Purpose Farmers’ decisions to take up agricultural insurance are often shaped by deep-seated psychological and cognitive processes rather than purely economic considerations. This manuscript addresses an important gap in the literature by examining both farmers’ decisions to adopt agricultural insurance and the extent of their participation in insurance programs. Design/methodology/approach This study uses data from a nationally representative survey conducted in Senegal in 2017, covering 1,200 rural households engaged in dry cereal production. It employs an econometric framework that integrates logit, ordered logit and Heckman selection models to assess the influence of key determinants on insurance uptake. These include awareness of insurance products, trust in insurance providers, financial constraints, perceptions of climate-related risks and participation in cooperatives or agricultural extension services. Findings Agricultural insurance adoption remains relatively limited, with only approximately 30% of surveyed farmers subscribing to an insurance scheme. The findings indicate that awareness, educational attainment and access to credit constitute the primary drivers of insurance adoption. In addition, trust in insurers and prior exposure to climatic shocks significantly increases the likelihood of subscription. With respect to the level of coverage proxied by the insured amount in CFA francs, the highest elasticities are associated with farm size (+0.397 per logarithmic hectare), agricultural income (+0.034 per thousand CFA francs) and cooperative membership (+8.45). These findings underscore the complementary roles of financial capacity, institutional support and behavioural factors in influencing both farmers’ decisions to adopt agricultural insurance and the level of coverage they choose. Practical implications Targeted policy interventions, such as rural radio campaigns, tax incentives and strengthened extension services, could potentially double the adoption rate (currently around 30%) while enhancing farmers’ resilience to climate-related risks in Senegal. Originality/value This study contributes to the agricultural insurance literature by proposing a multidimensional modelling framework that simultaneously examines insurance adoption and the intensity of participation. By integrating behavioural, socioeconomic and institutional determinants within a unified analytical framework, it complements the extant literature by examining drivers of farmers’ decisions to adopt agricultural insurance.
Purpose This study investigates the determinants of impulsive buying behaviour (IBB) in India's fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector through an integrative framework. Design/methodology/approach This study employed partial least squares structural equation modelling technique for data analysis. Analysing responses from 506 Indian consumers, using Hawkins Stern theory, we identify 6 key drivers: visual displays, utilitarian motivation, promotional strategies, product variety, pricing and self-service formats. Findings By extending the Hawkins Stern framework in IBB contexts, findings reveal that while all factors significantly influence impulsive purchases, utilitarian motivation emerges as the strongest driver, with product variety showing an unexpected negative correlation. Research limitations/implications This research offers valuable strategic implications for FMCG firms to optimise store layouts, enhance promotions and improve competitive positioning. Practical implications The study also provides policymakers with insights to balance economic growth with sustainable consumption patterns in India's evolving retail landscape. It is particularly relevant given the sector's projected growth and the increasing importance of understanding localised consumer behaviour in emerging markets. Originality/value This study provides novel insights into relevant literature by validating the negative correlation between product variety and IBB.
Purpose This research paper explores the relationship of financial inclusion and socio-economic welfare among the Marginalized populations in India, that is below poverty line (BPL) households. It identifies the important demand-side determinants of inclusion and establishes their impact on the welfare of households. Design/methodology/approach A structured survey was conducted among 400 BPL households. The links between the constructs were examined using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed to ensure the reliability and validity of the measurement model. Findings The study identifies five key demand-side dimensions of financial inclusion: physical proximity, availability, affordability, usage and accessibility. Among them, a strong positive influence on the financial inclusion was observed on affordability, physical proximity, and usage. However, it was not correlated with the access significantly, which indicates that mere physical presence does not translate into meaningful Financial Inclusion. On its part, financial inclusion has a positive effect on socio-economic welfare. Practical implications The implications of the findings are that the policy initiatives cannot be viewed as a provider of services but rather enhance the affordability, accessibility and the active use of financial services to establish meaningful inclusiveness of the Marginalized groups. Originality/value This study advances the financial inclusion discourse by developing and empirically validating a multidimensional (usage, affordability, accessibility, physical proximity, availability), framework and linking it to both social and economic well-being among Marginalized BPL households using primary data. The analysis of demand-side determinants combined with household welfare outcomes provides richer and more nuanced insights and evidence-based action to implement more inclusive and effective financial policies in India.
