South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics

Sustainable Production and Supply Chain Practices in Organic Food Enterprises

S. Alhafeza — Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In recent years, businesses have been shifting toward sustainable production and supply chain practices due to sensitive environmental concerns and rising demand for organic food. Sustainability is a vital component of modern corporate practices, especially in the organic food sector, where resource conservation and environmental responsibility are key pillars of today's businesses. To reduce their environmental impact and encourage responsible resource use, organic food businesses are increasingly implementing sustainable production and supply chain practices. This paper examines sustainable production methods and supply chain practices in organic food enterprises. This study also concentrates on the major challenges that organic food enterprises face and aims to overcome obstacles in implementing sustainable practices. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 30 organic food producers and enterprises. A descriptive research design was selected in the study. Data analysis was done using statistical tools such as the Garrett Ranking Technique, Percentage Analysis, and Weighted Average Mean with Ranking. The study's findings show that organic food enterprises frequently use safe and clean production methods, waste minimization strategies, and environmentally friendly sourcing. Additionally, the study shows that sustainable packaging techniques and eco-friendly supply chain strategies are progressively becoming more significant in business operations. However, the adoption of sustainable practices was found to be significantly hampered by financial limitations, high implementation costs, a lack of technical expertise, and infrastructure constraints. In order to achieve environmental sustainability and long-term business growth in the organic food enterprises, the study emphasizes the significance of supporting sustainable production and green supply chain methods. The results could help researchers, legislators, and organic food enterprises to create sustainable methods that work. Additionally, the study advances the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 12, which deals with responsible production and consumption. Here, the researcher focuses on aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals to deepen the understanding of sustainable operational practices in organic food enterprises and the role in encouraging ethical production and enhancing environmental sustainability.

Ritual Transformation and Symbolic Continuity in Batak Toba Wedding Practices among the Jabodetabek Diaspora

Amelia Desi Nataline Tambunan, Murhadi, Lyly Soemarni — Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aims: This study aims to analyze the implementation of Batak Toba traditional wedding rituals in diaspora settings, identify the forms of transformation that occur, examine their impact on symbolic meanings and cultural values, and explore the potential of ritual elements as intangible cultural heritage assets in supporting sustainable cultural tourism.

Study Design: This research employs a qualitative approach with an ethnographic interview-based design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Jabodetabek area, Indonesia, involving participants who actively engage in Batak Toba traditional wedding practices, within the research period of 2026.

Methodology: The study involved eight participants — four Raja Parhata and four representatives of Dalihan Na Tolu. Data were collected through structured interviews of 12 questions per group, focusing on ritual implementation, transformation, and symbolic meaning. Given the small, purposively selected sample, findings are contextual rather than broadly generalizable. Data were analyzed through qualitative procedures, including data reduction, classification, interpretation, and conclusion drawing.

Results: The findings indicate that the Dalihan Na Tolu structure remains consistently upheld across all eight participants despite notable transformations in ritual practice. All participants reported simplification of procedural stages and adjustments in technical execution driven by time, cost, and urban lifestyle constraints. Symbolic elements such as ulos, umpasa, and sinamot continue to be practised; however, their underlying philosophical meanings are not always fully understood by participants, particularly among younger generations. The data reveal a recurring duality between the formal continuity of ritual practice and a gradual erosion of symbolic comprehension.

Conclusion: Ritual transformation within the Jabodetabek diaspora context reshapes the execution and perceived meaning of Batak Toba wedding customs without eliminating their foundational structure. Sustaining both practice and meaning requires targeted cultural education, active intergenerational community involvement, and policy frameworks that integrate Batak Toba intangible heritage into cultural tourism development.

