Muhammad Abubakar Siddique, Mirajul Haq and Memoona Rahim
Since 2004, Pakistan carried the banking sector under the umbrella of the Islamic financial paradigm, consequently the Islamic Banking Industry (IBI) placed an upright position in…
Abstract
Purpose
Since 2004, Pakistan carried the banking sector under the umbrella of the Islamic financial paradigm, consequently the Islamic Banking Industry (IBI) placed an upright position in the banking and financial market of Pakistan. In this context, this study aims to analyze the effect of Shariah-compliant products of the IBI on the pace of economic growth in Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The data set covered 13 Pakistani Islamic banks comprising four full-fledged Islamic banks and 9 conventional banks holdings standalone Islamic Branches, for the period 2004–2019. Considering nature of the empirical model and data set, the estimation was carried out with the Pooled Ordinary least squares estimation technique.
Findings
The findings of the study reveal that Shariah-compliant products have a positive effect on the pace of economic growth. This indication is based on the fact that five out of six Shariah-compliant products hold positive signs and are statistically significant. In addition, the empirical evidence shows that at large conventional financial sector signifies its role in the Shariah-compliant products and pace of economic growth nexus. Among the control variables, foreign direct investment, human capital, trade openness, inflation and private credit pose negative, whereas money supply and stock market capitalization have a positive effect on the pace of economic growth in Pakistan. Findings of the study points towards the fact that Shariah-compliant financing has great potential to enhance the economic growth of Pakistan therefore to touch the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Practical implications
Having played a significant role in the growth process, Islamic bankers should portray a positive image of their industry to the government authorities. The government should design a public policy to encourage Islamic modes of finance at a macro level to increase the pace of economic growth and therefore SDGs realization.
Originality/value
Findings of the study present new insight into the application of Shariah-compliant products of IBI toward the realization of SDGs in case of Pakistan.
Details
Keywords
Mirajul Haq, Karim Khan and Rashida Saddique
The purpose of this study is to determine whether the ethical attributes of workers or firms affect firms’ productivity or not. There is growing literature that establishes the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to determine whether the ethical attributes of workers or firms affect firms’ productivity or not. There is growing literature that establishes the fact that human capital attributes such as education, skill and experience matter for productivity growth.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors develop a simple theoretical model where we incorporate the ethical attributes of workers. To support our hypothesis, the authors test that model empirically by using the data of 83 handicrafts firms from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.
Findings
The empirical findings of this study substantiate the hypothesis that besides the traditional factors, the workers’ or the firms’ ethical attributes also increase firms’ productivity.
Originality/value
The study is based on cross-sectional data and is entirely original in its purpose.