Abstract book of the International Conference on Management and Economics
type: channel
description: The Abstract Books of the International Conference on Management and Economics (ICMECONF) presents carefully peer-reviewed research presented at the annual Management and Economics conference organized by Proud Pen. This collection captures original work across the field of Management and Economics, spanning theoretical frameworks to applied studies. Each volume serves as a reference for ongoing research and study in the discipline.
language: en
publication name: Abstract book of the International Conference on Management and Economics
items: Strategic Entrepreneurship Orientation and Innovation Performance among Registered SMEs in Rivers State, Nigeria
items: Labour Market Informality, Sectorial Employment and Inclusive Economic Growth in Nigeria
items: Conditions for access to the Public ProcurementMarket for tenders from Third Countries
items: Breaking the Silence: An Intersectional Organizational Behavior Framework for Refugee-Led Organizations
items: AI-Driven Analysis to Extend and Augment Qualitative Research on Non-Linear Firm Growth
items: The Anfal Campaign and the Destruction of Kurdish Livelihoods: Uncovering the Economic Dimensions of Mass Atrocity
items: Pakistan’s Textile Export Policies: Past Performance and Future Strategy
items: Who Holds the Reins? CEO Power As a Moderator of Capital Structure and Future Earnings
items: Public Debt and Economic Welfare in Central and Eastern Europe
items: Organizational Commitment and the Role of Relations-Oriented or Task-Oriented Leadership Behaviors: A Research Examining Employee Perception in Saudi Arabia
items: Facilitating Development of an International Sister Cities Relationship: The Role of Academia
items: The Influence of Online Reviews and Advertising Attractiveness on The Purchase Decisions of Tiktok Users of the Z Generation with ConsumerTrust As a Mediating Variable
items: The Relationship betwewn Accural Earnings Management and Employee Tenure
items: Digitization or Digital Transformation? Alternatives for Uzbekistan’s Insurance Market: A Theoretical Analysis
items: Buffering the Burnout: The Moderating Role of Islamic Religiosity in the Relationship Between Leaders' Dark Triad Personality and Teacher Burnout
items: Does Tax Enforcement Digitalization Matter for Corporate Disclosure Readability? Evidence From China
items: Spatial Spillover Effects And Mechanisms Of Green Finance Supporting Low-Carbon, High-Quality Development In Manufacturing：Evidence From China
items: Research on the Impact of the Marketization Level of Capital Factors on the Sustainable Development Capability of Enterprises
items: Research on Political Ecology, Government Innovation Subsidies and Dual Innovation
items: What Drives Emerging Market Supplier Upgrading Pathways in Global Value Chains (Gvcs)? Evidence From Fuzzy‑Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (Fsqca)
items: Utilizing Machine Learning Algorithms and SEM Analysis to Investigate the Relationship Between Environmental Deterioration, Health Expenditure and Economic Development in ECOWAS Region
items: The Lean Office: A Promising Solution for Transforming Administrative Services
items: Unlocking Innovation Potential through Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Support: Navigating the Startup to Scaleup Transition
items: Advancing Human Resource ManagementInterventions to Support Workforce Mental Health
items: Artificial Intelligence in The Workplace: Challenges for Human Resource Management
items: The Influence Of Supply Chain Strategies On Performance Of South African Manufacturing SMES: The Mediating Effects Of Supply Chain Resilience
items: Effects of Mobile Money in Financial Inclusion: Contrasting French and English-Speaking Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
items: Do Conspicuous Consumption Motives Explain Eco-Friendly Consumption Decisions? Evidence from Social Media Exposure Effects
items: Strategies for Managing Mortgaged Houses/Buildings Affected by Hurricanes in the Caribbean Financial Market
items: Banking Concentration, Financial Inclusion and Economic Growth in South Africa

Strategic Entrepreneurship Orientation and Innovation Performance among Registered SMEs in Rivers State, Nigeria
type: item
description: This study will examine the relationship between strategic entrepreneurship orientation and innovation performance among registered Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study is premised on the growing importance of entrepreneurial strategic behaviours in fostering innovation and enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs in emerging economies. Specifically, the study will investigate the influence of strategic proactiveness and strategic risk-taking on creativity and critical thinking as key dimensions of innovation performance. A cross-sectional survey research design will be adopted for the study. The target population comprises 536,852 registered SMEs in Rivers State, from which a sample of 400 respondents will be selected using the Taro Yamane sampling technique. It is anticipated that approximately 386 valid responses will be obtained and utilized for analysis. Data will be collected through a structured questionnaire designed to measure the study variables. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) will be employed to test the hypothesized relationships. The study anticipates that strategic proactiveness will positively and significantly influence creativity and critical thinking, while strategic risk-taking will also exert a positive and significant effect on these innovation outcomes. Furthermore, the findings are expected to demonstrate that SMEs that embrace proactive strategic actions and calculated risk-taking behaviours are more likely to achieve superior innovation performance. The study will also propose structured decision-making processes as a mechanism for strengthening innovation capabilities and sustaining competitive advantage. The findings are expected to contribute to entrepreneurship and innovation literature by providing empirical evidence on the role of strategic entrepreneurship orientation in enhancing innovation performance among SMEs in Nigeria and other emerging economies.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Strategic Entrepreneurship Orientation
  topic: keywords
subject: Strategic Proactiveness
  topic: keywords
subject: Strategic Risk-Taking
  topic: keywords
subject: Creativity and Critical Thinking
  topic: keywords
subject: Innovation Performance
  topic: keywords
creator: Linus Adama, Kotlinski Tomasz
creator: Onwe Chinedu M.
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Linus Adama, Kotlinski Tomasz, Onwe Chinedu M. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-08-03
publication date: 2026-08-03

