Muhammad Aamir Shaheen, Shoaib Aslam, Salman Mahmood, Mumtaz Ahmad and Sumaira Tabassum
The research examines how behavioral intentions, as a higher-order construct, indirectly affect financial inclusion through service trust, usage behavior and financial literacy in…
Abstract
Purpose
The research examines how behavioral intentions, as a higher-order construct, indirectly affect financial inclusion through service trust, usage behavior and financial literacy in mobile money adoption.
Design/methodology/approach
Following the positivist research philosophy, a cross-sectional study design was used to collect data through questionnaires comprised of scales adapted from prior studies. With a usable sample size of 340 respondents, this study employs partial least squares structural equation modeling to assess the model.
Findings
The study revealed the significant indirect role of behavioral intention on financial inclusion through use behavior, behavioral intentions on use behavior through service trust, and use behavior on financial inclusion through financial literacy. The role of behavioral intentions on financial inclusion through serial mediation of service trust, use behavior and financial literacy was also found to be significant.
Originality/value
This study's novelty resides in examining the indirect relationship between behavioral intentions and financial inclusion, specifically via the serial mediation of service trust, use behavior and financial literacy.
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Shubhangi Gautam and Pardeep Kumar
Purpose – This study aims to investigate how behavioural biases affect cryptocurrency investment choices. The study also evaluates how risk tolerance mediates the relationship…
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims to investigate how behavioural biases affect cryptocurrency investment choices. The study also evaluates how risk tolerance mediates the relationship between behavioural biases and investment decision-making.
Need for the Study – The study is required to refine research methods and to ensure the reliability and validity of findings on behavioural biases in cryptocurrency investment decision-making.
Methodology – This pilot study involved responses from individuals in India’s western and northern regions who either invested in cryptocurrencies or had adequate knowledge of such investments. To assess the normality, validity, and reliability of the questionnaire data, a sample of 51 individuals was analysed using SPSS software.
Findings – The results of this study validate the reliability of the questionnaire in conducting pilot research by attaining high reliability with high coefficients of measures and reasonable normality.
Originality/value – The study confirmed the tool’s efficiency to analyse various specific antecedents influencing investing choices.
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Giovanna Gavana, Pietro Gottardo and Anna Maria Moisello
This paper aims to study how corporate governance and country-related contextual factors affect the relationship between board gender diversity and environmental, social and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study how corporate governance and country-related contextual factors affect the relationship between board gender diversity and environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure in its components: governance, social and environmental.
Design/methodology/approach
Using ordinary least-squares and two-stage least squares (2SLS) regressions, and retrieving ESG disclosure data from Bloomberg’s database, the paper analyses a sample of European nonfinancial listed firms (1,935 firm-year observations) over the period 2014–2022. The study adopts board independence and board cultural diversity as structural and demographic board attributes that characterize the corporate governance environment in which female directors operate; the enforcement of law and gender equality as country-related institutional and cultural factors.
Findings
Results suggest that female directors may substitute board independence in improving ESG and governance disclosure, whilst they co-occur with board cultural diversity in increasing ESG, governance and social disclosure. Findings indicate that the enforcement of law increases the positive effect of female directors on environmental disclosure and lowers the impact on governance disclosure. Conversely, a more gender-equal environment enhances female directors’ engagement in improving governance disclosure, reducing their beneficial effect on environmental information.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature suggesting that structural and other demographic board contextual aspects, as well as institutional and cultural country-related contextual factors, affect the relationship between board gender diversity and ESG disclosure differently and the effect may vary depending on ESG disclosure.
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Raihan Sobhan, Md. Masud Rana Shohan and Syed Irfan Uddin
The study aims to investigate the association between environmental reporting (ER) and firm performance and whether board independence plays any role in this relationship in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to investigate the association between environmental reporting (ER) and firm performance and whether board independence plays any role in this relationship in the context of Bangladesh, an emerging economy.
Design/methodology/approach
The study has used a sample of 289 firm-years derived from the listed manufacturing companies of Bangladesh for the years 2018–2023. To measure ER, content analysis has been performed. Financial performance has been calculated using both accounting-based (ROA, ROE and EPS) and market-based (Tobin’s Q) performance measures. Two-step system generalized method of moments method has been used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The study has found a very low level of ER practice by the sample firms. The regression results show a positive and significant impact of ER on both accounting-based and market-based performance measures. In addition, existence of greater board independence is found to positively affect this relationship between ER and performance.
Practical implications
The findings of the study emphasize the importance of ER in improving performance which will have significant implications for the practitioners. Besides, the importance of greater board independence in enhancing the capability of ER to improve performance will provide valuable insights to the policymakers and regulators.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the role of an effective corporate mechanism, board independence, in improving the relationship between ER and performance in the context of an environmentally sensitive country such as Bangladesh.
