South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics

Sustainability Management in Global Supply Chains: A Review

Abdirashid Abdullahi HASSAN, Alev Dilek AYDIN KORPES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines sustainability management in global supply chains by synthesising literature on Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM), digital transformation, external sustainability pressures, implementation barriers and organisational outcomes. Using a qualitative desk-based research design, the study reviews academic literature, theoretical frameworks and empirical studies related to environmental, social and economic sustainability practices in supply chain management. The analysis is guided by the Triple Bottom Line perspective and supported by themes drawn from stakeholder theory, institutional pressures and resource-based views of organisational capability. The findings indicate that SSCM contributes to improved operational efficiency, innovation capability, resilience, competitive advantage and corporate reputation when sustainability objectives are integrated into procurement, supplier management, logistics, reporting and strategic decision-making. The review also shows that digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, the Internet of Things and big data analytics, strengthen sustainability performance by improving transparency, traceability, monitoring, resource optimisation and evidence-based decision-making. External pressures from customers, investors, regulators, communities and ESG reporting requirements further encourage organisations to adopt more responsible and transparent supply chain practices. However, the study identifies financial constraints, supplier resistance, limited transparency, technological barriers and resource limitations among smaller enterprises as important obstacles to implementation. Overall, the study provides an integrated conceptual understanding of how sustainability dimensions, digital transformation and institutional pressures interact to shape organisational outcomes in global supply chains. The findings offer practical value for managers and policy-makers seeking to align sustainability goals with operational performance, supplier governance and long-term competitiveness while recognising the challenges of implementing SSCM across diverse organisational and institutional contexts.

Future of Work in Transition in India: Key Takeaways from the Future of Jobs Report 2025

Vijaykiran Vijayan, I. D. Rajesh, Sachu Sara Sabu — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The nature of work in India is being reshaped simultaneously by artificial intelligence, platform-mediated employment, demographic pressure, climate imperatives and a persistently uneven structural transformation. This article offers a critical narrative review of the academic and institutional literature on the future of work in India, using the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 as an analytical anchor against which recent peer-reviewed scholarship is read and interrogated. The review synthesises evidence on automation theory and generative artificial intelligence, the structural composition of India's labour market, the expansion of gig and platform work, skills formation and reskilling, gender and care work, green transition employment, internal labour migration, and the diffusion of remote and hybrid working arrangements. Across these themes a consistent pattern emerges: India's labour market combines high-skill, technology-intensive growth poles with a vast informal, low-productivity periphery, so that global narratives of net job creation through technological change apply unevenly across the workforce. The review finds that automation risk in India is comparatively high by international standards, that female labour force participation remains a persistent structural anomaly only partially addressed by digital inclusion, that platform work is expanding faster than the regulatory and statistical apparatus designed to govern and measure it, and that vocational education continues to under-serve the scale of skill formation required. The article concludes that policy responses framed solely around the language of the Future of Jobs Report risk overstating the economy-wide applicability of reskilling-led solutions unless paired with deliberate attention to informality, gender exclusion, regional disparity and social protection architecture. The review closes by flagging the methodological and evidentiary gaps that constrain firmer conclusions, particularly the scarcity of longitudinal, India-specific micro-data on platform work and generative artificial intelligence diffusion.

The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support in the Relationship Between Teachers' Multidimensional Attitudes Toward Inclusive Education and Teacher-Perceived Learning Engagement of Learners with Disabilities

Daryll R. Dayao — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between teachers’ multidimensional attitudes towards inclusive education and teacher-perceived learning engagement of learners with disabilities in inclusive elementary school settings. Using a predictive quantitative research design, data were collected from 290 teachers handling learners with special needs in five selected public elementary schools in Buhangin East District, Division of Davao City. Total enumeration was used to include all eligible respondents. Multidimensional attitudes were measured according to cognitive, affective, and behavioural components; perceived social support according to support from family, friends, and significant others; and learning engagement according to behavioural, emotional, and cognitive engagement. Descriptive results showed very high levels of multidimensional attitudes, perceived social support, and teacher-perceived learner engagement. Correlation analysis indicated significant positive relationships between multidimensional attitudes and learning engagement and between perceived social support and learning engagement. Mediation analysis further showed that perceived social support significantly and moderately mediated the relationship between multidimensional attitudes and learning engagement. These findings suggest that positive teacher attitudes may be associated with stronger perceived engagement among learners with disabilities, both directly and through supportive social conditions. The results highlight the importance of strengthening inclusive attitudes and support systems within school communities to promote learner engagement in inclusive classrooms.