Labour Market Informality, Sectorial Employment and Inclusive Economic Growth in Nigeria
type: item
description: Nigeria presents one of the most striking labour market paradoxes in Sub-Saharan Africa: official unemployment has declined steadily to 3.1 percent in 2023, yet the informal employment rate has risen to 92.7 percent of total employment, poverty remains above 40 percent, and food inflation reached 26.4 percent following the May 2023 fuel subsidy removal. This study investigates the relationship among labour market informality, sectorial employment composition, and inclusive economic growth in Nigeria using annual data covering 2010 to 2023. An Inclusive Growth Index (IGI) is constructed from three normalised sub-indices capturing per capita income growth, poverty incidence, and labour market quality. The study employs OLS regression with heteroscedasticity-consistent standard errors, Error Correction Model (ECM), Granger causality tests, and gender-disaggregated specifications. The baseline regression explains 96.3 percent of variation in the IGI (adjusted R² = 0.9446). The informal employment rate exerts a strongly negative long-run effect on inclusive growth (β = −0.657, p < 0.001), agricultural employment share exerts a positive effect (β = 1.040, p < 0.001), services employment share a larger positive effect (β = 1.313, p < 0.001), reflecting the structural transformation dividend when workers move from agriculture into higher-productivity services while Food CPI inflation is negatively and significantly associated with inclusive growth (β = −0.014, p < 0.05). The ECM confirms co-integration and a significant error-correction speed adjustment of −1.878 (p < 0.001). Gender disaggregation reveals that female informal employment exerts a significantly stronger negative effect on the inclusive growth (β = −1.195) than male informal employment (β = −0.500), pointing to compounded gender disadvantages within the informal sector. The study argues that employment formalisation, particularly for women and in the services sector, and macroeconomic price stabilisation are t…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Inclusive Growth
  topic: keywords
subject: Labour Market Informality
  topic: keywords
subject: Sectorial Segmentation
  topic: keywords
subject: Nigeria
  topic: keywords
subject: Error Correction Model
  topic: keywords
creator: Rasak Adetunji Adefabi
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Rasak Adetunji Adefabi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-08-03
publication date: 2026-08-03

Conditions for access to the Public ProcurementMarket for tenders from Third Countries
type: item
description: The globalization of trade and the expansion of international supply chains have increased the participation of third-country tenderers in public procurement procedures. However, this openness has also raised concerns regarding reciprocity, unfair competition, state subsidies, strategic dependencies, and unequal access to foreign procurement markets. As a result, the European Union and other states have gradually introduced legal and policy instruments designed to regulate access conditions for tenderers from third countries. The issue of third-country access to public procurement markets is therefore situated at the intersection of international trade law, EU internal market law, competition policy, and national security considerations. Access conditions are shaped by international agreements such as the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), bilateral trade agreements, EU procurement directives, and more recently the International Procurement Instrument (IPI), established by Regulation (EU) 2022/1031.Access to public procurement markets for tenderers from third countries represents a complex legal and economic issue shaped by international trade law, EU internal market principles, strategic policy objectives, and geopolitical considerations. While the European Union traditionally promoted one of the world’s most open procurement systems, increasing concerns regarding reciprocity, foreign subsidies, strategic dependencies, and national security have led to significant regulatory evolution. Contracting authorities must navigate a challenging legal environment involving international obligations, EU procurement directives, competition concerns, and strategic policy goals. At the same time, policymakers must balance the economic benefits of open competition against the need to protect essential public interests and ensure fair market conditions.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Public Procurement
  topic: keywords
subject: International Procurement Instrument
  topic: keywords
subject: EU Internal Market
  topic: keywords
subject: Competition Policy
  topic: keywords
subject: Contracting Authorities
  topic: keywords
creator: Matjaž Kovač
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Matjaž Kovač (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-08-03
publication date: 2026-08-03

Breaking the Silence: An Intersectional Organizational Behavior Framework for Refugee-Led Organizations
type: item
description: While scholarship extensively documents the external suppression of refugee voices by host states, a critical blind spot exists regarding the internal organizational lives of Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs). This conceptual paper addresses this gap by investigating the phenomenon of organizational silence within Malaysian RLOs, identifying it as a structural barrier to ethical human rights advocacy. Operating within legally restrictive civic spaces, refugee staff frequently navigate a "culture of silence" induced by legal precariousness, fear of deportation, and internal hierarchical pressures. This paper introduces an integrated framework combining organizational silence and ethical leadership, underpinned by psychological safety and intersectionality. This multi-lens approach moves beyond traditional displacement narratives of passive victimhood to focus on internal organizational agency and internal human rights. By examining how leadership styles and structural intersectionality impact the internal "voice climate," the paper models how organizational silence can inadvertently marginalize female and ethnic minority staff, thereby hindering inclusive institutional efficacy. The purpose of this framework is to guide the co-creation of organizational toolkits that cultivate safe, transparent, and ethically resilient advocacy environments. Moving beyond state-centric paradigms, this study provides a crucial foundational blueprint for practicing peace, voice, and human equity within grassroots humanitarian organizations in the ASEAN region.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: ethical leadership
  topic: keywords
subject: intersectionality
  topic: keywords
subject: organizational silence
  topic: keywords
subject: psychological safety
  topic: keywords
subject: Refugee-Led Organizations
  topic: keywords
creator: Nazarina Jamil
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Nazarina Jamil (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-08-03
publication date: 2026-08-03

AI-Driven Analysis to Extend and Augment Qualitative Research on Non-Linear Firm Growth
type: item
description: Firm growth has been a central topic in the entrepreneurship literature for decades (Penrose, 1959), yet dominant stage models have faced sustained criticism for their empirical limitations (Phelps et al., 2007; Brown et al., 2017). Building on a conceptualisation of firm growth as a non-linear, multidimensional phenomenon, this paper revisits an established qualitative research project on "entrepreneurial leaps" as transitional growth phases between dynamic organisational states (Sternad & Mödritscher, 2022; Levie & Lichtenstein, 2010). The original study employed a multiple-case design with in-depth interviews conducted with leaders from 24 companies across three industries in Austria, Germany, and Italy.The present contribution applies three state-of-the-art large language models, namely ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Claude, to re-analyse the existing and extensive dataset. Such a comparative reanalysis pursues three interrelated objectives: (1) examining whether established patterns are corroborated or nuanced through machine-driven interpretation, (2) surfacing emergent patterns not previously foregrounded in the human-led analysis, and (3) investigating potential differences in firm growth dynamics across the three industries under study.Rather than positioning AI as a substitute for human interpretive expertise in science, this experimental study treats it as a methodological augmentation that might extend the analytical reach of the original project. The paper concludes by deriving a comprehensive research agenda, grounded in human scholarly judgment. Therefore, it contributes to the emerging discourse on hybrid methodologies in qualitative research and invites reflection on the role of AI in qualitative inquiry.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: AI-augmented qualitative research
  topic: keywords
subject: corporate growth
  topic: keywords
subject: entrepreneurial leaps
  topic: keywords
subject: hybrid research methodology
  topic: keywords
subject: large language models
  topic: keywords
creator: Gernot Moedritscher
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Gernot Moedritscher (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-08-03
publication date: 2026-08-03