Female Labour Migration and Reported Educational Conditions of Children Left Behind: Evidence from Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka

G. Weerasinghe — Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

International labour migration represents a central livelihood strategy for millions of households in developing countries, generating remittance income while simultaneously raising concerns about the welfare of family members left behind. Despite growing recognition of these social consequences, localized evidence on the educational conditions of children in specific migrant-sending communities remains limited, particularly in the Sri Lankan context. This study examines reported changes in the educational conditions of children in households where mothers had migrated abroad for employment, with special reference to the Ja-Ela Divisional Secretariat area in the Gampaha District of Sri Lanka. A quantitative research approach was adopted using primary data collected through a structured questionnaire from 100 migrant households selected through a stratified sampling procedure from five Grama Niladhari divisions. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, paired sample t-tests, and multiple regression analysis with SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The descriptive findings show a shift toward lower reported educational conditions following maternal migration, with the mean education score declining from 3.42 before migration to 2.92 after migration. However, the paired sample t-test results indicate that only school attendance showed a statistically significant difference before and after maternal migration, while health condition, study time, and overall educational condition did not reach statistical significance. Multiple regression analysis further showed that children's health condition, school attendance, study time, and mother's education level collectively explained 36.6 percent of the variation in children's post-migration educational conditions. The findings suggest that maternal migration is associated with reported changes in children's educational engagement, particularly school attendance, although the cross-sectional and retrospective research design does not permit direct causal inference. The results highlight the importance of community-level support, educational monitoring systems, and targeted family support mechanisms for children in migrant households.

Constraint-Responsive Human Behavior for Organizations: A Conceptual Theory

Md Ashraful Islam — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Human behavior in organizations reflects how employees perceive and respond to workplace constraints, which vary across individuals and significantly influence performance outcomes amid skill shortages and operational challenges. Currently, organizations are facing various employee-related constraints, including skill deficiencies, excessive workloads, limited resources, and barriers to effective decision-making, which collectively impede organizational performance and success. This study introduces a new theoretical framework of the Constraint-Responsive Human Behavior Theory (CRHBT) that addresses organizational constraints with AI-driven Human Resource Management (AI-HRM). The study employed Swanson and Chermack’s five-phase theory-building method for the development of the theory. The theory suggests that the application of AI-driven human resource management (AI-HRM) systems can improve traditional HR practices. These systems assist to modernize recruitment, training and development, and performance management, while also enhancing the speed, accuracy, and better organizational decision-making. The study findings show that the CRHBT framework connects organizational constraints with technological solutions. These solutions enable organizations to enhance their performance and improve operational efficiency. The study contributes to the existing literature by demonstrating how AI technologies enable organizations to overcome operational constraints and strengthen long-term performance outcomes within human resource management contexts. The study is subject to certain limitations.

Leveraging Digital Marketing Tools in Strengthening Customer Relationships in Micro Enterprises: Sri Lankan Analysis

Sulochana Edirisinghe, Vilani Sachitra — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Digitalization has transformed traditional marketing paradigms, making digital marketing tools essential for Sri Lankan micro-enterprises to build strong customer relationships, enhance engagement, and sustain business growth in an increasingly competitive environment.

Aim: The current level of adopting and implementing digital marketing in Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Sri Lanka is steadily increasing, driven by the rapid development of digital technologies and the benefits they offer, such as increased market reach and customer engagement. Despite this growing adoption, MSEs still encounter several challenges in effectively implementing digital marketing strategies. This study aims to identify impact of digital marketing tools on customer engagement, retention, and overall business growth in Sri Lankan micro-enterprises.

Design: Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework used as a theoretical framework. The target population was micro enterprises operating in Sri Lanka, specifically those engaged in product or service-based operations. 400 micro enterprises which were randomly selected. Online survey method was employed to get data and structured questionnaire approach was used. Multiple regression analysis used to test the study's hypotheses.

Findings: Of the 400 micro enterprises, 232 responded. Regression analysis result implies that 67% of variation in customer relationship development can be explained by social media, websites/blogs, display advertising and search engine optimization. Social media recorded the highest influencing factor.

