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1 – 10 of 389Ahmad Ali Jan, Fong-Woon Lai, Syed Quaid Ali Shah, Muhammad Tahir, Rohail Hassan and Muhammad Kashif Shad
Sustainability is essential to the ongoing operations of banks, though it is much less clear how Islamic corporate governance (ICG) promotes economic sustainability (ES) and…
Abstract
Purpose
Sustainability is essential to the ongoing operations of banks, though it is much less clear how Islamic corporate governance (ICG) promotes economic sustainability (ES) and thereby prevents bankruptcy. To explore the unexplored, this study aims to examine the efficacy of ICG in preventing bankruptcy and enhancing the ES of Islamic banks operating in Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study measures ES through Altman's Z-score to analyze the level of the industry's stability and consequently examines the effect of ICG on the ES of Islamic banks in Pakistan for the post-financial-crises period. Using the country-level data, this study utilized a fixed-effect model and two-stage least squares (2SLS) techniques on balanced panel data spanning from 2009 to 2020 to provide empirical evidence.
Findings
The empirical results unveiled that board size and meetings have a significant positive influence on the ES while managerial ownership demonstrated an unfavorable effect on ES. Interestingly, the insignificant effect of women directors became significant with the inclusion of controlled variables. Overall, the findings indicate that ICG is an efficient tool for promoting ES in Islamic banks and preventing them from the negative effects of emerging crises.
Practical implications
The findings provide concrete insights for policymakers, regulators and other concerned stakeholders to execute a sturdy corporate governance system that not only oversees the economic, social and ethical aspects but also provides measures to alleviate the impacts of potential risks like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Social implications
Examining the role of ICG in alleviating bankruptcy risk is an informative and useful endeavor for all social actors.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first efforts to provide evidence-based insights on the role of ICG in preventing bankruptcy and offers a potential research direction for ES.
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This study reexamines fiscal deficit sustainability in South Africa.
Abstract
Purpose
This study reexamines fiscal deficit sustainability in South Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
The study applies three cointegration testing approaches, namely testing for multiple structural changes in a cointegrated regression model, time-varying cointegration test and asymmetric cointegration test.
Findings
The results point to the existence of a level relationship between government revenue and spending. In addition, the long-run equilibrium relationship between government revenue and spending in South Africa is found to be characterized by breaks. As such, assuming a constant cointegrating slope may be misleading. Results from time-varying cointegration and an estimation of a cointegrated two-break model indicate that cointegrating coefficient has been time-varying but has remained less than 1 for the entire study period, indicating that fiscal deficits have been weakly sustainable. This finding is also confirmed by the results from an estimated asymmetric error correction model.
Practical implications
In view of the findings, authorities should put in place policies to improve the fiscal budgetary stance and reinforce the sustainability of the fiscal deficits in South Africa. Among other things, South Africa could undertake reforms to state-owned companies to reduce their reliance on public funds, slow down the pace of the public sector wage growth and devise effective economic measures to boost long-term growth. In addition, tax compliance and other revenue collection measures should be enhanced for additional tax revenue.
Originality/value
The contribution of this study is twofold; first, the study uses a long series of annual data spanning over a century, from 1913 to 2020. Indeed, cointegration is better modeled using long spans of time series data. Second, to examine the existence of a level relationship between spending and revenue, the study uses cointegration tests which allow capturing time-variation in the cointegrating slope coefficient, and accounting for asymmetries in the relationship between government spending and revenue. It is important to allow for time-variation in the cointegrating slope coefficient, especially when it has been hardly treated in the empirical literature on fiscal deficit sustainability. Allowing for time-variation in the cointegrating slope coefficient helps us to analyze fiscal deficit sustainability by periods of time. Indeed, the degree of fiscal sustainability can change from one time period to another.
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Xiaoying Liu, Qamar Ali, Muhammad Rizwan Yaseen, Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie, Muhammad Sohail Amjad Makhdum and Muhammad Tariq Iqbal Khan
The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 outlines sustainability as associated with peace, good governance and justice. The perception of international tourists about security…
Abstract
Purpose
The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 outlines sustainability as associated with peace, good governance and justice. The perception of international tourists about security measures and risks is a key factor affecting destination choices, tourist flow and overall satisfaction. Thus, we investigate the impact of armed forces personnel, prices, economic stability, financial development and infrastructure on tourism.
