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The main objective of this research is to investigate the empowerment of women in society through Islamic microfinance. The primary aim of this study is the effects that straightforward access to Islamic microfinance effects on the economy, society, and individual. This research is a case study on womenled Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Ummul Mukminin Islamic Boarding School area, and it employs a qualitative analytical approach. The results show that women's incomes and financial skills have increased, indicating major economic consequences. According to the survey, women's social standing in their families and communities has improved, and they have grown more independent and self-assured. These data show that Sharia microfinance not only benefits women economically, but also has a broad positive impact on their social and psychological well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The goal was to examine the conditions under which young adult women (aged 25–50) in heterosexual couples maintain their economic independence through a personal bank account. Background: Research has shown that in Spain, the pooling of economic resources is seen as an important aspect of being a couple and as a symbol of togetherness. However, in practice, joint management can be characterized by inequalities on several levels, such as access to money, control over money, and personal spending. Few studies have focused on household financial organization in Spain, and studies of women's financial autonomy are lacking. Method: We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of couples aged 25–50 in Spain (N = 1,281) using data from the 2020 National Survey on Family Life. Results: The findings reveal that women are significantly less likely to have a personal bank account if either partner does not endorse values of economic autonomy, the couple is married with children, or, if the male partner earns significantly more. Conclusion: The results suggest that there is still a long way to go for Spain to reach the levels of women's account ownership seen in countries such as those in Northern Europe. It is important to incorporate women's account ownership into the investigation of financial organization, given its substantial implications for women within couples and those navigating relationship dissolution. Implications: Government programs should promote women's account ownership. Also, policies targeting financial literacy can incorporate dimensions such as basic budgeting, saving, and debt management so that women can gain further financial skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: The transition from defined benefit to defined contribution retirement plans, coupled with the introduction of stock options as part of employee retirement benefits, has significantly complicated the retirement planning process. This study aims to explore the roles of objective financial knowledge and subjective financial skills in navigating these complexities, particularly focusing on their impact across different generational cohorts. Methods: Utilizing a national sample of Americans, this research investigates the direct and indirect effects of subjective financial skills on the relationship between objective financial knowledge and various retirement savings products. Special attention is given to the generational difference between young and old to understand how these dynamics play out among those at the early and later stages of their retirement planning. Results: The study finds that among the younger generation, subjective financial skills not only act as protective factors but also enhance the relationship between objective financial knowledge and participation in the stock market. In contrast, older generations, regardless of their current status of finance-related knowledge and skills, tend to utilize traditional retirement plans such as 401 (k)s and pensions. This highlights the significance of subjective financial skills in enhancing engagement with complex savings options. Discussion: The results emphasize the necessity of fostering both financial knowledge and confidence in financial decision-making processes. There is a clear need for financial education interventions that not only impart objective knowledge but also bolster individuals’ subjective financial skills, thereby equipping them with the comprehensive capabilities required to make informed decisions about their retirement savings.

Research problem: In the face of global efforts to combat poverty and enhance the well-being of vulnerable populations, aiming for inclusive growth, the 2024 UNDP trend report casts a shadow with its findings that the world remains off-course for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG1) "No Poverty." Specifically, in Uganda, despite the integration of poverty eradication measures within national development agendas, the efficacy of such initiatives is critically contingent upon the financial literacy levels among the impoverished targets. Aim: This study underscores the pivotal role of financial literacy in fostering the empowerment of underserved communities, directing them toward paths of inclusive growth. Research methods: Adopting a qualitative framework, this investigation spanned 7 parishes across five districts within Uganda's Busoga region, selected via purposive sampling. Participants included a cross-section of community members—ranging from household heads and local entrepreneurs to SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization) members and parish chiefs—all of whom engage with government-led poverty alleviation programs. A semi-structured interview guide facilitated the collection of nuanced data, which was subsequently transcribed and subjected to content analysis to distill key thematic insights. Results and discussion: The findings illuminate a stark reality: inadequate financial management and literacy significantly thwart the sustainable development of rural communities. Such deficiencies not only hamper economic progress but also stifle the potential for holistic community empowerment. Conclusion: Investment in financial literacy emerges as a crucial strategy, underscoring the importance of equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for economic participation and personal growth. This approach aligns with the principles of Amartya Sen's Capability Approach and the Human