From Local Flavor to Global Table: Understanding the Mainstreaming of Indonesian Cuisine through Consumer Behavior

Aria Sukma Perdana, Suci Sandi Wachyuni, Dewi Ayu Kusumaningrum — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined factors associated with consumers’ intention to consume Indonesian cuisine in the United States using the Theory of Planned Behaviour and a culinary tourism perspective. A quantitative explanatory design was applied, supported by limited qualitative information from a semi-structured interview with the owner of an Indonesian restaurant in California. Data were collected through an online questionnaire from 144 respondents residing in the United States who had experience with Indonesian or international cuisine. The study examined the effects of attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and culinary appeal on behavioural intention. The questionnaire used a five-point Likert scale, and data were analysed using validity testing, reliability testing, descriptive statistics, and multiple linear regression in SPSS. The results showed that attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and culinary appeal had positive and significant effects on intention to consume Indonesian cuisine. Culinary appeal showed the strongest coefficient, followed by attitude and subjective norm, while perceived behavioural control had the smallest effect. The regression model explained 50.6% of the variation in behavioural intention. These findings indicate that consumers’ intention to consume Indonesian cuisine is associated mainly with positive perceptions of taste, uniqueness, presentation, cultural experience, and social influence. Access-related factors, such as restaurant availability, price, and ease of obtaining Indonesian food, were also significant but had weaker effects. The interview findings suggested that limited market exposure and the small number of Indonesian restaurants remain practical challenges.

Electronic Banking and Economic Growth in Nigeria: An Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Time-Series Analysis

Amalachukwu Chijindu Ananwude, Edith Nkiruka Mazeli, Ogochukwu Florence Ngaikedi — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study assessed the effect of electronic banking on economic growth in Nigeria using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) time-series framework. Specifically, it examined how transactions through automated teller machines (ATMs), mobile banking, internet banking and point-of-sale (POS) terminals relate to real gross domestic product (RGDP). The study adopted an ex-post facto research design and used annual secondary data for 2006-2023, obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin. The ARDL bounds test indicated no long-run relationship between electronic banking channels and economic growth, as the F-statistic of 2.144076 was below both the lower and upper critical bounds at the 5% level. The short-run estimates showed that ATM and mobile banking transactions had negative but statistically insignificant relationships with RGDP, while internet banking and POS terminal transactions had positive but statistically insignificant relationships. The Granger causality results further showed no unidirectional or bidirectional causality between each electronic banking channel and RGDP over the study period. These findings suggest that, within the period examined, the expansion of electronic banking transactions did not translate into a statistically significant contribution to Nigeria's economic growth. The study therefore concludes that electronic banking, although useful for transaction convenience and service delivery, has not yet provided a measurable macroeconomic growth effect in the Nigerian context examined. It recommends improved public awareness of ATM use, fuller deployment of cashless instruments by deposit money banks, stronger monitoring of web and mobile payment channels by the Central Bank of Nigeria and commercial banks, and wider promotion of POS payment systems to support safer and more efficient transactions.

Consumer Purchase Behaviour and Preference towards Organic Food Products in Madurai City, Tamil Nadu, India

S. Alhafeza, V. Devika — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Growing concern about food safety, health, and environmental sustainability has increased consumers’ interest in organic food products. This study examines consumer purchase behaviour and preferences towards organic food products in Madurai City, Tamil Nadu, India. It specifically identifies purchasing patterns, product preferences, sources of awareness, and the factors influencing buying decisions. The study adopted a descriptive research design and collected primary data from 100 consumers through a structured questionnaire. Secondary information was obtained from published sources, including books, journals, research articles, and websites. The data were analysed using percentage analysis, weighted average mean scores, and the Garrett ranking technique. The demographic results show that 68 per cent of the respondents were female, 31 per cent were aged 25-35 years, 72 per cent were married, 48 per cent were undergraduates, 31 per cent were private employees, and 42 per cent had a monthly income below Rs. 20,000. Most respondents purchased organic food products weekly, and social media was the leading source of awareness. The weighted average mean score indicates that health consciousness was the most important factor influencing purchase decisions, followed by food safety, nutritional benefits, product quality, organic certification, and environmental concern. Price received the lowest ranking among the factors considered. The Garrett ranking results show that difficulty in recognising genuine organic products was the major problem faced by consumers, followed by lack of confidence in organic certification and limited knowledge about organic foods. The findings suggest that consumer trust, product authenticity, certification transparency, information accessibility, and product availability are important for strengthening organic food consumption in Madurai City.