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Zijun Lin, Chaoqun Ma, Olaf Weber and Yi-Shuai Ren
The purpose of this study is to map the intellectual structure of sustainable finance and accounting (SFA) literature by identifying the influential aspects, main research streams…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to map the intellectual structure of sustainable finance and accounting (SFA) literature by identifying the influential aspects, main research streams and future research directions in SFA.
Design/methodology/approach
The results are obtained using bibliometric citation analysis and content analysis to conduct a bibliometric review of the intersection of sustainable finance and sustainable accounting using a sample of 795 articles published between 1991 and November 2023.
Findings
The most influential factors in the SFA literature are identified, highlighting three primary areas of research: corporate social responsibility and environmental disclosure; financial and economic performance; and regulations and standards.
Practical implications
SFA has experienced rapid development in recent years. The results identify the current research domain, guide potential future research directions, serve as a reference for SFA and provide inspiration to policymakers.
Social implications
SFA typically encompasses sustainable corporate business practices and investments. This study contributes to broader social impacts by promoting improved corporate practices and sustainability.
Originality/value
This study expands on previous research on SFA. The authors identify significant aspects of the SFA literature, such as the most studied nations, leading journals, authors and trending publications. In addition, the authors provide an overview of the three major streams of the SFA literature and propose various potential future research directions, inspiring both academic research and policymaking.
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Haniruzila Hanifah, Yu Xing Lee and Hasliza Abdul
Strategic leveraging of Mobile Commerce (M-commerce) holds immense potential for augmenting firm performance within the realm of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia…
Abstract
Purpose
Strategic leveraging of Mobile Commerce (M-commerce) holds immense potential for augmenting firm performance within the realm of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. This study seeks to unravel the important role played by specific factors, namely, relative advantage, security, complexity, firm performance, organizational competence, M-commerce knowledge, competitive pressure, customer value and information intensity in influencing M-commerce adoption and its subsequent impact on SME performance. Drawing on the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, the study posits that technological factors (relative advantage, security and complexity), organizational factors (organizational IT competence and M-commerce knowledge) and environmental factors (competitive pressure, customer value and information intensity) collectively shape M-commerce adoption, thereby influencing SME performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs a quantitative approach, engaging SME owners in Malaysia as participants, with a sample size of 150 selected through an online survey. Analysis was conducted using Smart PLS, revealing crucial insights.
Findings
The investigation revealed a positive relationship between relative advantage, security, complexity, competitive pressure, customer value and information intensity, and the adoption of M-commerce within SMEs in Malaysia. Moreover, a positive relationship was identified between M-commerce adoption and firm performance among Malaysian SMEs. Intriguingly, there was no discernible relationship between Organizational IT competence, M-commerce knowledge and the adoption of M-commerce.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the scant literature exploring SMEs’ inclination toward M-commerce for performance enhancement. The proactive adoption of M-commerce stands poised to empower SMEs in Malaysia, enabling them to play a more substantial role in the national economic structure. Consequently, it emphasizes the need for effective communication of government policies pertaining to M-commerce adoption, particularly among SME stakeholders.
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Kanwal Zahid, Qamar Ali, Zafar Iqbal, Samina Saghir and Muhammad Tariq Iqbal Khan
Environmental protection and conservation of resources is a challenge for policymakers to attain sustainable growth and development. The current study uses the variable of…
Abstract
Purpose
Environmental protection and conservation of resources is a challenge for policymakers to attain sustainable growth and development. The current study uses the variable of inclusive growth instead of the traditional measure of growth.
Design/methodology/approach
The link between inclusive growth, renewable energy, industrial production, trade openness and the environment is explored by using panel data from 1995 to 2019 in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries. Before applying formal techniques, unit root tests were applied to check the stationarity of each variable. The long-run relationship among factors was found by the Kao cointegration test. The panel dynamic ordinary least squares (DLOS) was employed for regression estimation.
Findings
The results verified a decrease in ecological footprint (EF) in response to a potential rise in renewable energy consumption. An upsurge in EFs was explored due to a rise in gross domestic product (GDP) per person employed and trade openness. The EF significantly decreased by 0.671% in response to a 1% rise in renewable energy consumption.
Research limitations/implications
It is highly suggested to enhance renewable energy usage. To achieve this, policymakers should implement and emphasize efficient energy technologies to ensure improving the environment. Efficient use of renewable energy resources will decrease global warming effects and ensure the sustainable use of scarce resources.
Originality/value
It first took into account the variable of inclusive growth instead of traditional growth measures. It explored the impact of GDP per person employed as an indicator of inclusive growth.