Design/methodology/approach
This research used data from 130 countries from 1995 to 2019, which were divided into four income groups. This study employs a two-step generalized method of moments (GMM) technique and a novel tourism index comprising five relevant indicators of tourism.
Findings
A 1% increase in armed forces personnel expands tourism in all income groups – 0.369% High Income Countries (HICs), 0.348% Upper Middle Income Countries (UMICs), 0.247% Lower Middle Income Countries (LMICs) and 0.139% Low Income Countries (LICs). The size of the tourism-safety coefficient decreases from high to low-income groups. The impact of inflation is significantly negative in all panels, excluding LICs. The reduction in tourism was 0.033% in HICs, 0.049% in UMICs and 0.029% in LMICs for a 1% increase in prices. The increase in the global tourism index is more in LICs (0.055%), followed by LMICs (0.024%), UMICs (0.009%) and HICs (0.004%) for a 1% expansion in the gross domestic product (GDP)/capita growth. However, the magnitude of the growth-led tourism impact is greater in developing countries. A positive impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow was found in all panels like 0.016% in HICs, 0.050% in UMICs and 0.119% in LMICs for a 1% increase in FDI inflow. The rise in the global tourism index is 0.097% (HICs), 0.124% (UMICs) and 0.310% (LMICs) for a 1% rise in the financial development index. The increase in the global tourism index is 0.487% (HICs), 0.420% (UMICs) and 0.136% (LICs) for a 1% rise in the infrastructure index.
Research limitations/implications
Empirical analysis infers important policy implications such as (a) establishment of a peaceful environment via recruitment of security personnel, use of safe city cameras, modern technology and law enforcement; (b) provision of basic facilities to tourists like sanitation, drinking water, electricity, accommodation, quality food, fuel and communication network and (c) price stability through different tools of monetary and fiscal policy.
Originality/value
First, it explains the effect of security personnel on a comprehensive index of tourism instead of a single variable of tourism. Second, it captures the importance of economic stability (i.e., economic growth, financial development and FDI inflow) in the tourism–peace nexus.
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Abdul Lateef, Zulfiqar Ali Raza, Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Shoaib Ur Rehman, Asma Iftikhar and Abdul Zahir
This study aims to fabricate multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-mediated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite films using the solution casting approach.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to fabricate multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-mediated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite films using the solution casting approach.
Design/methodology/approach
The prepared films were evaluated for diverse structural, surface, optical and electrical attributes using advanced analytical techniques, i.e. electron microscopy for surface morphology, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for tracing chemical functionalities, x-ray diffraction (XRD) for crystal patterns, water contact angle (WCA) analysis for surface wettability and UV visible spectroscopy for optical absorption parameters. The specimens were also investigated for certain rheological, mechanical and electrical properties, where applicable.
Findings
The surface morphology results expressed a better dispersion of MWCNTs in the resultant PVA-based nanocomposite film. The XRD analysis exhibited that the nanocomposite film was crystalline. The surface wettability analysis indicated that with the inclusion of MWCNTs, the WCA of the resultant nanocomposite film improved to 89.4° from 44° with the pristine PVA film. The MWCNTs (1.00%, w/w) incorporated PVA-based film exhibited a tensile strength of 54.0 MPa as compared to that of native PVA as 25.3 MPa film. There observed a decreased bandgap (from 5.25 to 5.14 eV) on incorporating the MWCNTs in the PVA-based nanocomposite film.
Practical implications
The MWCNTs’ inclusion in the PVA matrix could enhance the AC conductivity of the resultant nanocomposite film. The prepared nanocomposite film might be useful in designing certain optoelectronic devices.
Originality/value
The results demonstrated the successful MWCNTs mediation in the PVA-based composite films expressed good intercalation of the precursors; this resulted in decreased bandgap, usually, desirable for optoelectronic applications.