Implication: Results recommend that micro-enterprises owners increase their presence and activity on popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn to fully exploit their marketing potential. The results suggest that well-implemented SEO strategies can help businesses access new markets, improve brand recognition, and increase market share while minimizing marketing costs. Micro-enterprises are encouraged to create user-friendly, visually appealing, and regularly updated websites that effectively showcase their offerings.

Analysis of Behavioural Biases on Student Investment Decisions: The Moderating Role of Social Media Influencers

Jovanka Indriasari, Yuniningsih Yuniningsih — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Investment activity in Indonesia continues to rise, particularly among college students as part of the younger investor demographic. Investment decisions are not only based on rational considerations but are also influenced by psychological and social factors, as well as information from social media. This study employs the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to explain that investment decisions are influenced by attitudes and social influences, which in this study are reflected through overconfidence, risk perception, and herding behaviour. This study aims to analyse the influence of overconfidence, risk perception, and herding behaviour on investment decisions, with social media influencers as a moderating variable, among students at the Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran East Java. This study employs a quantitative approach using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method on 114 students who are clients of Galeri Investasi and were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via a Likert-scale questionnaire and analysed using SmartPLS. The results indicate that overconfidence, risk perception, and herding behaviour significantly influence investment decisions. However, social media influencers do not moderate the relationship between these three variables and investment decisions. This study adds to the empirical evidence regarding the role of psychological and social factors in students' investment decisions and shows that social media influencers have not yet been able to strengthen that relationship.

Determinants of Firm Value: The Moderating Role of Dividend Policy in Food and Beverage Companies Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange

Natasya Eka Ramadhani, Nurjanti Takarini — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Investor interest in a company's financial results has grown stronger in the business landscape after the pandemic, especially in the food and beverage company. This study not only examines listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2021-2024 but also explores how profitability, liquidity, and firm size of a impact firm value. To conduct a quantitative analysis of financial statement data from thirty selected companies, Moderating Regression Analysis (MRA) was employed, utilizing SPSS software. The findings indicate that although there is a strong negative relationship between profitability and firm value, liquidity has a positive impact on firm value. Firm size of the company did not seem to have a major effect on firm value. Also, the connection between making money, having enough cash, and firm size of the business was not improved by the way dividends were handled.These results suggest that investors are more likely to emphasize financial stability and operational sustainability rather than dividend distribution decisions when evaluating corporate value during incertain economic conditions. The study also reinforces signaling theory by illustrating that financial information may generate different investor responses in the post-pandemic period. Practically, the findings provide insight for company management in maintaining financial stability and improving corporate performance to enhance firm value.

Tourist Perceptions of Healthy Local Food Souvenirs in Bogor City

Judy Syawarini Jarianto, Suci Sandi Wachyuni, Dewi Ayu Kusumaningrum — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The growing demand for healthier, safer, and more authentic food products has made tourists’ perceptions of healthy local food souvenirs an important factor influencing their purchase intentions in Bogor City. This study investigates tourist perceptions of healthy local food souvenirs in Bogor City, West Java, Indonesia, and examines their relationship with purchase intention. The study was motivated by growing consumer awareness of food health and safety within culinary tourism contexts. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data were collected from 100 tourists who had visited Bogor City and had purchased or considered purchasing healthy local food souvenirs between January and March 2026. Respondents were selected through non-probability accidental-purposive sampling, and data were gathered using a structured five-point Likert scale questionnaire administered via Google Forms. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics to examine the relationships between six perception dimensions health value, hygiene or food safety, product quality, authenticity, packaging/practicality, and price value and tourist purchase intention. All six perception dimensions obtained mean scores classified as “very high” (M > 4.21), with hygiene/food safety emerging as the most dominant dimension (M = 4.53). The regression model demonstrated a strong overall fit (R = 0.883; R² = 0.780; F(6, 93) = 54.914, p < 0.001), indicating that the six perception dimensions collectively explained 78% of the variance in purchase intention. These findings suggest that positive tourist perceptions of product attributes, particularly hygiene, packaging, and product quality, are critical predictors of willingness to purchase healthy local food souvenirs. It is recommended that local food MSMEs in Bogor City prioritise hygiene certification and transparent health communication, while destination management authorities should actively support culinary tourism promotion and food quality assurance programmes.

