Journals of UMT (University of Management and Technology, Lahore)
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Unveiling the Enigma of Tax Evasion: A Pakistani Perspective
Full text linkThe current study aimed to unravel the factors that influence tax evasion behaviors among different income groups in Pakistan. The study used a robust multiple regression analysis to examine the complex phenomena of tax evasion and its compliance determinants. Furthermore, it also shed light on the complex relationship of economic, cognitive, and systemic factors. This study analyzed the data of 553 respondents collected through a structured questionnaire to explore the interplay between complexity, fairness perceptions, financial literacy, and access to financial services in the tax evasion context of Pakistan. Findings showed that low-income people in Pakistan are more vulnerable to tax evasion as well as they are more likely to be non-compliant than the high-income group. Additionally, the findings have significant implications for policymakers, providing a roadmap to increase tax compliance by simplifying tax regulations, promoting fairness, and investing in financial literacy programs. Such literacy would be helpful to improve fiscal health, increase voluntary compliance, and strengthen the economic and social development in the country. The current study provided actionable strategies to tackle tax evasion, leading to a more transparent and prosperous tax environment in Pakistan
Employment and Labour Mobility: Diasporas Slavery or Economic Empowerment
No full textMost African countries face unemployment and poverty problems which may cause their citizens to migrate to seek employment. Questions are being asked whether such ventures are beneficial or an anticlimax for the seeker. The study interrogates the effects of unemployment on labour mobility on the one hand and labour mobility on economic development on the other. Effects of Remittances by Africans in the Diaspora from seven selected African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco were also examined. The Hausman test is used to choose the best model, and the random model was found to be suitable for examining the causal relationships between the six variables in the panel data. Because their remittances have a significantly positive association with per capita income in these nations, the data demonstrate that labor mobility is not economic enslavement but rather economic empowerment. Nevertheless, it was discovered that the per capita income was negatively impacted by labor mobility. This is a confirmation that brain drain from these countries affects per capita income. Population growth was found to have a negative relationship with labour mobility. The study recommends the reversal of brain drain through efforts that will ensure political stability and also recommends that brain gain through remittances by Africans in the Diaspora should be effectively and efficiently utilized for economic growth. It also recommends the need for an effective policy on Diaspora issues to assist in curbing excessive immigration of African people from Africa. These findings are similar to that of Olayungbo and Adediran (2017) and Gnimassoun and Anyanwu (2019). The major contribution of this study to the existing literature is that labor mobility is not significantly determined by unemployment rather it is majorly due to political instability in the selected countries
Bilateral Trade Potential Between Pakistan and North African Countries
Full text linkNorth Africa is an economically prosperous region of Africa. It is considered to be one of the wealthiest regions of the African continent both due to its natural resources and closeness to the European market and its proximity to international trade routes. Although, Pakistan has been regularly interacting with African countries on a broad range of regional and global challenges, yet a vast potential of mutual trade remains mostly untapped. Particularly the bilateral trade and economic potential on both sides has not been fully explored. The level of trade and economic cooperation is far below the potential. The diverse economies of North African countries and Pakistan with particular strengths in textile, agriculture, services, infrastructure development, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, defense equipment and tourism provide promising prospects for cooperation and its expansion can boost the economic growth on each side. Given the economic and growing strategic significance of North African countries, this study aims to explore Bilateral Trade Potential between Pakistan and North African Countries. Secondary data for this study was gathered from reliable sources such as government reports, academic journals and international trade databases including trade volumes and economic indicators for both North African countries and Pakistan. Descriptive and analytical approach was used to identify barriers, patterns and potential trade areas between Pakistan and North African Countries. The study conclude that it is the era of geo-economics and Pakistan must synchronize with evolving international trends. The current level of trade and economic cooperation is far below the potential and lacks the requisite vigor. Pakistan and the North African region must take full advantage of economic trade, and economic potential on both sides. Therefore, it is suggested to strengthen institutional frameworks by reducing tariffs, simplifying customs procedures, and harmonizing regulatory frameworks which can create a favorable environment for long-term trade and cooperation