Drivers of Purchase Intention for Eco-Friendly Packaged FMCGs: Evidence from an Emerging Economy

Francesco Fernando, Ravindu Kulawardena, Sachin Wijayasinghe — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the factors that influence consumer purchase intention towards eco-friendly packaged fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Although environmental concern and consumer awareness are increasing, the adoption of eco-friendly packaged FMCGs remains limited, creating a need to understand the behavioural determinants of purchase intention in an emerging-economy context. The study applies an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour framework by examining attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, health consciousness, and environmental concern. Data were collected from 393 consumers aged 18 years or above through an online questionnaire and analysed using SMART PLS version 4. The results indicate that the model explains 77.8% of the variance in purchase intention. Attitude, perceived behavioural control, and environmental concern show statistically significant positive relationships with purchase intention, indicating that favourable evaluations, perceived ability to act, and ecological concern are important determinants of consumer intention. In contrast, subjective norms and health consciousness show statistically non-significant relationships with purchase intention. The findings suggest that purchase intention for eco-friendly packaged FMCGs in this context is shaped more by personal evaluation, perceived accessibility, affordability, and environmental concern than by social influence or personal health considerations. The study contributes to sustainable consumption literature by applying an extended behavioural model to a high-frequency FMCG packaging context in Sri Lanka.

Does External Debt Promote Growth? Empirical Evidence from ECOWAS

Ifeoluwa Kosemani, Esosa Uhunmwagho — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined the relationship between external debt and economic growth in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) using annual panel data for fifteen member countries from 1990 to 2023. The study focused on how debt service ratio, external debt as a percentage of gross domestic product, gross fixed capital formation, and inflation influence economic growth in the region over time. Data were obtained from the World Bank Development Indicators and analysed using panel econometric procedures. Panel unit root tests were first employed to determine the order of integration of the variables, while Kao's residual co-integration test was used to assess the existence of a long-run equilibrium relationship. The Panel Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares estimator was then applied, and Panel Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares was used as a robustness check. The results show that the debt service ratio and gross fixed capital formation have positive and statistically significant effects on economic growth. Inflation has a negative and statistically significant effect, indicating that price instability may weaken growth performance in ECOWAS economies. External debt as a percentage of GDP has a negative but statistically insignificant effect in the Panel FMOLS estimates, although the robustness check indicates a positive and significant coefficient. Overall, the findings suggest that debt sustainability, productive capital formation, and macroeconomic stability are important for long-run growth in ECOWAS countries. The study concludes that external borrowing should be managed prudently and directed towards productive investments capable of supporting sustainable economic expansion without increasing vulnerability to debt-related macroeconomic risks.

Age-Wise Analysis of Digital Financial Literacy: Evidence from India

Nancy Minz, Amar Kumar Chaudhary — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Digital financial literacy has become increasingly significant as digital financial services are widely used for payments, banking, savings, investment, and other financial activities. The effective use of these services requires both financial understanding and the ability to navigate digital platforms safely. This study examines the age-wise distribution of digital financial literacy in India using secondary data from the Mid-Term Evaluation of the National Strategy for Financial Education 2020-2025. The original survey used descriptive and exploratory research designs and a stratified sampling technique. The target population in the original survey comprised individuals aged between 12 and 80 years from rural and urban areas across the East, West, North, South, Central, and North-East regions of India. The present study adopts a descriptive research design and examines digital financial literacy through three dimensions reported in the data source: digital financial knowledge, digital financial behaviour, and digital financial attitude. The study reveals that digital financial literacy is unevenly distributed across age groups, with varying strengths and weaknesses in digital financial knowledge, behaviour, and attitude. The findings suggest that younger individuals exhibit stronger digital financial knowledge but lower behaviour and attitude, indicating that exposure to technology may not translate into stronger overall digital financial literacy. Middle-aged people exhibit higher digital financial literacy, whereas older individuals exhibit relatively lower levels, reflecting a persistent age-based digital divide within the country's rapidly growing digital financial system. Based on the findings, the study suggests that mere access to digital financial services is not sufficient; programmes and strategies should be developed to address the unique needs of different age groups and improve digital financial capabilities for meaningful and effective inclusion.

