Place branding scholars and practitioners increasingly highlight the influence that corporate image can exert on the image of the country of origin (COI). Yet, there is remarkably little theoretical and empirical research on this influence. In this qualitative and quantitative study the researcher aims (1) to analyse whether corporate image affects COI; (2) to identify consumer-related and company-related factors that affect the influence of corporate image on COI; (3) to examine the influence of corporate image- (net valence and consistency) and corporate-related factors (number of corporate brands and accessibility) on COI; (4) to investigate the moderating effects of corporate familiarity, business familiarity and consumer ethnocentrism on the influence of corporate image-related factors on COI; and (5) to describe the COI not only in terms of lists of attributes, but also in terms of holistic impressions. This study focuses on the case of Spain and is based on empirical evidence provided by undertaking, firstly, in-depth interviews with 13 place branding experts and, secondly, a face-to-face survey of 300 British people aged 18 and over living in London or Greater London, selected using a multi-stage area sampling technique. The findings reveal (1) the statistically significant positive impact of corporate image on one dimension of COI (political beliefs); (2) six consumer-related (awareness of the corporate brand’s COO; power of the corporate brand image; strength of the corporate brand-country association; brand image fit; brand image unfit; strength of the industry-country association) and four company-related (extent to which the company plays up or down its COO; the company’s international and market visibility; the number of corporate brands operating in the market) factors that influence the impact of corporate image on COI; (3) that corporate image- and corporate-related factors explain collectively 10 per cent or over of variance in the affective dimensions of COI and a smaller proportion of variance in the cognitive dimensions of COI; (4) that business familiarity has a significant effect moderating the influence of net valence on COI; and (5) that tourism is the dominant element of the image that British people have of Spain. Theoretical (conceptual model, first study testing the influence of corporate image on COI) and managerial (guidelines for selecting corporate brands to be included in country branding campaigns) implications of these findings are considered, and finally, limitations of the study and future research directions are suggested.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how dimensions of Country of Origin Image (COI) can impact the purchase propensity of consumers. Drawing on the literature of international marketing, consumer behaviour, and social psychology, an experiment with a three-product category (experiential, functional, and symbolic) was designed to analyse purchase propensity of Swedish consumers for Brazilian products. To collect the data, Swedish consumers divided into three groups were part of the experiment. Each group had contact with one product category having five advertisements with different appeals, answering a survey sent via e-mail. Overall, COI appeals was found to have a higher purchase propensity benefit than no COI. Evidence was found that dimensions have different purchase propensity benefit among the product categories. The findings offer evidence that in a cultural distance setting, COI appeals should be implemented for the increase of purchase propensity, with adaptation based on context. / <p>Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the presentation took place on-line, in a Zoom conference.</p>

Nation as a brand represents the intangible assets of a country, encompassing various dimensions such as politics, economics, culture, history, and technology. However, much of extant work in nation branding has been limited to the empirical investigations of its positioning and implementation for specific countries, while other scholarly works in nation branding are conceptual. Various factors associated with nation branding are discussed in the literature, but there is no organizing mechanism to connect these factors to explore the dynamics underlying nation branding. To fill this gap, this dissertation attempts to identify the relevant factors underlying the deployment of nation branding, and to develop models to assess the association among these factors. Hunt and Morgan's resource advantage theory serves as the theoretical foundation of this dissertation's framework. After establishing panel data models that link the factors of building and developing the nation brand, the strategic implications of nation branding are discussed. Archival data were used for economic factors such as economic development, tourism, export, and inward foreign investment, and cultural, political, infrastructural, and geographical factors. The primary data were collected for qualitative factors perceived reputable brand and perceived reputable industry. The Anholt-GfK Roper's 2008 Nation Brands IndexSM was incorporated into the model as a moderating variable to test its impact on the relationship between the dependent variables and the independent variables. A total of 24 nations were analyzed to build and validate the models. This dissertation makes several contributions to the nation branding literature. First, it clarifies the definition of nation brand and nation branding. Second, it builds a predictive econometric model to connect the critical determinant and outcome factors of nation branding. Finally, it discusses nation branding strategies in terms of resource advantage theory and provides crucial insights on the development and management of a nation brand that can be used by researchers, marketing managers, and stakeholders of the nation brand to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of nation branding.

Country of origin (COO) effect is a well-researched topic in the international marketing literature. It is well recognized that consumers are biased against imports, due to consumer ethnocentrism or patriotism tendency. However, the research on COO effects also suggests that consumers form certain image of origin countries (COO image) and favorable image, be it associated with the countries, their people, or general product quality, improves the evaluation and acceptance of foreign imports. The publications related to COO effects which focus on consumer durables are abundant. However, the contrasting COO effects on food products are much less investigated. This study surveys British consumers’ preference for domestic versus imported beef. Like previous studies, a strong preference for domestic beef was found. Furthermore, individual characteristics which potentially influence such preference were examined. Using scores on consumer patriotism and COO image perception as interacting individual characteristics in the choice models, it was found that stronger preference against imports was linked to higher level of the respondents perceived patriotic sentiment toward their home country, while better COO image improved the likelihood of the foreign country’s beef being selected. Marketing and policy implications are discussed.

