Ecoforum Journal (University of Suceava, Romania)
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The relationship between trade openness and industrialisation: an empirical analysis of a sample of 97 countries
No full textThe objective of this paper is to investigate the nature (causality and form) of the relationship between international trade and industrialisation. To do so, we used the PVAR model of Love and Zucchino (2006) and the dynamic panel threshold regression model of Seo and Shin (2016) on a sample of 97 countries in the world for the period 1996-2019. These economies are subdivided into groups according to their level of income and industrialisation: High-Income Industrial Economies (HIIE), Middle-Income Industrial Economies (MIIE), Middle-Income Industrialising Economies (MIIE) and Low-Income Economies (LIE). Our results show that the causal relationship between international trade and industrialisation is bidirectional for the 97 countries taken together, whereas it is unidirectional for the individual groups. While for the EIRMs, EVIRMs and ERFs industrialisation causes trade openness, trade openness causes industrialisation for the EIRE. The results also show that the level of development conditions the relationship between industrialisation and trade openness for the 97 countries together and for each group of countries. West African countries present specificities in terms of causality.L’objectif de ce papier est d’étudier la nature (causalité et forme) de la relation entre commerce international et industrialisation pour les payse, nous avons utilisés le modèle PVAR de Love et Zucchino (2006) et le modèle de régression à seuil en panel dynamique de Seo et Shin (2016) sur un échantillon de 97 pays du monde pour la période 1996-2019. Ces économies sont subdivisées en groupes selon leur niveau de revenu et d’industrialisation : Economies Industrielles à Revenu Elevé (EIRE), Economies Industrielles à Revenu Moyen (EIRM), Economies en Voie d’Industrialisation à Revenu Moyen (EVIRM) et les Economies à Revenu Faible (ERF). Nos résultats montrent que la relation de causalité entre le commerce international et l’industrialisation est bidirectionnelle pour les 97 pays si pris ensemble alors qu’elle est unidirectionnelle pour les groupes individuels. Alors que pour les EIRM, les EVIRM et les ERF l’industrialisation qui cause l’ouverture commerciale, l’ouverture commerciale cause l’industrialisation pour l’EIRE. Les résultats montrent aussi que le niveau de développement conditionne la relation entre l’industrialisation et l’ouverture commerciale pour les 97 pays ensemble et pour chaque groupe de pays. Les pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest présentent des spécificités en termes de causalité
EduNext Learning: Balancing AI Innovation and Equity in India’s Digital Education Revolution
No full textEduNext Learning Pvt. Ltd. is a Bengaluru-based education technology startup that aimed to democratize personalized learning through its AI-driven platform, EduBot 2.0. While the company achieved rapid growth and widespread adoption across India, it encountered serious ethical and operational challenges related to algorithmic bias, data privacy, and teacher dissatisfaction. The AI system demonstrated higher accuracy for urban English-medium students compared to rural and regional-language learners, raising concerns about equity and inclusivity. Additionally, inadequate consent mechanisms resulted in violations of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023), while excessive reliance on data dashboards contributed to teacher burnout. This paper analyzes EduNext’s challenges using SWOT, PESTEL, and root cause analysis frameworks. It proposes an Ethical AI Reboot combined with a Teacher Partnership Model to restore trust, ensure regulatory compliance, and align with India’s National Education Policy 2020 and UNESCO’s ethical AI guidelines. The study concludes that ethical governance, transparency, and human–AI collaboration are essential for sustainable growth in digital education
HERFINDAHL-HIRSCHMAN INDEX (HHI), VALUE CO-CREATORS AND GREEN PRACTICES FOR INDUSTRY
No full textThe intensity of inventiveness for green logistics and supply chain management in industries can be effectively measured using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) to encourage environmental compliance within the sustainable development goals (SDG) of SDG 9,11 and 12. These SDG goals adhere to responsible industry, innovation and infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities, and responsible consumption and production. Research in the telecommunications industry suggests that increased market efficiency correlates with greater opportunities for market segmentation and economic growth in green logistics and supply chain management. This study identifies value co-creators for industries to intensify and leverage inventiveness for green practices and environmental compliance measurable by the HHI. Utilizing time series data from the International Telecommunications Union and the World Bank, the research identifies the main value co-creators in India, including human capital and infrastructure, innovation and technology and economic indicators such as investments in telecommunications, purchasing power parity, and gross domestic product. These factors collectively drive the social and economic services value addition in India, fostering overall development and sector-specific growth
A gravity model of trade for Argentina 2004-2017
No full textThis paper estimates a gravity model for Argentina during the period 2004-2017. Two versions were used: one using pooled ordinary least squares and another with fixed effects. The main results for the first model are as follows. On the one hand, income and the real exchange rate have the correct signs and are statistically significant. On the other hand, population and distance have negative effects, which is somewhat less known in the analysis of income and price elasticities. Regarding the second model, the results were not satisfactory. The income of trading partners, the real exchange rate, and population were not statistically significant, which contradicts economic theory
Can bond and equity markets attract more foreign direct investment?
