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This article examines the regulation of labor in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) in Eastern and Southern Africa, with a focus on South Africa and Kenya. It identifies two main concerns: the regulation of labor for African workers engaged in low-end AI work and the sharing of information in authoritarian states and its impact on organized labor and civil society. The article also discusses the lack of regulation for low-end AI work, such as data janitorial work, and the potential biases and negative effects of AI on women in sectors like fintech. It provides country-specific examples, including the use of AI in South Africa's healthcare and transportation systems, as well as the limited attention given to AI by established unions. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of responsible AI practices and addressing regulatory concerns while harnessing the economic potential of AI. In South Africa, the call center industry is at risk of job loss due to AI, and the lack of AI policy and regulation exacerbates this issue. In Kenya, the development of a strong Fintech sector based on AI technologies has led to financial inclusion but also raises concerns about data privacy and protection. The article also highlights the emergence of union-like organizations in Kenya to represent workers in the digital platform economy. Overall, AI regulation in Africa is incomplete, and progress towards informal regulation has been uneven. [Extracted from the article]

We study how consumer spending responds to digital payments, using the differential switch to digital payments across consumers induced by the sudden 2016 Indian Demonetization for identification. Digital payment use rose by 2.94 percentage points and monthly spending increased by 2.38% for an additional 10 percentage points in prior cash dependence. Spending remained elevated even when cash availability recovered. Robustness analyses show that the spending response is not driven by purchase substitution, income shocks, credit supply, or price changes. We provide causal evidence that digital payments increase consumer spending due to subdued endowment effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic energy transfer in molecular wires is usually theoretically investigated with a harmonic bath to model the environment. The present study is a continuation of our previous work [A. Sindhu and A. Jain, Chem. Phys. Chem. 23, e2022003 (2022)] on studying the dynamics of molecular wires using surface hopping simulations. We extend our study to a 7-site model Hamiltonian and investigate the effects of an anharmonic bath on coherent energy transfer in molecular wires. We show that oscillatory and coherent population dynamics remain intact even in the presence of the anharmonic bath and further highlight the multiple channels available for energy flow in molecular wires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrothermal instability and its effect on the uniformity of discharge channels during underwater electrical wire explosions at different energy deposition rates have been investigated. According to the liquid–vapor transition mechanism, we classified underwater electrical explosion into "phase explosion mode" and "supercritical mode." Two sets of experiments corresponding to the two modes were conducted, and the exploding wires were observed by a shadow imaging system. Results showed that a bamboo-shaped discharge channel was formed in the phase explosion mode, whereas the discharge channel in the supercritical mode was a uniform cylinder. Self-consistent magnetohydrodynamic simulation results indicated that exploding wires transfer into liquid–vapor coexistence phase in the phase explosion mode, accompanied by a rapid increase in the density perturbation and the formation of bamboo-shaped structures. Moreover, a small perturbation model was derived to analyze the electrothermal instability in different thermodynamic states. It was indicated that the density perturbation is easier to grow in the liquid–vapor coexistence state than the supercritical state, which provides a theoretical explanation for the differences between the two electrical explosion modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus and the massive influx of patients exceeded the intensive care units capacity limit. Hospitals have engaged community partners to request resources or transfer patients to facilities with available resources. This setting fosters the need for rationing decisions to allocate scarce resources consistently, rather than basing decisions on clinicians' intuition in the heat of the moment. In this paper, we identify the inter-hospital COVID-19 patients' transfer criteria, and we apply a multi-criteria decision-making methodology to classify and rank these criteria in order to determine the transfer priority scores between hospitals. We then develop an optimisation model for patient systematic referral from saturated to recipient hospitals with contingency capacity expansion and a ventilator donation scheme. To deal with the uncertainty related to the number of ill patients requesting beds in hospitals, a two-stage stochastic model is presented and solved using the sample average approximation. A case with real data related to the COVID-19 French context is presented, which allows us to assess the resilience of the hospital network under the proposed solutions. The results show how local and regional coalitions can avert the saturation of the hospital system and reduce the number of rejected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Buy now, pay later' (BNPL) is a financial technology that is reshaping online consumption by allowing users to split payment for goods over 3–4 interest-free digital installments. While the use and value of BNPL has risen dramatically, it, and other consumer-oriented fintech, has received relatively little critical attention. Demographically, the majority of BNPL users are young and women and its negative impacts are disproportionately felt by lower-income groups, making this a specifically gendered financial technology. In this paper we develop a feminist approach to studying fintech, which we use to present a critical analysis of BNPL drawing on data from the US, UK, and Canada. Through this lens, we explore BNPL's revenue streams, data collection practices, relative lack of regulation, and how these factors function structurally in the digital payments space, to analyze their impact for consumers and retailers in the context of rising consumer indebtedness and the financialization of consumption. We argue that BNPL is a fintech intervention that attempts to shift consumer practices with distinctly gendered implications for social reproduction, household finance, and everyday relations to debt and money. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital fund transactions involve the electronic transfer of funds between parties through digital channels such as online banking platforms, mobile applications, and electronic payment systems. However, the rapid advancement of digital transactions has also directed cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities, engaging in money laundering and other illegal activities, resulting in substantial financial losses. The improve accuracy of cybercriminal detection by lesser time consumption, a novel technique called quadratic multivariate linear regressive distributed proximity feature engineering (QMLRDPFE) is developed. The proposed QMLRDPFE technique comprises two primary steps namely data preprocessing and feature engineering. Analyzed results prove that the QMLRDPFE technique outperforms existing methods in attaining superior accuracy and precision. Furthermore, QMLRDPFE method shows effective in reducing time utilization and space complexity for fraudulent transaction detection compared to existing approaches. Results to provide effective in reducing time utilization and space complexity for fraudulent transaction detection than the conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this paper is to test the effect of culture, at a country level, on digital and mobile payment use. Using panel data regression analysis, the main results indicate that individualism presented a positive effect on both digital and m-payment, and masculinity showed a negative effect on m-payment. Overall, this research highlights the relevance of cultural factors to improve the understanding of digital and mobile payment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examines how the introduction of mobile money transfers, while making it efficient and convenient to access funds, has affected rural households' savings behavior and the banking sector. Design/methodology/approach: This study utilizes Fiji's most recent agricultural census data to model the agricultural household's saving decision. The study estimates an probit model to examine rural households' savings behavior. Furthermore, it utilizes time series secondary data to examine how funds transfer has been channeled to rural households in Fiji. Findings: Firstly, the results demonstrate that with the mobile money transfer platform launch, the banking sector has lost substantial money previously used to pass through its system, thus losing service fees and interest income. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that those using mobile wallet platforms to receive money are more likely not to have a savings account with the bank. Noting the cultural systems and social settings of the native households and the ease of payments via the mobile platform, they tend to spend more on consumption rather than saving, thus making these households more vulnerable during shocks such as natural disasters. Originality/value: While mobile money transfer is hailed as a revolution, no research has yet picked up the downside to it, that of undermining the very effort by policymakers to get low-income rural households to save. Secondly, this study also highlights how mobile money transfer deprives the banking system of a significant transfer fee income and a source of funds to pool and lend to earn interest income. Furthermore, this study brings to the forefront a dichotomy about how a rural indigenous community sees the welfare and prosperity of their community much differently than what economics textbooks portray. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of digital payments on household financial asset investment, using the China Household Finance Survey (2013–2019). Our findings indicate that digital payments positively affect financial market participation and investment size, reshaping asset allocation structures. While households using digital payments show increased participation and investment amounts across various financial assets, a reduction in the weight of deposits is evident. The study highlights two key channels through which digital payments influence financial behavior: enhancing subjective financial literacy and increasing households' attention to financial information. The research emphasizes the role of digital payments in mitigating polarization effects in household financial asset allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread reliance on paper-based currency poses significant drawbacks, such as counterfeiting, lack of transparency, and environmental impacts. While Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) address many of these issues, their dependence on continuous internet connectivity limits their usability in scenarios with poor or no network access. To overcome such limitations, this paper introduces ElasticPay, a novel Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Offline Digital Payment System that leverages advanced hardware security measures realised through Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs), Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs), and Secure Elements (SEs). ElasticPay ensures transaction privacy, unforgeability, and immediate settlement while preventing double spending. Our approach integrates robust recovery mechanisms and provides a scalable solution for diverse environments. Extensive experimentation validates the system's reliability and practicality, highlighting its potential to advance secure and inclusive CBDC ecosystems. We demonstrate the proposed solution implementation on the iPhone mobilephone because it has an inbuilt Secure Enclave, which is an integrated implementation of the necessary TPM, TEE, and SE functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study rigorously examines the complex interplay between financial technology (Fintech), financial inclusion, and their collective effects on economic growth in developing nations. Employing a robust panel regression methodology enhanced by Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) and Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) techniques, this research analyzes an extensive dataset comprising 108 countries categorized into low, lower-middle, and upper-middle income levels across four pivotal years (2011, 2014, 2017, and 2021). Our analysis focuses on two key dimensions of