The Anfal Campaign and the Destruction of Kurdish Livelihoods: Uncovering the Economic Dimensions of Mass Atrocity
type: item
description: The Ba’ath regime’s systematic campaign of discrimination, violence, and forced displacement against the Kurdish population in Iraq culminated in the 1987–1988 Anfal operations, one of the most extensive episodes of mass atrocity in the modern Middle East. Conducted across eight coordinated military waves, the Anfal campaign not only resulted in the destruction of thousands of Kurdish villages and districts but also deliberately targeted the socio-economic foundations of Kurdish society. Farmers, agricultural labourers, and rural households—whose livelihoods depended almost entirely on agriculture and livestock—became primary victims of these operations. The regime’s widespread demolition of rural infrastructure, together with the mass deportation of Kurdish communities into state-controlled camps, produced severe economic dislocation, the collapse of local production systems, and long-term financial deprivation. This paper undertakes a close, data-driven examination of the economic and social consequences of the Anfal campaign, drawing on archival materials, field reports, and economic analyses to illuminate both the immediate and enduring impacts of these policies. By integrating historical, political, and economic perspectives, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how state violence reshapes economic landscapes and inflicts lasting structural damage on marginalized communities. The findings underscore the necessity of sustained scholarly attention to the economic dimensions of mass atrocities, both for historical accountability and for informing contemporary post-conflict reconstruction efforts.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Anfal campaign
  topic: keywords
subject: Kurdish studies
  topic: keywords
subject: economic impacts
  topic: keywords
subject: mass atrocities
  topic: keywords
subject: financial destruction
  topic: keywords
creator: Hawar Rafaat Star
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Hawar Rafaat Star (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-08-03
publication date: 2026-08-03

Pakistan’s Textile Export Policies: Past Performance and Future Strategy
type: item
description: Pakistan’s textile sector is the backbone of its export economy, accounting for over 60% of total export earnings, yet its share in global textile trade remains disproportionately low. This study investigates the research question: To what extent have export promotion policies been effective in increasing Pakistan’s textile exports? Focusing on the period from 2018 to 2022, the paper evaluates three major policy interventions: the Regionally Competitive Energy Tariff (RCET), the removal of tariffs on imported raw cotton, and concessional financing schemes under the Long-Term Financing Facility (LTFF) and Temporary Economic Refinance Facility (TERF). Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines secondary data from government reports, industry publications, and academic studies with primary qualitative insights from a senior executive at Din Textile Mills Limited. The findings indicate that RCET significantly reduced production costs, improved export competitiveness, and attracted new investment, contributing to a 54% increase in textile exports between FY2018–19 and FY2021–22. Similarly, the removal of import tariffs on raw cotton lowered input costs and enhanced product quality, although it adversely affected domestic cotton producers and government tariff revenues. Meanwhile, LTFF and TERF played a crucial role in facilitating technological upgradation and capacity expansion, adding an estimated $5 billion annually to export potential. Despite their effectiveness, these policies faced structural limitations, including fiscal costs, implementation inefficiencies, currency depreciation, and policy inconsistency. Drawing lessons from this experience, the study argues that for Pakistan to sustainably expand textile exports beyond 2030, future policy must emphasize long-term consistency, energy sector reforms, investment in domestic cotton quality, and stable export-oriented financing. Overall, while export promotion policies have been largely effective in boos…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Pakistan
  topic: keywords
subject: Economis
  topic: keywords
subject: Textile
  topic: keywords
subject: Policies
  topic: keywords
subject: SouthAsia
  topic: keywords
creator: Muhammad Ali Sher Dil
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Ali Sher Dil (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-08-03
publication date: 2026-08-03

Who Holds the Reins? CEO Power As a Moderator of Capital Structure and Future Earnings
type: item
description: This study examines how CEO power moderates the link between capital structure and future earnings in Amman Stock Exchange-listed industrial enterprises. After the global financial crisis, the sample extends 2010 to 2024, providing for a thorough study of enterprises' financial behaviour during recovery and post-crisis expansion in a developing market. The paper proposes that increasing leverage can discipline managers and improve earnings predictability using Agency Theory. According to the Upper Echelons Theory, prominent CEOs with concentrated decision-making power may lessen this influence. CEO power is projected to modulate the relationship between leverage and earnings outcomes by influencing financial regulations, disclosure, and risk-taking. A conceptual framework and structured table of expected connections are presented in the abstract, but empirical investigation is not yet done. The study adds to the literature on profits sustainability, governance quality, and capital structure optimization in emerging economies, providing investors, auditors, and policymakers with useful insights. This research tackles a vital convergence in accounting and corporate finance, particularly under concentrated ownership and developing transparency markets, by integrating boardroom dynamics with financial structure and performance predictions.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: CEO power
  topic: keywords
subject: Future earnings
  topic: keywords
subject: capital structure
  topic: keywords
subject: Agency theory
  topic: keywords
subject: Upper Echelons Theory
  topic: keywords
creator: Omar Arabiat
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Omar Arabiat (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-08-03
publication date: 2026-08-03

Public Debt and Economic Welfare in Central and Eastern Europe
type: item
description: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between fiscal policy, public debt and economic welfare in post-transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe. The paper builds theoretical and empirical models that highlight the specific relationship between market-oriented reforms, public debt, and economic growth. The post-transition economy can be defined as an economy that began with the process of transformation from centrally planned to market based economic system in early 1990s, but it continued to display economic distortions of previous system to present days. As a part of their transition, these countries have been advised to reduce the role of government in the economy and to continue with reductions of public debt to successfully join the European Monetary Union. Our analysis presents new evidence on questions: when is public debt excessive, what is the relationship between debt and growth, and why the post-transition economies may have different relationships between debt and growth than other countries? The hypothesis is that the debt-growth relationship is non-linear, that is, public debt may enhance economic growth when debts levels are low and decrease growth when debt levels are high. After a certain threshold, debt becomes unsustainable, and the probability of public debt crisis increases. The unique nature of post-transition economies provides the opportunity to further test the channels and mechanisms that affect the threshold after which debt becomes too excessive and harmful to economic welfare.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: fiscal policy
  topic: keywords
subject: growth
  topic: keywords
subject: model
  topic: keywords
subject: post-transition
  topic: keywords
subject: threshold
  topic: keywords
creator: Sanja Grubacic
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Sanja Grubacic (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 12
ending page: 12

