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Systemic risks––pandemics, economic recessions, professional precarity, political volatility, and climate emergencies––increasingly erode previously taken-for-granted stabilities and consumers' confidence in the future. How do consumers manage risk and uncertainty when economic and ontological security are on the decline? Traditionally, consumers have built a sense of security through solid consumption (e.g. home ownership, accumulating possessions). A four-year ethnography of digital nomadism, however, demonstrates that looming uncertainty can render solid consumption a source of vulnerability and an unwanted anchor in turbulent times that call for agility and adaptability. We outline the emergence of liquid consumer security, defined as a form of felt security that stems from avoidance of solid consumption and its risks and responsibilities. Liquid consumer security inheres in the absence of ownership, attachments, or rootedness, and is derived from circumventing the temporal demands, financial liabilities, and commitments that solid consumption requires, which emerge as sources of risk. It is achieved through a recursive process of engaging in three strategies: (1) solid risk minimization; (2) security reconstruction through the liquid marketplace; and (3) ideological legitimation. Contributions to consumer risk and security, liquid consumption, social theories of risk, and digital nomadism are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This research challenges the entrenched belief that financial vulnerability affects only low-income consumers. Instead, most consumers across the socioeconomic spectrum experience varying degrees of financial vulnerability at different points during their lives, whether sporadically or chronically; vulnerability is dynamic and heterogeneous. The authors propose a novel, theory-driven definition of consumer financial vulnerability (CFV) as the risk of incurring future harm, given the consumer's current access to various financial resources. A new conceptual framework decouples "vulnerability" from "harm" to distinguish the state of CFV, its determinants (access to various interdependent financial resources), and the constructs it foreshadows (multiple interconnected forms of realized harm). Five research propositions follow: (1) financial resource volatility plays a vital role in CFV, (2) recovering from harm requires more financial resources than preventing harm, (3) a multiperiod lens is needed to assess CFV accurately, (4) greater financial resource access can increase CFV, and (5) generalized financial literacy is not a panacea for mitigating CFV. The propositions and their implications for marketing strategy, public policy, and consumer well-being offer a rich research agenda. The authors propose a measure of CFV—the probability that financial resources are insufficient to meet or exceed a harm threshold—for future empirical investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a public policy standpoint, it is now generally agreed that gig workers and small businesses should have easy access to simple, low-cost ways to save for a satisfactory level of financial security in their retirement years. The harsh reality is that more than one-half of all private sector workers--approximately 55 million Americans--do not have access to retirement savings programs through their employer. However, workers are 15 times more likely to save for their retirement if they have a way to save through an employment-based plan. We look at pooled-employer plans (PEPs) as possible solutions to this need. A PEP may offer an attractive and cost-effective alternative to a single-employer retirement plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of central banks in perpetuating and tackling the economic patterns associated with climate change has increasingly been subject to academic and political attention. The Bank of England is no exception, having received a new mandate to 'facilitate the transition to net zero' in March 2021. This follows the Bank's utilisation of its monetary tools to repeatedly stabilise the economic status quo since 2008, despite its ecological consequences. This article reveals the perceptions within the British state of the new mandate and the forms of institutional change demanded by it, based on a series of elite interviews with Treasury officials and other UK monetary policy experts, as well as a discourse analysis of Bank publications and speeches. We find that Bank actors lobbied for the new mandate to legitimise its development of climate risk assessments and licence internal dialogue on the implications of its monetary policy. But the mandate is perceived to be in immediate conflict with, and subservient to, the Bank's primary structural objective of maintaining price and financial stability, due to the potentially destabilising effects of private capital realignment during a net zero transition. Institutional change within the Bank is thus limited to extending its pre-existing function of mitigating risks to financial stability rather than facilitating decarbonisation through market-shaping governance of the financial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018, the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) created a new policy marker for disaster risk reduction (DRR) to help member states to monitor and report the progress made on the mainstreaming of DRR into their development activities. Drawing on this DRR marker, this study found that DAC members' DRR mainstreaming remains in the incipient stage, with a significant gap between rhetoric and action. Important areas for improvement include a more comprehensive understanding of disaster risk; increased funding for activities principally targeting DRR, larger scale projects; enhanced financial stability without compromising other development objectives; and further integration of DRR and climate change adaption into development projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: For close to two decades, the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) has been preparing to launch a second monetary union within the ECOWAS region. This study aims to determine the impact such a unionised monetary regime will have on financial stability as represented by the nonperforming loan ratios of Ghana in a counterfactual framework. Design/methodology/approach: This study models nonperforming loan ratios as dependent on the monetary policy rate and the business cycle. The study then used historical data to estimate the parameters of the nonperforming loan ratio response function using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. The estimated parameters are further used to estimate the impact of several counterfactual unionised monetary policy rates on the nonperforming loan ratios and its volatility of Ghana. As robustness check, the Least Absolute Shrinkage Selection Operator (LASSO) regression is also used to estimate the nonperforming loan ratios response function and to predict nonperforming loans under the counterfactual unionised monetary policy rates. Findings: The results of the counterfactual study reveals that the apparent cost of monetary unification is much less than supposed with a monetary union likely to dampen volatility in non-performing loans in Ghana. As such, the WAMZ members should increase the pace towards monetary unification. Originality/value: The paper contributes to the existing literature by explicitly modelling nonperforming loan ratios as dependent on monetary policy and the business cycle. The study also settles the debate on the financial stability cost of a monetary union due to the nonalignment of business cycles and economic structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Turbulent times exacerbate financial instability and climate risks. • Amplifying effect of financial instability on climate policy uncertainty. • Climate policy uncertainty contributes to worsening financial instability. • Findings support climate fragility hypothesis from a macro-perspective. • Implications for integrating climate factors into decision-making. This study presents a novel investigation of the reciprocal relationship between financial instability and climate risks, focusing on the influence of climate policy uncertainty within the US financial system from a macroeconomic perspective. By adopting the bootstrap rolling-window causality method, the analysis captures structural changes over an extended period between January 2000 and March 2021. Importantly, this method provides a robust data-driven approach, avoiding ad hoc assumptions about temporal breakpoints. The results support the climate fragility hypothesis, highlighting the amplifying effect of financial instability on climate risks. The study reveals that periods of economic and political turbulence exacerbate these effects by generating substantial financial turbulence, which, in turn, influences climate policy. The results also indicate that climate policy uncertainty contributes to worsening financial instability during critical events such as sudden changes in interest rates and major financial crises. The implications of this research extend to policymakers and investors, encouraging them to integrate climate factors into decision-making processes and adopt sustainable practices to promote financial stability and mitigate climate-related risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examine the influential role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in shaping climate policy in Tunisia. Tunisia is a critical front in the global green transition. Our findings highlight how improved working conditions significantly increase NGO participation in climate initiatives, underscoring the value of a supportive operating environment. Growing professionalism within NGOs is particularly influencing strategic development in areas such as the Resilience 2050 and Low Carbon Economy 2050 programs. The interplay between NGOs and government agencies emerges as a transformative factor; exclusion from policymaking processes can lead some NGOs to intensify their climate action, while collaboration with governments and access to international funding generally strengthen NGOs' commitment to broader climate agendas. We also explore the influence of resource constraints on NGOs' ability to multitask, and the link between financial stability and political engagement. Our study highlights the importance of fostering robust NGO-government partnerships that balance local insights with global perspectives for effective climate action, and points to the need for such collaborations to support Tunisia's green transition within the broader context of global climate governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental racism has long plagued the United States and continues to do so as the effects of climate change worsen and grow. These effects have a broad impact on every aspect of life from physical and mental health to financial stability and access to opportunities. In order to more fully understand the consequences of climate change on people, it is helpful to develop an understanding of the historical, economic, and political dimensions of climate change. This paper aims to assist in understanding as well as provide sources of engagement for social workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cybercrime remains a focal point in global and regional discussions concerning contemporary issues in West Africa. In line with this discourse, this article delves into the intricate web of viewpoints that envelop the issue of cybercrime in Ghana, with emphasis on Ghana social media users' opinion. Our study focuses on analyzing comments related to cybercrime that have been shared by Ghanaian Facebook users. Through thematic analysis, we dissect the primary narratives that revolve around cybercrime in these discussions. What we discovered in our study goes beyond the traditional portrayal of cybercrime as mere unlawful activity. Instead, we have shown a paradoxical sentiment held by Ghanaians who use Facebook. Cybercrime is evolving into a method for marginalized sections of society to push back against Western dominance, internal political hegemonic, and secure financial stabilities. This trend often unfolds within the broader context of challenging governmentalities. Our research challenges the typical focus on cybercrime as primarily a criminal matter. It prompts a reevaluation, urging us to explore cybercrime within the framework of various socioeconomic and political environments. As a result, our study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of individuals attitude toward cybercrime in Ghana, reshaping the way we approach and discuss it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study explores how important well-becoming factors appear to be to children during childhood. We define well-becoming as the indicators which predict children and young people's future wellbeing and opportunities. The priority for this work was to explore whether well-becoming might be an important factor to include in outcome measures for children and young people. The inclusion of well-becoming indicators could ensure that opportunities to invest in promoting wellbeing in children's futures are not missed. Methods: In-depth, qualitative interviews (N = 70) were undertaken with children and young people aged 6–15 years and their parents. Analysis used constant comparison and framework methods to investigate whether well-becoming factors were considered important by informants to children and young people's current wellbeing. Results: The findings of the interviews suggested that children and young people and their parents are concerned with future well-becoming now, as factors such as future achievement, financial security, health, independence, identity, and relationships were identified as key to future quality of life. Informants suggested that they considered it important during childhood to aspire towards positive outcomes in children and young people's futures. Conclusion: The study findings, taken alongside relevant literature, have generated evidence to support the notion that future well-becoming is important to current wellbeing. We have drawn on our own work in capability wellbeing measure development to demonstrate how we have incorporated a well-becoming attribute into our measures. The inclusion of well-becoming indicators in measures could aid investment in interventions which more directly improve well-becoming outcomes for children and young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the financial security of Vietnam-era veterans now that most are over 65 and have left the labor force. Using 2018 survey data, we found that, on average, Vietnam-era veterans aged 63 to 78 had slightly less income