Fintech—specifically, the adoption of digital payments and e-commerce via mobile technologies—and traditional financial access indicators, including the density of ATMs, bank branches, and active banking accounts. The findings demonstrate a predominantly positive effect of Fintech variables on economic growth, particularly through improved digital payment systems. Conversely, traditional financial inclusion metrics frequently show a negative correlation with growth trajectories. Notably, our research underscores a significant positive interaction between digital payment usage and ATM density, indicating a synergistic relationship that enhances the performance of traditional banking systems. In contrast, a substitutability effect arises, where increased dependence on mobile technologies diminishes the relevance of traditional financial infrastructure, potentially obstructing broader economic growth. These findings carry critical policy implications, advocating for a cohesive strategy that fosters both Fintech innovations and traditional financial sectors to maximize economic growth and inclusivity. A deliberate emphasis on synchronizing innovative financial solutions with the strengthening of conventional banking is essential for promoting sustainable economic development in these resource-constrained regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surge in digital payment technologies and the swift transition to a cashless society have propelled the adoption of embedded payment systems, marking a significant shift in the payments landscape. Despite its increasing prevalence, the factors influencing the intention to use embedded payment systems remain underexplored in the academic literature. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the factors affecting young people's intention to use embedded payment systems in Türkiye. Through a questionnaire survey of 807 respondents, the data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. The findings reveal that lifestyle compatibility, social influence, personal innovativeness, hedonic motivation, and perceived trust collectively account for 72.6% of the variation in the intention to use embedded payment systems. However, the statistical insignificance of perceived ease of use and facilitating conditions suggests that other factors may significantly influence the intention to use these systems. This empirical study is the first of its kind on embedded payment systems, providing valuable insights into digital payments literature and guiding private sector professionals in devising effective strategies to promote widespread adoption of this payment method in Türkiye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing popularity of smart contracts in various areas, such as digital payments and the Internet of Things, has led to an increase in smart contract security challenges. Researchers have responded by developing vulnerability detection tools. However, the effectiveness of these tools is limited due to the lack of authentic smart contract vulnerability datasets to comprehensively assess their capacity for diverse vulnerabilities. This paper proposes a Deep Learning‐based Smart contract vulnerability Generation approach (SGDL) to overcome this challenge. SGDL utilizes static analysis techniques to extract both syntactic and semantic information from the contracts. It then uses a classification technique to match injected vulnerabilities with contracts. A generative adversarial network is employed to generate smart contract vulnerability fragments, creating a diverse and authentic pool of fragments. The vulnerability fragments are then injected into the smart contracts using an abstract syntax tree to ensure their syntactic correctness. Our experimental results demonstrate that our method is more effective than existing vulnerability injection methods in evaluating the contract vulnerability detection capacity of existing detection tools. Overall, SGDL provides a comprehensive and innovative solution to address the critical issue of authentic and diverse smart contract vulnerability datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the relationships between barrier-breakers and customers' intention to fully adopt digital payment methods (DPMs). Design/methodology/approach: Survey data were analyzed using statistical methods focusing on hypothesis testing with an ordinal regression model and moderation analysis using the PROCESS macro extension. Participants were divided into two groups of customers in Sweden: adopters-accepters, i.e. young bank customers and adopters-resisters, i.e. members of a formally organized group opposed to a cashless society. Findings: The findings revealed that only the credibility barrier-breaker could increase the adopters-accepters' intention to fully adopt DPMs. Credibility also seemed to be an important barrier-breaker for the adopters-resisters, as were perceived usefulness and social influence. Additional analyses showed that the impersonalization barrier reduces the impact of the barrier-breakers on DPM adoption. Practical implications: Retail banks and merchants can use these results as a guide to what barrier-breakers might affect various customers' intention to fully adopt DPMs, and to act accordingly. The impersonalization barrier also merits attention when creating an emotional connection to customers who use DPMs. Originality/value: This study provides empirically based knowledge of the influence of barrier-breakers on the intention of customers, categorized as adopters-accepters and adopters-resisters, to fully adopt DPMs, and highlights the importance of maintaining a human touch in the post-COVID-19 digital era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) is a virtual currency that has grown in popularity after its inception in 2008. BTC-USD is an internet communication network that makes using digital money, including digital payments, easy. It offers decentralized clearing of transactions and money supply. This study attempts to accurately anticipate the BTC-USD prices (Close) using data from September 2023 to September 2024, comprising 390 observations. Four machine learning models—Multi-layer Perceptron, Extreme Learning Machine, Neural Network AutoRegression, and Extreme-Gradient Boost—as well as four time series models—Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average, Auto-Regressive, Non-Parametric Auto-Regressive, and Simple Exponential Smoothing models—are used to achieve this end. Various hybrid models are then proposed utilizing these models, which are based on simple averaging of these