bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Examining the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and digital financial service usage among Pakistani SMEs
Authors: Mahmood Salman , Wen Shuhui , Aslam Shoaib , Khan Muhammad Rizwan , Rehman Fahad Ur 
Published: November 2023

PurposeThis research aimed to find out both direct and mediating relationships between the fear of COVID-19 (FC) and the usage of digital financial services (UDFS) via mediator financial anxiety (FA). It also attempted to ascertain the moderated effect of education of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners (ESO), i.e. business degree holders (BDH) vs nonbusiness degree holders (NBDH), in the relationship between FC and the UDFS.Design/methodology/approachThis research employed a simple random sampling technique. In total, 387 complete responses were collected from Pakistani SMEs. The complete analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 23, AMOS 24, Process Marco 4.1, and Interaction 1.7.FindingsAccording to the findings, FC leads to UDFS and FA mediates this relationship. Additionally, the findings show that the ESO between FC and UDFS was moderated. However, conditional analysis shows that BDH-SME owners strengthened the moderated relationship between FC and UDFS compared to NBDH-SME owners, who did not show any relationship.Research limitations/implicationsPolicymakers might use the study's findings to promote business education, which has been recognized as essential for making sound financial decisions. Finally, because the study is cross-sectional, the authors are unable to draw definitive generalizations.Originality/valueThe key novelty of this research work lies in the inclusion of FA as a mediator and the education of SME owners as a moderator in understanding the relationship between FC and the UDFS. This study illuminated the positive aspects of the COVID-19 epidemic based on the theory of emotional finance, risk avoidance theory and theories of emotion.
Does the pharmaceutical industry’s growth relate to Bangladesh’s macroeconomic stability?
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Rifat , Rahman Md. Mufidur , Subat Athkia , Tarin Tanzika Imam 
Published: November 2023

PurposeThis study empirically aims to examine the relationship between Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry growth and macroeconomic indicators such as the inflation rate, gross domestic product (GDP) growth, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, exchange rate and export growth through the long- and short-run relationship.Design/methodology/approachUsing the time series data from 1986 to 2020, this study was developed based on the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) framework for co-integration. In contrast, the Toda–Yamamoto Granger Causality approach was also used for finding the direction of causality.FindingsThis study used the ARDL bounds test, which found strong co-integration among the variables, indicating a long-term relationship between them. In the long run, inflation, exchange rate and export growth significantly positively influence the pharmaceutical industry’s growth. Surprisingly, an FDI inflow has a negative impact. In the short term, the exchange rate and GDP growth were found to influence the growth of the pharmaceutical industry positively. Bidirectional causality between the growth of the pharmaceutical industry and the exchange rate was also identified using the Granger causality approach.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper emphasizes developing the policy as well as making concrete decisions regarding the development of the pharmaceutical industry and economic development in Bangladesh. The results also highlight the necessity for strategic macroeconomic management to support this sector’s long-term development and global competitiveness.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is conducted to identify the short- and long-run relationship of pharmaceutical industry development with the economic indicators and progress, where no study has been found on this dimension.
The roles and interplay of enforcers and auditors in the context of accounting fraud: a review of the accounting literature
Authors: Campa Domenico , Quagli Alberto , Ramassa Paola 
Published: November 2023

PurposeThis study reviews and discusses the accounting literature that analyzes the role of auditors and enforcers in the context of fraud.Design/methodology/approachThis literature review includes both qualitative and quantitative studies, based on the idea that the findings from different research paradigms can shed light on the complex interactions between different financial reporting controls. The authors use a mixed-methods research synthesis and select 64 accounting journal articles to analyze the main proxies for fraud, the stages of the fraud process under investigation and the roles played by auditors and enforcers.FindingsThe study highlights heterogeneity with respect to the terms and concepts used to capture the fraud phenomenon, a fragmentation in terms of the measures used in quantitative studies and a low level of detail in the fraud analysis. The review also shows a limited number of case studies and a lack of focus on the interaction and interplay between enforcers and auditors.Research limitations/implicationsThis study outlines directions for future accounting research on fraud.Practical implicationsThe analysis underscores the need for the academic community, policymakers and practitioners to work together to prevent the destructive economic and social consequences of fraud in an increasingly complex and interconnected environment.Originality/valueThis study differs from previous literature reviews that focus on a single monitoring mechanism or deal with fraud in a broadly manner by discussing how the accounting literature addresses the roles and the complex interplay between enforcers and auditors in the context of accounting fraud.
Guest editorial: Critiques and conflicts in service research: suggestions for redefining the marketing of goods and services as a business discipline
Authors: Cronin Joe , Nagel Duane M. 
Published: November 2023

Purpose
This commentary aims to identify the myopic drift of the marketing discipline and to opine on the areas in which the leadership of service scholars is needed. The authors identify specific areas where the input of service scholars is needed to enable the discipline to better contribute to users, providers, and society. For example, the growing gap between marketing scholarship and practical business needs is acknowledged, emphasizing the unique position of service scholars to bridge this divide. While consumer well-being is crucial, the exclusive focus on behavioral science is critiqued. Marketing’s roots are deeply connected to economics, shaping consumer choices, and service scholars can help revive marketing’s essence.

