Digital Commons Network^™

Reassessing Argentina’S 2018 Crisis: Fiscal Imbalances, External Constraints, And Imf Policy, Michael Garcia

Honors Theses

This thesis will evaluate the causes of Argentina’s 2018 financial crisis, examining how it should be evaluated through the lens of fiscal imbalance or by external constraints. The dominant interpretation is shown in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) 2018 Standby Agreement. It attributed the crisis to excessive fiscal deficits, inflation, and weak monetary discipline. This perspective is supported by the Polak model. The model itself connects domestic credit expansion to balance of payment imbalances. It views external crises resulting from internal policy excess.

This paper offers an alternative interpretation of a post-Keynesian that emphasizes external vulnerability, foreign currency debt, and …

Leveling The Playing Field: The Atlantic Coast Conference’S Settlement With Florida State University And Clemson University, Emma Lloyd Best, Kyre Dane Lahtinen

Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal

This Article examines the legal disputes and subsequent settlement between the Atlantic Coast Conference and two of its prominent member institutions, Florida State University and Clemson University. The conflicts centered on the Atlantic Coast Conference’s extension of its media rights agreement with ESPN, which both universities argued were not properly approved under conference bylaws and imposed an unconscionable withdrawal penalty. Florida State University sought to challenge the enforceability of the Grant of Rights and its associated penalties, while Clemson University pursued a narrower interpretation, aiming to limit broadcast rights and financial obligations upon exit. The …

Leveling The Playing Field: The Atlantic Coast Conference’S Settlement With Florida State University And Clemson University, Emma Lloyd Best, Kyre Dane Lahtinen

Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal

This Article examines the legal disputes and subsequent settlement between the Atlantic Coast Conference and two of its prominent member institutions, Florida State University and Clemson University. The conflicts centered on the Atlantic Coast Conference’s extension of its media rights agreement with ESPN, which both universities argued were not properly approved under conference bylaws and imposed an unconscionable withdrawal penalty. Florida State University sought to challenge the enforceability of the Grant of Rights and its associated penalties, while Clemson University pursued a narrower interpretation, aiming to limit broadcast rights and financial obligations upon exit. The Article delves into the history …

The Impact Of A Kentucky Nutrition Education Program Social Marketing Campaign On Resident Health, Trinity Elizabeth Foster

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Poor diet quality and physical inactivity are common health issues in the United States. To remedy these issues among low-income households, the United States Department of Agriculture created the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education Program (SNAP-Ed), which promoted healthy eating and physically active lifestyles through multiple avenues. The social marketing approach of SNAP-Ed uses marketing strategies to relay information to the public. In Kentucky, a statewide billboard campaign was launched in 2018 encouraging residents to focus on nutrition and physical activity. This study investigates the impact of that campaign on health outcomes in counties throughout the state. Using billboard location …

Beyond Price: How Platform Power Shapes Demand Allocation In Online Hotel Channels, Ling Ling, Timothy Webb, Zvi Schwartz

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Rate disparity remains a widely used but poorly understood pricing strategy in the hotel industry. While previous research generally assumes that lower prices shift demand toward less expensive channels, this study investigates whether such effects occur in practice. Using high-frequency booking and pricing data from five full-service hotels across multiple online travel agencies (OTAs), we analyze how rate disparity relates to the distribution of demand across channels. The findings show that the impact of price differences is limited, highly non-linear, and strongly dependent on contextual factors. Channel market power and hotel-specific characteristics seem to play a more significant role than …

Leadership Perceptions In Mid-Major Ncaa Athletics: Exploring Women's Teams Head Coaches' Experiences With Athletic Department Senior Staff, Sydnie A. Steele

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Leadership practices within NCAA Division I athletic departments can shape the professional climate, well-being, and stability of the coaching staff. Yet, limited research has explored how senior administrators influence the experiences of coaches who lead women’s teams at mid-major institutions. This phenomenological inquiry study explored how head coaches interpret their interactions with senior athletic department staff and how these relational dynamics inform perceptions of support.

