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The study examines the association between trade (exports and imports), foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries using data from 1991 to 2019.

Augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) and Phillips–Perron (PP) unit root tests were applied to check the stationary of the data while the Johansen cointegration test and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) was used to analyze long-run and short-run relationships.

The results indicate a long-run relationship between trade, FDI and economic growth in all selected countries except Bhutan. Additionally, a bidirectional causality exists between gross domestic product (GDP) and FDI in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, while unidirectional causality from GDP to FDI is observed in Thailand. Moreover, a one-way causality from exports to GDP exists in Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, whereas a bidirectional relationship exists in India and Thailand.

This paper will be highly beneficial for regulators and policymakers in the designated economies, aiding in the formulation of FDI and trade policies that promote economic progress and development.

Most previous studies examining the relationship between macroeconomic variables have focused on developed nations. This study is the first to explore the relationship between trade (exports and imports), FDI and economic growth in the BIMSTEC countries.

Contemporary construction techniques provide benefits of speed and cost savings on a large scale, and is viable in urban regions with exorbitant housing demand. In rural areas, where scale and access to technology are unavailable, locally prevalent vernacular architecture and methods are more suitable. Although vernacular construction techniques have historically proven more sustainable and climate-sensitive, the lack of skilled labour and lack of versatility in material selection limits its application on large-scale projects. This study explores the choice of building design and technology, from the context of embodied energy, carbon and other life cycle impacts for housing construction.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) that evaluates impacts due to the products/processes is used to analyse different construction techniques. Further a detailed estimation of embodied carbon and embodied energy is done for both “vernacular” and “contemporary” choices of construction methodology for a case study project.

The building constructed using vernacular techniques has lower embodied carbon and energy by over 30% compared to the other clusters designed using contemporary confined masonry techniques. However, with a few external interventions the contemporary methods can be implemented with improved sustainability.

The limitation of the study is that it presents a case study-based exploration into comparing construction techniques to provide a practical understanding of making sustainable design choices and, hence, is limited to two construction methods. However, the same method could be extended to compare other construction techniques. Furthermore, it does not present a whole building LCA since the operating phase impacts are assumed to be fairly constant for such housing type, irrespective of the chosen method. Similarly, the demolition phase or the potential of reuse of the waste generated, water consumption and cultural and social heritage are not investigated in comparing the alternatives. Nevertheless, future studies could perform extensive exploratory and modelling studies on the operation phase and demolition phase to understand these impacts further.

In mass housing projects that belong to the so-called “affordable housing” or low-income housing category, sustainability concerns are not yet at the forefront of the decision-making process. Therefore, this study emphasizes the importance of incorporating sustainability into building design and construction and making sustainability accessible to even low-income communities. Adequate planning, social awareness initiatives and imparting skills and knowledge of sustainability to these communities are of utmost importance. The choice of design and materials should be encouraged by keeping in mind lower upfront costs as well as low maintenance and operational costs.

The primary implications of the study are that the vernacular technologies are much superior in terms of sustainability in comparison to conventional construction of RCC framed structures as well as contemporary construction methods such as confined masonry. However, the implementation of such techniques presents significant challenges such as a lack of skilled forces, increased maintenance and lack of flexibility to minor modifications. Hence, although being a sustainable choice its acceptance and execution present practical difficulties. Therefore, this study primarily aims to reinforce the belief in vernacular architecture and techniques to build sustainable and resilient communities while highlighting the challenges of the modern world in implementing them.

Most studies advocate using construction methods based on their ease of implementation, maintenance or cost. However, this study highlights the importance of considering the aspect of sustainability in the context of the choice of methods for housing construction in urban and semi-urban areas. This study also addresses the need not to overlook vernacular construction technologies while selecting technology for housing for low-income communities.

This study is conducted with an aim to develop and validate self-talk scale for service sector employees designed to measure dimensions that are relevant for their conduct in job.

A three-phase study, which is conducted firstly, with a sample of 250 and then with another sample of 671 employees of service sector. Both factor exploration and confirmation are applied for testing the psychometric properties.

A well-developed and validated instrument comprising of 17 statements with four dimensions of self-talk, which are self-compassionate, rational, task oriented and self-regulation in social settings relevant to regulate ones job behaviour.

