Financial Inclusion through Financial Literacy

Financial literacy is a means to tackle the problem of financial exclusion. It is a combination of awareness, skills, knowledge, attitude and behaviors necessary to make sound financial decisions and achieve financial well being. Objective of this study is to analyze current policy, practices and evidences on financial literacy. The study has been carried out on the basis of review of literature and secondary data collected from a range of sources. It is found that the government of India, RBI and other regulatory bodies are running financial literacy campaigns through diverse mediums. Financial literacy centers (FLCs) are contributing for enhancement of financial literacy. However, they need to be strengthened by enhancing resources. Inclusion of financial education in school and college curriculum has also been recommended. Scope of the study is limited to Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh in India. The study might be valuable for policymakers in enhancing financial inclusion.

An Exploratory Study on Personal Finance in the Context of COVID-19

The world is currently experiencing a dramatic crisis that has not yet reached bottom. In Mexico, in the second quarter of 2020, there was a drop in the gross domestic product of 18.9% compared to the same quarter of 2019. In this context, the objective is to identify types of personal expenses in households located in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico as of July 15, 2020. The main results were that most of the respondents' budgets spend according to their income, have had no problem paying their bank loans on time, would consider a fund for future contingencies, have not purchased health insurance, have not bought a computer or cell phone, among other issues analyzed. The main findings are oriented to the fact that the studied population has not acquired additional medical insurance despite the pandemic. It is also concluded that the population under study has become aware of having savings for contingency funds and that digital life still shows resistance in making personal financial decisions.

Factors affecting asset investment of public companies in plastic and packaging industry in Vietnam

The purpose of this research is to identify and analyze the influence of internal factors on asset investment of public companies in the plastic and packaging industry in Vietnam. The research has built a regression model to determine the relationship of internal factors affecting asset investment of public companies in the plastic and packaging industry in Vietnam. The strength of this research is to use the E-view software in quantitative analysis to build a panel data regression model. At the same time, the researchers used the Hausman test to select the appropriate model compared to other research. The data of the research are collected and calculated from the financial statements of 27 companies in the plastic and packaging industry in Vietnam from 2013 to 2020. The research results show that such factors as sale, equity, and debt ratio have a positive impact on asset investment, the return on assets has a negative impact on asset investment, while the average loan interest rate does not affect the asset investment of enterprises. Therefore, the author has made recommendations to help public companies in the plastic and packaging industry in Vietnam to improve the efficiency of asset investment. The results of this research are very useful for corporate financial managers in helping them make appropriate financial decisions for their companies.

The Strategic Divestment Decision in the Family Business Through the Real Options and Emotional Lenses

Divestments have received little attention in family business research, although representing one of the most important strategic and financial decisions. Additionally, they have been insufficiently studied from the owning family's emotional perspective. This chapter contributes in filling these gaps by focusing on the core entity of the family business as object of divestment from the Real Options and Regret theoretical lenses. It suggests a characterization of the family business divestment decision and a series of propositions with case vignettes around configurations of divestment options, their valuation, and influence in different emotional family business archetypes.

ISLAMIC BANK SUSTAINABILITY IN INDONESIA: VALUE AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCES BASED ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND GREEN FINANCE

This paper investigates the sustainability perspective of Islamic banks' financial decisions, performance, and corporate value where Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and green finance are moderation variables. The analysis method used multivariate statistical methods, structural equation modelling with the WarpPLS software program and testing panel data regression models using the E-Views software program. The datasets used involves 34 Islamic banks in Indonesia. This study found a significant relationship between CSR and green finance implementation to financial decisions, financial performance, and corporate value of Islamic banks in Indonesia. However, the relationship is heterogeneous or dissimilar across different quantiles. This means that CSR and green finance implementation only achieve short-term profit, not long-term sustainability. The study also reveals that corporate social responsibility contributes the most to Islamic banks' investment decisions and market value. Thus, policies focusing on integrated CSR in Islamic banking are required to improve sustainability opportunities.

ESTIMATION OF FINANCIAL STABILITY OF AGRARIAN ENTERPRISES IN UKRAINE

In this paper the system of factors influencing the formation of financial solvency was investigated, the financial sustainability of agricultural enterprises of Ukraine was evaluated, and an approach was developed to define and help ensure the financial sustainability of enterprises in the face of contemporary economic and market challenges. According to the research, the main principles for maintaining financial sustainability are: responsiveness to internal and external changes; governance systems; risk management; analysis of financial ratios; real assessment of the financial solvency of the enterprise; integration with the overall management system; orientation towards achieving the strategic goals of the enterprise; use of qualitative methods to inform financial decisions in the face of uncertainty and risk.

Impact of Consumer Awareness on Switching Behavior in Banking

In the era of open banking, the phenomenon of bank switching will intensify. The aim of the current study is to answer the following question: is switching, or not switching banks, a result of conscious and independent decision-making? The results from primary data demonstrate that the switching group clients are more conscious than non-switching group clients. They are more likely to compare offers from different banks, visit blogs about finances, demonstrate independence in making financial decisions, and use more service providers which improves their knowledge concerning the offers. The analysis of perceptual maps shows that the switching group is differentiated by various switching costs.

Households' intentions under financial vulnerability conditions: is it likely for the COVID-19 pandemic to leave a permanent scar?

PurposeThe authors draw on psychological reactance theory, collective mental programming, psychological profiles and financial vulnerability experiences to assess the possibility that the pandemic may induce transformative changes in households' behavioral intentions related to financial decisions after the pandemic is over.Design/methodology/approachUsing a unique survey data drawn from four different countries located in North America, Europe, Africa and Latin America, the authors show that the stressful conditions that accompanied the pandemic have instigated a state of financial vulnerability and stimulated instinctual defensive mechanisms among consumers.FindingsThe study results indicate that households have intentions to make defensive decisions in spending, consumption, planning and investment. Furthermore, the authors report evidence that personal psychological heterogeneity (as an individual factor) and collective mental programming (as a cultural factor) play a significant role in shaping households' postpandemic financial intentions.Research limitations/implicationsThe study findings carry important practical implications. For financial institutions, marketers and financial advisors, the authors’ work implies that individual and collective factors affect people's perception and behavioral intentions in response to financial adversities. For social planners and legislators, the authors’ work shows that they should expect not only short-term but also long-term reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic.Originality/valueMost research on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on households' financial behavior focuses on transitional adjustments made during the pandemic, and little emphasis has been placed on potential postpandemic adjustments. The authors contend that it would be a mistake to analyze the pandemic-induced crisis as a temporary financial hardship.