Twelve Division I head coaches participated in semi-structured Zoom interviews about their experiences at former institutions. The interview protocol integrated the LMX-7 framework with open-ended questions to capture the significance of the head coaches’ lived …

The Hidden Costs Of Consumption: A Multi-Context Investigation On Stigma And Social Judgment, Siti Nuraisyah Suwanda

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Consumption is not always as simple as an exchange of value between a buyer and a seller. In many contexts, what individuals choose to consume or not consume can carry social meaning, leading to judgment and devaluation. While prior research has explored stigma broadly in marketing and consumer behavior, less attention has been given to stigma that caused specifically by consumption choices. This dissertation addresses this gap by examining how consumption becomes socially evaluated and judged across different contexts, with the goal of advancing both theoretical understanding and practical insights into socially sensitive consumption.

Essay One develops the foundation by …

Greed, Guilt, And Generative Ai: Emotional Dynamics In Digital Consumer Interactions, Danielle Lynn Hass

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Digital consumer interactions are increasingly shaped by complex emotional dynamics. As digital platforms and Generative AI (GenAI) technologies proliferate in our everyday lives, it is critical to understand the emotional undercurrents and how they impact consumer behavior. This dissertation investigates these dynamics through three essays that explore how emotions impact consumer experiences in digital spaces, with an overall goal to offer theoretical and practical insights into the interaction of human psychology and technological advancement in the consumer behavior field.

Essay One examines the paradox of pleasure and pain in online brand communities, where collectors grapple with the opposing forces of …

Leadership Studies In The Master Of Divinity (M.Div.) Curricula Of The Southern Baptist Convention (Sbc) Seminaries, Todd Stinnett

Dissertations

This dissertation chronicles the pursuit of an answer to the following question: In what ways have Southern Baptist Conventions (SBC) seminaries incorporated leadership studies into the curricula of their Master of Divinity (M.Div.) programs? This dissertation is a qualitative, multi-site case study that utilized a descriptive method of research. The research also utilized a qualitative interview that asked seminary administrators about their understanding of leadership studies and the place of those studies in the leadership courses that each seminary provided. One administrator from each of the six SBC seminaries was interviewed for this research. Content analysis was used to discover …

Gamification Of Online And Onsite Corporate Trainings In The Philippines, Jyro B. Triviño, Kylie Rayne S. Cai, Jan Angeli G. Cane, Clarissa Marie R. Fernandez, Faith D. Goli Cruz, Kleid L. Pedraja

Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD)

This study examined Filipino corporate trainers’ views on the effectiveness of gamification in onsite and online training. Using Clark and Braun’s thematic analysis, eight trainers shared their insights into its impact on engagement, motivation, and reinforcement. Results showed gamification can boost participation and structure learning, but its success depends on deliberate integration of game elements and digital tools. This varied slightly between modalities, especially when involving inductive and deductive assessments. Trainers emphasized the importance of incorporating interactive activities, providing feedback, enhancing competition, and offering rewards to strengthen engagement. The study also identified the complementary benefits of online and onsite training …

Women's Work And Wealth: Measuring The Impact Of Incremental Liberations, 1850-1870, Hannah Kelly

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Using a two-way fixed effects difference-in-difference model, this project analyzes data from the IPUMS Full Count census for 1850, 1860, and 1870 at a state level for 48 states. Four models assess the impact of property laws on women's real property holdings, labor force participation, household types, and real property values.

By quantifying the impact of various legal reforms on women's economic empowerment, this project fills a gap in the understanding of the intersection between law, society, and women's economic agency during a transformative period in pre-industrial American history. These impacts can implicate the effectiveness of legislative measures in advancing …

Heartbeats: Sustainable Practices In Business, Natalie Pham, Shareef Awadallah, Lily Lisco, Logan Blissenbach, Nikolaos Verginis

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

HeartBeats Co. LLC is a premier audio and software technology brand that brings renewed character and performance to a stagnant space, revolutionizing the listening experience by engineering a digital music platform and headphones that possess distinct style and exceptional performance. While our team identifies and tracks trends in the market, we strive to establish market trends rather than to follow them. We are a company founded on innovation, redefining the music streaming market by combining the importance of wellness with the latest audio and software technologies and innovative functionalities. This document outlines a ten-year plan for efficient and impactful scaling, …

