Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities have become essential and viable activities of corporations because of the increase in concern for environmental, social, and governance issues. The motive of this research is to measure the effect of ESG on the financial performance (FP) of healthcare corporations using the market-to-book value (MTB) ratio as a proxy of FP. A sample of 33 pharma companies in India from 2011 to 2020 has been considered. The study relies on the panel data method to assess the association between ESG and FP. The potential moderating role of competition has also been studied to simplify their relationship in this framework. The finding of this study is that there is a significant negative association between ESG and FP, and it is also found that when competition is used as a moderator, it results in a significantly positive impact on the ESG and FP of healthcare companies. This study increases the understanding of the association between ESG and FP and helps corporations to formulate corporate strategies and stakeholders to make investment decisions. The originality of this study is that it addresses the impact of competition on ESG and FP of the healthcare industry and will become foundational literature for future studies.

The firm’s valuation (FV) is the key element for all stakeholders, particularly the investors, for their investment decisions. The main impetus of this research is to estimate the effects of the debt ratio (DR, i.e., leverage) on the FV (i.e., assets and market capitalisation) of the non-financial firms listed in India. The quantile panel data regression (QPDR) on the secondary data of 76 non-financial BSE-100 listed firms in India is employed. This study also checks the effect of the net profit margin (NPM) as profitability on the association between DR and FV. The QPDR estimates result in multiple quantiles and provide evidence in scenarios. The findings reveal a positive relationship of DR to assets only in higher quantiles, i.e., 90%ile), and a negative association of DR is found with a market capitalisation in all quantiles. Under the interaction effect, profitability (NPM) does not affect the association of DR with assets but negatively affects the association of debt ratio with market capitalisation in the middle (50%) quantile. The findings indicate that leverage (DR) affects a firm’s value. The study’s outcomes are helpful to all stakeholders, particularly investors, to realise the leverage (DR) as a critical indicator of FV before making any investment decisions. Managers should also consider lower debt ratios for better firm value. The present analysis is original and holds novelty in the form of the moderating role of the net profit margin, i.e., the profitability of the firm between DR and FV in the non-financial firm in India. To the best of our knowledge, no such studies have been performed to look for the association of the debt ratio with a firm’s value under the effect of profitability in different quantiles using quantile regression.

The present study primarily examines the impact of financial distress (FD) on the dividend policy of 33 banks working in the Indian economy from 2010 to 2019. In addition, we further explore the association between financial distress and dividend policy under the influence of shareholder activism (SHA). Using the static panel data regression technique, it is revealed that financial distress is non-linearly associated with the dividend policy of banks in an inverted U-shape. In the initial phase of a distressing situation, banks tend to have a liberal dividend policy. However, after reaching the pressure point, the banks start to squeeze dividend distribution to the stakeholders. Furthermore, the significant impact of shareholder activism has been found in the association between financial distress and the dividend payout policy of banks. From the policy perspective, the study will provide the policymakers with a clear all-round perspective of distressing situations, as the current research involves exploring the impact of distress on the dividend policy that will help the experts in basically understanding the adverse effect of financial distress and the repercussions, respectively, on the earning of the shareholders.

Consumer management has always been a challenging task for marketers. The task becomes even more challenging in internet age witnessing proliferation of emerging marketing practices with each passing year. Digital marketing communication has emerged as the most preferred communication alternative in recent years. Consumer have adopted digital communication in their buying decision process for number of product categories, still the adoption has not been studied adequately for products lying in extended problem solving category. This study compares the most popular technology adoption models to predict the intentions of Indian car buyers to use digital communication while making a car buying decision to better under the consumer management. Primary data was obtained from 801 car buyers consisting of both actual and potential buyers from Delhi. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate and compare the models in terms of overall fit, explanatory power and significance. The results of the study revealed that Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour in explaining the digital communication adoption which could be used by the marketers for better consumer management.

The metaverse, an emerging digital realm intertwining virtual and physical realities, has garnered significant attention across industries, including banking. Financial institutions are exploring ways to integrate their services into this transformative space to harness its potential for global outreach and innovative offerings. However, the journey towards metaverse adoption in the banking industry is obstructed by various complex barriers. This chapter employs the interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach to systematically analyze and categorize these barriers, revealing their hierarchical relationships and interdependencies. By dissecting these challenges, financial institutions can develop informed strategies to address each barrier effectively. The findings of this chapter shed light on the multifaceted nature of obstacles to metaverse adoption in banking, providing a roadmap for navigating this uncharted territory and unlocking the benefits it promises. <!----> <!----> <!----> <!---->

This study examines the readiness of startups and small businesses to adopt digital branding strategies, particularly in developing economies. The research focuses on identifying challenges, motivations, and key factors influencing the choice of digital platforms for branding. To achieve these objectives, quantitative interviews were initially conducted with business owners from various industries to pinpoint specific digital branding challenges. These insights informed the creation of a comprehensive questionnaire, which explored essential aspects such as perceived utility, social media promotion, cost concerns, and privacy issues. The questionnaire was administered to 61 entrepreneurs across Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Nagpur. The collected data was analyzed using SmartPLS and PLS-SEM methodologies. The findings underscore the critical role of independent digital branding for startups and small businesses, revealing significant challenges, including pricing structures, time investment, and privacy concerns. This research fills a notable gap in the literature, particularly regarding the pre-sales factors influencing digital branding adoption among small enterprises. By exploring the motivations and obstacles specific to these businesses, the study offers new insights that can guide more effective digital branding strategies tailored to smaller-scale enterprises in developing economies.