Asian Journal of Economics, Business and Accounting
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Effects of Gendered Education Investment on Economic Growth in Nigeria
No full textThere has been an ongoing debate in economic literature on the role of gendered education investment in economic growth. This study investigates the effects of gendered investment in education on economic growth in Nigeria. The specific objectives are to examine the combined effects of female secondary school enrolment, government recurrent expenditure on education, and the Gender Parity Index (GPI) for primary school enrolment on Nigeria’s real GDP per capita. Annual data from 1990 to 2023 on government recurrent expenditure on education was obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin, while data on real GDP per capita, female secondary school enrolment, and the GPI for primary school enrolment were sourced from the World Development Indicators. Real GDP per capita was used as the dependent variable, while the independent variables comprised government recurrent expenditure on education, female secondary school enrolment, and the GPI for primary school enrolment. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model was employed as the estimation technique. The ARDL long-run results indicate that both government recurrent expenditure on education and female secondary school enrolment have a positive and statistically significant effect on real GDP per capita. Conversely, the GPI for primary school enrolment has a negative and statistically significant long-run effect on real GDP per capita. In light of these findings, the study recommends, among other measures, that the Nigerian government should institutionalise a long-term education financing framework, prioritising consistent, accountable, and outcome-driven investments to ensure that educational expenditure translates into sustainable economic growth. Additionally, government policies should focus on removing socio-economic barriers to girls’ education by providing scholarships, enforcing anti-child marriage laws, and expanding school networks in rural areas to maximise labour force participation and productivity
Effects of Credit Risk on Profitability and Sustainability: Evidence from Selected Micro Finance Institutions within Sub Saharan Region
No full textAims: The study aimed to investigate the effects of credit risk on the profitability and sustainability of micro-financial institutions (MFIs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Given the critical role that MFIs play in financial inclusion and economic development, understanding how credit risk affects their operational efficiency is essential for ensuring long-term financial stability.
Study Design: This research adopted a mixed-methods approach, integrating both explanatory and descriptive research designs to explore the causal relationship between credit risk and MFI performance, while also offering contextual insights into how these risks manifest in practice.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted across 12 selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa representing approximately 25% of the region’s nations and spanning West, East, and Southern Africa. Data collection took place between August 2024 and March 2025.
Methodology: The study utilized both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data were gathered through online surveys and semi-structured interviews with MFI employees and managers. A sample of 385 participants was selected using stratified random and purposive sampling techniques. Descriptive statistics were conducted using SPSS to analyze survey data, while thematic analysis was used for qualitative interview data. Regression analysis was employed to test the hypothesis regarding the influence of credit risk on profitability and sustainability.
Results: The study found that credit risk has a significant negative effect on the profitability and sustainability of MFIs. Regression analysis revealed a coefficient of -0.318 (t = -3.457, p = 0.001), indicating that higher credit risk is associated with lower profitability and reduced operational stability. Descriptive statistics showed moderate to high concern for credit risk (mean = 3.68) alongside modest profitability (mean = 3.45) and sustainability (mean = 3.52), while interviews confirmed that loan defaults and non-performing loans continue to compromise financial performance despite robust risk assessment efforts.
Conclusion: Credit risk is a central challenge undermining both the financial performance and long-term sustainability of MFIs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Even with existing mitigation strategies, persistent defaults continue to erode profitability and operational stability. MFIs should strengthen credit appraisal using both financial and non-financial indicators, invest in staff training on risk assessment and monitoring, leverage digital tools for real-time borrower tracking, and align credit decisions with their risk appetite. Additionally, engagement with policymakers to enhance regulatory frameworks, combined with scenario analysis and stress testing, will support more resilient and sustainable operations
Awareness and Impact of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) on Women MSME Entrepreneurs in Chhattisgarh, India
No full textThe Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is a government initiative designed to provide financial assistance to micro and small enterprises, with a particular focus on encouraging entrepreneurship among women entrepreneurs. By extending credit to underserved segments, MUDRA seeks to unlock the entrepreneurial potential within the informal sector, driving economic inclusivity and sustainable development. It specifically targets micro-enterprises, which often struggle to secure traditional bank loans due to their small scale and lack of collateral. The present study aims to examine the awareness level of women micro, small and medium entrepreneurs of Durg, Chhattisgarh, India, towards PMMY schemes and its influence on financial inclusion, financial empowerment and access to financial assistance through the PMMY scheme. A quantitative approach was used to collect the responses from the sampled 280 women micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs of Durg, Chhattisgarh, India. A pilot study was conducted, and then a self-structured questionnaire was developed. The data was collected from the respondents through face-to-face interviews through a validated questionnaire. The collected data was fed into the Excel spreadsheet for further analysis. The data were tabulated and statistically analysed by t-test and analyses of