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This study aims to examine whether information asymmetry (IA) mediates the relationship between women directors and the cost of equity (COE). Specifically, this study posits that women directors tend to lower the COE through the channel of IA.

This study uses the US-listed firms’ data from 2002 to 2014, comprising 11,189 firm-year observations. This study measures the COE by aggregating the four unique market-based COE models and apply pooled ordinary least square to estimate our results.

This study documents that women directors are linked to IA, and that IA is linked to the COE. Furthermore, in the mediation test, IA fully mediates the relationship between women directors and the COE. This study's results also validate the critical mass hypothesis, as the IA shows full mediation between the critical mass of women directors and COE. This study also discusses the limitations and major implications of the results along with possible future directions.

This study also supports the positive role of females in improvising the economic performance of the firms and supporting the sustainable development goals-5 (gender equality).

The originality of this study lies in its theoretical as well as empirical contributions. First, this study follows the line of inquiry of the mediation analysis, thereby contributing by examining whether the relationship between women directors and financial value, i.e. COE, is indirect. Second, in addition to ex post measures of the COE, this study used four ex ante unique market-based models to measure the COE. Most of the prior studies just rely on book-based measures or use a single market-based mode. Third, the findings contribute insights into how women directors add value and benefits firms.

Migrants have been posed with less familiarity in their new environment during COVID times, faced with various social, psychological and emotional traumas. Research indicates that they may have been originating from apprehension of being abandoned by their neighbours. Most of them were precarious with little wages, competing for their basic need fulfilment, putting them under more mental stress. Looking forward to the ancient principle, ‘Athithi Devo Bhavah’ (Visitors are Gods), and immediate response, measures were taken to promote community shelters and kitchens, maintaining social distancing and ensuring physical safety. The governments of different countries took proactive initiatives to study and assess their needs. The study here includes the cases being evaluated regarding migrants' need for surveillance and psycho-social support given by the government and non-profit associations during the pandemic at the global level. Remarkably, certain countries proved the working of their sustainable poverty reduction model by evaluating various factors. The study started by introducing who migrants were, diagnosing their problems faced during the pandemic, how Sustainable Development Goals can be implemented and various measures taken at government and institutional levels to protect the migrant workforce.

The present study is centric on the organic food sector and explores the role of social media in pushing local farmers onto the market shelves. The study is intended to analyse the ground reality of the producers and the innate challenges of the traditional market structure. The study aims to explore the impact of social media in establishing small-scale producers in the organic food sector.

The study is pragmatic in approach and with the help of a semi-structured personal investigation it delves deeper and uses an interpretative phenomenological approach to analyse the anecdotes shared by the subjects.

The study finds that access to social media windows leads to a corresponding jump in the sales and brand image of the producers.

The study is novice and original in approach confirming the impact of social media on local farmers and producers. It showcases the power of social media in leveraging the state of the economy of the marginalised sections.

This review paper delves into the comprehensive understanding of Ashwagandha, spanning its botanic occurrence, conventional applications, extraction techniques and pivotal role in addressing various disorders.

Introduction Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera, is a remarkable botanical resource with a rich history of use in traditional medicine.

In botany, Withania somnifera thrives in diverse ecosystems, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Its extensive distribution across regions, the Canary Islands, South Africa, the Middle East, Sri Lanka, India and China underscores its adaptability and resilience. The traditional uses of Ashwagandha in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicine systems have persisted for over 3,000 years. With over 6,000 plant species utilized historically, India, often regarded as the “botanical garden of the world,” has firmly established Ashwagandha as a cornerstone in traditional healing practices.

