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The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into peer-to-peer (P2P) lending which has served as one important tool to mitigate financial exclusion. The main proposition of this research is that P2P platforms, which in many ways resemble auctions, naturally instill competitive mindset among lenders; furthermore, given only limited objective decision criteria, certain borrower personal characteristics fuel interpersonal competition enough to impact lending decisions in suboptimal ways. The two experiments support this proposition. As the result, while P2P lending offers unprecedented financial opportunities to some consumer groups, it may unintentionally exclude others, and even pose threat to the financial well-being of lenders.

Two experiments were used to collect data and are reported here. Rigorous pretesting of manipulation stimuli preceded a pilot (exploratory) and the main experiment.

The authors generally find a significant age bias, where ceteris paribus, younger borrowers are offered lower loan amounts as lenders most likely infer greater risk and lower likelihood to repay loans on time. However, and perhaps more interestingly, when age is not a strong indicator of experience (as in the case with 30 something), the authors repeatedly find evidence of lending decisions driven by interpersonal competition: more attractive and financially successful loan applicants of the same gender as lenders are most likely perceived as a personal threat, decreasing lenders’ confidence, which subsequently results in lower amounts being invested into loans that are possibly the most promising.

To the best knowledge, this research is first to demonstrate the impact of interpersonal competition on decision making in the context of P2P lending. Furthermore, this paper contributes to better understanding of P2P lending as a tool to allay financial exclusion, while raising concerns of possible unintended exclusion of certain consumer segments due to the competitive nature of P2P platforms.

The purpose of this study is to examine the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and explore its connection to Islamic marketing with the view of providing the basis for an integrated framework of the two which corporations could use to market worldwide and not only to Islamic consumers. Furthermore, the study explores the connection between CSR and Islamic marketing using the tenets of the Qur'an.

The study critically reviews the literature on CSR and links it to the Qur'anic teachings.

The study concludes that Islamic marketing will be richer in scholarship and practice if dialogue is established, and areas of commonality between Islamic marketing and CSR are explored.

This is a theoretical paper that needs to be empirically validated in further studies.

The study has several practical implications on how corporations, entrepreneurs and the marketing practitioner could conduct transactions that are consistent with the principles of CSR and the Qur'an.

The study is creative and uses original arguments based on the review of the literature and the Qur'an.

The reviewed literature emphasized that the student loan debt issues have a lot of connections to the economy. This conclusion is in support with broader evidence that high student debt levels are a drag on economic growth. Additionally, disadvantaged and other vulnerable groups, including students, are more likely to be excluded from the formal, regulated financial sector and not be able to take advantage of mainstream financial service providers (e.g. lack access to credit, insurance, and other formal financial services). Among the primary reasons cited for this financial exclusion has to do with a lack of understanding or familiarity with traditional financial services. The aim of this paper is to look at alternate approaches in promoting financial literacy to manage the huge private debt burden facing this important segment of the population. The purpose of this paper is to advance a model of college students’ financial capabilities enhancement to partially alleviate some of the problems related to deficits in financial knowledge among this population. The integrative model provides a framework to be operationalized by institutional decision-makers and policymakers at all levels. The model can be adapted to fit unique institutional circumstances and culture. Successful implementation of the model has the potential to enhance the quality of financial health among college students and young adults.

The manuscript’s aim is to advance a model of college students’ financial capabilities in an effort to prevent their financial exclusion. The proposed model provides a framework to be operationalized by institutional decision-making processes. The model offers six distinct, but inter-related components – antecedent variables, program design and implementation, delivery modalities, program content, behavioral outcomes, and measurement and assessment.

The underlying raison d’etre for the model is to offer a comprehensive, inclusive, across-the-board roadmap to guide universities, and other organizations in conceptualizing, planning, organizing, implementing, and assessing financial education-related systems and processes designed to enhance the long-term financial choices and behaviors of students. Through careful consideration of each of the phases of the model, decision-makers at all levels and all types of organizations should have a stronger grasp of the depth and breadth of actions required to effect the desired changes in students’ financial behavior.

As with any paper there are limitations. The paper is conceptual and lacks data to test some of the linkages. Future research efforts should posit specific propositions to be tested based on the linkages offered in the model. Given the nature of the research theme, there is considerable benefit from taking a case-based approach to future research to offer more in-depth analyses of student financial literacy deficits across different situations and types, student markets, and educational institutions. The current research could also benefit from a stronger cross-cultural focus. While huge college student debt is probably more burdensome in the USA, it is helpful to get input from students in countries that lack a tradition of heavy borrowing to pay for college costs. Researching debt management trends across cultures should provide useful micro- and macro-economic data for policymakers and others.