Design/methodology/approach
Personal reflections and historical literature assessment.

Findings
The services discipline is caught in the general myopic behavioral drift of the marketing discipline. However, they are well positioned to reverse the trend by seeking leadership in PhD programs, journal editorships and review boards, faculty recruiting, hiring and promotion, and by continuing its engagement with industry professionals.

Research limitations/implications
The authors suggest extensive goals for service scholars. To accomplish these goals, it will be necessary to challenge the increasing behavioral drift of the majority of existing scholars in the discipline.

Originality/value
This work is original and controversial. It is meant to inspire discussion and focus attention on the problems inherent in the increasingly myopic behavioral orientation of the members of the discipline’s academic community.
Facilitators and barriers to dealing with questionable journals in management science
Authors: Dadkhah Mehdi , Rahimnia Fariborz , Memon Aamir Raoof 
Published: November 2023

PurposeScientific publishing has recently faced challenges in dealing with questionable (predatory and hijacked) journals. The presence of questionable journals in any field, including management science, will yield junk science. Although there are studies about questionable journals in other fields, these journals have not yet been examined in the field of business and management. This study aims to identify facilitators and barriers to dealing with questionable journals in management science.Design/methodology/approachA Delphi research method consisting of three rounds was used in this study. Data were collected from 12 experts in the first two rounds, and ten experts in the final round.FindingsThe present study shows that management science is vulnerable to questionable journals. A total of 18 barriers and eight facilitators to dealing with questionable journals in management science were found. The present study also identifies some new barriers and facilitators for avoiding questionable journals, which are specific to management science and have not been identified in previous research. Most of these barriers and facilitators were identified as “important” or “very important”. Publishers and scientific databases, government, the research community and universities and research centers were identified as critical players in overcoming challenges posed by questionable journals.Originality/valueThe number of articles that investigate predatory journals in management science is limited, and there is no research focused specifically on hijacked journals in this field. This study identifies facilitators and obstacles to dealing with predatory and hijacked journals in the field of management, by gathering opinions from experts. Thus it is the first study to examine hijacked journals in the field of management science. It is also one of the few studies that examine predatory and hijacked journals by conducting exploratory research rather than with a descriptive/conceptual approach.
Student loan debt in retirement: identifying the correlates and implications for policy, practice and research
Authors: Korankye Thomas 
Published: November 2023

PurposeResearch shows that having student loan debt in retirement is associated negatively with life satisfaction, suggesting that student debt is a bane of retiree well-being. The rationale for this study is to determine the factors related to owing student debt in retirement, given the adverse effects on the well-being of retired households.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilizes pooled cross-sectional data from the 2015 and 2018 U.S. National Financial Capability Study. The empirical analysis uses a sample of retired Americans aged 65 years and older (N = approximately 8,000) and estimates two-block logistic regression models to examine the effects of demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral factors on student loan indebtedness in retirement. A sensitivity analysis is performed for the subsample of retirees holding student debt for their children's education. Statistical interpretations use odds ratios.FindingsThe findings indicate that financial literacy, age, homeownership and high subjective financial knowledge are associated with a low likelihood of holding student loan debt in retirement. However, being Black, having postsecondary education, having difficulty covering expenses, having financially dependent children, having high-risk preferences and spending more than income increase the likelihood of holding student debt in retirement. The ensuing discussion will assist financial planners and educators identify practical ways to shape decisions regarding student loan debt in retirement.Research limitations/implicationsThe amount of student loan debt is unavailable in the dataset for analysis. One cannot infer causal relations from the study. The factors examined do not reflect the time the student loan was obtained.Originality/valueThe study focuses on the determinants of student loan indebtedness among retired Americans rather than young adults or older adults on the verge of retirement. The paper enhances the understanding of student loan holdings in the decumulation phase of the life cycle. Many US individuals have low retirement savings from which they draw a retirement income. The more the student debt burdens on retired Americans, the greater the likelihood of outliving their resources and experiencing poverty.
Low-literate customer experience: an empirical exploration
Authors: Mishra Anubhav A. , Verma Megha 
Published: November 2023