models. The data-splitting technique, commonly used in comparative analysis, splits the data into training and testing data sets. Through comparison testing with training data sets consisting of 30%, 20%, and 10%, the present work demonstrated that the suggested hybrid model outperforms the individual approaches in terms of error metrics, such as the MAE, RMSE, MAPE, SMAPE, and direction accuracy, such as correlation and the MDA of BTC. Furthermore, the DM test is utilized in this study to measure the differences in model performance, and a graphical evaluation of the models is also provided. The practical implication of this study is that financial analysts have a tool (the proposed model) that can yield insightful information about potential investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract:Aims: With the increase of online shopping and cashless payment, (online) compulsive buying-shopping disorder (CBSD) has become an increasingly important field of research. However, little attention has been paid to its prevention. Our aim is to identify prevention programs for CBSD respectively to propose prevention approaches for CBSD based on the literature on (behavioral) addictions. Methodology: A review of the literature was conducted. Two databases were used. Studies should refer to the prevention of CBSD and describe prevention concepts to be screened. Results and discussion: The search did not reveal any prevention programs focusing on CBSD beyond preliminary work from over 25 years ago. Potential content of prevention programs for CBSD based on prevention approaches for other behavioral addictions and risk factors of CBSD was outlined. For universal prevention, psychoeducation should reach (university) students and apprentices. Selective prevention should include social norms interventions, psychoeducation and low-threshold interventions. Indicated prevention should comprise group settings with several sessions. Self-observation, managing finances, procrastination, emotion regulation should be covered. Counselors at e. g., universities should be educated about CBSD. Referral to treatment should be considered for persons at-risk for CBSD. Conclusions: These suggested preventive offers should be further concretized and empirically evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the responsible regulation of digital services in India, highlighting the country's growth in the IT industry and digital citizen services driven by government policies. It emphasizes the need for a balance between modernization and citizen choice in the use of digital services. The article also covers examples of digital public goods, Aadhaar identity platform, digital payments, and the digital divide in India, along with instances of digital enforcement like internet shutdowns. The authors advocate for responsible regulation that respects citizen choice and addresses the limitations users face in using digital services. [Extracted from the article]

This study investigates the intricate connection between digital financial literacy (DFL) components and financial skills (FSK) in relation to financial goals (FG) while considering the moderating role of financial experience (FE) and financial awareness (FA) within the rapidly developing digital payment environment in Indonesia. Utilizing a quantitative approach and structural equation model (SEM) analysis of survey data from 633 participants. The results indicated that all aspects of DFL have a substantial impact on FSK and FG. FSKs are crucial in enhancing FG, as they play a key role in mediating the effect of all DFL components on FG. Although FE strengthens the moderating role, it is not significant. Conversely, FA weakens the relationship, but this is not statistically significant. The research presents undeniable evidence that the fundamental aspects of DFL comprising knowledge of digital financial services (KDFS), awareness of digital finance risk (ADFR), and digital finance risk control (DFRC) have a direct impact on FSK. These skills are essential for attaining FG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The payments landscape is evolving rapidly, and fast payment systems (FPS) have emerged globally as a key innovation. Jurisdictions differ in their approach to designing FPS and in user adoption. In this paper we lay out the main design features of FPS that may foster adoption based on a novel qualitative and quantitative dataset of FPS in 13 jurisdictions. Cross-country regressions suggest that adoption of fast payments is greater when there are more use cases, more cross-border connections, when non-banks can participate in the FPS and when the public sector plays an active role in the FPS. In addition, we find that implementing an FPS improves financial inclusion, beyond payments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In retail transactions, mobile payment services (MPS) can potentially replace cash, particularly in developing nations that lack cardswipe machines. Due to the concern that currency notes could spread diseases during the COVID-19 outbreak, digital payments saw a rise in popularity as a practical payment alternative. The extended period of the pandemic resulted in an extended period of continued usage, even for new users. Despite having a lengthy trial period, user-friendly interfaces, and greater fungibility than cash, MPS did not find widespread acceptance, and cash still predominates in retail transactions. There is a lot of research on technology adoption, however there is considerably less on usage retention. While there is some literature on continued use of technology, the main factor for discontinuation or reduction of usage is the lack of satisfaction. With MPS, satisfaction is rarely an issue, yet users limit the extent of their usage. In the context of retail transactions, this research explicitly examines continued usage following extensive initial use. The Gioia method of grounded theory was used to investigate the factors preventing continued use of MPS for retail transactions. The qualitative interviews were carried out among users in an emerging economy that is a leader in MPS adoption and use. To explain the barriers to the continued use of beneficial technology, this study proposes a conceptualization of consumer decision inertia with three dimensions categorized as deep-rooted habits, vicarious indifference, and kairotic uncertainty. This insight would be beneficial to MPS organizations not just in developing countries but even for developed economies. The conceptualization of consumer decision inertia also offers insights that can