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Purpose: This study aimed to examine the adoption of consortium blockchain technology to ensure interoperability for the transparency of budgetary control in Ghanaian local government. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on the design science research (DSR) observational technique for developing a consortium blockchain budgetary control system for Ghana's local government. Findings: The study resulted in the design of a consortium blockchain monitoring and evaluation system to set up a mechanism to monitor various budget projects, processes and transactions for Ghana's local government. The findings also proved Ghana is ideally positioned to gain an advantage from designed artefacts such as ours, given its digital financial service (DFS) policy. In addition, the evaluation of the designed artefact proves there will be a positive impact on budgetary processes by addressing transparency concerns; however, the success of this concern depends on how the local government organisation embraces the artefact. Research limitations/implications: The study sheds light on budget monitoring and evaluation tied to peer-to-peer (P2P) participation in the public sector via an advanced administrative digitalised networking and communication algorithm (A Distributed Ledger Technology - blockchain). The difference between the designed artefact and the traditional M&E system is argued. The study is limited by the paradoxes and inefficiencies of the integration of blockchain into the Ghanaian local government but, at the same time, presents a high level of certainty and possibility. Practical implications: The proposed artefact has presented relevance because it is a new solution to existing concerns like trust, transparency, accountability and compliance, thereby improving local government budget administration. Originality/value: The study has offered unique and new methods, guidelines and designs for tracking various budget projects and processes beyond the conventional

Due to the ongoing global debate regarding the relationship between fintech and banks, including developing countries, this study aims to investigate this relationship in the case of Vietnam, an emerging nation. The study analyzes the relationship between fintech search and bank stock returns, which are measures of fintech and banks, respectively. The time series data for fintech and bank stock returns were obtained from Google Trends and Vietstock, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis was utilized to derive the fintech variables, while the bank stock return variable was calculated using a basket of eight listed banks from 2017w46 to 2021w46. The results were estimated using the vector autoregression and Granger causality method and validated with the copula method. A key finding of this study is the presence of a simultaneous negative change and bidirectional causality between bank stock returns and fintech lending. Furthermore, several other interesting findings were discovered: (1) the causal relationship from fintech to bank stock returns is weaker compared with the opposite direction; (2) unidirectional causality exists between different types of fintech, such as influence from FinFintech to FinLending, from FinPayment to FinLending and FinWallet, from FinMoney to FinFintech, from FinWallet to FinLending, and from FinProduct to FinFintech; and (3) there is an equal occurrence of simultaneous increase or decrease between bank stock returns and certain types of fintech, specifically between BankReturn and FinPayment, BankReturn and FinLending, as well as BankReturn and FinWallet. These findings shed light on the complex relationship between fintech and banks, offering insights that contribute to our understanding of this dynamic interplay in the context of Vietnam’s emerging fintech landscape.

Based on the relationship between fintech and bank performance and the role of mobile ap- plications in bank operations, we investigate the impact of mobile banking application (MBA) ratings on bank service income. The quarterly data from the 15 biggest Vietnamese commer- cial banks in 2019-2020 were extracted from the public financial statements and the Google Play Store. The Generalized Least Squares method is applied to process the proposed regression models. We find a positive impact of MBA ratings on bank service income. We additionally ex- plore the MBA quality of a large bank that does not meet customer expectations and how the in- teraction between MBA ratings and leverage harms bank service income. Finally, users gener- ally appreciate the MBA quality, and COVID-19 does not affect the link between MBA ratings and bank service income. The study provides novel knowledge on customer behavior through MBA ratings and their effect on bank service income in an emerging country.

Superlatives are commonplace in descriptions of traditional budgeting. Within managerial accounting techniques, it is one of the most frequently used, the most researched, but also the most criticized. While academics are largely united in criticism of traditional budgeting practices due to their inflexibility and consumption of resources, the existing studies have not identified universal assumptions to improve this system. The inconsistent conclusions in current literature create a need to explore approaches to mitigation of budgetary weaknesses. Furthermore, this incomplete knowledge is an impulse to examine factors influencing the choice of these approaches. The authors conducted a review of the literature to amass information on approaches developed to enhance traditional budgeting methods. Subsequently, research was conducted on the extent of utilization and the subjective perception of such methods at a sample of companies operating in the Czech Republic. The authors additionally attempted to determine which factors influenced the decisions of managers in selection of such a tool. A web-based survey was devised with the aim of gathering data, followed by analysis of correlation between selected variables through application of Pearson's chi-square test. The literature review revealed the importance of conducting a budgetary review in improving the budgetary control. In total, 136 Czech companies took part in the survey, and it was discovered that a significant number of them had implemented traditional budgeting methods. More than 80% of respondents monitored any variation within their budgets. In the following part, the share of foreign capital was identified as the factor that influenced choices made in budgetary control. Since no correlation was discerned between revision of a budget and subsequent perception of its efficiency, the results lend support to arguments that minor improvements do not radically affect budgeting overall.

