African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and the Mega-Regional Trade Agreements (MRTAs): what are the underlying challenges and prospects for Africa-South-South trade?

This study examines the possible challenges and prospects of the recent signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement on South-South trade. The recent ratification of the agreement by the African Union (AU) Heads of Government and the establishment of the mega-regional trade agreements (MRTAs) by the major global trading economies are the biggest since the establishment of the WTO. One of these regional and continental agreements' principal objectives is to further strengthen trade terms and balance of trade statistics between member nations. Whereas almost all the regional and continental blocs have to a large extent, achieved the purpose of their trade agreements, Africa stands out as the only region whose intra-trade value still constitutes less than 15% of global trade share. Many reasons have been adduced to be responsible for the weak trade performance, one of which is weak regional integration. This study, therefore, concludes that for Africa to achieve significant improvement in global trade, the region needs to encourage regional trade, which will act as a catalyst for transforming the domestic economies and lay a robust foundation for healthy regional competition and integration

Assymmetric effect exchange rate to Indonesian agriculture subsector

This study explores the asymmetric effect on the rupiah exchange rate on every subsector agriculture export in Indonesia during 2006-2020. The non-linear ARDL method is used in this study to analyze the asymmetric relationship between exchange rate and export. NARDL method includes short-run and long-run coefficient estimates and embraces the asymmetric effect. The previous studies generally used the linear models on the aggregated data and ignored the differences in each export of the agricultural sub-sector, then they offered ambiguous results. The latest studies have preferred to use the method of NARDL on the agricultural sector in general data. Instead of using agricultural export data for each subsector, this paper considers subsector export data of agriculture. The estimated NARDL results indicate an asymmetric effect of the rupiah exchange rate on exports of the agricultural sub-sector in the long run. In general, there is no asymmetric effect in the short run. Generally, depreciation and appreciation of the Rupiah have a negative effect on exports of the agricultural sub-sector in the long run. However, rupiah appreciation positively impacts lag 2, and depreciation caused a different effect on each sub-sector. The NARDL results suggest that positive movements have lesser impacts than those of negative movements in the exchange rate on the agriculture sector both in the short and long run

Prognostication of the asymmetry of population incomes in Ukrainian regions

The article presents the results of the medium-term forecast of income asymmetry of the population of Ukraine. Of the set of special research methods, statistical analysis was used. The initial information for the forecast was the official statistical data, namely: the income of the population of Ukraine in the dynamics by the type of economic activity and in the regional section over the past ten years. Construction of the forecast of the income and the definition of asymmetry was carried out based on the generalization of homogeneous phenomenons (million UAH and ten years). The average values were used to compare the obtained results, summarizing the characteristics of mass, qualitatively homogeneous socio-economic phenomenons, which scientifically predicted the main prospects. The results show a steady trend in the asymmetry of income asymmetry in Ukraine (both by type of economic activity and region), which will remain until 2024. In addition, it is found that Luhansk and Donetsk regions and the indicator (property income received) require additional research by surveying to establish the key risk factors.

An effect of credit to entrepreneurship and micro small and medium enterprises performance in Jambi Province

This research aimed at analyzing 1) an effect of micro small and medium enterprises on entrepreneurship activity, 2) an effect of micro small and medium enterprises on its performance, 3) an effect of entrepreneurship on micro small and medium enterprises performance, 4) an indirect effect of micro small and medium enterprises credit to micro small and medium enterprises through Jambi Province. This research is conducted in Jambi Province by sampling approximately 276 business owners selected according to regional representatives with purposive random sampling. PLS-SEM analysis is used in this research in which the results are 1) micro small and medium enterprises credit has a positive and significant influence on entrepreneurship, 2) micro small and medium enterprises credit has a positive and significant to micro small and medium enterprises performance, 3) micro small and medium enterprises credit has significantly positive influence to micro small and medium enterprises performance, 4) the effect of entrepreneurship to micro small and medium enterprises performance are significantly positive.

Poverty in the Indonesia-Malaysia border province (case study in West Kalimantan Province)

This study aims to analyze the factors determining poverty in the Indonesia-Malaysia border province of West Kalimantan. Data were obtained from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) of West Kalimantan Province. From 2010 to 2019, panel data of regencies/cities in West Kalimantan were analyzed quantitatively. The results showed that the Random Equation Model (REM) using the GLS method was more appropriate for examining the impact of poverty in West Kalimantan. The study result found that Gross Regional Domestic Product, unemployment rate, and population density significantly affect poverty.