The instrument so developed becomes the first of its kind to be validated on organisational employees. The instrument provides an important means to estimate the cognitive process of self-talk, especially for employees working in fields that requires them to deal with people. Moreover, enabling individuals to understand the subtle nuances that take place in the mind while regulating ones behaviour. Thus, proving to be a promising instrument, as this can serve as a base for identifying the need for industrial training programmes or interventions.

This study aims to provide empirical insights pertaining to the impact of trait emotional intelligence on the mental well-being of students in higher education institutions (HEIs) in India.

In the current study, responses from a total of 252 students were randomly taken from different universities of Uttarakhand (India). The analysis was done using structural equation modelling AMOS 23.

The current study empirically established the positive impact of trait emotional intelligence (TEI) on the mental well-being of students and highlighted the relevance of TEI in curbing the psychological distress in students of HEIs.

This study endeavours to bridge the empirical and population gap by examining the emotional intelligence and its impact on mental well-being of the students of Indian HEIs, where studies are still scant and demand massive exploration of the perceptions of students. Strong emotional intelligence is pivotal in strengthening the mental well-being of students so that they can make appropriate decisions pertaining to their career and personal life.

The case has been developed as an illustrative case study using primary data. The data and images used for developing the case have been collected from the Alipurduar Division of Indian Railways with suitable permissions. The specific newspaper studies used in developing the case content have been referenced as footnotes on the relevant pages of the case study document.

Train operations in Alipurduar Division of Northeast Frontier Railway zone of Indian Railways are difficult. The division provides the vital rail link between the northeast states and the rest of India. Railway lines in the Alipurduar Division pass through several forests with a significant elephant population. As an outcome of train–elephant conflicts, train operations on one of the railway lines operate under severe speed restrictions. Moreover, the region is known for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for almost six months every year. For the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), the protagonist of the case, this implied repeated congestion, traffic disruptions, inadvertent delays and lack of time for critical maintenance of the tracks. A solution was planned several years ago for creating an alternative path to de-congest the traffic; however, it ran into a roadblock due to land acquisition issues.With all these limitations, could a solution be found and implemented? How could it be executed?The case illustrates how a simple yet innovative solution was proposed by the DRM in 2015 and implemented in 2016.With this case, students will be able to understand the innovation process that is embedded within long-term infrastructure projects. The case will help students understand how innovation can take place even in the later stages of project implementation, and how simple and creative solutions can have a long-term impact.

The case can be used in graduate and executive education courses in General Management and in Public Policy Management. It can also be used in Doctoral-Level Programmes such as those taught to scholars pursuing Fellow Programme in Management. Since the case brings out elements of problem framing and critical thinking, the case can be used for courses in strategic management. Many professionals, particularly those working in large organizations dealing with large infrastructure projects, will identify with the DRM and the challenges faced by him.

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of consumption values on customer satisfaction and intention to consume millet-based foods. This study examines both tangible and intangible values of the millet-based food to the customer.

Based on consumption value theory (CVT), the present study evaluates the impact of consumption value factors such as emotional, epistemic, health, price, prestige and taste/quality values on satisfaction and intention to use millet-based foods and develops a unique research model. Later, leveraging a dataset comprising more than 410 responses from Pune city in India, a rigorous empirical examination of the proposed model was conducted employing SmartPLS 4.0 software.

The study's finding unveils both the significant and insignificant impacts of various consumption values, both from the tangible and intangible consumption value perspectives on satisfaction and intention to consume millet-based foods. The study also provides a validated food consumption model which can be used for other similar food consumption behaviour of the customers.

This study provides insights as to how different consumption values impact the satisfaction of the customers for the millet-based food. This study illuminates additional aspects of the tangible and intangible factors impacting the satisfaction level of customers to consume millet-based products. Also, this is a cross-sectional study, and the respondents are only based in Pune, India. Thus, the study results cannot be generalised.

This study employs CVT to explore the unexplored impact of consumption values on satisfaction and intention to use millet-based foods, which is unexplored in the past literature. Moreover, this study develops a theoretical model with high explanatory power, and the research model adds value to the existing body of literature from areas such as food preference, consumer behaviour and value consumption insights.

This study aims to analyze the mediating role of attitude in understanding the impact of online service convenience on user engagement and intention to continuously use e-resources. Five components of online service convenience have been adopted for the present study: These are access convenience, search convenience, evaluation convenience, transaction convenience and possession/ post-possession convenience.

