Victoria Pistikou | Democritus University of Thrace (original) (raw)

Papers by Victoria Pistikou

Sustainability

In recent decades, sustainability reporting has received increasing business and academic attenti... more In recent decades, sustainability reporting has received increasing business and academic attention. However, the management literature is limited regarding recent trends in the issues disclosed in these reports. In this era of multiple socio-economic crises (e.g., the global energy crisis, the Russo–Ukrainian war, and the COVID-19 pandemic), large companies have an even greater responsibility to the communities in which they operate. Given the above, the aim of this study was to examine recent sustainability reports and identify issues related to community impact. Specifically, the sustainability reports of S&P500 companies were analyzed using the Structural Topic Model in R. The results showed that the most common topics in sustainability disclosures related to community impact were “donations” and “STEM education”. Although “donations” as a topic was expected, “STEM education” emerged to highlight the importance of technology in today’s business world. These findings have importa...

Societies, Dec 10, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Energies

The advent of various initiatives around the globe in shaping an energy transition towards a “gre... more The advent of various initiatives around the globe in shaping an energy transition towards a “greener” energy production future sparked a research interest towards the determinants that will shape their success. In this paper, we depart from the relevant literature evaluating the potential effect of geopolitical tensions on renewable energy investments, building on an explicit quantitative approach that provides clear empirical evidence. In doing so, we compile a large panel of 171 economies and measure the effect of geopolitical risk on “green” investing as measured by popular geopolitical risk indices, while controlling for all major variables proposed by literature. Our flexible Autoregressive Distributed Lag model with heterogenous effects across economies suggests that geopolitical risk has a significantly measurable effect on green investments both in the short and the long run. In fact, our results suggest that proper model specification is robust across alternate risk assess...

In this thesis, the aim is to contribute to the discussion on the interaction between economic in... more In this thesis, the aim is to contribute to the discussion on the interaction between economic interdependence and national security when states are in conflict. So far, this debate has been between Liberals and Neo-Marxisst, whose argument was that trade promotes peace, for the former, and that asymmetric trade creates either conflictual relations or more cooperation according to the balance of power. However, this thesis is built on the theoretical basis of Realism. By developing an analytical framework, which consists of dependent variables such as relative gains, as defined by Grieco (1988) and the worthiness of the disputed area, meaning the added value the conflictual area gives to the state’s influence and therefore to its power, I answer two main questions: “In case of interstate conflict, is Asymmetric Economic Interdependence a power-balancing factor for the threatened state?” and “Can the relative gains which derive from asymmetric economic interdependence redeem the rela...

The purpose of this article is to highlight the particular impact of China’s economic diplomacy o... more The purpose of this article is to highlight the particular impact of China’s economic diplomacy on its attempt to maximise its power in the global economic and political system and to achieve its foreign policy objectives. We argue that the realist framework of analysis is the appropriate one in order to comprehend and assess China’s foreign economic policy. We examine the bilateral economic relations that China has developed with both Greece and Turkey, two countries which appear to have conflicting political and economic interests. Greece and Turkey are situated in a geo-strategically and geo-economically critical location, and are the gateway between West and East and vice versa. This article will show that, at a time of international financial crisis which has seriously affected Europe, China is promoting its own economic and political agenda by using various economic diplomacy practices. It is increasing its degree of influence and is upgrading the role it plays in the European...

Entrepreneurship, Institutional Framework and Support Mechanisms in the EU, 2021

In this chapter, we approach and examine the issue of innovation as applied to family and small a... more In this chapter, we approach and examine the issue of innovation as applied to family and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Cyprus, using, for research purposes, a structured questionnaire addressed to the particular type of business through mapping and grouping of the sample. The analysis concerns the periods 2015–2017, which are interesting due to the economic conditions that prevailed in the market in general. In this chapter, innovation is analyzed at both the policy level of the European Union and the institutional level. In particular, we examine the institutional dimensions of innovation in SMEs in Cyprus, such as, for example, the issue of financing, as well as the barriers often encountered by the companies in implementing innovative products, services or solutions. The chapter ends with interesting conclusions and an attempt to discuss future research extensions in the field of the institutional analysis of innovation.