than nonveterans of their ages: US$63,500 and US$65,000, respectively. Those veterans received more money from Social Security and retirement plans; nonveterans had more earnings and investment income. About 1.3 million Vietnam-era veterans collected an average of US$17,600 in disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs, lifting their average total income above other veterans' by about US$5,000. Overall, veterans were less likely to be poor or very wealthy than were nonveterans. Information on income provides insight to Congress and the public about the economic stability and, by extension, overall well-being of Vietnam-era veterans as they age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States after the Great Recession, despite growing attention to low-income households' homeownership vulnerability, the existing works tend to take specific angles and produce only piecemeal evidence. By placing liquid assets' function of mediating financial hardships in the context of homeownership dynamics, I establish a synthesized conceptual framework. Based on data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), I put this framework to a test and find that liquid assets not only reduce the risk of homeownership exit in general but play a pivotal role in accounting for low-income borrowers' elevated rates of exit. I discuss policy implications of the findings at the end of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the deepening of the diversification and openness of financial systems, financial vulnerability, as an endogenous attribute of financial systems, becomes an important measurement of financial security. Based on a network analysis, we introduce a network curvature indicator improved by Copula entropy as an innovative metric of financial vulnerability. Compared with the previous network curvature analysis method, the CE-based curvature proposed in this paper can measure market vulnerability and systematic risk with significant advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The future of equivalence in the EU financial sector does not look all that bright. Granting third-country entities access to the EU financial markets is increasingly less about reliance on equivalent third-country rules and equivalent third-country supervision. Considerations other than equivalence are increasingly given more relative weight, either explicitly or implicitly, in particular (i) EU financial stability risks, (ii) EU market integrity, (iii) EU retail investor protection, (iv) preserving or regaining EU autonomy in an increasingly complex world (e.g., Brexit and the economic rise of China), (v) protecting EU entities against competitors from third countries, (vi) trying to conquer market share in a lucrative business (e.g., derivatives clearing), and (vii) other EU policy considerations. These considerations are gaining ground not merely in relation to the question of whether an equivalence framework should even be in place, and if so, whether equivalence decisions should indeed be taken, but also with regard to the regulatory and supervisory framework that the EU applies to (1) entities established in third countries for which the Commission has adopted equivalence decisions, and (2) third-country branches established in the EU. In view of this, the Territorial Approach and the Extra-Territorial Approach are clearly on the rise, in each case to the detriment of the Equivalence Approach. At the same time, loopholes in the execution of the Territorial Approach continue to exist at the national level, at least for the time being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquidity risk was at the heart of 2007–2008 global financial crisis, which has led to a series of financial institutions failure. We test whether and how liquidity risk impacts European banks' stability (i.e., a bank risk-return profile) under different levels of engagement in non-traditional banking activities after the global financial crisis and during the implementation of the Basel III liquidity rules. To calculate financial stability, we adopt an efficiency perspective based on the combination of the CAMELS rating system with the data envelopment analysis technique. We implement a nonlinear panel smooth transition regression approach, where transitional factors of income diversification are endogenously captured from the data. We find that, liquidity risk stemming from liquidity creation has a positive impact on bank stability, implying that income diversification can serve as a "buffer" through which banks can ensure their liquidity creation and offset for the compression of intermediation margin in lending and deposit activities. This suggests that diversification does not impede the ability of banks to operate with lower liquidity holdings but allows them to make greater use of their balance sheets to fulfill their primary roles of credit provision and liquidity creation. The results offer interesting implications for regulators and bank managers in managing liquidity risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Nowadays, the competition is not only emerging from within the banking sector, but nonbanking companies like nonbanking financial companies (NBFCs) and FinTech are also growing in size and numbers, offering innovative financial products and services, giving a stiff competition to Indian banks. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether competition from within and outside the banking sector enhances or reduces the financial stability of the banking industry. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses Herfindahl–Hirschman index to measure market share and Z score to measure financial stability. The study further examines the role of NBFCs and FinTech companies in impacting the financial stability by introducing variables like innovation, cybercrimes, systemically important institutions, etc. Thereafter, panel regression has been applied. Findings: Empirical results show a positive relation of market share with financial stability, implying that increased competition in the Indian banking industry erodes the market power, adversely affecting the profit margins which encourages banks to take more risk and which may impact financial stability. The study shows a positive impact of innovation on financial stability which implies that the competition is acting as an enabler for banks. The authors find a negative relation of systemic important NBFCs with financial stability. The authors observe a negative association of cybercrimes with financial stability, reflecting that competition emerging from FinTech sector has exposed banks to new risks. Research limitations/implications: The policymakers should make sure that the competition of banks with other financial institutions, such as FinTech sector, remains healthy; otherwise, it can jeopardize the entire financial system. It is for the policymakers to define a boundary for FinTech sector, as the development of this sector has exposed the banking industry to new kinds of risks potential to create financial instability. The banks should do a comprehensive check on the company to which it is granting loans, and the government should amend laws. Though big banks have huge potential, consolidations can pose challenges at a macroeconomic level. Originality/value: FinTech firms are a new entrant in the financial world which are providing immense competition to the banking