FWU Journal of Social Sciences

Green Finance and Sustainable Development Nexus in Sub-Saharan Africa

Inim Victor Edet, EMMANUEL UDO, Akpan Ededem Jack, Ishaku Prince Abner — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The present investigation comprehensively assesses green finance and sustainable development in sub-Saharan African countries from 1999-20203. Green finance proxied by financial indicators and sustainable development by environmental quality. This study examines the intricate linkages between financial development indicators, institutional frameworks, technology, urbanization, and educational levels in shaping the trajectory of green development. The pool mean group autoregressive distributed lags (PMG/ARDL) method was employed for its ability to rheostat endogeneity and serial autocorrelation, neglected by previous studies. The findings underscore the pivotal role of green finance, proxied by bank credit to the private sector, in promoting sustainable practices, through technological advancements and educational levels to increase investment in industries that prioritize sustainability, conservation, and biodiversity preservation. The negative nexus between FDI and the potential adverse consequences is associated with the influx of multinational corporations to sub-Saharan African countries, particularly due to lax environmental regulations linked to weak regulatory frameworks. In light of these findings, this study recommends aligning investments with sustainable development goals, enhancing regulatory oversight to improve environmental quality, and balancing economic growth and environmental stewardship through sustainable development strategies, given their countries' vulnerability to climate change.

Socio-Cultural and Religious Narratives & Practices Regarding Lunar Eclipse in Village Communities: A Study of Central Punjab, Pakistan

muhammad shahzad, sara rubab, asma rubab — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In the history of humankind, lunar eclipse has always captured attention and imagination of human beings. This study is an anthropological attempt to describe prevailing perceptions and myths about lunar eclipse and resultant religious and cultural practices in some of the rural areas of Central Punjab, Pakistan. For this purpose, qualitative research techniques of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions have been used to understand and untangle the strings of indigenous perpetuations about a celestial phenomenon. The research findings showed multiple sets of socio-cultural and religious beliefs and practices which have been followed through generations that demonstrate the richness of culture and mythological value of local verbal tales. Perceptions include fear of God, remembering the day of judgment, good or bad luck, and occurrence of disease. Practices include praying, charity, taking certain precautions to avoid the disease, and doing some religious and cultural rituals. Some unique folktales are also narrated by the respondents of the locale which have specific socio-cultural meanings for them. The paper describes all these perceptions and practices in two main parts: socio-cultural perceptions and practices and religious perceptions and practices.

Relationship of Smartphone Use and Job Performance: Insights from Electronic Media Industry in Pakistan

Tabinda Khurshid, Fawad Baig — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This research article explores the relationship between smartphone usage and job performance among professionals working in the leading electronic media channels in Pakistan. Furthermore, it also examines how gender, education, and age act as moderators in the relationship between smartphone usage and job performance. For this purpose, a survey was carried out involving professionals belonging to the electronic media industry in Pakistan. The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between their smartphone usage and job performance. The results also showed that the gender of employees did not moderate this relationship, while the education and the age were found to be significant moderators. The study will help the media owners in devising the policies and strategies to facilitate their workers in easy utilization of smartphones for work related tasks.

The The Investigation of the Entrepreneurial Intention of the Younger Generation in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry

chanin Yoopetch, Suthawan Chirapanda — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The hospitality and tourism industry is considered as one of Thailand’s most important industries. This current study thus pursues to investigate the significant influences of subjective norms, attitudes toward hospitality, perceived behavioural control, and hospitality behaviour on the hospitality entrepreneurial intention. The data used for this current study was collected from 414 respondents from college students in tourism and hospitality programmes in Thailand. The data was systematically analysed adopting the statistical technique of Structural Equation Modelling after reliability and validity testing. The findings showed that perceived behavioural control, hospitality behaviour, attitude towards hospitality, and subjective norms, had positive influences on the hospitality entrepreneurial intention. The originality and benefits for the practitioners of this study included the expansion of the use of the theory of planned behaviour from the field of psychology into tourism, hospitality and entrepreneurship. The implications and practical recommendations included the government and agencies should enhance the positive image of the hospitality industry to create the positive attitudes towards the hospitality and tourism industry. In addition, policy makers, related hospitality managers and education institutions can provide supports, such as promoting clubs or associations for young entrepreneurs to raise the awareness and interests for becoming entrepreneurs in the future.

