We examine the contribution to labor productivity growth in the manufacturing sector of investment in different intangible asset categories—computerized information, innovative property, and economic competencies—for a set of 18 European countries between 1995 and 2017, as well as whether this contribution varies between different groups of countries. The motivation is to go a step further and identify which single or combination of intangible assets are relevant. The main findings can be summarized as follows. Firstly, all the three different categories of intangible assets contribute to labor productivity growth. In particular, intangible assets related to economic competences together with innovative property assets have been identified as the main drivers; specifically, advertising and marketing, organizational capital, research and development (R&D) investment, and design. Secondly, splitting the sample of European Union (EU) member states into three groups—northern, central and southern Europe—allows for the identification of a significant differentiated behavior between and within groups, in terms of the effects of investment in intangible assets on labor productivity growth. We conclude that measures promoting investment in intangibles at EU level should be accompanied by specific measures focusing on each country’s needs, for the purpose of promoting labor productivity growth. The obtained evidence suggests that the solution for the innovation deficit of some European economies consist not only of raising R&D expenditure, but also exploiting complementarities between different types of assets.

Purpose: Functionality of feedback in pedagogical processes has been broadly analyzed in face-to-face learning, although to a lesser extent than in the on-line learning. Narciss (2004, 2008) distinguishes two dimensions within the feedback, the semantic dimension and the structural dimension. This article aims to analyze, from the student’s perspective, the semantic dimension of feedback in a virtual learning environment (VLE). Firstly, we analyze the importance that VLE students give to feedback and its degree of personalization. Later, the usefulness that students deem feedback should have, paying special attention to each of its semantic subdimensions (Narciss, 2004). Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted among students of Business Administration degree of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). 182 students took part, separated into two groups (pilot and control). Findings: It has been proved that 90% of students give a great or very great importance to reception of feedback from their tutors, a relevance they consider to be higher than the one within a face-to-face environment. This percentage is around 75% with regard to the importance given to the level of personalization of feedback. The development of a factor analysis has revealed that usefulness of personalized feedback perceived by the students can be subsumed under two large dimensions: the one that facilitates learning (related to its semantic dimension) and the motivational one (by allowing an easier and more fluid communication with the tutor, contributing not to leave the course, etc.) The latter dimension has been also proved to be key in order to attain improvements in the students’ satisfaction with the learning process. This research was funded by the Catalan government and the UOC, within the framework of projects to Improve Teaching Quality (ITQ). Originality/value: Implementing personalized feedback has a relevant impact on the student, who values it because it makes his learning process easier, richer and more significant. Moreover, it has a clear motivational effect over the student, which had not been sufficiently evidenced by other researches. Such effect needs not to be underestimated, particularly within an on-line environment, where dropout rate is usually high.

The main objective of this work, through a literature review, is to contextualize the importance of fashion consumer behavior towards a more sustainable economy, emphasizing the sharing economy as an alternative to fast fashion through virtual networks, and therefore also highlights the use that consumers make of new technologies (social networks, mobile applications, or collaborative platforms). The specific objectives are none other than showing the need to contribute to the reduction of pollution, damage to the environment and the overconsumption of natural resources (water, energy, or materials) involved in the manufacture of clothing. All this linked to consumer behavior, innovation, electronic commerce, the sharing economy, and the entrepreneurship of the social and solidarity economy. It is for this reason that this work is approached from a perspective that can help to promote the exchange of fashion, examining the antecedents of the intention of consumers to participate in virtual fashion networks. The consolidation of the sharing economy in the fashion industry could offer social, economic, and environmental benefits, so this research also wants to highlight the convenience of identifying and analyzing the different beliefs of people with similar behaviors using this type of virtual fashion networks and platforms, and that, due to the confinement of COVID-19, seems to have increased exponentially. The value that is provided is to establish a common framework for discussion, within which the research has been carried out, since there is still much to analyze about consumer behavior in this context, and therefore the future of research in this area must bring together social, economic, and technological research to provide a more holistic understanding. It is desirable that sustainability and the need for more sustainable consumption are a motivating influence for future research on the sharing economy related to fast fashion and virtual consumer behavior.

This study analyzes people's attitude and behavior toward the sharing economy (SE), with special attention to virtual clothing exchange platforms (VCEPs) as an alternative proposal to fast fashion. The objective is to understand the factors and variables that influence the adoption of these SE practices and develop a model that explains this process, applying the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior (DTPB). For this purpose, the Structural Equation Model (SEM) methodology has been used as part of the empirical analysis of the variables. Based on the areas of consumer behavior and technological innovations, the research delves into the background of consumer attitudes and intentions within these platforms and strives to discern whether usage motivations stem from economic, environmental, or social considerations. The proposed model has also considered the influence that COVID-19 may have on behavioral intention. Likewise, the research contributes to knowledge in the field of human behavior and offers a new perspective on the consumer in the SE. This research addresses an underexplored area and is important for understanding and promoting the adoption of the SE in the fashion context.