An empirical look at the effect of service quality on online shopping customer satisfaction in Indonesia

The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between service quality and online shopping customer satisfaction in Indonesia. This study is a quantitative and cross-sectional study with a survey method. This study's online shopping customers consist of undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Accounting Department of Universitas Sumatera Utara. The study used Likert scale questionnaires distributed to 400 respondents, and 295 questionnaires were obtained for data analysis. The study found that service quality has a positive and significant relationship with customer satisfaction. The study reveals that the elevation of excellent service quality on online shopping is the best solution for online shopping vendors to obtain customer satisfaction.

The impact of Fintech on Islamic banking and the collaboration model: a systematic review studies in Indonesia

The Fintech company has raised its number significantly in Indonesia and threatened the banking sector as Islamic Banking is not the exception. Fintech can provide better financial services than Islamic Bank with its technological advantages. This research aims to observe the effect of Fintech's on Islamic banks and discover the collaboration model between Fintech and Islamic banks to improve financial services. The method was carried out by Systematic Literature Review (SLR), then analyzed using Nvivo 12 to quantify the words counted to the papers found. The result showed that there were 14 papers found to analyze in the systematic review. According to Nvivo 12 words counted result, the highest words counted was ‘services’ with 21%, followed by ‘user’ and ‘customers’ combined with 16%. Furthermore, Fintech acts as the disruptor for Islamic Banking, shown in its Return on Asset and its potential to take over the millennial customers segment. The collaboration can be done by sharing product marketing, loans, and transaction services. For the customer, big data analysis, the legal aspects, risk of human error, and data security protocol should be mitigated by tightening the registration system to minimize fraud, enhancing the internet server to prevent failure transactions, and closely cooperating with the Authority of Financial Service in Indonesia (OJK) to ensure the legal aspects are fulfilled.

Community participation in the Kampung KB Program in Jambi Province

Kampung Keluarga Berkualitas (Kampung KB) is one of the development programs to create quality families in Indonesia. Kampung KB is a village-level regional unit with integration and convergence in implementing empowerment and strengthening of family institutions in all its dimensions to improve the quality of human resources, families, and communities. The growth of Kampung KB in Jambi Province shows the high government's attention to this program to improve the quality of life of its people. However, the Kampung KB's success in improving the community's quality of life is largely determined by the level of community participation itself. This study analyzes the factors that influence community participation in the Kampung KB Program in Jambi Province. This study uses primary data obtained through target group respondents in Kampung KB in Jambi Province. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a binary logit regression model. The study results found that the overall level of community participation in the Kampung KB Program was moderate. The level of community participation was significantly related to education, length of stay at the location, and distance from house to the place of activity.

Contribution of conventional bank lending for agricultural sector in Indonesia

This study examines the determinant contribution of conventional bank lending for the agricultural sector in Indonesia. The analysis method used in this research is the Vector Correction Model (VECM). The results showed that in the short term, there was no significant effect of the Non-Performing Loan (LogNPL), GDP of Agricultural Sector (LogPDB), and Agricultural Sector Credit Interest Rates (SBK). However, there is an effect of the LogNPL and LogPDB on the conventional bank lending for the agricultural sector in the long term. The LogNPL has a significant positive effect on the contribution of conventional bank lending to the agricultural sector. While the LogPDB has a significant negative effect on the contribution of conventional bank lending for the agricultural sector. The Impulse Response Function (IRF) analysis results show that shocks to the LogNPL respond negatively in the long run, shocks to the LogPDB respond positively in the long run, and shocks to the SBK respond negatively in the long run by conventional bank lending for the agricultural sector. Through the analysis of FEVD (Forecast Error Variance Decomposition), it is known that the biggest contribution to conventional bank lending for the agricultural sector is agricultural credit and GDP.

The underground economic activity and the desire for corruption in the border region (study of Bengkayang District, West Kalimantan)

Underground economic activity is a situation that needs particular and ongoing attention. This tendency is detrimental to municipal income and is associated with corrupt behaviors and taxation. The purpose of this investigation is to identify and assess the practices of the underground economy, as well as the potential for corrupt conduct and tax evasion. The analytical tool was perhaps a qualitative method with a chosen strategy to identify knowledge sources (respondents) with subjects such as liquor producers, coffee shops, and street food vendors in the Bengkayang border area. The data collection method was carried out using a triangulation approach, namely an in-depth interview, observation, and recording/documentation. The data analysis approach was conducted using data reduction, data presentation, and verification. This study suggests that the presence of corrupt activity in collecting bribes and offering bribes is carried out in cash without going through an automated money processing mechanism such as giving false receipts. Increasing the level of corruption in society will contribute to an increase in the velocity of money. The need for massive surveillance of individuals and the introduction of Penta helix elements to shape synergies between actors and to start integrating and developing electronic/digital structures in any financial activity using the e-government system.