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This study aims to investigate the market reaction to dividend announcements in five ASEAN countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. We focus on sectors that are less vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as communication services, consumer staples, healthcare and information technology.

A sample of 5,648 dividend announcements from listed companies is utilized for this study, employing the event study method. The market reaction is measured using cumulative abnormal return (CAR), and cross-section regression is employed to examine the determinants of market reaction.

The findings reveal a significant positive reaction in the communication services, consumer staples, healthcare and information technology sectors following the announcement of an increase or decrease in dividends. These results imply that dividend increase announcements serve as a positive signal for investors amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the market does not respond significantly to announcements of decreased and constant dividends during the pandemic as they are perceived as unfavorable signals. This paper also highlights the role of dividends as a communication tool through which companies express optimism in facing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to their investors.

This study highlights the role of dividends as a communication tool through which companies express optimism in facing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to their investors.

This study offers a novel cross-country analysis of the market reaction to dividend announcements in the ASEAN region, considering both the pandemic and post-pandemic periods and focusing on sectors less impacted by COVID-19. Unlike previous studies that are limited to single-country or sector-specific analyses, our research uniquely addresses the broader ASEAN context and includes insights into the “new normal” period.

This research mirrors a 360° probe into bibliometric review of various studies aimed to examine the relationship between financial inclusion and sustainable development (FI and SD). It also offers a conspectus of apex contributors, influential articles, key journals and potential avenues for further research in this crucial area of global progress.

The study is the abstract of a total 233 papers on the subject representing a period between 2012 and 2023 in the Scopus database in the domain. This investigation probes into publication trends, the most inexhaustible contributors by national journals, publications and authors. The study conducts keyword co-occurrence analysis and examines thematic evolution using Vosviewer and Biblioshiny.

The findings reveal four prominent clusters: (a) Financial growth with FI, (b) Economic Empowerment with Sustainable Goals, (c) Environmental Sustainability and (d) Microfinance and Digital Era. Furthermore, the study paves way for the future research agenda with the help of these research themes.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first of its kind in deeply probing the literature on FI and SD from a bibliometric perspective. Hence the findings of this study is a powerful weapon for researchers and practitioners coupled with future research inquiries, offering valuable insights and establishing robust quantitative foundations for advancing knowledge in the realms of FI and SD.

This study investigates the caste-based disparities in employment probabilities and wage earnings within India’s rapidly growing IT industry, using insights from the labour market segmentation theory. Our theoretical conceptualization attempts to pin down the inaccessibility of marginalised sections of the population to the high productivity job market.

We rely on the National Sample Survey rounds of 2011–2012 and 2020–2021 to estimate employment probabilities and wage differentials using linear and logic regression models, controlling for educational attainments and other important determinants of individual’s job market outcomes.

The results indicate a significant −1.24 odds differential, even after considering education and other control variables. Notably, this disparity has increased since 2011–2012, with lower caste graduate pass-outs facing a mere 13% probability of IT sector employment compared to their upper caste counterparts at 41%. Further, our findings expose gender and rural-urban differentials, highlighting the vulnerability faced by females and individuals from rural areas. The wage analysis shows a 24% and a 22% earning gap for SCs and OBCs, respectively, which remain statistically significant even after controlling for educational attainments and employment arrangements.

This is first micro-level study that counters Indian IT sector’s claim of “castelessness” and “pro-merit”, identifying significant presence of labour market segmentation in the sector. The caste-based labour market segmentation has far-reaching consequences as it can perpetuate income inequalities and hurt industrial efficiency, stifling economic growth in the long-run. Concerted policy responses are imperative to eliminate structural barriers, ensuring equitable access to quality education and employment opportunities for marginalized sections of the society.

The purpose of this study is to examines the relationship between doom-scrolling and employee performance among Generation Z working in the information technology (IT) sector in India.

The study followed a quantitative research approach with a descriptive research design. A purposive sampling technique is used in the study. A sample of 393 Generation Z employees of the IT at the locations in and around the Chandigarh region of northern India was considered in the study. The data were collected primarily through a survey questionnaire and analyzed through structural equation modeling.