Purpose We examine how human capital agglomeration and urbanisation jointly shape housing price dynamics in China. We aim to disentangle their distinct mechanisms and assess whether the effects of human capital concentration are consistent across different market segments. Design/methodology/approach Using balanced panel data from 31 Chinese provinces between 2002 and 2021, this study applies quantile regression techniques to capture the heterogeneous effects of human capital agglomeration and urbanisation across the housing price distribution. Findings The results reveal that human capital agglomeration significantly increases housing prices in lower-to-middle quantiles, reflecting agglomeration externalities and productivity gains in moderately priced markets. However, its influence weakens in the upper quantiles, where rapid urbanisation and congestion externalities dilute these benefits. Conversely, urbanisation exerts negligible effects at the lower end but increasingly negative impacts in high-priced regions, suggesting the presence of urban diseconomies and inefficiencies in spatial allocation. Research limitations/implications The findings underscore the need for differentiated and integrated policies aligning human capital clustering with balanced urban planning. Coordinating these dimensions can mitigate urbanisation-induced diseconomies and support more sustainable growth of the housing market. Originality/value By differentiating human capital agglomeration and urbanisation within a spatial equilibrium framework, this study identifies their distinct heterogeneous effects across the housing price distribution. Using a quantile regression approach, it reveals that the influences of human capital agglomeration and urbanisation are not constant but vary systematically across low, medium, and high price segments, thereby providing new distributional evidence on the driving forces of China's housing market heterogeneity.
Purpose This paper analyses the effect of renewable energy (RE) consumption on multidimensional poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa.Design/methodology/approach The finite mixture model (FMM), which accounts for the specificities of each country in terms of multidimensional poverty and RE consumption by classifying them into regimes, is used on data in 37 Sub-Saharan African countries over the period 2000-2021.Findings The results show that RE consumption reduces multidimensional poverty in countries in regimes 1 and 3, while it exacerbates multidimensional poverty in countries in regime 2. This unexpected effect in regime 2 countries is explained by the high cost of energy in this group of nations.Practical implications These findings suggest the adoption of differentiated energy policies. For countries where increased RE consumption reduces poverty (regimes 1 and 3), the focus should be on infrastructure investment and expanding energy access. Conversely, for countries where RE can exacerbate poverty (regime 2), policies must prioritize cost management, energy efficiency and ensure that energy directly benefits the most vulnerable populations.Originality/value The effect of renewable energy consumption on multidimensional poverty has received little or no attention in the economic literature. This article fills the gap in the economic literature by analyzing this in Sub-Saharan African countries.
Purpose Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the epicenter of inequalities in human development. This paper investigates the effect of women political empowerment (WPE), a potential but underexplored determinant, on inequalities in human development in this region.Design/methodology/approach The data used for the analyses come from 37 SSA countries over the period 2012-2022. Generalized least squares, two-stage least squares and quantiles via moments regressions are used for the empirical appraisal.Findings The finding reveals that woman political empowerment narrows inequality in human development (IHD). This narrowing effect is greater in lower inequality countries and lower in countries with a higher inequality. Likewise, all three dimensions of WPE reduce IHD. However, civil society is the dimension with the greatest potential for reducing inequalities in human development, followed by civil liberties and political participation.Practical implications The results of the research imply that sub-Saharan countries must pursue efforts to improve WPE in order to reduce inequalities in human development.Originality/value Despite the persistence of inequalities in human development in SSA, less attention has been paid to its determinants. More attention has been paid to the determinants of income inequality, ignoring a no less important part of inequalities: those linked to health and education. This approach does not provide a global view of inequalities. This paper adds news insights by investigating the heterogeneous effect of WPE on inequalities in human development.
