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1 – 9 of 9Kamran Mohy-Ud-din, Muhammad Azam, Hamad Ul Haq and Shakeel Aslam
This study aims to investigate the determinants of localised corporate social responsibility (LCSR) activities in Pakistan. The present study explores factors influencing the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the determinants of localised corporate social responsibility (LCSR) activities in Pakistan. The present study explores factors influencing the corporate sector to promote the welfare of local areas where the company has located its manufacturing plants.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors selected 100 companies listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange. Data were collected from the companies’ financial reports issued from 2012 to 2017 (N = 700). The authors analysed the data using fixed- and random-effects regression models to test the factors influencing LCSR activities.
Findings
The findings indicate that directors’ ancestry significantly enhances LCSR. This implies that boards with a greater number of directors whose names indicate their relevant ancestry are more likely to engage in LCSR. Moreover, environmental-protection activity by the corporate sector promotes LCSR initiatives. However, Pakistan’s corporate sectors are not promoting the essential aspects of their workers’ welfare, e.g. health and education.
Research limitations/implications
The present study was limited to the directors’ ancestry, environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR), CSR for factory workers and donation. Other factors, such as culture and language, may play an important role in determining LCSR.
Practical implications
The results suggest that the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan should emphasise the importance of LCSR to develop rural areas and devise meaningful policy for CSR. These findings provide substantial evidence that regulators and policymakers should encourage the inclusion of LCSR by firms listed on the stock exchange to increase environmental protection through CSR policy.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to explore the determinants of LCSR. Moreover, the present study investigates for the first time the influence of directors’ ancestry on rural development in any of Asia’s developing countries, including Pakistan. The findings of this study contribute theoretically and empirically to the literature.
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Sharafat Ali, Bushra Faizi, Hamid Waqas, Waqas Ahmed and Syed Ahsan Ali Shah
The present study aims to identify and evaluate the socioeconomic barriers to effective COVID-19 pandemic transmission control in Pakistan.
Abstract
Purpose
The present study aims to identify and evaluate the socioeconomic barriers to effective COVID-19 pandemic transmission control in Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The study identifies multiple socio-economic barriers through an extensive literature review. The preliminary analysis unveiled 15 socio-economic barriers. Nine experts were contacted to collect data and finalize the most prominent barriers to COVID-19 transmission control using the DELPHI method. The Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method was used to process and interpret the data collected and a cause–effect relationship was established among the barriers.
Findings
The finalized barriers to effective COVID-19 pandemic transmission control were evaluated using DEMATEL which grouped criteria into two grouped criteria – cause and effect. The DEMATEL analysis shows that poor safety culture, lack of strategy and goal setting, lack of resources, late realization and recognition of the pandemic problem and lack of expertise and capacity in disaster and risk management fall into the cause group. These factors are critical as they directly affect the remaining barriers identified in the study.
Originality/value
Despite the collective global efforts, the national economies have been struggling to completely control COVID-19 transmission control. Pakistan’s economy has been facing the third wave of the pandemic. It is mandatory to identify the barriers and evaluate them to develop a comprehensive strategy ensuring that there would be no fourth wave. The study identifies and evaluates the barriers to COVID-19 transmission control in Pakistan using the integrated DELPHI-DEMATEL framework. The findings would help the government, experts and strategists to develop a comprehensive disaster and risk management strategy.
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Tamanna Yesmine, Md. Emran Hossain, Md. Akhtaruzzaman Khan, Sandip Mitra, Sourav Mohan Saha and Md. Ruhul Amin
The economic development of Bangladesh is heavily reliant on the banking industry, yet it faces numerous hurdles, including liquidity issues, capital shortages, non-performing…
Abstract
Purpose
The economic development of Bangladesh is heavily reliant on the banking industry, yet it faces numerous hurdles, including liquidity issues, capital shortages, non-performing loans, inefficiencies and so on. Therefore, this study investigated the performance and efficiency of scheduled banks (state-owned, private commercial, foreign commercial and specialized banks) operating in Bangladesh.
Design/methodology/approach
The research was conducted using secondary data from annual reports of banks. The CAMELS rating system and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methods were employed to measure the performance and efficiency of banks, respectively.
Findings
In the overall bank rankings, results revealed that foreign commercial Standard Chartered Bank and state-owned Sonali Bank Limited came in first and last position, respectively. Among the four categories of banks, foreign commercial banks were the best performer, while state-owned banks were the worst. Only two banks, i.e. Citibank NA and HSBC Bank, were scale efficient while the remaining banks were inefficient. In terms of performance and efficiency, state-owned and specialized banks were deemed wanting.
Practical implications
This study proposes recommendations to the policymakers that could lead to more effective tactics for improving the banking industry's performance and efficiency.
Originality/value
As far as the authors are concerned, this study presents empirical evidence on the performance and efficiency of different types of banks and explores comparisons among them, which has never been done to this extent in the country before.
