CEF.UP – ECO/FIN Seminar

Tuesday – May 13^th 2025, at 13:00h | Room 305

“Economic Policy Uncertainty and Consumer Perceptions: The Danish Case”

Michael Bergman –  University of Copenhagen (Denmark)

Abstract:
“This paper develops a newspaper based measure of economic policy uncertainty for Denmark using the method suggested by Baker et.al. (2016). We apply this measure to study the interrelationships between uncertainty, consumer confidence and a composite leading indicator. We find that uncertainty significantly affects household expectations about their own financial situation 12 months ahead, households become more pessimistic when uncertainty increases. The leading indicator is negatively related to uncertainty but exert less influence on consumer confidence than on uncertainty. EU economic policy uncertainty also significantly affects household expectations. Using disaggregated data on consumer confidence we find that males are on average more optimistic about the future developments of the economy and their own financial situation than females but they respond stronger to changes in uncertainty. Unemployed tend to be more optimistic than workers (a large share of the unemployed are young and young people tend to be more optimistic than older generations) but respond to uncertainty negatively. Middle income households and less skilled workers respond significantly to increases in uncertainty.”

CEF.UP – MaR Seminar/Webinar

Tuesday – May 13^th, 2025 | 18:30h – 20:00h | Room 631 | Online

“Semantic network analysis in consumer and marketing research: application areas in phygital contexts”

Philipp Jaufenthaler – Faculty of Business and Management, Leopold-Franzens Universität Innsbruck (Austria)

Large-scale text-based data presents significant methodological challenges due to its complexity and volume, necessitating advanced approaches for analysis and interpretation. In this seminar, we will talk about semantic network analysis (SemNA) as an innovative solution and discuss its potential for consumer and marketing research. By integrating quantitative measures, such as co-occurrence patterns of semantic units, with qualitative interpretation of semantic networks, SemNA offers a promising quant-qual framework. This approach not only structures and visualizes data but also enables interpretive exploration and theorization, bridging methodological gaps and uncovering actionable insights. Please bring your laptop.

CEF.UP – WiP Seminar

Wednesday – May 21^st, 2025 at 13:00h | Room 305

Machine learning and business growth: the impact of ESG practices

Sandra Marnoto – cef.UP, NECE and University of Maia.

Abstract:

“Growth is essential for Businesses long-term success, allowing the improvement of market position and profitability. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices are fundamental in this process, strengthening customer reputation and loyalty, which drives competitive performance. With globalization, global value chains (GVCs) become essential for business growth, allowing access to new markets and cost reduction. Aligning ESG practices with participation in these chains is vital for sustainable growth and innovation. This study investigates the impact of ESG practices on business growth, focusing on how inclusion in global value chains (GVCs) moderates this relationship. The main objectives of the research are to assess how ESG practices influence the growth of companies and how integration into GVCs affects this dynamic. To achieve the objectives, the methodology used includes a combination of machine learning algorithms, such as Linear Regression, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Machine, Support Vector Regression and Neural Networks, allowing to capture complex interactions between variables. The dataset used in the study is the Flash Eurobarometer 486, entitled “SMEs, Start-ups, Scale-ups, and Entrepreneurship”, conducted by the European Commission in 2020 and covers companies from all Member States, as well as 13 other countries, totaling 14,554 companies distributed across different sectors and regions. The results show that the governance dimension (G) has a significant impact on the growth of companies, as well as social practices (S). Environmental practices (E) have a less significant effect. In addition, inclusion in global value chains does not moderate the influence of ESG practices, so regardless of whether or not the company is part of a global network of suppliers and customers, ESG practices maintain the level of influence on business growth.”

CEF.UP – MaR Seminar

Tuesday – May 27^th , 2025 | 18:30h- 20:00h | Room 631

MEET THE EDITORS

This seminar is an opportunity to meet and talk with the editors of selected journals, all of them affiliated with FEP – School of Economics and Management of the University of Porto.

Editors will answer questions about the journals, discuss the submission and review processes, and provide attendees with advice on how to increase the likelihood of publication.

• João Oliveira (Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management)
• Luísa Pinto (Journal of Global Mobility)
• Amélia Brandão (International Journal of Consumer Studies)
• Dalila Fontes (Journal of Combinatorial Optimization)

Moderator: Teresa Fernandes (Journal of Strategic Marketing)