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1. Understand the impact of macroeconomic factors on investment portfolios:Students will learn how macroeconomic conditions, such as changes in policy rates by central banks, influence investment decisions and portfolio performance. They will analyze how these factors can lead to significant financial challenges for managed funds.2. Develop strategic financial decision-making skills:Through examining the case, students will practice making strategic financial decisions under uncertain and volatile market conditions. They will explore various options for managing an underperforming investment fund and the potential outcomes of these choices.3. Evaluate risk management techniques:The case provides a platform for students to understand different risk management strategies, including the trade-offs between holding long-term bonds versus reinvesting in short-term securities. They will assess the risks and benefits of these strategies and how they impact fund stability and performance.4. Enhance skills in portfolio management:Students will gain practical experience in portfolio management by examining the fund’s investment decisions, performance metrics and the process of presenting and defending investment proposals. This will involve analyzing the financial and strategic implications of different asset allocations.5. Apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios:The case encourages students to apply theoretical concepts such as yield to maturity (YTM) calculation, discounted cash flow analysis, capital asset pricing models and benchmarking against indices to real-world scenarios. This helps bridge the gap between academic principles and practical application in finance.

The case study centered on the Sukkur IBA University in Pakistan, highlighting the challenges faced by its student-managed fund (SMF). From November 2015 to January 2023, the case study offers a comprehensive examination of the fund’s activities in the financial services and higher education domains. Mr Shankar Talreja, the fund manager, contemplating with significant investment losses because of macroeconomic fluctuations, specifically the rising policy rates by the State Bank of Pakistan. These losses challenge the sustainability of the SMF, which serves as a practical learning platform for students. The primary dilemma revolves around whether to continue operating the fund amid consistent losses or to dissolve it, redirecting resources to other educational programs. This case focuses on financial decision-making, risk management and investment strategies, tailored for academic settings.

This case study is intended for use in graduate- and undergraduate-level courses on corporate strategy, investment management and finance. It is appropriate for graduate students who are looking to apply these concepts more deeply as well as undergraduate students who have a strong foundation in finance due to the complexity of the financial concepts involved, such as risk management, portfolio strategy and macroeconomic impacts.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS1: Accounting and Finance.

This study aims to test the Kuznets curve between economic growth and child labor, along with the influence of exports, household size and rural population in the context of Pakistan.

To achieve the research objective, this study applied the unit root test, bound co-integration test, and autoregressive distributive lags (ARDL) method for the period of 1972–2021.

The findings show an inverted U-shaped relationship between economic growth and child labor indicating that at the beginning stage of economic development, child labor increases due to lower per capita household and subsequently, in the long-run of economic development, child labor decreases due to the higher per capita households. Moreover, the results also show that exports, household size and rural population have a positive influence on increasing child labor.

The policymakers and government of Pakistan need to focus on long-term economic growth policies, ensure free quality education and cheap equipment which practices minimum manpower to reduce the threat of child labor.

Having long-run economic growth, the government of Pakistan need to equally benefit the households and the poor population to reduce child labor and enhance the social welfare of society.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the Kuznets curve relationship between economic growth and child labor in the context of Pakistan. Moreover, this study contributes to the reduction in child labor through long-term economic growth in the context of Pakistan.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-05-2023-0387

The aim of this research is to examine the moderating impact of financial development (FD) on the relationship between remittance inflows and economic growth in 82 developing countries.

This research utilized dynamic panel data estimation, specifically the system generalized method of moment (GMM), on a panel data set comprised of 82 developing economies from 2000 to 2022.

The findings indicate that the interaction of remittances and FD proxies by size and depth creates a substitute effect to reduce economic growth. In contrast, the interaction of remittances and FD proxy by efficiency creates complementarity by attracting remittances that accelerate economic growth. The robustness of the findings is further checked across upper- and lower-middle-income countries, respectively.

This study assists policymakers in attracting remittance inflows through FD and spending them in sustainable, productive ways to boost economic growth in developing economies.

The policymakers should have interactive remittances–FD policies to improve not only economic growth but also the social welfare of the developing economies.

This work contributes significantly to the underexplored literature on the moderating impact of FD on the relationship between remittance inflows and economic growth in the developing countries context. This research utilizes maximum proxies of FD that not only examine the remittance but also investigate how FD various proxies shape the relationship between remittances and economic growth.

Amidst the stressful work environment in the healthcare sector, employees struggle to maintain prosocial behavior and work reattachment. The potential role of awe and mindfulness in addressing these issues remains unexplored. This study investigates how coworker prosocial behavior affects work reattachment while considering the mediating role of mindfulness and the moderating role of awe.

Using a quantitative research design, data were collected through a survey questionnaire from 356 healthcare professionals in Pakistan. The data were analyzed in SPSS and AMOS for reliability and validity statistics, as well as for hypothesis testing.