Rural-Urban Migration in the Indian Himalayan Region: Nature and Determinants in Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir

Paramjeet Singh, Prakash C. Antahal — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Rural-urban migration is an important livelihood and socio-economic process in mountain regions, where limited local opportunities often interact with aspirations for improved services and employment. This study examines the nature, patterns, and determinants of rural-urban migration in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir. The analysis is based on primary data collected in 2024 from 300 migrant households through a structured household survey. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, mean score ranking, reliability testing, and chi-square analysis were used to examine the socio-demographic characteristics of migrants, the forms and destinations of migration, and the major push and pull factors influencing migration decisions.

The findings show that migration among surveyed households is largely male-dominated, with males accounting for 72.0 percent of respondents. Most migrants belong to working-age groups, indicating the close association of migration with livelihood and income-related responsibilities. Temporary migration constituted 35.0 percent of cases, followed by permanent migration at 33.3 percent and seasonal migration at 31.7 percent. In terms of destination, 42.0 percent of migrants moved within the district, 37.0 percent to other districts, 15.7 percent outside the state, and 5.3 percent to other countries. Educational status was significantly associated with the nature of migration, as indicated by the chi-square result. The push factors with the highest mean scores were lack of employment opportunities, poor public facilities, low and irregular wages, poor agricultural income, and limited medical and educational facilities. Among the pull factors, access to better educational and medical facilities, improved job opportunities, better prospects for children, and stronger infrastructure were the most important. The study concludes that rural-urban migration in Ramban is shaped by both livelihood constraints in rural areas and aspirations for improved opportunities in urban centres.

The Skills Paradox and the Collapsed Ecosystem: Entrepreneurial Skills and Youth Economic Empowerment in Nairobi's Informal Settlements

Timothy Osiru Okatta, Violet Simiyu, James Sankale — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the relationship between entrepreneurial skills and youth economic empowerment in informal settlements of Nairobi City County, Kenya. It is grounded in a convergent mixed-methods design involving quantitative survey data from 339 youth entrepreneurs across Kibera, Mathare 4A, Kangemi, and Mukuru kwa Ruben, complemented by qualitative insights from six key informant interviews. The study investigates the extent to which entrepreneurial competencies translate into measurable economic empowerment outcomes in contexts characterised by structural deprivation and limited institutional support. Quantitative findings indicate that entrepreneurial skills are a significant predictor of economic empowerment (r = 0.471, p < 0.001), explaining 22.1% of variance in the simple regression model and retaining significance in the multivariate model (β = 0.293, p < 0.001). Descriptive results reveal high levels of self-reported entrepreneurial competencies (M = 3.89), particularly in record-keeping, pricing, and cash-flow management. However, economic empowerment outcomes remain moderate (M = 3.16), with low scores in income sufficiency and financial security. Qualitative findings identify four key themes: The Skills Paradox, in which high practical competencies coexist with financial management deficits; the collapse of the skills development ecosystem due to institutional withdrawal and disrupted support systems; a bidirectional skills-to-livelihood spiral determining business success or failure; and a second-order digital divide characterised by device access without applied digital literacy. The study concludes that entrepreneurial skills alone are insufficient to ensure sustainable economic empowerment in informal settlements. Instead, structural ecosystem constraints significantly mediate outcomes, requiring integrated policy interventions that combine skills development with institutional rebuilding, financial literacy enhancement, and digital capability strengthening.

Marketing Channels and Marketing Efficiency of Medicinal Plant Growers: Evidence from Himachal Pradesh, India

Shravasti Soni, Vinod Naik — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined the marketing channels and marketing efficiency of medicinal plant growers in Himachal Pradesh, with evidence from Kangra and Hamirpur districts during the agricultural year 2023–24. Primary data were collected from 300 medicinal plant growers, comprising 150 Tulsi growers, 100 Aloe vera growers and 50 Chamomile growers, using stratified random sampling. The study focused on three medicinal crops: Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis). Descriptive statistics were used to examine the socio-economic profile of respondents and the distribution of growers across marketing channels. Marketing efficiency was estimated using Acharya’s approach. Three major marketing channels were identified: Channel 0 (Farmer–Middlemen–Consumer), Channel I (Farmer–Consumer) and Channel II (Farmer–Industry). Channel 0 was the dominant channel across all crops, indicating farmers’ continued dependence on intermediaries. Channel I recorded the highest marketing efficiency value of 6.50, followed by Channel II with 3.98 and Channel 0 with 2.67. Although direct marketing was the most efficient channel, processor-linked marketing provided the highest price realisation to farmers. The findings suggest that improved infrastructure, stronger Farmer Producer Organisations, better market information and farmer–industry linkages can enhance marketing performance and reduce dependence on intermediaries.

