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Financial market resilience in the GCC: Evidence from COVID-19 and the Russia–Ukraine conflict
No full textGlobal financial markets have experienced significant volatility during crises, particularly COVID-19 and the Russia–Ukraine conflict, prompting questions about how regional markets respond to such shocks. Previous research highlights the influence of crises on stock market volatility, focusing on individual events or global markets, but less is known about the comparative dynamics within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets. Our study investigated volatility and asymmetric behavior within GCC stock markets during both crises. Furthermore, the econometric model E-GARCH(1,1) was applied to the daily frequency data of financial stock market returns from 11 March 2020 to 31 July 2023. This study examined volatility fluctuation patterns and provides a comparative assessment of GCC stock markets’ behavior during crises. Our findings reveal varying degrees of market volatility across the region during the COVID-19 crisis, with Qatar and the UAE exhibiting the highest levels of volatility persistence. In contrast, the Russia–Ukraine conflict has had a distinct effect on GCC markets, with Oman exhibiting the highest volatility persistence and Kuwait having the lowest volatility persistence. This study provides significant insights for policymakers and investors in managing risk and enhancing market resilience during economic and geopolitical uncertaint
Do CEO characteristics impact the decision to hire external auditor with forensic accounting competencies? Evidence from Jordanian listed companies
No full textPurpose – This paper aims to analyze whether chief executive officer (CEO) characteristics are linked with corporate decisions to hire external auditors with forensic accounting skills.
Design/methodology/approach – The research explores how attributes such as CEO education, compensation, age and duality influence this corporate governance decision. Adopting an integrated theoretical framework of upper echelon theory and resource dependence theory, this study utilizes logit and probit regression models to analyze data from 71 companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE). Data were collected from published annual reports for six fiscal years from 2017 to 2022.
Findings – The findings reveal that CEO education, compensation and age significantly impact the likelihood of appointing external auditors with forensic accounting expertise. Specifically, higher educational qualifications, greater compensation and older age are positively associated with this decision. However, CEO duality does not show a significant influence.
Research limitations/implications – The study’s scope is limited to firms listed on the ASE, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. Future research could expand to other regions and adopt longitudinal designs to provide a more comprehensive understanding of these relationships.
Social implications – Regulators and policymakers should consider the role of CEO attributes in enhanced financial transparency and accountability. Highly qualified executives may improve fraud detection and minimize financial risk. Corporate governance codes could also align executive profiles with risk management strategies.
Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the influence of CEO characteristics on the adoption offorensic accounting services in a developing market context.It highlights the role of leadership attributes in shaping corporate governance practices and reinforces the need for firms to consider these attributes in their decision-making processes
Here comes the sun: Social acceptability of solar photovoltaics in New Zealand
No full textAotearoa is in a globally unique position regarding its high level of renewable electricity generation. However, increased demand has led to greater pressure to diversify green energies and increase infrastructure capacity. To date, photovoltaics has received relatively low uptake, particularly in the residential market. Consumer behaviour has been changing with individuals becoming increasingly climate conscious, making purchase decisions that consider the triple bottom line. This study seeks to understand consumer attitudes and social acceptability of photovoltaics. It also investigates what incentives might encourage greater uptake of photovoltaics in Aotearoa. To explore this, we surveyed 517 individuals from across New Zealand. The results show that information practices have a direct impact on social acceptability, while also being mediated by perceived risks and perceived benefits. However, there was no significant support for the role of emotions in influencing social acceptability. An explorative analysis of possible purchase incentives revealed free installation to be the most attractive consumer purchase incentive, whilst annual rebates are considered the least attractive. This highlights the opportunity for policymakers and corporate actors to engage in information campaigns and incentive programmes to inform consumers and remove barriers to photovoltaic technology adoption
Edible insects, mātauranga, diet, and lifestage to explore the potential of Aotearoa New Zealand insects as food : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University
No full textWith growing global concerns about food security and environmental sustainability, insects as food could provide a promising alternative protein source. However, research on entomophagy (eating insects) has predominantly focused on Western perspectives, who perceive edible insects as a novel concept, and there is limited exploration of Indigenous knowledge systems. This thesis investigates the potential of native Aotearoa New Zealand insects as sustainable and nutritious food sources, integrating mātauranga Māori (indigenous Māori knowledge) with Western scientific approaches.
A survey of Māori participants (n=172) revealed that insects are culturally significant, with 47% of participants having consumed insects or knowing whānau (family) who had. Larvae of the huhu beetle (Prionoplus reticularis White, 1843) was identified as the most consumed insect, with 89% of participants naming it as a traditional food source. The survey also indicated that participants were significantly more likely to consume insects that were native to Aotearoa New Zealand, fed rākau rongoā (medicinal plants), or historically eaten by Māori (P<0.05). Most participants indicated they would eat insects either processed or whole (49%, N=78), with a total of 87% of participants indicating they would be willing to eat insects in some form (processed 37%, N=59, whole 4%, N=7). Through integration of mātauranga Māori, ecological factors, and nutritional considerations, three Lepidoptera species were selected and studied as whole insects; kawakawa looper (Cleora scriptaria (Walker, 1860)), brindled bell moth (Epalxiphora axenana Meyrick, 1881), and brown headed leafroller (Ctenopseustis obliquana (Walker, 1863)), and two culturally significant plant diets; kawakawa (Macropiper excelsum (G.Forst.) Miq.), and mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium Forst.). The selection process considered factors such as sustainability of rearing processes, life cycle length, plant associations, and cultural significance.