The Multilateral Behaviour of Awkward Powers: A Thai Case Study

Poowin Bunyavejchewin, Pattanarat Faugchun — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the multilateral behaviour of Thailand, an awkward power, through the lens of the regional group formation (RGF) theory, using the formations of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) as examples. The RGF theory postulates that states establish smaller regional multilaterals to secure exclusive leadership and international recognition. However, Thailand’s regional multilateralism and its manoeuvring in launching the ACD and the ACMECS unveiled deviation in multilateral behaviour. Specifically, Thailand’s leadership in the ACMECS formation is consistent with the hypothetical explanation, whereas its bridging role in the ACD, inviting major Asian powers as founding members, deviates from the expected scenario derived from the theory. This discrepancy questions the applicability of the RGF theory to smaller powers, especially awkward ones, implicitly suggesting that their multilateral behaviour appears to be multifaceted. The study recommends theoretical refinement to better explain the behavioural nuances of non-major powers in regional multilateralism.

Obstacles to Marriage for Jordanian Persons with Visual or Hearing Disabilities from Their Perspectives

Feras Ali Al-Habies, Suzie Yaseen Rababa'h, Mahmoud Rababah — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the obstacles to marriage for persons with physical disabilities (visual or hearing) from the perspective of persons with physical disabilities. To achieve the study's objectives, a questionnaire was developed and administered to a sample of 544 people with physical disabilities (201 female and 343 male). The results indicated that the obstacles to marriage for persons with physical disabilities, according to the participants’ perspectives, were of a moderate degree. The most impactful impediments were found to be economic, followed by social and psychological ones, and challenges pertaining to the type of impairment had the least effect. When it came to the sample's responses to the scale's sections on gender, academic standing, marital status, and the existence of a handicap in the family, the results did not reveal any statistically significant differences. However, statistically significant differences were observed based on the specialization variable, in favour of scientific colleges.

Correlation of Reaction Times and Body Mass Index among Female University Athletes, Accounting for Urban and Rural Environments

Fozia Tabassum Cheema, Mohibullah Khan Marwat — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Body mass index (BMI) is a significant human health fitness gauge. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between BMI and reaction time of female university athletes, considering urban and rural community influences. A sample of 60 players (mean age = 20.45 ± 2.29 years) was selected from three leading women's universities in Lahore, Pakistan. reaction time was assessed through a ruler drop test. Data normality was examined using the Kolmogorov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. Pearson's correlation coefficients, trend lines, and independent samples t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results indicated mean reaction times were 0.164 ± 0.031 and 0.158 ± 0.026 seconds for urban and rural community athletes respectively. The average BMIs were 21.03 ± 1.77 and 19.64 ± 2.84 for urban and rural community athletes respectively. Rural players exhibited healthier BMIs, and overweight players displayed superior reaction time. There was a non-significant correlation between reaction time and BMI, explaining 3.9% of reaction time variability. Locality had a significant effect on BMI but not on reaction time. There was no significant association between reaction time and BMI was observed. However, locality significantly influenced BMI. Maintaining healthy BMIs and incorporating agility drills are recommended for optimal performance.

Achieving Attractions in the historical TV drama

Abdallah Adway — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to reveal the effect of dramatic treatment elements and their ability to attract audiences to historical dramas. The study employed a quantitative approach as descriptive research, by the collection of quantifiable data for statistical analysis using SPSS. The study conducted multiple linear regression analyses to identify the effects of variables on the attractiveness of historical drama. The study concluded that the combined effect of content, dramatic structure, accuracy of information, educational level, and watching the drama factors on the attractiveness of historical drama to viewers is 61.1%. This means that the attractiveness of the dramatic work is influenced by the following factors: content 34.8%, dramatic structure 19.7%, accuracy of information 23.4%, educational level 8.7%, and watching drama 8.7%. Therefore, increase in interest in these elements leads to heightened attractiveness of the dramatic work, consequently encouraging viewers to continue watching the drama. This article makes a valuable academic contribution by providing scientific insights that aid in understanding the appeal of certain series and movies to audiences, as well as identifying weaknesses in attracting viewers to other works. Furthermore, it offers guidance to producers and scriptwriters in enhancing the overall performance of their dramas.

Creating Core Cultural Values for Building Excellent Schools: Current Situation and Solutions for Schools in Vietnam

Le Khanh Tuan, Nguyen Van Hiep, Le Thi Thuy Linh — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In the world, building excellent schools often relies on a certain school model. For example, models such as “Happy School”, “Amazing School”, “Cultural School”, “Brand School”, and “Student-Centered Schools” have been implemented quite successfully. The common purpose of these models is to create an excellent school; the core of these models is the core cultural values. Through studying the models, the article draws out the core cultural values to create an excellent school. Community culture, religious doctrines, laws, state management policies, and knowledge management are factors that influence school culture and are also mentioned. Based on that, a survey was conducted with 1,517 subjects including school managers, teachers, and parents of students at preschool, primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary levels representing four different regions of Vietnam. The results show that school managers can express very well the school's vision and mission but have a vague perception of the essence of school culture and the specific approach to building school culture. In management, school principals lack creative measures in both approaching general culture and in creating core cultural values for the school; the influence of the impacting factors has not been effectively utilized; therefore, the results of building excellent schools are very limited. Solutions to build excellent schools by creating core cultural values are proposed in the context of Vietnam and can be referenced for countries with similar conditions.

