Research at Webster Vienna

Webster Vienna Private Univerity professor Dr. Menbere Workie has presented his research in collaboration with Dr. Nikolaos Antonakakis and Dr. Boris Fisera of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and Adjunct Faculty at WVPU at the Annual Meeting of the Slovak Economic Association (SEAM 2022) on Sept. 15, 2022, at the University of Economics in Bratislava, Slovak Republic. The conference was a joint event with the annual conference of the University of Economics in Bratislava for PhD students and post-doctoral scholars EDAMBA.
 
Abstract - Beyond Competitiveness: Is Productivity Everything?

We extend the discussion on the ongoing controversies over the concept of competitiveness on the macroeconomic level, by empirically assessing whether productivity is a superior predictor of economic growth when compared to World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index (GCI). Our empirical findings seem to suggest four contributions to the ongoing discussions on refining the approaches to international country ranking.

First, the ranking of countries based on total factor productivity yields the same results as those based on the WEF’s GCI.

Second, the correlation between all the scores of the 12 sub-pillars of the GCI, as well as the overall GCI score and productivity yield strikingly similar results.

Third, using a panel dataset for 104 countries over the years 2007-2019, our results obtained from a panel VAR (PVAR) model indicate that productivity has a stronger prediction power for both real GDP growth, as well as for the inequality-adjusted GDP growth than the GCI.

This is particularly the case for advanced economies. Fourth, using the residuals of a regression of productivity on GCI, we explore the drivers of the differences between productivity and GCI. We find that higher values of rule of law, property rights, economic freedom and political stability explain why advanced economies are positioned higher in their level of productivity than in the GCI ranking. Finally, our results support the theoretical literature  and previous empirical evidence that is more inclined towards targeting the drivers of productivity on the macroeconomic level - as opposed to ranking countries according to their level of competitiveness  - as a means of reducing cross-country variation in living standards. 

Faculty — Business and Management

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Webster Vienna Associate Professor and Head of the Department of International Relations, Franco Algieri PhD, and Webster Vienna Lecturer in International Relations, Joachim Honeck, presented their paper "An interregional society in the making?"

The aim of this presentationat at the 15th EISA Pan-European Conference on International Relations, held from 1 to 4 September 2020, in Athens, was to provide an analyze the institutionalization of EU-Asia relations and the relevance of EU-China relations."

Here is an abstract:

Following Hedley Bull’s considerations on international society, the paper discusses whether EU-Asia relations are reflecting the consciousness “of certain common interests and common values” and whether the involved actors “conceive themselves to be bound by a common set of rules in their relations with one another, and share in the working of common institutions”. Furthermore, the authors ask, whether the conceptualization of the EU’s Asia policy might contribute to the creation of some kind of interregional society. Recognizing the significance of EU-China relations, the paper also addresses the mpact of the EU’s China policy in terms of either contributing or eroding the formation of an interregional society. 

Faculty — International Relations

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Recently, associate professor and head of the Media Communications department, Bradley Wiggins, PhD published his research in the journal Discourse & Society. The journal has an impact factor of 1.507.

The title is: ‘Nothing Can Stop What’s Coming’: An analysis of the conspiracy theory discourse on  4chan’s /Pol board

Abstract:

This article presents evidence of a conspiracy theory discourse on the anonymous messaging board 4chan, specifically /pol as in politically incorrect. Previous research shows 4chan lacks a coherent political discourse. Recent research suggests that the site is at least a reliable source of white supremacism within a larger framework of conspiratorial thinking. Grounded theory guides a systematic analysis of posts from 4chan’s /pol board during the dates third to ninth January 2021, before and after the attempted insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Following Trump’s call to supporters to Stop the Steal (referring to unsubstantiated claims of a fraudulent 2020 election), the search terms steal and Trump collected all posts in threads with matching posts. A critical discourse analysis investigates the presence and articulation of conspiracism in selected posts. Findings reveal confirmation with previous research about the apparent lack of ideological coherence on/pol yet also affirms the discourse of white supremacism. Additionally, a diversity of conspiracism functions as a primary form of communication on 4chan regardless of one’s loyalty to a particular political ideology.

Faculty — Strategic Communication

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Do you want to enjoy happy romantic relationships? Then it's time to work on your self-regulation skills!

This research was conducted by Reza Noori Khoondabi as part of a MA thesis, supervised by Marc Mehu, PhD;
 
Individuals with higher levels of self-regulation experience a happier romantic relationships. Self-regulation is necessary for assessing a situation, assigning meaning to the experience, and regulating emotions to attain a goal, specifically in close relationships. This study aims to determine factors such as attachment style, romantic jealousy, and gender differences that influence the association between self-regulation and relationship satisfaction. 

To test the hypotheses: 

1. the relationship between self-regulation and relationship satisfaction will be stronger among individuals with close attachment style;
2. the relationship between self-regulation and relationship satisfaction will be affected by romantic jealousy;
3. attachment style will moderate the direct and indirect relationship between self-regulation and relationship satisfaction via romantic jealousy, and 
4. females will be more upset by emotional jealousy than males, but males will be more upset by sexual jealousy than females, an online survey was distributed on social media platforms and in person.

The results of 97 respondents revealed that the association between self-regulation and relationship satisfaction was not moderated by attachment styles, but was mediated by anxiety and close attachment styles. On the one hand, it seems that a good self-regulation capacity leads to reduced anxiety, and reduced anxiety is associated with higher relationship satisfaction. On the other hand, better self-regulation capacities are associated with closer attachment styles, which in turn increases relationship satisfaction. 

Cognitive and behavioral jealousy did mediate the relationship between self-regulation and relationship satisfaction, higher self-regulation skills led to less cognitive and behavioral jealousy, which in turn increased relationship satisfaction. Contrary to our hypotheses, there was no gender differences in sexual and emotional jealousy. 

The findings of the research highlighted the intricate connections between self-regulation, attachment styles, romantic jealousy, and relationship satisfaction, and also suggest that people who are better at self-regulation experience lower romantic jealousy and have a happier romantic relationship.

Faculty — Psychology

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