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The study aims to explore the moderation effect of renewable energy consumption (REC) on the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and carbon emission (CO₂). Furthermore, the study investigates the prevalence of rebound effect in energy efficiency for the top five FDI inbound destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.

The study uses a balanced panel data set spanning from 1995 to 2020 obtained from the World Bank Database. This paper used feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) as the primary method, and to ensure the robustness of the findings, this paper used the panels corrected standard errors (PCSE) model.

The findings reveal a negative relationship between FDI and CO₂ emissions and REC and CO₂ emissions. However, the moderation effect of REC on the relationship between FDI inflows and CO₂ emissions is positive, suggesting that when both FDI and REC increase simultaneously, carbon emissions also increase. This study attributes the observed positive moderation effect to the phenomenon known as the rebound effect.

FDI fosters environmental sustainability. Regions’ FDI policies can be guidelines for other nations aiming for similar outcomes. REC reduces CO₂ emissions, underlining renewable energy’s efficacy. However, positive moderation effect of REC on the relationship between FDI and CO₂ emissions highlights the necessity for balanced policies to prevent unintended consequences like the rebound effect.

The originality of this study lies in examining the prevalence of rebound effect in energy efficiency. Prior empirical studies have explored the relationship between REC and carbon emission and established that increased efficiency in renewable energy creates positive environmental and climate externalities. However, it is constrained by rebound effects and this has been ignored by previous studies.

This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Gender diversity in the boardroom can have positive ramifications for firm performance. Although it is widely accepted that female directors bring valuable capabilities, qualities and experiences, the increase in board gender diversity remains slow in certain countries and sectors. Efforts are needed by companies to increase the number of women in executive roles and to address the disparity that can exist between private and public firms where board gender diversity is concerned.

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

This research investigates the trajectory of Gulf region, focusing on the interplay between environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and key elements – digital economy, green economy (GE), green finance, green energy and green innovation. This study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of how Gulf economies align their developmental pursuits with sustainability principles amidst the rapid evolution of digital technologies.

A data set of 95 listed companies from six Gulf Cooperation Council countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – from year 2016 to 2022 was compiled from reputable sources. Using fixed effect regression techniques, this study explores relationships, accounting for individual and time-specific variations.

This study indicates that key factors – digital economy, GE, green energy and green innovation – significantly influence ESG performance across Gulf nations underscoring the potential for strategic integration of these elements to enhance sustainable practices. However, the nonsignificant impact of green finance highlights a need for further exploration and refinement of financial mechanisms to effectively contribute to ESG goals in the Gulf region.

The findings underscore the importance for Gulf policymakers to prioritize ongoing support and policy formulation fostering digitalization and green initiatives. Businesses in the region can enhance ESG performance by integrating sustainable practices, promoting long-term resilience and reputation. Investors and financial institutions can use these insights to guide investment decisions, prioritizing projects contributing to environmental sustainability and social responsibility.

Amidst the current sustainability imperative, this research holds unique value in its timely exploration of the Gulf region’s sustainable landscape, providing crucial insights into the interplay between ESG factors and digital and green initiatives.

This study investigates the impact of emoji use and user personality traits (conscientiousness vs extraversion) on user behavior in the context of academic advising. It uniquely considers the interaction between these chatbot characteristics and human users' dominant personality traits (conscientiousness and extraversion).

A mixed-factor design experiment involving 153 university students was employed. Participants interacted with four different chatbot conditions: a conscientious bot and an extroverted bot, each with and without emojis.

The inclusion of emojis negatively influenced users' intentions to use the chatbots but did not affect trust, perceived authenticity or intended engagement with the bots. Additionally, the students' personality traits played a role in evaluating the different chatbot types.

This research introduces a novel approach by integrating emoji use and human personality traits into chatbot communication, focusing on academic advising. It examines the interaction effects of emojis and personality traits (conscientiousness and extraversion) on user behavior, also considering the user’s personality traits. This work enriches the human-computer interaction field and guides future chatbot development.

The primary objective of this study is to examine how trust and religiosity, in relation to halal products, impact Turkish consumers' intention to purchase such goods. Furthermore, the study aims to identify whether attitudes towards halal products play a mediating role in these effects.

Data were collected from 847 people living in Turkey using an online survey. The authors empirically tested the proposed conceptual model via structural equation modeling.

The study’s results show that trust in halal products has a positive impact on both the intention to buy halal products and the attitude towards them. Moreover, one’s attitude towards halal products affects the intention to purchase them. Additionally, one’s religiosity-belief level influences the intention to purchase halal products, while religiosity-practice level influences the attitude towards halal products. Furthermore, through indirect effect analyses, it was found that trust in halal products and religious practices has an indirect impact on intention through attitude.