Bare Bones Creamery/Ice Cream, Hanna Pope, Mason Dexter, Stephen Parker, Evan Trumpower, Logan Miller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Essentially, our project focuses on the fictional company, “Bare Bones Creamery.” Bare Bones Creamery is a company that sells all natural, affordable, no nonsense ice cream targeted towards people between the ages of 18 to 40. Our main goal is to document the process to grow and scale this company to 100 employees in about 10 years. Outside of this, we’ll also develop different departments of the company including finance, accounting, supply chain, IT/ data analytics, human resources, legal, sales, and marketing. Each department will grow with the company and will become more detailed as time progresses. Certain variables such …

Pawpulse Dog Collar, Sean Graham, Hailey Barger, Connor Mulichak, Addison Towne, Kieran Nolan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

PawPulse is revolutionizing pet care through innovative technology that enhances pet health, safety, and well-being. Combining advanced hardware designs, AI-driven analytics, and IoT integrations, PawPulse offers a comprehensive ecosystem that empowers pet owners with actionable insights into their pets' health and activity. As a global leader in pet health technology, PawPulse integrates features like real-time health monitoring, predictive analytics, and location tracking into a seamless mobile app experience.

This project examines the growth and scaling strategies of PawPulse, focusing on critical areas such as Information Systems, Analytics, and Legal frameworks. It details the company's strategic evolution from a startup to …

The Impact Of Brexit On Uk Trade Flows: A Product-Level Analysis, Tyler J. Shean

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The United Kingdom formally left the European Union in 2020, a significant event known as Brexit. The separation caused political and economic consequences for the UK, particularly affecting trade flows in and out of the country. However, the extent of these impacts both in the short and long term-remains uncertain. This paper analyzes the impact of Brexit on exports and imports for the United Kingdom and the rest of the EU. The study also looks at industry-specific data, giving a detailed perspective on sectors that experienced the biggest consequences of the event. The World International Trade Solution (WITS) by the …

How Does Economic Policy Uncertainty Affect Individual Contributions To Retirement Accounts?, David I. Becker

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study tests whether Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) is associated with U.S. retirement contributions and whether responses differ across account types. Using annual contribution data for defined contribution plans and Traditional and Roth IRAs with the Baker, Bloom, and Davis EPU index, I estimate multivariate regressions with standard macroeconomic controls and compare contemporaneous and lagged specifications. EPU is positively associated with 401(k) contributions, negatively associated with Traditional IRA contributions in the contemporaneous model, and not statistically significant for Roth IRAs. These results suggest uncertainty may shift how households save for retirement rather than uniformly reducing retirement saving.

Stringency Of Family Firms And Owner-Managers In The Transition To Low-Carbon Emissions, Morten Bennedsen, John Doukas, Halit Gonenc

Finance Faculty Publications

This study examines the relationship between carbon emissions and stock returns, with a focus on the role of family ownership and management. Using a sample of 435 publicly listed firms from 14 Western European countries over the period 2010–2020, we explore whether financial markets perceive family-controlled firms, particularly those led by family-member CEOs, differently in terms of their commitment to sustainable practices. Consistent with prior research, our results indicate that firms with higher emissions earn higher stock returns while simultaneously experiencing lower market valuations, consistent with the presence of a carbon risk premium driven by elevated carbon transition risk. Crucially, …

Does Bidder Complexity Affect Market Reactions To M&A Decisions?, Rajib Chowdhury, John A. Doukas

Finance Faculty Publications

We examine whether and how bidder complexity influences investor reactions to merger and acquisition (M&A) announcements. Using an established measure of complexity, we find a significant positive relationship between acquiring firm complexity and cumulative abnormal returns (CAR). This suggests that investors perceive more complex firms as capable and value-enhancing participants in M&A activities. The association is particularly strong for bidders with high operating risk, greater R&D intensity, and larger firm size. We also find that complex bidders tend to offer higher takeover premiums. Overall, our study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that bidder complexity is an important determinant of …

