Anthony Siaw, Yuansheng Jiang, Martinson Ankrah Twumasi, Wonder Agbenyo, Gideon Ntim-Amo, Frank Osei Danquah and Ernest Kwarko Ankrah
The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of access to credit on technical efficiency (TE) of maize farmers in a developing country, Ghana.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of access to credit on technical efficiency (TE) of maize farmers in a developing country, Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employed an instrumental variable approach and the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) method for the estimation of the results.
Findings
The study found that farmers who have access to agricultural credit stand the chance of increasing TE by a margin of 8%, which also influences the maize production than those who did not have access to credit. The average TE score of the farmers was 74%. The study also found out that factors like membership, gender, farmers' access to credit, age and social network determine farmers' possibility of accessing agricultural credit. The study finds out that returns to size are increasing among the maize farmers and that significant improvement in efficiency can be realized by increasing the level of input used in production. Also, factors such as farm size, labor, seeds and fertilizer are the essential determinants of maize production output. Also, gender, extension, age, off-farm income, access to credit and membership were significant factors influencing technical inefficiency (TI).
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the existing literature on agricultural credit on rural agricultural development. The problem of endogeneity associated with access to credit, which has been considered by other researchers, is dealt with this study. This paper also provides information to government policymakers, practitioners and all other stakeholders in the maize sub-sectors and also will benefit small farmers outside the study area.
Details
Keywords
Nnamdi O. Madichie and Robert Ebo Hinson
This chapter explores the creative industries in Africa from a digital perspective. This ranges from digital advertising, design, fashion, film and music production to digital…
Abstract
This chapter explores the creative industries in Africa from a digital perspective. This ranges from digital advertising, design, fashion, film and music production to digital publishing and photography. There have been quite a range of innovative developments in the global value chain, which are also explored such as the deployment of artificial intelligence and augmented and virtual reality. Everything Digital – Fashion, Film, and Music production and distribution – is considered in the chapter. It also paves the way for further interrogation of the legal landscape and intellectual property challenges in the creative industries – which is the focus of Chapter 6.
Emmanuel Kodwo Amoako, Saviour Ayertey Nubuor, Abdul-Razak Suleman, Amin Abdul Bawa and Bridget Akwetey-Siaw
The study aims to investigate the impact of anxiety and depression (dimensions of mental health) on mineworkers' safety behaviors (safety compliance and safety participation…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to investigate the impact of anxiety and depression (dimensions of mental health) on mineworkers' safety behaviors (safety compliance and safety participation) while examining the moderating role of safety climate on these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research approach with an explanatory cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. A total of 274 purposively selected mineworkers participated in the study. Responses were obtained from participants through a structured questionnaire which was analyzed using the partial least square structural equation modeling.
Findings
Anxiety had a significant negative effect on safety compliance but not participation. However, depression was found to have a significant negative effect on both mineworkers' safety compliance and participation behaviors. The findings of the study also show that safety climate moderates the relationships between the dimensions of mental health and mineworkers' safety behavior except for the relationship between anxiety and mineworkers' safety participation behavior.
Originality/value
The study offers an account of the negative effect of mental health on mineworkers' safety behavior whiles highlighting that safety climate is an important construct to mitigate the negative effects of mental illness on the safety behaviors of mineworkers.
Details
Keywords
Shadrach Twumasi Ankrah, Zheng He, Jason Kobina Arku and Lydia Asare-Kyire
Drawing on the reciprocity principle of social exchange theory situated within Service-dominant Logic, this study aims to examine how customers’ perception of knowledge sharing in…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the reciprocity principle of social exchange theory situated within Service-dominant Logic, this study aims to examine how customers’ perception of knowledge sharing in co-production, their inherent scepticism and prosocial orientation relate to their willingness to co-create and provide feedback on services. The authors also explored the interplay between these factors to identify conditions in configurations comprising scepticism, which may help navigate its adverse effects.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors surveyed 556 online and offline mobile payment service users. They used a combination of partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to assess the relationships among variables, and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify configurations associated with feedback behaviour.
Findings
The study determined that customer perception of co-production knowledge sharing is positively associated with willingness to co-create and feedback behaviour. Additionally, prosocial orientation positively affects this relationship, while scepticism has an adverse effect. Willingness to co-create mediates the relationship between customer perception of co-production knowledge sharing and feedback behaviour. The fsQCA findings revealed configurations for potentially navigating doubts regarding feedback. To encourage valuable customer feedback, businesses may consider promoting a collaborative and supportive atmosphere, emphasising shared advantages or building trust even among hesitant and doubtful individuals.
Originality/value
This study uniquely examines how both prosocial tendencies and scepticism relate to customer feedback behaviour in co-creation by using a hybrid PLS-SEM/fsQCA approach to identify co-existing conditions in configurations comprising scepticism that may help navigate its adverse effects and leverage customer feedback for business improvement.
Details
Keywords
Mohsin Raza, Rimsha Khalid, Worakamol Wisetsri, Luigi Pio Leonardo Cavaliere, Hamza Subhi Mohammad Alnawafleh and Magna Guzman-Avalos
The e-health services came up as an effective tool to mitigate effects of COVID-19 and following social distance norms. This study highlighted an issue of contentious usage…
Abstract
Purpose
The e-health services came up as an effective tool to mitigate effects of COVID-19 and following social distance norms. This study highlighted an issue of contentious usage intentions of e-health services among Thai older citizens. This study aims to examine the relationship of social influence (SI), information quality (IQ) and the digital literacy (DL) to contentious usage intentions.
Design/methodology/approach
This study follows quantitative techniques, and the sample size is 140 to analyze, that is collected from the older Thai citizens. The convenient sampling technique was used to collect the data and the items were measured by using a five-point Likert scale.
Findings
The findings of this study are having mixed results. The effect of DL and satisfaction (SAT) on continuous usage intention (CUI) is significant. The effect of IQ and SI on CUI is non-significant. The effect of IQ and SI on SAT is significant. Further, the mediating effect of SAT between IQ and CUI is non-significant. However, the mediating effect of SAT between SI and CUI is significant.
Originality/value
This study contributes to knowledge by empirical testing of DL and usage of the medicine. Furthermore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the rare studies that incorporate technological intervention for drug usage intentions.