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This article employs a panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model to examine the relationship between digital financial inclusion (DFI), economic growth (EG), and gender equality (GE) across different levels of financial development.

Based on the current financial development dynamics, this study applies the PVAR method to two groups of countries: the first group represents the high financial development group, and the second group represents the low financial development group, during the period from 2015 to 2021.

The findings from impulse response functions reveal that digital financial inclusion fosters economic growth in nations with advanced financial systems, while simultaneously mitigating gender inequality. Conversely, in countries with less developed financial infrastructures, digital financial inclusion stimulates economic growth but exacerbates gender disparities. Moreover, the variance decomposition analysis indicates that the linkage between economic growth, digital financial inclusion, and gender inequality is more intertwined in countries with limited financial development than in those with well-established financial systems.

Effective deployment of new technologies relies heavily on technological infrastructure. This policy focuses on constructing and developing information technology infrastructure to create favorable conditions for the implementation of new DFI technologies. This study also emphasizes promoting equitable education and training by ensuring that both women and men have equal opportunities to access quality education and training. This may involve investing in early childhood education, providing access to primary education, and offering scholarships to women in technology, science, and engineering fields.

Inclusive growth in the education sector is still a major challenge in some countries because of limited access to technologies and internet connectivity, among other reasons. However, as a technology, augmented reality (AR) is expected to be widely used in the field of education in the future. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the use of AR for inclusive growth in education as well as identify the challenges, particularly in countries like India and Tanzania.

This paper applies a systematic literature review by analysing and synthesising relevant documents, mainly journal articles, books and conference papers. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation were used for the analysis. Content analysis was used to evaluate the contents of the reviewed literature.

For the use of AR, it is important to have adequate digital infrastructure, access to universal internet or broadband facilities and the digital empowerment of citizens. Major challenges to inclusive growth in education include the lack of trained teacher educators and students’ preference for practical or project-based curriculum.

Practitioners in both countries may consider the use of AR for inclusive growth in education.

This paper specifically examines the use of AR in higher education and the related challenges based on a review of two countries, namely India and Tanzania.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the characteristics and competencies of entrepreneurs on business performance within the creative industry in Indonesia. By creative industry, is refer to market-oriented enterprises that use creativity and intellectual capital to create, produce, distribute and disseminate creative goods and services through media channels.

This study measured six entrepreneurial characteristics: creative and innovative, risk-taking, need for achievement, leadership, autonomy and proactiveness. In addition, it measured five entrepreneurial competencies: opportunity, strategy, relationship, organization and learning. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire administered to 294 entrepreneurs operating businesses within the creative industry in Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia.

The findings of this study demonstrated that entrepreneurial characteristics and competencies had a significantly positive effect on business performance. Creativity and innovation emerged as the most influential characteristics, whereas strategy stood out as the most influential competency.

This study aimed to examine whether the personal qualities of entrepreneurs as identified within conventional industries − specifically their entrepreneurial characteristics and competencies − had an impact on business performance in the creative industry in Indonesia. Conventional industries, unlike creative industries, are characterized by the production and distribution of physical goods or basic services, with less emphasis on creative innovation as the core driver.

The paper aims to address the gap in literature on effective disaster governance in Southeast Asia, with a focus on COVID-19 management in Malaysia. It explores the intersection of localized hazard understandings, disaster governance and policy implications, emphasizing systemic vulnerability, resilience enhancement and improving risk communication and resource management. The goal is to offer insights and frameworks for policymakers, researchers and practitioners to navigate disaster governance complexities in Southeast Asia, marked by unique challenges and vulnerabilities.

The study employs an analytical descriptive methodology, involving a comprehensive literature review of academic articles, official reports and case studies related to disaster governance in Malaysia. It focuses on evaluating Malaysia's disaster governance's adaptability, inclusivity and coordination, considering policy implementation, stakeholder engagement and resource allocation. This approach facilitates a detailed analysis of the effectiveness of Malaysia's strategies in integrating environmental and health disaster management systems.

The findings reveal that Malaysia's disaster governance, particularly during COVID-19, has been challenged by the need for rapid adaptation and coordination. While early lockdowns and a robust vaccination program were effective, they also highlighted issues in healthcare system capacity and socioeconomic impacts. The study emphasizes the importance of integrated, resilient disaster management strategies that consider public health, environmental risks and socio-economic factors. It underscores the need for improved stakeholder collaboration, infrastructure resilience and climate change mitigation in disaster governance.

The research is limited by a lack of specific data on Malaysia's unique socio-cultural, economic and political dynamics in disaster response. This gap hinders the development of nuanced, context-specific policies and practices for effective disaster governance, emphasizing the need for more region-focused studies.

