Béchir Ben Lahouel

@article{ben_lahouel_4514,

title = {Corporate strategy, stakeholder pressures, and operational inefficiency: A panel quantile-based analysis of global airlines},

author = {Béchir Ben Lahouel and Lotfi Taleb and Emmanuelle Dubocage},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2026.105403},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-06-01},

journal = {International Review Of Economics & Finance},

volume = {109},

pages = {105403},

abstract = {With a focus on a less frequently used inefficiency performance measure in the strategic corporate

social responsibility rhetoric, this study aims to investigate the relationship between five facets of

stakeholder management and firm competitiveness. A sample of 28 global airlines from 2008 to

2022 is used to investigate this connection. Based on the premise that airlines operate within a

dynamic three-stage network framework, an innovative slacks-based data envelopment analysis

technique is used to evaluate airline inefficiencies. We use an advanced panel quantile regression

method with fixed effects to test the hypothesized relationships. According to the empirical results, different stakeholder characteristics affect competitiveness in different ways, and these

effects vary across quantiles. Our results highlight the need of investing in customer satisfaction,

loyalty, and staff trust and dedication, as well as the need to uphold high standards in community

relations. However, the negative effects of human rights and environmental issues on competitiveness highlight the difficulties airlines have in balancing their social obligations with

continuing to operate profitably. Our earlier findings are supported by the robustness assessment,

which uses the moments quantile regressions approach.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{ben_lahouel_3749,

title = {Beyond the linear link: Threshold effects of CSR on financial performance},

author = {Béchir Ben Lahouel and Lotfi Taleb},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1059056025002497},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-06-01},

journal = {International Review Of Economics & Finance},

volume = {100},

pages = {104086},

abstract = {This article intends to re-examine the link between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and

financial performance (FP) in the airline sector using a panel of 28 major airlines between 2005

and 2019. Like general management literature, there is no unambiguous agreement on this link in

airline research. To determine the threshold impacts of corporate social responsibility that define

the smoothness of regime-switching, we use the panel smooth transition regression (PSTR) model.

Our findings demonstrate that the link is nonlinearly positive and that, because of the marginal

costs and marginal gains of CSR investments, the form of the curve changes once a threshold level

is reached. To determine the firm- and time-specific effects of CSR on FP, we also build and estimate an instrumental variable PSTR model to account for any endogeneity biases. Overall, our

findings hold up to several FP metrics and additional endogeneity-accounting methods.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{ben_lahouel_3748,

title = {Measuring corporate sustainability management in the presence of regulatory constraints},

author = {Béchir Ben Lahouel and Fathi Jouini and Lotfi Taleb},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612325006051},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-04-01},

journal = {Finance Research Letters},

volume = {80},

pages = {107342},

abstract = {This research provides an index for assessing sustainability management by utilizing suitable inputs to generate social and environmental outputs. The framework incorporates environmental and employment policies as regulatory inputs within the production process. The epsilon-based measure super-efficiency DEA model and the global Malmquist-Luenberger productivity index evaluate the sustainability management dynamics and their decompositions for 20 international airlines from 2010 to 2019. A decline in socio-environmental performance indicates inefficiencies in the integration of regulatory constraints and a restricted capacity for technological advancement. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that technological progress by itself does not improve operational efficiency. Several recommendations are provided to policymakers.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}