Tail Dependence: The Impact Of Risk Spillovers On Real Estate Markets In Times Of Economic And Geo-Political Uncertainty, Stanimira Milcheva, Simon Stevenson, Lingshan Xie

Finance Faculty Publications

The first half of the 2020's has seen a degree of economic and geo-political uncertainty not observed since the 1970s. This paper looks at how listed real estate is exposed to capital market shocks by estimating Conditional Value-at-Risk (CoVaR), which captures the sensitivity of real estate returns to extreme movements in broader equity markets. We use threshold Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (tGARCH) and Copula co-dependency functions to accurately account for tail behavior and dependency structures. We find a significant increase in downside spillovers from capital markets to listed real estate during the Covid period across most countries. However, the response …

Technical Skills And Their Roles In Agribusiness Supply Chain Management Education, Ryan Loy, Logan L. Britton, F. Bailey Norwood

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

The integration of advanced technical skills and supply chain management (SCM) tools is critical for the evolving demands of agribusiness. This study identifies the technical competencies, software proficiencies, and educational strategies essential for preparing students to excel in modern SCM roles. Through semi-structured interviews with 26 SCM professionals across US agribusiness sectors, the study highlights the demand for expertise in tools such as SAP, Power BI, and SQL alongside capabilities in data-driven decision-making and adaptability. Despite theoretical preparation, graduates often lack practical experience with industry-standard technologies, underscoring a gap in academic curricula. The findings suggest that agribusiness programs should emphasize …

The Influence Of Family Ownership, Family Involvement, And Founder Generation On Dividend Policy: Evidence From Non-Cyclical Consumer Family Firms In Indonesia (2019–2023), Matteo Firdaus, Dini Rosdini, Runita Arum Kanti

Journal of Accounting Auditing and Business

Family firms play a pivotal role in shaping Indonesia’s economic landscape, with their unique governance structures influencing key financial decisions such as dividend distribution. This study provides an in-depth examination of how family ownership, family involvement, and the generational status of the founder shape dividend policy among 24 non-cyclical consumer family firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) over the period 2019–2023. Firm size and profitability are incorporated as control variables to ensure the robustness of the analysis. Employing panel data regression techniques, the study uncovers several notable findings. First, family ownership exerts a positive and statistically significant influence …

Hardware Without Humanware: Robot Adoption, Talent Structure Degradation, And Firm Innovation, Wenhao Sun, Zhenyu Wu, Chevy-Hanqing Fang

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Contrary to the prevailing view that automation complements skilled labor in advanced economies, this study examines the unintended consequences of robot adoption in emerging markets. Drawing on strategic human capital theory, we exploit China's manufacturing sector as a natural experiment to identify the causal impact of industrial intelligence on firm-level innovation. Using a unique dataset of more than 90,000 public and private firms from the National Enterprise Innovation Database (2008–2014), we uncover a counterintuitive result: robot adoption significantly reduces firm innovation, which is notably more pronounced for private-owned firms and those with weaker innovation capabilities. Mediation analyses further show that …

Gubernatorial Re-Election Incentives, Local Investment Bias, And Pension Fund Performance, Hongxian Zhang, Liang Guo, Jun Hao, Yu Liu

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

We investigate the impact of gubernatorial re-election incentive and political factors on US public pension funds from 1990 to 2022. Our empirical analysis finds no significant overall relationship between gubernatorial re-election incentives and local bias in the full sample. However, the effect of gubernatorial re-election incentives on local bias is influenced by a state's level of corruption. Specifically, in states within the lowest corruption quantile, governors eligible for re-election tend to prioritize local investments to gain consistent support. In contrast, in states within the highest corruption quantile, heightened scrutiny may encourage re-election-eligible governors to adopt conservative investment policies that do …

Counterfactual Indeterminacy Bias In Family Firm Research, Chevy-Hanqing Fang, James J. Chrisman, Alfredo De Massis

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ever since scholars recognized that family firms are heterogeneous, many studies have attempted to compare different types of family firms without ensuring that the source of heterogeneity is unique to family firms. When the source of heterogeneity among family firms resembles the source of heterogeneity among nonfamily firms, the problem of counterfactual indeterminacy bias can lead to misleading or irrelevant findings that fail to distinguish the effects of family influence from factors that affect all firms. We delineate common forms of this bias and offer recommendations to prevent it in research on family firm behavior and performance.

Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges In Multicultural Hospitality Teams: A Case Study Of The Arlington Hotel, Dublin, Lorrana Rosendo Da Silva

Business ETD Collections

This study investigates intercultural communication challenges within multicultural teams in the hospitality sector in Dublin, focusing on how linguistic barriers, cultural expectations and the dynamics of subgroups influence staff collaboration and day-to-day coordination. The research employs a qualitative case study at the Arlington Hotel, utilizing four semi-structured interviews—two with managers and two with employees—analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that, particularly during periods of high operational pressure, differences in English proficiency and understanding of accents can affect the clarity of instructions and the confidence to seek clarification. Furthermore, subgroups based on language or nationalities were described as useful in …

Analysis Of Employee Retention In The Irish Hospitality Sector, Ali Okan Yazicioglu

Business ETD Collections

This study investigates the organisational and external labour market factors influencing employee retention in the Irish hospitality sector. The sector faces persistently high turnover rates, yet existing literature has largely focused on internal factors such as leadership and working conditions, overlooking broader labour market dynamics. To address this gap, a qualitative research design was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with six participants (three managers and three kitchen staff) working in hospitality establishments in Dublin’s Temple Bar area. Thematic analysis was applied to identify key themes related to working conditions, management practices, job satisfaction, employee retention, and labour market factors. The findings …

Key Factors Influencing Consumer Booking Decisions On Booking.Com, And The Role Of Trust In Online Reviews, Deisiane Soares

Business ETD Collections

This study examines the factors influencing accommodation booking decisions on Booking.com, with a particular focus on the role of trust in online reviews. Using a quantitative survey, the research analyses how consumers evaluate key factors such as price, location, ratings, and user-generated reviews. The findings show that while online reviews help reduce uncertainty and build trust, they are not the main driver of booking decisions. Instead, price and location are the most influential factors, with trust in reviews acting as a supporting element. Trust is also found to be conditional, depending on review consistency, detail, and recency. Hence, the study …

Exploring The Challenges Faced By Home Care Workers In Dublin, Camila Melo Dos Santos

Business ETD Collections

This study explores the challenges faced by home care workers employed by private healthcare providers in Dublin, and how the workers perceive the training and organisational support available to manage job demands. Using a mixed methods approach, quantitative data was collected through a survey that received 24 responses, and qualitative data from four in depth interviews. The findings identify time pressure as the most significant challenge, and discovered that formal training is available but it is not considered relevant by the workers, who rely on their experience to deliver the service. Organisational support was perceived as inconsistent, with lack of …

Member Engagement And Retention Challenges In The Latin Cycling Club Dublin, Sarideth Ailin Solis Lopez

Business ETD Collections

This study investigates participant engagement and retention challenges at Latin Cycling Club Dublin, a volunteer-run, non-profit community cycling group based in Dublin, Ireland. The group brings together Spanish-speaking people and others interested in Latin culture who ride together for hobby, social connection, and health improvement. Despite having 259 Instagram followers, 125 Strava participants, and 112 WhatsApp group members, only 8 to 12 people join rides on a regular basis, representing a drop-off of approximately 90 to 93%. The same small core group attends most rides, while the majority of followers remain inactive. Female participation is below 10%, and non-Spanish speakers …

Adapting International Marketing Strategies To Local Markets: A Case Study Of Zambrero In Ireland, Júlia Megale Freitas Pimenta

Business ETD Collections

As companies expand into increasingly globalised markets, they face the strategic challenge of balancing global standardisation with responsiveness to local market needs. This study examines how the balance between standardisation and local adaptation influences customer perception in the international fast-casual food sector. While standardisation can provide economies of scale, operational efficiency, and consistency in global brand identity, adaptation allows companies to respond to differences in consumer preferences, cultural expectations, and competitive conditions. Drawing on international marketing and branding literature, the study considers how these strategies influence perceptions of brand identity, authenticity, value, and customer loyalty across different national markets. Particular …