Fashion and Business Cycles with Snobs and Bandwagoners in a Multi-Sector Growth Model

<p>This paper generalizes the dynamic growth model with interactions between fashion, economic growth and income and wealth distribution recently built by Zhang (2016). The modelling of fashion and preference change is inspirited by the economic model of fashion recently published by Giovinazzo and Naimzada (2015). This study introduces fashion into neoclassical growth theory. The original model is based on some ideas in the literature of economics of fashion. This study generalizes Zhang’s model by making all the time-independent parameters as time-dependent parameters. We simulate the motion of the economic system. We carry out comparative dynamic analysis with regard to periodic perturbations in some parameters. We show how exogenous period changes in these parameters lead to business cycles. </p>

Digital Divide: Concepts and Reality in Bangladesh

Nowadaysthe physical boundary, political divergence, or the ICT do not only divide the world rather by new digital yardstick as well. Thenew separating phenomenon or aspect known popularly as the “Digital Divide” that confronts the nations and the people. Considering the worldwide promptness for bridging the Digital –Divide of developing countries, Bangladesh lags due to lack of proper initiatives. Proper institutional and legal framework and appropriate law/act in this regard not yet prepared. Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission(BTRC), the authority to oversee and control the telecom sector of the country that is necessary for ICTs deployment, is vested with contradicting power and authority.Although the progress in all ICT facilities in Bangladesh is encouraging, yet it is not that fast as that of developed countries. ICT is an important factor for development but to be available for all level people. Therefore, by adopting appropriate methodology &amp; intense alertness,this study has been completed with a view to eliminate the Digital–Divide of the country by deploying and maintaining ICTs for all irrespective of time, distance &amp; ability to afford.

Towards Global Knowledge Society; A SWOT Analysis of Higher Education of Pakistan in Context of Internationalization

<p><strong>Purpose</strong> – The purpose of this study to overview the trends of higher education globally, within Asia Pacific Region and specially in Pakistan. Most importantly, current study highlights the strengths and opportunities as well as weakness and threads of Pakistan’s higher education system by proposing a SWOT analysis of higher education internationalization.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach</strong> – This review paper is meant to appear in conjunction with more discrete and in-depth previous literature regarding higher education internationalization. </p><p><strong>Findings</strong> – It is investigated that higher education institutions in Pakistan are in need to rethink and reshape internationalization strategies following global standard which would be useful for the smooth drive towards global knowledge society and quality of higher education can be enhanced by developing internationalized curriculum, recruiting international students and staff and establishing international research collaboration programs.</p><p><strong>Originality/value</strong> – In this study a SWOT analysis of internationalization has been proposed which illustrates the internal and external factors which are positively or negatively impacting the higher education system in Pakistan.</p>

Analysis of Credit Risk, Efficiency, Liquidity, and Profitability of Selected Non-Bank Financial Institution: An Empirical Study

<p>Financial Institutes are the lifeblood of the financial system of any country that plays an intermediary between the surplus and deficit unit of any society. So the efficiency and performance of a financial institution is the indication of sound financial system. In this study the authors are trying to analyze the factors such as credit risk, efficiency, liquidity, and profitability; which affect the performance of non-bank financial institutions. The methods used are descriptive with secondary data from financial statements of Non-Bank Financial Institutions from 2010 to 2015. Linear regressions, ANOVA, hypothesis testing while using F-test to examine the effect of variables simultaneously with a significance level of 5 %. Based on the results it is concluded that partial NPM and ROA have positive and significant effects on LDR. NPL has a negative effect of loan to deposit ratio. The amount of the contribution or influence variable of NIM, OPM, NPM, ROA, ROE and NPL to the dependent variable of LDR is 87.45% while the remaining 12.55% thought to be influenced by other variables not examined in this study.</p>

Quality Control: The Challenges of Globalization to Nigerian Manufacturing Firms

<p>This work looked at the quality control mechanism in organisation with the mission of getting high quality products/services during production across to the end user. The work looked into quality control concept with much emphasis on tolerance level and went further to show those identified challenges of quality control to Nigerian manufacturing firms. The problems of quality control as well as the internal and external elements affecting quality control. Finally, it was concluded that Nigerian manufacturing firms will find it difficult to cope with the current trend and the challenges of globalization due to the economic problem in the nation; worst still the present economic recession.</p>

Values Based Ideal Types of Corporate Governance Systems

<p>Values and differences in corporate governance across the world are part and partially related and it is obvious that owners know what results they want to have from the corporations in the long run. In this regard, some scientific studies have revealed that owners would be succeed in a dynamic environment only if they formulate ownership strategy based on values. Consequently, to understand corporate governance better, some research has been carried out on corporate governance by relating values towards the area of knowledge but there is a scarcity of research which proposing comprehensive and explains corporate governance systems consisting values. Therefore, authors of this paper identified the following research problem which is: “Lacking of theory behind corporate governance systems including values which gives an opportunity towards the owners under different corporate governance systems to analyse its own behaviour, learning, managing knowledge, and finally clearly expressing ownership will in the form of an ownership strategy.” There were two data set was analysed in this study. One is Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) company law and corporate governance database based on member countries submission and the second set of data is Schwartz’s value survey to characterise multiple countries by their culture. Methodologically, after using multi quantitative tools this study is valuable to analyse all the secondary data to produce new knowledge, adopting different theoretical lens, by analysing and understanding the interrelationships of values and different systems of corporate governance across the world. The result of the study comes with a typology including values based three ideal types (Affective type, Cognitive type and Conative type) of corporate governance systems, with a practical contribution towards enriching the available knowledge for owners to formulate ownership strategy. Considering future direction, the constructed typology is required for assessment of the capability of refutation aside from OECD countries.<strong></strong></p>

New Generations and Employment – An Exploratory Study about Tensions Between the Psycho-social Characteristics of the Generation Z and Expectations and Actions of Organizational Structures Related with Employment (CABA, 2016).

