination competitiveness as an outcome of sustainability transitions, where environmental, social and governance improvements generate competitive advantages through cost resilience, market differentiation and credible sustainability signaling, this study aims to examine Austria's Climate and Energy Model Regions (KEM) program across two tourism-intensive areas. A logic model framework (inputs-activities-outputs-outcomes-impacts) analyzes how program design and collaborative governance contribute to sustainability results and destination-level competitiveness.Design/methodology/approach The authors adopt a qualitative case-study approach for program evaluation. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews with KEM stakeholders were analyzed through thematic analysis. Triangulation with program documents and project records was used where available. The study maps KEM outputs, outcomes and impacts to international sustainability and competitiveness frameworks.Findings KEM inputs (e.g. national co-funding, dedicated regional staff, program toolkits) enable activities (e.g. stakeholder engagement, energy audits, procurement support, training) that produce tangible outputs (e.g. PV installations, eco-certifications) that yield relevant outcomes and impacts for destinations. Outcomes are reduced energy cost exposure, emissions reductions, improved accessibility and stronger resident-business alignment. Impacts include clearer sustainability branding, greater resilience to energy shocks, cultural conservation and increased community well-being.Originality/value The paper advances the sustainability-competitiveness nexus by offering a logic model-based assessment of a national climate-energy program's destination-level implications. By deriving destination-level operational indicators from the competitiveness literature and validating them through triangulated qualitative evidence, the study offers a transferable monitoring template that operationalizes the sustainability-competitiveness nexus for other destinations undergoing sustainability transitions.
Purpose This study aims to review the prior literature on the nexus between artificial intelligence (AI) and corporate environmental sustainability using a well-known quantitative approach of bibliometric analysis. Design/methodology/approach To produce robust findings from the two bibliometric analysis approaches; “performance analysis and mapping analysis”, the authors rigorously followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysves (PRISMA) protocol. Furthermore, the data constituting our sample was extracted from the Scopus database, which is recognized as a leading database. For the bibliometric analysis, the study used VOSviewer to divulge crucial trends, emerging themes, map co-authorship networks and identify bibliographic relationships. The initial sample of 1,618 articles retrieved from the Scopus database was precisely filtered and screened following the PRISM framework, using rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria to generate the final sample. Findings The findings unveil a remarkable surge in research on AI and environmental sustainability in 2025, highlighting the novelty and growing significance of this evolving research frontier. Furthermore, the findings divulge this emerging topic is being investigated across multiple disciplines, namely, “Business, Management and Accounting; environmental Science, and computer science”, stressing the necessity of cross-disciplinary collaboration to build a robust body of knowledge. Furthermore, most prior articles have concentrated on the environmentally sensitive sectors, which is logical and justified; nevertheless, it would be meaningful to explore the nexus between AI models and environmental sustainability within other sectors as well. More importantly, the findings reveal that there is a pressing need for enhanced international academic collaboration, especially with developing countries. Originality/value This research provides original insights by systematically mapping the intellectual landscape of publications linking AI with corporate environmental sustainability. More obviously, it contributes by identifying emerging themes, leading journals, prominent countries, foremost universities, influential articles and co-authorship network. Thereby, this research serves as a foundational reference for future researchers, top management and policy-makers aiming to use AI models in improving corporate environmental sustainability on a global scale.