本研究主要在探討當消費者無法正確評量產品績效時，來源國形象對顧客滿意度的影響是否會因消費者的產品知識程度不同而有所不同，另外，試圖去瞭解具有不同產品知識程度的消費者，其顧客滿意度的決定因素究竟為何。 本研究採用實驗方法，且以棉布料為實驗標的（因為純棉布料和混棉布料很難被正確分辨）。實驗設計採 2 （台灣製產品概念／義大利製產品概念）×2 （產品表現佳／產品表現差）×2 （產品知識高／產品知識低），將受測者分為 8 組。研究結果發現，若受測者無法正確評量產品績效，則當受測者對棉布料的產品知識程度低，來源國形象（台灣 v.s. 義大利）對購買前的期望有顯著的影響，且期望是決定顧客滿意度的主要因素，此時來源國形象會顯著影響顧客滿意度；反之，當受測者對棉布料的產品知識程度高時，來源國形象對期望不會有顯著之影響，而此時期望亦是決定顧客滿意度的主要因素，所以來源國形象不會顯著影響顧客滿意度。另外，實驗結果也證實，顧客滿意度會顯著影響受測者的購買意願。 由研究的結果可知，當產品本身的績效難以被消費者所衡量（如健康性藥品、美容保養品...等）時，廠商應該在提高產品本身之績效後，同時把一些資源和心力投注在創造消費者心中更高的期望，並藉此更有效地達到提昇顧客滿意度的目的。另外，廠商也應針對不同消費特性的消費者，推出不同的廣告訴求和行銷方案，如此才能更有效地配置公司的資源，並順利地提昇全球顧客的滿意程度。 / The research investigated the differential impact of country of origin on product expectation and satisfaction when consumers have different levels of product knowledge. An experiment with a factorial design was conducted for the empirical test. The product used in the experiment was cotten material. Product expectation, perceived product performance, disconfirmation, consumer satisfaction, objective product knowledge of the cotten material were measured. The results showed that when consumers had low level of product knowledge in both concept evaluation and product evaluation stages, country of origin would effect product expectation. Product expectation is the key determinant of consumer satisfaction. On the other hand, when consumers had a high level of product knowledge in evaluating the product concept, but have no ability in distinguish product performance, country of origin would not effect product expectation. However product expectation is still the key determinant of consumer satisfaction. Finally, consumer satisfaction also has a significant effect on consumers' purchase intention.

A área de estratégia, por meio da teoria baseada em recursos (RBT), desenvolve estudos que procuram compreender as características, recursos, capacidades e processos que levam algumas empresas, na mesma indústria, a terem um desempenho melhor que seus concorrentes. A RBT atingiu a maturidade teórica exigindo novos rumos para a sua revitalização. Simultaneamente, os estudiosos de marketing internacional afirmam que a teoria sobre a imagem do país de origem (COI) precisa ser revigorada e recomendam que ela seja analisada à luz da literatura de estratégia. É sob essa perspectiva que esta tese apresenta a sua contribuição, desenvolvendo e validando uma escala de importância de COI na perspectiva empresarial. O construto foi desenvolvido com base em uma capacidade específica da empresa: a construção e gestão da marca. Para isso, as bases teóricas sobre RBT, interface entre RBT e marketing, COI e marca foram revisadas e, ancorada nesta literatura, foi possível identificar os processos para incorporar a COI na estratégia da marca, os quais foram utilizados como dimensões da escala. Foram realizados diversos procedimentos psicométricos seguindo as recomendações de diversos psicometristas. O constructo foi definido como a capacidade de gestão da incorporação da COI à marca (BCOI), que reflete a importância conferida pela empresa para usar a COI como um recurso na construção da capacidade de marca. Após a etapa inicial, em que foram gerados e validados os itens com pesquisadores e com gestores, realizou-se um levantamento com 457 executivos. A amostra foi dividida em duas subamostras para aplicação de diferentes técnicas estatísticas. Na subamostra 1 foi realizada uma análise fatorial exploratória que confirmou o modelo inicial da escala delineado junto a pesquisadores e gestores no processo de geração de itens. Esse modelo foi testado na subamostra 2 por meio da análise fatorial confirmatória e da modelagem de equação estrutural. Os resultados indicaram que a BCOI se manifesta por meio de 26 itens organizados em cinco dimensões: elementos textuais e visuais, sentidos, recursos culturais, recursos naturais e empregados / The strategy stream, through resource theory based (RBT), develops studies that seek to understand the characteristics, features, capabilities and processes that lead some companies in the same industry, to have a better performance compered to its competitors. The RBT has reached the theoretical maturity requiring new directions for its revitalization. Simultaneously, international marketing scholars claim that the theory about the country of origin image (COI) needs to be invigorated and recommend it to be examinated in the light of the strategy literature. It is from this perspective that this thesis presents its contribution by developing and validating a scale of importance of COI in business perspective. The construct was developed based on a specific capability of the company: building and manageming the brand (branding). For this, the theoretical basis of RBT, the interface between marketing and RBT, COI and branding were reviewed and anchored in this literature, it was possible to identify the processes to incorporate the COI in the brand strategy, which were used as scale dimensions. various psychometric procedures following the recommendations of several psychometricians were performed. The construct was defined as the branding capability of COI incorporation (BCOI), which reflects the importance given by the company to use the COI as a resource in brand building capability. After the initial stage, in which items were generated and evaluated with researchers and managers, a survey with 457 executives was held. The sample was divided into two subsamples for application of different statistical techniques. An exploratory factor analysis was performed with subsample 1. The EFA produced an initial scale model that was tested in subsample 2 through confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results indicated that the BCOI iis manifested through 26 items organized into five dimensions: textual and visual elements, senses, cultural resources, natural resources and employees.