The findings revealed a significant link between coworker prosocial behavior and work reattachment. Mindfulness acted as a mediator between coworker prosocial behavior and work reattachment, while awe had a positive moderating effect on these relationships.

The findings emphasize the need for fostering these elements to manage stress, support employees and improve work reattachment.

The existing literature lacks empirical evidence regarding the impact of coworker prosocial behavior on employee outcomes, and this study contributes by examining the roles of awe and mindfulness in the healthcare sector.

The construction industry is facing worker shortages, and the resulting competition for skilled workers has increased employee turnover in the sector. Consequently, construction and engineering firms are struggling to attract and retain employees to meet current demands for construction projects. The regular inflow of new employees, who likely need training, may affect organizational and project performance. Construction firms can boost performance by assessing and then honing workers’ skills, including soft skills.

One way to assess individuals’ soft skills is to use personality assessments. This study used three personality assessments— – the HEXACO Personality Inventory, Emotional Intelligence Diagnostic and Q-DiSC 101 Behavioral Assessment – to identify the traits of general contractor project managers; sheet metal and air conditioning field leaders (specialty field leaders) and sheet metal, air conditioning and electrical project managers (specialty project managers) in the United States for job role transition purposes. The groups’ mean scores for each assessment component were analyzed using ANOVA and independent t-test to identify statistically significant differences in the personality traits of the three groups – specifically between specialty field leaders and general contractor project managers as well as between specialty field leaders and specialty project managers.

This study found that the personality characteristics of workers in these job roles varied. One-way ANOVA revealed that there were significant differences in mean personality factor scores among specialty field leaders, specialty project managers and general contractor project managers. Independent t-tests showed significant differences in patience, forgiveness, fearfulness, etc. identifying the differences between specialty field leaders and general contractor project managers. Similarly, results highlighted significant differences in modesty, inquisitiveness and sociability, among others, for specialty field leaders and specialty project managers.

Understanding the personality traits associated with skills needed for leadership across construction roles empowers companies to refine human resource strategies. Personality assessments can complement recruitment, identifying strong candidates for leadership positions. Additionally, these insights can optimize leadership development programs and facilitate career transitions for specialty field leaders by pinpointing suitable candidates and tailoring training programs for successful role changes.

This study contributes to the field in two ways. First, it focuses on personality traits within the specific context of construction leadership, providing valuable insights for companies seeking to optimize their leadership teams. Second, by exploring the personality differences between these roles, the study goes beyond individual job requirements and examines the potential challenges and opportunities for career transitions within construction. This information can be used to inform training programs and career development pathways for construction professionals.

This study aims to map the “Desktop Research” (DR) output in Pakistan, as part of the growing field of research globally. It also ascertains the productive institutions and prolific authors along with their collaboration patterns.

Bibliometric techniques were used to quantitatively analyze the DR published in Pakistan. The publications from 1981 to 2021 were retrieved from Scopus. A total of 1,802 publications were retrieved and used for analysis.

Results indicated an unpredictable increase in DR output from approximately 100 to 400 records during the past five years. The year 2020 was most productive in DR research showing the excess use of secondary data by researchers in COVID-19. The focus of researchers towards DR was consistently rising. Medical journals were found to publish DR extensively. Majority of the publications were contributed by collaborative work and researchers of the USA were found as the most collaborative with Pakistani authors. Publications of single category journals, open access journals and international collaboration get more citations.

The results of the analysis rely only on a single database, Scopus, for retrieving the publication data.

The study has practical implications for the policymakers and higher education development organizations to introduce the DR as a course in academic schools.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to review DR in the context of Pakistan through bibliometric analysis. This comprehensive overview provides a better understanding of the development of the field and possible practice implications.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the integration of entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural values in Islamic education, particularly within the context of pesantren, and to understand its implications for educational practices and outcomes.

This study adopts a qualitative research approach, using literature review and analysis of empirical data to explore the intersection of entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural values in Islamic education. It incorporates findings from multiple sources, including scholarly articles, books and empirical studies, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

The findings reveal that the integration of entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural values in Islamic education empowers students economically, fosters innovation in teaching methods and promotes character development and business ethics. Moreover, it emphasizes appreciation for diversity, cross-cultural collaboration and social responsibility within the educational context. This integration creates an inclusive learning environment conducive to the development of entrepreneurial skills, innovation and ethical leadership.

