Global Humanistic University

The common factors determining Commercial banks’ lending to SMEs are internal and external factors. This study assessed the combined effect of these two factors that determine the commercial banks’ credit accessibility and SMEs’ growth in Nigeria. Data from 1990 to 2023 were used to evaluate the hypothesis. The outcome demonstrates that internal factors of commercial bank factors on credit accessibility to SMEs was 0.039110 and statistically significant at the 5% level (p-value = 0.0254). The outcome suggests that internal factors of commercial bank determinants on the availability of credit to SMEs play a significant impact in the expansion of SMEs in Nigeria. At the 5 percent level, the external influence of commercial banks on SMEs' access to credit was -0.014003 and statistically insignificant (p-value = 0.2757). The results will substantially aid in designing and implementing monetary policy with regard to the cash reserve requirement. It also conveys to SMEs the significance of cash reserve requirement in improving loan accessibility in Nigeria. As a result, the paper recommends that monetary policy be continually improved to favour SMEs because doing so will facilitate their expansion.

Introduction The scientific literature widely acknowledges the multitude of factors contributing to suicide, emphasizing the intricate and dynamic interplay among genetic, biological, psychological, and social dimensions (Van Heeringen, 2001). Despite this consensus, each suicide case is unique, shaped by an exclusive combination of these factors. One relatively underexplored risk factor in the realm of suicidal behavior is attachment style. As posited by attachment theorists, avoidant and anxious/insecure attachment styles may hold predictive value for suicide attempts (Sheftall et al., 2014). Objectives This study undertakes a comprehensive review of the relationships between attachment styles, life scripts, parental mandates, and suicidal behavior. Methods This study delves into the interconnections between attachment styles, life scripts, parental mandates, and suicide, drawing from an extensive body of research and theory. A comprehensive review of existing literature was conducted to elucidate the intricate relationships among these variables and their potential influence on suicidal behavior. Results The synthesis of existing research highlights a compelling link between attachment styles, life scripts, and parental mandates. Attachment styles, formed in early life, profoundly influence an individual’s interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, and sense of self-worth. These attachment patterns lay the foundation for the development of life scripts—internalized narratives that dictate one’s beliefs, values, and expectations regarding their life course. Parental mandates, often transmitted explicitly or implicitly during childhood, further shape these life scripts by imposing conditions or constraints on the individual’s choices and aspirations. Crucially, within this framework, suicidal behavior emerges as a possible outcome. Individuals with maladaptive attachment styles, burdened by parental mandates that discourage autonomous living or impose conditional acceptance, may perceive suicide as a way to escape perceived unmet expectations or alleviate emotional distress. Conclusions This study underscores the intricate interplay between attachment styles, life scripts, parental mandates, and suicidal behavior. Understanding these complex relationships is pivotal in both prevention and intervention efforts. Recognizing the significance of family history, parental approaches, maladaptive beliefs, attachment patterns, and early caregiver interactions can inform the development of targeted strategies aimed at mitigating suicide risk in diverse contexts, including schools, communities, and clinical settings. By identifying these factors and their influence on suicidal behavior, practitioners and researchers alike can contribute to more effective prevention and intervention initiatives tailored to individual needs. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

The recent growth in computer architecture has changed the face of education, science and engineering. Technology does not stand still, and today, when assessing the economic development of the organization, university or industry, the attention is paid to its willingness to use new technologies, especially in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data analytics. In this research, the topic of AI and Big Data and its integration into decision-making process for competitiveness is examined. The emergence of Big Data and related analytics technologies led to changes in the business world. In today’s business processes, extracting genuine value form AI and Big Data, and integrating it into the core decision-making strategy plays a vital role. In this paper the necessary steps for the successful integration of AI and Big Data and analytics are covered, by analyzing the success factors from literature. Finally, its implications in real estate market and education are discussed with a small-scale cases analysis.

Firm size plays an important role in determining firm’s performance even though it’s not clear whether firm size affect organizational perfor[1]mance. Therefore; an investigation is required to assess the effect firm size and structure will have on firm’s performance. The specific objectives were to investigate the relationship between firm size and firm performance and to analyze the relationship between organizational structure and firm per[1]formance. For the purpose of this study primary data was used. The ex[1]post facto method was employed. The population consists of the members of staff of Guinness International PLC Plant, Lagos Nigeria. Yamane for[1]mula was adopted to determine the sample size. The data was analyzed us[1]ing manual and electronic based methods through the data preparation grid and statistical package for the social sciences, (SPSS). Linear regression analysis method which also makes use of ANOVA was employed to test the hypothesis. The findings of this study have shown a positive relation[1]ship between firm size and competitive advantage such that competitive advantage is affected by firm size. A finding from the study also shows that there is significant relationship between organizational structure and firm performance. It was concluded that strategic factors cannot be overempha[1]sized in determine the size, structure and performance of firm. This study has made us understand the effect of strategic factor on firm performance and also revealed immense benefit to both local and international firms as well as useful to students for further research. This study will make orga[1]nizations to understand the effect of strategic factor on firm performance and it will also be of immense benefit to both local and international firms as well as useful to students for further research. It will help management and manager to identify the effect of strategic factors on firm performance. The study will give more insight into the relationship between strategic factors and firm performance for academician. Key words: firm size, structure, organizational performance, strate[1]gic factors.