Extraction methods play a pivotal role in harnessing the therapeutic potential of Ashwagandha. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography are among the techniques employed to obtain the key bioactive compounds. Ashwagandha’s significance in modern medicine is underscored by its potential to address a spectrum of health issues. The multifaceted bioactivity of Ashwagandha is attributed to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, heart conditions, metabolic disorders, renal ailments, hepatic diseases and adaptogenic properties, making it a subject of increasing interest in contemporary medical research. This review synthesizes the assorted perspectives of Ashwagandha, from its botanical roots and conventional employments to its advanced extraction strategies and its intention to basic well-being challenges, advertising important bits of knowledge for analysts, specialists and healthcare experts alike.

The purpose of this article is to examine the antecedents and consequences of organizational silence and employee silence to determine whether these two concepts should be distinguished rather than used interchangeably in research.

This study conducted a systematic literature review of 79 studies on organizational silence and 113 on employee silence, leading to three major findings.

First, this study shows that organizational silence is a collective phenomenon and employee silence occurs at the individual level; therefore, indicating they should be treated as two distinct concepts. Second, both types of silence are influenced by contextual factors (internal and external) and leadership. Third, organizational silence impacts both individual and organizational outcomes, whereas employee silence mainly affects an individual’s psychological health and performance.

This research clarifies the distinction between organizational silence and employee silence, offering guidance for researchers on how to approach these concepts. It also highlights the critical need to address workplace silence and the potential harm it may cause to both organizational and individual well-being if left unaddressed. Furthermore, this research supports organizational leaders and human resource developers in fostering a healthier work culture, improving performance and driving continuous improvement.

This paper aims to initiate new avenues of research by examining optimal intellectual capital (IC) inputs, introducing three theories into the discussion: diminishing returns to scale, transaction costs economics and efficiency wage theory. In the second part, it advocates for demonstrating the existence of such non-optimality through empirical tests.

This paper is divided into two parts. The first part provides a theoretical justification for the necessity of observing nonlinear relationships between IC inputs and firm performance. In the empirical section, the research design follows a four-step process, each progressively building on insights gained from the preceding phase: (1) establishing a baseline linear regression model; (2) introducing the logarithm of the IC inputs; (3) incorporating the square terms of the IC inputs and (4) investigating the phenomena of over- and under-input in IC.

The background theories and the obtained results highlight the necessity for firms to adopt a strategic approach to IC, acknowledging the diverse effects of IC components on different outcomes. They emphasize the nonlinear nature of IC returns, underscoring the importance of investing up to an optimal level to maximize benefits.

The study’s discovery of optimal levels for the components of IC highlights the importance for practitioners to identify and invest up to these optimal levels. This ensures that IC initiatives are strategically aligned to maximize their positive impact on firm performance.

The integration of theories such as diminishing returns to scale, transaction costs economics and efficiency wage theory, alongside traditional frameworks like the resource-based view, the theory of dynamic capabilities and the knowledge-based theory of the firm, opens up new avenues for research on IC. The proposed methodology and measures – from financial reports – provide opportunities for replicating this type of study.

To be green creative is to come up with fresh, original and practical ideas for green products, green services, green processes or green activities. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of green creativity (GC) research by tracing the development of important theories, contexts, characteristics and methodologies (TCCM), and to illustrate how they relate to one another based on the systematic review and analysis of the existing literature relevant to GC from 2013 to 2023.

The research takes a methodical, structured approach to its literature evaluation, identifying prior contributions and offering frameworks for future study.

This research aims to highlight the challenges associated with planning, developing and implementing GC to realize the firm’s strategic and operational goals. Comprehensive networks, important countries, notable authors, key TCCM are provided by a TCCM and bibliographic analysis of the current GC literature.

The research addresses the concerns of managers across all types of entities and fills in the gaps, such as the skewed focus on GC’s applicability in large businesses and developing countries, as well as the limitations of a single-level analysis.

The research as a whole provides the taxonomy, utilization and mapping of logical concepts that strengthen GC. The study also highlights areas where more research is needed and where gaps and unresolved tensions remain. By delving into the nature of knowledge, the authors can better understand the factors that will ultimately shape the scope of future studies.