Capital Theory, advocating for the prioritization of financial literacy initiatives within rural development strategies. The study accentuates the need for comprehensive financial literacy training, aimed at fulfilling broader policy objectives and catalyzing economic development and poverty reduction efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Implementing health financing equity plays a determining role in achieving Universal Health Coverage. For this reason, the global health community stated multiple political declarations to guide health financing equity implementation in countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the global strategies for implementing health financing equity that emerged from political declarations made before 2024. Methods: Using a state-of-the-art review design, we identified the political declarations from the search of United Nations databases and the snowball search. We used textual and theoretical thematic analysis methods to extract the global strategies of health financing equity implementation that emerged from the political declarations. We grounded the global strategies in the existing practical framework – the Health Financing Progress Matrix of the World Health Organization. We employed a time-based descriptive analysis method to document the results. Quantitative information was used to shape the analysis. Results: In total, 40 political declarations were included in the review. From these declarations emerged the strategies of targeted, selective, contributive, universal, claims, proportionate, experimental, united, and aggregated financing to implement health financing equity in countries. Thirty nine of the 40 political declarations that labelled the global health community from 1944 until 2023 placed more efforts on duplicating the prevailing strategies. The declarations, categorised into nine groups (target, unity, universality, selectivity, contribution, aggregation, claims, experience, and proportionality-oriented political declarations), were insistent to press countries effectively implement the strategies. Conclusion: The political declarations proved to be the essential markers of the global health community's efforts to raise the profile of health financing equity in countries. Although some of the global strategies that emerged from the political declarations have been shown promise in different countries, any global strategy is neither effective nor optimal for providing efficient and sustainable UHC in all countries. This lays the groundwork for careful management and adaptation of the global strategies to the diverse needs of the diverse population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In some contexts, people living with HIV (PLWH) who are virally non-suppressed and participating in an intensive adherence counseling (IAC) program have demonstrated non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) even after IAC. There is limited literature on the facilitators and barriers to ART adherence following IAC. Objective: This study aimed to explore the perspectives of healthcare workers (HCWs) on the facilitators and barriers to ART adherence following IAC among PLWH in Northern Uganda. Methods: This was a descriptive qualitative study conducted among HCWs at the ART clinics of the two highest-volume public health facilities in Lira District. We purposively sampled 15 study participants and conducted face-to-face in-depth interviews using an interview guide formulated based on the components of the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation framework for Behavior change (COM-B framework). Thematic analysis was used based on the COM-B framework. In this study, the desired behavior was ART adherence following IAC. Factors that were perceived to positively affect any component of the COM-B framework were classified as facilitators and those that were perceived to negatively affect were classified as barriers. Results: The majority of the participants were females (53%), diploma holders (40%), and nurses (40%). The perceived facilitators and barriers to ART adherence following IAC emerged as six key themes under the subdivisions of the three domains of the COM-B framework: cognitive and emotional processes, physical and practical skills, accessibility and material resources, social relationships and cultural dynamics, cognitive beliefs and aspirations, and finally, emotional and subconscious drivers. These themes were identified as either facilitators or barriers to ART adherence following IAC depending on the lenses of interpretation. Conclusions: This study offers a multidimensional insight into the facilitators and barriers to ART adherence following IAC and how the behavior influencing ART adherence can be optimized. The results suggest that optimizing cognitive and emotional processes, physical and practical skills, accessibility and material resources, social relationships and cultural dynamics, cognitive beliefs and aspirations, and emotional and subconscious drivers during IAC and any ART adherence-related intervention could yield the best level of ART adherence among the PLWH who are virally non-suppressed and on ART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern organizations are filled with both intrepreneurs and entrepreneurs that find themselves with a great idea and no way to implement it or bring it to fruition. Additionally, there are roughly 31 million entrepreneurs in the US, which translates to about 16% of the adult workforce (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2024). Entrepreneurs have their own unique language to describe opportunities, everything from "Scooby Snacks" to "Side Hustles". This new language requires decoding based on the premise of fresh and current insights. At a 10,000-foot level, entrepreneurship sounds like fun and appears to be simple, but simplistic is not what is needed. Typical publications talk about an entrepreneurial process based on 4 to 6 steps similar to Idea Generation, Opportunity Evaluation, Planning, Company Formation/Launch and Growth. Entrepreneurs say what they really need a clear process and series of steps that embrace a balanced understanding of a mix of Blue and Red Ocean strategies, married to solid business practices and interconnected to new techniques of Polyneering (Wilson, Deardorff, 2021). These new techniques cross the boundaries of a SoS (System of Systems) philosophy but are bound in the pracademic