The study highlights the need for Malaysia to develop more resilient, integrated disaster governance frameworks, emphasizing local community empowerment, sustainable infrastructure and climate change mitigation. It calls for enhanced regional cooperation in Southeast Asia for effective disaster preparedness and response.

The research suggests that disaster governance should prioritize social resilience and inclusivity, addressing the varying impacts on different societal segments. Emphasis on mental health, community engagement and equitable resource distribution is vital for comprehensive disaster management and societal well-being in Southeast Asia.

This paper uniquely contributes to the understanding of disaster governance in Southeast Asia by combining empirical research and systematic reviews focused on Malaysia. It offers a novel perspective on integrating environmental and health disaster management, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities and resilience strategies. The study's value lies in its emphasis on the region's unique challenges, providing valuable insights for policymakers, researchers and practitioners in developing effective, context-specific disaster governance frameworks in Southeast Asia.

This study aims to understand the mechanisms driving individuals to utilise and engage in edu-business and contribute to the industry’s development, even when they face criticism. To that end, this paper, focussing on corporate stories, explores the cultural strategies education companies employ to expand their businesses overseas.

This paper examines the case study of Kumon Institute of Education, a key player in the Japanese edu-business sector. The analysis is based on interviews conducted between 2019 and 2021 with four public relations officers who possess extensive knowledge of the company’s history. Additionally, it draws on government and company documents, as well as newspaper articles. The analysis focusses on the narrative isomorphism between the company and the government from the provider’s perspective.

Kumon’s corporate stories and narratives have been shaped by the history, culture and policies of Japan, its country of origin, rather than adopting a bottom-up approach or embracing neoliberal values. As the company expanded its international reach, its Japanese identity became a cornerstone of its narrative, heightening the appeal of its stories through the use of expert discourse and historic cultural resources. Recently, a synergy has developed between the public and private sectors in the realm of education export, reinforcing the distinctly Japanese nature of the company, which is particularly appealing to both users and employees.

This paper focusses on the edu-business itself, analysing cultural strategies that go beyond the functional aspects of management or services to understand how edu-businesses have attracted people.

This study aims to empirically analyze the market response of energy companies to the Russian-Ukrainian invasion. Additionally, it examines the comparison of market reactions between companies in NATO member countries and non-member countries.

This study utilizes a sample of 1,511 energy sector companies. To achieve the research objectives, two methods are employed. First, an event study is used to analyze the market reaction using Cumulative Abnormal Return (CAR) to the announcement of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 (event day) within an event window of (−30, +30). Second, a cross-sectional analysis is conducted to compare the responses of companies in NATO member countries with those in non-member countries.

The findings of this study reveal that energy companies worldwide reacted positively both before and after the announcement of the invasion, with significant reactions observed in companies from the Americas, Europe, and Asia & Pacific regions. However, the Middle East and Africa markets did not show significant reactions. Furthermore, the study indicates that most developed and emerging markets responded positively, likely due to the increase in energy commodity prices during the war. Moreover, the market reaction of companies in NATO member countries was stronger compared to other markets.

This study contributes to the existing literature by being the first to examine the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the energy sector, while categorizing markets as developed, emerging, and frontier. It also specifically explores the market reaction of energy companies in NATO member countries, providing unique insights into the differential responses within the energy sector.

研究目的: 本研究擬以經驗及觀察為依據, 去分析能源公司對俄羅斯–烏克蘭侵略行為的市場反應。研究亦擬進行關於北約成員國內的能源公司及非成員國內的能源公司的市場反應的比較研究。

研究設計/方法/理念: 研究使用的樣本為1511間能源領域內的公司。研究人員為能達到研究目標, 採用了兩個方法。首先, 他們使用事件研究法進行有關的研究。具體地說, 他們以累積異常報酬率, 來分析在 (−30, +30) 的事件視窗之內, 能源公司對俄羅斯於2022年2月24日 (事發日) 入侵烏克蘭的公告的市場反應。其次, 研究人員以橫向分析法, 就北約成員國內的能源公司及非成員國內的能源公司的反應進行比較研究。

研究結果: 研究結果顯示, 全球的能源公司於侵略行為公告前後均有正面的反應;而反應較為顯著的公司均來自美洲、歐洲和亞洲及太平洋地區。唯中東和非洲市場均沒有顯著的反應。研究結果亦顯示, 大多數已發展市場和新興市場, 均有正面的反應, 這很可能是因為於戰爭期間, 能源商品價格上升所致。再者, 北約成員國內的公司的市場反應較其他市場強烈。

研究的原創性: 本研究率先以已開發市場、新興市場和邊境市場的市場分類, 去探討俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭對能源部門的影響;就此, 本研究對現有文獻作出了貢獻。研究亦特意探索了北約成員國內能源公司及非成員國內的能源公司兩者的市場反應, 這給我們獨特的啟示, 以能了解能源領域內各種不同的反應。

The proliferation of technological advancements has facilitated unrestricted access to and customizable consumption of content for viewers. Over-the-top (OTT) services are becoming more and more popular as the number of people using video streaming services grows around the world. In this context, this study aims to identify the antecedents and outcomes of Customer over-the-top Experience (COTTE) by synthesizing the existing research.