Organizational Commitment and the Role of Relations-Oriented or Task-Oriented Leadership Behaviors: A Research Examining Employee Perception in Saudi Arabia
type: item
description: This study examined the relationship between organizational commitment and leadership behaviors in Saudi Arabia, focusing on relations-oriented and task-oriented styles. Using Meyer and Allen’s Organizational Commitment Questionnaire and Bass and Avolio’s Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ Form 5X), quantitative data were collected from fifty employees across various industries to assess how leadership, training, task allocation, and managerial motivation influence employee loyalty. Findings supported the first hypothesis, showing a significant positive link between organizational commitment and relations-oriented leadership, with committed employees perceiving leaders as collaborative, supportive, and trustworthy. The second hypothesis was also confirmed, revealing a negative relationship between task-oriented leadership and commitment, as authoritative, goal-focused leaders tended to lower employees’ attachment to organizational goals. The results underscore the importance of culturally aligned leadership in Saudi Arabia, recommending the adoption of relational leadership practices to strengthen commitment, and suggesting future longitudinal studies to explore how changes in leadership behaviors over time affect organizational commitment.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Organizational commitment
  topic: keywords
subject: leadership behaviors
  topic: keywords
subject: relations-oriented leadership
  topic: keywords
subject: task-oriented leadership
  topic: keywords
subject: Saudi Arabia
  topic: keywords
creator: Rashed Alnaimi
creator: Nadia Adnan
creator: Sotirios Zygiaris
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Rashed Alnaimi, Nadia Adnan, Sotirios Zygiaris (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 11
ending page: 11

Facilitating Development of an International Sister Cities Relationship: The Role of Academia
type: item
description: Preceded by a successful 15-year academic relationship, in 2013, Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia USA and the city of Montepulciano in Tuscany Italy signed a 25-year partnership agreement setting out a detailed collaborative agreement highlighted by the first-floor leasing of the city’s Fortezza. This contract included a complete renovation with access to state-of-the-art learning facilities. This began the real process of cultivating a sister city relationship leveraging this joint management project, public administration and a governance relationship. Each year since its inception in 1998, Kennesaw State University has collaborated with Montepulciano to provide international study abroad opportunities. Approximately 200 students travel annually to Montepulciano representing up to 10 academic colleges within the university. Over time, the university’s growing relationship with Montepulciano stakeholders served as the genesis of expansion to a city-to-city formalized relationship leveraging the public administration and governance structures. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, individuals from the university and Montepulciano city officials began conceiving the possibility of formalizing a relationship with the city of Kennesaw, the university’s location. In the past two years, Coles College of Business students met with the city, cultural and education leaders studying and analyzing how the two entities could collaborate. They conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders and ultimately initiated consulting relationships with Montepulciano companies and organizations. For example, Kennesaw State University nursing students partnered with Montepulciano hospital nursing students to study and share best practices. In turn, a team of nurses and hospital administrators from Montepulciano visited Kennesaw State nursing students, professors, and the local WellStar hospital. The formalized sister city agreement is scheduled to be signed …
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: public administration
  topic: keywords
subject: leadership
  topic: keywords
subject: cultural
  topic: keywords
subject: educational
  topic: keywords
subject: engagement
  topic: keywords
creator: Kenneth W. Hill
creator: Dr. Joshua N. Azriel
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Kenneth W. Hill, Dr. Joshua N. Azriel (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 10
ending page: 10

The Influence of Online Reviews and Advertising Attractiveness on The Purchase Decisions of Tiktok Users of the Z Generation with ConsumerTrust As a Mediating Variable
type: item
description: This study aims to address the gap in previous research that has not explored the role of consumer trust as a mediating variable in the relationship between online reviews and advertising appeal on purchasing decisions, particularly on social media platforms like TikTok. The research subjects were beauty and personal care products on the TikTok Shop platform in Indonesia, with Generation Z TikTok Shop users as the purchasing subjects. Generation Z refers to individuals born between 1997 and 2012 and is characterized as a generation that grew up with and is familiar with advances in digital technology and social media. In this context, this study expands the understanding of Source Credibility Theory and Elaboration Likelihood Theory (ELM) in the context of Generation Z TikTok consumer behavior. A quantitative approach was employed, utilizing purposive sampling of 230 Gen Z respondents who had experience purchasing beauty and personal care products on the TikTok platform. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). These findings are expected to contribute theoretically to the literature on digital consumer behavior and practically to marketing strategies on the TikTok platform, particularly in designing emotion- and symbolbased campaigns tailored to Gen Z preferences.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Online review
  topic: keywords
subject: advertising attractiveness
  topic: keywords
subject: consumer trust
  topic: keywords
subject: tiktok shop
  topic: keywords
subject: purchase decision
  topic: keywords
subject: Generation Z
  topic: keywords
creator: Muhammad Ilham
creator: Basu Swastha Dharmmesta
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Ilham, Basu Swastha Dharmmesta (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 9
ending page: 9

The Relationship betwewn Accural Earnings Management and Employee Tenure
type: item
description: This paper examines whether accrual-based earnings management activities are influenced by employee tenure. Employees, as key stakeholders, can play dual roles within a firm: a monitoring role that may help curb inappropriate accounting practices, or a compliance role that could facilitate earnings manipulation. Using a panel dataset of 11,381 firm-year observations collected from the Korean stock market between 2011 and 2019, the empirical results reveal a positive association between discretionary accruals and average employee tenure. This suggests that a conducive environment for earnings management may be created when employees have longer tenures. Moreover, this paper investigates the role of foreign investor ownership as a moderating factor in the relationship between discretionary accruals and employee tenure. The findings indicate that higher foreign investor ownership significantly weakens the positive relationship between earnings management and employee tenure. Finally, the results from various robustness tests confirm that the overall findings are robust and remain unaffected by potential confounding factors, such as firm characteristics or endogeneity issues.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Eanrings Management
  topic: keywords
subject: Employee Tenure
  topic: keywords
subject: Foreign Institutional Inverstors
  topic: keywords
creator: Dr. Dong Hyun Son
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Dong Hyun Son (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 8
ending page: 8

