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The purpose of this study is to examine how capital structure mediates the effects of corporate governance (CG) compliance on firm performance (FP) in the context of a developing market experiencing significant reforms to its governance landscape.

An index was built to measure firm-level compliance with Pakistan’s code of CG. Several robustness checks were performed, including alternate proxies of dependent and independent variables, using additional control variables and considering the Global Financial Crisis period. To address dynamic effects and endogeneity, several identification strategies were used: a leading dependent variable, fixed effects model, generalised method of moments model and propensity score matching.

CG compliance leads to higher FP. However, higher leverage partially and negatively mediates this association. The results of this study are robust against alternate proxies of dependent and independent variables and possible endogeneity issues.

This study constructs a summative measure of CG compliance that captures not only firm-level compliance to the prescribed codes but also the benefits of incremental improvements and reforms in the governance of the Pakistan market. This study offers insights into an emerging market, contributing further empirical evidence to support greater market transparency through mechanisms such as CG compliance and the monitoring effects of debt. However, this study cautions that greater compliance raises costs, especially when associated with higher leverage, and can undermine FP.

This research aims to explore the effects of varying polycarbonate concentrations on the mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy resin–polycarbonate blends. It investigates solution blending, casting methodologies and surface morphology to understand microstructural changes. The study identifies optimal polycarbonate ratios (7.5–10%) for enhancing tensile strength, impact resistance and thermal stability.

The study used solution blending to create epoxy resin-polycarbonate blends (2.5–15%), followed by film casting. Thermo-mechanical properties were tested via tensile strength, impact resistance and TGA. Surface morphology was examined to assess microstructural changes across blend ratios.

The research revealed that epoxy resin-polycarbonate blends exhibit enhanced mechanical and thermal properties at specific polycarbonate concentrations. Optimal performance was observed at 7.5 and 10% polycarbonate, showing significant improvements in tensile strength, impact resistance and thermal stability as confirmed by TGA. Surface morphology analysis highlighted microstructural changes corresponding to different blend ratios, underscoring the critical role of polycarbonate proportions in achieving superior material characteristics.

The research found that incorporating polycarbonate into epoxy resin significantly enhances mechanical and thermal properties, with the best results observed at 7.5 and 10% polycarbonate concentrations. These blends demonstrated improved tensile strength, impact resistance and thermal stability. Surface morphology analysis revealed notable microstructural changes, highlighting the importance of precise polycarbonate ratios in optimizing the performance of the blends.

The study seeks to explore the intricate dynamics among customer relationship management (CRM) practices, guest satisfaction and loyalty in the hospitality context. Additionally, it aims to examine the moderating influence of guest engagement on the relationships between CRM practices and guest satisfaction and loyalty.

An integrated theoretical framework is developed by incorporating CRM practices and guest engagement into the satisfaction-loyalty framework. Two research instruments were adapted from the literature to assess the perspectives of customers and employees in the hotel industry in Kashmir. The customer survey measured guest satisfaction, loyalty, and engagement, while the employee survey focused on CRM practices, including key customer focus and CRM organization. Data was collected using a pen-and-paper survey with convenience sampling across 10 qualifying hotels, each classified as 3-star or above. A total of 270 matched responses from guests and employees were obtained and analyzed using descriptive analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM), and moderation analysis with SPSS and AMOS software. The study utilized a rigorous data matching process to ensure reliability, with guest-employee pairs verified and cross-checked with hotel records.

The results indicate CRM practices play a pivotal role in shaping guest satisfaction and loyalty. Notably, personalization and a targeted customer approach emerged as the most influential factors in enhancing tourist satisfaction. Similarly, prospecting, personalization, and effective knowledge management significantly contributed to visitor loyalty. The establishment of robust relationships is underscored through collaborative active guest engagement. Furthermore, the study highlights the nuanced relationship between satisfaction and loyalty moderated by guest engagement. High levels of guest engagement amplify the positive impact of satisfaction on loyalty, while lower engagement levels attenuate this effect. Moreover, the moderating influence of guest engagement on the relationships between CRM practices and guest satisfaction and CRM practices and guest loyalty was notably strong at elevated guest engagement levels and relatively weaker at lower engagement levels.

While the study findings encourage organizations to prioritize customer relationship development, hospitality entities must emphasize the adoption of CRM philosophy and robust guest engagement measures. Actively involving guests in co-creating services can yield incremental benefits in terms of attracting, retaining, and effectively serving guests.

This study introduces novel dimensions to the existing CRM framework within the hospitality context, specifically exploring the impact of hotel-specific elements (personalization and prospecting) on customer satisfaction and loyalty. Furthermore, it innovatively investigates the moderating role of guest engagement in the satisfaction-loyalty relationship, expanding its scope to include the relationships between CRM practices and guest satisfaction and guest loyalty.

This study aims to enhance our understanding of sustainable water management in construction through a life-cycle embodied water assessment of a villa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It provides insights and recommendations for improving the water efficiency by identifying areas for potential embodied water saving and reduction in environmental impacts in the construction industry.

This study uses a life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach and focuses on a UAE villa as a case study. It analyses the embodied water consumption during construction (initial embodied water) and maintenance (recurrent embodied water) using an input–output-based hybrid analysis. Additionally, it compares the embodied water observations with the operational water usage and comprehensively evaluates the water consumption in the villa’s life-cycle.