Microcredit for Socioeconomic Well-being: Impact Analysis of Selected Beneficiaries from Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan Scheme
Full text linkFor developing countries, reducing poverty and upgrading living standards remain a crucial issue. To address these issues, microcredit is an important pillar of poverty reduction strategies. Therefore, the current study centered on the impact of microcredit on the socioeconomic well-being of selected beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan (PMYBL) Scheme. Social well-being indicators incorporated in this researchincluded children’s education, health status, water facilities, sanitation facilities, and housing conditions. On the other hand, economic welfare indicators were income and consumption. The study used a questionnaire to collect data from the borrowers of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The data from 120 clients was collected using a simple random sampling technique. Descriptive analyses as well as parametric tests were employed. Afteranalyzing the data, the results indicated that using loans significantly upgrades the borrowers' living standards
Powering Asia’s Future: How Energy Infrastructure Investments Drive Renewable Energy Growth in Developing Economies
Full text linkThe current study aimed to assess and compare the impacts of energy infrastructure investment on renewable electricity production in Asia’s growing nations (China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand) using Public Private Partnership (PPP). The study used annual data from 1993 through 2017. To do this, specific panel econometric methods were employed: Augmented Mean Group (AMG) and Grouped-Mean Group Estimators (GMGE). The findings in H1 suggest that the impacts of improved energy infrastructure are greater in increasing the production of renewable electricity in developing Asian nations. Additionally, it was also determined that Financial Development (FD), economic expansion, and openness increase the volume of renewable electricity production. Furthermore, the authors suggested new ways in which the investment of energy infrastructure might be encouraged by development agencies and present models for sustainable development in developing Asian nations. For instance, the governmental and private sectors’ collaboration towards the construction of cost-effective green energy and renewable energy sources, that are not renewable, would provide tangible steps towards renewable energy
Revealing the Financial Strategies of Multinational Giants and Local Enterprises in Pakistan: A Deep Dive into What Drives Their Leverage Choices
No full textThe current research comparatively explored the factors affecting the capital structure of domestic corporations (DCs) and multinational corporations (MNCs) in Pakistan for the period 2016-2021. It found that MNCs hold a higher ratio of debt to equity in their mix of capital structures than DCs. Using the fixed effects model, this study established that older firms manage to capitalize their debts. At the same time, the large size of firms and higher bankruptcy costs cause a high debt ratio in the capital structure of both types of corporations. The results also revealed that free cash flows are inversely and significantly associated with the capital structure of DCs. On the contrary, non-debt tax shield, collateral value of assets, and foreign exchange risk are directly and significantly associated with DCs only. This study also found that profitability and agency cost are not significant determinants of capital structure in either type of firms. Significant policy implications stem from the results, particularly in the areas of taxation, international trade, and financial regulation. Moreover, the findings provide insight into the complex interaction of factors influencing the capital structures of DCs and MNCs, which would be helpful for policymakers
Unlocking Pre-Primary Teachers’ Potential for Creativity through Job Crafting and Psychological Empowerment
Full text linkIn the present-day world, education is considered to be the key element of progress for any nation. Every stride towards progress demands efforts, and undoubtedly the educational institutions rely heavily on the efforts of the teachers. Ensuring the quality of students’ education and research to meet the challenges of the current era are paramount goals. The current research aimed to study the relationship between job crafting, psychological empowerment and creativity among pre-primary teachers. The study encompassed a total sample of 250 pre-primary teachers from the public and private schools of Lahore, Pakistan. Pearson Product Moment Coefficient of Correlation Analysis, Multiple Linear Regression Analysis and Hayes PROCESS Mediation Analysis were applied to analyze the data through SPSS 26. The results of the study revealed a significant correlation among the variables. Results of regression analysis showed that job crafting (task and relational dimension), and psychological empowerment (meaning and impact dimension) were significant positive predictors of creativity. Furthermore, the mediation analysis showed that meaning significantly mediated the relationship between task crafting and creativity, as well as relational crafting and creativity. Similarly, impact was also found to be a significant mediator between relational crating and creativity. The findings of this research hold significant implications for both educators and policymakers of early childhood education. Confirming the crucial role of job crafting through the mediation of psychological empowerment in fostering creativity, this study underscores the necessity of integrating insights into the value, potential strategies, and effects of job crafting and psychological empowerment into teacher training programs