Amino acid (AA) and mineral analysis, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) respectively, showed that all three species met FAO/WHO requirements for essential AAs of 40%, with the essential AA to non-EAA ratios ranging from 41.1% to 44.5%. The brindled bell moth showed significantly higher levels of several minerals, including sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium, with iron content (21.4 mg/100g dry weight (DW)) (P<0.05) that exceeded New Zealand recommended daily intake. Diet studies with the brown headed leafroller showed that larvae and pupae reared on either mānuka or kawakawa had significantly higher levels of macrominerals, particularly sodium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus, compared to those on laboratory diets. Larvae reared on mānuka demonstrated higher concentrations of several essential AAs, including histidine, isoleucine, threonine, and valine, with total essential AA content (223.2 mg/g DW) significantly higher than those on laboratory diet (166.6 mg/g DW) (P<0.05). The dietary influence was more significant than life stage in determining amino acid composition.
Mātauranga Māori recognises that kawakawa leaves eaten by the kawakawa looper have enhanced medicinal properties. Supporting this knowledge, metabolomic analysis using rapid evaporative ionisation MS (REIMS) revealed distinct chemical changes in leaves eaten by the kawakawa looper (444 features, 16.08% differing from non-eaten leaves). These changes were unique and specific to insect herbivory, as artificially damaged leaves showed no significant differences from control leaves. The metabolomic response also varied between species, with the kawakawa looper and brindled bell moth showing the most distinct profiles (20.79% features differing), suggesting species-specific interactions between insects and kawakawa.
This research provides the first comprehensive analysis of native Aotearoa New Zealand insects as a sustainable food source, integrating mātauranga Māori and Western scientific approaches. The findings establish a foundation for developing nutritious insect-based foods that align with cultural values and environmental sustainability, demonstrating the potential of native insects in addressing food security challenges in Aotearoa New Zealand and globally
Bridging the researcher-stakeholder gap in leisure and tourism: A framework for enhancing the impact of scoping reviews
No full textScoping reviews are instrumental for synthesizing evidence and mapping research landscapes, but effective stakeholder engagement is also essential to ensure their relevance to both practice and policy. Despite its importance, stakeholder engagement in leisure and tourism scoping reviews has been limited. This methodological paper presents the Co-Creation Scoping Review Framework (CSRF) to enhance collaborative knowledge creation. By expanding the traditional five-stage scoping review process to seven stages, the CSRF places a strong emphasis on stakeholder engagement, effectively bridging the divide between researchers and stakeholders. This framework enhances the relevance of scoping reviews for both academic and practical applications, promoting more inclusive research methods, improving knowledge mobilization, and guiding future practice and research. The paper provides detailed guidance on implementing the CSRF, including a step-by-step approach and examples from recent leisure and tourism scoping reviews, demonstrating how the CSRF could have been applied to engage stakeholders and increase the relevance of findings
Phosphorus induced changes in food quality enhance porina fitness feeding on Epichloë endophyte free forage grasses
No full textThe increasing expenses and environmental repercussions associated with phosphorus (P) fertiliser underscore the necessity for precision-managed application methods. These changes affect pastoral systems, where cool-season grasses like perennial ryegrass and meadow fescue form beneficial relationships with Epichloë endophytes. Understanding how fertilisers influence these endophytes, host grasses, and insect pests is crucial, as Epichloë endophytes enhance resistance to some herbivorous insects. This study examined the indirect impact of various P fertiliser regimes on cool-season grasses, which serve as food sources for porina larvae (Wiseana copularis), a significant pasture pest in New Zealand. Endophyte-infected (Epichloë sp. LpTG-3 strain AR37) perennial ryegrass and meadow fescue infected with E. uncinata (strain MaxR (AR1017)), alongside their endophyte-free counterparts were grown in P-enriched soil with varying Olsen P levels (9, 18, 28, and 78 mg/L). Freeze-dried foliage was added to semi-synthetic diets and fed to porina larvae in a no-choice assay. Measurements included diet consumption, porina survival, weight gain. Measurements in foliage included fungal alkaloid concentration, fungal biomass, and plant nutrient levels. Endophyte infection of AR37 and MaxR significantly reduced porina diet consumption, larval weight gain and survival irrespective of soil Olsen P levels to the plant. Loline alkaloid concentration in MaxR-infected herbage increased with increasing soil Olsen P levels while fungal mass remained unchanged. In endophyte-free grasses, porina larvae significantly increased their diet consumption, weight gain and survival as the Olsen P level available to the host plant increased. While endophyte strains AR37 and MaxR continue to protect their hosts under different Olsen P regimes, these results suggest that the improved performance of porina on endophyte-free plants is largely driven by P-induced changes in food quality. Here, we discuss the implications of porina damage in New Zealand pastures in the context of decreasing P availability