variance (ANOVA) at (p≤0.05) level of significance. The data was analysed using SPSS or XLSTAT software. The results confirm that there has been a significant (p≤0.001) growth in the amount sanctioned (in crore) and amount disbursed (in crore) to the PMMY women entrepreneurs from FY 2015-16 to FY 2023-24. The Chi-square (independence test) calculated value confirmed that the PMMY scheme has significantly (p≤0.001) brought financial inclusion among the women entrepreneurs of Durg, Chhattisgarh. The mean score values of responses from respondents indicate that the women micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs of Durg, Chhattisgarh, have a high level of awareness regarding the tested indicators of awareness towards the PMMY scheme. The predictor analysis (regression analysis) reported that awareness among women micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs is a significant (p≤0.001) predictor of acquiring financial assistance under PMMY schemes by the sampled women entrepreneurs. Future studies are required to identify the major challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in acquiring and utilising PMMY loans, despite the reported high awareness levels
Does Good Governance Drive Economic Growth in India? Evidence from the ARDL Bounds Testing Approach
No full textThis study examines the influence of good governance on economic growth in India using annual data from 1996 to 2022. Economic growth, measured through per capita GDP, is analysed in relation to governance indicators: control of corruption, political stability and voice and accountability, along with key control variables such as the Human Development Index, government consumption, trade openness, foreign direct investment and gross fixed capital formation. Employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag model with supporting robustness checks, the findings confirm a significant long-run relationship between governance and growth. Governance indicators and human development emerge as strong drivers of growth, while government consumption and trade openness also contribute positively. By contrast, foreign direct investment is found to have a negative and insignificant effect and gross fixed capital formation shows a negative but significant impact, reflecting possible structural or institutional challenges in translating these factors into growth benefits. These results highlight the importance of governance reforms and sustained investment in human development as essential for India’s long-term economic progress, offering valuable insights for policymakers seeking to strengthen institutions and promote inclusive growth
Work-Life Balance and Employee Performance: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy
No full textIn the dynamic and competitive landscape of modern organizations, achieving a balance between work and personal life has become increasingly important. Work-life balance (WLB) is not merely a matter of individual well-being and contentment but also significantly influences organizational performance and prosperity. This paper investigates the intricate interplay between WLB and employee performance, with a particular emphasis on the mediating influence of self-efficacy. Grounded in social cognitive theory and a comprehensive review of existing scholarship, this study postulates that employees who perceive a more favorable WLB are predisposed to manifest heightened levels of self-efficacy. Such individuals are more inclined to exhibit a proactive approach towards their tasks and demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges, thereby enhancing their overall performance. This research endeavors to offer novel insights into the critical role of WLB in augmenting employee performance, elucidating the underlying mechanisms that govern this association. The implications of these findings extend to organizational leaders and human resource practitioners, emphasizing the imperative of cultivating an environment conducive to WLB and nurturing self-efficacy among employees. By implementing targeted strategies aimed at bolstering WLB and self-efficacy, organizations can cultivate a workforce that is not only more motivated and engaged but also more proficient in achieving organizational objectives
An Assessment of Barriers to Effective Digital Banking Service Delivery in Nigerian Commercial Banks: Customers Perspective
No full textThis study aims to examine the barriers that hinder effective digital banking service delivery in Nigerian commercial banks from the customers’ perspective, focusing on their influence on perceived usefulness and ease of use. A quantitative survey design was employed, targeting 400 active users of mobile applications, internet banking, USSD, and POS services, with 395 valid responses analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS. The study adopted the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as its framework, with barriers conceptualized across five dimensions: reliability, security, cost, infrastructure, and support. Descriptive results revealed widespread challenges, including frequent transaction failures, poor network connectivity, high charges, fraud risks, and delayed redress mechanisms, despite customers acknowledging digital banking as convenient and efficient. Structural Equation Modeling showed that customer-perceived barriers significantly and negatively affect both perceived usefulness (β = –0.52, P < .001) and perceived ease of use (β = –0.59, P < .001), with large effect sizes and meaningful predictive relevance. The findings highlight that while customers appreciate the potential of digital banking, persistent infrastructural, financial, and trust-related obstacles undermine their experience. The study concludes that improving service reliability, reducing transaction costs, enhancing security frameworks, and strengthening customer support are essential to fostering trust, satisfaction, and sustainable digital financial inclusion in Nigeria
Adhocracy Culture and Organizational Adaptability: Insights into Strategic Plan Implementation in Kenya’s Insurance Sector