Purpose This study investigated socioeconomic inequalities in caesarean section rates among Brazilian women from 2000 to 2021, in a context where Brazil’s high caesarean rate may indicate both overuse among privileged groups and limited access for disadvantaged women when the procedure is clinically necessary. We quantified inequality over time using concentration indices, decomposed these inequalities into their main contributing factors and examined regional heterogeneity across areas with distinct levels of economic development. Design/methodology/approach Socioeconomic inequality was measured using concentration indices, followed by a decomposition analysis to identify the factors that contribute to the observed inequality. A heterogeneity assessment was also conducted across Brazil’s regions, which have distinct levels of economic development. Findings Results show a favourable concentration pattern for women with higher education levels, both in Brazil and its regions. However, despite the correction used, there is a reduction in socioeconomic inequalities in caesarean section. The Northeast and South regions had the greatest socioeconomic inequalities at the beginning of the period. The decomposition of inequalities indicated that schooling, number of pregnancies, maternal age, and number of prenatal consultations were the main contributing factors. Originality/value To the best of our knowledge, this is the first national-level study in Brazil to assess socioeconomic inequalities in using caesarean sections through concentration indices and decomposition methods. This study provides robust evidence to support the development of public policies aimed at reducing prevalence and socioeconomic disparities by clarifying the magnitude of the problem and its underlying drivers.
Purpose This study explores the relationship between buy now, pay later (BNPL) services and emerging adults' financial well-being (FWB), with a specific focus on the mediating roles of materialism and financial behaviour. Design/methodology/approach Data from 403 emerging adults were collected, applying the purposive sampling method. Using the data, the direct and mediated effects are examined using the structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings The results of the study reveal that BNPL use does not directly influence the FWB of emerging adults. Instead, materialism and financial behaviour fully mediate this relationship, highlighting their roles in shaping the FWB of emerging adults. Research limitations/implications The study contributes substantially to the existing literature by underscoring the pivotal roles of materialism and financial behaviour in elucidating the impact of BNPL on the FWB of emerging adults. Practical implications The study provides actionable insights for marketers to tailor BNPL services and policies to this demographic and extend BNPL services to financially vulnerable individuals, potentially mitigating the debt trap associated with high-interest financial sources. Originality/value Despite the widespread acceptance of BNPL among emerging adults, there is a notable gap in research examining its impact on FWB. Therefore, this research aims to address this gap directly and indirectly through mediators.
Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship between electricity access and digital technology usage in rural Ghana. It explores how gender and geographic location mediate the association between energy access and the likelihood of using mobile phones and computers. Design/methodology/approach Using data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey Round 7, we estimate probit regression models to examine how electricity access and other socioeconomic variables correlate with digital technology usage. The analysis is disaggregated by gender and location (rural vs. urban) to reveal intersectional patterns. Findings Results indicate a strong positive association between electricity access and digital technology usage, with the effect more pronounced in rural settings. However, this relationship varies by gender and location, revealing compounded digital disadvantages among rural women. Research limitations/implications The cross-sectional nature of the data limits causal inference. Future research should incorporate longitudinal and qualitative data to explore how digital adoption evolves over time and across different household dynamics. Practical implications The findings support the Information and Communication Technology for Development framework, showing that electricity access is necessary but insufficient for inclusive digital adoption. Policy efforts must therefore combine infrastructure provision with gender-responsive digital literacy initiatives and affordability interventions to promote equitable technology use. Originality/value This study contributes novel insights into the intersection of energy poverty, gender and digital inequality in rural Ghana. It offers disaggregated empirical evidence that can inform more targeted and equitable digital and energy access policies in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Purpose The study examines the impact of E-government (EGDI) and its dimensions of telecommunication Infrastructure development (TII), human capital development (HCI), E-Participation (EPI) and online service delivery (OSI) on countries' financial stability, measured by Z-Score (ZSC).Design/methodology/approach The study uses a sample of 126 countries for an 11-year period within 2003-2022. Using the two-way fixed effect regression with various robust analysis tests.Findings The study finds that EGDI, TII and HCI reduce the probability of default in a country's commercial banking system, thereby improving financial stability. However, the study found no evidence that EPI and OSI affect the countries' financial stability.Practical implications The finding that EGDI, TII and HCI improve financial stability underscores the need for greater investment in these digital elements to sustain their positive impact. However, the absence of evidence that OSI and EPI affect financial stability underscores the need for countries to prioritize, improve, and urgently invest in these elements to enhance financial stability.Originality/value This study contributes to existing literature by examining the dimensions of electronic government and its impact on financial stability. This area has received less attention in research globally.