sector, and thus radically changing the entire financial system. Therefore, it is extremely vital to study and explore the role of NBFCs and the FinTech industry as the main variable to analyze bank competition, which to the best of the authors' knowledge is completely missing in the previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation is one of the first to analyse the relationships between leverage and bankruptcy costs, interest expenses, tax benefits and firm value, in multinational and domestic companies, during periods of crisis and financial stability. The analysed data are related to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) most important emerging markets (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and South Africa) based on a sample of 15,632 observations from public companies for the period 2004–2019 (including the 2008 crisis). The results suggest that multinational companies incur lower bankruptcy costs than domestic ones. Meanwhile, they also become more valuable. Another difference relates to multinationals' ability to raise their leverage levels, even in times of crises, in contrast to domestic companies. Multinational companies also exhibit higher financial negotiation power and may obtain lower interest rates than domestic companies. These findings contribute to the understanding of the financial dynamics demonstrated by multinationals and domestic companies in emerging economies during periods of crisis and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the multi-layered nature of the work–life experiences of dual income parents in the Philippines by attuning to the voices within their narratives. The border theory was utilized as a framework in understanding these experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among twelve individuals in dual income relationships. All participants had at least one child. The Listening Guide was used to analyze the qualitative data. Four stories emerged from the analysis: stories of financial struggle and security, stories of childcare, stories of connection, and stories of self-denial and self-care. Various voices within these stories were identified and discussed. Findings highlight the importance of balance and social support for dual income couples, as well as the relevance of socio-cultural nuances that impact work–life experiences. Practical implications, particularly how organizations can support their employees in dual income relationships, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic efficiency and financial stability of a significant investment project can directly affect the success and long-term viability of the company. The proposed approach innovatively integrates Monte Carlo simulation techniques into traditional investment and financing decision-making. The investment assessment is based on simulations. The evaluation process begins by determining the economic efficiency of the project and its financial stability using the financial criterion Net Present Value (NPV) for different project financing variants – expressed by different ratios between own resources and external resources. This is followed by a risk assessment of the input variables affecting the NPV. The profitability is maximized by optimizing the production program using the OptQuest tool. The maximum loan interest rate using simulations at different interest rates is determined in the last step. The proposed approach is practically unknown and not applied in business practice. The risk assessment inclusion in investment decision-making and long-term financing should become an integral part of business practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport is an important sector of the country’s economy. Its activities have an impact on other businesses and the public. It is important that enterprises in the transport industry achieve a state of economic security. The absence of a unified definition of the concept of “economic security” and approaches to its assessment is shown. It is noted that the concept of “financial security” is closely related to the concept of “economic security.” It has been shown that without financial security, it is impossible to achieve a state of economic security. On the example of the most important enterprise of railway transport in Russia, an assessment of the financial condition, financial security and economic security was carried out. Extremely low economic security of the enterprise was revealed. Based on the analysis, some ways have been proposed to improve the financial and economic security of the enterprise in question. The goal is to consider practical aspects of the economic security of the transport company through an assessment of the financial and economic security of FPK JSC. Method or methodology of work: the study used a systematic approach and general scientific methods - statistical, comparative analysis, expert assessments and logical generalizations. Results: shows the relationship between the financial and economic security of the enterprise. The economic security of FPK JSC was assessed as extremely low. Some ways to strengthen financial and economic security have been proposed. Field of application of the results: it is advisable to apply the obtained results to economic entities engaged in activities in the field of transport.

Nature loss threatens businesses, the global economy and financial stability. Understanding and addressing these risks for business will require credible measurement approaches and data. This paper explores how natural capital accounting (NCA) can support business data and information needs related to nature, including disclosures aligned with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures recommendations. As businesses seek to measure, manage and disclose their nature-related risks and opportunities, they will need well-organized, consistent and high-quality information regarding their dependencies and impacts on nature, which few businesses currently collect or track in-house. NCA may be useful for these purposes but has not been widely used or applied by businesses. National NCA guided by the U.N. System of Environmental-Economic Accounting may provide: (i) a useful framework for businesses in conceptualizing, organizing and managing nature-related data and statistics; and (ii) data and information that can directly support business disclosures, corporate NCA and other business applications. This paper explores these opportunities as well as synergies between national and corporate natural capital accounts. In addition, the paper discusses key barriers to advancing the wider use and benefits of NCA for business, including: awareness of NCA, data access, business capabilities related to NCA, spatial and temporal scales of data, audit and assurance considerations, potential risks, and costs and incentives. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bringing nature into decision-making'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The knowledge and attitude of participants toward clinical trials (CTs) are a key determinant in successful recruitment and retention. