Research Roundup: June 2026
Our academics and PhD researchers have contributed to publications, shared insights at conferences, and taken on new leadership roles.
17 June 2026
Publications
Our researchers have published new work across hospitality and tourism, finance, economics, and management. They are addressing real-world issues from AI perception and inclusive decision-making to behavioural drivers of cash use.
Violence and Value: Religious Organisations and Child Sexual Abuse
Dr Victoria Pagan
Human Relations
This paper investigates why child abusers in some religious organisations were often protected instead of being held accountable.
The research shows that abusers were sometimes seen as more important or valuable than victims because of deep respect for individuals, religious beliefs, and strong ideas of community and family within the organisation. These attitudes helped keep abuse hidden and made it harder for victims to be heard.
The Rebounding Paradox in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry: Why Strategic ESG Strengthens Organizational Resilience While Responsive ESG Undermines It
Dr Weizheng Zhang
International Journal of Hospitality Management
This research examines how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices affected the ability of hospitality and tourism companies to recover from the disruptions caused by COVID-19.
The results show that ESG efforts that are built into a company's long-term strategy helped businesses recover more quickly, while ESG actions taken mainly in response to external pressure were linked to weaker resilience. Strong marketing capabilities improved these outcomes, whereas aggressive earnings management reduced them.
Behavioural Effects of Capital Market Regulations on Investor (ir)Rationality and Market (in)Efficiency: Evidence from MAD and TPD EU Directives
Professor Darren Duxbury
Journal of Economic Behaviour & Organization
This research explores whether new EU financial regulations reduced irrational investor behaviour in stock markets.
It shows that the Market Abuse Directive (MAD) successfully reduced harmful trading patterns and improved market efficiency by encouraging investors to trade based on information rather than emotions or biases. However, the Transparency Directive (TPD) did not provide any additional improvement in investor behaviour or market efficiency.
Estimation and Inference of the Forecast Error Variance Decomposition for Set-Identified SVARs
Francesco Fusari
Journal of Econometrics
This paper develops new methods for measuring how much different economic shocks contribute to changes in the economy over time. The authors provide tools that make these measurements more accurate, reliable, and faster to calculate than some existing approaches.
Their results can help economists better understand business cycles and the factors driving economic fluctuations.
Behavioural Drivers of Intentions to Use Cash: UK Survey Evidence
Professor Darren Duxbury
Finance Innovation
This research looks at why people choose to use cash and how those choices are changing as digital payment methods become more common. Using survey data from 2,801 UK adults, it found that personal habits, financial knowledge, and behavioural traits strongly influence payment preferences, and that these influences vary depending on the size of the purchase.
The results show that while payment habits are important, they can change over time in response to new technologies and major events.
Shaping the Future of Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling: A Social Media Analysis of Stakeholder Reactions to EU Battery Management Policy
Dr Ying Yang, Jiaqi Luo (PGR student) and Professor Yan Jiang
International Journal of Production Research
This study examines how government policies influence electric vehicle battery recycling and the different groups involved in the recycling process. By analysing more than 3,000 social media posts from China, it found that people were generally positive about new recycling regulations and the opportunities they create, but also expressed concerns about costs, environmental impacts, and trade restrictions. The findings can help policymakers and industry leaders develop more effective and sustainable battery recycling systems.
Collaborations
Collaboration sits at the heart of our research, bringing together expertise to tackle complex global challenges.
The Effect of Buyer–Supplier Firm Age Distance on Green Innovation: A Resource Dependence Perspective
Professor Yan Jiang and co-author Yang Yang
Business Strategy and the Environment
This research examines how differences in age and experience between companies and their suppliers affect green innovation in polluting firms in China. It finds that working with more age-distant suppliers can increase green innovation, but this positive effect becomes weaker when firms are more mature, state-owned, or highly connected in business networks.
The results show that supplier relationships can support environmental innovation, but their impact depends on the firm's structure and position.
Buzzing the Production of Space in Tourism Destination: A “Wanghong” City Perspective
Dr Weizheng Zhang and co-authors Fuduan Yang and Professor Chao Ye
Cities: The International Journal of Urban Policy and Planning
This study looks at how certain Chinese cities become “Wanghong Cities” (very popular online tourist hotspots) through social media. Using a case study of Tianshui, it found that platforms, government, businesses, and society all shape how these cities are presented, often creating crowded, staged spaces that can disrupt local residents' everyday life.
The results show that online popularity can strongly reshape real urban spaces in both positive and negative ways.
Awards
Our colleagues have been recognised for their significant work and research through national awards.
The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) Wins National Award
Arts Professional Award for Excellent Research or Policy Intervention
The Creative PEC has been awarded the prestigious Arts Professional Award for Excellent Research or Policy Intervention.
The Creative PEC is a nationally and internationally respected collaborative research centre. It is led by Newcastle University with the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Appointments
Our colleagues regularly take on new editorial and leadership roles both within the Business School and beyond. They contribute their expertise to the wider academic community.
Dr Victoria Pagan
Co-editor in Chief, Culture and Organization
Congratulations to Dr Pagan on her appointment as Co-editor in Chief of Culture and Organization.
Professor Susan Chilton
Expert Reviewer, Research Council of Finland Flagship Programme 2026
Congratulations to Professor Chilton on her appointment as an expert reviewer for the Research Council of Finland Flagship Programme 2026.
Dr Emily Yarrow
Vice Chair for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Respect, British Academy of Management
Congratulations to Dr Yarrow on being elected Vice Chair for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Respect for the British Academy of Management.
Professor Darren Duxbury
Payments Academic Advisory Group, Bank of England
Congratulations to Professor Duxbury, who will continue his working relationship with the Bank of England as a member of the new Payments Academic Advisory Group.
Guest lectures and seminars
Colleagues have also shared their expertise beyond Newcastle. They have delivered guest lectures and seminars at partner institutions and international events.
Gendered Effects of Employability Interventions: Experimental Evidence from Vietnam
Dr Smriti Sharma
Queen's University Belfast
Dr Sharma offered a fresh perspective on employability interventions that improve gendered school-to-work transitions among vocational college students in Vietnam.
Conferences
Business School researchers continue to contribute to leading academic and practitioner conferences. They present new research and engage with global audiences.
Berlin Network for Research on Well-Being (BeWell)
Dr Sarah Najm
7th Annual Meeting of the Berlin Network for Research on Well-Being (BeWell), Halle, Germany
The theme of Dr Najm's workshop presentation was "Socioeconomic Inequalities and Well-being Gains from the Arts".
Money, Macro, and Finance (MMF) PhD Conference
Francesco Fusari
Local Organising Committee
Francesco Fusari, alongside Atanu Ghoshray and Claudia Udroiu, formed the local organising committee for the conference.
Co-organised with the MMF Society, the Bank of England and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, the conference brought together 18 PhD students from UK and European institutions, alongside representatives from the MMF Society and the Bank of England.
American Marketing Association Global Marketing Special Interest Group Conference
Professor Eleftherios Alamanos
Nice, France
Professor Alamanos presented his research at the American Marketing Association Global Marketing Special Interest Group Conference, engaging with academics and practitioners from across the international marketing community.
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