Crisis management for the Covid-19 epidemic is unquestionably an emergent issue. It also taught us several lessons about how to prepare for future crises. When it comes to the healthcare industry, the need for urgent discussion as well as innovation to address the issue takes precedence. Over the last two years, there has been a high crisis in emergency drugs, scarcity of drug ingredients, and patients have become helpless in the fight against the coronavirus disease all over the world. The European Union (EU) was the central hub of this tragedy, and the EU is mobilizing all available resources to assist member states in coordinating their national responses, which includes providing objective information about the virus's spread, effective containment efforts, and measures taken to repair the pandemic's economic and social damage. The research explains pharmaceutical business models and tools that can help businesses respond to emergency situations. A systematic literature review was conducted, and a list of bibliographic notes is mentioned in the reference section of the paper, where future research ideas can be found.

In the ongoing situation, when the world is dominated by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the development of self-care programs appears to be insufficient, while their role in mental health may be crucial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the associations between self-care activities and depression in the general Slovak population, but also in its individual gender and age categories. This was achieved by validating the self-care screening instrument, assessing differences, and evaluating the associations using quantile regression analysis. The final research sample consisted of 806 participants [males: 314 (39%), females: 492 (61%)] and data were collected through an online questionnaire from February 12, 2021 to February 23, 2021. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression (alpha = 0.89) and Self-Care Activities Screening Scale (SASS-14) [health consciousness (HC) (alpha = 0.82), nutrition and physical activity (NPA) (alpha = 0.75), sleep quality (SLP) (alpha = 0.82), and interpersonal and intrapersonal coping strategies (TICS) (alpha = 0.58)] were used as screening measures. Mild depressive symptoms were found in 229 participants (28.41%), moderate depressive symptoms in 154 participants (19.11%), moderately severe depressive symptoms in 60 participants (7.44%) and severe depressive symptoms in 43 participants (5.33%). The main findings revealed the fact that individual self-care activities were associated with depression. This supported the idea that well-practiced self-care activities should be an immediate part of an individual's life in order to reduce depressive symptoms. Sleep quality played an important role, while HC indicated the need for increased attention. Other dimensions of self-care also showed significant results that should not be overlooked. In terms of depression, females and younger individuals need targeted interventions. The supportive educational intervention developed based on the self-care theory can help manage and maint

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic creates inefficiencies in the health-care system by having devastating consequences. It has demonstrated how inefficiencies in the health system can have a significant impact on social cohesion, economic growth and public confidence in government. The main purpose of this study is to explore the contemporary challenges faced by the pharmaceutical industry in Europe. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a systematic literature review method and adopted inclusion and exclusion criteria after constructive reviews of articles from Web of Science and Scopus databases along with the ranked journals in the Chartered Association of Business Schools to search the following key terms “challenges in the European pharmaceutical industry” during the period from 2011 to 2022. The terms are set to be searched in the publications’ titles, abstracts and keywords. Findings: This study reviewed 57 papers, and the systematic review revealed the vulnerability of the European pharmaceutical industry, such as the default patent system, ineffective research and development, debate on the role of alliances, low level of expertise in the European health-care system, pharmaceutical supply chain management and other issues. Research limitations/implications: This study suggests that future research may explore the challenges of multisectoral and cross-country perspectives to get a better understanding, and for the long-term sustainability of public pharmaceutical spending, new models of enhancing research investments are needed, and Europe can still play a leading role in its tradition structure within capturing innovative ideas. Practical implications: It provides new useful insights to policymakers, global leaders and managers to devise policies to achieve a performance-oriented culture in their institutions and firms. Social implications: The pharmaceutical sector has recognized the influence of social determinants of health. It moves toward sustained

This study aims to understand the relationship between Google search and the Vietcombank stock price movement. Our weekly data consist of Google search variables and the Vietcombank variables extracted and standardized from Vietstock and Google Trend from April 2016 to April 2021. We apply the VAR Granger and Copulas approach to analyze the link between Google search and the price of Vietcombank stock. Results show that the connection between Google searches and the price of Vietcombank stock did not persist in the long run. Moreover, the evidence supporting the Granger causality between Google searches and the Vietcombank stock price was weak. Finally, the trading name (term "Vietcombank") was preferred by Google search users over the code "VCB," and the trading volume and Google search simultaneously increased within the sample period.

