Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediator role of product innovation in the relationship between political and business ties (independent variables) and firm performance (dependent variable). Design/methodology/approach In this study, research hypotheses were tested using the structural equation modeling method. Findings The findings from 267 manufacturing companies in Iran show that business ties have an effect on firm performance through product innovation, while the role of innovation is not proved as a mediating variable in the relationships between political ties and firm performance. In addition, business ties have an effect on product innovation and firm performance, whereas political ties have no such effect. Practical implications These results provide useful points for developing economies, theoretically and practically. Originality/value Despite the increasing attention to the role of managerial ties (political and business ties) in improving product innovation and firm performance, there is no study conducted on the mediating role of product innovation in the relationship between managerial ties and firm performance.

Partnership mixing on age group, race/ethnicity, and military status each showed statistically significant difference by partnership type (MSM, MSW, WSM, WSW) (p<0.001). Recent STI was not associated with disassortative mixing on age group or military status but was associated with disassortative mixing on race/ethnicity (p=0.003). 194 of 669 (29.0%) subjects reported concurrent partnerships or suspected sexual concurrency by their partner(s). Suspected sexual concurrency by respondents' partner(s) significantly increased the odds of STI in the respondent after adjusting for partnership type (p=0.02).Military service includes unique social and cultural constructs that may influence sexual partnership formation. While not likely representative of the U.S. military as a whole, these results attempt to identify partnership characteristics and risk factors that may support the maintenance of high rates of select STIs among military populations.