Digitization or Digital Transformation? Alternatives for Uzbekistan’s Insurance Market: A Theoretical Analysis
type: item
description: This article provides a theoretical analysis of digitization and digital transformation processes in the context of Uzbekistan’s insurance market. It examines the distinctions between the concepts of “digitization” and “digital transformation,” their impact on the insurance industry, and potential alternatives for its further development. The study is based on an analysis of regulatory acts, statistical data, and scientific literature. Particular attention is paid to state policy, including the “Digital Uzbekistan-2030” Strategy, and its influence on the digitization of the insurance sector. The findings indicate that Uzbekistan’s insurance market is in the early stages of digitization, while digital transformation requires deeper changes in business models and organizational culture. The article includes analytical and comparative tables to illustrate differences and the current state of the market. In conclusion, recommendations are proposed for selecting an optimal strategy for the sustainable development of the insurance market.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: digitization
  topic: keywords
subject: digital transformation
  topic: keywords
subject: insurance market
  topic: keywords
subject: Uzbekistan
  topic: keywords
subject: information technologies
  topic: keywords
subject: fintech
  topic: keywords
subject: “Digital Uzbekistan-2030” Strategy
  topic: keywords
creator: Prof. Rustam Sadikovich Azimov
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Prof. Rustam Sadikovich Azimov (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 7
ending page: 7

Buffering the Burnout: The Moderating Role of Islamic Religiosity in the Relationship Between Leaders' Dark Triad Personality and Teacher Burnout
type: item
description: This study aims to evaluate the role of Islamic religiosity as a moderating factor in the relationship between leaders' Dark Triad personality states and work-related outcomes, specifically teacher burnout among educators under the Ministry of Education Malaysia. A quantitative diary study design was employed, and the data were analyzed using Multilevel Linear Modelling (MLM) and linear regression to assess moderation effects. Data was collected from 190 respondents, yielding a total of 1,900 daily diary entries. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between leaders' daily Dark Triad personality states and teachers' daily burnout. Moreover, teachers’ daily levels of Islamic religiosity significantly moderated this relationship, demonstrating a buffering effect that reduced the negative impact of daily Dark Triad leadership on burnout. These findings support the integration of Islamic religious values into human resource practices as an effective coping strategy, particularly in addressing the psychological consequences of toxic leadership. The study recommends that organizations adopt a holistic approach that incorporates religious and spiritual dimensions to enhance employee wellbeing and performance. Future research is encouraged to explore whether individuals’ religious practices reflect authentic spiritual commitment or merely routine religious behavior, and how this distinction influences coping mechanisms in the workplace.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Dark Triad personality
  topic: keywords
subject: teacher burnout
  topic: keywords
subject: Islamic religiosity
  topic: keywords
subject: moderating factor
  topic: keywords
subject: coping mechanism
  topic: keywords
creator: Siti Norafizan Jalaluddin
creator: Fariza Md Sham
creator: Nurul-Azza Abdullah
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Siti Norafizan Jalaluddin, Fariza Md Sham, Nurul-Azza Abdullah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 6
ending page: 6

Does Tax Enforcement Digitalization Matter for Corporate Disclosure Readability? Evidence From China
type: item
description: This study employs a difference-in-differences methodology to analyze how digital tax enforcement reforms influence corporate disclosure readability. Utilizing panel data from Chinese non-financial listed firms, the findings indicate that tax enforcement digitalization significantly improves financial report readability, consistent with the governance hypothesis. Further analysis reveals that both external monitoring mechanisms and internal control frameworks serve as statistically significant effect modifiers, suggesting that stricter tax enforcement reduces insider information advantages in market interactions by playing a governance role.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: tax enforcement
  topic: keywords
subject: digitalization
  topic: keywords
subject: readability
  topic: keywords
subject: information disclosure
  topic: keywords
subject: China
  topic: keywords
creator: Linyin Cheng
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Linyin Cheng (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 5
ending page: 5

Spatial Spillover Effects And Mechanisms Of Green Finance Supporting Low-Carbon, High-Quality Development In Manufacturing：Evidence From China
type: item
description: Amid global green development initiatives, this study investigates how green finance (GF) contributes to low-carbon, high-quality manufacturing development (LCHQM) in China from 2011 to 2022. A multidimensional measurement framework is constructed to evaluate both green finance and sustainable progress in manufacturing. To explore the underlying mechanisms, the study applies a spatial Durbin model (SDM) alongside mediation and moderation effect models. The findings show that green finance significantly enhances manufacturing’s low-carbon, high-quality development, demonstrating substantial spatial spillover effects. Carbon productivity, technological innovation, and market financing are identified as the key transmission channels. Different types of environmental regulation have heterogeneous impacts: market-based regulation positively moderates the effect, while supplementary regulation plays a substitute role. The study’s empirical results, based on a spatial-mediation-moderation framework, offer policy implications for advancing China’s green finance framework, including improving the green finance system and implementing regionally differentiated policies.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Green finance
  topic: keywords
subject: Low-carbon
  topic: keywords
subject: High-quality manufacturing development
  topic: keywords
subject: Spatial Durbin model
  topic: keywords
creator: Lingjuan Xu
creator: Yijiang Liu
creator: Xinyi Jiang
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Lingjuan Xu, Yijiang Liu, Xinyi Jiang (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 4
ending page: 4

Research on the Impact of the Marketization Level of Capital Factors on the Sustainable Development Capability of Enterprises
type: item
description: Based on the data of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2020, this paper analyzes the marketization level of capital factors and the sustainable development ability of 31 provinces in China, and uses the fixed effect model to test the influence and function mechanism of the marketization level of capital factors on the sustainable development ability of enterprises. The research results show that the marketization level of capital factors has significantly improved the sustainable development ability of enterprises. The results of mechanism analysis show that improving the development level of digital economy strengthens the marketization of capital factors on the sustainable development ability of enterprises; the marketization of capital factors mainly affects the sustainable development ability of enterprises by increasing environmental attention. In view of the improvement of the sustainable development ability of enterprises, this paper puts forward the following suggestions: to further deepen the market-oriented reform of factors, accelerate the development of digital economy, and shape the social image of enterprises.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: market-oriented allocation of capital factors
  topic: keywords
subject: sustainable development ability
  topic: keywords
subject: horizontal measure
  topic: keywords
creator: Prof. Geng Chengxuan
creator: Feng Haonan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Prof. Geng Chengxuan, Feng Haonan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 3
ending page: 3

