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The Impact of the Renegotiation of United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) on the Agricultural Exports of Sinaloa State of Mexico
Get PDFPurpose: Mexico, like other countries, invested in measures to attract foreign direct investment to its territories. It, therefore, signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, a treaty that facilitated Mexico to be the largest direct exporter to the United States. However, in 2018 the agreement was renegotiated and replaced with United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). This research is carried out to determine the advantages and disadvantages of renegotiation for Sinaloa\u27s agricultural exports, with the question of whether it would negatively impact the Sinaloa\u27s agricultural exports.
Methods: The study focuses on the impact of renegotiation of the NAFTA on agricultural exports of the state of Sinaloa with indicators such as the Exports-Trade, GDP, and GDP Per capita of Mexico, opening to new markets, and logistics.
Results: The renegotiation has a direct relationship with agricultural production in Sinaloa, with a serious negative effect, since overproduction would be created if the new destination for exporting from Sinaloa was not quickly available.
Implications: This research can be of much use to the main agricultural exporting companies in Sinaloa, government agencies, and the Sinaloa Chambers of Commerce for decision making and policy formulation
Do the Banks Comply to GRI guidelines for Sustainable Reporting Practices? Empirical Evidence from Bangladesh
Get PDFThis paper explores the degree and nature of sustainability reporting practices of listed banks in Bangladesh in compliance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. Data are gathered from annual reports through content analysis of 29 banks listed in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) for the period between 2011 and 2018. Stakeholder and legitimacy theory is the theoretical perspectives underlying the study. The findings of the study revealed that 0% in 2011 and 17.14% in 2018 disclosed sustainability reports in line with GRI. On the other hand, the disclosure of sustainability information trend has increased from 32% in 2011 to 59% in 2018 considering 22 categories of information where most of the banks disclosed the highest information relating to green banking (C7) least information relating to public policy (C19). The major limitations of the study are the size of the sample, only secondary sources of data, and the use of descriptive statistics. The policymakers (Bangladesh Bank, Ministry of finance, commerce, law, and environment), management of the respective organizations, the NGOs, and professional accounting bodies can progress to enact and amend corporate laws for effective sustainability reporting for the public and private entities. This research recognizes the gap of sustainable reporting practices to implement the vision of ‘5 Ps’ (people, prosperity, partnership, peace, and the planet) according to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030
The Effect of Financial Deepening on Economic Growth in the East African Community
Get PDFPurpose: The study’s objective is to determine the effect of financial deepening on the economic growth of the East Africa Community bloc. Specifically, it aims to establish the effect of the rate of broad money, credit to the private sector, and the rate of value of the traded stock on economic growth.
Methodology: The study used descriptive research design and employed the fixed effect model in regression analysis. Broad money was used to proxy the rate of money supply, credit to the private sector was used to represent credit financing while the volume of the traded stock was used as a measure for financial market investment.
Results: The findings revealed that all three indicators of financial deepening namely, broad money, credit to the private sector, and volume of traded stock had a positive and significant effect on economic growth in East Africa Community. The coefficient for broad money was 0.4410, the coefficient for credit to the private sector was 0.4022, while the coefficient for the volume of the traded stock was 0.1367. The model had an F statistic of 103.50, confirming its suitability.
Implications: The study recommends that the East Africa Community governments should place more emphasis on the efficiency and of money supply, investment, and distribution by commercial banks. The study also recommends that the governments of East Africa Community countries should continue pursuing policies that promote access to credit such as ensuring that interest rates are low. Additionally, the capital market authorities of the East Africa Community countries should conduct sensitization campaigns to promote high participation in the stock market and other capital market products
A Survey of Entrepreneurship Education at University level in Bangladesh
No full textPurpose: The study attempts to evaluate the Entrepreneurship Development course(s) offered at the undergraduate level in different public and private universities in Bangladesh in terms of their objectives and contribution in developing traits, skills, and knowledge among the students.
Methods: This is a descriptive study based on a questionnaire survey. Data were collected from the faculty members who were teaching or taught entrepreneurship courses at the undergraduate level (BBA). A total of 58 respondents, 16 from Public Universities, and 42 Private Universities filled up the questionnaire properly and used for data analysis. The questionnaire was developed based on the Entrepreneurship Education Model (Azim & AlKahtani 2015).
Results: It is found that as a whole the courses are offered with a medium level of effectiveness with the mean score of 2.36 on the scale of 4. It is also observed that the Entrepreneurship courses offered at various academic Levels in Bangladesh are run with the aim of teaching ‘about’ entrepreneurship rather than to ‘create entrepreneurs’ in the true sense of the term.
Implications: The research has inevitable implications for faculty members and universities as regards the content, facilitation, and overall management of the course. These are discussed in the article
Characteristics and Determinants of New Start-ups in Gujarat, India
No full textPurpose: This study examines the relationship of socio-economic characteristics of start-ups with their size in Gujarat, India. It also assesses the determinants affecting the annual sale of start-ups.
Methods: It includes primary information based on a survey of 120 founders of start-ups. Linear and semi-log linear regression models have been applied to assess the determinants of start-ups. Probit regression models have been considered to assess the factors affecting the annual sale of the start-ups.
Results: Stage of start-up, the participation of founders in conferences, educational qualification, and new products launched by start-ups, professional connections of founders, source of funding, and support from incubator/accelerator/supporting organizations are found crucial determinants of start-up size in Gujarat. The annual sales of the start-ups are positively associated with stage of start-up, support from a mentor, team members, founder\u27s academic qualification, and collaboration with national or international organizations, unskilled workers.