Role of Managerial Innovation Behavior for moderating the effect of the Dynamic Innovation Capability on Banking Performance: Evidence from Pakistan
Full text linkThe current study attempts to address the role of dynamic innovation capabilities, along with innovative work behavior of managerial employees, to explain banking performance in Pakistan. Furthermore, it also examines the moderating role of innovative work behavior. For testing the set of proposed hypotheses, the data was collected from 413 participants working at managerial positions in different banks across Pakistan. The study employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to achieve the research objectives. The results revealed internal and external reliability and validity along with a statically fit model. It was found that innovation capabilities, especially organizational innovation and process innovation, along with managerial innovation behavior have a strong optimistic effect on banks’ performance in Pakistan. Furthermore, innovative work performance strongly moderates the impact of dynamic innovation capabilities on banking performance in Pakistan. The study has managerial and practical implications for policymakers, leaders, higher management, and decision-makers in the banking sector of Pakistan. Furthermore, limitations and suggestions for future research are also incorporated
Impact of Tourism on Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Evidence from SAARC Countries
Full text linkThe current study aimed to examine the impact of tourism on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission using the South Asian Association Regional Corporation (SAARC) countries’ panel dataset spanning the time period from (1995-2014). The literature review investigated innumerable studies based on the relationship between tourism and economic growth and reported inconsistent results. However, not many studies have been conducted on SAARC countries so far. Therefore, it was essential to analyse the effect of tourism on CO2 emission in the selected countries. The current study used an annual balanced panel dataset (1995-2014). The data was taken from the KOF Globalization Index and World Development Indicators (WDI). Pedroni cointegration test was applied to examine the presence of long-term association between candidate variables. Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) test was employed to estimate the vector of cointegration in long-run. At the end, Panel Granger Causality test was applied to analyse the causality between candidate variables. The results showed the presence of a direct relationship between tourism and CO2 emission which creates a dilemma for SAARC countries in the context of environmental degradation. Lastly, the findings of Granger Causality test revealed that one directional causality is running from tourism to CO2 and from economic growth to CO2 emission. The study proposed some policy recommendations of the empirical findings which may help to reap the economic gains and other benefits accruing from tourism sector and to mitigate its negative effects in the form of environmental pollution. Tourism sector is important for SAARC economies, however, it may have serious inverse environmental effects in the long-run. Therefore, the policy makers must consider this threat rising from the tourism sector.The findings would contribute positively to the literature and help policy makers in formulating policies to reduce the negative effects of tourism on CO2 emission or environmental degradation
Examining the Relationship between Relational e-HRM and Organizational Performance: A Study of the Banks of Lahore during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Full text linkThe current study empirically investigated the implementation of relational e-HRM practices in banks and examined their relationship with the overall organizational performance of the banks in Lahore during COVID-19 pandemic. It also highlighted the issues that managers face during the implementation of relational e-HRM practices. The mixed method approach was adopted to conduct this cross-sectional study. Commercial banks with their head offices in Lahore were chosen and 171 branches were selected randomly. The purposive sampling technique was used to collect qualitative data and semi-structured interviews of sixteen (16) branch managers were carried out online. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically while covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) was used to understand the effect of e-HRM practices on organizational performance. Most of the banks were found to have implemented all the relational e-HRM practices except e-selection which was implemented only in two branches. Relational e-HRM practices showed a positive effect on the overall performance of banks during COVID-19 pandemic. Centralized decision- making, limited autonomy of bank branches, presence of senior, computer illiterate employees, and inadequate financial resources were found to obstruct the implementation of e-HRM practices. The current research added to the e-HRM literature and examined the association between relational e-HRM practices and overall organizational performance in the context of banks operating in Lahore which apparently was never done before. Only the top commercial banks operating in Lahore, one of the largest metropolitans in Pakistan, were included in this study. The generalizability of findings may be enhanced with further studies