Research at Webster Vienna

The Effect of Basel III Implementation on SME Access to Financing – A New Study by the Team of Professors: Dr. Fišera, Dr. Horváth, & Dr. Melecký

Dr. Boris Fišera from the Business and Management Department at Webster Vienna Private University, in collaboration with Dr. Roman Horváthfrom Charles University, and Dr. Martin Melecký from the World Bank, have recently co-authored a paper that studied the nuanced impacts of Basel III on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of many economies, across 32 Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs).

Their findings highlight that while Basel III aims to enhance financial stability, it presents short-term challenges for SME financing, especially for those with partial financial inclusion. However, they also uncovered that stronger pre-Basel III bank capitalization can mitigate these effects, emphasizing the importance of robust financial systems.

Their research revealed several key insights. (1) Who Gets Affected the Most? SMEs with limited financial inclusion – those with a bank account but no loans – felt the most pressure from Basel III, while those with no prior banking relationships were less affected. (2) Stronger Banks Help: Countries with better-capitalized banks showed fewer negative impacts on SMEs, reinforcing the importance of resilient banking systems. (3) Timing Matters: The effects of Basel III varied over time, with more noticeable challenges in the short term but potential benefits as stability improves. (4) A Complex Balance: Policymakers face the challenge of ensuring financial stability without creating barriers for small businesses – the lifeblood of many economies.

Their findings are particularly significant, as SMEs provide the majority of jobs globally but often struggle with limited access to financing. Additionally, understanding how global regulations like Basel III impact them helps policymakers strike a better balance between stability and growth.

^{Fišera, B., Horváth, R., & Melecký, M. (2025). The Effect of Basel III Implementation on SME Access to Financing in Emerging Markets andDeveloping Economies. The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 100, 101956.}

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Prof. Dr. Pernille Eskerod and Mr. Kaung Khant Min Present Research on Advanced Simulations in Higher Education at LIMEN 2024

Prof. Dr. Pernille Eskerod, full-time professor at WVPU specializing in management and organizational behavior, and Mr. Kaung Khant Min, a bachelor’s student in Business Management, presented their research at the 10th International Scientific Business Conference LIMEN 2024. Their study, titled Learning Outcomes in Advanced Simulations within Higher Education – A Systematic Literature Review, examines the role of advanced digital simulations in enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes.

The research explores how simulations improve competencies such as strategic decision-making, teamwork, and adaptability while addressing challenges like team performance, instructor roles, and simulation design. Based on a review of studies from 2018–2024, their findings highlight the superiority of simulations over traditional teaching methods in fostering cognitive, skill-based, and motivational growth.

The authors provide practical recommendations for integrating simulations into higher education curricula, emphasizing their potential to align teaching methods with course objectives. Prof. Eskerod’s extensive research in project management and Mr. Min’s contributions as her research assistant underscore the collaborative effort behind this study, offering valuable insights for modernizing educational practices. 

 

 

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Faculty — Business and Management

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Anatoly Reshetnikov contributed a chapter to the edited volume that engages with the life-time work of one of the most influential contemporary International Relations scholar, Iver B. Neumann. In his chapter, Reshetnikov shows how Russia and its relations with Europe were an important focus for Iver Neumann throughout his entire career.

He also exploresthe meaning and value of Neumann’s work for both Russian Studies and International Relations, the two disciplinary hats Neumann has managed to wear without falling into the common traps of either discipline.

Reshetnikov argues that Iver Neumann’s scholarship makes at least two important contributions to the mentioned fields. First, adhering to and promoting Bakhtinian dialogic epistemology, as well as engaging with the work of Russian formalists, Neumann effectively brought the Other’s voice and method into the European scholarly mainstream creating the conditions of possibility for dialogue and rapprochement.

Second, Neumann’s historicized explorations of Russia’s political identity produced an acutely precise and illuminating analytical framework that holds true deep and wide, explaining both the centuries-old historical evolution of Russia’s domestic debates about Europe, and its post-Soviet political trajectory and knowledge production.

 

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Faculty — International Relations

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Associate professor and head of the communications department, Dr. Bradley E. Wiggins, was recently interviewed by Jorge Fontevecchia, CEO and journalist at Perfil, a major news platform in Argentina. Dr. Wiggins’ 2019 book ‘The Discursive Power of Memes in Digital Culture’ was translated earlier this year into Spanish as ‘El Poder de Los Memes’ or ‘The Power of Memes’.

In the interview, Dr. Wiggins states that “culture is lived in the programmed digital” and explains the impact and saturation of the digital in what we perceive as culture. In his book “The Power of Memes”, he breaks down this new way of producing meaning, thanks to the viral impulse given by social networks and the internet. And he maintains: “This is a new era of political communication.”

 

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Faculty — Strategic Communication

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Exploring Dating Apps FoMO and its Effects on Social Alienation Among Young Adults 

Borislava Dimitrova, a recent graduate of Webster Vienna Private University’s Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counselling program, has completed her research on the relationship between the use of dating apps and their effect on social alienation. Dimitrova’s research is deemed of relevance to the ongoing evolution of dating apps and the induced Fear of Missing Out (hereafter, FoMO) phenomenon. 

Dimitrova’s research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach, analysing multiple relationships between the FoMO dating app phenomenon and social alienation, and the effect on psychological well-being among young adults. Quantitative analyses revealed an association between problematic dating app use and heightened levels of FoMO, suggesting that frequent app engagement ignites users’ perceived need to stay socially connected. The study hypothesized a stronger link between dating app usage and social alienation behaviours; however, the anticipated link turned out to be weaker than expected.

Furthermore, she conducted interviews that revealed complex interconnections between digital and in-person interactions, with active dating app users reporting greater ambivalence toward social connection. While some participants expressed satisfaction with the effects of digital dating, many also expressed feelings of dissatisfaction and disconnection. This research accords to the understanding of the social and psychological impacts of dating apps, specifically their role in the FoMO phenomenon and its effects on social alienation. 

 

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Faculty — Psychology

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