No full textThis study explores the impact of organizational culture on execution of strategic plans within the Kenyan insurance industry, with a strong emphasis on adhocracy culture, a culture type under Competing Values Framework (CVF). Adhocracy culture underpins innovation, flexibility, and adaptability; traits necessary for firms operating in highly evolving and dynamic environments. While much of the existing body of knowledge acknowledges the impact of organizational culture on strategic plan implementation, rarely has any empirical study tested this correlation in an African context, especially in a dynamic and highly regulated environment such as the Kenyan Insurance sector. Employing a descriptive survey design, data was collected from 30 insurance firms and analyzed through inferential and regression methods. The findings reveal that adhocracy culture is a statistically significant forecaster of strategic plan implementation ( ). These results underpin the importance of adaptive and innovation-driven organizational environments in converting strategic plans into actionable outcomes, particularly in rapidly-evolving and highly-dynamic markets where traditional and highly structured approaches are insufficient. The research progresses the knowledge in the areas of corporate culture and organizational strategy by offering empirical evidence from a highly-regulated and dynamic industry in an understudied developing economy. The research emphasizes the idea that adaptive organizational cultures underpinned by innovation are essential for effective strategic plan implementation. The research offers practical lessons for leaders and policymakers tasked with implementation of strategic plans. It supposes that vibrant cultural characteristics largely enhance strategy execution in highly-evolving business set-ups. The study recommends that organizations entrench innovation processes, encourage cross-functional collaboration, and set up flexible decision-making models to enhance effective strategic plan implementation
MSME Sector Emerging as a Leading Gateway for Atmanirbhar Bharat
No full textThe MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) sector is a vital pillar of the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) effort, which aims to increase economic self-sufficiency and decrease reliance on imports. In order to make India economically resilient and a global manufacturing hub, the initiative supports MSMEs through policy reforms, financial packages like collateral-free loans, and a greater emphasis on infrastructure and technology to promote domestic production, import substitution, and employment generation. The Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography, and Demand are the five pillars of Atmanirbhar Bharat. These pillars serve as the cornerstone for India\u27s goal of economic growth, contemporary infrastructure, effective systems, utilization of its youthful population, and harnessing domestic demand. The MSME sector has a favourable and thriving effect on India’s GDP. Although, researchers, academics, policymakers, and financial organizations can all benefit from the study
Evaluating AI Influence on Candidate Authenticity: Risks, Ethics and Solutions for Modern Recruitment
No full textIncrease in the integration of AI tools into job applications has led to the transformation of hiring processes and job interviews in the modern time. Such a transformation has, however, created advantages and efficiency gains for candidates on the one hand, and major ethical challenges for HR professionals and recruiters on the other hand. This research therefore examines the impact of AI-generated or enhanced resumes and AI-assisted interview processes on candidates’ evaluation authenticity and integrity of recruitment. The article adopted the narrative literature review approach. Published articles and industry anecdotes were gathered and analyzed for this study. Also, analytical reasoning was integrated with signaling theory concepts (Spence, 1973), AI use ethics, and literature on organizational trust. This article also highlights the ability of AI to generate human-like responses, thereby raising concerns about trust erosion, digital privilege and surface-level evaluation and assessments. Relying on evidence from case studies, testimonies from recruiters and academic research, the study presents the analysis of ethical boundaries between acceptable AI use and assistance and deceptive AI use and practices. The study also highlights the limitations of AI-detection tools, while proposing practical solutions, including skills-based assessments and hiring, proctored coding, HR and recruiters’ training, policies on AI use and transparency and organizational/industrial collaborations. The study proposed a pragmatic and sector-sensitive approach to hiring, thereby maintaining an appropriate balance between innovation and integrity as well as protection of fairness, while ensuring continuous adaptation to advancement in technology
Revenue Generation and Sustainable Development of the Local Government of Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur: An Adequacy and Responsiveness
No full textLocal governments worldwide face the persistent challenge of providing essential services amidst tightening budgets, necessitating effective strategies for cost reduction and revenue enhancement without overburdening residents. This study investigates the efficacy and responsiveness of revenue generation strategies in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, and their impact on sustainable development. Framed by the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991, which promotes local government unit (LGU) self-reliance, the research explores the LGU’s efforts to bolster its fiscal capacity despite escalating population and expenditure demands. Employing a cross-sectional design, the study assesses the implementation of local revenue generation and taxation. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews to address the research premises. Bayugan City, recognized for its advancements in peace and economic development, confronts the dual challenge of sustaining growth while navigating financial limitations. The research critically analyzes initiatives undertaken by the city\u27s LGU, particularly at the barangay level, to heighten tax awareness, enforce compliance, and optimize revenue collection. Strategies adopted by the local treasury to encourage taxpayers and fortify the city’s revenue base are also examined. This research highlights how these fiscal policies and practices contribute to the city’s infrastructure development and overall economic growth, fostering a balanced and sustainable development trajectory. By evaluating the alignment of Bayugan City’s revenue generation strategies with decentralization principles and sustainable development goals, this study offers valuable insights into the complexities of local governance in resource mobilization. It emphasizes the significance of responsive fiscal policies in bridging development disparities, promoting equitable progress, and ensuring that local communities can flourish economically and socially. The findings are intended to serve as a practical model for other LGUs striving to enhance their fiscal resilience and long-term sustainability