José Sarsfield Cabral

Market Segmentation Analysis Using Attitudes Toward Transportation: Exploring the Differences Between Men and Women

Traveler attitudes and preferences as well as demographic variables are important components of travel behavior. By using travel attitudes, factor and cluster analyses were conducted to segment the sample. Six distinct groups were extracted: transit enthusiasts, anxious status seekers, carless riders, green cruisers, frugal travelers, and obstinate drivers. The segments showed unique combinations of attitudes with distinct travel behaviors and various degrees of intention to use public transportation. Gender differences were then investigated, and the results suggest that women and men exhibit differences in attitudes, preferences, and behaviors. The design of strategies to promote alternatives to car use should target the market segments that are most motivated to change, focusing on the attitudes that can induce a change, such as pro transit or sensibility to the environment.

How good is a model based on bibliometric indicators in predicting the final decisions made by peers

This paper shows how bibliometric models can be used to assist peers in selecting candidates for academic openings.

Definition of a model based on bibliometric indicators for assessing applicants to academic positions

A model based on a set of bibliometric indicators is proposed for the prediction of the ranking of applicants to an academic position as produced by a committee of peers. The results show that a very small number of indicators may lead to a robust prediction of about 75% of the cases.

Purchasing Maize Futures Under a Deadline: Testing and Risk-Yield Evaluation of a Price-Trend Buying Policy

A purchasing rule based on short-term forecasts derived from Taylor’s price-trend model was developed in previous research, for the scenario described as ‘purchasing under a deadline’. Such a rule, when applied to the purchasing of maize futures, was shown to lead to purchasing costs significantly lower than the average market price.

Effects of Price and Transportation Costs in Soybean Trade

The United States, Brazil, and Argentina are responsible for 83% of world’s soybean production. Together, they respond to more than 80% of soybean grains and soybean meal exported and for more than 60% of soybean oil exportation. This paper studies the soybean trade of these three major exporters with the top ten commercial partners of each one in order to examine the main factors that influence this relationship. We follow a network analysis approach to evaluate the level of interdependence between exporters and importers. Our research studies the three main soybean products: grain, meal, and oil. The findings seem to indicate that countries prefer importing soybean grains to process inside their borders due to commodity prices and logistics costs.