This research used the systematic literature review approach to identify the antecedents and outcomes of COTTE, along with the publication schedule, theories, analytical techniques, research methodology, and geographic scope of the 47 studies identified from the Scopus and Web of Science database.

The findings elucidate various antecedents of COTTE, including user-related, social, content-related, and website/platform-related factors. Additionally, diverse outcomes, encompassing behavioural/attitudinal and company-related factors have been discussed. Furthermore, an integrated framework is presented herein, synthesizing extant research and guiding future researchers in this domain.

The study’s findings offer a novel perspective for service providers aiming to enhance the OTT experience for their customers. This study stands out as one of the first to comprehensively present the antecedents and consequences of COTTE.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have been increasingly investing in their economic and social development in recent years, yet the effectiveness of their spending remains unknown although they have been taking reforms to advance their spending efficiency practices.

The study applies a quantitative approach to analyze panel data using a multiple regression model based on the World Economic Forum (WEF) reports of the global competitiveness index (GCI) from 2009 until 2018.

The results show that policies' strength has a positive and significant influence, while national infrastructure and workforce empowerment have a negative and significant influence over the extent of spending efficiency implementation in the GCC countries.

GCI disclosure assessment criteria changed in 2019 and then stopped in 2020 due to COVID-19. A different version of GCI was published in 2020, which focuses on recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and no other issues have been published since then. This represented a barrier to recent data collection.

Practical contribution is the value added by this study to a minimal literature on spending efficiency in the GCC countries. This study’s theoretical contribution to knowledge is the integration of the new institutional sociology (NIS) perspective of institutional theory and the resource slack theory to investigate a set of factors rarely explored in relation to their impact on governmental spending efficiency.

This study provides the following recommendations for policymakers: The GCC government should direct government training bodies and universities (in business majors) to include mandatory spending efficiency subjects to enhance current knowledge. Also, the governmental-related bodies of spending efficiency should make agreements with universities and research centers to improve the diverse R&D aspects of government spending efficiency. Another important recommendation is to enforce the adoption of the GRC concept regarding spending efficiency practices for governmental employees to guide them towards implementing spending efficiency practices.

This study's theoretical contribution to knowledge is the integration of the new institutional sociology (NIS) perspective of institutional theory and the resource slack theory to investigate a set of factors rarely explored in relation to their impact on governmental spending efficiency. Also, the practical contribution is the value added by this study to a minimal literature on spending efficiency in the GCC countries. The research has established empirical evidence to support the findings above.

Given the growing significance of contemporary socio-economic and infrastructural conversations of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), this research seeks to provide a general overview of the academic landscape concerning PPP.

To offer a nuanced perspective, the study adopts the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) methodology to meticulously analyse 3,057 journal articles, mapping out the thematic contours within the PPP domain.

The analysis highlights PPP's pivotal role in harmonising public policy goals with private sector agility, notably in areas like disaster-ready sustainable infrastructure and addressing rapid urbanisation challenges. The emphasis within the literature on financial, risk, and performance aspects accentuates the complexities inherent in financing PPP and the critical need for practical evaluation tools. An emerging focus on healthcare within PPP indicates potential for more insightful research, especially amid ongoing global health crises.

This study pioneers the application of LDA for an all-encompassing examination of PPP-related academic works, presenting unique theoretical and practical insights into the diverse facets of PPP.

This paper explores the motivating factors that lead to opportunity recognition among social entrepreneurs in India.

The study followed an exploratory, qualitative design based on thematic analysis of the interview data collected from 13 Indian social entrepreneurs.

The study identifies two aggregate factors that motivate social entrepreneurs: personal and contextual. Personal factors include life experiences, social awareness, social inclination since childhood, spiritual motives, the need for a meaningful career and entrepreneurial intention. Contextual factors included institutional voids, community development, the presence of a role model and volunteer experiences.

This study contributes to the social entrepreneurship literature by providing a model for motivating factors that lead to opportunity recognition. This study enables policymakers and social entrepreneurship educators to identify aspiring social entrepreneurs and provide target-specific support to them.

This study enables policymakers and social entrepreneurship educators to identify aspiring social entrepreneurs and provide target-specific support to them.

The study uniquely contributes to the social entrepreneurship field by offering deep qualitative insights into the motivational and opportunity recognition patterns of social entrepreneurship.