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Muhammad Asghar Ali, Ding Hooi Ting, Muhammad Umer Azeem and Amir Zaib Abbasi
This paper aims to investigate the impact of perceived usefulness of online reviews and crowd cues on restaurant selection. In addition, the authors also examine the moderating…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the impact of perceived usefulness of online reviews and crowd cues on restaurant selection. In addition, the authors also examine the moderating role of perceived crowding and gender in this process.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed hypotheses were tested with survey data (N = 200) collected from customers visiting full-service restaurants in Malaysia. The data were analyzed using SEM through Smart PLS.
Findings
The findings supported that the perceived usefulness of online reviews and perceived crowding have a positive effect on a consumer's purchase intentions, i.e. their decision of restaurant selection. Besides, a higher level of perceived crowding strengthens the relationship between the perceived usefulness of online reviews and their purchase intentions. This finding delineates that consumers prefer to dine in a crowded place with useful online reviews in an unfamiliar place. Finally, the results show that the effect of the usefulness of online reviews on purchase intentions does not vary with respect to gender (no significant contingent effect). However, the effect of perceived crowding varies with respect to gender – male customers have higher intentions to join crowded restaurants as compared to females.
Research limitations/implications
Limitation of this study is its cross-sectional research design; data were collected in a single time frame. Longitudinal research design can be used to get in-depth knowledge of this phenomenon. Secondly, a non-probability sampling technique was used in this study, future research can used probability sampling technique to enhance generalizability of the study. Moreover, this study focused on the human crowding aspect, future studies can cover both aspects of crowding (human crowding and spatial crowding) in retailing or other service sectors (Blut and Iyer, 2020).
Practical implications
This study has multiple practical implications.
Originality/value
This study extends the current research on usefulness of online reviews and perceived crowding by investigating its direct and conditional effects. Specifically, the authors contribute in extant research by explaining its differential effects for male and female customers, when they select which restaurants to dine.
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Muhammad Waseem, Shahid Iqbal and Khalid Khan
This study aims to determine the effect of humble leadership on project success (PS). According to the authors, such an effect is mediated by team engagement and moderated by…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the effect of humble leadership on project success (PS). According to the authors, such an effect is mediated by team engagement and moderated by organizational culture. The direct and indirect effects of team engagement provided helpful insights. Moreover, organizational culture did not moderate the relationship. The authors’ objective is to contribute to the literature on project management (PM) and leadership of how team engagement plays a significant role in PS.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 317 employees working in Pakistan’s telecom sector projects. Five project-related telecom companies were the target population of this study, and the reason behind choosing the telecom sector for investigation is their valuable contribution to the revenue and technology introduction in the country. A time-lagged approach was selected for data collection to avoid the common method bias, which served the purpose. SPSS v23 and AMOS v23 were used for constructing structural equation modeling and path analysis to examine direct and indirect effects.
Findings
The results revealed that humble leadership is positively related to PS. Furthermore, team engagement mediated the relationship between humble leadership and PS, while there was no interaction effect.
Originality/value
The impact of team engagement was the primary topic of interest with humble leadership in this study. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study has investigated team engagement in the project context. The authors tried to contribute to the PM literature.
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Muhammad Shoaib, Shengzhong Zhang, Hassan Ali, Muhammad Azeem Akbar, Muhammad Hamza and Waheed Ur Rehman
This study aims to identify and prioritize the challenges to adopting blockchain in supply chain management and to make its taxonomic model. Moreover, validate whether these…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify and prioritize the challenges to adopting blockchain in supply chain management and to make its taxonomic model. Moreover, validate whether these challenging factors exist in the real world and, if they exist, then in what percentage.
Design/methodology/approach
This research adopted the fuzzy best-worst method (F-BWM), which integrates fuzzy set theory with the best-worst method to identify and prioritize the prominent challenges of the blockchain-based supply chain by developing a weighted multi-criteria model.
Findings
A total of 20 challenges (CH's) were identified. Lack of storage capacity/scalability and lack of data privacy challenges were found as key challenges. The findings of this study will provide a robust framework of the challenges that will assist academic researchers and industry practitioners in considering the most significant category concerning their working area.