Purpose This study aims to investigate how industrial district membership influences firms' sustainability strategies, distinguishing between substantive practices (certifications) and environmental and social communication on their websites. More precisely, the authors test whether a district effect is associated with stronger sustainability engagement and greater alignment between actions and communication.Design/methodology/approach The authors constructed a sample of 2568 Italian textile firms, of which 963 are located in textile-district areas, using the AIDA database and the Attivit & agrave; economiche (ATECO) classification. Sustainability-related textual content was collected from corporate websites through large-scale web scraping and analyzed using a custom dictionary combined with natural language processing techniques. This process generated three indicators: environmental sustainability index (ESI), social sustainability index (SSI) and certification count index (CCI). To address selection bias, the authors applied propensity score matching with nearest-neighbor matching at multiple ratios and industry granularity levels, estimating the average treatment effect on the treated for district versus nondistrict firms.Findings Results show that district firms exhibit significantly higher certification intensity (CCI) and greater environmental communication (ESI), while social communication (SSI) effects are detectable only under finer industry granularity. District firms tend to align sustainability practices with communication, but some of them instead under-communicate their sustainability endeavor. These patterns confirm that relational governance and dense local networks may reduce the need for formal communication despite substantive engagement.Originality/value The study contributes to the literature on district effects and on sustainability in fashion industries, providing novel evidence on the dual role of industrial districts as enablers of sustainability adoption and selective communication and highlighting the importance of local embeddedness.
Purpose This paper aims to systematically reviews and synthesises post-COVID-19 research on consumer payment behaviour, examining how the accelerated diffusion of digital and contactless payment solutions intersects with sustainable marketing concerns, including responsible consumption, trust, transparency and digital choice architectures. The review does not treat digital payment adoption as inherently sustainable; rather, it shows that sustainability-related implications depend on how payment systems are embedded within consumption journeys, governed through transparent practices and interpreted by consumers across contexts. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was conducted on peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2022 and 2025. Studies were retrieved from Scopus and Google Scholar using a predefined search strategy and eligibility criteria, and analysed through descriptive mapping and thematic synthesis across marketing, information systems and sustainability-related streams. Findings Based on 57 journal articles, the review highlights a rapidly expanding multidisciplinary body of research on post-COVID-19 consumer payment behaviour. Adoption, continuance and switching are shaped by mechanisms such as perceived convenience and value, trust and security/privacy, perceived risk, habit formation and contextual factors including channel setting and platform integration. Importantly, payment practices are not value-neutral: their sustainability implications depend on how systems are embedded in consumption processes, communicated through marketing and aligned with consumer responsibility. The paper proposes an integrative framework linking payment infrastructures, consumer psychology, marketing and corporate social responsibility (CSR) processes and sustainability-related behavioural outcomes. Originality/value This study provides one of the first systematic syntheses focused on post-COVID-19 consumer payment behaviour from a sustainable marketing perspective, offering a framework that contributes to theory and informs practitioners and policymakers designing responsible digital payment ecosystems.
Purpose This study aims to develop a comprehensive decision-making framework to identify, localise and prioritise the key challenges hindering the implementation of sustainable marketing in the food industry within an emerging-economy context. This study addresses the persistent green attitude-behaviour gap by uncovering the causal relationships among structural, technological and consumer-related barriers to the adoption of sustainable marketing.Design/methodology/approach A multi-layer methodology is used, combining a systematic literature review (PRISMA-based), Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) and Interval Type-2 Trapezoidal Fuzzy DEMATEL (IT2TrFN-DEMATEL). First, 24 challenges were extracted from the literature and refined through expert consensus using FDM. Subsequently, IT2TrFN-DEMATEL was applied to model the interdependencies and causal structure among the finalised challenges based on evaluations from 11 industry experts in the food sector.Findings According to the literature survey, 24 challenges were identified, of which 14 were retained following expert screening using FDM. Application of IT2TrFN-DEMATEL indicates that the most influential challenges are price sensitivity and financial pressure (84.66%), the complexity of adopting new methods and technologies (71.54%), inadequate supporting infrastructure (65.76%) and knowledge gaps (60.35%). In contrast, challenges such as difficulty in maintaining customer satisfaction, uncertainty of perceived benefits and lack of trust in green claims emerge as consequential factors. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that structural and technological constraints outweigh purely behavioural factors in shaping sustainable marketing performance.Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is among the first to integrate HFLTS-based FDM and IT2TrFN-DEMATEL to model sustainable marketing challenges in the food industry. This study offers a causal, systems-based framework that supports policymakers and managers in prioritising interventions to close the green attitude-behaviour gap in emerging economies.
Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between innovation and sustainable marketing in improving competitive marketing performance through sustainable initiatives undertaken by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), using the theories of dynamic capabilities and stakeholder theory. In addition, this research explores how transparency influences the interaction between sustainable initiatives and competitive marketing performance, facilitated by sustainable marketing and innovation. Design/methodology/approach A theoretical framework was developed to analyse the relationship and alignment between sustainable marketing and innovation in generating competitive marketing performance through sustainable initiatives. This was achieved through a comprehensive review of the existing literature on sustainable marketing, innovation, sustainable initiatives, transparency and competitive marketing performance, using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) approach. Findings Based on the theoretical framework established in this study, five key research propositions were formulated to examine the interconnections among sustainable marketing, innovation, sustainable initiatives, transparency and competitive marketing performance. The proposed framework and research propositions indicate that the interplay between sustainable marketing and innovation can foster sustainable initiatives across products, pricing, distribution and promotion. Consequently, this interaction may enhance competitive marketing performance. However, transparency may strengthen the relationship between competitive marketing performance and marketing-enabled sustainable initiatives. Originality/value From the perspectives of dynamic capabilities and stakeholder theories, this study is important because it offers a research framework and propositions for implementing innovation and sustainable marketing within SMEs.
Purpose This study aims to examine whether institutional quality moderates the relationship between national intellectual capital and green economic growth. Design/methodology/approach Using annual data for seven ASEAN economies over 2000–2023, the authors use country-specific autoregressive distributed lag models with an error-correction representation to identify long-run cointegrating relationships and short-run adjustments among green economic growth, national intellectual capital, institutional quality and their interaction. Findings The authors compute long-run marginal effects of national intellectual capital at observed levels of institutional quality and identify institutional thresholds at which the effect changes sign. The results indicate systematic, but country-specific, moderation. Brunei, Thailand and Vietnam exhibit stronger contributions of national intellectual capital as institutional quality improves. In Brunei and Vietnam, the marginal effect shifts from negative at low levels of institutional quality to positive at higher levels. Indonesia shows a positive marginal effect across the full range of institutional quality, with only modest attenuation as institutional quality rises. Practical implications The authors’ findings imply that progress toward SDG 8 in ASEAN requires aligning institutional reforms with investments in human capital, research and development, intellectual property services and digital infrastructure, so that knowledge-based capabilities translate into more sustainable productivity and employment. Originality/value This study contributes to the green growth literature by focusing on national intellectual capital as a broad intangible asset base and by providing country-level evidence that its effect on green economic growth depends on institutional quality
Purpose Demand for fresh and locally produced food continues to raise. Traditionally linked to processed snacks, vending machines are now considered a novel means of distributing fresh and healthy foods. This study aims to investigate consumers’ preferred locations for vending machines offering fresh products and the factors influencing these preferences within short food supply chains (SFSCs). Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire-based survey was carried out in Italy in 2024, collecting 234 responses. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the determinants of purchasing preferences, using gender and employment status as independent variables. Findings Results highlight consumers’ preferred locations for vending machines offering fresh products while identifying key sociodemographic factors influencing purchasing behavior, suggesting that vending machines may represent a viable distribution channel for fresh products within SFSCs. Research limitations/implications The study is based on a sample collected in Italy, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Because it is cross-sectional, the study captures data at a single point in time, restricting the ability to establish causality or observe temporal changes in variables. Combining eye-tracking with AI analytics can reveal consumers’ attention patterns and decision pathways, providing insights to optimize product display and communication strategies for local food in automated retail. Originality/value Despite growing interest in using vending machines for fresh and healthy foods, there is limited research on consumer preferences regarding their placement and the factors influencing purchase decisions, particularly within the context of short food supply chains. Then, it provides insights for more sustainable and localized food distribution models.
