The Direct and Indirect Impact of Pharmaceutical Industry in Economic Expansion and Job Creation: Evidence from Bootstrapping and Normal Theory Methods

Abstract

The objective of this research article is to examine the role of Pakistan's pharmaceutical industry in job creation opportunities, with the sacred intention to eradicate poverty, and expansion in economic activities. This research is quantitative in nature, and the data is directly gathered through closed-ended questionnaires from 300 respondents. Besides predictors', four mediating variables have also been taken into consideration that contribute indirectly in job creation opportunities. Bootstrapping and Normal theory methods have been employed in order to examine the impact of predictors' and mediating variables. The result of this research confirmed that pharmaceutical industry plays a vital role in job creation in Pakistan. It is further concluded that the pharmaceutical industry has a direct and significant impact in job creation by providing indigenous and direct job opportunities in sales, marketing, and other supporting departments for both skilled and unskilled workers. Pharmaceutical industry also provides indirect job opportunities through other industries, which are very much linked with this industry, such as: pharmaceutical distributors, dealers, retailers, wholesalers, hotel industry, and event management industry. It is also determined that pharmaceutical industry is acting like knowledge and skills imparting institutions. Therefore, skilled-based training and organizational learning are major mediating variables that transform unskilled people into human assets, which further trigger the future job prospects. Since pharmaceutical industry is one of the biggest industries in Pakistan, providing plenteous opportunities of new jobs with consistent growth. Thus, mediating variables such as motivation and interpersonal influence also preceded an active role in new job creation.

Antecedents of Symmetry in Physicians’ Prescription Behavior: Evidence from SEM-Based Multivariate Approach

“…In this research, besides marketing factors, we have also included medical factors that could be important for reshaping the symmetry of physicians' behavior. Finally, the undertaken study is unique in nature because it examines the effects of moderating variables such as corporate image and customer relationships in an association of medical & marketing factors, and the symmetry in physicians' prescription behavior [3,14,22]. Thus, the undertaken study could be a significant addition to the current literature regarding pharmaceutical marketing and physicians' behavior.…”

“…The symmetry in physicians' prescription behavior is multi-faceted and has a broad concept that includes several dimensions; however, in this study we focus on the symmetry of physicians' prescription behavior as an "adoption" [23,24]. The American Marketing Association has defined "adoption" as: "new product awareness, gathering information, developing positive attitudes towards the product, testing it in some direct or indirect way, finding satisfaction in the trial and adopting the product into a standing usage or repurchase pattern [3,18,25]". The process of diffusion is also signified as the process of adoption; it is a process in which novel ideas and products become norms and are accepted by society.…”

“…Pharmaceutical companies sponsor symposia, lectures, local speaker programs, doctors group meetings, ward presentations, and roundtable discussions to individual doctors and hospitals to influence the symmetry of physicians' prescription behavior [3,16]. There is sufficient evidence that these scientific activities are part of the medical and marketing activities of pharmaceutical companies, which definitely pays off for the pharmaceutical industry in terms of strong relationships and prescription business from the doctors and hospitals [10,15,39].…”

“…Moreover, Medical representatives' competence and skills also play a significant role in changing the physicians' symmetrical prescription behaviors in an effective and efficient manner [23,55]. Physicians tend to be more eager to see MRs because of new information about drugs, new developments in a given disease area, and to get free samples and gifts; thus, substantial literature has demonstrated the effectiveness of Medical representatives and influence on the physicians' symmetrical prescription behavior [3,27,56]. The effective sales call has three components, i.e., solid message content, well-utilized resources, and clear message delivery.…”

“…Physicians are more likely to prescribe medicines that are manufactured by to a prestigious company; thus, physicians are more comfortable prescribing branded drugs [105,106]. In the case of Pakistani pharmaceutical industry, doctors are easily tilted towards branded or copy brands that belong to a reputable national and multinational company [3,25]. Hence, the following hypotheses are formulated on the basis of previous research studies:…”