The initial (28%) and recurrent embodied water (42%) represent significant proportions of a building’s life-cycle water demand. The structural elements, predominantly concrete and steel, contribute 40% of the initial embodied water consumption. This emphasises the importance of minimising the water usage in these materials. Similarly, internal finishes account for 47% of the recurrent embodied water. This emphasises the importance of evaluating the material service life.

These findings indicate the efficacy of using durable materials with low embodiment and water-efficient construction methods. Additionally, collaborative research between academia, industry, and the government is recommended in conjunction with advocating for policies promoting low embodied-water materials and transparency in the construction sector through embodied water footprint reporting.

Previous studies focused on the operational water and marginally addressed the initial embodied water. Meanwhile, this study highlights the significance of the initial and recurrent embodied water in the life-cycle water demand. It emphasises on the need for adaptable buildings with reduced embodied water and more durable materials to minimise the requirement for frequent material replacements.

This paper aims to assess the impact of green purchasing behavior (GPB) of a young generation in Pakistan.

The data were collected from students of different colleges affiliated with Shah Abdul Latif University from Sukkur and Larkana regions of Upper Sindh. A total of 400 questionnaires were administrated among students and 361 completed questionnaires were returned. A pen-and-paper method was applied to collect the data.

Model 1 revels that interpersonal influence and environmental knowledge were found positively related to GPB, whereas media and price were found positively but insignificantly related to GPB. Lastly, trust in green products was also found negatively and insignificantly related with GPB. Model 2 was used to test the moderating impact of price on the relationship between EA and GPB.

To promote GPB, government can play significant role by sponsoring environmental campaigns and environmental culture and these campaigns may include broadcasting promotional messages, distributing leaflets with utility bills, speeches in schools and colleges and advertisements with the help of printing and electronic sources.

Regarding green food purchase, this study’s results contribute to the literature by providing some theoretical contributions in literature. Green purchasing is so far a very new notion in Pakistan and therefore, literature on promotion of GPB is still lacking in the said country.

Despite widespread recognition of the importance of mindfulness in organizational science literature, little is known about how mindfulness motivates individuals to configure information processing and team member exchange relationships to increase creative process engagement. Drawing on motivated information processing theory, this study conceptualizes and empirically examines whether and how mindfulness motivates individuals toward creative process engagement.

The authors collected data through an online survey from 311 respondents working in the Research and Development (R&D) departments of organizations in multiple industries in Pakistan. For analytical purposes, the authors have applied the structural equation modeling technique.

This study advances a different view of individual mindfulness on the creative process engagement in the following ways. First, mindfulness enables individuals to self-regulate in specific situations and become effective in fostering creative process engagement. Second, this study extends research on relational information processing by linking it to mindfulness and creative process engagement. Relational information processing partially mediates the relationship between mindfulness and creative process engagement. Third, this study highlights that mindfulness motivates individuals to focus more on developing quality working relationships, but they seem less willing to participate in idea generation and problem-solving solutions.

The study findings provide implications for research on mindfulness, creativity and motivated information processing to enhance individuals’ creative process engagements. The authors also discuss the implications for executives on the relational and creative benefits of mindfulness.

Money laundering continues to emerge as a transnational phenomenon that has harmful consequences for the global economy and society. Despite the theoretical and practical magnitude of money laundering, international business (IB) research on the topic is scarce and scattered across multiple disciplines. Accordingly, this study aims to advance an integrated understanding of money laundering from the IB perspective.

The authors conduct a systematic review of relevant literature and qualitatively analyze the content of 57 studies published on the topic during the past two decades.

The authors identify five streams (5Cs) of research on money laundering in the IB context: the concept, characteristics, causes, consequences and controls. The analysis further indicates six theoretical approaches used in the past research. Notably, normative standards and business and economics theories are dominant in the extant research.

The authors review the literature on an under-researched but practically significant phenomenon and found potential for advancing its theoretical foundations. Hence, the authors propose a 5Cs framework and a future agenda for research and practice by introducing 21 future research questions and two plausible theories to help study the phenomenon more effectively in the future.

In practical terms, the study extends the understanding of the money laundering phenomenon and subsequently helps mitigating the problem of money laundering in the IB environment, along with its harmful economic and societal impacts.

The authors offer an integrative view on money laundering in the IB context. Additionally, the authors emphasize wider discussions on money laundering as a form of mega-corruption.

This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review on the Broaden-and-Build theory (BBT) in marketing to consolidate its applications, examine its impact on consumer behavior and outline directions for future research.

Using the theory, context, characteristics, methodology framework, the authors analyzed 75 peer-reviewed articles from Scopus spanning 2000–2023. This review categorizes BBT’s integration in marketing, examining methodological trends, variable relationships and domain applications to reveal current research gaps.

Results indicate a growing integration of BBT in consumer behavior research, identifying six key application categories (e.g. brand loyalty and digital engagement) and eight recurring themes (e.g. cognitive broadening and resource-building). The findings show that, although BBT’s focus on positive emotions is established in traditional marketing, gaps remain in digital marketing, sales and tourism/hospitality, especially regarding BBT’s unique cognitive and resource-building effects on consumer engagement.

This review’s focus on English-language, peer-reviewed sources may limit comprehensiveness.

This study offers actionable strategies for marketers to apply BBT, suggesting the design of emotionally resonant campaigns that enhance digital engagement, foster brand loyalty and maximize consumer well-being.

This paper maps BBT’s underexplored domains in marketing, emphasizing its theoretical and practical applications. It uncovers the relationship between positive emotions and consumer engagement, demonstrating how BBT can inform effective marketing strategies in areas such as digital engagement and brand loyalty, thus offering a roadmap for future research.