Arshad Ahmad Khan, Sufyan Ullah Khan, Muhammad Abu Sufyan Ali, Aftab Khan, Yousaf Hayat and Jianchao Luo
The main aim of this study is to investigate the impact of climate change and water salinity on farmer’s income risk with future outlook mitigation. Salinity and climate change…
Abstract
Purpose
The main aim of this study is to investigate the impact of climate change and water salinity on farmer’s income risk with future outlook mitigation. Salinity and climate change are a threat to agricultural productivity worldwide. However, the combined effects of climate change and salinity impacts on farmers' income are not well understood, particularly in developing countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The response-yield function and general maximum entropy methods were used to predict the impact of temperature, precipitation and salinity on crop yield. The target minimization of total absolute deviations (MOTAD)-positive mathematical programming model was used to simulate the impact of climate change and salinity on socioeconomic and environmental indicators. In the end, a multicriteria decision-making model was used, aiming at the selection of suitable climate scenarios.
Findings
The results revealed that precipitation shows a significantly decreasing trend, while temperature and groundwater salinity (EC) illustrate a significantly increasing trend. Climate change and EC negatively impact the farmer's income and water shadow prices. Maximum reduction in income and water shadow prices was observed for A2 scenario (−12.4% and 19.4%) during 2050. The environmental index was the most important, with priority of 43.4% compared to socioeconomic indicators. Subindex amount of water used was also significant in study area, with 28.1% priority. The technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution ranking system found that B1 was the best climatic scenario for adopting climate change adaptation in the research region.
Originality/value
In this study, farmers' income threats were assessed with the aspects of different climate scenario (A1, A1B and B1) over the horizons of 2030, 2040 and 2050 and three different indicators (economic, social and environmental) in Northwestern region of Pakistan. Only in arid and semiarid regions has climate change raised temperature and reduced rainfall, which are preliminary symptoms of growing salinity.
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Shahab Ud Din, Muhammad Arshad Khan, Majid Jamal Khan and Muhammad Yar Khan
This study examines the impact of ownership structure on firm financial performance, for 146 manufacturing firms listed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) for the period…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the impact of ownership structure on firm financial performance, for 146 manufacturing firms listed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) for the period 2003–2012.
Design/methodology/approach
The theoretical background of the present study is based on the agency theory. Ownership structure is measured by institutional shareholdings, insider shareholdings, foreign shareholders and government shareholdings, while return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), market-to-book ratio (MBR) and Tobin's Q (TQ) are used as proxies of corporate financial performance. The dynamic panel generalized method of moments (GMM) method is employed to cater for the issue of endogeneity.
Findings
We find that institutional ownership exerts a significant positive impact on ROE and MBR, which suggests that institutional investors play a significant role in improving the financial performance of the sample Pakistani. Furthermore, the results reveal a significant positive relationship of insider ownership with ROA, ROE, MBR and TQ, which is consistent with the prediction of agency theory that concentration of insider ownership aligns the interest of shareholders with those of the managers and hence improves performance. A significant positive association of government shareholdings with ROA and ROE was also found. Therefore, policymakers may encourage government ownership in firms, which can help to improve corporate financial performance.
Originality/value
The present study contributes to the existing literature on ownership structure and corporate financial performance in an emerging market like Pakistan. It is worth mentioning that the institutional setup and corporate governance structure in Pakistan is yet at an evolving stage. Findings of this study may provide useful insights to corporate managers and investors about the relationship between ownership structure and financial performance of firms from the manufacturing sector in Pakistan.
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Raka Saxena, Anjani Kumar, Ritambhara Singh, Ranjit Kumar Paul, M.S. Raman, Rohit Kumar, Mohd Arshad Khan and Priyanka Agarwal
The present study provides evidence on export advantages of horticultural commodities based on competitiveness, trade balance and seasonality dimensions.
Abstract
Purpose
The present study provides evidence on export advantages of horticultural commodities based on competitiveness, trade balance and seasonality dimensions.
Design/methodology/approach
The study delineated horticultural commodities in terms of comparative advantage, examined temporal shifts in export advantages (mapping) and estimated seasonality. Product mapping was carried out using the Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) and Trade Balance Index (TBI). Seasonal advantages were examined through a graphical approach along with the objective tests, namely, modified QS-test (QS), Friedman-test (FT) and using a seasonal dummy.
Findings
Cucumbers/gherkins, onions, preserved vegetables, fresh grapes, shelled cashew nuts, guavas, mangoes, and spices emerged as the most favorable horticultural products. India has a strong seasonal advantage in dried onions, cucumber/gherkins, shelled cashew nut, dried capsicum, coriander, cumin, and turmeric. The untapped potential in horticulture can be addressed by handling the trade barriers effectively, particularly the sanitary and phytosanitary issues, affecting the exports. Proper policies must be enacted to facilitate the investment in advanced agricultural technologies and logistics to ensure the desired quality and cost effectiveness.
Research limitations/implications
Commodity-specific studies on value chain analysis would provide valuable insights into the issues hindering exports and realizing the untapped export potential.
