The main objective of this article is to analyze the relationship between increases in freight costs and inflation in the markets due to the increases reflected in the prices of the products in some economies in destination ports such as the United States, Europe, Japan, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and South Korea. We use fractionally integrated methods and Granger causality test to calculate the correlation between these indicators. The results indicate that, after a significant drop in inflation in 2020, probably due to the confinement caused by the pandemic, the increases observed in inflation and freight costs are expected to be transitory given their stationary behavior. We also find a close correlation between both indicators in Europe, the United States and South Africa.

This study, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), aims to explore the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in Shandong Province, China, and analyze the major factors influencing these intentions. Structural Equation Modeling was applied to data collected from 680 students across five universities in Shandong Province. The findings reveal that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly influence the students’ entrepreneurial intentions. Specifically, a positive attitude towards the outcomes of entrepreneurship emerged as the strongest factor influencing their intentions, indicating that positive perceptions and expectations of entrepreneurship significantly enhance students’ entrepreneurial inclinations. Perceived behavioral control also showed a strong influence, suggesting that enhancing students’ self-efficacy and awareness of accessible resources is crucial for fostering entrepreneurial intentions. However, the influence of subjective norms was weaker, which may relate to specific cultural and social environmental factors. This study not only provides an empirical basis for entrepreneurship education and policy-making in Shandong Province and beyond but also offers new insights into the application of TPB in the field of entrepreneurship research.

The aim of this study was to make a quantitative contribution to the impact of COVID-19 and Mental on consumer behavior. For this purpose, the data in the Scopus and WoS databases until 5 February 2024 were examined using bibliometric analysis. The data obtained within the scope of this study were classified and analyzed using the VOSviewer program developed for scientific mapping analysis. In the evaluations, 180 studies in the Web of Science database and 371 documents in the Scopus database were identified, and when duplicate studies were combined, 426 studies were included in the analysis. According to the results of the analysis, the journal with the highest number of publications is “Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services”; the organization with the highest number of publications is “Department of management sciences, University of Okara” and “North-West University”; the authors with the highest number of publications and citations are “Wang, Xueqin” and “Yuen, Kum Fai”; and the most cited studies are “Laato et al.” and “Goolsbee and Syverson”. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the studies on the impact of COVID-19 and mental factors on consumer behavior and makes a qualified contribution to the literature with an important opening.

This study systematically examines the literature of electric vehicle (EV) purchase intention and consumer behavior using a bibliometric method to unveil three main research questions: 1) identifying influential publications, authors, and journals; 2) analyzing the thematic evolution of research over time; and 3) identifying emerging research directions. The main objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of knowledge and to guide future research in this evolving field. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted, using Scopus statistics analysis, R-Studio Biblioshiny and VOSviewer, comprising 687 publications authored by 1743 researchers representing 34 different countries with the dataset sourced from the Scopus database from 2010 to 2023. To achieve a nuanced understanding of the research landscape, a multifaceted approach was adopted, including detailed citation analysis, author co-citation analysis, keyword analysis, and thematic mapping. Through meticulous analysis, this study identifies the most influential publications, authors, and journals in the domain of EV purchase intentions and consumer behaviors. It also traces the evolution of themes over time and identifies emerging research directions, providing valuable insights into the trajectory and future avenues of inquiry within this field. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics shaping research in the realm of EVs. The insights gained contribute significantly to advancing knowledge in this crucial domain, offering theoretical insights and practical implications for policymakers, businesses, manufacturers, and academics.

Consumers, particularly women, pursue beauty and health in order to uphold their image within society, which has contributed to consistent demand for cosmetics. The cosmetics market, driven by globalization and cultural exchange, sees Thai cosmetics gaining popularity among Chinese women. There has been a significant rise in the popularity of Thai cosmetics, known for their natural ingredients and innovative formulations. With a growing interest in cross-cultural consumer behaviour, particularly in the context of skincare and make-up products, understanding how different age groups perceive and choose Thai cosmetics is crucial for effective marketing strategies. The main issue is the development of consumer preferences over time among Chinese women who have only recently been given the opportunity to choose among many brands. This qualitative study explores the intergenerational differences in Chinese female consumers’ preferences for Thai cosmetics, aiming to uncover rich insights into their perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours. The target population is female Chinese who have visited Thailand and purchased or used Thai-branded cosmetics. Key themes emerge regarding the perception of product efficacy, the cultural authenticity and the role of digital media and trends in influencing product choices. Findings highlight nuanced generational preferences, with older cohorts emphasizing trust and familiarity with established brands, while younger cohorts prioritize innovation, sustainability, and personalized beauty experiences. These insights provide valuable implications for marketers seeking to tailor strategies and product offerings to engage effectively diverse generational segments within the competitive cosmetics market.

Given the rising threat of terror attacks and the increasing frequency of natural disasters attributed to climate change, enhancing evacuation capacities in various spaces has become crucial for saving lives and accelerating recovery processes. This study investigates the influence of altruistic behavior on evacuation efficiency by developing a social force model that categorizes individuals into three demographic groups: youth, middle-aged, and seniors. Simulation experiments based on the model were conducted to evaluate the impact of altruistic behavior on evacuation efficiency under different conditions, such as evacuation capacity, reliability, and recovery time. The simulation results show that a higher probability of falling leads to longer evacuation times. While an increase in the probability of altruistic behavior improves evacuation efficiency, excessive altruistic behavior causes evacuation times to vary in a zigzag pattern. When the help range exceeds 0.7m, evacuation efficiency fluctuates without a clear trend of improvement.