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Ethno-Religious Struggle and Human Insecurity in the Fledging Nigerian Democracy since 1999: The Political Nexus
Get PDFReligious and ethnic identity clashes laid the structure of the Nigerian state in 1914, which transmogrified into and characterized the struggle for control of power and distribution of national resources. This paper explores the nature and manifestation of these conflicts since 1999. It seeks to find out if ethno-religious struggles led to the emergence of major conflicts in Nigeria since 1999, their impact on human insecurity, and the influence of politics on the conflicts. This inquiry is designed in line with a one-shot case study, while literature survey and ex post facto methods were adopted as methods of data collection. Trend analysis is adopted for data analysis. Analysis reveals that ethno-religious struggles were the primary progenitor of conflicts in Nigeria since 1999, and have debilitating consequences while politics exacerbated ethno-religious conflicts. Upholding Nigeria\u27s circular state and implementing the National Political Reforms Conference Report is the panacea for ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria
Dynamics of Crude Oil Price Change and Global Food Commodity Prices
Get PDFPurpose: This study investigates the effect of crude oil price fluctuations (price change as well as volatility) on wheat, sugar, corn, and fertilizers price changes.
Methods: The study employs Markov switching dynamic regression, Dynamic Conditional Correlation (DCC), and Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Hetrosekadicity (GARCH) on monthly data covering the period from January 1988 to April 2018.
Results: The findings of the research support evidence of two states. State 1, pertains to the low volatility of crude oil price, and state 2 belong to the case of the high volatility of crude oil prices. Our results indicated that at state 1, an increase in crude oil prices leads to a decline in food commodity prices, while in state 2, an increase in crude oil price levels causes an increase in food commodity prices. Results of Dynamic Conditional Correlation (DCC) GARCH estimates indicate the coefficients of oil price levels are significant and positively associated with the conditional volatility of the four commodity prices.
Implications: The findings of the research imply that volatility in global food commodity prices is not due to oil price volatility but due to the oil price levels attained at extreme points.
Originality: The paper investigates the impact of different volatility levels of crude oil prices on global food commodity prices
Effect of Gender Diversity on the Association between Corporate Sustainability Practices and Financial Performance of Firms: Evidence from Malaysia
Get PDFPurpose: The objective of this research is to examine the effect of corporate sustainability practices (CSP) on financial performance (FP) as well as the moderating effect of gender diversity (GENDIV) in the board on the relationship between CSP and FP of firms in Malaysia.
Methods: The sample of the study is 312 firm-year observations from 2015 to 2017 of 104 firms listed in Bursa Malaysia. The theoretical framework of the study is underpinned by the Stakeholder theory and the Agency theory. To test the hypotheses, with the help of STATA software, the panel corrected standard errors (PCSE) estimator model and the hierarchical moderated multiple regression model have been used.
Results: The findings of the study reveal that CSP significantly and positively affects the FP of firms. The empirical results also show that gender diversity in boards significantly moderates the relationship between CSP and FP of Firms in Malaysia.
Implications: Based on the empirical findings, the study recommends that the policymakers and regulatory bodies should follow up the mandatory corporate sustainability practices of the firms as well as revise the codes of corporate governance regarding gender diversity of the boards to ensure their long-term sustainability as well as to reduce the risk of financial distress, or bankruptcies in the future. 
Measuring Hospitality and Tourism Management Students’ Satisfaction with Work Related Learning Using Partial Least Squares in Zimbabwe: Measuring Hospitality and Tourism Management Students’ Satisfaction with Work Related Learning Using Partial Least Squares in Zimbabwe
No full textPurpose: The study assessed Tourism and Hospitality Students’ satisfaction with work-related learning (WRL) attachment using a two-stage extended model proposed by Taylor and Geldenhuys (2019). It also intends to determine if there are significant student satisfaction differences between males and females and between the students pursuing bachelor or diploma in Tourism and hospitality. Also, the study assessed if there is a moderation effect of a third variable (intermediate) on expectation and perception to students’ satisfaction.