Global, Regional and Local Perspectives on the Economies of Southeastern Europe, 2020

Leaders of Albania and Kosovo have publicly declared that they plan to create a customs union in ... more Leaders of Albania and Kosovo have publicly declared that they plan to create a customs union in order to abolish the traditional borders between them. They also claimed that the abolition of borders will inevitably occur with the accession of Albania and Kosovo to the EU. The aim of the paper is to examine whether such a union is possible and assess if this move primary reinforces economic integration or it is the means of fulfillment of foreign policy objectives. Testing the validity of the theoretical framework, according to which regional trade agreements and even more bilateral free trade areas allow stronger states to further influence weaker states, I examine the case of the creation of the customs union between Albania and Kosovo (under the 1244 Security Council Resolution). First, I analyze the economic conditions under which the potential customs union is going to be made and to what extent basic principles of the background theory is satisfied for a successful endeavor. M...

European Politics and Society, 2021

Theoretical Economics Letters, 2021

There is a long-standing debate on whether economic interdependence can have an impact and play a... more There is a long-standing debate on whether economic interdependence can have an impact and play a crucial role in diminishing interstate conflict. Two schools of thought advocating two opposite beliefs regarding this debate are Realism and Liberalism. The former suggests that economic interdependence does not necessarily promote peace, whereas the latter trusts that it does. According to Liberalism, there is a direct connection between trade and conflict, in other words, between economic factors and security issues. On the contrary, Realists argue that what applies to the international system also applies to trade policy; hence economic cooperation among states has a limited effect when it comes to national security issues. This study attempts to shed light on this debate, i.e. whether bilateral economic relations can affect interstate conflict. To achieve that it uses a theoretical framework derived from the disciplines of international political economy enhanced with a quantitative-financial analysis that employs a series of econometric models in order to identify macroeconomic variables that have an impact on the interstate conflict. Three dyads of countries that have recorded interstate conflict are employed (India-Pakistan, Russia-Ukraine and Yemen-Saudi Arabia). The defense expenses are used as a proxy of interstate conflict, whereas the imports and the exports from one country to the other are the variables that capture the economic interdependence. Evidence is found that exports have a positive impact on defense expenses. This means that economic interdependence does not necessarily lessen interstate conflict, which can be useful at the hands of policymakers.

Contributions to Economics, 2018

The paper’s objective is to examine whether a state’s national interest and influence are promote... more The paper’s objective is to examine whether a state’s national interest and influence are promoted through international institutions. It relies on the theory of Realism, according to which institutions enable states to coordinate even though there are asymmetric benefits for each state, since power is the decisive variable which defines how each institution is formed and operates. The analytical framework of this paper is developed within the confines of international political economy. The dependent variable is national interest, and the independent variables are international development cooperation (on a bilateral level) and shareholding in international lending institutions. The focus is on these variables because each directly affects the national sovereignty of the recipient country and alters its domestic structure. By examining the case of the United States (through the USAID) and its role in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, conflict-engaged countries and crucial to US interests, I conclude that international lending institutions mainly promote the national interest of the leading power within the institutions.

Βασικός στόχος της διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι να συμβάλει στη μέχρι τώρα συζήτηση σχετικά με τη... more Βασικός στόχος της διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι να συμβάλει στη μέχρι τώρα συζήτηση σχετικά με τη σχέση οικονομικής αλληλεξάρτησης και εθνικής ασφάλειας και να εμπλουτίσει τη θεωρία του Ρεαλισμού στο πεδίο της Διεθνούς Πολιτικής Οικονομίας. Έως τώρα, το ζήτημα αυτό κυριαρχείται από προσεγγίσεις του Φιλελευθερισμού και το βασικό τους επιχείρημα είναι ότι η αυξημένη οικονομική αλληλεξάρτηση μειώνει τα επίπεδα της διένεξης μεταξύ των κρατών και συμβάλει στην ειρήνη. Παρόλα αυτά είναι αξιοσημείωτη η απουσία μιας ρεαλιστικής προσέγγισης στο ζήτημα αυτό υπό το πρίσμα της Διεθνούς Πολιτικής Οικονομίας. Η παρούσα διατριβή βασίζεται στην θεωρητική προσέγγιση του Ρεαλισμού και τα δύο κύρια ερωτήματα που απαντά είναι τα εξής: «Σε περίπτωση διακρατικής διένεξης, είναι η Ασύμμετρη Οικονομική Αλληλεξάρτηση παράγοντας εξισορρόπησης για το απειλούμενο κράτος;» και «Μπορούν τα σχετικά οφέλη που προκύπτουν από την ασύμμετρη οικονομική αλληλεξάρτηση να «εξαγοράσουν» τα σχετικά οφέλη που προκύπτουν από...