Purpose This article examines the role of microfinance banks (MFBs) in promoting women's economic empowerment from income and non-income dimensions. Design/methodology/approach For the non-income dimension of economic empowerment, an index was created using control over resources, contribution to household expenditure and financial decision-making ability. Adopting a multi-stage sampling technique, a structured questionnaire was used to gather data on microfinance and women's economic empowerment variables from 400 women clients of 29 MFBs in Kwara State, Nigeria, which were analyzed using standard and Generalized Ordered Logit Regressions. Findings Results reveal that loan, savings, length of banking and training wield positive and statistically significant influence on the income dimension, while savings, training, insurance and loan frequency exert a significant influence on the non-income dimension. Training is, however, revealed to be the most effective tool, while insurance is the least effective, as it wields a negative effect in both models. Further findings from the robustness test further confirm that the effect of MFB variables on economic empowerment is heterogeneous, differing significantly in magnitude and direction across various thresholds of both dimensions. Originality/value This research is novel as it approaches economic empowerment from both income and non-income dimensions. This contributes to knowledge by providing an in-depth analysis of women's economic empowerment beyond income to the core, practical and pressing issues of financial control, economic decision-making and economic participation. This study also advances literature by disaggregating the effects of microfinance across different empowerment thresholds. By disaggregating the analysis, it unearths heterogeneous effects of microfinance on women's income and non-income economic empowerment outcomes. This explains the inconsistencies in literature, as the impact of microfinance varies depending on the dimension and level of empowerment under consideration.
Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the dependence on food imports by many Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, highlighting a structural weakness and the crucial role of international trade in addressing food insecurity in these regions. Given the region’s climate sensitivity, limited infrastructure, and political instability, the study empirically investigates how agricultural trade openness influences food security in SSA. Design/methodology/approach The study employs the generalized method of moments (GMM) technique to examine the effect of agricultural trade openness on food security across 41 SSA countries from 2001 to 2021. The analysis captures both food and non-food agricultural trade openness to assess their distinct impacts on food security indicators such as the prevalence of undernourishment and average protein supply. Findings The results reveal that agricultural trade openness significantly reduces undernourishment and increases average protein supply, indicating a positive relationship between trade liberalization and food security in SSA. The findings suggest that enhanced agricultural trade, both in food and non-food agricultural products, can improve food availability and access in the region. Originality/value The study contributes to the literature by providing comprehensive evidence from SSA on how disaggregated agricultural trade (food v and non-food) affects food security, addressing the inconsistency in previous findings. It offers policy-relevant insights by recommending reduced trade restrictions on food imports in the short term and promoting the export of non-food agricultural products to generate foreign exchange for sustainable improvement in food security.
Purpose - This study is grounded within an investigation on understanding the impact of Millennial's parenting Generation Alpha (MPGA) on their work productivity (WP), considering the mediating impact of parental burnout (PB) and work-family conflict (WFC) and the moderating impact of the technology adoption model. Further, the moderated mediator roles of societal expectation (SE) and perceived organizational support (POS) are assessed in the proposed framework. Design/methodology/approach - The proposed conceptual framework is tested through a mediation, moderation and moderated mediation analysis (SmartPLS 4.1) of data collected from 434 Indian dual-income Millennial parents within the time frame of March to June 2025. Findings - The research findings indicate that in the presence of PB as a mediator supported by SE as a moderated mediator, a stronger relationship is established between MPGA and WP (beta = -0.076) in comparison to the mediating effect of WFC on MPGA and WP (beta = -0.044). Practical implications - The empirical insights of the study can substantiate key contributions for human resource professionals, organizational leaders and policymakers, suggesting to design targeted interventions such as flexible work arrangements, parenting-supportive technologies and inclusive workplace cultures that can effectively balance active parenting responsibilities with professional demands. Originality/value - The novelty of the study lies in laying the foundation for analysing the impact of MPGA on WP, addressing the compounded impact of PB and WFC. While prior research has explored work-life balance and generational traits separately, this study uniquely investigates their intersection, highlighting how raising digital-native Gen Alpha children influences Millennials' professional performance.