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Ahmad B Hassanat and Ghada Awad Al tarawneh
This paper aims to present a new Islamic product called gambling-free lottery, which is inspired by ideas of Musharakah, Takaful and Al-qard Al-hasan, where the winner of the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a new Islamic product called gambling-free lottery, which is inspired by ideas of Musharakah, Takaful and Al-qard Al-hasan, where the winner of the lottery receives the prize as an interest-free loan, and buyers of tickets get their money back after the winner’s repayment of the loan.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reports the religious opinions of three Islamic scholars who were interviewed for the purpose of this study. The results of a questionnaire to survey the mood of 430 persons about the new product are also reported.
Findings
The paper concludes that although the proposed product is still at an exploratory stage and not a definitive product acceptable to all Muslim society, it could be a successful Islamic financial product, provided that it was put into practice with some modifications to accommodate all Islamic views.
Research limitations/implications
Main limitations of this study are the number of Islamic scholars interviewed does not reflect all the Islamic views regarding the new product and the lack of more information about the religious side of this type of product.
Originality/value
By introducing such a product, the gambling-free lottery could become not only a means of credit provision but also a new method of playing a “game” while lending money to someone who is more likely to be poor. Converting the poor into the rich could overcome many problems, particularly in poor countries.
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Varsha Vihan, V.P. Singh, Pramila Umaraw, Akhilesh Kumar Verma, Shardanand Verma and Chirag Singh
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of integrating “Licorice powder” into curd balls on their storage stability under refrigeration conditions. Through this…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of integrating “Licorice powder” into curd balls on their storage stability under refrigeration conditions. Through this examination, this study aims to evaluate the potential effects of licorice powder on extending the shelf life, maintaining quality attributes and preserving the overall stability of curd balls when stored at refrigeration temperatures.
Design/methodology/approach
Licorice powder, in varying quantities (1%, 2% and 3%), was incorporated into curd balls alongside a control group lacking licorice (0%). These batches were subsequently stored for 25 days under refrigeration at a temperature of 4 ± 1ºC, using aerobic packaging conditions. During this storage period, the samples were regularly monitored and analyzed for various parameters to assess changes in their properties and qualities.
Findings
The findings indicated that in the treatment groups, pH and titratable acidity were notably lower than those in the control group (p = 0.05). Curd balls enriched with licorice powder exhibited significantly higher levels of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2-2-azinobis-3ethylbenthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid and total phenolic contents compared to the control (p = 0.05). Furthermore, curd balls containing licorice powder displayed notably lower levels of peroxide, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and free fatty acids in comparison to the control (p = 0.05). Among all samples, T3 (3%) demonstrated significantly less microbial growth (p = 0.05) than the other groups. Conversely, the sensory panel rated T2 significantly higher than T3 (p = 0.05).
Originality/value
The investigation highlights that curd balls enriched with 2.0% licorice powder demonstrated significant efficacy in preventing the deterioration of physicochemical attributes, enhancing antioxidant capacity, restraining lipid oxidation, curbing microbial growth and ultimately exhibiting the most favorable organoleptic properties among the tested variations. This finding underscores the potential of incorporating 2.0% licorice powder as an effective agent for bolstering the storage stability and overall quality of curd balls during refrigerated storage.
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B Mahanthesh, B J Gireesha and R S R Gorla
The purpose of this paper is to numerically solve the problem of an unsteady squeezing three-dimensional flow and heat transfer of a nanofluid in rotating vertical channel of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to numerically solve the problem of an unsteady squeezing three-dimensional flow and heat transfer of a nanofluid in rotating vertical channel of stretching left plane. The fluid is assumed to be Newtonian, incompressible and electrically conducting embedded with nanoparticles. Effect of internal heat generation/ absorption is also considered in energy equation. Four different types of nanoparticles are considered, namely, copper (Cu), alumina (Al2O3), silver (Ag) and titanium oxide (TiO2) with the base fluid as water. Maxwell-Garnetts and Brinkman models are, respectively, employed to calculate the effective thermal conductivity and viscosity of the nanofluid.
Design/methodology/approach
Using suitable similarity transformations, the governing partial differential equations are transformed into set of ordinary differential equations. Resultant equations have been solved numerically using Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg fourth fifth order method for different values of the governing parameters. Effects of pertinent parameters on normal, axial and tangential components of velocity and temperature distributions are presented through graphs and discussed in detail. Further, effects of nanoparticle volume fraction, squeezing parameter, suction/injection parameter and heat source/sink parameter on skin friction and local Nusselt number profiles for different nanoparticles are presented in tables and analyzed.
Findings
Squeezing effect enhances the temperature field and consequently reduces the heat transfer rate. Large values of mixed convection parameter showed a significant effect on velocity components. Also, in many heat transfer applications, nanofluids are potentially useful because of their novel properties. They exhibit high-thermal conductivity compared to the base fluids. Further, squeezing and rotation effects are desirable in control the heat transfer.