be applied in the context of sustained usage of other consumer-facing technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite Malaysia's aim to establish a cashless society by 2020, e-wallet adoption has lagged, with fluctuating transaction rates from 2020 to 2022. Transactions peaked at 251.5 million in December 2021, dropping to 208.2 million by February 2022. This volatility indicates barriers to widespread acceptance. Research highlights the significance of structural assurance--adequate security measures, supportive legal frameworks, and reliable regulation--in technology adoption. Ensuring these factors can enhance consumer confidence and drive higher adoption rates of digital financial services in Malaysia, addressing current impediments to e-wallet usage. This study integrates structural assurance within the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to explore e-wallet adoption in Peninsular Malaysia, targeting both users and non-users through quota sampling. Using a questionnaire, valid responses were gathered from 377 participants, comprising 224 e-wallet users and 153 non-users. The research employs a quantitative methodology to examine the behavioural intentions related to ewallet usage. Initial data analysis involved assessing demographic profiles, checking variable reliability, and examining correlation patterns. Further, a multigroup analysis using partial least square - structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was conducted to differentiate these groups based on their ewallet usage behaviours. The findings underscore the pivotal role of structural assurance in influencing e-wallet adoption across Malaysia. The study reveals how trust and security concerns are crucial in encouraging both current users and potential adopters to switch from traditional payment methods to digital solutions. The implications suggest that regulatory bodies and e-wallet providers should prioritise structural assurance to boost adoption rates. By enhancing trust and security measures, stakeholders can significantly motivate users to embrace e-wallets, fostering a robust digital economy. This research enriches the existing literature on technology adoption, providing insights into the determinants of e-wallet adoption in Malaysia and highlighting the importance of structural assurance in digital payment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the adoption of distributed ledger technology (DLT) is still in a very early phase, its application to the issuance and custody of digital securities is making progress and various platforms and solutions based on a blockchain/DLT infrastructure are emerging. The cash leg of settlement, however, is still not properly solved for this type of infrastructure. For the settlement of digital assets, traditional payment rails are still often used, which hinders the technology from reaching its full potential in areas such as efficiency gains, both in respect of costs and time. To support and prepare for a potentially wider adoption of digital assets, the European Central Bank (ECB) is exploring in 2024 new technologies for wholesale central bank money settlement together with interested market participants. Central bank money systems have centralised architectures designed for single issuers and operators. As central bank money is traditionally used to support the settlement of securities, the question of how to bring it to newly emerging decentralised DLT platforms in an interoperable and efficient manner requires an answer. The ECB, together with three national banks as solution providers, is exploring three different approaches and will likely shed light on several important considerations: is wholesale central bank money necessary on-chain in a tokenised form? What are the advantages and disadvantages of alternative approaches? This paper provides a comparative overview of the explored solutions and describes the assumed interoperability mechanisms between the digital asset and payment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Financial Reporting & Assurance Standards (FRAS) Canada Corner" is a quarterly update from Canada's financial reporting and assurance standards-setting Boards, including the Accounting Standards Board (AcSB), the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AASB), the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB), and the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB). The updates focus on meeting discussions, proposed standards, and active projects, with information organized by topic. The AcSB discussed various topics, including IFRS Accounting Standards, Power Purchase Agreements, Climate-Related Uncertainties, Standards for Private Enterprises, Related Party Combinations, and Agriculture. The document also highlights ongoing projects, advisory committees, and working groups within the AcSB, AASB, PSAB, and CSSB." [Extracted from the article]

Digital wallets have become a driving force in the global economy, with 2.4 billion users worldwide in 2020, a figure projected to reach 3.6 billion by 2026. This study conducts an in-depth bibliometric analysis to evaluate the current state and future trends of digital wallet research using scientific databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. A scoping review methodology was applied, in which we analyzed 778 documents, following an eligibility process with the following search terms: "digital wallet", "mobile wallet", and "e-wallet". Results show that India, the United States, and China are leading research efforts in this field. Key factors influencing the adoption of digital wallets include data security, ease of use, and integration with traditional payment systems. While much research has focused on technological innovation and adoption, significant gaps remain in areas such as blockchain integration and AI-driven solutions. This article provides the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of digital wallets, offering crucial insights into emerging trends such as "blockchain", "electronic commerce", and "digital payments" and their role in shaping the future of financial technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of international capital flows in financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Using data from 41 SSA countries from 2000 to 2018 and employing the System Generalized Method of Moments (System GMM), the research examines the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and remittances on the SDGs across disaggregated levels (economic, social, and environmental sustainability) and the