PurposeThis research paper explores customer experience (CX) among low-literate customers in organized retail environments. It integrates theories from customer literacy, CX and patronage literature to understand CX comprehensively.Design/methodology/approachThe study gathered data from 470 respondents using mall intercept and snowball sampling. Data analysis employed partial least squares (PLS) modeling.FindingsThe results indicate that all the dimensions do not have the same effect on CX. Answering calls for future research, the results establish CX's nomological validity by showing its positive influence on retail reputation, retail quality and satisfaction. However, it does not directly affect patronage but has an indirect influence through retail quality and satisfaction. Also, the authors conclude that retail quality and satisfaction are consequences of CX and not previously conceptualized proxies for it.Research limitations/implicationsConducting primary research with low-literate customers (LLCs) has its own set of limitations that give rise to further research directions. While acknowledging limitations, the study suggests avenues for future research by surveying LLCs with an objective questionnaire, contributing to limited empirical research in this segment.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the multidimensional nature of CX. In summary, this research paper provides insights into CX dimensions and outcomes for LLCs in organized retail. It contributes to marketing literature, assisting retailers in improving CX and driving patronage across customer segments.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to marketing literature by studying LLCs, testing a comprehensive CX model, confirming antecedents in retail patronage and exploring reciprocal relationships in retailing.
ESG consideration in venture capital: drivers, strategies and barriers
Authors: Lange Elfi M. , Banadaki Niloofar Ghotbedini 
Published: November 2023

Purpose
There is an increasing awareness of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in the private equity (PE) environment. While many studies deal with the implementation of ESG in the field of PE, only little is known about how the subcategory venture capital. Therefore, this study aims to answer the questions: What are the motivations for venture capitalists to consider ESG in their investment decisions? How do they implement it and what are the barriers that hinder them?

Design/methodology/approach
An inductive study based on semi-structured interviews with 11 investors of venture capital firms (VCs) was conducted to explore the drivers, the barriers and the strategies to implement ESG in the investment decision-making.

Findings
All investors perceive that ESG will play a major role in investment decisions in the long term. VCs have seen benefits primarily in terms of performance and commercialization of startups that incorporate the ESG aspect. Limited partners are a driving force for change in this process. No standardized framework and lack of resources for implementation are mainly assumed as barriers.

Practical implications
Politics and industry might support particularly smaller VCs in their implementation by providing standardized frameworks. Owing to increasing awareness and interest of ESG criteria among VCs, startups should also address these criteria.

Originality/value
This paper contributes to the literature by examining how ESG is currently considered in VCs’ decisions and what challenges they face. Therefore, this research contributes to the understanding of the decision-making process among venture capitalists.
Projecting the dynamics of invading deer with pattern‐oriented modelling to support management decision‐making
Authors: Botterill‐James Thomas , Cunningham Calum X. , Johnson Christopher N. , Haythorne Sean , Fordham Damien A. , Brook Barry W. , Duncan Richard P. , Forsyth David M. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractAvoiding the undesirable impacts of invasive species requires robustly evaluating the effects of alternative management scenarios. Such evaluations depend on reliable spatio‐temporal projections of changes in the distribution and abundance of the invasive species under different scenarios. However, commonly used modelling approaches are constrained for this purpose because they do not incorporate demographic processes and are seldom validated.We develop a spatially and temporally explicit grid‐based population model for invasive fallow deerDama damain Tasmania, Australia, validated against observed distribution and abundance ‘targets’ using a pattern‐oriented approach. We use this validated model to project the future invasion patterns of deer, including encroachment into areas of high conservation value, under eight harvest and habitat suitability scenarios.Projected population sizes of deer differ greatly depending on harvest and habitat suitability scenarios. Without harvest, the population grows sixfold, from about 80,000 deer in 2019 to over 500,000 by 2100. In contrast, the population stabilises at 32,000–41,000 deer with 25% annual harvest. Abundance in the environmentally sensitive Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA), a region of high conservation value, increases in all scenarios. We identify likely areas in the expanding range of deer where targeted removal should be most effective at minimising deer numbers in the TWWHA.Synthesis and applications: Using a pattern‐oriented model validated with spatio‐temporal data, we show how the future distribution and abundance of invasive fallow deer in Tasmania can be substantially reduced by targeted increases in harvest and prioritising areas for removal around high conservation value regions. Our approach can be used to project likely effects of management interventions on future distributions and abundances for a range of invasive taxa.
Protecting our streams by defining measurable targets for riparian management in a forestry context
Authors: Kuglerová Lenka , Muotka Timo , Chellaiah Darshanaa , Jyväsjärvi Jussi , Richardson John S. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Generally, governments and industry have implemented some degree of protection to reduce the impacts of forestry on aquatic ecosystems. Here, we consider the widespread application of streamside management in terms of riparian buffer retention to protect freshwaters from forestry practices across three jurisdictions with large and intensive forestry sectors (British Columbia, Finland and Sweden).