Originality/value
Three-dimensional mixed convection flows over in rotating vertical channel filled with nanofluid are very rare in the literature. Mixed convection squeezing three-dimensional flow in a rotating channel filled with nanofluid is first time investigated.
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Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to analyze the heat and mass transfer with entropy generation during magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) flow of non-Newtonian Sisko nanofluid over a linearly stretching cylinder under the influence of velocity slip, chemical reaction and thermal radiation. The Brownian motion, thermophoresis and activation energy are assimilated in this nanofluid model. Convective boundary conditions on heat and mass transfer are considered. The physical model may have diverse applications in several areas of technology underlying thermohydrodynamics including supercritical fluid extraction, refrigeration, ink-jet printing and so on.
Design/methodology/approach
The dimensional governing equations are nondimensionalized by using appropriate similarity variables. The resulting boundary value problem is converted into initial value problem using the method of superposition and numerically computed by employing well-known fourth-order Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg approach along with shooting technique (RKF4SM). The quantitative impacts of emerging physical parameters on the velocity, temperature, concentration, skin friction coefficient, Nusselt number, Sherwood number, entropy generation rate and Bejan number are presented graphically and in tabular form, and the salient features are comprehensively discussed.
Findings
From graphical outcomes, it is concluded that the slip parameters greatly influence the flow characteristics. Fluid temperature is elevated with rising radiation parameter and thermal Biot number. Nanoparticle concentration is reported in decreasing form with activation energy parameter. Entropy is found to be an increasing function of magnetic field, Brownian motion and material parameters. The entropy is less generated for shear-thinning fluid compared to shear-thickening as well as Newtonian fluids in the system.
Originality/value
Till now no study has been documented to explore the impact of binary chemical reaction with Arrhenius activation energy on entropy generation in an MHD boundary layer flow of non-Newtonian Sisko nanofluid over a linear stretching cylinder with velocity slip and convective boundary conditions.
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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the direct and indirect relationship between board gender diversity and corporate tax avoidance using corporate social responsibility…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the direct and indirect relationship between board gender diversity and corporate tax avoidance using corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a mediating variable.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a panel dataset of 200 French firms listed during 2007–2018 period. The direct and indirect effects between board gender diversity (BGD) and tax avoidance were tested by using structural equation model analysis.
Findings
The results indicate that the presence of women on corporate boardrooms negatively affects tax avoidance. The greater the proportion of women in boards, the lower the likelihood of tax avoidance practice. In the mediation test, CSR appears to partially mediate the link between women on boards and corporate tax avoidance. Additional analysis shows that the social dimension of CSR produces this mediating effect.
Practical implications
The results have practical implications for companies in regulating the composition of their boards. To benefit from diversity, firms have to increase women‘s percentage in their boards of directors. Also, investors are encouraged to pay attention to the percentage of female directors when investing and purchasing shares.
Social implications
This study proved empirically that the higher proportion of female directors significantly reduces the possibility of tax avoidance either directly or indirectly through enhancing CSR performance. The findings show that firms with gender diversified boards are more likely to get involved in CSR for hedging against the potential consequences of aggressive tax avoidance practices. In light of the above results, firms are well-advised to strongly apply the policy encouraging or mandating women as board members to take advantage of their expected benefits.
Originality/value
The originality of this paper consists in proposing the establishment of both direct and indirect relationships between BGD and corporate tax avoidance through CSR. Unlike prior studies that have been examining the direct relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and corporate tax avoidance, this study went further to investigate the indirect relationship between these two constructs. This study also differs from prior studies as it examines the effect of BGD on each of constituting pillars of CSR, namely, environmental, social and governance. To date, an extensive part of CSR research has used the combined score of CSR, but the effects on different CSR pillars remain little investigated.
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Yasir Mansoor Kundi, Mohammed Aboramadan, Eissa M.I. Elhamalawi and Subhan Shahid
Given the importance of employee psychological well-being to job performance, this study aims to investigate the mediating role of affective commitment between psychological…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the importance of employee psychological well-being to job performance, this study aims to investigate the mediating role of affective commitment between psychological well-being and job performance while considering the moderating role of job insecurity on psychological well-being and affective commitment relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were gathered from employees working in cellular companies of Pakistan using paper-and-pencil surveys. A total of 280 responses were received. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling technique and Hayes’s Model 1.
Findings
Findings suggest that affective commitment mediates the association between psychological well-being (hedonic and eudaimonic) and employee job performance. In addition, perceived job insecurity buffers the association of psychological well-being (hedonic and eudaimonic) and affective commitment.
Practical implications
The study results suggest that fostering employee psychological well-being may be advantageous for the organization. However, if interventions aimed at ensuring job security are not made, it may result in adverse employee work-related attitudes and behaviors.
Originality/value
The study extends the current literature on employee well-being in two ways. First, by examining psychological well-being in terms of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being with employee work-related attitude and behavior. Second, by highlighting the prominent role played by perceived job insecurity in explaining some of these relationships.
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