Method: Data were collected from 488 students using a survey instrument at the onset and at the end of the attachment. Analysis of results was done using both SPSS 23 and R 4.0.3. The study also applied the Multi-Group Analysis-Partial Least Squares (MGA-PLS) analysis permutation to test students’ satisfaction.
Results: The research found no significant differences between males and females, and the students’ category (bachelor and diploma) on both Expectation-Satisfaction and Perception-Satisfaction relationship in model A. However, the study found significant differences between males and females in the perception-satisfaction relationship in Model B. The MGSA-PLS results revealed that male students have a positive and significant effect on the perception-satisfaction relationship as opposed to a negative and insignificant effect for females. The moderating effect test revealed that a third construct, INTER - Intermediate variable (a product of construct Perceptions and Expectation) has a positive impact on student satisfaction.
Implications: There is a need for collaboration between hospitality industry players and academics in curriculum design, so as to meet the demands of the industry.  
Social Entrepreneurship: A New Genre of Entrepreneurship
Get PDFPurpose: Social entrepreneurship has evolved as a domain of great significance for researchers. The positive impact of social entrepreneurship on alleviating social problems has already been proven. Traditionally, entrepreneurship has been viewed as an entrepreneur\u27s logical response to the opportunities created by the dynamic competitive environment and thus generate profits for individuals or organizations by exploiting the opportunities. This research investigates whether social entrepreneurship is a new genré of entrepreneurship and how it differs from traditional entrepreneurship.
Methods: Followed by the archive method of research, this article establishes the legitimacy of social entrepreneurship as a separate academic field and explores several factors, e.g., mission, identification, and exploitation of opportunity, and resource strategy is differentiating social entrepreneurship from its commercial counterparts.
Implications: The study findings would help policymakers develop the institutional framework for supporting the social venture development process and bringing desired policy reforms to encourage social entrepreneurs\u27 sufficient encouragement and motivation
Factors Influencing Green Product Purchase Intention among Young Consumers in Bangladesh
Get PDFThe present study aims to determine critical factors affecting the green product purchase intention of Bangladeshi young consumers. In order to investigate the relationship, a formal questionnaire survey has been conducted targeting young Bangladeshi consumers, aged between 18 and 32 years old. A total of 400 responses have been finally screened out for analysis. Data analysis was carried out through partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings show that young consumers’ green purchase intention (GPI) is largely determined by their attitude, environmental concern (EC), and willingness to pay (WTP). However, the impact of perceived moral obligation (PMO), on green purchase intention has been found insignificant. The study leaves specific implications for the strategic marketing decision-makers who strive to promote green product consumption in Bangladesh
Globalization and Exclusion of Marginalized Sections of the Society: An Indian Experience:
Get PDFWhile globalization has accelerated the flow and interconnectedness of capital, goods, information, people, and technology, it has also intensified disconnection, exclusion, and marginalization. Much research has been undertaken on this subject, aimed primarily at providing the bases for the policies for eradication of the exclusionary process of globalization. This paper, based on secondary data, seeks to add to this body of knowledge by addressing the following issues. First, it tries to explain the concept of globalization and how it has affected India. Also, it highlights how the exclusionary processes associated with globalization have provided ways for social exclusion. The data used in this paper are extracted from the carefully selected literature on the subject. It has examined the link between globalization and the exclusion of marginalized sections in India. The findings of this paper show how globalization touches upon issues of well-being and social justice. In the process of globalization-driven development, marginalized sections have paid their toll in the form of their land, livelihood, culture, knowledge, and other resources. In the name of development, governments have put the lives of these groups at stake, especially tribals. This study recommends a few measures to minimize the widening gap between the weaker and the dominants that would be helpful for policymakers in minimizing the exclusionary practices led by globalization towards the marginalized sections
Supply Chain Management Practices and Supply Chain Performance in the Manufacturing Industries of Bangladesh: An Empirical Study
Get PDFPurpose: The paper aims to examine the association between supply chain management practices (SCMP) and supply chain performance (SCP) in the manufacturing industries of Bangladesh. SCMP was classified as strategic supplier partnership (SSP), customer relationship (CR), information sharing level (IS), information quality level (IQ), and postponement (POS).