Green Supply Chain Management, Technological Innovation and Organizational Competitiveness Among Tea Processing Firms in Nandi County, Kenya

Carolyn Jeptoo, Collins Kapkiyai, Joel Chepkwony — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The integration of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices is critical for enhancing organizational competitiveness, yet their effectiveness in agro-processing industries remains underexplored. This study examines the influence of green capacity building, green packaging, and green procurement policies on the competitiveness of tea processing firms in Nandi County, Kenya, and investigates the moderating role of technological innovation. Employing an explanatory research design, data were collected from 138 respondents, including managers and procurement clerks from 35 firms, using stratified random sampling and questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted via SPSS Version 23. Findings reveal that green capacity building, green packaging, and green procurement policies significantly enhance organizational competitiveness, with technological innovation strengthening these relationships. Specifically, firms adopting eco-friendly practices supported by advanced technologies achieve superior market positioning, cost efficiency, and customer satisfaction. These results highlight the strategic importance of GSCM and innovation for sustainable competitiveness in Kenya’s tea industry, a key economic driver. The study recommends that firms invest in employee training, sustainable packaging, and procurement policies while leveraging technologies like automation and data analytics. Policymakers should support innovation through incentives and stricter environmental regulations. Limitations include the focus on Nandi County, suggesting broader studies across other agricultural sectors. This research underscores the synergy between green practices and innovation for long-term competitiveness.

Donor-funded Water Projects and Women’s Socio-Economic Empowerment in Gatundu North Sub-County, Kenya

Winfred Kangai, W. Onyango Ouma, Salesio Miriti M’Muruku — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Donor-funded water projects are widely implemented in developing countries to improve access to safe water, reduce household water burdens, and support livelihood development. In rural communities, women often bear primary responsibility for household water collection, which can limit their participation in income-generating activities, leadership, and community decision-making. However, limited empirical evidence exists on how donor-funded water projects are perceived to contribute to women’s socio-economic empowerment in Gatundu North Sub-County, Kenya.

Aim: This study assessed the perceived contribution of social inclusion benefits from donor-funded water projects to women’s socio-economic empowerment in Gatundu North Sub-County, Kenya.

Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design. The target population comprised 1,004 women beneficiaries of donor-funded water projects, from which a sample of 100 respondents was selected using systematic random sampling. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires, interviews, and observation, while secondary data were obtained from relevant records and documented sources. Women’s socio-economic empowerment was assessed descriptively using four indicators: decision-making ability, social influence, financial autonomy, and economic stability. Data were coded, cleaned, and analysed using SPSS Version 27.0. Descriptive statistics, mainly frequencies and percentages, were used to present the findings.

Results: Based on the study’s descriptive classification, 78% of respondents were categorized as socio-economically empowered, while 22% were categorized as not empowered. Among the empowerment indicators, 31% of respondents were associated with decision-making ability, 22% with social influence, 24% with financial autonomy, and 23% with economic stability. The findings further showed that respondents perceived donor-funded water projects as contributing to empowerment through several social inclusion benefits. Specifically, 63% agreed or strongly agreed that access to quality water contributed to their socio-economic empowerment, mainly by reducing time spent fetching water, improving hygiene, and supporting productive activities. In addition, 62% agreed or strongly agreed that capacity-building initiatives enhanced empowerment through improved managerial, entrepreneurial, and decision-making skills. Partnership opportunities were perceived as beneficial by 61% of respondents, while 60% agreed or strongly agreed that support for community programmes contributed to improved welfare and project sustainability.

