The present study evaluates an empirical model of financial well-being (FWB) based on early childhood consumer experiences (ECCE) and financial socialization (FS). FWB is the overall satisfaction with one’s current financial situation, and that plays a vital role in the overall success and helps to overcome psychological health issues among adults. The results of the study suggested that ECCE has a significant direct effect on the FWB among adults. Moreover, FS agents such as peers harm the financial well-being of the adults. The results also revealed that financial locus of control (LOC) mediates the relationship between FS agents such as parents, teachers, and FWB. Surprisingly, FS agent peers and ECCE do not affect the FWB of adults when LOC works as a mediator. Possibly, when adults socialize more with parents and teachers, they often disregard the role of peers. Adults’ belief and confidence in their skills are vital in explaining the above relationships. Educationists and practitioners should focus on improving discussions with parents and teachers about the financial matters that result in improvements in financial well-being. The present study also provides theoretical and practical implications for adults, parents, and policymakers.
9 August 2019 in International Journal of Public Administration
Internal control is relevant in every entity, regardless of the objectives. However, its effectiveness varies greatly across jurisdictions. From a Ghanaian institutional perspective, this study presents evidence of internal control compliance from selected public organizations, based on 395 sampled observations. The relationships were measured using a structural equation modelling approach – SEM, and conclusion based on a set of hypothesis developed to test for reliability and model fitness. The findings suggest that preventive, detective, corrective and directive controls are good determinants of compliance. Each explanatory construct measured significant across all thresholds based on the statistical estimates reported in the confirmatory factor analysis, regression weights and the goodness of fit indices. The study further observed that internal control is more effective among organizations practising preventive measures. The study implied that over reliance on detective controls may not significantly influence compliance in the long term, as they are instituted to identify risks and events after they occur, a practice that is common among public organisations. The emergence of new risks relative to increasing accountability requirements, from quality perspective may require more preventive measures than any other type of control. Lastly, policymakers in the public sector must ensure, the cost of implementing controls does not outweigh its benefits. Preventive controls are efficient, proactive and cost effective. However, detective controls and other controls are relevant, to support and provide evidence on how effective preventive controls are functioning.
To promote the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, the total amount and intensity of agricultural water must be controlled. Further speaking, an urbanization development system should be established that is compatible with water resources and the water environment. We adopted the stochastic frontier analysis model to measure the agricultural water utilization efficiency of the Yellow River Basin from 2007 to 2017. We also adopted the dynamic panel difference generalized method of moments (GMM) and system GMM models to verify the driving factors, in which population urbanization, economic urbanization, and equilibrium urbanization levels were selected as the key variables. The results show that the overall efficiency of agricultural water utilization maintained a steady upward trend during the research period. The spatial differentiation was generally characterized by higher efficiency levels in the eastern region and lower levels in the western region. The variation coefficient of water utilization efficiency showed a downward trend in general, which indicates a space spillover effect. Agricultural water utilization efficiency continued to converge from 2007 to 2017, and the upper reaches area converged relatively more quickly. Regarding the influencing factors, the population urbanization, economic urbanization, balanced urbanization, crop planting ratio, and rice planting ratio had negative effects on agricultural water utilization efficiency. Urbanization did not positively affect agricultural water use efficiency as the related theories, so urbanization quality and urban–rural integration should be paid more attention. However, technology innovation was significantly positive in agricultural water utilization efficiency. The influencing factors of per capita water availability and annual precipitation did not pass the significance test. Therefore, the government should vigorously promote the development of high-quality new-type urbanization, scientifically formulate the scale and speed of urbanization, strengthen the urban, rural, and industrial integration, and promote the adjustment of planting structures and agricultural deep processing.
This study examined the nexus between capital structure and the financial sustainability of 28 listed non-financial firms in Ghana. Panel data for the period 2008 to 2019 was used for the analysis. From the results, the panel studied was heterogeneous and cross-sectionally dependent. In addition, the variables investigated were first-differenced stationary and cointegrated in the long term. The elasticities of the predictors were explored via the common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) estimator. From the findings, capital structure proxied by the debt and debt-to-equity ratio improved the firms’ financial sustainability via the increase in return on equity (ROE). Also, firm size and assets growth promoted the entities’ financial sustainability in all the panels; however, the association between operational efficiency and the corporates’ sustainability was heterogeneous across panels. Finally, asset tangibility significantly impacted the firms’ financial sustainability. Based on the findings, the study recommended that authorities should opt for a capital structure mix that would minimize costs and optimize the firms’ financial sustainability when making capital structure decisions.
21 October 2019 in International Journal of Public Administration
This study presents a new body of empirical evidence supporting knowledge management initiatives from the public sector, in the context of India. The Study examines the impact of KM on public administration. The findings represent the opinions of public servants representing 450 valid responses in a survey conducted at Bangalore. Smart-PLS and Amos statistical tools were employed to estimate a partial least square based on the SEM technique. The results suggest that organizational learning, knowledge sharing, innovation, social identification, and technology infrastructure are strong determinants of KM initiatives and could enhance individual and organizational performance. By extension, the study highlights the relevance of KM in management sciences, human resource, strategic management, leadership, organizational culture, and behavior. Nonetheless, the study variables satisfactorily explained KM at a higher reliability. However, organizational learning and knowledge sharing could be improved to address the increasing knowledge inequality in the public sector.
25 September 2020 in Environmental Science and Pollution Research