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge and awareness-attitude among the recruited CT participants about CTs. Methods: This was a cross-sectional face-to-face survey comprising CT participants involved in the past or currently a part of a CT during this study within the Indian Ophthalmology Clinical Trial Network (IOCTN). A previously validated questionnaire was used, and data regarding demographics, knowledge, and awareness-attitude about CTs were collected. The total awareness-attitude score was used to determine the knowledge and awareness of the participants. Results: A total of 121 subjects had participated in the study who were part of ongoing trials, of which only five participants had prior experience of CTs. The majority (90%) had knowledge about CTs, whereas only 7% had confirmed signing consent forms. The total awareness-attitude score significantly varied across locations (27% for the southern zone, 53% for the central zone, and 52% for the western zone), and this was negatively associated with education. The most negative attitude (38.6%) was observed regarding adequate information sharing among participants, whereas non-disruption of their routine family life (60.7%) and financial stability (67.6%) were the top most positive attitudes revealed during their participation. The participants' pre- and post-participation attitude toward CTs revealed a positive attitude. Conclusion: The factors influencing a participant's knowledge and attitudes toward CTs were revealed in the study. Furthermore, the need for awareness regarding benefits of CTs to the public, participant's rights, and their voluntary power were the major highlights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the legal policy of nuclear damage compensation laws. As a specialised sector of nuclear law, the legal regimes on nuclear civil liability aim to provide timely and effective compensation to third parties, while also addressing the special policy concern of ensuring the sustainable development of the global or national nuclear industry. The paper examines the international methods of establishing major principles of liability with the corresponding rules and regimes to balance the interests of the parties involved. Comparatively, there is great uncertainty surrounding Chinese rules and principles of nuclear liability. Therefore, this paper suggests accelerating the enactment of a Chinese law specifically addressing nuclear damage compensation, aligning it with the national strategy and prospects of civil nuclear energy in China. Additionally, issues closely related to nuclear damage compensation, such as nuclear insurance policies, operation and supervision of national public funds and the use of alternative dispute resolution to settle nuclear disputes, are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early in the COVID‐19 pandemic, multiple event stressors converged to exacerbate a growing mental health crisis in Canada with differing effects across status groups. However, less is known about changing mental health situations throughout the pandemic, especially among individuals more likely to experience chronic stress because of their disability and health status. Using data from two waves of a targeted online survey of people with disabilities and chronic health conditions in Canada (N = 563 individuals, June 2020 and July 2021), we find that approximately 25% of respondents experienced additional increases in stress and anxiety levels in 2021. These increases were partly explained by worsening perceived financial insecurity and, in the case of stress, additional negative financial effects tied to the pandemic. This paper understands mental health disparities as a function of social status and social group membership. By linking stress process models and a minority stress framework with a social model of disability, we allude to how structural and contextual barriers make functional limitations disabling and in turn, life stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to a lack of relevant data, very few empirical studies have examined the changes in and stability of secondary migration intentions. We aim to fill this gap by analysing return migration intentions among international migrants in Italy. Data are drawn from the cross‐sectional SCIF survey conducted by ISTAT in 2011–2012. Our findings reveal that migration intentions at the beginning of the migratory experience tend to differ from those measured at more advanced migration stages (i.e. at the time of the survey). In particular, intentions to return seem less stable than intentions to stay. When confirming intentions to return or remain, critical factors include financial stability, family situation and ties with the country of origin and destination. Additionally, having an Italian partner, a partner living in Italy, and a positive self‐assessed family financial condition are positively associated with transitioning from a temporary plan to a permanent settlement intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'tiny house' (TH) movement has gained increasing popularity around the world, and recent research has investigated the main motivators and challenges of living in THs. However, most research has been conducted in the Global North, such as the US and European countries. This research has identified that increased financial security and mobility, having a simplified and sustainable lifestyle, and developing significant relationships are the main motivators for TH owners. However, less is known about the experiences of TH owners in the Global South, such as Latin American countries. These regions are characterized by a lower purchasing power and less access to credit of citizens, with a high degree of concentration in large metropolitan areas, which may affect the motivators and experiences of TH owners. Drawing on theories of the commons, the aim of this study is to explore the experiences and well-being outcomes of TH owners living in two Latin American countries. We draw on data from 19 interviews conducted in Chile and Argentina with TH owners. The data analysis identified six dimensions of psychological and hedonic well-being that were improved for TH owners in these countries: autonomy, mastery, purpose in life, personal growth, relatedness, and happiness. The findings contribute to the TH literature and are useful for TH businesses, governments, and housing public policymakers in Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Welfare advice services co-located in health settings are known to improve financial security. However, little is known on how to effectively evaluate these services. This study aims to explore the feasibility of evaluating a welfare advice service co-located in a primary care setting in a deprived and ethnically diverse population. It seeks to investigate whether the proposed evaluation tools and processes are acceptable and feasible to implement and whether they are able to detect any evidence of promise for this intervention on the mental health, wellbeing and financial security of participants. Methods: An uncontrolled before and after study design was utilised. Data on mental health, wellbeing, quality of life and financial outcomes were collected at baseline prior to receiving welfare advice and at three months follow-up. Multiple logistic and linear regression models were used to explore individual differences in self-reported financial security and changes to mental health, wellbeing and quality of life scores before and after the provision of welfare advice. Results: Overall, the majority of key outcome measures were well completed, indicating participant acceptability of the mental health, wellbeing, quality of life and financial outcome