Research on Political Ecology, Government Innovation Subsidies and Dual Innovation
type: item
description: Improving the innovation ability of enterprises is the key to the high-quality development of China's economy. Taking 568 high-tech listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares from 2018 to 2021 as samples, this paper discusses the influence of government innovation subsidies on exploratory innovation and development innovation of enterprises, as well as the regulatory role of political ecology. The results show that government innovation subsidies have a significant positive impact on dual technological innovation, and the incentive effect on exploratory innovation is stronger; Political ecology positively regulates the relationship between government subsidies and dual technological innovation, and the promotion of anti-corruption strengthens this positive correlation; Heterogeneity analysis shows that government subsidies play a more significant role in promoting innovation of state-owned enterprises. The research provides a theoretical basis for optimizing the government's innovation subsidy policy and strengthening the political ecological construction.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Government Innovation Subsidy
  topic: keywords
subject: Dual Technological Innovation
  topic: keywords
subject: Political Ecology
  topic: keywords
subject: Anti-corruption
  topic: keywords
creator: Dongfang Qiu
creator: Mengting Yao
creator: Nurbo Wulipan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Dongfang Qiu, Mengting Yao, Nurbo Wulipan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 2
ending page: 2

What Drives Emerging Market Supplier Upgrading Pathways in Global Value Chains (Gvcs)? Evidence From Fuzzy‑Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (Fsqca)
type: item
description: Fast growth in large emerging markets, such as China and India, has led an impressive number of emerging market suppliers in GVCs to upgrade. However, current frameworks of analysis do not sufficiently elaborate on this phenomenon from a comprehensive perspective. The literature has focused on pre-defined and sequential pathways, as well as the net effects of single factors. Instead, this study draws upon a configurational framework and proposes that supplier upgrading does not depend on a single condition but on interactions among governance mechanisms, technological capabilities, and environmental dynamics. Applying fsQCA to 67 suppliers in China, this study identified three pathways that could impel emerging market suppliers to upgrade: innovation-capability, technological-breakthrough, and symbiotic-developmental orientations. The results show that emerging market supplier upgrading could result from different configurations of antecedents. The findings enrich the literature and provide implications for emerging market suppliers upgrading within GVCs.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: global value chain (GVC)
  topic: keywords
subject: emerging market supplier
  topic: keywords
subject: upgrading pathway
  topic: keywords
subject: fuzzy‑set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA)
  topic: keywords
creator: Dr. Huanhuan Ma
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Huanhuan Ma (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-01-01
publication date: 2026-01-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 1

Utilizing Machine Learning Algorithms and SEM Analysis to Investigate the Relationship Between Environmental Deterioration, Health Expenditure and Economic Development in ECOWAS Region
type: item
description: This study utilized advanced machine learning techniques and SEM to investigate the relationships between environmental degradation, health expenditure, and economic development in the ECOWAS region, from 2000 to 2021. This study reveals that there are statistically significant direct associations between environmental factors and economic growth. GDP per capita is significantly influenced by positive carbon emissions (β = 0.716, p < 0.001). Nitrous oxide emissions also showed a positive influence on GDP per capita (β = 0.123, p < 0.001). Inversely, poor air quality measured by PM2.5 levels negatively influences economic growth (β = -0.306, p < 0.001). Health expenditure significantly mediates the relationship of nitrous oxide emissions with economic growth, the indirect effect being β = -0.008, p = 0.009, accounting for 13.91% of the total effect. However, there is a very minimal mediation effect between carbon emissions and economic growth indirect effect: β = -0.010, p = 0.019, and no significant mediation in the relationship between air quality and economic growth. Gradient Boosting model had very high predictive accuracy among the machine learning models, explaining 98.85% of the variance in GDP per capita across countries. Feature analysis shows that carbon emissions account for approximately 68.6% of the model's predictive power, followed by PM2.5 levels at 27.5%. The study showed context-specific dynamics in the ECOWAS region. The high reliance on carbon-intensive activities for economic development implies that sustainable development strategies have to be emphasized. We recommend investing in clean energy technologies, air quality management, sustainable agricultural practices, and health infrastructure in the ECOWAS countries. This will enable the region to integrate policies in a way that economic development balances with environmental protection and improvement in public health towards the attainment of SDGs.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Environmental degradation
  topic: keywords
subject: Economic development
  topic: keywords
subject: ECOWAS region
  topic: keywords
subject: Machine learning
  topic: keywords
subject: Health expenditure
  topic: keywords
subject: CO2 emissions
  topic: keywords
subject: Environmental Kuznets Curve
  topic: keywords
creator: Seth Acquah Boateng
creator: William Godfred Cantah
creator: Andy Asare
creator: Joshua Sebu
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Seth Acquah Boateng, William Godfred Cantah, Andy Asare, Joshua Sebu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2024-10-17
publication date: 2024-10-17
starting page: 12
ending page: 12

The Lean Office: A Promising Solution for Transforming Administrative Services
type: item
description: This article presents a synthesis of current knowledge on the application of Lean Office in administrative services, based on a systematic literature review. We examine the expected benefits, such as improved efficiency, cost reduction, and increased customer satisfaction (de Sousa et al., 2018), as well as the challenges encountered, including resistance to change and process complexity (Radnor et al., 2014). We also highlight the eight wastes specific to office environments and their concrete manifestations, illustrated by examples from the literature. Finally, we identify the key success factors, such as strong leadership, employee involvement, and adaptation to the specific context, for a successful implementation of Lean Office (Larsson et Ratnayake, 2021).This synthesis aims to provide valuable insights for professionals and researchers interested in improving the performance of administrative organizations, by offering them a deep understanding of the issues, challenges, and opportunities related to the adoption of Lean Office.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Lean Office
  topic: keywords
subject: administrative services
  topic: keywords
subject: waste
  topic: keywords
subject: efficiency
  topic: keywords
subject: continuous improvement
  topic: keywords
subject: transformation
  topic: keywords
creator: Srhir Srhir Abdelhak
creator: Houssaini Abdellah
creator: Mamad Mohamed
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Srhir Srhir Abdelhak, Houssaini Abdellah, Mamad Mohamed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2024-10-17
publication date: 2024-10-17
starting page: 11
ending page: 11