Conclusion: The study concludes that women beneficiaries generally perceived donor-funded water projects as contributing to socio-economic empowerment through improved access to quality water, capacity-building initiatives, partnership opportunities, and support for community programmes. However, because the study relied on descriptive cross-sectional data, the findings should be interpreted as perceived contributions rather than causal or statistically significant effects. Strengthening gender-responsive planning, women’s participation in project governance, financial literacy, and post-donor sustainability mechanisms may enhance the long-term empowerment outcomes of donor-funded water projects.

Rise of Self-directed Mutual Fund Investing among Young Indians: A Descriptive Analysis of the Role of Fintech and AI-Enabled Platforms

Mukta Rani Hessa, Amar Kumar Chaudhary — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid growth of fintech and AI-enabled investment platforms has significantly transformed mutual fund investing behaviour among young Indians. This study examines the rise of self-directed mutual fund investing and analyses how digital financial infrastructure, fintech accessibility, and AI-driven investment services are influencing retail participation in India. The study is entirely based on secondary data collected from sources such as AMFI, RBI, NPCI, SEBI reports, and fintech industry publications from 2020 to 2025. Using descriptive and analytical methods, the study evaluates trends in retail investor AUM, SIP inflows, demat accounts, UPI transactions, direct mutual fund plans, and age-wise investment preferences. The findings reveal that increasing digital accessibility, personalized AI-based investment services, and growing financial awareness have accelerated the adoption of self-directed investment practices among young investors. The study also highlights emerging concerns relating to behavioural biases, cybersecurity, and data privacy within digital investment ecosystems. Overall, the research concludes that fintech and AI-enabled platforms are fundamentally reshaping retail investment behaviour and the mutual fund investment culture in India.

Impact of Family Support on Academic Performance of Undergraduates: Evidence from a Selected State University in Sri Lanka

W. M. C. Wijesundara, P. I. Anuradha — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Family support is a foundation of students’ success, as well as improving the academic performance of students who are enrolled in higher education. However, no adequate evidence was found in the context of Sri Lanka. Thus, in this paper, the authors focus on analysing the impact of family support on the academic performance of undergraduates in Sri Lanka. Data were collected through a survey strategy using a self-administered questionnaire from 350 undergraduates. The questionnaires were sent through electronic mail as well as by using social networks to reach the respondents. A multiple regression model was used to test the hypotheses. Analysis results revealed that family financial support, social support, and guidance support significantly impact the academic performance of undergraduates, while family emotional support has no significant impact on academic performance. Overall, the study highlights that family support has considerable importance in achieving higher academic performance by university students in Sri Lanka.

A Development Model for Pulau Sibandang Tourism Village Based on Batak Culture through the Integration of Ulos Weaving, Homestay, and Community Empowerment

Mulatua Hasiholan Hutagalung, Hamidah Harahap, Satia Negara Lubis — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Rural tourism in Pulau Sibandang promotes community-based development by leveraging cultural heritage and local livelihoods like ulos weaving and homestays. However, its success depends on strong local capacity and coordination to transform these resources into well-managed, inclusive tourism experiences. This study develops an evidence-based strategy for community-based cultural tourism development in Pulau Sibandang, a lake-island settlement within the Lake Toba tourism system. The study focuses on two locally embedded assets: ulos weaving as living Batak cultural heritage and homestay as a community-based accommodation model. A qualitative-dominant mixed-method design was used, combining field observation, in-depth interviews, questionnaires with 92 purposively selected respondents, documentary review, and focus group discussion. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, SWOT, Internal Factor Analysis Summary (IFAS), External Factor Analysis Summary (EFAS), the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM), and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). IFAS-EFAS places Pulau Sibandang in Quadrant II, with a negative internal coordinate (Strength - Weakness = -1.0165) and a slightly positive external coordinate (Opportunity - Threat = +0.0787). QSPM ranks the Weakness-Opportunity strategy as the highest priority (STAS = 7.0141), indicating that external opportunities should be used first to correct internal capability deficits. The PLS-SEM results further show that only the culture-sustainability construct significantly affects tourism-village development (O = 0.617; p = 0.003), whereas homestay governance, ulos-based tourism products, and local participation are not yet statistically significant operational determinants. The article contributes a capacity-first model for cultural tourism village development, emphasising governance, service standardisation, cultural interpretation, digital promotion, and sustainability safeguards before market expansion.