Implications: Technology transfer and commercialization, development of new products, government regulations, the requirement of costumers, free rights for entrepreneurs, appropriate financial support for new entrepreneurs, transparency and clarity in government policies, the establishment of high-tech start-ups, and development of digital infrastructure, increase in R&D spending in research academia, and association of research institutions with entrepreneurs would be conducive to create an appropriate start-ups ecosystem and to reduce regional development disparities across Indian states. Subsequently, it would be helpful to increase sustainable development in India.
Originality: This study has used primary information of 120 founders of start-ups to assess the determinants, and the factors affecting annual sales of start-ups using the regression model in, Gujrat, India. Thus, it has an empirical contribution to the body of knowledge.
Limitations: This study could not provide rational justifications on most factors that show an insignificant impact on start-ups due to the small sample size. Further research, therefore, may be considered to identify the association of start-up size with the variables using a large sample size in India.
 
Financial Literacy and Women Entrepreneurs’ Performance in Lagos State, Nigeria : An Empirical Investigation
No full textPurpose: The study seeks to examine the influence of financial literacy on women entrepreneurs’ performance with particular reference to Lagos State, Nigeria.
Methods: A survey research design was employed for this study and a judgmental sampling technique was used to select 250 women entrepreneurs engaging in trading, teaching, fashion design, and agro-allied businesses. Mean, frequency, simple percentage, and least square method of estimation were used to analyze the data.
Results: The study establishes that financial literacy is a major determinant of women entrepreneurs’ performance.
Implications: The implication of this study is that if women entrepreneurs are equipped with an array of financial skills on income statement preparation, cash flow statement and cash budget preparation, the opening of a separate account for business, bookkeeping, internal control on cash, and daily cash reconciliation, they will be able to expand their businesses
Impact of Happiness on Job Performance: The Case of Primary School Teachers in Malaysia
Get PDFPurpose: The purpose of this study is to estimate the impact of happiness on job performance among primary school teachers in Malaysia.
Methods: The multi-stage stratified sampling method is used in the present study. This sampling method is chosen based on the efficiency of the sample. In the first stage, the targeted population is divided by states and their areas, with local authority or areas as sampling units.
Results: Results reveal that the overall job performance of the teacher is very high. The empirical findings indicate that happiness can influence the job performance of primary school teachers in Malaysia for self-perceived job performance only (feedback, student assist, and annual appraisal). The effects are highly significant and positive.
Implications: The implication of the study indicated that happiness increases the job performance of a teacher which helps to become an efficient teacher. Therefore, the authority should strive to ensure teachers’ happiness for good and qualitative education output
Impact of Micro Credit on the Growth of Women-Owned Small Businesses in Limbe I, Cameroon
Get PDFPurpose -- This study aims to analyze the impact of microcredit on the growth of women-owned small businesses in Limbe I Cameroon. More specifically, to identify, map and characterize the women-owned small businesses in Limbe I that have benefited from micro-credit, to assess the extent to which microcredit has assisted in the expansion of their businesses, and to investigate the challenges faced by the women small businesses in Limbe I.
Design /Methodology/Approach – The research design adopted for this study was ex-post facto or causal-comparative research design. A sample of 30 women-owned small businesses that have ever benefitted from microcredit was selected using a purposive sampling technique. The instrument used for this study was a well-structured and validated questionnaire and data for the study was analyzed and presented on tables, bar charts, using descriptive and inferential statistics assisted by SPSS software version 20 and the hypothesis was tested using a regression.
Findings – The findings revealed that microcredit has a very low level of impact on the growth of women-owned small businesses in Limbe I. The findings also unveiled the major challenges faced by women entrepreneurs viz. the pledge for collateral security, the lack of marketing skills and knowledge, the absence of proper training and support, the cumbersomeness of documents for the acquisition of loans, the high-interest rate, the long period of time taken before granting their loans and an absence of knowledge and awareness amongst women about budgeting control resource management and commercial functions.
Practical Implications- The study recommends that the women-owned businesses of Limbe I should unite them by creating an association on which to debate about their challenges. The Delegation of the small and medium scale enterprise should organize training to enhance their business management skills
Impact of Organizational Culture, Internal Marketing & Team Innovation Climate on Knowledge Sharing Behavior: Moderating Role of Perceived Behavior Control
Get PDFPurpose --This study aims to find the relationship among team innovation climates, organizational culture, internal marketing on "knowledge sharing behavior" through the moderating role of perceived behavioral control in the context of the telecom sector in Pakistan.
Design /Methodology/Approach – Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire from the employees in the telecommunication sector in Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 310 questionnaires was distributed in different telecommunication offices, out of them, 259 usable questionnaires were received back. The response rate is 85%. For data analysis, multiple regression analysis was run using SPSS version17.
Findings –It is found that the team innovation climates, internal marketing, and organizational culture have a strong positive impact on knowledge sharing behavior of the employees. Furthermore, perceived behavior control is observed to moderate the relationship between team innovation and internal marketing on knowledge sharing but not for organizational culture.
Practical Implications- It implies that the telecom sector can enhance knowledge sharing among the employees through mentoring, participation, rewards and pro-people leadership
Strategic Role of Efficiency to Cash Management: Evidence from Cash Flow Statement of Selected Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria
Get PDFPurpose: The study aims to examine the strategic role of efficiency to cash management, more specifically as it relates to cash generated from operations of manufacturing companies in Nigeria.
Method: Annual cash flow statements of selected manufacturing companies in Nigeria for ten years (2009 -2018) were used to conduct the Pooled Test, Random Test, Fixed Effect, and Hausman Test.
Results: The results showed that efficiency has a significant effect on the cash management of manufacturing companies in Nigeria generally coupled with that of the proxies employed (CULC, LTDC, INTC, and EARQ) to measure cash management.
Implications: In view of the empirical evidence, the study proffered that cash generated from the operation is very crucial and the most reliable means of generating funds for operation because it is internal; unlike funds generated from investing and financing activities