<p>Generational studies have an important research tradition in social and human sciences.</p><p>On the one hand, the speed of social change in the context of globalization imposes the need to research the transformations are identified both the subjectivity of the agents involved and its inclusion in the institutional matrix, specifically employment. Generation Z, (generally considered as the population group whose birth occurs after 1995) have unique psycho-social characteristics. Gen Z is characterized by a different set of values, beliefs, attitudes and ambitions that impact in their concrete action in organizational structures.</p><p>On the other hand, managers often have to deal with generational differences in the workplace. Organizations have members who belong to different generations; they had never before faced the challenge of having such a diverse group of members. The members of each historical generation are characterized by a different set of values, beliefs, attitudes and ambitions that are manifest in their concrete action in organizational structures.</p><p>Gen Z it’s the only one who can fully be considered "global", while its members were born in the consolidated context of globalization. Some salient features of the Generation Z can be summarized as follows. They’re the first fully born into a digital world. Social networks and technology are integrated into their lives. They are concerned about the challenges of the modern world (poverty, inequality, climate change, among others). They are self-expressive, more liberal and open to change. They often bore easily, with short attention spans. They do not like routine tasks. They want to achieve a good life-work balance and they are interested in a flexible work environment, as opposed to traditional work schedule. They are critical thinkers, who come with innovative and creative ideas to help. <strong></strong></p><p>Research design considered methodological triangulation. Data was collected with two techniques: a self-administered survey with multiple choice questions and attitudinal scales applied over a non-probabilistic sample by reasoned decision. According to the multi-method strategy, also it was conducted in-depth interviews.</p><p>Organizations constantly face new challenges. One of the biggest ones is to learn to manage a multi-generational scope of work. While Gen Z has not yet been fully incorporated (expected to do so in five years or so), many organizations have already begun to implement a series of changes in its recruitment and development. The main obstacle to retaining young talent is the gap between the expectations of iGen applicants and what companies offer. Members of the iGen expect not only a good salary and job stability, but also a clear career plan. Generation Z needs to have immediate feedback of their tasks. However, many organizations have yet to improve both motivation and monitoring practices. It is essential for companies to take a review of organizational practices anchored in the culture of the organization. <strong></strong></p>

The Impact of the Saudization Policy on Recruitment and Retention: A Case Study of the Banking Sector in Saudi Arabia

<p>To reduce unemployment and reliance on expatriate workers, the Saudi Arabian government has been implementing a Saudization programme to replace expatriates with Saudis. This has succeeded in the public sector, but not in the private sector, except in banking, which is perceived as a white-collar occupation and acceptable in Saudi society. As such, this study investigates the impact of Saudization on recruitment and retention in the banking sector to see what lessons have been learned and what action is required. A systematic literature review was conducted, followed by questionnaires with 48 branch managers, and interviews with 12 Human Resource managers of key banks.</p><p>The findings show that Saudization has an impact on several aspects of recruitment and retention in the banking sector, in particular, banks must provide specific training to Saudi recruits, revise working hours and promote the attractiveness of the post. Adopting such practices can benefit Saudi banking and contribute to the fulfillment of Saudization. </p>

Skills Gap – A Strategy for Increasing Knowledge Worker Supply & Demand

The U.S. Economy has been and continues to be burdened with a “Skills Gap” where the skills of the available workforce are mismatched with the skilled talent needs of employer. The skills gap is especially evident among knowledge workers. Millions of people in the US are looking for jobs while millions of skilled jobs remain open. The unemployed and the underemployed in general do not posess the professional skills necessary for the jobs that are available. The conundrum is this recognized shortage of skilled knowledge workers has not led to the expected increase in salaries traditional economic analysis would suggest. This paper explains the true economic analysis of the skills gap in terms of an economic “wedge” that supresses knowledge worker saleries in the face of worker shortages. The paper recognizes a systemic disharmony between the momentum of traditional higher education and the rapidly changing needs and demands for professional skill sets in the marketplace. Traditional academic institutions are not predisposed to creating job-ready professionals that meet market needs, and private sector businesses are not positioned to fill the professional education, training and development gaps that exist. Significant opportunities exist to reposition the players to cerate opportunities for both academic intuitions and private sector companies to address the skills gap problem efficiently and effectively.

Implementation of Al-Wadiah (saving instrument) Contract In Contemporary Gold Transaction

<p>Contemporary gold trading is like other retails and online trading. However, according to Islamic business contract, gold is categorized under a special law of transaction items and it must follows a specific law of Islamic business transaction. This article focuses on how wadiah concepts can be applied in the contemporary gold trading. The legality of the wadiah concepts is utmost important to be verified before its implementation. The aims of this article is to substantiate the concepts of wadiah in contemporary gold trading based on the main sources of Islamic law transactions. The finding shows that the wadiah concept is permissible in Islam. Furthermore, the wadiah also play important role in contemporary gold trading. Hence, wadiah contract can helps to resolve the gold trading issues where the physical assets of gold are distance from the buyer.</p>