Let's forget our past investments: would we still be as convinced that Arroyo's publication necessarily brought Bento's thesis closer?
This connection is more a thematic coincidence than a direct and decisive influence, especially when considering the local research conditions.
Bento's thesis may have been motivated by specific academic factors at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, or by access to particular data.
For example, privileged access to unique datasets on the Portuguese market could have been the real driver, making Arroyo's study a mere parallel.
One must possess the idea of systematic causality to avoid falling into the error of irrecoverable costs.