Behavioral Economics in Military Personnel Research and Policy

Behavioral economics is a burgeoning field of research that is being used to increase the effectiveness of military policies, programs, and operations. This chapter provides an overview of the origins of behavioral economics, key concepts, how behavioral economics research translates into applied behavioral change, and the rise of behavioral economics teams in government around the world. The chapter outlines how behavioral economics is being used within the military, with specific examples from Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel research to illustrate how this field is being applied to military behavioral sciences.

Editorial Notes: Issues in Islamic Economics, Banking and Financial Institutions during the Covid-19 Pandemic

In this second issue of the 2021 edition, we mostly received manuscripts discussing the challenges of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions (IBFIs) within the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, they discuss various topics within the field, such as institutional and employees' performances, financial stability, waqf institutions, the trend of Islamic economics research, and the relevance of Islamic economics and finance essential components to the modern economy. Approaching the publication deadline, only ten were accepted out of the dozen manuscripts that were reviewed. Nine were ready for publication, while the rest still needed quality improvements. As for the process, each manuscript will have to pass an initial review from our editor(s) before forwarding it to suitable reviewers. Some manuscripts would have to go through several rounds before being accepted. The reviewers' feedback was taken into consideration to provide the final decisions. Following that, the manuscripts would have to pass the editing stages, including proof-reading and layout, where our editor(s) will intensely communicate with the authors if needed. It is to ensure that each published manuscript has undergone a quality check. Interestingly, of the published articles, five of them discuss the performance issues in Islamic financial institutions, whilst the rest discuss Islamic economics and financial matters in other topics ranging from waqf institutions, the trend of Islamic economics research, to the relevance of Islamic economics and finance essential components to the modern economy. Please check the PDF file for detailed information.

Grand ideas or delusions of grandeur? Placing big thinkers and essential theories in property economics research

PurposeThis article is looking to reflect on the various important touchstones of “grand theory” and “big thinkers” that can be framed when engaging empirical evidence in property economics research.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is reflexive in nature, using experiential reflection to consider theory in property economics. The importance of “methodology” is emphasised rather than “method”.FindingsUsing reflexive mode, the paper does not have “findings” as such: if the views expressed are accepted, then a research agenda to better understand property economics research is implied.Research limitations/implicationsThe nature of reflection is that it follows from the writer's experiential processes and interpretations. The reader may come from a different stance. Broadly accepting the propositions, there is a call for property economics research to be formulated in reason and logic, particularly as humans do not reason from facts alone. Such reasoned thinking could for example be in the property economic concepts of space and place, contracts and justice, capital and financialisation.Practical implicationsTo engage with such theory would provide some depth of philosophical roots for property as a discipline. Elevating property as a “real-world” discipline rather than simply an applied mathematics discipline.Social implicationsThe paper enables an understanding of how property economics research can benefit from more ontology and more inductive reasoning.Originality/valueThe paper reflects the views and experience of the author based on over 15 years of research in property economics.

Data update for Vietnam economics research institutions as of October 2021

Research data in Vietnam have been fragmented, and this is a long-standing fact. Although several universities repeatedly claim that they have been the leading players in economics research, actual data may not support their claims. In a recent attempt, Dr. Le Van Ut of Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City compiled a data set to figure out Vietnamese scholars’ internal capacity. Nonetheless, this report covers too large a spectrum that economics research has little weight. In fact, only one person represents the humanities and social sciences in Dr. Ut’s 22-person lifetime achievement list, and only a handful in his 2021 most influential list.