Analysis of Trade and Technology Linkages through Value-Added Content in India’s Exports to SASEC Countries

This paper’s objective is to examine how India can utilise its unique strengths and competitive advantages to enhance its involvement in the regional value chains of SASEC nations. It entails analysing crucial sectors that can bolster India’s interaction with these countries, focusing on trade that adds value and the manufacturing sectors’ technological intensity. The study also delves into the trends and potential growth in trade, as well as diversification through value chain integration in the SASEC area, analysed using panel data spanning from 1995 to 2020. The findings detail the determinants of India’s exports to SASEC countries, including factors like backward and forward linkages, tariff rates, trade margins, the availability of skilled labour, and the ratio of intermediate versus final goods. The paper additionally outlines various scenarios for both high-tech and low-tech industries, thereby shedding light on India’s strengths and constraints in participating in specific sectoral value chains.
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Understanding the Drivers of eWOM Review Adoption: The Impact of Informational Determinants and Mediating Role of Perceived eWOM Review Credibility

Informational determinants influence users to evaluate the information based on its components. This study assessed the effect of informational determinants comprising argument strength, source credibility, prior belief confirmation, and visual information on the adoption of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) review, mediated by perceived eWOM review credibility (PeWOMRC). The empirical study was conducted by employing the quantitative survey method. Five hundred online consumers whose online purchase decisions relied on online reviews were selected using a homogenous purposive technique of sampling. The study’s findings revealed that source credibility and online visual information significantly affected the adoption of eWOM reviews. Prior belief confirmation and online visual information also considerably affected the PeWOMRC. The results also exhibited that PeWOMRC completely mediated the prior belief confirmation and eWOM review adoption relationship and mediated the online visual information and eWOM review adoption relationship partially. These findings offered practical insights for marketers intending to enhance eWOM effectiveness by leveraging credible sources and engaging visuals.
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Determinants of Currency Hedging in Indian Non-Financial Firms: A Study of Pre-COVID, COVID and Post-COVID Era

The present study examines the determinants of currency hedging in Indian non-financial firms. The study uses a sample of 512 Indian non-financial firms for 2016 to 2022, during the pre-COVID, COVID and post-COVID period. The study uses panel logistic regression with the dependent variable taking a binary form with firms using currency derivatives assigned a value of 1 and those not using them receiving a value of 0. The study also uses different firm-level internal factors as independent variables. The present research can improve corporate managers’ risk management practices to shield themselves from currency fluctuations.
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Board Capital as a Determinant of Corporate Sustainability: A New Paradigm in Corporate Governance

The study explores the nexus of board capital and sustainability reporting. Panel data regression was employed on a sample of 80 Indian companies from FY 2016-17 to FY 2021-22. The results revealed that board education, experience, expertise and social connections positively impact sustainability reporting quality. This study expands the literature on the measurement of board attributes in terms of board capital to identify the director’s characteristics relevant to enhancing sustainability reporting quality in Indian companies. This would provide implications for practitioners and future researchers, especially in the context of emerging economies like India where institutional and regulatory environments are transitioning to inculcate sustainability in companies.
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A Study on Micro-Segmentation of Retail Customers Using K-Means Clustering

This study aims to identify clients that share similar traits and develop a new micro-segmentation strategy. Drawn from two marketing theories i.e., customer relationship and personalisation and using the Recency Frequency Monetary (RFM) technique, clusters from the K-means technique are created to predict the behaviour of the best and least contributing retail customers. Transactional data was extracted from a Business to Customer (B2C) hyperretail store in India comprising 10, 20, 284 transactions done by 2140 regular customers taking into account their recency, frequency and total spending. Based on RFM metric values across three heterogeneous segments, customers were characterised as toppers, moderated and churners. Analysis reveals that the most valuable customers have RFM scores as HHH (high recency, high frequency and high monetary value). These are the most loyal customers and retailers cannot afford to lose them. In micro-segmentation, stores should also prioritise retaining customers who have a recent shopping experience (medium recency) but do so infrequently, while spending larger sums. This can be achieved through tailored marketing strategies. Implications stand for both offline and online retail businesses to understand customer behaviour and tailor-made marketing strategies.
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Measuring Operational Efficiency of Restructured Companies: A DEA-MI Approach

The current study attempts to assess the operational efficiency of the firms restructured to resolve their situation of financial distress. Efficiency evaluation of the firms helps to understand the firm’s performance after it goes through the restructuring process as opposed to liquidation. Thus, it is a measure to validate the decision of the Tribunal to allow the firm to continue as a going concern against liquidation. Malmquist Index, a data envelopment analysis technique, has been utilised to measure the efficiency of firms for three years after restructuring. A study of 40 manufacturing firms reveals that the firms’ efficiency has declined over three years (2017 to 2020) primarily due to the inability of the firms to achieve optimal scale of production. While there has been an improvement in technical efficiency and technological advancement, the overall technical efficiency has been reduced. The study thus provides valuable insights to management and practitioners regarding the areas that require attention post-restructuring and separates performance changes due to other factors like technological advancement or scale efficiencies.
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Sustainable Economy and Business: A Retro Analysis from the Lens of Shri Ramcharitmanas

Sustainability has become an inevitable prefix in the lexicon of economic development and business thought. It encourages pro-people and pro-planet policies, decisions and behaviours in all aspects of economic and business endeavours. As a behavioural construct, Sustainable Economies and Businesses (SEBs) essentially imply a moral imperative rooted in economic and business ethics and societal values and beliefs. This study develops a moral framework for SEBs, shaped by culture and tradition. By retrospectively analysing beliefs, visions and practices, this paper addresses current and future challenges in achieving sustainability. Drawing on Shri Ramcharitmanas, a Hindu scripture, this study explores five key social transgressions: politics without principles, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character and worship without sacrifice. These moral shortcomings provide a foundation for a sustainable moral template. The scripture emphasises right knowledge, compassion, ethical leadership and governance, and the ethics of war and competition, all of which form essential components of this framework. Utilising binary analysis, the study introduces Ram Rajya, or the ideal kingdom of virtue, as a model for sustainability. The principles outlined in Shri Ramcharitmanas advocate for a sustainable and inclusive development paradigm that aligns with global initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In conclusion, the paper calls for the integration of these ancient moral values into modern educational systems, public policies and business practices. By internalising ethical insights from Shri Ramcharitmanas, economies and businesses can shift toward more environmentally responsible, socially equitable and morally driven strategies, fostering a balanced and equitable global society.
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