A área de estratégia, por meio da teoria baseada em recursos (RBT), desenvolve estudos que procuram compreender as características, recursos, capacidades e processos que levam algumas empresas, na mesma indústria, a terem um desempenho melhor que seus concorrentes. A RBT atingiu a maturidade teórica exigindo novos rumos para a sua revitalização. Simultaneamente, os estudiosos de marketing internacional afirmam que a teoria sobre a imagem do país de origem (COI) precisa ser revigorada e recomendam que ela seja analisada à luz da literatura de estratégia. É sob essa perspectiva que esta tese apresenta a sua contribuição, desenvolvendo e validando uma escala de importância de COI na perspectiva empresarial. O construto foi desenvolvido com base em uma capacidade específica da empresa: a construção e gestão da marca. Para isso, as bases teóricas sobre RBT, interface entre RBT e marketing, COI e marca foram revisadas e, ancorada nesta literatura, foi possível identificar os processos para incorporar a COI na estratégia da marca, os quais foram utilizados como dimensões da escala. Foram realizados diversos procedimentos psicométricos seguindo as recomendações de diversos psicometristas. O constructo foi definido como a capacidade de gestão da incorporação da COI à marca (BCOI), que reflete a importância conferida pela empresa para usar a COI como um recurso na construção da capacidade de marca. Após a etapa inicial, em que foram gerados e validados os itens com pesquisadores e com gestores, realizou-se um levantamento com 457 executivos. A amostra foi dividida em duas subamostras para aplicação de diferentes técnicas estatísticas. Na subamostra 1 foi realizada uma análise fatorial exploratória que confirmou o modelo inicial da escala delineado junto a pesquisadores e gestores no processo de geração de itens. Esse modelo foi testado na subamostra 2 por meio da análise fatorial confirmatória e da modelagem de equação estrutural. Os resultados indicaram que a BCOI se manifesta por meio de 26 itens organizados em cinco dimensões: elementos textuais e visuais, sentidos, recursos culturais, recursos naturais e empregados / The strategy stream, through resource theory based (RBT), develops studies that seek to understand the characteristics, features, capabilities and processes that lead some companies in the same industry, to have a better performance compered to its competitors. The RBT has reached the theoretical maturity requiring new directions for its revitalization. Simultaneously, international marketing scholars claim that the theory about the country of origin image (COI) needs to be invigorated and recommend it to be examinated in the light of the strategy literature. It is from this perspective that this thesis presents its contribution by developing and validating a scale of importance of COI in business perspective. The construct was developed based on a specific capability of the company: building and manageming the brand (branding). For this, the theoretical basis of RBT, the interface between marketing and RBT, COI and branding were reviewed and anchored in this literature, it was possible to identify the processes to incorporate the COI in the brand strategy, which were used as scale dimensions. various psychometric procedures following the recommendations of several psychometricians were performed. The construct was defined as the branding capability of COI incorporation (BCOI), which reflects the importance given by the company to use the COI as a resource in brand building capability. After the initial stage, in which items were generated and evaluated with researchers and managers, a survey with 457 executives was held. The sample was divided into two subsamples for application of different statistical techniques. An exploratory factor analysis was performed with subsample 1. The EFA produced an initial scale model that was tested in subsample 2 through confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results indicated that the BCOI iis manifested through 26 items organized into five dimensions: textual and visual elements, senses, cultural resources, natural resources and employees.