PurposeThis study aims to identify the key determinants of domestic violence in T & uuml;rkiye by focusing on women's decision-making autonomy, fertility status and their partners' alcohol consumption. The research provides new insights into the complex dynamics of domestic violence using a machine learning approach.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies decision tree analysis to nationally representative data from the Turkish National Research on Domestic Violence against Women surveys conducted in 2008 and 2014. The main variables include women's autonomy, education level, partners' alcohol use and the incidence of domestic violence.FindingsResults reveal that women's autonomy and fertility are critical determinants of domestic violence. A non-linear relationship exists between autonomy and violence: mothers require higher levels of autonomy to avoid violence, whereas for childless women, low autonomy combined with a husband's frequent alcohol consumption significantly increases the risk of abuse.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to apply decision tree analysis to domestic violence data from T & uuml;rkiye, offering a novel, data-driven framework for understanding the interplay between women's autonomy, male alcohol use and the risk of violence. The findings provide valuable implications for policymakers and researchers focused on violence prevention and women's empowerment.
PurposeThe main aim of the study is to investigate the role of resource endowment in the relationship between income inequality and conflict in SSA. The study aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 10 (reduced inequality) and SDG 16 (promoting peaceful and inclusive societies).Design/methodology/approachThe study employs the Driscoll-Kraay cross-sectional and spatial-consistent covariance matrix estimator to account for all forms of dependence.FindingsThe study finds that conflicts are exacerbated by income disparity, especially in nations with abundant natural resources. Further, the findings indicate that education, domestic investment and government quality are significant pathways for conflict transmission. According to the study, there will be less conflict in more stable regimes. According to the study's findings, the efficient and fair allocation of natural and financial resources in resource-rich SSA economies may help mitigate regional conflicts and income inequality. The research and policy implications are discussed.Originality/valueThe study uncovers the role of natural resources in the income inequality-conflicts nexus in SSA.
PurposeThis study aims to identify the key socio-cultural barriers and enabling factors influencing Afghanistan's economic development and to explain how these shape its developmental trajectory.Design/methodology/approachAdopting an interpretive paradigm and qualitative approach, the research employs grounded theory to construct a context-based theoretical model. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 24 Afghan experts in cultural, social and economic fields. Purposive sampling continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Data analysis followed open, axial and selective coding stages. To enhance trustworthiness, eight validation strategies proposed by Creswell and Miller were applied.FindingsThe coding process produced 276 initial concepts, 38 subcategories and 10 main categories, organized within a paradigmatic model. Causal conditions included discursive and cognitive deficiency, cultural and ideological blockage and poverty in productive culture. Contextual conditions were traditional structures resistant to development and the reproduction of poverty. Intervening conditions included the collapse of social cohesion and externally imposed development. Strategies identified were discourse construction, cultural institutionalization of development and use of indigenous capacities. The main consequence was a gradual shift toward acceptance of economic development. The core phenomenon is the cultural-contextual rootlessness of economic development processes and the need for localized approaches.Research limitations/implicationsFindings are context-specific; future research could test the emerging propositions in other settings.Practical implicationsEffective development policies in Afghanistan must be grounded in local socio-cultural realities, balancing tradition with modernity and encouraging local ownership.Social implicationsThis study provides a grounded model highlighting the cultural embeddedness of economic development in fragile and traditional contexts.Originality/valueThis study develops a grounded theory model explaining the socio-cultural conditions of economic development in Afghanistan, highlighting the need for context-specific and culturally grounded approaches.
