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Volume XIX, Summer, Issue 2(84), 2024
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This study investigates the influence of economic factors in ensuring access to financial services. Financial service accessibility is assessed using metrics such as the number of bank branches and ATMs per 100,000 people, as well as an index derived from these indicators. Drawing from existing literature, a set of economic variables - namely, employment, inflation, gross domestic savings, remittances, bank credit to deposits, and urbanization - are examined using data from 179 countries over eighteen years spanning from 2004 to 2021, with projections extending to 2023. The findings indicate that employment, remittances, bank credit to deposits, and urbanization exert statistically significant effects on access to financial services. These results are robust across alternative definitions of financial access, subsamples categorised by economic development, and exercises addressing endogeneity concerns.
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This paper offers a starting point for reflection on the similarities and differences of the impact on financial markets of the Great Recession of 2008 and of the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 in terms of volatility and correlation risk among the most significant financial indexes in Europe. More precisely, the dataset employed includes the daily returns of Ftse100, CaC40, Dax30 and FtseMib40, with reference to the two time periods in which the two major crises manifested their effects on the markets. We use two different methodological approaches: the analysis of the daily conditional variance using various families of GARCH models and the study of the weekly realized volatility using HAR models. Furthermore, the estimation of the dependence structure of the GARCH residuals using copula functions is performed.
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Machine learning algorithms, and economic interpretation, integrated with survival analysis, are used to examine the temporal dynamics associated with achieving a 5% increase in purchasing power parity-adjusted GDP per capita over a period of 120 months (2013-2022). The comparative investigation reveals that DeepSurv effectively captures non-linear interactions, though standard models exhibit comparable performance under certain conditions. The weight matrix evaluates the economic implications of vulnerabilities, risks, and capacities. To meet the GDP per capita objective, the findings emphasize the necessity of a balanced approach to risk-taking, strategic vulnerability reduction, and investment in governmental capacities and social cohesiveness. The policy guidelines advocate for individualized approaches that account for the complex dynamics at play in decision-making processes.
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The dynamics of imports in Central and Eastern European countries are closely related to foreign direct investment and government policies. By reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers to imports and promoting trade and investment liberalization, governments can attract foreign capital and diversify the range of products and services available in the host economy. This interconnection between imports and foreign direct investment can have a positive impact on economic development and global integration, depending on national strategies and policies. The article examines the dynamics of imports in Central and Eastern European countries in relation to foreign direct investment and government policies and aims to identify trends, import differences, and adjustments made by each country to improve their economic development. The research highlights the ongoing evolution of international trade in the region and advocates for a strategic approach to trade and economic policy for economic expansion and resilience to external shocks.
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The present study investigates the impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) on firms' profitability in the Indian setting on a sample of 23 firms. The bootstrap corrected fixed effects estimation and inference in the dynamic panel method is employed to investigate the relationship. The dynamic panel results show that the relationship between ESG score and firms' profitability is inconclusive in the short run. However, governance conditions affect firms' investment decisions and the nexus between ESG and firm financial performance in the long run. Therefore, institutional reforms are warranted to stabilise property rights and check parent-client politics for the long-run effects of sustainable environmental governance on firms' profitability.
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This paper examines the relationships among selected macro-economic variables such as GDP, GCI, GCNI, SSI, CDI, CPI, and HDI from 2001 to 2022. Utilizing multiple regression analysis, the ARIMA model, co-integration, and causality techniques, the research finds a decreasing trend in economic growth over the coming years. There is a long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables, along with short-run uni-directional relationships among a few variables. The forecasted values of these macroeconomic variables, projected from the base year 2018 up to 2025, indicate that while economic growth (GDP) gradually declines, the other variables show a slow but not significant increase. This suggests that adverse economic growth may hinder the remarkable performance of other variables.
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This paper examines the potential risks that may occur when designing and implementing innovative products’ authenticity safeguards based on quick response (QR) codes. The study identified ten key risks, which were then analyzed in two dimensions: the probability of their occurrence and the strength of their impact, should they occur. Using the matrix-based method, risks were visualized on an intensity scale in both dimensions and with adequate color notation. Subsequently, the identified risks were grouped thematically. This enabled the identification of four key areas containing the identified risks, namely: competition, external websites, technological integration and risks dependent on internal factors. After aggregating individual risk levels, for each key area the average risk level was calculated. The first three areas were characterized by an average low level of risk, while the area related to risks dependent on internal factors was characterized by an average medium level of risk. The study’s systematic approach to identify and evaluate risks related to the execution of QR code-based authenticity safeguards project can be applied by businesses to similar projects, as it enables scientific-based risk identification and management, and consideration of strategies to mitigate the potential issues, ensuring smoother project execution and more reliable product performance.
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This study was conducted in the context of the rapid growth of e-commerce, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic, when online shopping became a popular trend among young people. As students increasingly become a potential customer group, businesses need to understand the factors influencing their purchasing behaviour to develop effective marketing strategies. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of promotional programs and other factors on the purchasing behaviour of students on e-commerce platforms in key areas of Southern Vietnam, helping businesses gain a better understanding of the psychology and shopping habits of this demographic. To carry out the research, the research team conducted a survey and analysis based on 495 carefully selected, most relevant questionnaires. The study utilised both quantitative and qualitative methods. The impact of promotional programs and other factors on students' online purchasing behaviour was then assessed using SmartPLS 4 software. The results show that promotional programs (Buy 1 Get 1 Free, Free Samples, Discount Vouchers), along with factors such as Price, Emotional Value, Usefulness, Risk, and Ease of Use, significantly affect students' purchasing behaviour. This research provides an overview of students' online shopping behaviour in key areas of Southern Vietnam, offering managerial implications to improve marketing strategies for online businesses in Vietnam.