approach to success. Finally, there is a need for a clear listing of what specific skills are required to become a successful entrepreneur based on a blend of both personal and professional skill elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the ownership impact on firm sustainable investments (FSIs). In particular, this research examines the link between institutional investor ownership (IIO), managerial ownership (MOWN) and FSIs in the tourism industry in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses a data set of 346 firm-year observations from 2008 to 2020 and applies feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) regression analysis. The study sample is based on tourism firms listed on Bursa Malaysia (the Malaysian Stock Exchange). Findings: There is a significant positive association between IIO and FSIs. When IIO is classified into foreign (FIIO) and local (LIIO), this significant association is mainly driven by FIIO. In addition, there is a significant, positive association between managerial ownership (MOWN) and firm sustainable investments (FSIs). These findings imply that firm ownership has an influence on FSIs in the tourism industry. Originality/value: This is the first attempt to consider IIO and MOWN simultaneously in a single model estimation. The findings contribute to emerging capital markets where the involvement of ownership concentration in the governance of publicly listed firms is a common practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Education is one of the approaches that teachers adopt as they shift from content delivery focused teaching to skills development teaching. Also, effective STEAMING requires connection to issues outside the classroom (outdoor STEAM) and hence the coinage of the term Transdisciplinary Outdoor STEAM. However, research shows that teachers fail to design problems that match the framework of Transdisciplinary outdoor STEAM. In this study, we propose a model for using real-life crises such as Covid-19 or heatwaves or famine to support teachers in their effort to improve teaching practices in the 21st Century. The development of our model was informed by the theoretical framework for Transdisciplinary STEAM proposed by Quigley and colleagues (Sch Sci Math 117:1–12, 2017; J Sci Educ Technol 29:499–518, 2020) and the model for problem mathematical modelling cycle proposed by Blum and Leiß (Mathematical Modelling, pp. 222–231, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1533/9780857099419.5.221). We have also illustrated teaching–learning activities for this model to develop learners' expected skills in STEAM education. We argue that using this model may cater to the lack of educational technologies in low-resource countries and that it will promote an action-oriented spirit among students to deal with crises emerging in their contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial inclusion can boost wealth, health, and quality of life. However, few studies have examined how women's participation in community-based financial inclusion opportunities, such as village saving and loan groups (VSLGs), relates to household food security. Using program data from central Mozambique, this study examined whether low-income women's participation in VSLGs directly increases household food availability, as well as indirectly through increased asset ownership. Employing a post-test-only comparison group quasi-experimental design, the study sampled 205 female VSLG participants and non-participants from three sub-villages in Mozambique's Sofala province. Structural equation modeling (SEM) results indicated that low-income women's participation in VSLGs is directly associated with a reduction in household hunger score (β = −0.21, p < 0.01), as well as indirectly associated through the mediating role of household assets ([Sobel indirect effect] = −0.06, p = 0.05). The VSLG participants showed a significant increase in household asset ownership compared to non-VSLG participants (β = 0.15, p < 0.05). Further, increased asset ownership significantly correlated with a lower probability of household hunger (β = −0.30, p < 0.01). The results suggest that community-based financial inclusion approaches could improve the availability of food through asset building among Mozambique's low-income women. The study offers a potential strategy for policymakers and development experts to utilize community approaches to financial inclusion to improve rural and low-income women's livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective is to present a proposal for a gender-sensitive risk analysis model using artificial intelligence (AI) within the framework of complex thinking that provides access to opportunities, specifically for vulnerable populations such as women from underprivileged sections. This international non-parametric study highlights the vulnerability of this population in Mexico through a sample of 2787 women. The methodological design included data analysis, the postulation of a proposed model, and a validation method for the credit risk analysis model. There is a correlation between the level of schooling of impoverished and vulnerable women with the possibility of self-employment and selling a product or service. In the framework of complex thinking, the perception of innovative thinking is related to the level of education and innovative decision-making in professional projects. Women with a higher level of schooling tend to think about their professional projects systematically. Promoting complex thinking involves innovative educational practices to encourage critical, systemic, scientific, and innovative thinking in entrepreneurship and sustainable development. Integrating reasoning for complexity benefits women and contributes to economic and social growth in vulnerable regions. In contrast to other models, our credit risk analysis model uses AI and variables for gender, vulnerability, and complex thinking to detect patterns in women's behaviors and attitudes in the venture start-up process. Our proposal is the starting point of many analyses to develop further about artificial intelligence based on complex thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurship serves as a pivotal force for innovation and sustainable development. Today, its influence on wealth generation, job creation, and national economic growth is indisputable. Understanding the entrepreneurial profiles and capacities of future professionals