The findings of the study reveal the significant impact of doom-scrolling on employee performance among the Gen Z of the IT sector in India.

The present study has measured the direct impact of doom scrolling on employee performance. However, the possibilities of other factors such as work stress and work-life balance as mediators cannot be ruled out for an indirect relationship between doom scrolling and employee performance.

The findings of the study state that doom scrolling has a significant impact on the employee performance of Gen Z employees in the IT sector of India. Such findings will be an insight into the other service sector of India such as health care and hospitality in recognizing the pattern of behavior followed by Gen Z employees toward social media, technology and job performance.

The findings will be imperative to Gen Z and other segments of the population of society also in understanding the role of addiction to social media and technology can be disruptive.

The study is useful in understanding the role of addiction to social media and technology can be disruptive. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first of its kind to understand how doom scrolling significantly affects employee performances in the IT sector of India.

The public distribution system (PDS) is an Indian food security system established to manage the distribution of food grains at affordable prices. As a result of the population explosion, the long-established PDS system finds it challenging to maintain operational efficiency, quality, trust and transparency. This paper explores the possibility of leveraging blockchain technology to overcome these operational hurdles.

Through a literature review and expert interactions, the present research identifies critical success factors in terms of enablers and barriers that influence the adoption of blockchain technology in PDS. Furthermore, we propose two independent interpretive structural models (ISM) and MICMAC to characterize these attributes.

The research identifies 15 distinct enablers and ten barriers that influence the diffusion of the latest technology in the sector at focus. The analyses disclose the interrelationships/dependencies among these enablers and between barriers, along with their individual driving power and dependence power.

The research showcases the importance of automating the system and illustrates how the features of blockchain technology can assist in augmenting stakeholder satisfaction levels. However, poor or nonexistent government regulations and patronage are found to be the major impediments to adoption. The research also delineates the cost implications of this barrier through its interrelationships with other barriers.

Interesting inferences are drawn from the models that offer actionable insights for the industry, government and technologists for improving PDS performance. Such interventions will ensure national food security through enhanced trust and transparency, which can further improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Drawing on self-determination theory (SDT), this study analyzes the impact of gamified and personalized coupons on the intention to redeem digital coupons in the presence of consumer engagement and technology anxiety.

A between-subjects factorial experimental design was used to examine the influence of three personalizations (no personalization, personalization and hyper-personalization) and two gamification levels (game and no game) on digital coupon redemption intention and consumer engagement.

The results found a significant interaction between the types of personalization and gamification, with personalized coupons having a greater impact on the intention to redeem digital coupons than hyper-personalized and non-personalized coupons. Consumer engagement was found to mediate the relationship between types of coupons and intention to redeem digital coupons. However, technology anxiety was not found to be significant as a moderator.

This study makes an important contribution in its application of SDT to examine the interaction impact of types of coupons and gamification conditions in the context of digital coupon redemption. This unique approach underscores the novelty of the research and its potential to provide valuable insights for the coupon industry.

The increasing demand for advanced materials in structural applications requires components that can withstand diverse load conditions while offering a combination of mechanical properties to improve overall performance. Dissimilar material joints, such as those between IN625 and AISI316, offer promising potential due to their unique properties. However, achieving reliable and high-performing joints between dissimilar materials remains a challenge, particularly in maintaining strength, wear resistance and hardness under varying conditions. The purpose of this study is to improve the performance of friction stir welded dissimilar joints between IN625 and AISI316 alloys using nanoparticles.

This study examines the mechanical properties of friction stir welded (FSW) dissimilar joints between IN625 and AISI316 alloys, with and without reinforcement by Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ particles. The tensile strength, wear rate, coefficient of friction, microhardness and compressive strength of these joints were evaluated and compared to the base materials.

Results showed that the FSW process significantly improved the mechanical properties, with the particle-reinforced joints outperforming the non-reinforced ones. In particular, the IN625-AISI316/Al₂O₃ joint exhibited the highest tensile strength (690 MPa), lowest wear rate (1.92 × 10³ mm³/m) and the lowest friction coefficient (0.32). Microhardness testing revealed that the weld nugget (WN) region displayed the highest hardness (227 HV) due to grain refinement. The compressive strength of the IN625-AISI316/Al₂O₃ joint reached 1,583 MPa, the highest among all samples tested. These findings demonstrate the potential of using particle-reinforced FSW dissimilar joints for applications requiring superior mechanical performance, durability and wear resistance.

