Publicações

The fashion industry’s environmental crisis demands urgent shifts toward sustainable consumption models, such as capsule wardrobes. While prior research has examined ethical fashion adoption through conventional behavioral lenses, this study innovatively integrates heterodox economic theories, including the Theory of Subjective Value (TSV) and Bounded Rationality, with the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to analyze discrepancies between attitudes and actions. Using a sample of 776 Portuguese consumers, we examine a mediation model where attitude links personal shopping values, fashion involvement, and socially responsible behavior to adoption intentions. Results reveal socially responsible behavior’s strong indirect effect via attitude, while personal shopping values and fashion involvement show paradoxical relationships, underscoring cognitive and market barriers. Gender and generational analyses highlight women’s higher sustainability engagement and Generation Z’s intention-action gap. The study advances sustainable fashion literature by exposing how subjective valuations and structural constraints interact, calling for coordinated stakeholder interventions beyond individual behavior change.

Research on corporate bankruptcy prediction has garnered renewed interest due to economic crises and regulatory changes. Most studies focus on large enterprises, leaving a gap in understanding bankruptcy prediction in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study carries out a systematic literature review to examine the evolution of this topic, focusing on SMEs. Using a structured methodology based on PRISMA, we analysed 541 academic papers, categorising them into two groups: (i) SMEs and (ii) non-SMEs. Our findings reveal key distinctions between the two groups, particularly regarding the definition of bankruptcy, financial and non-financial predictive factors, and the types of models applied. While statistical models, such as logistic regression and discriminant analysis, remain dominant in SME-focused research, artificial intelligence-based techniques are gaining traction. The study also identifies a lack of comparative studies assessing model effectiveness for SMEs across different economic contexts. Based on these insights, we propose a framework to enhance future research in corporate bankruptcy prediction, emphasising the need for models that integrate macroeconomic variables, governance factors, and alternative risk assessment techniques tailored to SMEs. Our findings contribute to bridging the gap between theory and empirical research, offering practical implications for financial institutions, auditors, policymakers, and SME managers in mitigating bankruptcy risks.

Previous investigations in fitness centers have indicated that interaction between customers and staff members play a crucial role in the service delivery process, being a source of value creation that can influence customers perceptions and behavioral intentions. However, despite available research demonstrating the influence of this variable on perceived value and repurchase intention in these facilities. Evidence on how interactions between members and staff influence users’ emotional responses is lacking. For this reason, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships among service encounter, consumer trust, and members loyalty in fitness centers. Data were collected by means of an on-line questionnaire surveyed to a total of 235 active users from different fitness centers across Portugal. Data analysis procedures included a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) followed by the development of a structural equation model (SEM). The results of the analysis demonstrated good psychometric properties. In addition, significant relationships were found between service encounter and consumer trust as well as between consumer trust and loyalty. However, service encounters did not influence significantly consumer loyalty. These results provide empirical evidence of the role of customer-employee interactions as a source of intangible value (i.e. emotional and social) creation in fitness centers. These interactions can be a source of value-in-use that can lead to other positive outcomes for managers, customers and staff members in these facilities such as increased members’ sense of community, customer engagement and loyalty.

Cross-Cultural Validation of COSF and LOHAS Scales: Examining Slow Fashion Consumption Behaviors in Portugal and the Czech Republic

The purpose of the paper is (1) to validate and measure the invariance of the COSF and LOHAS scales across countries (Portugal and the Czech Republic) and establish their convergent and discriminant validity, (2) determine the variables that explain perceived customer value, purchase intention, and willingness to pay a price premium, and (3) assess the differences between participants who have and have not already bought slow fashion products. Quantitative data were collected via questionnaire survey between April and October 2024 in Portugal (n = 1728) and the Czech Republic (n = 1652). The positive correlation between the COSF and LOHAS scales suggests that individuals inclined toward slow fashion consumption will likely exhibit broader sustainable and health-conscious lifestyles, integrating sustainable practices into various aspects of their lives, not just in fashion. The findings contribute to understanding the relationships between consumer values (COSF and LOHAS) and purchase behavior, which can inform marketing strategies, especially in the growing slow fashion market. Policymakers and companies in the fashion industry can use these insights to promote sustainability and environmentally conscious consumption. Also, the study reveals significant differences between Portuguese and Czech consumers regarding sociodemographic characteristics and slow fashion consumption behaviors. Marketers can use these insights to tailor their campaigns to specific cultural and demographic groups, adjusting messaging based on income perception, education level, and purchase behavior. Consumer values such as authenticity, equity, and environmental consciousness (COSF and LOHAS) influence purchasing decisions. Slow fashion brands can use this information to develop products that resonate with these values, such as emphasizing sustainable materials, ethical production practices, or local craftsmanship, appealing directly to consumers who prioritize these attributes.