The Impact of the Ongoing Pandemic on Digital Finance Transactions: An Empirical Analysis

The ongoing pandemic has resulted in a disruption of the life of all citizens and impacted all the spheres, more so the financial system because the Pandemic and its aftermath has shut all economic activity except those which as per the government directives are considered the most essential. This has deeply impacted private consumption, external trade as well as investment in the economy. Accordingly, both in retail stores and e-commerce orders, a common strand is that many of the consumers are now paying bills via digital payment mechanisms and taking contactless delivery of goods wherever possible. “Digital financial transaction systems, e-wallets and apps, online transactions using e-banking, usage of Plastic money (Debit and Credit Cards), etc. have recorded a substantial increase in demand during the crisis”. The objective of the present paper is to examine and analyze the digital finance transactions in selected cities during the ongoing pandemic

Political Relationship Marketing: An Examination of Internal Relationship Management in Ghanaian Political Parties

In recent times political parties appear to be focusing narrowly on winning elections to the detriment of effective management of their intra-party relationships. The neglect of managing relationships is having a negative effect on parties, hence this study. The study looked at the practice of political relationship marketing in the two leading parties in Ghana, focusing on micro-interactions at the constituency level. Twenty-four party executives were drawn from eight constituencies for interview. Thematic analysis was carried out to identify relationship marketing practices in the parties. The findings demonstrate the presence of some political relationship marketing antecedents. A fully-fledged political relationship marketing practice is however absent.

Choice, Purchase Decision and Post-Purchase Dissonance: The Social Media Perspective

Social media tools have emerged as an imperative source of information for customers. However, the relationship between information volume on social media and consumer choice quality remains blurred in literature. The study sought to examine the relationship between choice overload on social media and product choice quality, and how choice quality influences post-purchase dissonance. The study employed a positivist research paradigm and an explanatory design to examine the relationship between the various constructs. Using a purposive sampling method, Responses from 249 respondents were quantitatively analyzed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized. The outcome revealed a direct significant effect of choice overload on poor choice quality and a strong positive association between choice quality and post-purchase dissonance using social media tools. The distinctiveness of the study adds to the existing literature by extending the current understanding of post-purchase dissonance and consumer behavior in general.

Global Energy Poverty: Nigeria as a Case Study

The deplorable condition of energy supply and distribution, generally called vitality neediness has been distinguished as one noteworthy failure militating against the satisfaction of Nigeria's objective of achieving financial improvement. The objectives of this study are to identify the challenges that limit the development and accentuate the stagnancy and near decline in Nigeria's energy sector. AmartyaSen's Capability approach was the theory that provided the framework for the study. The comfort examining the system, purposive inspecting procedure and the arbitrary determination method were utilized. The purposive examining strategy was utilized to choose five (5) respondents from the best administration staff of the power segment for the inside and out meetings, while the random sampling technique was utilized in selecting discussants for the Focus Group Discussions. Findings revealed that that the pervading challenges that impede the development of the electricity sector in the country are the insufficient financial capacity to purchase huge power generating sets or maintain the existing ones, the commercial unavailability of the electricity sector that renders it unattractive to prospective investors, consumers' unwillingness to pay for electricity units at cost-reflective prices. In conclusion, the findings of research indicate that energy poverty possesses an adverse effect on both individual and economic well-being of the nation. The study recommends that more funding, both from private individuals and government is required to enhance electricity generation, transmission and distribution in the country. It also recommends a revitalization of the country's electricity sector, to make it more commercially viable and attractive to an investor.

Factors Influencing the Adoption of E-Health Management among Saudi Citizens with Moderating Role of E-Health Literacy

This study aimed to examine the role of internet access, social influence, facility access, and cost concerns on E-health adoption in Saudi Arabia with moderating role of E-health literacy. Saudi citizens were the targeted population of this study. To fulfill the objectives of this study, quantitative research methods with a cross-sectional technique were applied. A self-administrative survey was employed with a questionnaire to collect the data. This study used the purposive sampling method for the collection. Structure equation modeling was applied by using Smart PLS 3 to analyze the data. The findings of the current study show that internet access, social influence, and facility access have significant and positive effects on E-health adoption. Cost concerns have a significant and negative influence on the Adoption of E-Health Management services. Results revealed that E-health literacy has a significant and positive moderating role in the association of internet access, facility access, and cost concerns on E-health adoption. Results of this study contribute to the body of literature by finding that internet access, social influence, facility access, and cost concerns have a significant effect on the Adoption of E-Health Management services and E-health literacy is essential to improve the Adoption of E-Health Management services