measures used in this population. There was evidence suggestive of an improvement in participant financial security and evidence of promise for improvements in measured wellbeing and health-related quality of life for participants accessing services in a highly ethnically diverse population. Overall, the VCS Alliance welfare advice programme generated a total of £21,823.05 for all participants, with participants gaining an average of £389.70 per participant for participants with complete financial outcome data. Conclusions: This research demonstrates the feasibility of evaluating a welfare advice service co-located in primary care in a deprived and ethnically diverse setting utilising the ascribed mental health, wellbeing and quality of life and financial outcome tools. It provides evidence of promise to support the hypothesis that the implementation of a welfare advice service co-located in a health setting can improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemics and their resulting pandemics have become essential factors influencing economic development, financial stability, poverty, and ultimately a country's innovation level, including green technology innovation. This research thus investigates epidemic events' correlation to green innovation by operating with skewed panel data involving 134 countries from 1971 to 2018 and provides compelling proof that Epidemics have a detrimental effect on green innovation, not only for the current year but also for the next six years. We also show that the quality of institutions and financial development levels weaken epidemics' detrimental effects on green innovation. Overall, the findings would draw particular attention from policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of shadow banking on financial stability remains a controversial issue today due to the size and complexity of these activities and the inadequate regulatory frameworks for systemic risks. In this context, shadow banking has become the focus of financial regulators due to its potential effects on financial stability. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the impact of shadow banking on financial stability. In this study, the relationship between shadow banking and financial instability is examined using the VAR method for the example of the United States, covering the period 2000-2020. In order to create an accurate model, firstly unit root tests were performed, followed by autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity tests. The findings were found to be significant and Johansen cointegration test was applied. In the cointegration results, it was seen that the series were cointegrated, that is, they moved together in the long run. Finally, a Granger causality test was conducted between shadow banking and financial instability, and according to the empirical findings, it was concluded that there was a causality from shadow banking to financial instability for the period in question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy resources' impact on gross domestic product and financial growth is controversial. The research is quiet on the potential effects of fluctuation in other areas, such as energy resource investment and finance, on exchange rates, financial and environmental indicators, making it urgent that this topic receives attention today. Our research aims to fill this gap by highlighting the fundamental insecurity of natural resource markets, energy expenditure markets and green financing markets. Because of the challenges in collecting older data, this analysis focuses on the decade from 1990 to 2020. We analysed the following asymmetry by employing the model TGARCH specification. According to the calculations, there is more room for fluctuation after a negative shock to natural resources than after a positive one. The study's empirical findings are then used to inform policy recommendations for maintaining a secure financial system and controlling the rising cost of scarce natural resources. The study also highlights the need for increased investment in green finance and recommends diversifying existing energy resource investments to foster the growth of alternative energy sources. This research suggests that we put more resources into green financing and develop new renewable energy sources. Conclusions: natural resource and energy investments are subject to volatility over time, as evidenced by the results and standard and relevant volatility assessments such as autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a significant gap in comprehensively probing the determinants of renewable energy consumption (REN) in developing markets. Extant literature suggests the beneficial role of using renewable energy in diminishing carbon emissions and increasing environmental quality. This work addresses this gap and contributes by investigating the factors which significantly affect the REN in emerging economies. More specifically, the present study attempts to contribute by probing the effects of economic openness and financial stability on REN while considering the roles of financial development, technological innovations, and economic growth. To achieve this purpose, this study focuses on BRICS emerging countries, which are five massive and outstanding emerging economies of the globe, and uses both the fixed effects and quantile panel data approaches for yearly data between 2000 and 2021. Remarkably, the results reveal that economic openness and financial stability positively impact REN, implying that rising them helps achieve environmental sustainability. Moreover, the findings indicate the positive and significant role of financial development and technological innovations in increasing REN, whereas economic growth impacts adversely. The findings have essential recommendations for governments, policymakers, and regulatory bodies especially by focusing on the drivers of REN and attempting to maintain banking sector stability to increase REN and promote environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seaweed farming is a significant source of livelihood for many coastal communities in the Philippines. While it is one of the most profitable forms of aquaculture, seaweed farmers are nevertheless encouraged to participate in other business activities to provide financial security. Thus far, studies among seaweed farmers in the Philippines have primarily focused on production-related activities and market and value chains. Seaweed farmers' entrepreneurial skills have yet to be evaluated. In this study, we assess the capacity of seaweed farmers in Sorsogon, the Philippines, to undertake business ventures using the personal entrepreneurial competencies (PEC) test. We found that seaweed farmers exhibit moderate entrepreneurial competencies. There were significant differences found between the mean PEC scores across traits. "Risk-taking" and "demand for quality and efficiency" indicated a significant interaction with educational attainment. Entrepreneurial competencies among seaweed farmers may be improved by pooling tacit entrepreneurial knowledge among seaweed farmers, engaging in entrepreneurial education, and establishing and maintaining groups (cooperatives, clusters, or associations) to gain matched support from NGOs and government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the Microservices whole link whole life cycle optimization framework has been a research hotspot