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The study aims to investigate the effect of corruption and crime on the investments by firms in emerging economies (EEs).

The study adopts the generalised methods of moments (GMM) estimator and data across 57 EEs.

The study shows that crime management, corruption and external quality assurance drive-up investments. Additionally, investments decline with firm age and crime incidence. Corruption and crime managements increase investments by exporting firms more than non-exporting firms investments. Also, external auditor services benefit investments by large firms more than small-medium firms.

There is a need for EEs to implement policies that will curtail corruption and create a level playing field and sustainable firm growth. EEs firms must be innovative to expand their productive investments and grow over time. Also, EEs firms should seek external quality certification, invest in internal security and monitor goods in transit.

The China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, hereafter) has reenergized the Silk Road concept, with most literature focusing on the political and economic effects of the BRI. While certain aspects of the Digital Silk Road (DSR), digital component of BRI, have been researched, much less focus has been placed on the technological development, tech transfer and information diffusion aspects of the BRI. The aim of this study is to investigate the opportunities, issues and critiques that have arisen as a result of the Belt and Road Initiative’s implications on innovation, knowledge transfer and dissemination.

Research in its nature is descriptive. Literature reviews are a significant part of the development of a field. Therefore, secondary sources were considered.

The literature and the study have highlighted several opportunities, problems and criticism that decision-makers and the relevant agencies and institutions should take into account when deciding how to move forward with BRI and its digital component DSR.

This paper contributes to the research literature on BRI and its subset DSR’s impacts on innovation, knowledge transfer and information diffusion. In fact, the DSR’s primary aim is to strengthen international cooperation in the digital economy. Furthermore, digital platforms now play a significant role in global trade, emphasizing the necessity of DSR.