ABSTRACT The relationship between relational governance mechanisms and multi-unit franchising, where a single franchisee owns and operates multiple units, has received limited attention in the existing literature. Previous studies primarily focus on the role of trust in such arrangements. Consequently, this study aims to develop and test a theoretical model that explores the association between a higher allocation of units to this type of franchisee and key attributes of relational governance, such as participation and communication. Adopting the franchisors’ perspective, our sample consists of 170 networks affiliated with the Brazilian Franchising Association (Associação Brasileira de Franchising [ABF]), and data were collected from various sources, including a self-administered questionnaire (based on data from 2018). The results provide support for our general hypothesis, indicating a positive association between relational aspects of the franchisor-franchisee partnership and a higher proportion of units owned by multi-unit franchisees. Additionally, we find that the operational sector (retail/service) and specific local investments diminish the explanatory power of the model’s variables related to relational governance, suggesting a secondary influence on the decision-making process concerning the contractual mix.

RESUMO Este artigo apresenta alguns cenários teóricos dos impactos socioeconômicos causados pela pandemia da Covid-19 na América Latina e no Caribe (ALC). Para isso, após uma breve revisão da literatura de pandemias anteriores, usamos a teoria macro e microeconômica, juntamente com dados agregados, a fim de fornecer implicações esperadas da pandemia de Covid-19 para a região da ALC. No nível macroeconômico, explicamos como o choque de Covid-19 está causando uma redução na oferta agregada e na demanda agregada, mergulhando a região em uma recessão, e por que essa recessão é perigosamente prejudicial para as economias da ALC. No nível micro, descrevemos por que algumas empresas se adaptariam para permanecer no mercado ou até para crescer; por outro lado, alguns deles sairiam do mercado no curto prazo. Para os consumidores, o impacto dessa crise sanitária está relacionado à mudança nas preferências e nas relações dos familiares devido a quarentenas prolongadas.

ABSTRACT This paper provides some theoretical scenarios the socioeconomic impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic for the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). To do so, after a brief literature review of previous pandemics, we use the macro and microeconomic theory, together with aggregated data, in order to provide expected implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for the LAC region. At a macroeconomic level, we explain how the COVID-19 shock is causing both aggregate supply and aggregate demand to reduce so plunging the region into a recession and why such a recession is dangerously harmful for the LAC economies. At a micro level, we describe why some enterprises would adapt to remain in the market or even growth; by contrast, some of them would leave the market in the short term. For the consumers, the impact of this sanitary crisis is related to the change in their preferences and household members’ relations due to extended quarantines.

Abstract: What drives elderly people decide to work after retirement? This paper analyzes the economic determinants of the decision to work in Ecuadorian elderly. In the analytical part, authors have analyzed the literature devoted to the study of elderly people, from which several testable hypotheses that relate it to income, education level and complex household have been derived. The article provides empirical evidence from using the Living Conditions Survey (2014). The estimation results suggest that variables as income, education level and belonging to a complex household play a significant role in the decision to work of Ecuadorian elderly.

Resumen: ¿Qué impulsa a los adultos mayores a trabajar después de la jubilación? Este artículo analiza los determinantes económicos de la decisión de trabajar en adultos mayores ecuatorianos. En la parte analítica, los autores analizan la literatura dedicada a los adultos mayores, a partir de la cual se derivan varias hipótesis comprobables relacionadas con el ingreso, la educación y hogares complejos. El artículo proporciona evidencia empírica usando datos de la Encuesta de Condiciones de Vida (2014). Los resultados de las estimaciones sugieren que variables como el ingreso, la educación y pertenecer a un hogar complejo juegan un papel importante en la decisión de trabajar de los adultos mayores ecuatorianos.

Abstract: This paper studies the economic determinants of fecundity. In the analytical part, authors have analyzed the vast economic literature devoted to the study of fecundity, from which several testable hypotheses that relates it to household income, education level of the mother and her occupation have been derived. The article provides empirical evidence from 46,716 Ecuadorian women between 12 and 49 in 2006 and 2014. In particular, it was found, through count data models, that years of mother education and household income have a negative effect on fecundity.

Resumen: En este trabajo se estudia los determinantes económicos de la fecundidad. En la parte analítica se examina la vasta literatura económica dedicada al estudio de la fecundidad, de la que varias hipótesis comprobables que relacionan los ingresos económicos de los hogares, el nivel de educación de la madre y su ocupación laboral con la fecundidad se derivan. El artículo elaborado con datos ecuatorianos proporciona evidencia empírica de 46.716 mujeres entre 12 y 49 años, en dos momentos temporales (2006 y 2014) que son combinados en un pool de datos. En particular, se comprobó, mediante modelos de datos de recuento, que los años de educación de la madre y los ingresos del hogar tienen un efecto negativo en la fecundidad.