.jpg)
Volume II, Issue 2(4), 2026
-
This study examines how supply chain embeddedness may contribute to SME survival in Botswana, focusing on the mechanisms through which network participation generates survival-enhancing capabilities and on when and to what extent SMEs engage in supply chain integration. Grounded in Network Theory, the study adopts a qualitative phenomenological design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 SME owners and managers, supply chain professionals, and business incubators in Botswana, with data analysed thematically.
The findings identify seven mechanisms through which supply chain embeddedness may support SME survival: market access and expansion; collaboration and partnerships; technology and innovation; risk management and resilience; financial stability and investment access; operational efficiency and performance; and sustainability and ethical practices. However, supply chain integration remains insufficiently emphasized and relatively slow among SMEs. The findings suggest that earlier and more deliberate network engagement may strengthen SMEs’ ability to access relational resources and develop survival-enhancing capabilities.
The study develops a survival-oriented analytical framework and extends Network Theory by identifying the timing and strategic emphasis placed on network embeddedness as important conditions shaping SMEs’ access to and benefits from network resources in a developing-economy context.
© The Author(s) 2026. Published by RITHA Publishing. This article is distributed under the terms of the license CC-BY 4.0., which permits any further distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited maintaining attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and URL DOI.
Article’s history: Received 21st of June, 2026; Revised 31st of July, 2026; Accepted for publication 19th of August, 2026; Available online: 23rd of August, 2026; Published as research article in Volume II, Issue 2(4), 2026.
-
This paper examines the political-economy mechanisms through which refined-petroleum import dependence has persisted in Nigeria despite substantial domestic crude-oil production, and how a specific configuration of regulatory reform, market-pricing mechanisms, and public-private coordination may have enabled the emergence of large-scale private domestic refining capacity. Employing a theory-developing case-study design that combines process tracing and comparative plausibility probes, the paper introduces the concept of the downstream resource curse, a self-reinforcing equilibrium in which petroleum-import dependency generates import-licensing, fuel-subsidy, and foreign-exchange rents whose beneficiaries resist domestic refining investment. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery ($19 billion; 650,000 barrels per day) is analysed as an important deviant case. Two external disruption episodes, Strait of Hormuz disruptions and the COVID-19 supply-chain crisis, are used as illustrative stress-tests. Plausibility probes are conducted for Angola, Ghana, and Kenya.
The paper proposes a five-element energy sovereignty policy framework linking theoretical mechanisms to governance prescriptions. The findings suggest that domestic refining capacity may contribute to macroeconomic resilience by reducing foreign-exchange exposure and supply-chain vulnerability, with implications for energy-governance reform across African petroleum economies.
© The Author(s) 2026. Published by RITHA Publishing. This article is distributed under the terms of the license CC-BY 4.0., which permits any further distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited maintaining attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and URL DOI.
Article’s history: Received 24th of June, 2026; Revised 2nd of August, 2026; Accepted for publication 19th of August, 2026; Available online: 24th of August, 2026; Published as research article in Volume II, Issue 2(4), 2026.
-
This study examines dynamic integration, predictive precedence, long-run co-movement, and volatility dependence between the Indian stock market and nine major global and regional markets over 1991–2023. Using 8,318 synchronized daily observations, the analysis combines correlation, Granger predictive-precedence tests, Johansen cointegration, generalized method of moments (GMM), and DCC-GARCH(1,1).
The results show positive unconditional correlations and significant positive DCC trends across all market pairs. Granger tests indicate bidirectional predictive precedence between India and Australia, Belgium, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the United States; France and Germany precede India, whereas India precedes Indonesia. Johansen tests identify two cointegrating relations, indicating long-run common stochastic trends. GMM estimates reveal significant positive conditional associations with seven markets, while Germany and the United States are statistically insignificant. DCC-GARCH estimates further indicate highly persistent conditional dependence. Overall, the findings demonstrate multidimensional integration between India and international equity markets, suggesting more limited diversification benefits over the long run and supporting cross-border surveillance and systemic-risk monitoring.
© The Author(s) 2026. Published by RITHA Publishing. This article is distributed under the terms of the license CC-BY 4.0., which permits any further distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited maintaining attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and URL DOI.
Article’s History: Received 26th of June, 2026; Revised 6th of August, 2026; Accepted for publication 23rd of August, 2026; Available online: 28th of August, 2026; Published as research article in Volume II, Issue 2(4), 2026.