These outcomes significantly contribute to understanding the complex interactions between trust in halal products, levels of religiosity, and attitudes in shaping consumers' purchase intentions and approaches towards halal products. These implications offer valuable insights into how consumers' religious beliefs, trust perceptions, and attitudes influence their purchase of halal-certified products. Validating these conclusions on a larger scale and exploring them in different contexts would be beneficial.

The practice dimension of religiosity pertains to performing actions prescribed by the religion, embodying the practical applications of religious teachings. According to the research findings, the belief dimension of religiosity significantly and positively affects the intention to purchase halal products. This finding aligns with several prior studies.

Sharing information on websites, social media platforms, or product packaging can be effective. If businesses genuinely adhere to halal standards and address the genuine needs of consumers who value halal products, they can enhance consumers' interest in such products.

This research was conducted in Turkey, where most people follow the Muslim faith. The main objective of the study was to examine the trust levels of consumers who have strong religious beliefs and are sensitive to consuming halal products. The study looked at trust on three levels: trust in the halal product, trust in the company that produces halal products, and trust in institutions that provide halal certification. The study also looked at the religiosity levels of the consumers using a two-dimensional approach, which included their beliefs and practices.

The purpose of this study is to examine the mediator role of blockchain technology (BT) in developing the trust among the users of digital payment (DP).

The research is of conclusive in nature. Purposive convenience sampling method was used to collect the data through a structured questionnaire. Statistical software Smart PLS 4 and SPSS 26 is used for the analysis of 540 valid responses.

This study concludes that resulting model is capable to predict the mediating role of BT in framing the trust. It also identified that all the factors (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, social norms and facilitating conditions) examined were found to have significant influence on the adoption of DP system.

This study uses variables that influences human behaviour in DP adoption. In future the work can be extended to check the moderating effect of BT on trust towards DP system.

This study demonstrates a key driver of towards DP. In addition, it highlights the pivotal role of BT in developing trust in both current and future adoption of DPs.

While the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and avatars are growing at a very fast pace, studies are still scarce. This study aims to fill the gap in the literature relating to the implications of highly realistic avatars as well as the consequences of AI-led co-creation on hospitality services in the Metaverse.

The authors adopted an exploratory qualitative methodology to study the role of AI avatars in the Metaverse within the hospitality context. The study involved interviews with both elite figures and consumers as primary data and also incorporated secondary data sourced from comments on a YouTube video related to avatars.

Based on data triangulation, the extracted themes dealt with four key areas: (1) avatars’ relational encounters in hospitality, (2) avatars’ realism, (3) self-representation and self-perception skewness and (4) AI co-creation. The findings show that while avatars’ realism would increase the authenticity of virtual social connections, engagement and monetization, the issue of a self-misrepresentation will diminish the effect of virtual encounters. That avatars will be AI led and will digitally cocreate reviews and recommendations further accentuates the findings.

This research advances the field by addressing the literature gap on AI-led avatar realism and co-creation in hospitality services within the Metaverse. It explores the nuanced ways that highly realistic avatars can enhance engagement and self-representation while simultaneously posing challenges related to authenticity and trust. The study provides a foundation for further exploration of AI’s transformative potential in virtual hospitality contexts.

This study aims to examine attitude, perceived behavioral and religiosity that influence Muslim consumers’ intention in patronizing at food premises with halal logo.

The data were collected from 450 respondents on random sampling basis. Quantitative analysis was conducted using SEM SMARTPLS version 3.3.

Based on the findings gathered using PLS analysis with n = 450, it was indicated that attitude, perceived behavioral control and religiosity significantly influence Muslim consumers’ intention on patronizing at food premise with halal logo.

The data collection for the present study was limited to the respondents in Kuala Lumpur among Muslim consumers, and limited to 450 sample sizes.

The presence of halal logo should be crucial in attracting consumers due to the comprehensive meaning it brings.

In the context of food premises, the results of the research suggest that the halal logo shown by the food premise seems to operate significantly in attracting Muslim consumers toward the food premises. Muslim consumers need to be nourished by proper Islamic teachings and have a good understanding of halal principle.

The halal logo of food premise concerns the Muslims. Muslim consumers are relying on surrogates in selecting the alternatives for packaged goods in Islamic marketing literature. However, it is little known how Muslims use indicators to select food premises when there is no halal logo.