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This chapter aims to examine the role of consumer demographics over the chosen parameters of online shopping. Online shopping had emerged as an important platform for the consumers during the phase of pandemic spread in India which even included several phases of lockdowns. The state of pandemic commenced at a severe note leading to restrictive movement, social distancing, observing least contact with objects, and several other limitations. Due to this, many businesses had moved to online selling in order to target greater sales. This study was conducted in order to provide insights to various businesses, experts, and academic researchers in this domain to find out the role of demographical and behavioral differences of different consumer segments. It could serve as a robust study providing information about the current consumer behavior at the time of pandemic spread toward online shopping. This would help marketing experts explore the different opportunities and challenges involved in this new scenario formed due to COVID-19. Apart from adding value to the existing literature, this study leads a way to future research.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the elements that can enhance financial inclusion (FI) in a nation, which in turn promotes economic development and growth.

Need for the Study: FI is crucial in providing people with the skills and resources to manage their money effectively and make informed financial decisions. Accessible, reliable and secure financial services play a significant role in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) and fostering economic progress.

Methodology: Data from 571 respondents were collected for analysis. The study utilises Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS and Analysis of Moment Structures AMOS software to analyse data and achieve the study’s objectives. The researchers employ these tools to obtain substantial results.

Findings: The findings indicate that FI contributes to economic growth (84%) and helps in accomplishing SDGs. Access, usage, affordability, technology, availability and technology adoption all play a vital role in increasing FI in the nation.

Practical Implications: The study’s outcomes have practical implications for policymakers and stakeholders, emphasising the importance of promoting FI through various measures such as enhancing access, affordability and technological advancements in financial services.

The massive investment in, and development of, automated and connected transport (ACT) technology development has triggered much debate about this breakthrough technology’s potential positive and negative impacts. Multiple studies have explored the potential direct implications for users in terms of road safety, ‘productive’ travel time, mobility of the elderly and physically less mobile persons, as well as indirect impacts such as reduced emissions and freed road space. Through a critical review of the literature on ACT deployment types and discussions with an expert working group on the wider impacts of ACT implementation, this chapter examines four distinct deployment types of ACT technology and their opportunities and threats in transitioning toward inclusive transport systems. Of the four types, we posit that ACT-based public transport has the greatest potential to contribute to a more inclusive mobility future. Examining the case of Singapore using policy documents, academic literature and interviews with representatives of public and private sectors and academia, the chapter draws policy recommendations for governance toward more inclusive ACT innovation and deployment.

Why is it that, despite repeated claims that digital-content firms and internet-based businesses can internationalize everywhere almost instantly, many seem unable to profitably expand outside their home markets? Why have emerging market firms (EMNEs) caught up with established developed-country multinationals (DMNEs) so much faster than expected? In this chapter, the author argues that the clue to these two puzzles lies in the realization that, contrary to the dominant view in the international business (IB) literature that focuses only on the intangibles exploited by DMNEs and assumes that these firms are free to unilaterally decide on their mode of entry and operation, doing business in a foreign country is only possible if intangibles are bundled with complementary local resources, usually held by local firms. Taking into account these complementary local resources and their owners makes it clear that DMNEs are not always free to choose their entry mode but must enlist the cooperation of local resource owners. The need of digital-content and internet-based firms for local complementary resources also explains why they sometimes experience problems when expanding abroad. Lastly, control of complementary local resources provides EMNEs with a home advantage against DMNEs competing with them in their home market. The author shows how EMNEs can capitalize on this advantage to obtain the intangibles they lack and need. The fact that these advantages are available on efficient global markets, while complementary local resources are not, explains the surprising speed of EMNE catch-up.

This chapter investigates whether, and if so, how particular firms in a transition economy are involved in bribery. Built on pressure theories, we explain how the direct effects of firm characteristics and contextual characteristics determine firm bribery behavior. Entrepreneurs make choices based on perceptions of a specific pressure due to organizational characteristics (internal pressures) or due to context (external pressures). The relationship between firm characteristics, context, and bribery was estimated using unique data from a survey of 606 Vietnamese entrepreneurs. We controlled for various entrepreneurial, organizational, and industrial characteristics. The exploratory findings support firm attributes hypotheses, which is a negative relationship between firm size and bribery and a nonmonotonic U-shaped relationship between firm age and bribery. Besides, the effects of context on bribery are also found. Specifically, the result supports a positive relationship between competition and bribery and a negative relationship between the quality of the government and bribery.