The study is conducted to answer the question 'Do fintech-related keywords on searching Google influence bank return?' The weekly data from 2016w1 to 2021w2 is extracted from Google Trends and the Vietstock website. The findings by VAR (Vector Autoregression) show no evidence of the association of fintech-related keywords with bank returns. Using OLS (Ordinary Least Squares), the Vietcombank return is not significantly influenced by the fintech-related keywords. In contrast, the term “financial technology” and the lag one week of the Vietnamese form of “mobile payment” are negatively significant with the Sacombank return, and the Vietnamese form of “peer-to-peer lendings” is significantly positive with the same. Moreover, the fintech-related keywords in English are more preferred than the Vietnamese forms. © 2021 SCMS Group of Educational Institutions. All rights reserved.

The study investigates the effect of innovation on bank efficiency and the difference in efficiency between Vietnam and Pakistan banks. The balanced panel data from 23 banks (7 banks in Vietnam and 16 banks in Pakistan) in 2011-2019 is aggregated from the State Bank of Pakistan, the Vietstock, the MorningStar, the World Bank, and the website of banks. The quantitative models' estimation result is processed by the Pooled, the Fixed-effect, the Random-effect, and the Generalized Least Square approach, and confirmed again by the Tobit and T-test approach. The outcomes gave that innovation is the negative factor of bank efficiency. With or without the effect of innovation, the bank's efficiency in Vietnam is still lower than in Pakistan. The finding indicates that bank efficiency can be enhanced by increasing bank size instead of innovation, and bank age is the barrier to utilizing innovation for enhancing bank efficiency. Moreover, we found the bank's efficiency in Vietnam can be improved more quickly than in Pakistan by increasing bank assets. The macroeconomic condition is favorable for bank efficiency in both countries. © 2021 University of Pardubice. All rights reserved.

Facebook is a popular social networking platform used for a variety of uses, including general and educational purposes. Digital links between teachers and students can now be created, removing physical distance barriers and enhancing the transformation of knowledge, data, and other tools. This research uncovered several variables that affect business students' usage of Facebook, primarily for educational purposes. A total of 611 business students from various Lahore universities took part in the survey. The data was then evaluated using the R programming language. To determine the relationship between latent and observable variables, the Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used. The relationship between latent variables was determined using path analysis. The findings revealed that social impact on business students could contribute to Facebook adoption. Finally, rather than its use as a social networking platform, Facebook's adoption has broadly explained its educational use. © 2021. Academy of Strategic Management Journal. All Rights Reserved.

The aim of the study was to analyse and evaluate the determinants influencing the overall satisfaction of patients with inpatient healthcare in the conditions of the Czech Republic. A total of the 1425 patients, who experienced hospitalisation and agreed to participate, were questioned in the study. A research questionnaire was used to obtain data on satisfaction with hospitalisation. The subject of the research consisted of the indicators related to the following factors: (i) satisfaction with the hospital, clinic, room and meals; (ii) satisfaction with medical staff—nurses, physician expertise and other staff; (iii) the quality of the treatment provided; (iv) satisfaction with leaving the hospital. The formulated statistical hypotheses were evaluated through structural equation modelling. The results of the analyses brought interesting findings. Satisfaction with medical staff is the most significant factor which has a positive effect on satisfaction with hospitalisation. Physician expertise (with trust and good communication skills) is more important for patients than satisfaction with nurses or other staff. The results obtained from the study represent valuable information for policy-makers, regional healthcare plans, as well as for managers of hospitals. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

This study aims to understand the relationship between Google search and the Vietcombank stock price movement. Our weekly data consist of Google search variables and the Vietcombank variables extracted and standardized from Vietstock and Google Trend from April 2016 to April 2021. We apply the VAR Granger and Copulas approach to analyze the link between Google search and the price of Vietcombank stock. Results show that the connection between Google searches and the price of  Vietcombank stock did not persist in the long run. Moreover, the evidence supporting the Granger causality between Google searches and the Vietcombank stock price was weak. Finally, the trading name (term “Vietcombank”) was preferred by Google search users over the code “VCB,” and the trading volume and Google search simultaneously increased within the sample period.