in the academic and engineering fields, especially how to encapsulate the component security mechanism and conduct high concurrency testing based on the existing active framework. The whole link delay, load, and cost have always been the key optimization goals of Microservices splitting and deployment logic. Based on this, this paper proposes a multi-objective optimization Microservices framework that takes into account the security mechanism, Define the fitness function, define the upper and lower limits, and perform multi-dimensional constraints to filter for global and local optima. At the same time, reconstruct the circuit breaker current limiting mechanism, dynamically detect protocol parameters, and perceive the logical relationship of heartbeat status in real-time. Experimental results have shown that this innovative framework can solve scenarios such as high concurrency, high reliability, and high availability Performance bottleneck, business degradation, especially in financial and securities scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital transformation of supply chain management, expedited by the pandemic, underscores the need to invest in automated forecasting and planning solutions to safeguard financial stability amid fluctuating costs and economic uncertainties. The pandemic highlighted the limitations of isolated supply chains, as disruptions rippled across supply networks, emphasizing the need for cross-enterprise collaboration. This article reveals the need to move beyond traditional data sharing, and how the future of collaborative forecasting involves a commitment to shared data, technology, process, and people--underlined by the digitalization of supply chains. We also discuss the challenges of cross-enterprise collaboration, keys to success, and the required skillsets to succeed in this environment, with a nod to the rise of the 'Business Scientist'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study how income inequality affects monetary policy through the inequality-household debt channel. We design a minimal macro Agent-Based model that replicates several stylized facts, including two novel ones: falling aggregate saving rate and decreasing bankruptcies during the household's debt boom phase. When inequality meets financial liberalization, a leaning against-the-wind strategy can preserve financial stability at the cost of high unemployment, whereas an accommodative strategy, i.e. lowering the policy rate, can dampen the fall of aggregate demand at the cost of larger leverage. We conclude that inequality may constrain the central bank, even when it is not explicitly targeted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws on interviews with homeowners who have applied for home repair programs in Chicago and New Orleans to investigate how home repairs, and the lack thereof, shape residential and financial stability. I illuminate the relationship between housing precarity and a mundane and pervasive environmental housing issue: routine dilapidation that occurs over the life of all physical structures. I argue that routine dilapidation makes otherwise affordable housing unaffordable and demonstrate three mechanisms by which routine dilapidation worsens housing precarity: as a path to displacement, by preventing safe aging in place, and by exacerbating debt. My findings, coupled with existing research, suggest that these mechanisms disproportionately impact low-income Black senior women because they are more likely to own homes in need of repairs and are less likely to have resources to pay for repairs. I also use the concept of routine dilapidation to illuminate that homeownership produces environmental injustice more broadly. Routine dilapidation is not only a form of environmental injustice that disproportionately impacts some populations; it is inherent to the organization of the contemporary U.S. housing market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact of macroprudential policy announcements on financial stability in Europe. Our three financial (in)stability proxies are systemic risk measures that cover all types of financial institutions and consider various financial market segments. We find that the announcements of macroprudential policy actions only contain banking systemic risk with the latter computed based on market data. However, when measuring systemic risk by including both market and balance sheet data, we observe an increase in the systemic risk of all financial institutions, banks and non-banks. This last result is confirmed when considering non-diversifiable risk across financial market segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliometric investigation of the antecedents to financial stability in Islamic banking, a transition economy with a volatile stock market focusing on banks following the Shariah approach. Design/methodology/approach: The data for this analysis was extracted from the Scopus database, which combines a comprehensively crafted abstract and citation database with augmented data and linked scholarly works across various disciplines. It quickly finds relevant research and provides access to reliable data and analytical tools. This study deploys "bibliometrix 3.0," a biblioshiny R-package for influential structure and the VOS viewer for intellectual structure. Findings: The investigation's main findings revealed that 1,910 documents were published from 1987 to 2022. Published manuscripts received 39,050 citations, with an average of 10.18 citations per year. However, the instructed empirical research was experienced during 2009 and 2020, while earlier periods (1987–2008) were relatively inactive where banking was considered protective in the presence of BASEL-II capital accords regulations. While the International Journal of Bank Market has been at the top of the list to publish articles related to the area under investigation, the Journal of Banking and Finance is ranked one of the most cited articles. Malaysia has been at the top of the list of countries to research Islamic Sharia compliance principles in the banking industry, and International Islamic University Malaysia has produced enough evidence in this regard. The intellectual structure provided essential foundations for future research, and the bibliometric coupling approach was used. Practical implications: While most of the banking research has been conducted to determine the banking business efficiency, risk and profitability, little focus is given to financial stability and that too concerning the Islamic banks. Therefore, researchers need to investigate this horizon from an Islamic banking point of view and focus on key issues that discriminate between Islamic and conventional banks in determining their stability level. Originality/value: Briefly, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this study would be the first to provide bibliometric information about financial stability keeping in view the sample data from banks with the Shariah approach. Furthermore, the proven analysis demonstrates a novel contribution that financially stable Islamic banks might strengthen the financial industry and overall economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crucial role of financial systems in sustainable development has become the center of global and national interest and development strategies, and more developed and stable financial systems are the cornerstone for development