aggregated level (SDGI). The findings underscore the crucial significance of international capital flows as essential financing sources for SSA countries. FDI emerges as a contributor to economic and social sustainability at the disaggregated level, yet it exhibits negative effects on environmental sustainability. Conversely, remittances are shown to positively contribute to economic and social sustainability at the disaggregated level. However, the impact of international capital flows on the aggregate SDGI is found to be insignificantly positive. These results highlight the necessity for policymakers in SSA to devise strategies that maximize the benefits of FDI while addressing its adverse effects on environmental sustainability. Furthermore, they emphasize the importance of strengthening policies aimed at directing remittances towards sustainable investments, thereby advancing the achievement of the SDGs. Governments are urged to prioritize enhancing regulatory capacities in environmental matters through investments in modern technologies and appropriate standards, aiming to strike a balance between environmental protection and economic needs. Additionally, they should prioritize transparency, public participation, and robust enforcement mechanisms. Encouraging environmentally friendly foreign investments and promoting regional and international cooperation are also crucial steps towards effectively managing local environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of innovative technologies has contributed to significant changes in the market for payment instruments. These changes have become a challenge for banks and have contributed to the continuous expansion of the products they offer, more technologically advanced, which will provide the customer with a high level of security. Banks, in order to meet customer expectations, are developing and improving the most popular distribution channels for their services, which are undoubtedly payment cards. The aim of the paper is to define and classify non-cash payment instruments in the Polish payment card market from 2009 to 2023, as well as to assess the trends of changes that may occur in the payment card market at the end of 2024 and in 2025. A study of the payment card market in Poland was carried out, and the factors determining the development of non-cash payments were presented, as well as the directions of its future changes. Development trend (trend) models were used for the study, and then used to forecast the changes that will take place in the payment card market in Poland at the end of 2024 and in 2025.The analysis was carried out using the program STATISTICA 13.3. Bank customers are increasingly carrying out transactions using electronic payment instruments, the most common form of which are payment cards. The payment card is one of the better options for obtaining funds, as evidenced by the systematic annual increase in the number of such cards issued. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected the increase of payment card use in Poland. Further advances in technology will bring new solutions to the payment card market and at the same time develop the digital money market. The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly accelerated the payment needs and expectations of consumers, who are more willing to use digital technologies in the new reality. Banks, in turn, see modern technological solutions as achieving a competitive advantage in the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voice payment systems have emerged as a revolutionary mode of transaction, transforming the way individuals interact with financial services. By incorporating two additional factors (trust and perceived security) into the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework, this study was conducted to address existing research gaps, specifically the dearth of studies on emerging payment methods in Vietnam. The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze the factors influencing people's intention to use voice payment, shedding light on the determinants shaping individuals' attitudes and behaviors in adopting this innovative payment method. A survey utilizing self-administered questionnaires was conducted, gathering data from 435 users experienced in using mobile payment services in Vietnam. The collected data underwent partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that performance expectancy (PE), social influence (SI), and trust (TR) positively impact both behavioral intention (BI) and voice payment adoption (VPA). This study contributes academically by introducing novel constructs to assess users' likelihood of embracing financial technology. In addition, the findings inform business executives and service providers regarding the expansion prospects that voice payment presents and aid them in comprehending the adoption of this technology. By offering recommendations, this research aids voice payment providers in enhancing the quality of their services and increasing customer satisfaction considering the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of "Electronic Payment Systems (EPS)" presents an effective alternative for mitigating natural ecosystem degradation and serves as a robust catalyst for fostering green innovation and sustainability efforts. From this perspective, this article aims to investigate the drivers that impact EPS adoption in Morocco. This research also introduces an innovative theoretical framework combining the extended "Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT)" model by considering three additional constructs namely perceived trust (TR), perceived risk (PR), and structural assurance (SA), along with the "Value-Belief-Norm (VBN)" theory. A sample of 484 users was surveyed, and the PLS-SEM technique was employed to analyze the relationships within the research model. The results indicate that pro-environmental personal norms (PPN) significantly affected both behavior intention to use EPS (BI) and actual use (AU). Likewise, the VBN theory's sequential chain in activating PPN was confirmed as well as the direct impact of social influence (SI) and the new environmental paradigm (NEP) on PPN. Additionally, findings highlighted the significant effect of performance expectancy (PE), TR, SA, PR, SI, and effort expectancy (EE) on BI. However, facilitating conditions (FC) were found to be statistically insignificant toward BI. Similarly, awareness of adverse consequences (AC) did not significantly affect PPN. These findings have deepened our understanding of EPS adoption dynamics, providing