This study explores the enhanced mechanical and wear properties of FSW dissimilar joints between IN625 and AISI316 alloys, with and without Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ nanoparticle reinforcements. Reinforced joints, particularly IN625-AISI316/Al₂O₃, showed superior tensile strength, wear resistance, hardness and compressive strength compared to non-reinforced ones. Grain refinement in the WN region contributed to increased hardness. These findings suggest that nanoparticle-reinforced FSW dissimilar joints can significantly improve durability and mechanical performance, making them ideal for demanding structural applications.

The purpose of this study is to explore the social norms influencing consumer participation in consumption tax evasion (CTE) by examining both passive and active roles from a social marketing perspective. The study aims to identify the factors that prompt consumers to engage in or abstain from CTE, with a particular focus on the interplay of descriptive and injunctive norms and perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE).

The study utilizes a scenario-based experimental design involving 306 respondents in India, stratified by demographics and tax compliance attitudes. We used the PROCESS Macro to analyze the data using established scales for measuring descriptive and injunctive norms and PCE.

The results indicate that descriptive norms significantly increase the intention to engage in CTE, while injunctive norms weaken this relationship. PCE strengthens the moderating effect of injunctive norms. These findings highlight the mechanisms driving passive participation in CTE.

This study underscores the importance of societal norms and individual efficacy beliefs in shaping ethical behaviors such as tax compliance. By understanding these factors, governments can better design social marketing campaigns and public policies that foster a more compliant and ethically aware society.

The originality of this research lies in its examination of both passive and active consumer participation in CTE, a relatively understudied area within tax compliance literature. It extends the discourse on social norms and tax evasion by incorporating the nuanced roles of descriptive and injunctive norms and offers valuable insights for academicians, tax authorities and policymakers interested in behavioral interventions.

The current study aims to analyze the mediating role of perceived risk from private label apparels in between the familiarity and consumer purchase intention (PI).

Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling techniques were utilized for evaluating the relationship between different constructs. Participants were given the opportunity for expressing their degree of approval or disapproval using a series of statements using a five-point Likert scale. For the purpose of the survey, a total of 400 participants were selected.

The finding highlights the mediating role of perceived risk between familiarity and PI of consumers toward private label apparels. When there is a mediator, the direct influence of familiarity on PI is absorbed.

This research aims to offer an understanding of buyer preferences in developing markets as well as providing suggestions for retailers and marketers on how to successfully promote and position private label apparel in such an environment through investigating the importance of familiarity with private label apparel. While doing so, it develops the premise that familiarity with private label apparel directly impacts perceived risk while indirectly impacting PI of consumers towards private label apparel.

The purpose of this study is to provide a review of the existing research landscape on work-life balance and women’s career motivation. It examines the relationship between work-life balance and career motivation in the context of Indian women. Specifically, it explores how the work-life balance of women influences the motivational aspects of their careers.

The research uses a systematic literature review to identify and analyze relevant literature on work-life balance and women’s career motivation among Indian women from the Scopus database.

The study uncovers critical insights into the connection between work-life balance and women’s career decisions. It gives insight on how work-life balance significantly impacts women’s career choices. The SLR reveals a notable and consistent upward trend in the domains of work-life balance and career motivation among women.

The findings of this study can inform organizations in tailoring policies that foster women’s career growth while simultaneously supporting a healthy work-life balance. In addition, the research can empower women to make informed decisions about their careers and personal lives. Ultimately, it contributes to creating a more inclusive and gender-equitable work environment, promoting both women’s career aspirations and their overall well-being.

This research stands out in its examination of the relationship between work-life balance and women’s career motivation, particularly in the unique context of Indian women. While previous studies have explored these topics individually, this research bridges the gap by investigating their interplay. Moreover, the application of a systematic literature review approach to these variables in the context of Indian women represents a novel contribution.