has become a priority within both academic and business realms. While there is substantial research evidence highlighting the impact of entrepreneurship on the business sector, studies specifically examining university contexts worldwide are limited, particularly in developing nations. This study aimed to characterize the entrepreneurial capacity profile of university students in Ecuador, a developing country in South America. Drawing from a literature review, we developed an instrument adapted from the theory of planned behavior (TPB), incorporating personal attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control as determinants of entrepreneurial intention. This framework measures entrepreneurial capacity, integrating prominent entrepreneurial competencies identified in the literature as part of personal factors: problem-solving, creativity, financial management, leadership, negotiation, decision-making, self-confidence, and resilience. The instrument was administered to a sample of university students in Ecuador. Using statistical methods, we analyzed the relationships between demographics (age and gender), educational background (parents' education and occupation), the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and TPB factors-including personal attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control-on entrepreneurial intention. Key findings reveal that age, gender, parents' educational background, occupation, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem significantly influence the entrepreneurial intentions of university students. Within their entrepreneurial profiles, self-confidence, creativity, and decision-making skills emerged prominently, while financial management, negotiation, and problem-solving showed potential areas for development. These results offer valuable insights for updating academic programs to foster entrepreneurial intention in Ecuador and other developing countries. Theoretically, this study reinforces TPB as a foundational framework in entrepreneurship research, particularly underscoring the moderating role of sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, and educational level. Practically, it provides a quantitative measurement tool and a control variable for future studies aiming to identify entrepreneurial skills within regional contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pamukkale University Journal of Social Sciences Institute / Pamukkale Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi is the property of Pamukkale University, Social Sciences Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Mexican Journal of Economics & Finance / Revista Mexicana de Economia y Finanzas is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In light of the growing intricacy of the financial sector, there is a growing imperative for individuals to possess a robust understanding of financial principles and practices. Since the global financial crisis of 2008, a variety of financial education programmes have been introduced. It is therefore not surprising that the state of financial literacy in society is becoming a topic of great interest. For this reason, surveys have been developed to assess the level of financial education in a society. Some of the items used also seem to test mathematical proficiency. This article takes a closer look at selected financial literacy items. In more detail, it considers the mathematical content of these items, the necessity of mathematical thinking for answering the items and ideas for application-oriented teaching in mathematics that can be derived from the items. The analysis shows that a wide range of mathematical topics are addressed in the items. In most cases, there are two possible lines of reasoning to arrive at the answer, one mathematical and one economic. Unless quantification is involved, then a mathematical approach is unavoidable. The items provide a couple of ideas for financial topics that can be integrated into mathematics courses, for example risk considerations. From this perspective, mathematics teaching can be seen to support the idea of financial literacy as a cross-curricular subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recently, financial inclusion promoters have observed that financial literacy is a vital tool for financial inclusion growth, especially among the poor who are considered financially illiterate. The purpose of this paper is to look at the role of Islamic financial literacy (IFL) and inclusion in improving the performance of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses questionnaire data collected as many as 197 MSMEs. This study was analyzed using structural equation modeling approach to test the hypothesis. Findings: The results show that IFL is an important variable to increase Islamic financial inclusion. The results also show that both have a significant influence in developing the MSME sector business. Research limitations/implications: This research is not without limitations. This study only adopted a sample in one Province in Indonesia with focus on creative economy sector and some others sectors located in the province of Riau, therefore ignoring suburban and urban areas in Indonesia. Therefore, future studies using a cross-sectional research design are feasible. In addition, this study only uses quantitative data, so that qualitative research with key informant interviews can be considered for further research. Practical implications: The findings of this study enlighten policymakers, managers of financial institutions and advocates of financial literacy and inclusion about the importance of improving the performance of MSMEs. As a policy recommendation, this study suggests that Islamic policy makers and financial institutions should play a proactive role in increasing service outreach and providing the regulatory environment needed for MSMEs given the important role MSMEs play in the Indonesian economy. Originality/value: This study combines functional components (behaviors and attitudes) and nonfunctional measures (knowledge and skills) of financial literacy and financial inclusion in explaining the performance of MSMEs. Thus, this research is an initial effort to explain financial literacy and inclusion on the performance of MSMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of board skill diversity (BSD) on corporate environmental responsibility (CER). In addition, this study explores the moderating effects of formal regulatory pressure and informal media pressure. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses Chinese high polluting companies as the sample and uses regression analysis. Robustness checks, including instrumental variable regression, Heckman two-stage model and propensity score matching method, are performed to test the robustness of the results. Findings: The findings suggest that BSD significantly improves CER performance. Both formal regulatory pressure and informal media pressure strengthen the positive impact of BSD on CER. Further channel analyses reveal that BSD improves CER performance by promoting corporate proenvironmental behaviors rather than by restricting environmental violations; skill diversity of executive directors has a more significant effect on CER than that of independent directors. Finally, the moderating effect of regulatory pressure is only significant after the implementation of the Environmental Protection Law, and the moderating effect of media pressure mainly concentrates on negative media coverage. Practical implications: The involvement of directors with more diverse skills is essential to improve corporate proenvironmental behaviors. Companies should select qualified directors with different skills to further improve their performance on environmental protection and sustainable development. Social implications: Regulators and standard-setters should develop efficient guidelines on corporate board governance to enhance the positive role of companies in environmental and sustainable development. Originality/value: This study broadens the research on the determinants of CER by examining the influence of BSD on CER and the moderating roles of various stakeholder pressures, thereby providing a deeper understanding of corporate environmental performance and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Financial literacy, capability and behavior are crucial factors in personal financial management, which in turn plays a significant role in individual and societal financial well-being. The objective of this investigation is to explain critical factors and dimensions of personal financial management systems by employing a hybrid approach that encompasses a bibliometric analysis and a systematic review of the literature. Design/methodology/approach: The research team carefully evaluated a selection of 606 scholarly articles from the Scopus database and studied the evolution of personal financial management behavior over 38 years (1986–2023). This research adopted several graphical representations and network structures to comprehend publishing tendencies, high-impact papers, theoretical frameworks, intellectual constructs as well as the current state of research collaboration. Findings: Four major clusters were identified in the field of personal financial management behavior: the relationship between financial literacy and financial capability, factors influencing financial behavior, the impact of financial behavior on financial well-being and the financial behavior of different demographic groups. In addition, by performing content analysis on papers published within the last five years, new themes in personal financial management behavior were identified. Practical implications: This investigation serves to equip financial advisors, policy architects and scholarly investigators with a deeper insight into the intricacies of personal financial management behavior and aids in pinpointing prospective domains for forthcoming research. Originality/value: This study seeks to address a significant vacuum in the current body of research by providing a thorough bibliometric analysis that specifically examines financial literacy, ability and conduct. To the best of our knowledge, no previous research has conducted such a comprehensive investigation in this field. This research aims to identify important researchers and influential works in the subject by using a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including content analysis. The purpose of doing this is to provide exclusive insights and expertise that can be highly valuable to scholars, practitioners, policymakers and other stakeholders who are interested in furthering the comprehension and encouragement of financial literacy and responsible financial behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In the verge of assessing Muslims' participation in stock market, present study delved into evaluating the influence of Islamic religiosity (IR) on Muslim investor's financial engagement factors with respect to stock market (i.e. financial literacy [FL], Islamic financial literacy [IFL], behavioural factors [BF], Shariah compliance [SC], technology adoption [TA] and institutional support [IS]), stock market participation (SMP) and financial well-being (FWB). Further, this study aims to examine the mediating role of IFL, TA and SMP and moderating role of IS. Design/methodology/approach: Using a mixed-methods approach, a structured survey questionnaire was administered and responses have been collected from 319 Muslim investors from South India using stratified random sampling. Further, data was analysed using SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0 by implementing one-way ANOVA, measurement model and structural equation model to assess the differences, mediating and moderating roles. Findings: In this study, it is discovered that IR significantly impacts Muslim investor's financial engagement factors, SMP and FWB. Further, it is explored that IFL accelerates the impact of FL and SC on SMP. The results also demonstrated the intervening role of TA in enhancing SMP through BF and the mediating role of SMP among Muslim investors with strong IR to attain and enjoy FWB. Interestingly, our study also argued that when the IS is more, the effect of IR on SMP is high. Research limitations/implications: Geographical boundaries are restricted to India, where the study proposes future studies in Islamic countries to better understand the religious belief system of the investors, as SC may vary in different countries. Practical implications: In accordance with the results, it is recommended that the regulatory bodies and institutions intervene, support and incorporate IFL and also provide user-friendly Tec platforms to monitor and filter stocks and financial products for SC. Social implications: The present study intends to tackle the misconception of Islamic values with respect to participating in the stock market and recommends to undertake policy and regulatory framework to ensure the inclusive development of this community. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, no studies so far have pondered on the mediating role of SMP in enhancing the effectiveness of IR on their FWB. Further, this study collectively examines the influence of IR on various financial engagement factors affecting SMP leading to FWB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge on financial management highly matters as it assists the micro-entrepreneurs in the making of right and sustainable business decisions. This research seeks to examine the effects of financial literacy on microenterprise decision-making in order to improve rational decision-making in financial management. A structured questionnaire with Likert-scaled options was used to measure micro-entrepreneurs' financial decision-making capacity in terms of information processing and decision-making. They demonstrate a favorable relationship between financial education and rationality, which refers to micro-entrepreneurs' capacity to select from a range of acceptable options. Based on the findings presented in this research, it is suggested that greater efforts should be paid to the integration of financial literacy within any form of entrepreneurial training targeting improvement in sustainability dimensions and qualities of decisions made by micro-entrepreneurs. Through increased financial knowledge, micro-entrepreneurs can manage financial problems effectively and thereby support the growth of sustainable microenterprises. Moreover, such observations suggest that all future policies must focus on and incorporate financial literacy as the defining strategy towards the improvement of the microenterprise sector and, therefore, economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women entrepreneurs are increasingly recognised as pivotal contributors to economic growth, poverty alleviation, and employment generation, particularly in developing economies like South Africa. This study explores the contributing and constraining factors that shape the future of women's entrepreneurship in South Africa through the lens of Institutional Theory. Using a qualitative methodology, in-depth interviews were conducted with nine (9) women entrepreneurs affiliated with a Centre for Entrepreneurship Development. The findings highlight key enabling factors, such as mentorship, education, supportive policies, collaboration, and government intervention programmes, which equip women entrepreneurs with the skills, networks, and resources needed to thrive. However, significant barriers persist, including financial exclusion, societal norms, ineffective policies, and psychological constraints such as low entrepreneurial self-efficacy. The study concludes that aligning institutional support across the regulatory, normative, and cultural-cognitive dimensions is essential for fostering an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Recommendations include simplifying access to funding, expanding mentorship opportunities, and addressing systemic cultural and policy barriers to create a more equitable and supportive environment for women entrepreneurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The crypto market is growing quickly, marked by a lack of fundamentals, and the risks are not yet fully comprehended by participants. Our goal is to investigate overconfidence in this market and analyze the role that risk propensity and certain demographics play. Design/methodology/approach: We conducted a survey in Brazil and Portugal, leveraging an online questionnaire disseminated via social media channels to engage a diverse adult population. We collected a total of 826 responses, addressing ethical considerations throughout the process. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS statistical software and logit regression modeling. Findings: Our study reveals that overconfidence is a notable bias that distinguishes individuals who invest in cryptocurrencies from those who do not. Although overconfidence and risk propensity are closely linked, they originate from distinct personal characteristics. Furthermore, our findings indicate that age and market experience positively correlate with overconfidence and negatively correlate with risk propensity. Financial knowledge, interestingly, did not prove to be a significant factor for cryptocurrency investment. Originality/value: Our research augments the existing literature on overconfidence, delving into this phenomenon in a new subdomain, and in doing so, it enriches our comprehension of the unique and still relatively under-researched cryptomarket. Moreover, we illuminate individual factors that sway the decision to invest in cryptocurrencies and should be considered by market participants. Highlights: Pioneering work examining the presence of overconfidence bias among crypto-investors, using a robust data set collected from a binational survey. Verifies the relations among overconfidence, risk propensity, and demographics. Examines the influence of age and experience on investment decisions, revealing a positive relationship with overconfidence and a negative correlation with risk propensity. Logistic regression is used to determine the combined effect of overconfidence, risk propensity, and demographics on the decision to invest in cryptocurrencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The primary purpose of the research is to examine the impact of financial socialisation (FS) on the financial well-being (FWB) of unskilled internal migrant labourers, particularly focusing on the intervening roles of financial knowledge (FK) and financial behaviour (FB). Design/methodology/approach: Using a cross-sectional research design, primary data from 269 unskilled internal migrant labourers were collected, applying the purposive sampling method. Using the data, the direct and mediated effects are examined through a three-path mediation model with structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings: Direct relationship analysis of FS on FWB exhibits an insignificant relationship, and FK also does not mediate the relationship; instead, FB acts as a potent mediator in both relationships. Research limitations/implications: The study enriches existing literature as it contributes to understanding the FWB of internal migrant labour, highlighting the pivotal role of FS and FB. Further, it provides insights for policymakers to enhance FWB through targeted interventions and inclusive policies, promoting social inclusion, economic empowerment and inclusive development. Originality/value: Despite the significant economic role of unskilled internal migrant labours, studies have not focused on their FWB. Hence, the study delves into their FWB through FS directly as well as indirectly using a three-path mediation model for achieving sustainable development. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-01-2024-0044 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) young people who are unhoused experience barriers transitioning into adult roles and responsibilities which negatively impacts workforce participation. Methods: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the impact of a work self-efficacy intervention on self-efficacy and goal attainment in LGBTQ+ young people at a transitional living facility (TLF). Nine residents and three staff participated in this convergent mixed methods design investigating a work intervention. Results: The total median score on the General Self-Efficacy Scale ( p = 0.042) and the Work Self-Efficacy Scale ( p = 0.043) significantly increased and all of the participants achieved clinically meaningful change (≥ 0) on at least one goal per the Goal Attainment Scale. Focus groups confirmed findings and illuminated intervention strengths and weaknesses. Conclusion: This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that supports work self-efficacy interventions for this population and indicates that occupational therapy is positioned to do so within the context of systems, communities, and individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical wisdom, an essential component of leadership, has been approached mainly from a theoretical perspective. While there are barely any empirical studies on leaders' practical wisdom, quantitative ones are even rarer, and no valid measure of a leader's practical wisdom exists. Thus, our understanding of whether and how wise leaders influence their followers is limited. Inspired by Thomas Aquinas' ideas on practical wisdom, we operationalize it as a tridimensional capacity of inquiring, judging, and acting in an emotionally regulated way, and develop and validate a corresponding measure of leader-expressed practical wisdom. To support our operationalization, we test how leader-expressed practical wisdom predicts employees' speaking up behaviors via their psychological safety. Our rationale is that to make better decisions, wise leaders are receptive to employees' views that address matters of concern and challenge the status quo with the intention of improving the situation – such a receptiveness being enabled by fostering employees' psychological safety. Through a two-wave field study, a three-wave field study, and a vignette-based experiment carried out in three countries we obtain empirical support for that three-dimensional construct and show that leader-expressed practical wisdom predicts employees' speaking up behaviors via their psychological safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the effectiveness of hospital management is influenced by financial management, healthcare professionals' financial literacy has drawn the attention of researchers and policymakers. Previous research on medical students and healthcare professionals indicated that medical professionals frequently lack financial literacy; however, the evidence on the long-term status of financial literacy among healthcare providers throughout their careers is limited. In the current systematic review, we aim to examine the current evidence regarding financial literacy among healthcare providers throughout their career development. From the initial 1668 studies that were identified, 38 studies met the inclusion criteria and, thus, were included in the review. Twenty-eight studies evaluated financial literacy among either medical students or junior medical professionals, and ten studies were conducted on senior healthcare personnel. The body of evidence suggests that financial literacy is suboptimal in medical students and healthcare professionals, although it is of utmost importance for leading healthcare providers. Although senior healthcare providers or executive nurse leaders might be modestly financially literate, they are urged to cultivate skills and knowledge beyond their clinical expertise. Financial literacy depends on several factors, such as age, gender, qualification, or overall income. As the role of healthcare leaders is extended to their efficiency and participation in activities related to financial management, there is an urge for financial planning, financial monitoring, financial decision making, and financial control, while further studies are warranted to longitudinally explore the competencies of healthcare leaders in financial literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the individuals' perspectives towards participating in retirement planning in the mining industry in South Africa. The study employed a quantitative research approach. The study sampled 172 mineworkers from the selected mining company. A self-administered questionnaire was tested for validity and reliability and was used to collect primary data from the respondents. This study employed the logistic regression model and performed the Hosmer–Lemeshow test to evaluate the fit of the logistic regression and the Chi-square to determine the significance of the results. In this study, the data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that some participants are satisfied with their involvement in the retirement funds and are contributing to the retirement funds provided by the company. Furthermore, this study found that the majority of the respondents will be financially independent after retirement; however, there is still a firm belief of uncertainty about not being financially independent. The study found a significant and positive relationship between age and participation in retirement planning. Furthermore, a positive and significant link was found between marital status and participation in retirement planning as well as between employment status and participation in retirement planning. The study was limited to the selected company based in Gauteng. The practical implication of this paper informs the companies, policymakers, and government to prioritise awareness of retirement planning based on