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The purpose of this study is to assess and contrast the impact of various factors, including both bank-specific and macroeconomic factors, on the financial performance of Islamic and conventional banks (I&CB) in countries with a dual banking system.

A general least square model is applied to a large data set of 103 I&CB operating in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, comprising unbalanced annual panel data spanning the period from 2015 to 2020. The financial performance index (FPI) derived from capital adequacy, asset quality, management efficiency, earnings, and liquidity (CAMEL) ratios is used as the dependent variable.

Key factors, such as overhead expenses, gross domestic product (GDP) and retained earnings, exert a substantial influence on the financial performance of both I&CB. Moreover, the findings suggest that certain parameters, including deposits, inflation and cellular banking usage, significantly impact on the financial performance of conventional banks, while bank size specifically affects the financial performance of Islamic banks.

While this study provides valuable insights, it is essential to acknowledge its limitations. The research focuses on a specific region (MENA) and may not be universally applicable to other geographical areas or banking systems. The study’s findings are based on historical data and might not fully reflect current or future market conditions. Additionally, the choice of variables and methodology may introduce bias or limitations, as with any empirical study. The theoretical implications of the research paper lie in the distinct ethical principles that constitute the foundation of Islamic finance. The ethical opposition to Riba is poised to have extensive implications, influencing market stability, commercial and economic impact and contributing to responsible banking practices within the Islamic banking sector. The study suggests that adherence to these sacred principles not only aligns with ethical considerations but also fosters social responsibility within Islamic banking institutions. This holds significance for broader societal and economic impacts, as responsible banking practices contribute to sustainable and equitable economic development.

The study underscores the significance of efficient overhead cost management for conventional banks, particularly in the context of a rapidly evolving digital banking environment. The call for adaptation and innovation in operational strategies aligns with the broader principles of efficiency and effectiveness emphasized in Islamic finance.

In essence, the theoretical and practical implications of the study surpass the narrow focus on financial performance, resonating with the broader societal and economic landscape within the Islamic banking sector. The integration of ethical principles not only reinforces the unique identity of Islamic finance but also positions it as a model for responsible and sustainable banking practices in the MENA region and beyond.

CAMEL ratios are used to build an FPI to evaluate bank performance, providing a more precise and comprehensive assessment compared to traditional return ratios like return on assets or return on equity. Second, the authors conduct a thorough analysis covering factors across bank-specific, financial and macroeconomic dimensions. Thus, the study stands out by not only examining bank-specific factors but also by considering external factors such as GDP, interest rates and the development of the financial sector. The focus on the MENA region allows us to offer generalizable findings, highlighting distinctions between I&CB and considering a period with boom years (2015–2019) and a recession year (2020).

Some firms excel at positively presenting their employer brand (talk), while others excel at effectively implementing human resource management (HRM) practices for the benefit of the employees (walk). Which approach is more effective? Focusing specifically on small and medium-sized hotels (SMHs), this study explores the relation of employer branding (EB) and HRM practices with organizational performance (OP).

Stratified sampling was used to identify 34 top management figures (owners, CEOs, and top HR managers) from SMHs across Greece. These individuals agreed to participate in in-depth, semi-structured, one-on-one interviews, focusing on their hotels’ HRM, EB, and organizational performance. The interviews were subjected to content analysis, further coupled with graphical exploration of the relations between the concepts under study.

The findings reveal a noteworthy pattern: high-performing SMHs tend to prioritize EB, particularly leveraging social media channels. This prioritization is further reinforced by the implementation of HRM practices, including extensive training and rewards. Clustering SMHs into four different levels based on their application of EB and HRM practices and the effect of these practices on OP, enables us to extend this study and gain valuable insights into the interplay of these factors.

This study highlights the need for practitioners to invest in HRM practices, especially in training and rewards, while giving due attention to EB, despite the potential resource limitations SMHs often face. Importantly, when basic levels of HRM are combined with high levels of EB, OP seems to be maximized.

Both HRM and EB deal with the employer – employee interaction, that’s why EB in most companies is the responsibility of the HRM department. Surprisingly, academic research has treated them as distinct fields, in isolation, ignoring their combined effects. This paper is the first to conceptualize EB as communication (“talk”) and HRM as practice (“walk”) and to thus propose that a complementarity relationship between these two dynamics may facilitate OP. Additionally, this study is the first to combine content analysis with a quantitative exploration to gain more holistic and valuable insights on the topic.

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.

The study specifically seeks to comprehend the impact of online corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives on consumer behaviour, with a focus on Generation Y consumers. It also aims to examine how, particularly within Ghanaian manufacturing firms, the views of Generation Y consumers regarding digital social responsibility (DSR), and how it moderates the relationship between brand loyalty and purchase intention.

This study takes a quantitative approach, using information gathered via a survey questionnaire from 611 Generation Y consumers in Ghana. Examining the connections between DSR, customer engagement, brand loyalty and purchase intention is the main goal of the investigation. Structural equation modelling (SEM) methods are used in the study to examine the data gathered and verify the proposed linkages.

The study reveals a strong positive relationship between corporate social responsibility (DSR) and purchase intention, mediated by consumer engagement and brand loyalty. However, it does not suggest Generation Y's attitudes towards DSR moderating this relationship. The study underscores the importance of DSR for Ghanaian manufacturing businesses.

By studying the relatively unexplored idea of DSR and its effects on consumer behaviour in developing nations – especially in the context of Ghanaian manufacturing enterprises – this study adds to the body of current work. This study sheds light on the ways in which DSR affects Generation Y customers' intentions to buy by examining the mediating roles of brand loyalty and consumer engagement.