This perspective was developed by working with researchers, practitioners and policymakers on mitigation measures to decrease the impacts of forestry on streams. We demonstrate that it is exceedingly rare for policies and guidelines to specify concrete objectives and measurable targets that can be assessed against riparian buffer management outcomes. Most often, policy objectives for riparian management prescribe ‘to prevent or mitigate impacts’, and this vagueness is insufficient to protect our waters. We argue that we should be clearer about the targets (outcomes) for riparian management and go beyond the simple idea that buffer presence, without further specification of its conditions, is always a successful protection strategy. One cannot measure the effectiveness of rules and guidelines without quantitative targets.

Policy implications: In this paper, we suggest that locally developed and adjusted targets for riparian buffers must include quantifiable, measurable goals that specify what is supposed to be achieved and protected with respect to ecological functions, biological communities or other values. It should be relatively simple to move from current vague objectives such as ‘protect and prevent’ to a defined range of values for ecological parameters that buffers are supposed to provide. For example, these can include region‐specific shading levels and microclimate targets, large wood volumes, or riparian forest species composition. We stress that these targets must be developed through an open dialogue between agencies, practitioners, land owners and scientists. We acknowledge that there are trade‐offs between being too prescriptive and too vague. However, when excessively broad goals are the norm, we lose the capacity to effectively implement, monitor or evaluate the outcomes of protection measures.
Flower size constrains reproductive potential in three Andean monkeyflower species
Authors: Henríquez‐Gangas Francisca , Reyes Sebastián A. , Carvallo Gastón O. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractPlants exhibit contrasting flower morphologies depending on their reproductive strategy, with autogamous species typically having smaller flowers than allogamous ones. Flower size can restrict the reproductive potential of species, as the development among flower parts is interrelated. This can result in a constraint on ovary size in adult plants, reducing the number of ovules produced, particularly in autogamous species with small flowers, in contrast to allogamous species with larger flowers. To test this hypothesis, we studied the static allometric relationships (allometry measured at mature flowers) of monkeyflower species (Erythranthe) endemic to the Andean region, including an autogamous species (E. glabrata), two allogamous species (E. depressa and E. lutea), and hybrids obtained from E. depressa × E. lutea crosses. We measured flower traits, counted ovules, and determined the static allometric relationships among traits for all taxa. Our study revealed that static allometric relationships are highly maintained among studied Erythranthe, with flower length serving as a crucial indicator of the dimensions that different flower parts reach. This suggests that flower length is an important factor determining the maternal reproductive potential in Erythranthe, with both autogamous and allogamous species showing a positive relationship between flower length and ovule number. Overall, investigating allometric relationships in Erythranthe, including hybrids, can shed light on the complex interactions between flower morphology and reproductive strategies in plants.
Farming efficiency and environmental resource dependence: Evidence from panel data for rural Central Vietnam
Authors: Bierkamp Sina , Nguyen Trung Thanh , Grote Ulrike 
Published: November 2023

AbstractFarming and natural resource extraction are the main livelihood strategies of the rural poor in developing countries. A better understanding of their relationship is needed to alleviate existing pressures on resources and to reduce poverty. To date, mainly monetary indicators have been used to measure environmental resource dependence. However, these are inadequate for poor people who consume rather than sell their environmental products. Therefore, we propose the Environmental Resource Dependence Index (ERDI) to better capture the multidimensionality of dependence. We analyse the relationship between farming efficiency and environmental resource dependence using a simultaneous equations model (SEM) and panel data for 2013, 2016 and 2017 from three rural provinces in Central Vietnam. Time‐variant farming efficiency is estimated using a stochastic frontier model (SFM) with true random effects and Mundlak's adjustment. Our results show that monetary measures underestimate the extent of dependency. Therefore, policymakers should be careful to correctly identify those who are dependent on the environment. In addition, the results suggest that improved farming efficiency reduces the dependence on environmental resources. At the same time, higher dependence does not have a significant effect on farming efficiency.