Unlocking Innovation Potential through Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Support: Navigating the Startup to Scaleup Transition
type: item
description: The objective of the study is to examine the impact of entrepreneurial ecosystem support on the innovation potential of startups as they transition to scaleups. Grounded in theories of innovation systems and entrepreneurial ecosystems, the study will focus on external factors, including access to financial resources, mentorship, and regulatory and institutional support. These elements are essential components of a thriving ecosystem, influencing not only a company’s capacity for innovation but also its ability to overcome growth challenges. By examining empirical data from Slovenian startup companies, the research will seek to identify specific relationships between external support mechanisms and enhanced innovation capabilities. The study will explore how startups with greater access to capital, knowledge networks, and a supportive regulatory environment are better equipped to develop and implement innovative solutions, thus facilitating their scaling process. It is anticipated that the findings will illustrate that a well-structured entrepreneurial ecosystem significantly boosts innovation potential, which is pivotal for navigating the complexities of scaling in both domestic and international markets. This study will contribute to the ongoing discourse on the role of ecosystems in fostering high-growth firms, offering practical recommendations for policymakers and ecosystem stakeholders to enhance collaboration and resource accessibility, thereby supporting scalable innovation.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Entrepreneurial ecosystem
  topic: keywords
subject: External support
  topic: keywords
subject: Innovativeness
  topic: keywords
subject: Scaleup
  topic: keywords
subject: Startup
  topic: keywords
creator: Assoc. Prof. Katja Crnogaj
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Assoc. Prof. Katja Crnogaj (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2024-10-17
publication date: 2024-10-17
starting page: 10
ending page: 10

Advancing Human Resource ManagementInterventions to Support Workforce Mental Health
type: item
description: The World Health Organization (2010) has estimated that between a quarter to half the population are likely to experience debilitating mental health challenges in their lifetime. Mental health relates to challenges with wellbeing that inhibit the performance and functioning of workers. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the need for systematic human resource management (HRM) innovations for mental health. The purpose of this study is to contribute to management understanding of mental health and wellbeing of the workforce across different organizations, with a focus on improving employees’ mental health through HRM interventions. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 HRM professionals from varied organizations in the public and private sectors. The main pre-determined questions addressed HRM strategies to improve wellbeing for managers and workers, especially in demanding work environments. The participants were also asked to address HRM policies and practices that can improve the mental health of the workforce. All interviews were transcribed verbatim. A grounded theory approach was utilized for the qualitative analysis of the data. The findings suggest that HRM professionals have developed a growing interest in mental health at work, whoever they have not yet fully designed the role of HRM to support mental health. The participants stressed the impacts of the pandemic on employees’ wellbeing. Consequently, HRM professionals reported top management's changing attitudes and beliefs about mental health, and a consequent increase in management's willingness to invest resources in seeking new interventions to advance this important issue.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: HRM
  topic: keywords
subject: Wellbeing
  topic: keywords
subject: Employees
  topic: keywords
subject: Pandemic
  topic: keywords
subject: Management
  topic: keywords
creator: Shani Kuna
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Shani Kuna (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2024-10-17
publication date: 2024-10-17
starting page: 9
ending page: 9

Artificial Intelligence in The Workplace: Challenges for Human Resource Management
type: item
description: Increasing evidence suggests the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) for human resource management (HRM) as well as its threats to the future of work and employment. Fewer studies, however, have explored AI challenges for HR managers, considering the ethical and legal issues at stake in the design and implementation of AI-enabled HRM applications. This study addressed this gap in the literature by exploring the opportunities and challenges of AI applications for HRM from the perspective of experienced HRM professionals. In depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 prominent Israeli HRM professionals from varied business organizations. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. A grounded theory approach was utilized for the qualitative analysis of the data. Although the participants in this study acknowledge that AI has benefits, there is a dramatic controversy among HRM professionals whether organizations should allow AI to make judgements concerning employees. The findings suggest that senior HRM professionals have significant concerns and doubts regarding the impact of AI utilization in their daily practices on responsible management and decent work. In sum, this study, which reflects current societal and technological controversies, aims to make a contribution to the critical theorizing of AI and advance our understanding of the future of work.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: AI
  topic: keywords
subject: organizations
  topic: keywords
subject: management
  topic: keywords
subject: technology
  topic: keywords
subject: employees
  topic: keywords
creator: Shani Kuna
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Shani Kuna (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2024-10-17
publication date: 2024-10-17
starting page: 8
ending page: 8

The Influence Of Supply Chain Strategies On Performance Of South African Manufacturing SMES: The Mediating Effects Of Supply Chain Resilience
type: item
description: In South Africa, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are acknowledged as a major contributor to national GDP and employment creation. Manufacturing SMEs are among the most dominant forms of SMEs in South Africa. However, their success is hamstrung by numerous challenges that affect their growth and sustainability. The main challenges facing SMEs in South Africa include leadership, marketing, management, social, political, human resources, and financial matters. Lack of supply chain management (SCM) strategies has been identified as the outstanding challenge contributing to the failure of many manufacturing SMEs in the country. The primary aim of this study was to explore the influence of SCM strategies on resilience and performance of South African manufacturing SMEs. The study followed a quantitative survey approach and a non-probability sampling method. A questionnaire was distributed to a purposively sampled 407 managers, owners and supply chain management (SCM) professionals drawn from 120 manufacturing SMEs in the Gauteng, Free State and North-West provinces of South Africa. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 27.0). Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) based on the SMART partial least squares (PLS) technique. The results reveal that reverse logistics (RL) and supply chain traceability (SCT) as forms of SCM strategies impacted positively on supply chain resilience (SCR), the latter of which, in turn, is linked to improved supply chain agility (SCA). However, SCR negatively impacted supply chain reliability (SCL), supply chain responsiveness (SR) and customer satisfaction (CS). Further, SCR significantly mediated the relationships between RL, SCT and supply chain performance. The study suggests that the implementation of supply chain strategies is vital in influencing SCR. This study contributes to SCM literature as it is one of the few studies exploring SCM strategies, …
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Small
  topic: keywords
subject: medium and enterprises (SMEs)
  topic: keywords
subject: manufacturing
  topic: keywords
subject: supply chain strategies
  topic: keywords
subject: resilience
  topic: keywords
subject: performance
  topic: keywords
creator: Irvine Langton
creator: Chengedzai Mafini
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Irvine Langton, Chengedzai Mafini (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2024-10-17
publication date: 2024-10-17
starting page: 7
ending page: 7