Structural Violence, Gender, and Post 9-11 Terrorism in Pakistan: Examining the Psychological Impact on the Parents of Army Public School attacks in Pakistan

Shahida, Abid, Mussarat Anwar — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study seeks to explore the gender – specific impact of post-9/11 terrorism acts in Pakistan, with a particular focus on the parents of the children killed in the terrorist attacks on Army Public School in Peshawar, in 2014. The paper dwells deep into exploring how the parents have been impacted and examines the many ways by which the victims have devised coping strategies in response to traumatic events. This study uses Galtung’s structural violence theory as a theoretical framework to examine the psychological impact on the parents, with structural violence in this context referring to post-9/11 terrorism acts in Pakistan. This study adopted a sequential exploratory design. By using a stratified random sampling technique, a total of 216 participants were selected, comprising 133 Direct Victims and 83 Indirect Victims. Data collection involved a mixed method approach - both quantitative and qualitative analyses. Primary data was collected through structured interviews and a standardized questionnaire called Lieber’s scale of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to measure the level of post-traumatic stress. Subsequent processing and tabulation followed by statistical examination to assess the psychological impact of post-9/11 terrorism in Peshawar. Finding indicates that the symptoms of PTSD were still evident among all participants even after nine years of terrorist attack. Participants who were directly exposed to trauma displayed more symptoms of psychological distress as compared to those who were indirectly exposed. The results also indicate a surprising and rather significant development in gender focused research with male parents exhibiting significantly high level of PTSD in comparison to women victims. Observations from the primary data showing men demonstrating higher level of PTSD, brings interesting propositions to gender research, where explorations around the social and psychological aspects of masculinity, and the multifaceted roles played by men around gender empowerment may prompt intriguing inquiries into gender research. Furthermore, it is recommended that future research must focus on factors that should not only identify the optimal timing for PTSD treatment, but also explore factors that can bring natural recovery. Moreover, the research also facilitates the policy recommendation for development work as well as those agencies including, the government, local and international aid organizations working in the areas affected by violence.

Asymmetric Effects of Economic Growth, Fossil Fuel Consumption, and Financial Development on Carbon Emissions in Ghana

Mutawakil Abdul-Rahman, Sundas Iftikhar, Asad Ul Islam Khan — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This research analyzes the impact of economic expansion, non-renewable energy consumption (NonREC), financial sector improvement, and carbon releases in Ghana. The study used yearly data from 1971 to 2014 and applied the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) method to examine the data. The NARDL approach facilitated the differentiation of variables into favorable and unfavorable adjustments by examining the short- and long-run effects. The results indicated that all the independent variables exhibited short-term asymmetries, while economic growth presented long-term asymmetry. Negative adjustments in economic expansion led to a decline in carbon releases in the long run but an increase in the short run. favorable and unfavorable adjustments in NonREC positively and negatively impact carbon releases in both the short and long term. Additionally, negative adjustments in financial development positively affected carbon releases in the long run. The cumulative dynamic multipliers graphs and impulse response function graphs illustrate the same impact pattern of the independent variables on carbon releases, confirming the findings' robustness. The study suggests implementing environmental policies in Ghana that promote renewable sources of energy and energy-conserving innovations to reduce environmental degradation. The findings recommend that the decision-maker prioritize effective environmental strategies like a green economy, renewable energy use, and energy-saving technologies. By adopting clean energy and implementing advanced technologies, sustainable economic growth can be achieved while preserving the environment and the ecosystem.

Political Determinants Influencing Foreign Direct Investment Inflow in Pakistan

Joti Kumari, Jai Kumar, Dheeraj Kumar — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Numerous research, economic theories, and real-life examples suggest that political variables significantly impact foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow. This research proposes to assess the impact of political factors of FDI inflow in Pakistan by applying the autoregressive distributed lag model simultaneous integration (ARDL) technique from 1990 to 2017. The dependent indicator is FDI, while the regressors are government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and political stability. The empirical evidence recommends that all political variables are significant in the short run and long run as they have an immense effect on FDI inflow in Pakistan. These outcomes will help policymakers devise a strategy to ensure that economic growth and policies for such political factors help boost FDI inflows to the host economy.

Full ISSUE : Summer 2024 Vol.18 No.2

fwu-journal — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Full ISSUE : Summer 2024 Vol.18 No.2