This study investigates the complex relationship between small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) and socio-economic factors in post-apartheid South Africa. Hence, we use a robust econometric framework to assess how SMME proliferation affects job creation, income redistribution, infrastructural development and GDP growth during two pivotal periods (1995–2010 and 1995–2023). We employed an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model technique for analyzing relevant secondary datasets using the free EViews 12 student version (SV) x64 statistical software analytical package. During the period 1995–2010, we find that heightened SMME proliferation correlates positively and significantly with job creation, particularly in cases of opportunity-driven entrepreneurship. Moreover, the study underscores a direct link between SMME expansion and increased GDP growth, underscoring the vital role of these enterprises in shaping the economic landscape. However, in the extended period spanning 1995–2023, which encompasses both economic booms and recessions, the potential of opportunity-driven SMMEs wanes, attributed partly to business closures amid a recession. The major contribution of this study is that a combination of factors influences the impact SMMEs have on various socio-economic indicators. The insights gleaned from this research deepen our understanding of the intricate connections between SMMEs and broader socio-economic factors, offering valuable implications for policymakers and practitioners aiming to foster sustainable economic development.

This study offers unique insights into the heterogeneous influence of energy consumption, economic growth, and financial development on environmental sustainability in Sub- Saharan African (SSA) countries. Basically, the scarcity of evidence on this issue, especially in the context of SSA, motivates this new assessment. Thus, on the basis of the annual panel series for 22 SSA countries over the period 1999-2019, the novel quantile-based method of moments (MM-QR), and system-generalisation method of moments (sysGMM) provide the following results. First, financial development significantly degrades the region?s environmental quality. Second, energy utilisation provides varying significant increasing effects. Whereas it largely increases carbon emissions at the upper quantiles, the influence at the middle and low quantiles is inconsequential. This highlights the fact that high levels of energy use in the region significantly increase carbon emissions, which in turn reduces the region?s environmental sustainability. Third, the empirical result confirms the inverted Uform hypothesis in the region. Policy options to enhance and maintain sustainable growth in the region without compromising environmental quality have been highlighted.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) serve as pivotal drivers of global economic growth, a consensus reiterated by influential scholars. Yet, a critical challenge impeding their progress is the limited access to capital financing, hampering the expansion prospects of countless small businesses worldwide. In South Africa, this dilemma is especially pronounced, with many SMEs either struggling or shuttering due to financial constraints. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) devised a solution: The Alternative Exchange (AltX), a dedicated platform designed to ease capital financing for SMEs and boost their growth. In this study, we used secondary data obtained from the lower bourse, as well as other relevant databases for the period 2003 to 2019 to ascertain its impact on SME performance. Eviews 12 statistical software package was used to carry out an Ordinary Linear Regression (OLS) empirical analysis. We find that SME listing positively influences small business performance in South Africa. Furthermore, these listed firms’ continued expansion is propelling them to become larger enterprises within a remarkably short span, transcending national borders. Our results robustly affirm a positive correlation between AltX listing, market capitalization, revenue, their Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) score, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA), and improved SME performance. Moreover, this contributes to the existing literature by empirically proving that the boost in SME performance aligns with heightened GDP growth, suggesting a symbiotic relationship between the two. We recommend that policymakers should offer incentive schemes to enhance their performance given its impact on sustainable national growth and development.

This chapter (The author is grateful to Jane Frecknall-HughesNIFrecknall-Hughes, J. for her comments on an earlier version of this chapter.) is a comment on the current state of governmental organization and, in particular, decision- and rulemaking. It is critical of the trend towards concentration, of legislative delegation, and of majoritarianism, which are all inherently undemocratic and an obstacle to the exercise of true citizenship. A solution is proposed in reorganizing political society by decentralization and privatization of government functions, allowing individual citizens to attend to most of their interests through private, voluntary allegiances with others. This would remove or at least vastly reduce the need for regulation by the unelected administrative state, counter illiberal tendencies to forms of absolutism, and restore efficient governance as political fragmentation would disappear. As a first step, the proposal is to allow taxpayers to determine government expenditure. Allocating budgetary authority to taxpayers would enhance public involvement in the decision-making process, reduce dominance, improve the democratic legitimacy of tax law in terms of consent of the governed, reduce wasteful spending and the influence of special interest and lobby groups, improve democratic equality by empowering minority views, and infuse a needed grass-roots element in the political decision-making model.