No full textThis study investigates the role of bond and equity market development in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in Nigeria over the period 1996–2024. Using an ex-post facto research design, secondary data were sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin and World Bank Development Indicators. The analysis focuses on the contribution of bond and equity markets, alongside macroeconomic stability, to the attraction of foreign capital. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model was employed to estimate both short-run and long-run relationships, while the ARDL bounds test confirmed the presence of cointegration among the variables. The results indicate that equity market development has a consistently positive and significant impact on FDI in both the short and long run, highlighting the importance of a well-functioning stock market in attracting foreign capital. Bond market development exhibits a mixed effect, with short-term expansions positively influencing FDI, while long-term high levels may discourage investment due to potential crowding-out effects. Inflation and exchange rate were found to be insignificant, suggesting that moderate macroeconomic fluctuations do not materially affect FDI inflows. The findings underscore the need for integrated policy measures that strengthen financial markets and ensure macroeconomic stability to sustain and enhance foreign investment in Nigeria
CONSUMER PREFERENCES FOR FINANCIAL SERVICE CHANNELS IN AN EMERGING ECONOMY: A STUDY OF ABEOKUTA METROPOLIS
No full textThe purpose of this study is to analyse the channel preferences for financial transactions in Abeokuta Metropolis. Primary source of data was adopted using questionnaires. This study adopt a descriptive research design that involves administration of questionnaires to 100 adult residents of Abeokuta metropolis with at least one bank account. Information collected include demographic data (age, education, income); value of financial transaction in ranges (≤ N5,000.00, ≤ N10,000.00, ≤ N20,000.00, ≤ N50,000.00, ≤ N100,000.00, > N100,000.00); type of operation (deposit, withdrawal) and the preferred mode of executing the transaction (Bank branch, POS, ATM). The data are analysed using frequency counts and percentages. The results indicate that 50% of the respondents favour the use of POS (from agents of MMOs) to withdraw cash less than N5,000 while 61.8% would go to the bank branch if the amount is above N100, 000. The equivalent proportion for deposit transactions are 49.8% and 74% respectively. The study concludes that customers prefer to use the cash services of MMOs for small value day-to-day economic activities in Abeokuta metropolis. The study recommends that measures should be taken by Deposit Money Banks to provide flexible, convenient financial services to Customers who are in the active productive population of the nation. Also, the CBN also needs to consider the activities of MMOs while taking monetary policy decisions in tackling inflationary pressure and maintaining a sound financial system
SUSTAINABILITY OF ROMANIA’S SOVEREIGN DEBT SERVICE – BETWEEN THE PRINCIPLE OF FISCAL PRUDENCE AND THE ETHICS OF GOVERNMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
No full textThe sustainability of Romania’s sovereign debt service represents a major area of interest in the context of growing budgetary pressures, global economic volatility, and the need to ensure long-term financial stability. This research examines how the Romanian state manages its public debt obligations, with emphasis on the relationship between the level of indebtedness, financing costs, and the economy’s capacity to support repayment without undermining social development and investment programs. The principle of fiscal prudence is essential in shaping governmental decisions, requiring the avoidance of excessive deficits, optimization of maturity structures, reduction of foreign-currency exposure, and responsible use of borrowed resources.