Purpose As the global momentum towards the sustainable development goals accelerates, resource-intensive sectors in developing economies, face increasing pressure to improve operational sustainability. This study aims to develop a systems-based framework that integrates sustainability and quality management principles to address critical environmental, regulatory and process efficiency challenges in India's animal-based manufacturing clusters (slaughter/leather), with actionable implications for sustainable marketing.Design/methodology/approach A hybrid design that combines a multi-stage Delphi study (n = 70), decision-based total interpretive structural modelling (D-TISM) and MICMAC analysis enabled to identify and prioritise strategies for resource optimisation, pollution reduction and ethical operations.Findings Transparency (S6) and better operations and supply-chain management (S4) emerge as top-level drivers. Eco-friendly processes (S1) catalyse technological adoption (S5), certifications (S10) and animal welfare (S12). Research and development (S11) and infrastructure (S7) foster training (S2) and quality inspection (S3), shaping a sequenced pathway to sustainability and quality upgrading.Research limitations/implications Single-state scope and untested implementation pathways limit generalisability, thus validation in other clusters/industries is encouraged.Practical implications Prioritising transparency, certification and training provides market signals of product integrity, builds customer trust and enables access to premium segments. In addition, the model guides sequencing of investment in technology and infrastructure for credible sustainability claims.Social implications Strengthens worker safety awareness and animal-welfare performance while supporting regulatory compliance and community acceptance.Originality/value The originality lies in the application of an integrated Delphi-D-TISM-MICMAC model for slaughter/leather clusters that links sustainability levers to supply-chain quality and market outcomes (trust, compliance, reputation), bridging operations and sustainable-marketing literatures.
Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of sports sponsorship on consumer engagement with sponsoring companies in both social media and real-life contexts. It proposes a theoretical framework where sponsorship antecedents, such as sport involvement, spectators' social media engagement, brand familiarity and perceived team performance affect awareness of and attitudes toward the sponsors, which then influence engagement with sponsors on social media as well as broader engagement with the sponsoring brand. The study adopts a sustainability perspective by analyzing spectators' perceptions of the sponsors' corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a moderating factor that enhances the translation of sponsor awareness and positive sponsor attitudes into active engagement behaviors.Design/methodology/approach A quantitative methodology was used, and data were gathered via an online questionnaire distributed during the FIBA EuroBasket 2025. A total of 5,568 valid responses were gathered and analyzed by using SPSS and AMOS. The research used the Strategic Sport Sponsorship Scale to assess the primary variables, in addition to two engagement-related constructs and spectators' perceived CSR constructs, which were developed from the existing literature. Newly inserted or modified items were improved via expert review and field testing, keeping only those that were supported by at least 75% of experts. The instrument was then translated back from English to Greek. All items were measured using five-point Likert scales.Findings The results supported all hypothesized relationships. The antecedents of sponsorship were positively associated with spectators' awareness of and attitudes toward sponsors, and these variables were, in turn, positively associated with spectators' social media engagement with them. Moreover, engagement with sponsoring brands was strongly associated with the level of social media engagement spectators reported with sponsors. Finally, perceived CSR significantly moderated the relationships between spectators' awareness of and attitudes toward sponsors and social media engagement with sponsors.Research limitations/implications The results may not be applicable to different populations or contexts due to the study's reliance on a single-event design.Practical implications Companies that sponsor events and own rights need to focus on social media marketing strategies that raise awareness of sponsors and change their attitudes, as well as CSR, to obtain better insights in terms of engagement and brand-level interactions.Social implications Corporate sponsorship in sports may make people think about their responsibilities and become involved in pro-sustainability standards by using social media.Originality/value The research advances theoretical understanding by formulating and evaluating a staged sponsorship-to-engagement framework for digital contexts, illustrating how sponsorship antecedents affect sponsor awareness and attitudes, subsequently resulting in social media engagement with sponsors and enhanced brand engagement. It further develops sponsorship theory by framing CSR perception as a sustainability-related boundary condition that enhances the transformation of sponsorship outcomes into engagement behavior.