PurposeThis paper employs yearly data from 1965 to 2022 to examine carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), real GDP (Y), GDP per capita (Y2), energy use (EU) and economic policy uncertainty (EPU) in Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.Design/methodology/approachThe constraint test for the autoregressive distributed lag model evaluates the sufficiency of both short- and long-term fitness.FindingsThe findings indicate a positive correlation between the EU and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Australia, China, South Korea and Japan during a limited time. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that only Japan and New Zealand exhibit a positive link between energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions over an extended period. The link between GDP and GDP per capita and CO2 emissions varies across various nations.Originality/valueThe study provides country-specific evidence on the relationship between economic policy uncertainty and CO2 emissions in the Asia-Pacific region. The results indicate that the effects of economic policy uncertainty on emissions are heterogeneous across countries, with no uniform short-run or long-run pattern. These findings highlight the importance of context-specific environmental and economic policies rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.
PurposeRapid industrialization has aggravated environmental issues in both developed and developing countries. This study examines how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mediates the relation between the Green Intellectual Capital (green human, structural, and relational capital) and the Environmental Performance (EP) in the face of rising industrialization in the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Pakistani region.Design/methodology/approachPurposive sampling was used to collect data through 450 questionnaires of employees (supervisor, and manager of SMEs), of which 385 were returned and analyzed. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the relationships among GIC, CSR, and EP.FindingsThe three dimensions of GIC have a positive effect on EP. Besides, CSR influences EP positively as well. The findings indicate that GIC dimensions have a positive influence on CSR engagement, which mediates the connection between GIC and EP. The Natural Resource-Based View (NRBV) theory supports these findings.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings could be applied to improve the EP of Pakistani SMEs by incorporating them within the strategies and operations of their organizations. The study also recommends that investigations in this field should be conducted in the future and that a theoretical and practical framework should be established.Originality/valueThe present study is the first to examine the mediating role of CSR on the association between GIC dimensions and EP in SMEs in Pakistan.
PurposeThis study aims to explore the key bottlenecks and emerging opportunities influencing the performance of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Pakistan. It evaluates how these factors collectively impact institutional profitability, financial inclusion and poverty alleviation outcomes.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was adopted using thematic analysis of primary and secondary data collected from multiple MFI stakeholders across Pakistan. Fourteen major bottlenecks and an equal number of opportunities were identified, categorized and analysed to understand their implications on the operational, managerial and financial dimensions of MFIs.FindingsThis study employs a qualitative research design based on in-depth interviews with key stakeholders from MFIs, regulators and industry experts in Pakistan. Using thematic analysis, 14 major bottlenecks and 14 corresponding opportunities affecting MFI performance were identified. The results show that MFIs face challenges such as mono-product dependency, moral hazard, managerial capacity gaps and technological obsolescence, which limit financial outreach and sustainability. Conversely, a supportive regulatory environment, donor engagement, flexible lending mechanisms and fintech integration present significant opportunities for performance enhancement.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the microfinance literature by systematically mapping the dual dimensions of constraints and prospects faced by Pakistani MFIs. It provides actionable insights for regulators, practitioners and development partners seeking to enhance the resilience and sustainability of the sector within developing economies.
Purpose The study examined the effect of audit engagement partner’s identity disclosure (EPID) on financial accounting information quality and further explored the complementary effect of EPID and board gender diversity on financial accounting information quality. Design/methodology/approach Data for the study were obtained from the audited annual reports of microfinance companies operating in Ghana for the period 2009–2023. Earnings management indicator represented financial accounting information quality. For result estimation, multiple panel estimation techniques were employed. Findings The results show that earnings management (i.e. the indicator for financial accounting information quality) responds inversely to the disclosure of audit engagement partner’s identity, but this inverse effect gets amplified/pronounced in the presence of increasing board gender diversity. Practical implications Financial accounting information quality in firms in developing economies like Ghana can be ensured if engagement partners are made to reveal their identity as a tool for accountability and transparency. But more importantly, firms should ensure their boards are more gender inclusive or balanced if the quality of financial reports is to be highly amplified. Originality/value The study confirms that firms in developing economies/markets like Ghana can benefit from the accountability and transparency tool of audit engagement partner identity disclosure and that firms could maximize the effect of this accountability tool by ensuring board gender diversity.
