Singapore has had a dramatic spike in coronavirus infections in early 2020, with thousands of new cases linked to clusters in migrant workers (MWs) dormitories. To control the…
Abstract
Singapore has had a dramatic spike in coronavirus infections in early 2020, with thousands of new cases linked to clusters in migrant workers (MWs) dormitories. To control the spread, the Government attempted to isolate the dormitories, test workers and move symptomatic patients into quarantine facilities. But those measures have left thousands of them trapped in their dormitories, living in cramped conditions that make social distancing near impossible. This paper investigates how COVID-19 has impacted the lives of these workers in varied ways and highlights the migrant workers' belief if Singapore’s effort has been enough for them during the COVID-19 pandemic? The focus is mainly on the low-skilled workers from India and Bangladesh, who are prone to be affected in various ways by COVID-19. My collected data show that migrant workers are grateful to the Singapore state for the support extended during COVID-19. I used the concept of subcultures to explain the condition of the workers in the state of Singapore. Because they expect so little social protection from the state, they are genuinely grateful for its support during the pandemic.
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Nourhen Sallemi and Ghazi Zouari
This study examines the impact of external corporate factors (external auditors, insured satisfaction and corporate social responsibility) on the performance (ROA, ROE, ROI) of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the impact of external corporate factors (external auditors, insured satisfaction and corporate social responsibility) on the performance (ROA, ROE, ROI) of takaful providers of distinguishable Muamalah contracts (wakalah and Hybrid).
Design/methodology/approach
The full sample includes 30 Takaful insurance companies listed in Southeast Asia (SEA) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries over the period 2011–2021. We use the FGLS method for data analysis.
Findings
Our results reveal that Takaful insurance, which holds one of the Big Four with qualified Shariah members as external auditors, leads to improved performance (ROA, ROE and ROI). In addition, our findings show that Takaful insurance should be concerned with insured satisfaction to determine its success and generate higher performance for both the wakalah and hybrid contracts (ROA, ROE and ROI). Furthermore, Corporate Social Responsibility is considered a source of efficiency that enhances Takaful’s performance for the two types of wakalah and hybrid models (ROA, ROE and ROI).
Practical implications
Some suggestions may be useful for Takaful insurance regulatory authorities to intensify CSR activities, hold one of the Big Four as an external auditor and realize insured satisfaction.
Originality/value
This study highlights that it is beneficial for policymakers, insurers and investors to explore external factors that influence financial performance (return on assets, ROA; return on equity, ROE; return on investment,) in the Takaful insurance market, which uses wakalah and hybrid contracts.
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Yang Li, Zhixiang Xie, Yaochen Qin and Zhicheng Zheng
This paper aims to study the temporal and spatial variation of vegetation and the influence of climate change on vegetation coverage in the Yellow River basin, China. The current…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the temporal and spatial variation of vegetation and the influence of climate change on vegetation coverage in the Yellow River basin, China. The current study aimed to evaluate the role of a series of government-led environmental control projects in restoring the ecological environment of the Yellow River basin.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses unary linear regression, Mann–Kendall and wavelet analyses to study the spatial–temporal variations of vegetation and the response to climate changes in the Yellow River, China.
Findings
The results showed that for the past 17 years, not only the mean annual increase rate of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was 0.0059/a, but the spatial heterogeneity also yields significant results. The vegetation growth in the southeastern region was significantly better than that in the northwestern region. The variation period of the NDVI in the study area significantly shortened, and the most obvious oscillation period was half a year, with two peaks in one year. In addition, there are positive and negative effects of human activities on the change of vegetation cover of the Loess Plateau. The project of transforming cultivated land to forest and grassland promotes the increase of vegetation cover of the Loess plateau. Unfortunately, the regional urbanization and industrialization proliferated, and the overloading of grazing, deforestation, over-reclamation, and the exploitation and development of the energy area in the grassland region led to the reduction of the NDVI. Fortunately, the positive effects outweigh the negative ones.
Originality/value
This paper provides a comprehensive insight to analysis of the vegetation change and the responses of vegetation to climate change, with special reference to make the planning policy of ecological restoration. This paper argues that ecological restoration should be strengthened in areas with annual precipitation less than 450 mm.