A total of 500 PhD scholars and faculty members from two different states of India were approached to provide their responses through a structured questionnaire, which resulted in 224 complete responses. These responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The statistical analysis has been performed with the help of Smart-PLS 3.

The study findings have proven the proposed conceptual model by showing a significant relationship between all the variables. Furthermore, it has been identified that the attitude of the users also positively impacts intention to continuously use e-resources.

This study contributes to the literature on e-resources by providing implications for students, faculties, managers and society.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and economic growth with a special focus on the institutional environment at the state level. FDI-led economic growth and economic growth-led FDI have two dominant theoretical foundations, but empirical research supports contradictory findings. These perspectives largely ignore the institutional environment, assuming institutions to be background information.

To examine the causal relationship between FDI, the Granger causality method has been used. The impact of FDI inflows and other institutional factors on economic growth has been examined using the panel data regression method. The principal component analysis (PCA) method has also been used to develop indexes for some variables.

Results indicate a two-way Granger causality between FDI inflows and economic growth at the state level. Infrastructures, education expenses, labour availability and gross fixed-capital formation (GFCF) are positive and significant determinants, whilst corruption and FDI inflows are leaving negative impact on state-wise economic growth.

This study contributes to the body of the literature in four different ways: first, it empirically examines the trends and patterns of subnational FDI inflow and economic growth disparity in India; second, it examines the causality between FDI and economic growth. Third, with the institution-based paradigm in international business, it investigates how institutional variables affect the expansion of the economy. Fourth, it extends prior research by examining the link at the state level using a large panel data set made up of 29 states and 7 union territories (UTs) over the years 2000–2019.

This study examines the web accessibility issues faced by users with disabilities when using ChatGPT, a popular chatbot. It is crucial for users with disabilities to have barrier-free access to Internet communications technology to be on par with other users. Because of its roots in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, ChatGPT can empower individuals with various abilities, providing access to the Internet and potentially leading to a substantial boost in digital inclusion for these users.

The researchers focused on ensuring ease of access to ChatGPT’s webpage to achieve the study objective. They conducted manual testing with a visually impaired researcher. They used axe DevTools and Accessibility Insights to investigate the target page’s three most commonly used states for accessibility issues.

The researchers identified substantial and crucial web accessibility issues on the target page. These issues resulted in frustration and hindered complete access to information about ChatGPT’s features. The researchers stress the significance of prioritising web accessibility and urge web designers to integrate Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards into the initial stages of web development rather than addressing them as corrective measures. Given the United Nations' recognition of access to information and communication technology (ICT) as a pivotal Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for users with disabilities, it is imperative to elevate web accessibility to foster their economic self-reliance and independence. This study underscores this imperative.

In this study, researchers assessed the accessibility of ChatGPT on the Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers. This investigation could potentially be broadened to encompass additional web browsers. Furthermore, the researchers focused on three distinct states of ChatGPT: the initial default state, the subsequent output state and the third state, which represents errors on the target page. Further, developers can employ the results to enhance the accessibility experience for users with varying abilities who interact with ChatGPT.

Following a comprehensive examination of the current body of literature, the study pinpointed a gap in research, highlighting the necessity to conduct accessibility assessments for ChatGPT with regard to these particular users.

The present study examines the determinants of households’ access to agricultural credit through institutional and non-institutional sources. The study evaluates the role of gender of the borrowers in accessing credit in rural India. Further, the paper also studies the impact of institutional variables in determining rural households’ access to credit.

The study used a multinomial logit model to identify the different factors that determine a farmer’s access to different credit sources.

The study reveals that substantial proportions of rural households do not access credit through any of the sources and the situation is very grim for the female-headed households (FHHs). The study highlights the importance of demographic, farm and institutional variables in determining households’ access to credit. Institutional variables significantly enhance rural credit access but favor male-headed households (MHHs). It highlights the need for policy intervention to target the specific needs of female borrowers. Further, the study also highlights the importance of adequate credit policy measures to address farmers’ vulnerability to natural disasters, mainly droughts.

The results of the study are based on recent unit-level data from the 77th Round of the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) survey. The survey covers a large number of farm households and reports information for the year 2018–2019.

The peer review history for this article is available at https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-08-2022-0552