At the same time, the paper addresses the ethical dimension of public debt, as today’s borrowing is repaid not only by current taxpayers but also by future generations. Institutional transparency, responsible allocation of borrowed funds, respect for intergenerational equity, and the moral justification of debt accumulation become fundamental evaluation criteria. The study proposes an integrated assessment of sovereign debt sustainability, combining macroeconomic indicators with normative perspectives on good governance. The conclusions highlight the need for fiscal consolidation, improved debt management, and the adoption of a firm ethical framework in public policy formulation, in order to ensure that debt servicing remains economically bearable and socially legitimate.Sustenabilitatea serviciului datoriei suverane a României reprezintă un subiect de interes major în contextul presiunilor bugetare, al volatilității economice globale și al necesității de a menține stabilitatea financiară pe termen lung. Lucrarea analizează modul în care statul român gestionează obligațiile datoriei publice, cu accent pe raportul dintre nivelul îndatorării, costurile de finanțare și capacitatea economiei de a susține rambursarea fără afectarea dezvoltării sociale și investiționale. Principiul prudenței fiscale devine esențial în fundamentarea deciziilor guvernamentale: evitarea deficitului excesiv, optimizarea structurii scadențelor, limitarea expunerii la riscuri valutare și utilizarea responsabilă a resurselor obținute prin împrumut. Totodată, lucrarea pune în discuție dimensiunea etică a datoriei publice, întrucât împrumuturile contractate astăzi sunt suportate nu doar de contribuabilii actuali, ci și de generațiile viitoare. Transparența instituțională, responsabilitatea în cheltuirea fondurilor provenite din împrumuturi, respectarea principiului echității intergeneraționale și justificarea morală a îndatorării constituie criterii fundamentale de evaluare. Studiul propune o analiză integrată a sustenabilității datoriei suverane, combinând indicatori macroeconomici cu perspective normative privind buna guvernare. Concluziile evidențiază necesitatea consolidării fiscale, îmbunătățirea managementului datoriei și adoptarea unui cadru etic ferm în formularea politicilor publice, pentru ca serviciul datoriei să rămână suportabil și legitim din punct de vedere social.
 
UNDERSTANDING WELLNESS TOURISM MOTIVATION IN INDIA: A CROSS-CULTURAL VALIDATION OF THE WELLNESS TOURISM MOTIVATION SCALE (WTMS)
No full textWellness tourism is a rapidly growing sector in the global travel industry, and India has emerged as a significant player in this market. This study aimed to validate the Wellness Tourism Motivation Scale (WTMS) in the Indian context, as understanding tourists\u27 motivations for engaging in wellness travel is vital for both the industry and destination marketing. The WTMS is a well-established instrument used to assess tourists\u27 motivations for participating in wellness-related activities during their trips. A total of 634 Indian wellness tourists were surveyed in top five wellness destinations within India. The sample was distributed in two groups to conduct EFA and CFA. The findings indicate that the WTMS exhibits strong reliability and validity when applied to the Indian wellness tourism context. The scale\u27s factor structure was consistent with previous research, identifying various motivation factors. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on wellness tourism in India, fostering its sustainable growth and global competitiveness. The implications are discussed in details
CITIZENS\u27 PARTICIPATION IN THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION PROCESS - A SHORT SURVEY
No full textThe participation of citizens in the local administration process means decisions and public measures that correspond to the real needs of the community. This micro-research aims to examine the opinions expressed by the members of the local community in relation to their participation in the local administration process, with applicability at the level of the city of Târgu Neamț. The approach carried out in the pages of this paper showed that the local residents want to get involved in public affairs and services that they believe can be remedied by their participation in decision-making, mainly in areas such as jobs, public lighting, sanitation
THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON ACCOUNTING
No full textThe paper discusses the possibilities of using artificial intelligence in accounting. The focus is on new skills and capabilities needed for employees. The best artificial intelligence accounting programs are described, opinions are formed, and conclusions are drawn on how ready Georgia is for global changes. Artificial intelligence accounting software is a tool that uses AI technologies to improve the automation of various accounting processes. Today, artificial intelligence has all the potential to transform the work process. The use of artificial intelligence in accounting can automate processes in this area, forecast revenues and budgets, identify and prevent fraud, and analyze and monitor risks. With the help of artificial intelligence, it is possible to conduct audits more efficiently and accurately, process large amounts of data, and detect anomalies in financial records. Predictive models with artificial intelligence can help companies assess credit risk, optimize investment portfolios, and use costs efficiently. The mass use of artificial intelligence, not only in Georgia, but throughout the world, is still lacking. There is a lot of work to be done in Georgia in terms of awareness-raising, technical and organizational readiness. Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform the economy in many ways.However, there are also significant threats and risks, in terms of job displacement, inequality, and international competition. The full potential of artificial intelligence will only be realized when policymakers, industry leaders, and society as a whole work together to create ethical and fair conditions for the development and use of artificial intelligence. With such approaches, artificial intelligence can bring great benefits to everyone and significantly improve economic growth, development, and well-being.
As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more benefits from AI accounting software in the future