An assessment of Key Success Factors for Construction Projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The success of the Government's construction projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 2011 has been anchored on the potential of construction firms in completing these projects based on the planned timeframe as well as the budget. Consequently, from a project management viewpoint, the main objective of the present study was to assess the critical success factors in developing countries' construction projects and to examine the impact of risk management, leadership, experience and expertise, and project size on construction projects in DRC. Data was gathered from respondents in the construction projects in DRC using quantitative methods. A statistical software program, SPSS version 25, was subsequently used to analyze the collected quantitative data. The findings emanating from this study contribute to the body of knowledge on key success factors in construction projects in DRC as a developing country. It was revealed from the study that the success of construction projects in DRC could be boosted through effective and efficient risk management. In addition, effective and efficient leadership mainly transactional leadership would affect construction project success. Further, the more the experience and expertise of construction project staff, the more likely the project success criteria would be met, and the more likely the project would be successful. And lastly, smaller-sized and medium-sized construction projects may be more successful, whereas mega projects may not be very successful due to insufficient and limited experience and expertise.

Social-Costs Perspective Impacts of Cybercrime in World-Economy, Country-Wise: Policy-Guidance under Piecemeal Approach

Today’s technology-driven human-society(s) country-wise are counted more than ever before where UAE-society is no exception. Tech-users here compete for comparative time-saving options for marginalizing operating costs. It has resulted in huge data usages, a high number of users & devices, which has attracted criminals for taking advantage, which is called cybercrime. Addressing cybercrime, the UAE, like many countries, is not out of control by-laws. However, laws like cybercrime for its society are not always for absolutely eliminating the crime. Thus, besides cybercrime law in place, UAE needs a piecemeal approach in practice where one department may vary from approaches of other-department. With awareness about risky online behaviors & options, tech-users as defenders are needed to invest their efforts. This study has laid out the foundation of the proposal, Akim’s Model-2021, using the Theory of Consumer Choice & Behaviors and Welfare Analysis. Tech-user’s actual utility-received is the sum of utility-received from awareness & own-effort and utility-received from cybercrime-law. Any changes to services received from joint efforts may risk tech-user, to be a victim. Welfare analysis shows tech user's actions - awareness & own-effort, besides cybercrime-law can create, Net Social-gain, which largely depends on tech user's actions. Tech-user’s economic surplus is greater than government expenses for implementation of cybercrime law in UAE. Net-loss to the UAE is the sum of deadweight loss and net-loss to tech producers for underutilized resources.

Performance Measurement in Local Governments: An Analysis of Organizational Factors

This study aims to determine the effect of organizational factors, namely decision-making authority, organizational objectives and targets, incentives and technical knowledge on performance measurement. The research sample is the Regional Apparatus of the City of East Jakarta Administration's Head of Subdivision and Planning Staff. The sampling technique uses the census sampling method. The data analysis method uses Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using the Smart Partial Least Square application version 3.0. The findings reveal that technical knowledge has a considerable impact on performance measurement. Meanwhile, decision-making authority, organizational objectives and targets, and incentives have no significant effect on performance measurement. The findings of this study have implications for local governments to always maintain a code of ethics according to the standards for the preparation of LAKIP in order to realize effectiveness and efficiency so that government performance in the future can improve.

Determinants of Government Characteristics and Audit Findings on Local Government Financial Performance

This study is based on the low success of local governments' financial performance in West Java Province, as evidenced by the fact that financial reports of local governments that receive unqualified opinions are still being found. The detection of numerous frauds in local governments is responsible for the majority of incidents of poor financial performance in local governments. Local government financial performance is related to local government size, dependence on central government, local spending, and audit findings. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of local government characteristics and audit findings on the financial performance of local governments. Techniques analyzing data used regression model selection test with STATA version 16. This study builds on agency theory to develop a conceptual framework that connects local government size, dependence on central government, local expenditure, audit findings, and financial performance. The results of this study show that the size of local government, local spending has a significant effect on local government financial performance based on independence ratio and operating expenditure activity ratio, local government financial performance is unaffected by the dependence of central government or audit findings. Contributions to the West Java Provincial Government are required to be taken into account when making decisions and policies for the improved financial performance of local government.

Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure: Empirical Evidence from Indonesia Stock Exchange

This study aims to examine the relationship between consumer proximity, environmental performance, profitability, and media exposure on corporate social responsibility disclosure. This study used data from companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) 2017-2019. A purposive sampling method was used in this study with 60 samples on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Hypothesis testing in this study using multiple linear regression with SPSS. The results show that consumer proximity has a positive effect on corporate social responsibility disclosure. Meanwhile, environmental performance, profitability, media exposure does not affect corporate social responsibility disclosure. The implication of this study is for the companies to increase social responsibility to the stakeholders and community due to the positive reciprocal relationship.