Thabo J. Gopane, Noel T. Moyo and Lesego F. Setaka
Stirred by scant regard for market phases in portfolio performance assessments, the current paper investigates the active versus passive investment strategies under the bull and…
Abstract
Purpose
Stirred by scant regard for market phases in portfolio performance assessments, the current paper investigates the active versus passive investment strategies under the bull and bear market conditions in emerging markets focusing on South Africa as a case study.
Design/methodology/approach
Methodologically, the measures of Jensen's alpha and Treynor index are applied to the monthly returns of 20 funds from January 2010 to June 2022.
Findings
The results are enlightening; though they contradict developed market evidence, they are consistent with emerging market trends. The findings show that actively managed funds outperform the market benchmark and passive investing style under bear and normal market conditions. Passive investment strategy outperforms both market benchmark and actively investing style under bull market conditions.
Practical implications
In the face of improved market efficiency, increased liquidity and recent technological impact, the findings of this study have practical application. The study outcomes should inform and update global investors, especially asset managers interested in emerging markets; however, the limitations of the study should also be considered.
Originality/value
While limited studies consider market conditions when comparing and contrasting the performance of passive versus active investing, such consideration is lacking in emerging markets. The current study corrects this literature imbalance.
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Onsel Gurel Bayrali and Abdinasir Jimale
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, prompting policymakers to navigate complex trade-offs between safeguarding public health and upholding civil liberties…
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, prompting policymakers to navigate complex trade-offs between safeguarding public health and upholding civil liberties. This chapter examines how political systems influenced policy responses during the pandemic, focusing on South Africa, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. Drawing on existing literature and empirical data, we explore the impact of political constraints on COVID-19 policy outcomes, comparing the effectiveness of measures implemented in democratic and authoritarian contexts. Our analysis reveals distinct patterns: while South Africa exhibited stricter precautions, political dynamics in Somalia and Zimbabwe allowed for more aggressive measures despite lower policy effectiveness. We attribute these variations to differences in political accountability, media freedom, and judicial independence. Our findings highlight the critical role of political constraints in shaping pandemic responses and provide insights for future research on crisis governance and policy-making in diverse political contexts.
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Catarina Barata, Vânia Simões and Francisca Soromenho
Obstetric violence is the mistreatment of women in the setting of obstetric care, which includes preconception, medically assisted reproduction, pregnancy, childbirth and…
Abstract
Obstetric violence is the mistreatment of women in the setting of obstetric care, which includes preconception, medically assisted reproduction, pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. Obstetric violence follows and perpetuates the devaluation and subjugation of women in patriarchal societies, where socio-cultural conceptions contribute to a view of the female body as faulty and deviating from the male prototype. These shape the perception that female reproductive processes require technological corrections. The medicalisation of reproductive processes and the mechanisation of a normal life event, with the threat of death and other life-changing consequences, disempower women and objectify the body and its functions.
The entrance of women into the workforce and the specialised fields, feminising care professions, failed to shift this paradigm. Female health workers are trained in the procedures instituted by dominant patriarchal structures, expressing values encoded in the professional culture and the institutions where they work. As women conform to the models they are exposed to during their training, perpetuating corporate hierarchies and practices, they act as agents and perpetrators of obstetric violence. Thus, obstetric violence also constitutes a specific type of violence against women at the hands of other women.
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Senem Yazici, Mehmet Ali Köseoglu and Fevzi Okumus
The purpose of this paper is to mainly investigate what factors drive growth for independent hotel firms on an island.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to mainly investigate what factors drive growth for independent hotel firms on an island.
Design/methodology/approach
Two steps were followed. First, to identify hotels demonstrated significant growth; 92 independent hotels in North Cyprus were analyzed via a self-report questionnaire. Second, key growth factors were examined in five hotels showing the growth over years among the independent hotels via in-depth, semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, and observations.
Findings
The study findings revealed 16 important growth factors for hotels, including active risk taking, education, family history, networks of contacts, other business interests, family investing friends, key employee partners, customer concentration, autonomy, innovativeness, proactiveness, competitive aggressiveness, location, desire to succeed, age of founders, and state support where are strong, weak, and interrelated relationships among these factors. These findings allow factors to be categorized into new groups, namely, strategic and tactical factors. The research findings unveil new factors referred to as “political conflict – pursuing different strategy and opportunities,” importance of second generations affect and entrepreneur’s metacognitive strategies, “informal networking.”
Research limitations/implications
More research should also be undertaken for entrepreneurs or managers who formulate and implement strategies to enter new markets or to tackle turbulent and/or unstable environments.
Practical implications
This study reveals that one factor on its own cannot influence the growth of hotels. Rather, successful growth depends on the entrepreneur’s ability to combine all factors in harmony.
Originality/value
Given that there is limited empirical evidence on the growth of independent hotels on islands, this study made an important attempt to contribute to the entrepreneurship literature in the hospitality management and family business fields via micro-level approaches concerning the factors influencing hotels’ growth on an island. This is one of the first studies presenting and discussing empirical findings on growth factors for small hotels on an island, and brings a new perspective by grouping factors as strategic and tactical factors.
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Shantanu Gupta, Sher Singh Yadav, Sanjay Kumar Kar and Sidhartha Harichandan
Understanding consumer behaviour towards ethanol-blended fuel is crucial for assessing the adoption of alternate fuel vehicles (AFVs). By examining factors influencing purchase…
Abstract
Purpose
Understanding consumer behaviour towards ethanol-blended fuel is crucial for assessing the adoption of alternate fuel vehicles (AFVs). By examining factors influencing purchase decisions, such as cost considerations, environmental concerns and perceptions of vehicle performance, researchers can elucidate patterns of consumer acceptance and identify barriers to widespread adoption.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and stimulus organism response (S-O-R). The current research aims to bridge the gap by focusing on consumers' intention to buy ethanol-blended fuel. Data were collected from 303 survey respondents and analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).
Findings
The study finds that adopting motivation, policy incentives, risk perception and sustainable practices significantly influence the intention to purchase ethanol-blended fuel. Surprisingly, cost perception and infrastructure readiness do not have a significant impact on purchase intention.
Social implications
The study proposes four innovative policy implications to amplify the adoption of ethanol-blended fuel. These policies are (a) flexible fuel vehicle incentive schemes, (b) renewable fuel mandate and certification, (c) ethanol pricing and infrastructure development policy and (d) ethanol urban mobility and public transportation initiatives.
Originality/value
This study provides novel insights into the factors influencing ethanol-blended fuel adoption in India, contributing to the literature on sustainable transportation solutions.