Effects of Mobile Money in Financial Inclusion: Contrasting French and English-Speaking Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
type: item
description: The past two decades have seen many governments, especially in the global south acknowledging the importance of financial inclusion. In that sense, it may be argued that the African continent has lagged behind. Yet the continent has begun to catch up, with studies indicating that over 75% of Africans hold a mobile phone with an internet connection that they use for mobile payments and e-commerce, among other things. The purpose of this paper is to establish the role mobile money has played in financial inclusion and if there is any difference between French and English-speaking countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study used the 2011 and 2021 Global Financial Index data collected by the World Bank for their report on financial inclusion across the world. General Linear Model and Binary Logistic Regression were employed to analyse data. The results revealed that while in 2011 before the wide spread of mobile money, a significant proportion of English-speaking had inclusion and a significant proportion of French-speaking didn’t, the gap substantially narrowed within 10 ten years due a wider adoption of mobile money by the French-speaking countries. However, the overall financial inclusion increased for both groups, doubling within that period. The originality of this study is that studies on financial inclusion in Africa have not been comparing comprehensively the differences by countries’ colonial heritage, neglecting an important aspect which this study covered.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: African Continent
  topic: keywords
subject: Colonial Heritage
  topic: keywords
subject: Internet Connection
  topic: keywords
subject: Mobile Phone
  topic: keywords
subject: The World Bank
  topic: keywords
creator: Bouba Ismaila
creator: John Beneke
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Bouba Ismaila, John Beneke (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2024-10-17
publication date: 2024-10-17
starting page: 6
ending page: 6

Do Conspicuous Consumption Motives Explain Eco-Friendly Consumption Decisions? Evidence from Social Media Exposure Effects
type: item
description: While previous studies underscore that conspicuous consumption is antithetical to prosocial consumer behaviour, there is new evidence suggesting that conspicuous consumption motives may actually motivate green product choices. Despite this claim, little is known about the mechanisms explaining conspicuous consumption intentions of green products in the online context. Although social media’s impact on conspicuous consumption through online social dynamics such as Social Comparison and FOMO have been established, their effect in the context of green conspicuous consumption remains unclear. To address this gap, this study employed a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling approach to understand how conspicuous consumption motives drive green purchase intentions when consumers are exposed to green content on social media. The study hypotheses Social Media Exposure to green content, FOMO, and Social Comparison as antecedents to green conspicuous consumption motives, with perceived quality as a moderator. Data was collected from 346 US, UK and Canada social media users. Findings suggest that conspicuous consumption motives are salient in mediating the relationship between FOMO, Social comparison and green purchase intentions. While perceived quality positively moderated the relationship between social comparison and conspicuous consumption, it was insignificant for the FOMO and conspicuous consumption relationship. Theoretical and Managerial implications are discussed.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: FOMO
  topic: keywords
subject: Green Purchase Intentions
  topic: keywords
subject: Online Consumer Behavior
  topic: keywords
subject: Prosocial Consumer Behaviour
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Comparison
  topic: keywords
creator: Senyo Obed Amponsah
creator: Yoonjae Lee
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Senyo Obed Amponsah, Yoonjae Lee (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2024-10-17
publication date: 2024-10-17
starting page: 5
ending page: 5

Strategies for Managing Mortgaged Houses/Buildings Affected by Hurricanes in the Caribbean Financial Market
type: item
description: Given the epistemological gap arising from the limited studies elucidating a clear depiction of a combination of strategies that can be used for managing bank loan securities affected by hurricanes, this study fills such a gap by offering a critical evaluation of the strategies for managing bank loan securities affected by hurricanes. The study used a mixed research method encompassing the use of integrative review and qualitative Delphi method. It was through the integrative review that the study was able to identify from the existing studies the strategies for managing bank loan securities affected by the hurricanes. Basing on the emerging findings, qualitative Delphi method was used to probe the opinions of the selected bank managers about the efficacy of using such strategies. Thematic analysis reflecting the triangulation of the results of integrative review with the findings of Delphi study indicated the major strategies for managing bank loan securities affected by hurricanes to often entail the utilisation of hurricane-resilient infrastructure, insurance systems, disaster relief fund and bank contingency fund. Even if these strategies may be effective, their efficacy may still be limited by a series of hurricanes that the Caribbean region experiences. In the period between the year 1979 and 2019, the Caribbean region experienced five deadly hurricanes. Combined with the occurrence of the unexpected events like the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019, the devastating economic effects of RussiaUkraine War and then the recent 2024 hurricane Beryl, this places extreme strain on the disaster relief fund, bank contingency fund and the insurance system to suggest future studies must still continue to explore how to deal with the devastating effects of the hurricanes on bank loan securities.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: “Bank Loan Securities”
  topic: keywords
subject: “Hurricane Damage”
  topic: keywords
subject: “Bank Disaster Recovery Strategies”
  topic: keywords
subject: “Strategies for Preventing Damage of Bank Loan Securities”
  topic: keywords
subject: “Building Resilience for Hurricanes”
  topic: keywords
creator: Jennifer Davis-Adesegha
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Jennifer Davis-Adesegha (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2024-10-17
publication date: 2024-10-17
starting page: 4
ending page: 4

Banking Concentration, Financial Inclusion and Economic Growth in South Africa
type: item
description: The finance-growth nexus has been widely researched, and there is robust theoretical and empirical evidence that financial development promotes economic growth. However, in recent years there has been an ongoing debate on whether the market structure of the banking industry affects economic growth and financial inclusion. The financial industry in South Africa is well developed with sound policies and financial institutions. The banking industry in South Africa is dominated by four large banks. This study uses the Structural Bayesian Vector Autoregressive model to investigate the relationship between bank concentration, financial inclusion and economic growth in South Africa between 1995-2022. The study finds that banking industry concentration in South Africa promotes economic growth. Moreover, concentration in the banking industry promotes banking sector efficiency in the short run as banks are able to conduct thorough screening of clients. However concentration in the banking industry impedes financial inclusion in the short run, but the effect dies out in the long run.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: efficiency
  topic: keywords
subject: financial development
  topic: keywords
subject: market structure
  topic: keywords
subject: financial industry
  topic: keywords
subject: structural Bayesian VAR
  topic: keywords
creator: Shonisani Chauke
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Shonisani Chauke (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2024-10-17
publication date: 2024-10-17
starting page: 3
ending page: 3