finance and achieving the sustainable development goals. This research aims to examine the impact of financial development and stability on human development firstly in a sample of 185 countries worldwide, and secondly in a sample of 21 MENA countries, over the period 1990–2019. This study adopts the Panel Data Econometrics (Fixed Effects and Random Effects Methods) and proxy for human development by exploiting the UNDP's Human Development Index and its three subindices (Education, Income, and Life expectancy), while it adopts broad money, credit to the domestic private sector, and banking sector deposits (all as a percentage of GDP) to proxy for financial development. Moreover, it represents financial stability by the banking sector Z-score and a dummy variable representing crises. The empirical results reveal the prevailing role of development and stability in the financial systems on human development and its three subcomponents, regardless of the country's economic development level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the financial performance and budget allocation of the Texas Dental Association (TDA) for the year 2023 and outlines the proposed budget for 2025. It highlights the organization's commitment to fiscal responsibility, transparency, and prudent financial management. It summarizes key points such as revenue generation, expense management, budget adherence, reserve fund maintenance, operational expenditures and other expenses.

We examine whether an individual's inability to save in the last 12 months affects the extent to which they are concerned about their future financial security and their propensity to plan for retirement. We use an original survey based upon representative samples of working individuals in 16 countries. We show that individuals who were unable to save over the 12-month period prior to the survey are less likely to consider well-being in retirement as their major financial concern. They are also less likely to invest in supplementary pension funds than those who were able to accumulate savings. We provide evidence that these findings are robust under several specifications and are mediated by respondents' perceived income prospects and assessment of their current financial situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a comprehensive analysis of the shock absorption role of external positions using the currency exposures dataset by Bénétrix et al. (2020). While the literature has frequently studied how the net international investment position and its currency composition determine the direction and scale of valuation effects, we focus on their amplitude. This is of central importance for global financial stability given the large and increasing scale of external balance sheets. To that end, we propose an indicator showing the extent to which external positions absorb or amplify exchange rate shocks. Analysing a set of 50 countries over the period 1990-2017, we find the external shock absorption role to be present for advanced economies, while this was initially not the case for emerging markets economies (EMEs). In recent years, however, EMEs' external positions increasingly showed a shock absorption capacity. Our regression-based analysis reveals that the level of economic and financial development is associated with a greater capacity to absorb exchange rate shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the relationship and connectedness between oil returns and financial stresses in six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries using daily data from September 21, 2006 to May 31, 2019. The Bayesian Graph‐based Structural Vector Autoregression (BGSVAR) model is utilised to estimate and analyse the direction of causality. In addition, the spillover approach is utilised to examine connectedness and risk transmission patterns between oil returns and financial stresses in the GCC economies in both time and frequency domains. The empirical analysis of the BGSVAR model shows that oil returns and financial stresses have both a contemporary and temporal relationship, whilst findings from the spillovers analysis show that oil returns tend to act as a net transmitter of spillovers to GCC financial markets in both medium and long‐run horizons but a net receiver of spillovers in the short‐run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analyze the effect of a merger between banks by extending a structural model of the banking industry with the possibility of bank runs developed by Egan et al. (2017; American Economic Review, 107, 169–216). We use our framework to analyze whether the 2008 merger between Wells Fargo and Wachovia was beneficial for social welfare. The results suggest that the stability of the financial system is critical for evaluating mergers in the banking industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to understand the implications of corporate innovation in integrating economic development and financial stability is of great importance to the academia and the authority. Based on data from Chinese A‐share listed firms during 2007–2021, this study constructs a three‐period game model and a two‐way fixed effects panel regression model to examine the impact of corporate innovation on systemic risk theoretically and empirically. It is found that innovation measured by quantity and investment significantly pushes up corporate systemic risk, and such an effect is stronger in firms facing a more severe principal‐agent issue and in firms with weaker internal governance and external supervision. The effect pertains to the fact that innovation features high innovation risk and low innovation information robustness. Nevertheless, innovation quality manifested by R&D capitalization has a significant depressing effect on firm systemic risk. Additional tests show that inventive innovation strategies have a significant pushing‐up effect on firm systemic risk. Contrarily, non‐inventive innovation strategies are not necessarily related to a lower failure risk and higher innovation information robustness, and impact firm systemic importance and systemic vulnerability inconsistently, causing an undefined effect on firm systemic risk. The study highlights that the authority should scientifically guide enterprises to innovate and focus on improving innovation quality for structuring a balanced system of stabilizing growth and resolving risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black and Latinx adolescent boys from economically stratified communities face pervasive societal inequities and, therefore, deserve more responsive school supports to determine and actualize postsecondary pathways. For insights into how such students conceptualize their futures and their school's role in facilitating this process, this ethnographic study investigated one urban school's college-going culture and its impact on shaping what the author calls participants' postsecondary future selves. This theoretical approach encompasses three domains: college (i.e., postsecondary education), career (i.e., post-college employment trajectory), and condition (i.e., expected financial stability, relational and familial prospects, future living arrangements, happiness, and joy). Implications suggest that college-going school practitioners widen supports so students can imagine and envision how college ambitions align with career and condition goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]