Advancing SME Sustainability

Author(s):  
Meng Kui Hu ◽  
Daisy Mui Hung Kee

The world has been struck by multiple crises that crippled the socio-economy of nations in the past. The impact of these crises was so significant that they initiated numerous policy changes worldwide. The radical crises in this context refer to the Spanish flu, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and the current COVID-19 pandemic. Due to their small capital structure with limited resources and fragile nature, SMEs were severely impacted by these crises. Many SMEs were forced to close down their business operations. Somehow, the remaining SMEs managed to persist and survive through the crises. Moving forward, SMEs can better prepare for future crises by understanding and learning from the predicaments of these past crises. Consequently, SMEs must also be adaptive to new business environments and responding promptly to crises by realigning their strategies to achieve business sustainability in the long term.

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bashar Al-Zu'bi ◽  
Hussein Salameh ◽  
Qasim Mousa Abu Eid

<p>This paper studies the short and long term relationship between S&amp;P500 USA stock market index and the stock market indices of 30 countries around the world over the period June 2010-April 2015. We implement OLS regression and use error correction model to examine the short and long term relationship between the variables. Empirically, we find that there is a relationship on the short and long term between S&amp;P500 and the indices of 27 countries from East Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East as well as the countries of Australia and Canada. These results conclude that the global financial crisis of 2007-2008 significantly and lengthy increased the already high level of co-movement between the USA financial market and the observed stock market for 27 countries around the world. The findings from our research are important; however, we believe that further research based on our findings is necessary.</p>


Author(s):  
Piotr Bolibok

The paper aims at empirical evaluation of the impact of household debt on the dynamics of consumption spending since the beginning of the global financial crisis. The research employed linear regression analysis of the rate of growth of household spending against the rate of growth of disposable income, the level of indebtedness and long-term interest rates in the OECD member states between 2008-2014. The results obtained indicate that household indebtedness was one of the factors influencing the dynamics of consumption demand and thus the processes of economic growth in the OECD states after the beginning of the global financial crisis. Variations in the relation of total debt to net disposable income and in the level of long-term interest rates were both negatively related to the changes in consumption spending. This impact turned out to be markedly stronger when total household debt of a given country was exceeding 85% of GDP, which is consistent with the results of previous investigations on the in&uence of the indebtedness of household sector on the dynamics of economic growth


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Sinem Sefil-Tansever

The aim of this study is to examine mechanism responsible for the behavior of the income and earning inequality in Turkey during the global financial crisis based on data from the 2006 to 2014 Income and Living Conditions Survey. Gini decomposition by income source is employed in order to provide an analysis of the contribution of the various income sources to the evolution of income inequality and to assess the impact of a marginal percentage change in the income from a particular source on income inequality. For examining the contributions of specific variables (education, position in occupation, economic sector) to the interpretation of labor earnings inequality in terms of their gross and marginal contribution, we use static decomposition of Theil T index.


Asian Survey ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles E. Ziegler

Russia's seamless presidential succession produced no major changes in domestic politics or foreign policy. Ties with Asia remained strong, though several key relationships——with China, Japan, and the Central Asian states——frayed under the impact of Russia's military action in Georgia. Impressive economic performance in the first half of the year boosted Russian confidence as a great power, but its vulnerability to the global financial crisis together with the heavy-handed operation in the Caucasus undermined Moscow's standing with both Asia and Europe by the end of the year.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice Lay Hui Nga

This paper investigates the issue of the global financial crisis and its impacts on philanthropy and civil society organisations (CSOs) in Malaysia. CSOs are popularly known as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Malaysia. Financial crisis has caused NGOs in many countries to receive less funding. This situation may threaten and discourage voluntary works. Undoubtedly, these beneficial contributions from the NGOs are needful services to the society. This paper examines the impact of financial crisis through the lens of NGOs and philanthropy activities in Malaysia. It utilises primary and secondary data, employs a mixed method approach, and uses quantitative and qualitative data. While there are many influencing factors in this development, this paper presents several significant aspects in the Malaysian context, including the style and nature of giving, culture, religion, and political pressure. This study attempts to seek potential solutions, pathways and possible approaches beneficial to NGOs and philanthropy activities for their sustainability in facing the financial crisis and its consequences. Experiences and lessons learnt in Malaysia may well be useful and applicable to some extent in other countries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-92
Author(s):  
Hasan Tekin ◽  
Ali Yavuz Polat

We investigate the change in adjustment speed of debt maturity for East Asian firms between 1990 and 2017 by including two exogenous shocks: the Asian Financial Crisis 1997-1998 (AFC) and the Global Financial Crisis 2007-2009 (GFC). We employ the least square dummy variable correction and find that East Asian firms have a slower adjustment of long-term debt over time. Besides, the decrease in adjustment speed of long-term debt after the GFC is more compared to the decrease after the AFC. Further analysis shows the optimal debt maturity differs across countries and industries. Another important implication of our results is that firms in high governance countries are more likely to close the gap between the actual and target debt maturity in time. Overall, debt holders and investors should consider financial uncertainties.


2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohana Othman ◽  
Nooraslinda Abdul Aris ◽  
Rafidah Mohd Azli ◽  
Roshayani Arshad

The global financial crisis that devastated many of the worlds financial systems in a manner never seen before exposed the glaring weakness in risk management and interest-driven policies. The crisis brought the collapse of several iconic financial institutions once perceived to be too strong to capitulate. The crisis engulfed one economy after another from corporations to eventually bring about the collapse of governments of countries reeling from the impact of the crisis. Asset values plummeted and the crisis clearly demonstrated the fragility of the western capitalist system and the free market economy. The Islamic economic and financial system is anchored on universal honorable values, ideals and morals - honesty, credibility, transparency, co-operation and solidarity. These fundamental values uphold stability, security and safety in any financial transactions. Of paramount consideration is that the Shariah prohibits any economic and financial transactions that involve usury, lying, gambling, cheating, unsubstantiated risk or uncertainty (gharar), monopoly, exploitation, greed, unfairness and taking other peoples money unjustly. Another key aspect to the philosophy behind the Islamic financial system is money issued must be fully asset backed. It is impermissible to allow money to be traded for money except at par. Islam is not just the prohibition of riba and zakah (alms); it is a comprehensive system to fulfill societys basic necessities (food, clothing and shelter). History has demonstrated that Islam has the capacity to deliver and has succeeded in providing a viable economic system.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matabane T. Mohohlo ◽  
Johan H. Hall

The financial leverage-operating leverage trade-off hypothesis states that as financial leverage increases, management of firms will seek to reduce the exposure to operating leverage in an attempt to balance the overall risk profile of a firm. It is the objective of this study to test this hypothesis and ascertain whether operating leverage can indeed be added to the list of factors that determine the capital structure of South African firms. Forty-six firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange between 1994 and 2015 are analysed and the impact of operating leverage is determined. The results are split into two periods, that is, the period before the global financial crisis (1994–2007) and after the global financial crisis (2008–2015). The impact of operating leverage during these two periods is then compared to determine whether a change in the impact of operating leverage on the capital structure can be observed especially following the crisis. The results show that the conservative nature of South African firms leading up to 2008 persisted even after the global financial crisis. At an industry level, the results reveal that operating leverage does not have a noticeable impact on capital structure with the exception of firms in the industrials sector of the South African economy.


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