The Impact of Digital Financial Inclusion on Labour Force Participation in SAARC Countries: Evidence from the Global Findex 2025

Boby Barua, Sukanta Chakraborty — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Digital financial inclusion (DFI) has become an important policy issue in South Asia, where labour market participation remains uneven across countries and population groups. This study examines the association between digital financial inclusion and labour force participation in selected SAARC countries, using individual-level data from the Global Findex 2025. The analysis focuses on Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, with a final sample of 7,000 individuals aged 15 years and above. Employment status is specified as a binary outcome, while DFI is measured through access to a digitally enabled account, a mobile money account, or an account at a financial institution. A binary logistic regression model is employed, controlling for age group, gender, education, wealth quintile, country, residence, internet access, and mobile phone ownership. The findings indicate that individuals with DFI have higher odds of being in the workforce than those without DFI (OR = 1.714, p < 0.001). Mobile phone ownership is also positively associated with workforce participation (OR = 2.219, p < 0.001), whereas internet access is not statistically significant. The results further show a substantial gender gap, with women having lower odds of participation than men (OR = 0.186, p < 0.001). Average marginal effects suggest that the predicted probability of being employed is 36.6% among individuals without DFI and 58.2% among those with DFI. The model demonstrates reasonable discriminatory capacity, with an AUC of 0.76. Country-level predicted probabilities indicate heterogeneity across the five countries, with India showing the highest predicted probability and Bangladesh the lowest. Overall, the study suggests that digital financial inclusion is associated with greater labour force participation in South Asia, while gender and country-level differences remain important considerations for inclusive labour market policy.

Driving Job Satisfaction in the Evolving Digital Banking Workplace through Employee Empowerment

Pushpika Gunasena, Vilani Sachitra — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the influence of employee empowerment practices on job satisfaction in the evolving digital banking industry in Sri Lanka. It considers five aspects of employee empowerment: empowering mission and strategy (EMS), employee autonomy (EA), role accountability (RA), effective cooperation and communication (ECC), and standardised work activity (SWA). Labour Process Theory (LPT) provides a useful lens for examining the influence of employee empowerment practices on job satisfaction in evolving digital banks. This study adopted a quantitative methodology with an explanatory research design. The target population comprised permanent employees in commercial banks in Sri Lanka who are directly engaged in digitalised work environments, such as mobile banking platforms, online services, AI-driven tools and devices, digital payment systems, or other fintech integrations. A convenience sampling technique, supplemented by snowball sampling, was used to select 191 respondents. Data were collected using a self-administered online questionnaire distributed through internal emails. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the study hypotheses. Regression analysis (R² = 0.463) revealed that the strong positive drivers of job satisfaction were SWA (β = 0.503), ECC (β = 0.201), EA (β = 0.198), and EMS (β = 0.123), all of which were significant at p < 0.05. However, RA did not have a significant impact (β = 0.006, p = 0.845). Employees’ perceptions of the technological environment were ambivalent, emphasising improvements, technostress and adaptation difficulties. Theoretically, the study advances Labour Process Theory by confirming its applicability in digital environments. At a practical level, the findings are useful for organisations, policymakers, and educational institutions seeking to enhance job satisfaction through empowerment interventions in the digitalised banking sector. Future research could consider longitudinal studies to monitor the long-term effects of emerging technologies, such as the Metaverse and generative AI; comparative research across countries or industry sectors; qualitative research to investigate technostress; and experimental approaches to measuring empowerment using AI.

The Role of Brand Trust in Mediating the Effect of Social Media Marketing on Purchase Decisions at Florists in Mataram City, Indonesia

Ni Kadek Mirah Chintya Paramitha, Halimatus Sa’diyah, Agus Purbathin Hadi — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined the role of brand trust in mediating the effect of social media marketing on purchase decisions for fresh flowers at florists in Mataram City, Indonesia. A quantitative approach was applied using data from 120 respondents who had purchased fresh flowers at least once in the previous year from one of four selected florists. The research sites were selected purposively, and respondents were grouped equally across the four florists. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and questionnaires using a five-point Likert scale. The relationships among social media marketing, brand trust, and purchase decisions were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results showed that social media marketing had a positive and significant effect on brand trust and purchase decisions. Brand trust also had a positive and significant effect on purchase decisions. The indirect effect analysis further showed that brand trust mediated the relationship between social media marketing and purchase decisions. Because both the direct and indirect effects were significant, the mediation was partial. These findings indicate that social media marketing can influence purchasing behaviour directly and through the development of consumer trust in florist brands in this local market setting.