Identifying research questions for sustainably integrating trees into the rural landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textAlthough trees have been integrated into the rural landscape for many years, questions remain about how to conduct this integration sustainably in temperate climates. A prioritisation exercise was therefore undertaken to identify 10 key research questions to sustainably practice agroforestry in Aotearoa New Zealand. The prioritisation exercise used an established participatory methodology to capture a wide range of views and consisted of three steps. First, 57 participants were invited to submit up to 10 questions on the topic, resulting in 93 questions. Secondly, the same group of participants was invited to rank the questions based on importance in four themes: environment, biophysics, socio-cultural and economic. Thirdly, a workshop was held, during which experts identified the final 10 questions. Key questions highlight the importance of understanding what trees to use in which system, the need to integrate mātauranga Māori (indigenous knowledge) and the importance of valuing ecosystem services
Multi-source data-driven spatiotemporal study on integrated ecosystem service value for sustainable ecosystem management in Lake Dianchi Basin
No full textEcosystem services are pivotal in assessing environmental health and societal well-being. Focusing on Lake Dianchi Basin (LDB), China, our research evaluated the IESV (Integrated Ecosystem Service Value) from 2000 to 2020, utilizing remote sensing
and multiple statistical datasets. The analysis incorporates LSV (Landscape Service Value),
CSV (Carbon Sequestration Value), and NPPV (Net Primary Productivity Value). The results show that LSV and CSV exhibited an expansion of low-yield zones near urban areas, contrasted by NPPV’s growth in high-yield outskirt areas. LSV’s normal distribution
indicates stability, while CSV’s bimodal structure points to partial integration and systemic divergence. IESV pronounced clustering in both low- and high-yield regions, with lowyield zones congregating near urban centers and high-yield zones dispersed along the
basin’s periphery. Despite an overall downward trajectory in IESV, NPPV’s augmentation suggested an underlying systemic resilience. A southeastward shift in IESV’s focus was driven by patterns of urban expansion. Finally, we produced projections with the CAMC (Cellular Automata–Markov Chain) model to analyze the ongoing distribution of IESV areas around Kunming. By 2030, IESV’s aggregate value is expected to modestly diminish, with NPPV’s ascension mitigating the declines in LSV and CSV. In essence, IESV
fluctuations within the LDB are intricately linked to urban development
Inter-regional characterisation of New Zealand pinot noir wines: correlation between wine colour, monomeric and polymeric phenolics, tannin composition, antioxidant capacity, and sensory attributes
No full textA total of 116 New Zealand Pinot Noir wines from Central Otago (CO), Marlborough (MLB), and Martinborough (MTB) were analysed for colour, monomeric and total phenolics, antioxidant capacity, and tannins using colourimetric and HPLC methods. Correlations among chemical compositions and analytical techniques were examined. Additionally, a sensory study assessed wine colour and five mouthfeel attributes. Discriminant analyses revealed significant regional characteristics. CO wines displayed unique monomeric anthocyanin profiles and were perceived as softer on the palate. MLB wines showed higher residual sugar but lower colour intensity and tannin concentration. MTB wines exhibited higher colour and robust mouthfeels, linked to higher colour absorbances, polymeric pigments, and tannins. Mouthfeel attributes correlated significantly with wine total phenolics, MCP and HPLC tannin measurements, and the degree of tannin polymerisation (mDP). The combined chemical and sensory data enhanced regional differentiation, demonstrating the importance of integrating comprehensive chemical measurements with sensory evaluations for thorough wine classification
Understanding environmental performance in hospitality industry: Role of green human resource management, environmental strategy, environmental legitimacy and green innovation
No full textLiterature indicates that environmental performance has received special attention due to the increasing awareness of business managers on its positive impacts on the economy, society and environment. However, few studies have been conducted to examine the drivers of green innovation i.e. green human resource management, environmental strategy, environmental legitimacy towards environmental performance in the context of hospitality industry especially in developing countries. This study aims to examine the relationship between green human resource management, environmental strategy, environmental legitimacy, green innovation, and environmental performance in the hospitality industry both in direct and mediation relationships. Data were collected from hotel and restaurant managers in Bali, Indonesia. Smart-PLS was used to examine the validity and reliability of the proposed structural equation modeling. The findings of the present study revealed that green human resource management significantly influences environmental strategy, legitimacy, green innovation and environmental performance. Furthermore, environmental strategy, legitimacy, and green innovation mediate the relationship between GHRM and environmental performance. This study contributes to theoretical and practical implications and provides valuable suggestions, especially for managers in the hospitality industry for environmental conservation