The benefits and advantages of the incorporation of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governing)-related policies have been discussed extensively. However, research articles focus not only on the socioecological aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) but also on the underlying effects on a corporation’s corporate financial performance (CFP). In this regard, the current study aims to analyze the impact of ESG parameters on corporations’ financial stability. A sample size of 691 companies in North American countries was investigated in order to test the hypothesis that ESG has an effect on the likelihood of a company going bankrupt using the Ohlson O-score. This is conducted using regression models and the Pearson correlation coefficient. Furthermore, a follow-up hypothesis on the relationship between firm size and ESG is also tested in order to evaluate a tendency of corporate growth through ESG-based sustainable development. The results of the study conclude that the governing pillar of ESG factors has the highest positive impact on corporations’ financial success. Furthermore, the analysis conducted in the study with its sample size confirms the hypothesis that larger firms tend to have higher ESG scores.

This article aims to analyze the relationship between the threat of ransomware and new effective counteraction principles for law enforcement agencies to utilize. Moreover, it contemplates on how specific behavior of persons can help reduce the threat of being infected with this malicious software. It establishes that certain changes made in society's mentality towards their computer and network systems can significantly reduce the consequent damages of ransomware attacks. The manuscript uses a qualitative research approach and the analysis of variance (ANOVA), including an F-test, which defines major challenges in ransomware. This is the first empirical research piece which uses this type of data and approach for the analysis of current threats in global ransomware security. The article suggests that the main challenge is the systematic growth of ransomware connected to illegal businesses and the inattentive actions of casual users. The research paper proposes the implementation of global ransomware counteraction principles on the base of challenges that are present now and the prospects of rising threats in the future. In addition, the manuscript analyzes the trends of the last 2-years of attacks to find and determine new ways of successfully counteracting it for optimal innovative regional development.

The current study aims to examine how students’ intentions to use 4.5G mobile phones are affected by the social-economic factors of performance expectancy, cost, effort expectancy, and social influence. This study is based on the perspectives of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). The central assumption of this study is that when students use 4.5G mobile services to source information at university, their academic performance is likely to improve. From eight private and public universities in Malaysia, 2117 students were enrolled in this study. We investigated the effects of gender and awareness as moderators on the relationships among the variables of interest. The findings showed that social influence and performance expectancy positively affected university students’ intentions to use 4.5G mobile phones. The researchers conducted a multigroup analysis to confirm the moderating effect of gender among the underlying relationships in the model. Structural equation modeling analysis indicated that, unlike awareness, gender did not moderate social influence, effort expectancy, performance expectancy, or the cost of students’ intentions to use 4.5G mobile phones. The implications of the proposed approach, considering the digital transformation concept, could be a topic for future research.

Digital trading apps are evidence of developing open innovations in the financial sector. The investment industry (including banks and brokers) can greatly benefit from the utilization of digital trading applications and corresponding tools, such as smart contracts. The goal of this research paper is to examine the possibility that brokers’ existing mobile apps outperform banks without mobile apps in the Russian financial sector. The efficiency of brokers is compared to banks in Russia. The results of these institutions’ activities are related to the number of profitable banks, which declines as a sign of high efficiency. The paper uses methods of t-test, linear and polynomial regression analysis between assets (dependent variable) and the profit to assets (independent variable) in Russia. The article finds the different directions of the utilization of the discussed technology, and they all share the consequential growth after the technology’s introduction. The paper also discusses the various areas of digital trading apps implementation and the future contributions for the Russian banking system and economy.

The problem of staffing the gas and petrochemical cluster is acutely raised in all oil-producing states. This article’s purpose is to study program-targeted and problem-oriented approaches to forming infrastructure provision for personnel needs in Iran’s gas and petrochemical cluster. Their peculiarity is that they belong to natural monopolies characterized by a high level of capital concentration. In this study, two approaches were identified to form infrastructure provision for the needs of personnel in the cluster. The first approach, program-targeted, relies on developing programs to overcome the lack of qualified specialists. The second approach, problem-oriented, considers the causes of the problem itself and the ways to prevent it. Based on the results of the study, several conclusions can be drawn. First, the traditional understanding of human resources infrastructure is insufficient to develop Iran’s gas and petrochemical cluster (GPC). Secondly, for the successful development of social production, it is necessary to adequately develop infrastructure, the technical and economic justification of all processes, and to focus the entire industry on endogenous factors of scientific, technical, and socio-economic progress. Finally, the most critical issue in the system is the issue of staffing each stage with employees of mass professions, engineering, and scientific personnel, specialists in the field of economics, organization, and management, and executives of various levels.