Methods: It is a quantitative research based on a survey questionnaire. Supply chain management practices were measured by items adapted from Li, Nathan, and Rao (2006), while supply chain performance was measured by using key supply chain performance indicators suggested by Ambe (2013). Using convenience sampling technique, data were collected from 203 executives involved in supply chain activities working in different manufacturing organizations in two major cities of Bangladesh (Dhaka and Chittagong). Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation, and regression analysis were used to analyze the data.
Results: Results demonstrated a positive correlation between supply chain management practices and supply chain performance (r=0.67**). However, strategic supplier partnership, customer relationship, and postponement are more strongly related to improving supply chain performance than information sharing level and information quality level.
Implications: A significant implication of the study is that manufacturing organizations should develop supply chain management capabilities to improve supply chain performance and they should begin with developing their level of information sharing and level of information quality.
Limitations: The use of the convenience sampling technique limits the generalizability of the findings. The small sample size (n=203) also warrant caution in interpreting the results. 
Critical Factors Influencing e-Government Adoption in The Gambia
Get PDFe-Government is a prerequisite not only for meeting citizen’s needs but also creating the background for the development of knowledge-based public administration. Yet, e-Government development is still at the infancy stage in many developing countries. The objective of this paper is to identify critical factors that enable citizens to adopt e-Government services in a society that is at the infancy stage of e-Government implementation. In other words, this research seeks to determine citizens’ intentions to adopt e-Government initiatives in The Gambia. To achieve the purpose of the study, an integrated model from DeLone and McLean (2003) and Bojang (2020) has been adopted having in mind the local context of Gambian society. Using a quantitative approach, online surveys and secondary data were collected and analyzed descriptively. The findings from the survey concluded that awareness creation and quality service provision strongly influence citizens’ intention to adopt e-government services. Political and bureaucratic support and trust in government were also found to be critical factors for the adoption of e-Government in The Gambia. The availability of information, ease to use of government websites, up-to-date information, reliability and quick response from government websites equally influence citizens’ intention to adopt e-Government. This study will help policy-makers to initiate and formulate policies, strategies that will increase the adoption of e-Government initiatives among citizens
Emerging Challenges in Rural Non-Farm Sector and Inequality in Rural India: Insight from IHDS Survey
Get PDFPurpose: This paper highlights the changing patterns of income diversification and the effects of various socio-economic factors influencing the non-farm (NF) income of rural households in India. The study also explores the inequality effects of the non-farm earnings of the households by using the Fields inequality decomposition.
Method: The study compares and evaluates the determinants and trends of inequality in 2004-2005 and 2011-2012 in the NF sector. It uses nationally representative data from two rounds of the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS), which includes a panel of 36,278 households at all levels in India. The Censored Least Absolute Deviation (CLAD) model is used to estimate household determinants for non-farm income. The Fields decomposition decomposes total income inequality by considering the socio-economic factors.
Results: The study finds that variations in non-farm earnings have increased. Field\u27s Income Inequality Decomposition estimates show that income inequalities between households are significantly high due to factors such as education, level of the household head, land ownership, and population density, but also appear to be declining in 2011-12. Also, the earning gaps based on gender, age, and geographical zones have increased.
Implications: Overall, the non-farm income during the studied period was observed to be biased towards the better-off households. However, it opened up opportunities for underprivileged households as well. The non-farm sector has huge potential in augmenting incomes for unprivileged rural households. Therefore, the government should pay attention to this sector as a means of reducing income inequality and alleviating poverty