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Exploring Uncharted Territory: CEOs as Gatekeepers in Utilizing Industrial Platforms Through Data Sharing
No full textAccording to the silo mentality theory, companies are reluctant to share data between organizations. This study explores the reasons for this corporate behavior. To gain empirical insights, we conducted 42 semi‐structured interviews with the chief executive officers (CEOs) of German small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Not only can the CEOs of SMEs control their private data, but they are also gatekeepers for business decisions, such as corporate data sharing. Following grounded theory, we identified four factors that influence data sharing. (1) Data characteristics —CEOs perceive social and financial data as sensitive in both private and corporate contexts. Furthermore, CEOs perceive additional types of corporate data as critical and are generally more skeptical of data sharing because of the complexity of data security. (2) Relationships via platforms— companies are often forced to participate in platforms, despite preferring long‐term personal relationships. (3) Competition —platforms enable easy and rapid product comparison. SMEs want to avoid transparency and fear that platform providers may compete for specific products. (4) Individual motivation —increased visibility among potential customers is an important incentive for participating in platforms, although CEOs perceive such participation to be time‐consuming. The findings extend the theory of silo mentality by indicating that the theory is not only relevant in the intra‐organizational context but also in the inter‐organizational context. Finally, we provide three propositions for future research
Alternative fuels in road freight transport: Objectives and scope of a literature review
No full textThis literature review investigates alternative solutions to fossil fuels in the context of road freight transport, focusing on both ecological and economic perspectives. A rigorous bibliographic method- ology was employed to ensure the relevance and quality of the selected studies. The research process was structured through a systematic, multi-step decision-making approach, which included selecting the most appropriate research plat-form, identifying a relevant keyword combination, and deciding whether to search for keywords in abstracts only or across the entire text. Through this process, 157 scientific publications were identified as relevant for further analysis. The present document focuses on the methodology used to collect, select, and classify the relevant literature
Are internet standard developing organisations data controllers under the GDPR?
No full textIn 2022, the Belgian Data Protection Authority (DPA) issued a fine against IAB Europe. It held this industry association for online advertising liable for multiple violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in relation to the Transparency and Control Framework (TCF). This technical standard is used by most Consent Management Platforms (CMPs) deployed on websites available from Europe. It generates a machine-readable expression of user preferences with regards to online privacy, transmitting to all stakeholders' servers taking part in the display of online advertisements. This is meant to ensure that no identifiers are stored on user devices, thus no personal data are processed, prior to any user consent. The Belgian DPA's qualification of IAB Europe as a joint controller in the operation of this standard, which has been confirmed in January 2024 by the European Union's Court of Justice, could be a significant development generating major implications for the whole internet governance ecosystem, object of the examination conducted in this contribution. However, the specifics of this case mean that it can hardly apply to all internet standard developing organisation
Online search behavior and consumer intent: Implications for nowcasting
No full textThis paper examines online search activity's ability to capture consumers' intentions and enhance short-term forecasting of key economic outcomes. Economic decisions such as consumption and investment are typically preceded by intentions, which, while difficult to observe directly, often manifest as online information-seeking behavior. Using a large, high-frequency dataset of search activity, we nowcast U.S. consumer confidence and private consumption, finding that legal and governmental searches are associated with shifts in consumer confidence, while real estate and news-related searches add value to forecasts of private consumption. We then extend the analysis to GDP nowcasting for selected OECD economies, assessing the predictive performance of search-based indicators across different contexts. Overall, our findings highlight the value of digital attention data as behaviorally grounded signals of consumer intentions, offering a timely complement to traditional economic indicators
Delayed taxation and macroeconomic stability: A dynamic IS-LM model with memory effects
No full textThis study develops a dynamic IS-LM macroeconomic model that incorporates delayed taxation and a memory-dependent income effect, and calibrates it to quarterly data for Romania (2000-2023). Within this framework, fiscal policy lags are modelled using a 'memory' income variable that weights past incomes, an approach grounded in distributed lag theory to capture how historical economic conditions influence current dynamics. The model is analysed both analytically and through numerical simulations. We derive stability conditions and employ bifurcation analysis to explore how the timing of taxation influences macroeconomic equilibrium. The findings reveal that an immediate taxation regime yields a stable adjustment toward a unique equilibrium, consistent with classical IS-LM expectations. In contrast, delayed taxation, where tax revenue depends on past income, can destabilise the system, giving rise to cycles and even chaotic fluctuations for parameter values that would be stable under immediate collection. In particular, delays act as a destabilising force, lowering the threshold of the output-adjustment speed at which oscillations emerge. These results highlight the critical importance of policy timing: prompt fiscal feedback tends to stabilise the economy, whereas lags in fiscal intervention can induce endogenous cycles. The analysis offers policy-relevant insights, suggesting that reducing fiscal response delays or counteracting them with other stabilisation tools is crucial for macroeconomic stability
