Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between national income and tourism expenditure, framed within the context of the Engel curve, for six South Asian nations with significant potential for Halal tourism: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Utilizing a Generalized Least Squares (GLS) model on panel data from 2000 to 2024, we analyze the impact of GDP per capita on outbound tourism expenditure. Our findings indicate a positive and elastic income elasticity of tourism demand (0.989), signifying that tourism is a luxury good and that financial outlay on travel increases more than proportionally with income. The results underscore the critical opportunity for these countries to develop their Halal tourism sectors to capture a share of this elastic expenditure, thereby fostering economic diversification and employment generation. The study concludes with targeted policy recommendations aimed at leveraging this income-elastic demand for sustainable economic development.
Abstract: In the last decades, the Korean Peninsula has remained a region of constant political conflict and worrisome instability. In recent times, the tension between North and South Koreas has gathered momentum following North Korea’s nuclear development programmes and subsequent display of military prowess by both Koreas in a fashion that is characteristic of arms race of the Cold War era. The United States has wielded into the situation in the Peninsula to the effect of ending the catastrophic nuclearization. This has ballooned the historical conflict between the United States and North Korea. The paper examines Military Presence of United States in Korean Peninsula Conflict and Intensification of Nuclear Development Programme by North Korea, in order to ascertain if the continuous military presence of United States in the Korean Peninsula as sustained by Biden’s Presidency contributes to the intensification of catastrophic nuclear weapons development programme by North Korea. The study adopted the ’Realist Theory’ as its anchor blue-print in a pragmatic effort to explain why the engagement between the two states remain largely hostile. The study adopted content analysis for the purpose of analyzing documented materials generated through secondary sources of data collection as well as the qualitative method of data analysis. The findings show the serial and catastrophic worsening of United States and North Korea conflict with the unabated military presence of United States in Korean Peninsula and how it has intensified nuclear development programme by North Korea. Recommendations were proffered along these findings as follows, the need for reduction in the high military presence of the US in Korean Peninsula which the government of North Korea perceived as a threat to the national security of North Korea. The facts shows that North Korea will continue to feel threatened so long as the US heavy military remain in the Korean Peninsula.
Abstract: Purpose: This article examines the role that psychological resilience plays in helping gig workers navigate the uncertainties and pressures of platform-based labour. The primary objective is to identify important elements contributing resilience and propose practical implications for those in HR positions and for policy makers.
Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review was conducted in the Scopus database searching from 1,528 studies published between 2015 and 2025. A total of 56 peer-reviewed articles were selected for systematic review after careful examination. The data for study was also visualized to reflect sources, co-authorship relations, and the connections of their keywords.
Findings: The research finds that psychological resilience in gig workers is a function of the right mixture of personal characteristics (such as optimism and good emotional control), how meaningful they find their work, and how strong their social support system is. Conversely, resilience is eroded by the problems of surveillance algorithms, precarious income, and social isolation. Effective answers include transparent control of algorithms, built-in well-being resources in apps, digital peer support groups, and portable benefits. There are still research gaps, especially concerning longitudinal data, representation from the Global South and larger-scale interventions.
Practical Implications
HR professionals and platform managers can enhance resilience by introducing mental health resources, promoting peer support and positively acknowledging gig workers’ contributions. Policymakers should focus on legal status, data rights and social protection to make gig work a viable choice.
Abstract: Digital evolution of payment services has been a crucial and evolving trend that has been witnessed in the Indian financial market. Technological advancement, government support, and a rise in smartphone devices have encouraged people to opt for more digital means of transferring money and changing the structure of financial and money markets. This paper attempts to provide an empirical analysis of how consumer behavior is shaped by the evolving nature of digital payment services, especially in Meerut districts of Meerut, a Tier-2 city that constitutes a mix of both urban and semi-urban class consumer crowd. This paper attempts to provide an empirical analysis of how consumer behavior is shaped through a structured questionnaire covering a sample size of 100 people and employed statistical methods for hypothesis testing and analysis. Findings show that demographic characteristics are not a significant factor in changes in consumer expenditure behavior and shape and are shaped by aspects such as trust, ease of convenience, and perceived usefulness of services. Additionally, it was found that ease of services of digital payment further contributes to an improvement in consumer satisfaction levels.
Abstract: Rural credit plays a crucial role in promoting agricultural growth and improving the livelihoods of rural households in developing economies, particularly in India. This research paper evaluates the impact of various rural credit mechanisms, including institutional finance, cooperative credit, microfinance, and government-sponsored schemes, on agricultural productivity and livelihood enhancement. Using secondary data from national surveys, published research, and policy documents, the study highlights how access to affordable and timely credit facilitates technological adoption, crop diversification, employment generation, income growth, and poverty reduction. The findings indicate that institutional credit significantly contributes to agricultural productivity and livelihood security. However, challenges such as regional imbalances, procedural complexities, and rising indebtedness remain. The study concludes with policy recommendations to strengthen rural credit delivery systems and ensure sustainable and inclusive rural development.
Abstract: The rapid proliferation of digital technologies has fundamentally transformed the global trade landscape, with e-commerce and digital trade emerging as dominant forces reshaping traditional trade architectures. This paper examines the multifaceted impact of digital trade and e-commerce on global trade structures, analyzing key trends, challenges, and policy implications. Through comprehensive analysis of empirical data and theoretical frameworks, we demonstrate how digital platforms have reduced transaction costs, democratized access to international markets, and created new regulatory challenges. Our findings indicate that digital trade now accounts for a significant portion of global GDP, with cross-border e-commerce growing at unprecedented rates. However, this transformation has also highlighted critical issues including digital divides, data governance concerns, and the need for updated international trade frameworks. This research contributes to understanding how digital trade is reconfiguring global value chains and what policy interventions are necessary to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth in the digital economy.