valuable insights to policymakers and Fintech firms for more targeted green marketing campaigns, and paving the way for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of digitalization, mobile financial services have become increasingly popular as they offer convenient, accessible, and secure ways to manage finances. This trend is expected to continue because more people worldwide gain access to mobile technology and become comfortable with digital financial services. Thereby, this study explores the influence of consumption values, such as functional, social, and emotional values on the adoption of the cashless society, including the mediating effect of cashless readiness. Using a convenience sampling method, a total of 200 responses were collected through a quantitative research approach. The study reveals that functional, social, and emotional values significantly influence cashless readiness, which affects the adoption of a cashless society. Additionally, the research reveals that cashless readiness mediates the relationship between consumption values and the adoption of a cashless society. The findings can be useful for mobile financial service providers, banking institutions, and governmental organizations in formulating and designing strategies to increase the number of individuals using digital payment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to examine the connection between digital payments, ownership structure, and bank performance in Jordan, as well as investigate the moderating role of the independent director in the said relationship. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses data from 12 Amman stock exchange-listed commercial banks, covering the period from 2010 to 2023. This paper employs econometric analysis of panel data, including ordinary least squares (OLS) regression as the primary approach, as well as the generalised method of moments, the two-stage least square (2SLS), and the dynamic model to deal with causality and endogeneity issues in the proposed equations. This ensures that the results are valid. Findings: The results indicate that digital payments and ownership structure have a significant positive connection with bank performance. Additionally, the independent director variable appears to play a substantial and positive moderating role in the link between ownership structure (e.g. institutional ownership) and bank performance. These results strengthen and support the claims of agency theory and the information systems success model. Practical implications: Overall, this research helps stakeholders, bankers, managers, investors, customers, and policymakers, identify the influence of digital payment and ownership structure on bank performance in developing economies such as that of Jordan. Originality/value: This investigation offers a unique understanding by illuminating how digital payment and ownership structure affect bank performance in a developing country such as Jordan. Additionally, it opens avenues for future research to delve into this literature domain in North African and Middle Eastern nations, with a particular focus on Jordan. This investigation is among the initial explorations in Jordan that aim to elucidate these relationships. On the theoretical level, it adds to the agency theory and IS model. It provides new insights into the dynamics of industry banking in developing nations (i.e. Jordan). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article the author examines the acts which are considered to be fraudulent in the field of banking. The purpose of the study is to define the concept of fraud in the field of banking, the acts which are related to it, and to formulate proposals to the Criminal Code of Ukraine based on a thorough analysis of the provisions of current criminal law and scientific sources. The author notes that fraud in banking poses a threat to banking in particular and the economy in general, since their commission entails rather serious negative consequences and affects the entire financial and economic security of the State. To ensure the efficient operation of banking institutions and their financial security, it is necessary to develop and implement an effective fraud detection and prevention system. This includes the use of advanced software solutions and compliance with security standards when working with electronic payment systems, identifying potential threats and using appropriate measures to prevent and deter fraud in the banking sector. The article notes that in order to effectively prevent fraud in the banking sector, it is necessary to first understand its essence, define the definition of this concept and generally characterize the actions which are the objective side of criminal offenses related to the commission of the analyzed types of fraud. On the basis of a thorough legislative, regulatory and scientific study and harmonization of the very definition of «fraud in the field of banking», the author proposes amendments and proposals to the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Based on the scientific analysis of the definition of the concept under study, it can be concluded that frauds committed in the banking sector include the following acts: frauds with bank accounts, frauds with credit cards, frauds related to forgery of documents for obtaining loans, as well as illegal actions by bank employees which result in fraudulent actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology is an important technical basis for ensuring carbon trading and plays a fundamental role in maintaining fairness in the carbon trading market. This paper proposes a carbon emission metering and settlement method and a system based on blockchain technology which creates the digital identity of electric meters and stores it in the blockchain. Verifiable credentials are generated based on the digital identity, energy data, and time stamp. The system records the energy data read by the verified meter to the blockchain cloud platform for carbon emission statistics. In the payment and settlement stage, through application of the blockchain and its combination with a digital payment wallet, the regional energy network consumption settlement value is generated according to the regional power supply and electricity consumption, and the settlement value is used as the benchmark to measure the carbon emissions in the region. Through the data analysis of practical application cases in an industrial park in China, this study concludes that the carbon emission statistical settlement method based on blockchain technology solves the