Originality/value
There is no holistic and recent study illustrating the horticulture export advantages covering a large number of commodities in the Indian context. The study would be helpful to the stakeholders for drawing useful policy implications.
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Ayush Varshney, Arshad H. Khan, M. Yaqoob Yasin, Zahid A. Khan and Mohammad Asjad
The purpose of this paper is to present the multi-objective optimization of the dynamic response of isotropic and laminated composite folded plates. The dynamic analysis has been…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the multi-objective optimization of the dynamic response of isotropic and laminated composite folded plates. The dynamic analysis has been carried out using the finite element method based on the first-order shear deformation theory.
Design/methodology/approach
Hamilton’s principle has been employed for the derivation of the governing equations. Natural frequencies are obtained using the eigenvalue extraction method. The optimal combination of the crank angle, lamination scheme and boundary conditions on the natural frequencies of folded plates for their safe and optimal dynamic design has been obtained. The analysis has been carried out using finite element approach based on FSDT to obtain the dynamic equation of single- and double-fold laminated plates. In total, 15 experiments as per Taguchi’s standard L15 orthogonal array have been performed. Further, standard deviation (SD) based TOPSIS method is used to perform multi-response optimization of folded plates in order to rank the combination of the input parameters.
Findings
SD integrated with TOPSIS reveals that Experiment No. 8 (crank angle=90° and anti-symmetric lamination scheme=0°/90°/0°/90°), Experiment No. 14 (crank angle=150° and anti-symmetric lamination scheme=0o/90o/0o/90o), Experiment No. 2 (crank angle=30° and anti-symmetric lamination scheme=0°/90°/0°/90°) and Experiment No. 3 (crank angle=30° and symmetric lamination scheme=0°/90°/0°/90°) occupy rank 1 for one fold, one end clamped, one fold, two ends clamped, two folds, one end clamped and two folds, two ends clamped conditions, respectively, in order to maximize the modal response corresponding to the fundamental mode.
Originality/value
SD-based technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method is used to rank the process parameters. The optimum combination of the input parameters on the multi-response optimization of dynamics of the folded plates has also been evaluated using the analysis of mean (ANOM).
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Shahab Udin, Muhammad Arshad Khan and Attiya Yasmin Javid
The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of corporate governance proxies by ownership structure on the likelihood of firms’ financial distress for a sample of 146…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of corporate governance proxies by ownership structure on the likelihood of firms’ financial distress for a sample of 146 Pakistani public-limited companies listed at the Karachi Stock Exchange over the period of 2003-2012.
Design/methodology/approach
The dynamic generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator and panel logistic regression (PLR) are used to determine the impact of corporate governance on the financial distress. The ownership structure is used as a determinant of corporate governance, while the Altman Z-score is utilized as an indicator of financial distress, as it measures financial distress inversely. The smaller the values of the Z-score, the higher will be the risk of financial distress.
Findings
The authors find insignificant impact of ownership structure on firms’ likelihood of financial distress based on the dynamic GMM method. However, the PLR results indicate that foreign shareholdings have a significant negative association with firms’ likelihood of financial distress, in the case of Pakistan. An evidence of a negative and insignificant relationship between institutional ownership and financial distress was observed, which indicates the passive role of institutional investors in Pakistan. The results also reveal a positive and significant relationship between insider’s ownership and likelihood of financial distress. This finding is consistent with the entrenchment hypothesis which predicts that insiders are more aligned with their self-interest than outside shareholders’ interest when their shareholding increases in the business. Furthermore, the results also reveal insignificant association between government shareholdings and the probability of financial distress. The reason could be the social welfare objective of the government entities rather than profit maximization.
Practical implications
The findings of this study provide more insight to corporate managers and investors about the association between the quality of corporate governance and the degree of financial distress, with respect to Pakistani firms. Furthermore, this study contributes to the existing literature by adding new evidence from developing countries like Pakistan which are helpful for regulatory bodies and policymakers in the formulation of long-term corporate governance strategies to manage the financial distress. It is well established that strengthening the quality of corporate governance practices enhances the efficiency of capital markets and reduces the probability of financial distress.
Originality/value
The study extends the body of existing literature on corporate governance and the likelihood of financial distress with reference to Pakistan. The results suggest that policymakers may pay special attention to the quality of corporate governance, specifically ownership structure, while predicting corporate financial distress.
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Arshad Khan, Mo Faheem and Akmal Raza
The numerical solution of third-order boundary value problems (BVPs) has a great importance because of their applications in fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, astrophysics, nuclear…
Abstract
Purpose
The numerical solution of third-order boundary value problems (BVPs) has a great importance because of their applications in fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, astrophysics, nuclear reactions, rocket science etc. The purpose of this paper is to develop two computational methods based on Hermite wavelet and Bernoulli wavelet for the solution of third-order initial/BVPs.
