Adversity Tries Friends: A Multilevel Analysis of Corporate Philanthropic Response to the Local Spread of COVID-19 in China

We examine corporate philanthropic decisions in response to the local spread of COVID-19. From a strategic perspective, firms may proactively undertake philanthropic efforts to limit the spread of the pandemic and avoid a degraded business environment. From the perspective of non-trivial costs, increased economic uncertainty can raise concerns about business survival and lead to conservative philanthropic strategies. Following the proverb “prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them,” at the provincial level, our results support the second perspective. Specifically, when the spread of the pandemic worsens in a province, local firms are less likely to make COVID-19-related donations in terms of likelihood and amount. Investors also react negatively, not only to the local spread of COVID-19 but also to COVID-19-related philanthropic donations. At the organizational level, our evidence indicates that there is at least some level of cost–benefit analysis underlying corporate philanthropic decisions. Specifically, corporate philanthropic donations, especially those made to the local business environment, are significantly affected by organizational-level factors, such as pre-existing resource availability and motives to acquire political and reputational resources. Overall, our multilevel study presents a comprehensive picture of corporate philanthropic decisions amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Adaptation of Labor Migrants from the Arab East in EU

The socio-cultural adaptation and economic integration of labor immigrants from the Arab East in Europe remains, until now, an insufficiently studied phenomenon. Meanwhile, this topic is related to solving the issues of increasing the economic and social efficiency of labor immigration to main European cities, and the conclusions of the study may be in demand, including in our country. We have used the method of rapid (three-question) survey of these immigrants. Special attention is paid to labor immigrants in Germany and Bulgaria. A certain disunity between Arab communities from different Mashriq countries, a significant business and cultural distance with people from the Maghreb is revealed. There is a difference in world view between Eastern Arab immigrants and European residents, as well as a relative diasporal isolation (cultural and business) of labor immigrants. The difference in the situation of the communities under consideration in several European countries is small. It is based on the comparable rootedness of communities, primarily in the respective diasporal networks more than in the local business environment. A long-term forecast for the development of migration to Europe is given, which implies that the dynamics of immigration of Eastern Arabs will not grow, but will even decrease over time.

ADAPTATION OF LABOR MIGRANTS FROM THE ARAB EAST IN EUROPEAN CITIES

The socio-cultural adaptation and economic integration of labor immigrants from the Arab East in Europe remains, until now, an insufficiently studied phenomenon. Meanwhile, this topic is related to solving the issues of increasing the economic and social efficiency of labor immigration to main European cities, and the conclusions of the study may be in demand, including in our country. We have used the method of rapid (three-question) survey of these immigrants. Special attention is paid to labor immigrants in Germany and Bulgaria. A certain disunity between Arab communities from different Mashriq countries, a significant business and cultural distance with people from the Maghreb is revealed. There is a difference in world view between Eastern Arab immigrants and European residents, as well as a relative diasporal isolation (cultural and business) of labor immigrants. The difference in the situation of the communities under consideration in several European countries is small. It is based on the comparable rootedness of communities, primarily in the respective diasporal networks more than in the local business environment. A long-term forecast for the development of migration to Europe is given, which implies that the dynamics of immigration of Eastern Arabs will not grow, but will even decrease over time.

Challenges of Migrant Entrepreneurship in Selected Regions of Central Europe

This article addresses the migrant entrepreneurship in selected Central European regions by focusing on a general social and legislative framework, as well as migrants’ own perceptions of their challenges, needs, advantages and future prospects. It is based on the combination of secondary data and fieldwork material referring to the interviews and focus groups. The study shows that entrepreneurship is a successful strategy for effective integration into the host society. Migrant entrepreneurs are facing specific challenges in terms of understanding the legislation and the specifics of the local business environment. They often engage in niche services and production. However, they typically see themselves not as migrants but as entrepreneurs and claim to share the needs with entrepreneurs in general.

Investigating the Role of Excellent Model in the Competitive Market with Impact on The Economy

Nowadays, gaining competitive advantage depends on the organization’s capability to moving towards excellence and superiority in various dimensions. Creating competition with ethical principles means that, with scientific methods and strategic planning step towards strengthening the organization performance in the competitive market. There are many ways to gain the competitive market advantage and all that need to be appropriate and accordance with the cultural, political, human and structural conditions. Between all ways, one of the solutions that is more culturally, humane, and structurally appropriate to the organizational and the local business environment, and in practice, some organizations have proven it to be as a high-value or excellent and standard model, can name a model of E.F.Q.M (EUROPEAN, FOUNDATION, QUALITY, MANAGEMENT).Research methodology – This paper focuses on a conceptual analysis of the relations among establishing an excellence model in the organization and gaining competitive advantage. Here the EFQM excellence model is considered as a suitable framework for achieving the competitive advantage in the market for the organization. The revision of academic literature and logical analysis are the main methodological tools.Findings – The study shows that establishing competitive advantage foundations and excellence model in the organization and then evaluate and assessing them based on the components mentioned here, can achieve competitive advantage for the organization in the global scale, and in this sense, it is possible to define relationships and impact between each component of excellent model and those coming from the model on the competitive advantage.

Putting the entrepreneur back into entrepreneurial ecosystems

PurposeThis paper extends entrepreneurial ecosystems theory by testing how aspects of the local business environment affect individual entrepreneurs' ability to translate their personal resources into firm performance.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 223 business owners across Australia. Moderation hypotheses were tested using multiple hierarchical regression and confirmed with the Preacher and Hayes (2004) bootstrapping method.FindingsThe results show that business owners' psychological capital, social capital and entrepreneurial education directly affect their individual firm performance. These positive relations are moderated by specific aspects of the business environment, such that they are stronger when the environment is more favorable.Originality/valueThis study puts individual business owners back into entrepreneurial ecosystems theory and explains how they can make the most of their personal resources, suggesting a complex interplay where one size does not fit all. Far-reaching practical implications for policymakers are discussed.

Dynamic estimation of the local business environment in support to investment decisions of the top managers

Every manager has some investment ideas for business development. Some of the investments are related to a construction of production facilities in new locations and the investors face variety of risks, which even could stop the initial development plans. Many of these risks are due to the lack of reliable data about the business environment in the new areas. Failing the preparation, they would get heavy financial losses. Here comes the science to empower them with proper economic models. The aim of this article is to present how an economic model for estimation of the local business environment can be applied to some Bulgarian cities on the base of the municipality tax system and the local investment policy. Thus the entrepreneurs would be able to compare the business environment in different municipalities, as well as to identify possible dynamics in their trends.