problems of untrustworthiness, unreliability, and inconsistency in the statistical and settlement methods during the statistical settlement of electric energy statistics and energy consumption carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: the purpose of the article is to analyze the impact of modern technologies on the development of cashless payments and to assess the trend of changes in the Polish payment instruments market. Design/methodology/approach: general scientific and empirical methods and tools of economic science, methods of analysis and synthesis, comparison, summary and grouping were used in the study. GRETL programming was used to find out the impact of the cashless payment market on the economic development of the country. The method of summarizing the results was used to draw conclusions regarding the trends of the cashless payment market in Poland. Findings: the article analyzes the quantitative and qualitative changes in the market of payment instruments in Poland, the main place of which belongs to bank payment cards in conditions where the digitalization of the economy determines the main development trends not only of the financial sector but of all aspects of human life. The dynamics of the main quantitative parameters of the functioning of the payment card market in Poland over the past eight years have been analyzed, which indicates its active qualitative development and the presence of stable growth trends. Research limitations/implications: modeling the relationship between GDP and the development of cashless payments is limited to selected indicators characterizing the development of the contactless payment market in Poland. Quarterly data for the period of 2012-2022 were used for this purpose. Practical implications: the study confirms the need for the banking sector to implement a set of measures to develop the cashless payment market in Poland. Expanding the use of payment cards will not only contribute to the technological development of banks and strengthen their competitive position, but will also have a positive impact on the digital transformation of the economy in general. Social implications: the development of cashless payments contributes to the accessibility, convenience, and speed of their implementation for users. The further use of innovative payment instruments by customers requires, first and foremost, improving the quality of their service and ensuring the security of cashless payments. Originality/value: the study confirms a direct link between the number of payment card transactions and online payments and the country's economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern circuit design, the short-circuit problem is one of the key factors affecting routability. With the continuous reduction in feature sizes, the short-circuit problem grows significantly in detailed routing. Track assignment, as a crucial intermediary phase between global routing and detailed routing, plays a vital role in preprocessing the short-circuit problem. However, existing track assignment algorithms face the challenge of easily falling into local optimality. As a typical swarm intelligence technique, particle swarm optimization (PSO) is a powerful tool with excellent optimization ability to solve large-scale problems. To address the above issue, we propose an effective track assignment algorithm based on social learning discrete particle swarm optimization (SLDPSO-TA). First, an effective wire model that considers the local nets is proposed. By considering the pin distribution of local nets, this model extracts and allocates more segments to fully leverage the role of track assignment. Second, an integer encoding strategy is employed to ensure that particles within the encoding space range correspond one-to-one with the assignment scheme, effectively expanding the search space. Third, a social learning mode based on the example pool is introduced to PSO, which is composed of other particles that are superior to the current particle. By learning from various objects in the example pool, the diversity of the population is improved. Fourth, a negotiation-based refining strategy is utilized to further reduce overlap. This strategy intelligently transfers and redistributes wire segments in congested areas to reduce congestion across the entire routing panel. Experimental results on multiple benchmarks demonstrate that the proposed SLDPSO-TA can achieve the best overlap cost optimization among all the existing methods, effectively reducing congestion in critical routing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital payment gateways have become an essential part of the modern economy, facilitating online transactions and enabling e-commerce activities. The centralization of these gateways has led to a lack of transparency, long processing time, high fees, a central point of failure and a significant risk of fraud. Blockchain technology has the potential to address these problems and revolutionize the way to handle digital transactions. In this paper, a blockchain-based solution, named EasyPay, is proposed to create a simple, easy-to-use, decentralized, secured and transparent digital payment gateway with a good user-friendly interface. In EasyPay, a MetaMask account is used as a crypto wallet that interacts with the Ethereum blockchain network, and a smart contract is designed using Solidity to validate transactions. The accessibility and security of the proposed payment gateway are increased by integrating a QR code with EasyPay. Experimental results show 95% performance and 100% accessibility with an SEO score of 80% of the proposed EasyPay system from GooglePageInsights. The proposed EasyPay system offers a superior market segment and accessibility, according to comparison data between it and other cryptocurrency platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offering transactions through mobile devices has many advantages, such as cashless payments, lower transaction costs, and provide employment opportunities. However, it introduces access security challenges that must be dealt with, which may allow unauthorized access, resulting in theft. This work proposes a framework to improve security on the usage of Mobile Money Services (MMS) by using two-factor authentication (2FA) of PIN and iris biometric authentication method (IRBAM). The rapid application development (RAD) approach was used to develop mobile money applications based on the proposed framework. The proposed framework will improve the security of accessing MMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]