This chapter is the introduction to the book and provides an overview of the content of each chapter as a context for a broader discussion on the role of taxation. It comments on certain findings and elaborates on other aspects or philosophical positions, which have received less pronunciation in the chapters. In particular, the author elaborates on social contract theory, libertarianism by evaluating Murphy and Nagel’s (The myth of ownership. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002) critique against it, and egalitarianism including an evaluation of the concept of desert and, within that context, taxation of natural endowments. An ideal society is a metaphysical concept. People have different values, which often conflict with one another. In reality, therefore, choices between non-compatible values and alternative policy options need to be made. That is also true for one’s approach to the role of government in society and the function and modalities of taxation. Tax policy should be driven by an underlying political philosophy, otherwise taxation becomes arbitrary and deprived of the moral basis necessary to ensure societal acceptance and compliance.

Companies wish to understand (1) the need for knowledge management implementation (KMI) and (2) its possible enablers and outcomes to facilitate its success. This study aims to provide a generic picture by identifying the awareness level of Turkish companies and their recognized key enablers and outcomes of KMI in supply chains. After determining influencing factors (internal and external) and short-term (internal and external) and long-term outcomes (sustainability) of KMI, they are evaluated by 82 respondents from 74 Turkish manufacturing companies which are members of supply chains. The results suggest that Turkish companies have implemented KM except four of the surveyed companies. The study identifies corporate culture as an internal enabler and market and customers as external enablers as the most apparent contributors of KMI. Regarding their focus on the outcomes, interviewees believe that KMI helps them achieve short-term outcomes more as opposed to long-term outcomes (sustainability). The study has also surprising results: while collaboration emerges to be a weak outcome, only the economic dimension of sustainability appears as an outcome of KMI. The results may imply that Turkish companies do not properly recognize, implement, and therefore realize the fundamental outcomes of KMI in their respective supply chains. The results also indicate that they mainly focus on their internal issues (production and organizational structure) instead of focusing on external issues (customers, market, and other chain members).

This article examines the hedging effectiveness of U.S. stocks against uncertainties due to equity market (financial risk) and pandemics (health risk), including Covid-19 pandemic. Consequently, we consider two categories of U.S. stocks—defensive and non-defensive stocks drawn from 10 different sectors and distinctly analysed over two data samples—pre- and post-Covid periods. We construct a predictive panel data model that simultaneously accounts for both heterogeneity and common correlated effects and also complementarily determine the predictive power of accounting for uncertainties in the valuation of U.S. stocks. We find that hedging effectiveness is driven by the types of stocks and measures of uncertainty. Defensive stocks provide a good hedge for pandemic-induced uncertainty, and the hedging effectiveness is higher during calm market conditions as compared to turbulent conditions, while both categories lack hedging capability in the face of equity-induced uncertainty. Finally, we find that the inclusion of uncertainty in the predictive model of U.S. stock returns improves its forecasts and this conclusion is robust to alternative measures of uncertainty and multiple forecast horizons.

Motivated by the drive to achieve monetary union in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the vulnerability of member countries to global and regional shocks is examined, using the global VAR (GVAR) framework so constructed for the purpose. The global shocks are those due to global commodity prices, oil and food prices, while the regional shocks capture the influence of their major trading partners; the United States (US) and China. We estimate a 59-unit GVAR model comprising advanced and emerging economies. Two findings are discernible from the results. First, the constituent counties are vulnerable to both global and regional shocks. Second, after grouping the countries into two recognized divisions [i.e., the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ)], we find significant variations in their response to shocks. These findings have implications on the common monetary zone agenda for the region, particularly as regards to the heterogeneous response and vulnerability of the constituent countries to shocks. Resolving such vulnerabilities is a major requirement for the success of a monetary union.

Management literature proposes several broad categories of business motives behind Knowledge Management (KM) initiatives: minimising risk, improving efficiency and effectiveness and enabling innovation. While risk minimisation and efficiency and effectiveness improvement are fundamental for organisational survival, innovation is the key for organisational advancement and long-term economic success. Choosing the right KM strategy is of utmost importance for organisational performance. On the one hand, two popular Knowledge Management strategies termed codification and personalisation differ in their reliance on technology or people. On the other hand, two strategies referred to as exploitation and exploration differ in their focus on transferring existing or developing new knowledge. This study aims to examine the main business forces in KM adoption and to identify preferred KM strategies responsively. More specifically, it aims to provide a metric in determining (1) applied and realised KM strategies, (2) business focus, (3) knowledge processes and (4) knowledge focus. Data, collected from 372 surveyed employees of Turkish organisations across different industries, were analysed in terms of the two key classes of KM drivers and strategies. The findings reveal a widespread tendency for simultaneous pursuance of dual survival and advancement business goals and widespread integration of codification and personalisation as well as exploitation and exploration strategies. The findings validate the ability of Turkish firms in the organisation of KM activities through the combination of somewhat contradictory drivers and strategies implying their ambidexterity regarding considered KM strategies.