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Shu-Man Chang, Yo-Yi Huang, Kuo-Chung Shang and Wei-Tzu Chiang
The proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will become a large trade agreement in Asia, which has brought together the ten members of Association of Southeast…
Abstract
Purpose
The proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will become a large trade agreement in Asia, which has brought together the ten members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and five of the neighbors’ countries. Under the trend of globalization, the progress of the transportation industry and regional integration will increase the volume of trade, therefore maritime performance is intrinsically linked to trade. In fact, few studies have examined regional integration in the context of seaborne. This paper aims to use the cluster analysis and Poisson quasi-maximum likelihood (PQML) gravity model to investigate the trading bloc phenomenon and relation between trade and marine transportation.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, hierarchical clustering analysis and tree diagrams are used to identify functional areas characterized by bilateral trade intensity and bilateral liner shipping connectivity indices. Regional reorganizations that have occurred within Asian countries were studied. This study illustrates that these trading blocs have a positive impact on trade when maritime transport, production and trading networks have developed between regions. A gravity model was constructed using worldwide trade data for 2007, 2010 and 2015. The study considered free trade agreement (FTA)/common market (CM) of EU, RCEP and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as regional dummies and designed a real trade bloc induction variable. In addition, the study did not use the commonly adopted ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation but used the PQML method to estimate the gravity equation to overcome the problem of a large number of zero trade observations. Preliminary results show that regional integration cannot guarantee the establishment of intraregional trade but depends on the stage of economic development and regional industrial characteristics.
Findings
The major findings are summarized as follows. Both liner shipping connectivity and logistics performance have significant advantages with positive coefficients in each regression results. The creation of intraregional trade is not guaranteed, depending on the characteristics of the trade and the stage of economic development of the region. For RCEP, the effect created by intra-regional trade is better than the EU. Instead, the “nominal” intra-RCEP trade was significantly below the “real” trading blocs. For RCEP, the effect created by intra-regional trade is better than that of the EU. Instead, “nominal” intra-RCEP trade is much lower than “real” trading blocs. The real trading bloc between East Asia and Taiwan clearly exists, and the bloc phenomenon is becoming more and more significant. This result shows that Taiwan’s trade flow with East Asia is higher than the normal level relationship implied by its corresponding economic and geographical conditions.
Originality/value
This paper focuses on new empirical work done for this study is on the potential impact on trade. Earlier studies that have discussed and/or provided estimates of the benefits to the RCEP plan from improved transport and supply chain connectivity are cited. Marine transportation performance inherently links to economies of commerce. Few studies have examined regional integration in the context of maritime transportation, which reflects the lack of a mix of trade economists and maritime logistics research in the existing literature. This paper attempts to investigate the trading bloc phenomenon formed by regional integration (such as RCEP) and the relation between trade and marine transportation. With the official entry into force of the RCEP in 2020, it will promote increased trade and demand for logistics and maritime transport services in East Asia.
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Junying Yu, Jiaxuan Xie and Honglin Lu
As a retail operation mode of emerging mixed reality (MR) technology, virtual fitting room (VFR) revolutionizes how consumers interact with fashion brands.
Abstract
Purpose
As a retail operation mode of emerging mixed reality (MR) technology, virtual fitting room (VFR) revolutionizes how consumers interact with fashion brands.
Design/methodology/approach
The research investigates the impact mechanisms of VFR technology through retail operational performance from the perspective of purchase intention and post-purchase intention. Around 783 valid questionnaires were collected using the questionnaire to analyze, including 327 VFR technology users and 394 VFR technology non-users.
Findings
The results indicate that visual vividness, interactive control and personalized provision of VFR technology positively influence the retail operational performance of fashion brands, except for the online purchase intention. The study further reveals that the influence of VFR technology on retail operational performance is carried by perceived value and technology attitude, with the moderating role of perceived body image.
Originality/value
These findings expand and enrich existing research on VFR technology, providing recommendations and valuable insights into widening the application and continuous improvement of VFR technology.