Abstract book of the International Conference on Management and Economics
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.
Public Debt and Economic Welfare in Central and Eastern Europe
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sanja Grubacic (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Organizational Commitment and the Role of Relations-Oriented or Task-Oriented Leadership Behaviors: A Research Examining Employee Perception in Saudi Arabia
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rashed Alnaimi, Nadia Adnan, Sotirios Zygiaris (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Facilitating Development of an International Sister Cities Relationship: The Role of Academia
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 on 7 October 2025. This process of creating the relationship between the cities of Kennesaw and Montepulciano encompassed management from public administration and governance.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kenneth W. Hill, Dr. Joshua N. Azriel (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Ilham, Basu Swastha Dharmmesta (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Relationship betwewn Accural Earnings Management and Employee Tenure
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Dong Hyun Son (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Digitization or Digital Transformation? Alternatives for Uzbekistan’s Insurance Market: A Theoretical Analysis
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Prof. Rustam Sadikovich Azimov (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Buffering the Burnout: The Moderating Role of Islamic Religiosity in the Relationship Between Leaders' Dark Triad Personality and Teacher Burnout
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Siti Norafizan Jalaluddin, Fariza Md Sham, Nurul-Azza Abdullah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Does Tax Enforcement Digitalization Matter for Corporate Disclosure Readability? Evidence From China
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Linyin Cheng (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Spatial Spillover Effects And Mechanisms Of Green Finance Supporting Low-Carbon, High-Quality Development In Manufacturing：Evidence From China
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lingjuan Xu, Yijiang Liu, Xinyi Jiang (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Research on the Impact of the Marketization Level of Capital Factors on the Sustainable Development Capability of Enterprises
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.
market-oriented allocation of capital factors
Copyright (c) 2025 Prof. Geng Chengxuan, Feng Haonan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Research on Political Ecology, Government Innovation Subsidies and Dual Innovation
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dongfang Qiu, Mengting Yao, Nurbo Wulipan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
What Drives Emerging Market Supplier Upgrading Pathways in Global Value Chains (Gvcs)? Evidence From Fuzzy‑Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (Fsqca)
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.
fuzzy‑set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA)
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Huanhuan Ma (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Utilizing Machine Learning Algorithms and SEM Analysis to Investigate the Relationship Between Environmental Deterioration, Health Expenditure and Economic Development in ECOWAS Region
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.
Copyright (c) 2024 Seth Acquah Boateng, William Godfred Cantah, Andy Asare, Joshua Sebu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Lean Office: A Promising Solution for Transforming Administrative Services
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.
Copyright (c) 2024 Srhir Srhir Abdelhak, Houssaini Abdellah, Mamad Mohamed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Unlocking Innovation Potential through Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Support: Navigating the Startup to Scaleup Transition
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.
Copyright (c) 2024 Assoc. Prof. Katja Crnogaj (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Advancing Human Resource ManagementInterventions to Support Workforce Mental Health
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.
Copyright (c) 2024 Shani Kuna (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Artificial Intelligence in The Workplace: Challenges for Human Resource Management
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.
The Influence Of Supply Chain Strategies On Performance Of South African Manufacturing SMES: The Mediating Effects Of Supply Chain Resilience
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, resilience, and performance in the context of the South African manufacturing SMEs.
Copyright (c) 2024 Irvine Langton, Chengedzai Mafini (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effects of Mobile Money in Financial Inclusion: Contrasting French and English-Speaking Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
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.
Copyright (c) 2024 Bouba Ismaila, John Beneke (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Do Conspicuous Consumption Motives Explain Eco-Friendly Consumption Decisions? Evidence from Social Media Exposure Effects
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.
Copyright (c) 2024 Senyo Obed Amponsah, Yoonjae Lee (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Strategies for Managing Mortgaged Houses/Buildings Affected by Hurricanes in the Caribbean Financial Market
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.
“Strategies for Preventing Damage of Bank Loan Securities”
Copyright (c) 2024 Jennifer Davis-Adesegha (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Banking Concentration, Financial Inclusion and Economic Growth in South Africa
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.
Copyright (c) 2024 Shonisani Chauke (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Export Diversification as A Driver of Economic Growth: A Time Series Analysis
It is frequently suggested that export diversification contributes to an acceleration of growth in developing countries. This study attempts to determine the hypothesis that export diversification is linked to economic growth by using annual secondary time series data from the years 1993 to 2022. The variables included in the study are GDP, export diversification, export growth rate, FDI, and the real interest rate. The study uses the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and the Phillips-Perron (PP) tests to determine whether the time series variable is stationary at level or first difference. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and the Error Correction Model (ECM) model are used to investigate the long-run relationship and short-run impact of export diversification and economic growth. Other analyses used to achieve the objective of the study include diagnostic tests namely, multicollinearity, heteroskedasticity, autocorrelation, normality test, and stability testing. All tests in the study are performed using EViews 12. From the study, it was found that export diversification has a negative and significant relationship with economic growth. Hence, to achieve gains from the export sector, South African policymakers should take into consideration export concentration instead of diversifying its exports. A negative relationship was also obtained between the real interest rate and economic growth; however, a positive relationship was obtained between export growth rate, FDI, and economic growth.
Copyright (c) 2024 R Nishimwe-Niyimbanira (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effective Management Distribution of Energy Sources and Energy Independence
As a result of ongoing armed conflicts around the world, including the one between Russia and Ukraine, disruptions have occurred in the supply of fossil resources and energy carriers on the basis of which classic models of electricity supply are built. These resources are primarily gas, crude oil and hard coal. Even economies transforming towards the largest possible share of renewable energy sources in the structure of currently used resources must still take into account the need to use fossil energy carriers. Nuclear power plants, which are relatively cheapest to operate, are also based on fossil energy carriers such as uranium or plutonium, the guarantee of uninterrupted supply of which is now probably no longer possible in the long term. Generally, the production of electricity and heat takes place through central devices such as power plants, combined heat and power plants, heating plants using fossil energy carriers, hydroelectric power plants, as well as wind and photovoltaic farms, and distributed energy cooperatives. Waste incineration plants, waste processing installations, and sewage treatment plants producing electricity and heat directly or from the produced biogas are also sources of local energy production. It is therefore necessary to consider the energy efficiency of individual solutions in the light of the mentioned and potential disruptions in the supply of energy carriers, efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and, in general, the costs of energy used by enterprises. These costs have a significant impact on building competitive advantage by business entities. The aim of the article is to consider the expected changes in building energy mixes in world economies when the main conflict, the war between Russia and Ukraine, ends. Should distributed energy sources be expanded? Will they still be profitable assuming the forecast of cheaper prices of fossil energy resources? Will we go back to the old models? Or maybe we should strive to build full energy independence, assuming that there will be new technological and organizational possibilities that we have not yet discovered or used yet?
Copyright (c) 2024 Zbigniew Grzymała, Agnieszka Wójcik-Czerniawska (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0