Generalizability: the findings of this study may be limited in their generalizability due to the focus on specific multicultural Islamic educational institutions, potentially limiting the applicability of the results to broader educational contexts. Sample size and diversity: the study’s sample size and diversity may impact the representativeness of the findings. Future research could aim for larger and more diverse samples to enhance the robustness of the results. Methodological constraints: the reliance on certain research methods, such as surveys and interviews, may introduce biases or limitations in data collection. Researchers should consider using a variety of methodologies to triangulate findings and ensure comprehensive understanding. Time constraints: the study’s timeframe may have constrained the depth of analysis and limited the exploration of the long-term effects of entrepreneurship education on student development. Future research could adopt longitudinal approaches to address this limitation. Cultural context: the findings are contextualized within the cultural and educational landscape of multicultural Islamic institutions, which may limit their transferability to other cultural or religious contexts. Researchers should consider examining similar phenomena in diverse cultural settings. Resource constraints: resource limitations may have impacted the scope and depth of the research. Future studies could seek additional resources to conduct more extensive investigations and analyses. Bias and subjectivity: despite efforts to minimize bias, researchers’ subjectivity and potential biases in data interpretation and analysis cannot be entirely eliminated. Researchers should acknowledge and address their own biases transparently. Ethical considerations: the study may have encountered ethical challenges related to participant consent, confidentiality and cultural sensitivity. Future research should prioritize ethical guidelines and considerations to ensure the protection and well-being of participants. Addressing these limitations in future research endeavors can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the role and impact of entrepreneurship education in multicultural Islamic educational settings.

Practically, the study informs educational institutions, especially pesantren, about the benefits of integrating entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural values into their curriculum and pedagogical approaches. It offers insights into effective strategies for fostering entrepreneurship, innovation and intercultural competence among students.

The integration of entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural values in Islamic education has broader societal implications. It cultivates a generation of socially responsible and inclusive leaders capable of addressing global challenges with creativity and empathy. By promoting cultural understanding and collaboration, it contributes to building more harmonious and resilient communities.

This study is original in its comprehensive exploration of the intersection between entrepreneurial spirit and multicultural values in Islamic education, particularly within the context of pesantren. It offers fresh insights into how these dimensions can be integrated synergistically to enhance educational practices and outcomes.

The aim of this research is to detect the possibility of distortion of annual reports for non-financial listed firms at Palestine Exchange (PEX). It validates the effectiveness of Beneish model in detecting earnings management (EM) using panel regression estimates.

The methodology of this study is based on secondary data that were collected from the audited annual reports of non-financial listed firms for the period 2016–2022. Fixed-effects model and two steps generalized method of methods (GMM) estimator were used to conduct research findings.

The results validate the efficiency of Beneish model in detecting EM. The variables of sales overstating, accruals and leverage have leading items of earnings manipulation in case of Palestinian listed firms. However, collection period, gross margin, assets utilization, running expenses and firm size are not effective in predicting the distortion of financial reporting.

Corporate managers are suggested to control the leverage in order to reduce accrual EM and avoid making discretionary accruals (DA) choices to depress EM.

These findings contribute to the policy makers in Palestine by ensuring that financial reports accurately reflect the company’s current situation and is free from earnings manipulation, which would have several research implications in theory and practice.

This study aims to investigate the extent to which the characteristics of Sharia supervisory boards (SSB) in banking institutions impact the disclosure of information pertaining to green banking practices.

A comprehensive dynamic panel data analysis approach was applied to a data set comprising Islamic banks from 15 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, covering the period from 2012 to 2022. In addition, a series of robustness and endogeneity analyses were conducted to ensure the consistency of the main findings.

This study shows that the characteristics of the SSB significantly impact the green banking disclosure practices of Islamic banks. Specifically, the proportion of board members who hold multiple SSB positions and the presence of foreign board members exhibit a negative and significant effect on green banking disclosure. Conversely, the size of the SSB is positively and significantly associated with green banking disclosure. Thus, the extent of green banking disclosure in Islamic banks is likely to increase with the size of the SSB. However, an increase in board members’ external commitments and a higher proportion of foreign board members are associated with a decline in green banking disclosure. Further analysis supports these findings, confirming their consistency across different contexts.

The findings of this study highlight the critical role that the composition and characteristics of the SSB play in shaping the green banking practices of Islamic banks in MENA countries. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers and Islamic financial institutions aiming to strengthen sustainability practices while adhering to Shariah principles. As green banking becomes increasingly crucial in the global financial landscape, optimizing the SSB’s composition could be a key driver in advancing the environmental goals of Islamic banking in the MENA region.

Islamic banks in the MENA region should focus on optimizing their SSB composition to enhance green banking disclosure. Increasing the size of the SSB can positively influence disclosure practices. However, banks should manage board members’ external engagements to ensure they have sufficient focus on green initiatives. Strategic recruitment of foreign members with a commitment to sustainability, coupled with targeted training programs, can further improve disclosure.

Specific SSB characteristics such as size and foreign board members influence disclosure of green banking, which previous studies did not conduct research on.