The paper introduces a model of college students’ financial capabilities enhancement and financial exclusion’s prevention that offers one avenue to partially remedy the direct and indirect ills perpetrated and perpetuated by insufficient financial knowledge among young adults, especially the college segment (i.e. to promote financial inclusion and financial exclusion’s prevention). The model provides a comprehensive and integrative path for college administrators and others to consider when designing programs to enhance the overall financial knowledge acumen and savvy of college students. Specifically, the model discusses antecedent variables, program design and implementation, delivery modalities, program content, behavioral outcomes, and measure and evaluation options.

There is considerable concern among students, parents, marketers, and public policymakers regarding deficiencies in financial knowledge and capabilities among the young adult population. Students have massive student loan debt, collectively, and there is a multifaceted clarion call to develop integrative solutions to this daunting scenario. The paper discusses the gravity and consequences of financial literacy deficits among college students and some associated solutions.

The model offers six distinct, but inter-related components – antecedent variables, program design and implementation, delivery modalities, program content, behavioral outcomes, and measurement and assessment. The model is posited as an “intervention strategy” capable of strengthening the capacity of young college adults to make informed financial decisions, thus impacting their quality of life over the long run. In particular the model offers a form of empowerment to this consumer segment. As stated, the underlying raison d’etre for the model is to offer a comprehensive, inclusive, across-the-board roadmap to guide universities and other organizations in conceptualizing, planning, organizing, implementing, and assessing financial education-related systems and processes designed to enhance the long-term financial choices and behaviors of students. Through careful consideration of each of the phases of the model, decision-makers at all levels and all types of organizations should have a stronger grasp of the depth and breadth of actions required to effect the desired changes in students’ financial behavior.

The purpose of this study is to argues for theory development in Islamic marketing and attempts to lay the ground work by drawing on other social sciences.

This paper is based on a critical review of the literature for insights that advance Islamic marketing.

The study suggests that scholars in the area of Islamic marketing should start working towards the development of a theory of Islamic marketing. While this theory will draw on the unique engagement of Muslims with non-Muslims, it will offer an opportunity to explain and predict the world around us.

This is purely a theoretical piece that is aimed at knowledge development in the field, and, as such, it does not give much guidance to the practitioner, instead in invites other academics to draw on the world around us as they engage in their scholarly activities towards theory building.

The study gives directions for areas of possible future research in Islamic marketing.

Broadening the research efforts in Islamic marketing as advocated in this paper does have several important social implications.

This study is rare in terms of the issues it raises.

The present study examines the significance of financial inclusion in reducing income inequality in the Asian context.

This study uses panel estimation techniques such as the Pedroni cointegration test, Kao residual-based test, FMOLS, ARDL and Granger causality, a dataset consisting of the Gini coefficient index, three dimensions of financial inclusion measures and one added variable on financial depth, spanning from 2005 to 2019.

The study finds that in the long-run, income inequality disparity is highly influenced by financial inclusion indicators, such as the number of bank branches, deposit accounts, outstanding loans and domestic credit to the private sector. Whereas in the short run, disparities in income are unaffected by all the indicators of financial inclusion. Further, unidirectional causality from financial inclusion indicators to income inequality necessitates the need for policymakers to design policies and programs that would enhance access to financial services as an essential mechanism to reduce income disparity.

Studies based on a panel of Asian countries that have undergone impressive growth of financial inclusion initiatives since the past decade—but are still facing widening income inequality—are conspicuously rare in the literature. The empirical analysis fills this void by showing the significant role financial inclusion indicators play in steering the Asian economies toward income equality throughout the study period.

The USA is witnessing a conflict between LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) consumers/supporters and Christian fundamentalist service providers/opponents regarding whether service can be denied based on religious values. The purpose of this paper is to make a timely investigation into this conflict between marketplace inclusion (for LGBTQ consumers) and freedom of religion (for religious service providers).

The intersection of marketplace inclusion for LGBTQ consumers and religious freedom for service providers is examined by identifying appropriate strategies that address this conflict and reviewing how differing religious perspectives influence perceptions of LGBTQ consumer rights, all building off the social identity threat literature.

LGBTQ and religious identities often conflict to influence consumer behavior and service provider interactions. Such conflict is heightened when there is a lack of substitutes (i.e. only one service provider in an area for a specific service). Common LGBTQ consumer responses include changing service providers, providing justification for the provision of services and pursing legal recourse. Suggested strategies to address this conflict include highlighting common social identities and using two-sided messages for service providers, using in-group interventions for social groups and using government interventions for public policy.

Research has yet to examine the conflict between marketplace inclusion and religious freedom, particularly for the inclusion of LGBTQ consumers. Thus, this paper provides a novel conceptual model detailing these relationships to stimulate discussion among consumers, service providers, social groups and public policy in addition to serving as a foundation for future research.