International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research, 2020

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to evaluate the impact of CEFTA on exports and economic growth a... more Purpose: The aim of the paper is to evaluate the impact of CEFTA on exports and economic growth and development of its members. Regionalism is attractive to states and especially to developing countries, since they enhance their reliability on reforms to foreign investors and they raise their bargaining power in multilateral level, since they negotiate as a unit and not individually, especially within the WTO, achieving goals which would not had been achieved if they had acted individually. The paper is based on the theoretical context of Regional Trade Agreements. More specifically, Free Trade Agreements widens trade in goods and services, raises exports and increases distribution of production. Moreover, FTAs affect state’s reliability for inward investments, since they guarantee the implementation of domestic reforms. In particular, compared to WTO, within an FTA less countries are involved therefore, it is easier for them to monitor a state and if this state deviates from its co...

Theoretical Economics Letters, 2018

The question of whether economic interdependence promotes peace is more than ever relevant once a... more The question of whether economic interdependence promotes peace is more than ever relevant once and again due to a series of conflicts around the globe. Two schools advocate the two opposite beliefs; these are Realism and Liberalism. The former supports that economic interdependence does not necessarily promote peace, whereas the latter trusts that it does. In our paper, we use a financial analysis-econometric approach to realize that there is evidence that supports that economic interdependence between two states in conflict does not promote peace since it has no significant impact on the configuration of the conflict. Consequently, it does not provide a significant enhancement in the levels of national security.

Periodica Polytechnica Social and Management Sciences, 2017

Building on well established theories, our research explores the influence of entrepreneurial ori... more Building on well established theories, our research explores the influence of entrepreneurial orientation on reputational resources and absorptive capacity of knowledge exploitation of Portuguese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of footwear associated to the Portuguese Footwear, Components and Leather Goods Association (APICCAPS).Therefore, a quantitative methodological approach was used, conducting a descriptive, exploratory and transversal empirical study, having applied a questionnaire to a sample of Portuguese SMEs.Based on survey data from 42 firms, our empirical results indicate that globally entrepreneurial orientation have a positive and significant influence on knowledge exploitation and that the entrepreneurial orientation’s dimensions that most contribute to this end are innovation and risk-taking.Moreover, the processes for exploitation of reputational resources and knowledge became an essential element for firms to adapt to changes in the competitive environment. The...

KnE Social Sciences, 2017

In this paper, the aim is to show that the impact of asymmetric economic interdependence on natio... more In this paper, the aim is to show that the impact of asymmetric economic interdependence on national security is more a myth than a reality. In order to contribute to the discussion we focus on interstate conflicts with territorial disputes. So far, this debate has been highlighted by Liberals, whose argument was that trade promotes peace. However, ourargument is built on the theoretical basis of Realism. We argue that the positive impact of economic interdependence is actually a myth, since it does not raise the levels of national security of the threatened state, therefore it cannot be considered as a power-balancing factor. In order to support our argument wedeveloped an analytical framework, which consists of variables representing economic interdependence and national security.Trade, FDI, energy supply, economic agreements and membership in common economic or monetary organizations are variables that show the level of economic interdependence.Military expenditures, number of vi...

Procedia Economics and Finance, 2014

This article illustrates that there is connection between national security and economic diplomac... more This article illustrates that there is connection between national security and economic diplomacy. The main goal is to show that economic diplomacy can contribute to national security policy as a secondary factor, since the armed forces are a major player. This is effectuated by raising security levels and improving the state's power, without causing any security dilemmas. In order to prove this point, we have used the following indicators that can lead to a secure outcome. First and foremost, we have used the political economy of Greek and Turkish security policy as a tool, by analyzing and contrasting indicators such as the Greek

Procedia Economics and Finance, 2015