Purpose This research aims to examine the global academic landscape of energy supply chain risk within the framework of geopolitical risk, economic policy uncertainty and climate policy uncertainty. It explores the intellectual structure, overarching research topics and trends that are shaping the development of this fast-developing area. Design/methodology/approach To achieve its objective, the authors used bibliometric techniques to analyse a data set of 344 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection between 2014 and 2025. The use of advanced bibliometric techniques enabled the authors to map the intellectual structure of the field; identify the common themes and trends across the corpus; and examine the collaborations amongst researchers. Findings This study reveals a marked and continuous rise in research on energy supply chain risks, highlighting its increasing importance and interdisciplinary scope. The literature is primarily structured around three key themes: uncertainty in energy systems, the integration of sustainability and climate policy and the design and optimisation of supply chains. Findings also emphasise the growing role of uncertainty management, environmental performance, financial instability and simulation-based modelling in enhancing risk management. Overall, the field has shifted from efficiency-focused approaches towards resilience-oriented energy systems capable of adapting to complex, interconnected and evolving disruptions across global supply chains. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by providing an integrated bibliometric framework that connects geopolitical, economic and climate policy uncertainties within energy supply chain research. Unlike previous studies that examined these dimensions separately, this study highlights the transition from efficiency-oriented models towards resilience-driven and sustainability-oriented systems while identifying emerging research directions related to digitalisation, predictive modelling and sustainable energy transitions.
Purpose This paper aims to assess the international competitiveness of large multinational enterprises (MNEs) through the lens of the firm-specific advantages (FSAs) and country-specific advantages (CSAs) framework.Design/methodology/approach The authors extend Rugman et al.'s (2012) data set to cover an expanded time horizon that includes the post-global financial crisis decade. Using Fortune Global 500 firms from 1999 to 2017, the authors analyze how their regional and global competitiveness has evolved across this period.Findings The updated 2017 FSA-CSA matrix shows a rise in "hybrid" regional-global patterns in which firms increasingly recombine domestic strengths with globally sourced locational advantages to compete both regionally and internationally. The authors find that North American and European MNEs have modestly increased their global reach by leveraging strong FSAs, whereas Asia-Pacific firms, particularly those from China, have become more regionally embedded even as they tap into global CSAs to better serve domestic and intraregional markets.Research limitations/implications The authors outline strategic and policy implications for competing in an era of multipolar globalization and propose a future research agenda focused on the dynamic coevolution of FSAs and CSAs, the emergence of digital and green competitiveness and the resilience of regional value chains amid ongoing global supply-chain reconfigurations.Originality/value This study offers a comprehensive and longitudinal analysis of the world's largest firms, providing new insights into how their international competitiveness has evolved over the past two decades.
Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate governance efficiency and firms' climate change financial disclosure in the three highest-emitting countries, along with heterogeneous regulatory contexts: India, China and the USA.Design/methodology/approach The analysis includes the top 50 firms from each country, selected based on market capitalization, over the period 2018-2019 to 2022-2023. The study uses a random-effects Tobit regression model, along with an instrumental variable-based two-stage least squares model for robustness checks. The corporate governance index has been computed following OECD methodology, and climate change financial disclosure scores have been computed through content analysis using a four-point scale technique.Findings The study finds that effective internal governance significantly improves climate disclosure in all three countries, with US firms showing the highest governance efficiency and disclosure levels. This highlights the key role of strong governance in promoting transparency, supporting stakeholder, legitimacy, agency and institutional logics theoretical perspectives.Research limitations/implications Theoretically, this study demonstrates that integrating stakeholder, legitimacy, agency and institutional logics provides a more comprehensive understanding of how governance mechanisms affect climate-related disclosure. Furthermore, viewing governance efficiency as multidimensional better explains differences in disclosure across regulatory environments.Practical implications The findings inform policymakers, corporate leaders and ESG standard-setters on the importance of strengthening internal governance systems and embedding them within international disclosure frameworks to enhance transparency and accountability.Originality/value This research offers a novel conceptualization of CG efficiency and demonstrates its critical role in shaping strategic climate disclosure practices across divergent national settings.