demographical factors such as age, marital status, and employment status to prepare mineworkers for retirement. The findings are expected to persuade the mining sector to pay special attention to the awareness and understanding of retirement planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world of work is increasingly recognizing sustainability needs and issues, which require skills and competences. Accordingly, concepts like green skills and sustainability competences have been discussed in the literature. However, it remains unclear what green skills are and what differentiates them from other concepts such as sustainability competences. The aim of this paper is to address the question of what green skills are in order to facilitate the application of them by bringing the concept closer to practice. A qualitative approach was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with experts engaged in sustainability matters across various sectors. In line with previous research, the term green skills is seen as a complex and ambiguous one. Based on the findings of the present study, we propose to differentiate three levels of skills and competences, delineated by their specificity: general sustainability competences, intermediate cross-sectional competences, and specific green skills. Additionally, experts underscored the pivotal role of personal values and interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of digital finance, digital financial literacy is becoming increasingly important. This study examines the impact of digital financial literacy on household entrepreneurship and finds that it significantly promotes the occurrence of household entrepreneurship. To address potential endogeneity concerns, the study employs an instrumental variable approach, and the results remain robust after a series of checks. Heterogeneity tests reveal that the effect of digital financial literacy on household entrepreneurship is particularly pronounced in rural areas, underdeveloped regions, and lower-tier cities. Further analysis indicates that digital financial literacy also enhances household entrepreneurial investment levels, with a more significant impact on survival entrepreneurship investments. In mechanism tests, the study shows that access to formal finance partially mediates the relationship between digital financial literacy and household entrepreneurship. Additionally, our research also found that digital financial literacy can promote entrepreneurship among marginalized groups, such as women and individuals with lower levels of education. Our findings offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to foster sustainable and inclusive development. In line with the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, entrepreneurship is recognized as a key driver for achieving sustainable economic growth. Our study emphasizes the importance of promoting entrepreneurship by enhancing digital financial literacy among residents in underdeveloped areas, which is crucial for fostering inclusive growth, creating jobs, and reducing regional disparities, all of which contribute to long-term sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of oral communication in improving the marketing and financial management skills of sweet potato farmers. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a quasi-experimental design with a pre- and post-test approach. The sample was 540 sweet potato farmers that were randomly assigned to training (n = 270) and no-training groups (n = 270) with analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) as the method of data analysis. While the training group received oral training sessions for three farming seasons beginning in 2019, 2020 and 2021, the no-training group did not receive any intervention. Findings: Before the training sessions, all the sweet potato farmers scored low on marketing skills like advertising, sales promotion and sales forecasting. Both groups also scored low on financial management skills like budgeting, investments, saving and controlling expenditures. Their annual income level was also low and both groups did not significantly differ. However, after the training and during the follow-up evaluation, the participants in the training group reported a significant improvement in their marketing skills and financial management skills. There was also an improvement in their income level from $238 (N109,480) at baseline to $523 (N240,580) after the training and $782 (N359,720) after the follow-up evaluation. On the other hand, the no-training group reported a staggered fluctuation in their income of $241 (N110,860) at baseline, $371(N170,660) during post-training evaluation and $214 (N98,440) at follow-up assessment. Research limitations/implications: The first limitation is that the study examined only one crop. There is a need to pay attention to farmers of other crops for better understanding. Another limitation of the study is that the researchers examined only oral communication. There is a need to compare more than one training to understand which is more effective. Finally, the current study did not consider the moderating effect of other factors like the source of labour and expenses. Originality/value: This study has shown that oral communication is an effective tool for promoting the acquisition of marketing and financial management skills and enhancing agribusiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyze financial literacy in students a foundational understanding of personal finance management in addition to more intricate financial concepts like corporate risk analysis and capital management techniques. A comprehensive evaluation of the literature has been conducted by locating 155 studies from different sources. 36 papers were determined to be pertinent for the current investigation after the 155 research were eliminated based on selection criteria. The results of the study show that financial literacy has a significant impact on the success of students in entrepreneurship, both in planning, management, and business development. This article also provides recommendations for the development of a more comprehensive entrepreneurship education curriculum, which integrates financial literacy as a core competency. This paper develops a research model that can be used for universities or policymakers who need to create financial skills in entrepreneurial students in order to improve financial performance.