Design/methodology/approach
Because of the presence of singularity and the strong nonlinear nature, most of third-order BVPs do not occupy exact solution. Therefore, numerical techniques play an important role for the solution of such type of third-order BVPs. The proposed methods convert third-order BVPs into a system of algebraic equations, and on solving them, approximate solution is obtained. Finally, the numerical simulation has been done to validate the reliability and accuracy of developed methods.
Findings
This paper discussed the solution of linear, nonlinear, nonlinear singular (Emden–Fowler type) and self-adjoint singularly perturbed singular (generalized Emden–Fowler type) third-order BVPs using wavelets. A comparison of the results of proposed methods with the results of existing methods has been given. The proposed methods give the accuracy up to 19 decimal places as the resolution level is increased.
Originality/value
This paper is one of the first in the literature that investigates the solution of third-order Emden–Fowler-type equations using Bernoulli and Hermite wavelets. This paper also discusses the error bounds of the proposed methods for the stability of approximate solutions.
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Irfan Ullah and Muhammad Arshad Khan
The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) by focusing on institutional and economic factors among South Asian Association for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) by focusing on institutional and economic factors among South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as Central Asian countries over the period 2002-2014.
Design/methodology/approach
The generalized method of moments technique is employed for analyzing the impact of institutional quality on FDI inflow by controlling for the effect of market size, domestic investment and labor force.
Findings
The authors found large variations in terms of the impact of institutional and economic variables in regards to FDI in the SAARC, Central Asian and ASEAN regions. The results reveal that real GDP, domestic investment and economic freedom index have a positive and significant effect on FDI inflows in the SAARC region, while governance index and labor force have a negative impact on FDI inflows. In Central Asia, the real GDP, domestic investment and governance index are positively associated with FDI inflows, whereas the effect of economic freedom index on FDI is negative as well as insignificant. Apart from the GDP, other variables such as labor force, domestic investment, governance and economic freedom indices influence FDI positively in the ASEAN region. It is worth mentioning here that domestic investment produces positive effect on FDI inflows in all the regions. On the whole, the authors may conclude that institutional factors play an important role in attracting FDI inflows in the ASEAN region as compared to Central Asian and SAARC regions.
Originality/value
A limited research work is available that could help in identifying the role of institutional and economic factors simultaneously in attracting FDI in the SAARC, Central Asian and ASEAN regions.
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Mohammad Ghalambaz, Mikhail A. Sheremet, Mohammed Arshad Khan, Zehba Raizah and Jana Shafi
This study aims to explore the evolving field of physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) through an analysis of 996 records retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database from…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the evolving field of physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) through an analysis of 996 records retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database from 2019 to 2022.
Design/methodology/approach
WoS database was analyzed for PINNs using an inhouse python code. The author’s collaborations, most contributing institutes, countries and journals were identified. The trends and application categories were also analyzed.
Findings
The papers were classified into seven key domains: Fluid Dynamics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD); Mechanics and Material Science; Electromagnetism and Wave Propagation; Biomedical Engineering and Biophysics; Quantum Mechanics and Physics; Renewable Energy and Power Systems; and Astrophysics and Cosmology. Fluid Dynamics and CFD emerged as the primary focus, accounting for 69.3% of total publications and witnessing exponential growth from 22 papers in 2019 to 366 in 2022. Mechanics and Material Science followed, with an impressive growth trajectory from 3 to 65 papers within the same period. The study also underscored the rising interest in PINNs across diverse fields such as Biomedical Engineering and Biophysics, and Renewable Energy and Power Systems. Furthermore, the focus of the most active countries within each application category was examined, revealing, for instance, the USA’s significant contribution to Fluid Dynamics and CFD with 319 papers and to Mechanics and Material Science with 66 papers.
Originality/value
This analysis illuminates the rapidly expanding role of PINNs in tackling complex scientific problems and highlights its potential for future research across diverse domains.
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Hongyun Tian, Shuja Iqbal, Farooq Anwar, Shamim Akhtar, Muhammad Aamir Shafique Khan and Weijie Wang
This study examines the impact of network embeddedness (NE) on innovation performance in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and analyses absorptive capacity as mediator…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the impact of network embeddedness (NE) on innovation performance in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and analyses absorptive capacity as mediator and openness as moderator.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 209 employees of SMEs using a convenient sampling technique. Partial least squares structural equation modeling in SmartPLS was used to analyze the various constructs.
Findings
The results exhibit a positive and significant relationship in NE and absorptive capacity. Also, this study found a positive and significant relationship in absorptive capacity and innovation performance. Moreover, absorptive capacity has a positive and significant mediation role in the relationship between NE and innovation performance. Also, openness positively moderated the relationship of NE and absorptive capacity.
Practical implications
SMEs should try to implement the functions of NE, such as interaction with other firms in higher frequency, developing trust among all parties, clear alliance among the partners to enhance innovation performance. Similarly, SMEs should focus on absorptive capacity and openness to enrich innovation performance.
Originality/value
This study adds in the current literature of the chosen constructs and empirically contributes the effects in the manufacturing industry of Jiangsu Province, China.