ABSTRACT The objective of this article is to study the behavior of the stock markets in emerging countries (BRICS) and developed countries (USA, England, Germany, and Japan), aiming to identify the evolution of their degree of efficiency between June 2007 and July 2021 based on the hypothesis of fractal markets. Using the Hurst exponent, the fractal dimension, and entropy approximation, it was built a market efficiency index. Among the main results, inconstancy of the efficiency indices over time was identified, which is consistent with previous studies within the field of econophysics. In addition, most of the inefficiency is due to the presence of deterministic elements in asset price variations, with a similarity in the efficiency level between the groups of emerging and developed countries, except for the case of China, which presented a singular behavior, which motivates new studies in this market. Finally, the results indicate the relevance of the cointegration effects of the analyzed markets, which is reflected in the inefficiencies of these markets over time.

ABSTRACT This study analyzed the effects of sovereign rating and corporate governance (CG) on the capital structure of Latin American companies. A multilevel regression model was used for 823 companies listed on major Latin American stock exchanges over the period 2004-2018. The results showed that firm level is the most responsible factor for the variation in companies’ capital structure, while country level had the greatest influence on the variation in long-term debt. In the absence of CG mechanisms, sovereign rating is one of the factors not controlled by managers that can explain the capital structure of Latin American companies, which reduce their debt levels to protect themselves in the face of their countries’ sovereign rating variations. The results indicated that, despite having an audit committee and keeping independent members on the committee, firms choose to reduce their debt levels to protect themselves against the constant variations of their countries’ sovereign rating. The results also showed that CG mechanisms do not act in isolation when it comes to reducing agency problems. This research is one of the first studies to provide evidence on the implications of sovereign ratings and CG on the capital structure of firms in Latin America.

ABSTRACT This paper aims to evaluate the impact of gamification as a practice of teaching entrepreneurship on the entrepreneurial intention. We applied the FishBanks simulation to entrepreneurship classes of a Brazilian technical business course at the Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN). We adopted as an identification strategy the use of the methods of difference-in-differences, combined with propensity score matching and quantile regression to investigate the impact of gamification on entrepreneurial intention of the students of a technical business course. The sample was composed of 191 students on a longitudinal panel of two periods, with 106 students in the treatment group and 85 students in the control group, totaling 382 observations. The results indicate a positive and statistically significant impact of the use of the business game on the entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, we observed a higher impact of gamification in entrepreneurial intention of the students in the first quartile of the entrepreneurial intention.

ABSTRACT This study sought to investigate the effect of intrapreneurial behavior on project success dimensions. Although extant literature examines diverse aspects of influence on project success, it is silent on assessing intrapreneurial effects, even though companies target and foster such behavior. We found that the more the intrapreneurial behavior and profile increase, the greater the possibility of project success in a broad sense, regarding clients, project teams, strategies for the company’s future, commercial success, and efficiency. Latent class analysis reached three heterogeneous profiles in terms of intrapreneurship. These findings bring evidence of the importance of fostering intrapreneurial behavior on project teams, considering that members will develop it differently, leading to distinct project success outcomes in the middle and long term. Data from 411 project management participants were analyzed through exploratory factorial analysis, PLS-SEM, and latent class analysis. Finally, theoretical and managerial implications are discussed, along with the study’s limitations, and further proposed studies.

ABSTRACT We argue that there is a need to advance further research that strengthens the analysis of policy mixes for the energy transition in major emerging economies. In this context, this article aims to answer the following question: How do Brazil’s policies favor or hinder an energy transition of oil and gas companies (O&G) to renewables? To achieve this purpose, we conducted literature and archival research and interviews with experts to analyze (a) Brazil’s energy policy mixes that address O&G and renewables issues; and (b) major O&G companies’ activities and perspectives that influence the energy transition. Results demonstrated that though some of the O&G companies have made significant renewables investments in the last years, they continue focusing on O&G activities. We discuss the main policy mix features that hinder the prioritization of renewables by these O&G companies and that can undermine a sustainable energy transition in Brazil.

ABSTRACT This study verifies the association between the text sentiment of news items and the value of capital investments in the equity crowdfunding market. It also analyzes the influence of geographic attributes on the investments made. Based on data for 736 investments made in different ventures in the largest equity crowdfunding platform in one of the main emerging markets, this study’s results indicate that the attributes of ventures can affect the amount of capital invested in them. In addition, published mass media news items that have a greater quantity of positive words can stimulate larger investments in these ventures. On the other hand, the geographic distance between the entrepreneur and the investor can negatively affect the value of these investments. These results are relevant since they can contribute to the definition of fundraising strategies on the part of entrepreneurs and platform managers.

ABSTRACT ‘Deglobalization’ has been bandied about now for almost a decade, capped off with the war in Ukraine and its geopolitical and geoeconomic impacts on global trade, investment, and finance. However, there have been and continue to be developments that run counter to the argument that we are living in a period of deglobalization. For example, China’s state firms are major investors in Latin America’s energy, roads, dams and other infrastructure, and space industries. In fact, China has surpassed the United States as South America’s largest trading partner. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is investing $40 billion in chip manufacturing in Arizona. And Mexico’s Grupo Bimbo has been actively doing business in China for over five years. Admittedly, the world economy is in a period of contraction. However, this slowdown in growth can be attributed as much to politics, in the form of nationalism and populism, as to economics. Additionally, measures of globalization and trade, in general, focus on manufactured goods, yet services comprise the most robust, fastest growing and dynamic sector of the economy worldwide. Any discussion of globalization and deglobalization must also address non-tariff barriers to international trade, the growth of startups, later-stage companies, and cross-border data flows. In essence, there has been no generalized decline in international economic activity but rather the growth rate has slowed. Globalization is here to stay.