Internationale Konjunkturprognose und konjunkturelle Szenarien für die Jahre 2024 bis 2029
No full textHow learning and legitimacy goals influence inter-firm imitation in R&D investment decisions
No full textMuch research has examined the drivers of firms' R&D investments. However, many questions remain with respect to the role of R&D as a learning target and as a means of achieving legitimacy, particularly in the context of imitative R&D strategy. We develop a theory that integrates different explanations of why firms engage in imitation, highlighting efficiency-enhancing learning and legitimacy and focusing on firms' R&D investment decisions. We argue that deviations in firm performance from social aspiration levels determine the salience of learning and legitimacy goals. Specifically, as performance moves from lying below to being above social aspiration levels, organizations gradually shift from a primary focus on learning vicariously from others' R&D investments toward a focus on mimicking them to maintain legitimacy. An analysis of a sample of 2,081 Spanish manufacturing firms, as well as an online experiment with 863 participants from the manufacturing industry largely support our hypotheses
China's promotion of overseas green projects: Old models and new dynamics
No full textOver the past 15 years, green industries have developed rapidly in China, and with an increasingly saturated domestic market, Chinese companies have intensified their search for overseas markets. The Chinese government is supporting that pursuit under the Green Belt and Road Initiative. This report provides an overview of how China is promoting its green industries overseas; specifically, which models of co-operation are typically used in non-hydro renewable energy projects and what are the new dynamics compared with the traditional projects. The analysis is illustrated with examples of projects mainly in Africa, supplemented with examples in Southeast Asia. [...
Simulation-based approach to analyze modular intralogistic systems in the chemical industry
No full textModular production systems are a response to trends towards shorter product life cycles, increasing product diversity and the resulting volatile market conditions, especially in the fine and specialty chemicals industry. The ability to flexibly adapt the production system to volatile market conditions allows different product types or production quantities to be realized quickly, flexibly and cost-efficiently. Against this background, modular intralogistic systems consisting of conceptually developed logistics equipment assemblies (LEAs) promise flexibility advantages in the case of volatile product, packaging or quantity requirements for the adjacent production-related intralogistic systems. This especially applies to the operation in small-scale, decentralized production networks. Various concepts of LEAs have already been developed for different intralogistics processes, such as the filling of liquids or granulates into small or large packages. However, the characteristics of these different modular concepts in a system integration have not yet been analyzed in the market environment of the chemical industry. Therefore, we analyze the performance of modular intralogistic systems consisting of a system integration of LEAs under disturbances and volatile market conditions in contrast to conventional intralogistic units already existing in the market. Accordingly, this paper develops a simulation-based approach as a methodological basis. With this methodology it is possible to compare different system configurations based on throughput, throughput time or utilization output parameters for different market requirements. Finally, the developed methodology represents a tool for decision support in the planning of modular intralogistic systems and provides the possibility to analyze new concepts of LEAs in a system integration
Beyond the short run: Monetary policy and innovation investment
No full textThis paper provides novel empirical evidence on the impact of monetary policy on innovation investment using unique firm-level data. First, we document the ef- fect of a large, systematic monetary tightening (ECB rate increases from 0% to 4.5% during 2022-23), with average firm-level innovation cuts of 20%. These cuts persist over the medium term, indicating a sustained innovation slowdown. Second, we use the survey to identify elasticities of innovation expenditure to exogenous policy rate changes. Responses to hikes and cuts are significant and largely symmetric at the baseline rate (4.5%), though we detect potential state-dependent asymmetry due to the extensive margin. The financing channel emerges as one of the trans- mission channels, with more pronounced effects in firms with higher shares of bank loans and variable-rate loans. Crucially, we show that monetary policy transmits via aggregate demand, with stronger responses in firms with pessimistic demand expectations. Forward guidance provides substantial additional stimulus by re- ducing uncertainty about future rates, suggesting long-term, supply-side effects of announcements. These results challenge monetary long-run neutrality and are sug- gestive of policy endogeneity of R∗ operating through innovation-driven technology growth