Practical implications
Blockchain provides the best solution for tracing and tracking where RFID has not succeeded. It can improve quality management in a supply chain network by improving standards and speeding up operations. For inventory management, blockchain provides transparency of documentation for both parties within no time.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, no previous research has adopted the fuzzy best-worst method to prioritize the identified challenges of blockchain implementation in the supply chain. Moreover, no study provides a taxonomic model for the challenges of implementing a blockchain-based supply chain.
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Murat Donduran and Muhammad Ali Faisal
The purpose of this study is to unfold the existing information channel in the higher moments of currency futures for different time horizons.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to unfold the existing information channel in the higher moments of currency futures for different time horizons.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use a quasi-Bayesian local likelihood approach within a time-varying parameter vector autoregression (TVP-VAR) framework and a dynamic connectedness measure to study the volatility, skewness and kurtosis of most traded currency futures.
Findings
The authors’ results suggest a time-varying presence of dynamic connectedness within higher moments of currency futures. Most spillovers pertain to shorter time horizons. The authors find that in net terms, CHF, EUR and JPY are the most important contributors to the system, while the authors emphasize that the role of being a transmitter or a receiver varies for pairwise interactions and time windows.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that looks upon the connectivity vis-á-vis uncertainty, asymmetry and fat tails in currency futures within a dynamic Bayesian paradigm. The authors extend the current literature by proposing new insights into asset distributions.
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Kareem M. Selem, Muhammad Haroon Shoukat, Ali Elsayed Shehata, Muhammad Shakil Ahmad and Dogan Gursoy
This paper highlights the effects of supervisor bullying (SBL) on work–family conflict (WFC), employee voice behavior (EVB), working compulsively (WCO) and working excessively…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper highlights the effects of supervisor bullying (SBL) on work–family conflict (WFC), employee voice behavior (EVB), working compulsively (WCO) and working excessively (WEX), as well as the effects of WFC, EVB and WEX on employees' sleeping problems.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were gathered from 473 five-star hotel employees, and their responses were analyzed using AMOS v.23.
Findings
SBL significantly lowers EVB while significantly increasing WFC. SBL increases WEX and WCO levels, which may be considered a short-term positive outcome of SBL.
Originality/value
This paper will help improve understanding of employee reactions to an emotionally charged workplace occurrence.
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Md Safiullah, Muhammad Nurul Houqe, Muhammad Jahangir Ali and Md Saiful Azam
This study investigates the association between debt overhang and carbon emissions (both direct and indirect emissions) using a sample of US publicly listed firms.
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the association between debt overhang and carbon emissions (both direct and indirect emissions) using a sample of US publicly listed firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The study applies generalized least squares (GLS) regression analyses to a sample of 2,043 US firm-year observations over a period of 14 years from 2007 to 2020. The methods include contemporaneous effect, lagged effect, alternative measures of carbon emissions and debt overhang, intensive versus non-intensive analysis, channel analysis, firm fixed effects, change analysis, controlling for credit rating analysis, propensity score matching approach, instrumental variable analysis with industry and year fixed effect.
Findings
This study's findings reveal that the debt overhang problem increases carbon emissions. This finding holds when the authors use alternative measures of carbon emissions and debt overhang. The authors find that carbon abatement investment is a channel that is negatively impacted by debt overhang, which in turn increases carbon emissions. This study's results are robust for several endogeneity tests, including firm fixed effects, change analysis, propensity score matching approach and two-stage least squares (2SLS) instrumental variable analysis.
Practical implications
The outcome of this research has policy implications for several stakeholders, including investors, firms, market participants and regulators. This study's findings offer insights for investors and firms, helping them allocate resources effectively and make financing decisions aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Regulators and policymakers can also use the findings to formulate policies that promote alternative sustainable finance practices.
Originality/value
The outcome of this research is likely to help firms develop their understanding of the debt overhang problem and undertake strategies that yield a significant amount of funding to invest in reducing carbon emissions.
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