ABSTRACT This study aims to assess whether the ease of doing business can be considered as an alternative path (indirect path) between innovation and competitiveness of nations, improving the understanding of the effect transfer between these two variables. The study used exploratory/confirmatory factor analysis and mediation techniques applied to data from 141 countries contemplated in The Global Competitiveness report 2019 by the WEF and Doing Business report 2019 by the World Bank. The results show the mediator role of ease of doing business in the relationship between innovation and global competitiveness. Innovation improves the competitiveness of nations, but rules and regulations can be a barrier to this relationship. Therefore, ease of doing business is an essential element in improving the relationship between innovation and competitiveness, helping policymakers to focus their efforts on ease of doing business aspects in such a way as to enhance the economic process and support investors to make the most appropriate decisions when choosing the countries in which to invest their resources. Complementarily, the study also contributes by pointing out that the current method of calculating the EDB index may not be the most suitable, since it can distort analysis affecting international investment feasibility studies.

ABSTRACT Objective: the objective of this study was to analyze the effects on industrial competitiveness of the subsidies related to the Industry 4.0 Program in Portugal from 2017 to 2019. The following research question arises in this context: What is the influence of the incentive value on the competitiveness of Portuguese industries after the implementation of the Industry 4.0 technology-enabling projects? Methods: the methodological approach of the study is correlational in nature, and it seeks to establish relationships between the Industry 4.0 incentive value and competitiveness in order to identify the role of funds/subsidies in the competitiveness of Industry 4.0 in Portugal. The study relied on the use of non-parametric statistical techniques. Kendall’s rank correlation coefficient, the Fisher test, and the Wilkinson test were used to interpret the results. Results and Conclusions: according to the presented results, the central hypothesis of this study is accepted, since the factors that make up the Industry 4.0 - European fund - incentive value dimension have an association with the degree of competitiveness (operating revenue, number of employees, total factor productivity - TFP, gross value added, EBITDA, and net profit) in the 2017-2019 period.

ABSTRACT This study offers a new perspective on the relationship between social innovation and public governance. It drew inspiration from pragmatism, emphasizing the importance of public inquiry and democratic experimentalism. The perspective was applied and validated through a series of studies conducted within the framework of the Observatory of Social Innovation in Florianópolis, Brazil, since 2017. The study presented and discussed the findings and insights gained from observing the emergence and spread (or lack thereof) of social innovations in the city’s public arenas. It revisited the debate on public governance to establish a framework for the study of public action. It then identified gaps and improvements in the literature linking public governance and social innovation. Based on these previous discussions, the article proposes an approach to pragmatist ethnography of public arenas validated by empirical studies in Florianópolis. The results provide insights into how societal-state relations and modes of governance can facilitate or impede social innovation and the promotion of more democratic and sustainable cities. The study contributes to a better understanding of the interplay between social innovation and public governance, and its implications for the development of more inclusive and sustainable cities.

ABSTRACT This study aims to identify and characterize innovation laboratories in South American governments by employing a comprehensive and exploratory multiple-case study approach. Data were obtained from documentary and bibliographic sources, as well as through structured questionnaires containing both open and closed questions. The collected data were then classified using the content analysis technique. The findings revealed consistencies and peculiarities between the labs, corroborating the extant literature. Specifically, there is a greater prevalence of government labs with a focus on organizational aspects, particularly at the local and regional levels, compared to citizen-oriented labs. Furthermore, these labs primarily serve as educators (77.78%) and innovators/developers (72.22%), with an emphasis on improving services, administrative processes, concepts, and public policies. The presence of innovation labs can facilitate systemic changes within the public sector, enhancing its capacity to deliver efficient and effective solutions to complex problems. Lastly, the study provides an overview of its practical and academic implications, particularly when highlighting the concept of governmental innovation poverty. Additionally, the study acknowledges its inherent limitations and suggests potential avenues for future research.

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.

ABSTRACT Although the strategic issue (SI) construct has been used since the 1970s as a theoretical framework to investigate and explain several phenomena in organizational and strategic management, few reviews on SIs have been carried out so far. This study aims to fill this gap. A systematic review of the literature was conducted, comprising 77 empirical and theoretical papers published in peer-reviewed academic journals since 1975. The analysis of this sample of papers led to the identification of five themes or perspective on SIs, which are discussed. This review contributes to the organizational and strategic management literature by identifying lines of inquiry, convergences, and gaps in the studies on SIs, and proposing an agenda for future research.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to analyze which business sustainability factors are adopted in the strategic process of the agricultural sector using the model named Strategic Planning for Business Sustainability (PEPSE). To achieve the proposed aim, the PEPSE model was applied to the Analytic Hierarchy Process multicriteria decision tool. During the research, the farm adopted sanitary measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which compromised access to managers and, consequently, data collection. Based on the application of a model developed especially for the identification and formulation of sustainable strategies, the study identified how sustainability is considered in the strategic planning of an agricultural unit in Brazil and the strategies adopted to deal with environmental variables. It was possible to understand how the stakeholders influence the planning of the farm and the variables and priority strategies for the environmental positioning of the farm. Thus, the main limitation of the research was the time and the collection of information, therefore, only an analysis of the external scenario of the farm was carried out.