Energy Equity and the Growth of Manufacturing Sector in Nigeria

Emmanuel O. Nkpubre, John O. Aiyedogbon, Sunday E. Ologunla — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper investigated the impact of energy equity on the growth of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria, with a focus on fossil fuel subsidies as a measure of energy affordability, access to electricity as a measure of energy accessibility, and renewable energy consumption as a measure of clean energy usage over the period 1986 to 2024. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design and utilised annual time series data. The Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares estimation technique was employed after confirming the presence of stationarity in all variables and a long-run cointegrating relationship among them using the Augmented Dickey-Fuller and Engle-Granger cointegration tests. Findings from the analysis revealed that fossil fuel subsidies positively and significantly affected manufacturing sector growth at the 5% level of significance (coefficient = 3.9695; p = 0.0459), suggesting that energy affordability through subsidisation enhanced production by reducing energy costs for manufacturers. Renewable energy consumption also demonstrated a positive and statistically significant relationship with manufacturing sector growth at the 5% level of significance (coefficient = 0.4530; p = 0.0413), highlighting the growing role of sustainable energy sources in supporting industrial activities, particularly in response to grid unreliability. In contrast, access to electricity was found to have a negative but statistically insignificant effect on manufacturing sector growth (coefficient = −0.2555; p = 0.7258), implying that while electricity access had improved over time, issues related to reliability, supply quality, and infrastructure inefficiencies limited its contribution to manufacturing output. Based on these findings, the study recommended that the Federal Ministry of Finance and related fiscal institutions restructure fossil fuel subsidies to directly support manufacturing operations, ensuring cost efficiency without distorting energy markets. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Transmission Company of Nigeria, and Rural Electrification Agency were advised to focus on improving the reliability and consistency of electricity supply to industrial zones. Furthermore, the Federal Ministry of Power and Energy Commission of Nigeria were encouraged to expand investment incentives and regulatory support for the adoption of renewable energy within the manufacturing sector. These recommendations aimed to create a more equitable and efficient energy environment that supports the sustained growth of Nigeria’s manufacturing industry and overall economic development.

A Revised Environmental Kuznets Curve Study for South Asia: The Role of Tertiary Education and Energy Use in CO₂ Emissions

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Environmental degradation has intensified globally over the past two decades due to economic growth, energy consumption, and human activities, prompting increased interest in examining whether education can help mitigate CO₂ emissions and support sustainable development within the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework. This study re-investigates the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), and the impact of GDP, higher education, and energy use on environmental deterioration, specifically carbon emissions, using panel data analysis. To frame the research, it explores the application of the EKC theory in South Asian nations. Focusing on Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan from 1985 to 2024, the analysis applies a Fixed Effects (FE) model to derive statistically significant inferences and coefficient estimates. To ensure robustness, Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Canonical Correlation Regression (CCR) are employed, and the results are validated using a panel cointegration test. The findings indicate that the EKC theory is relevant for these LMICs. In the short run, higher education and energy use are found to be strong, positive, and significant contributors to carbon emissions at the 1% significance level. However, in the long run, tertiary education significantly reduces environmental degradation. Furthermore, the interaction between education and energy consumption yields different outcomes: in the short run, it reduces carbon emissions, but in the long run, this effect is not sustained. As a result, these three nations should encourage increased consumption of renewable rather than non-renewable energy. In summary, energy consumption and tertiary education are identified as drivers of carbon emissions, while economic growth and development alone do not alleviate environmental deterioration. Based on these insights, the study recommends that governments promote eco-friendly education and support green energy projects to improve environmental quality and reduce carbon emissions.