Research Originality: The nominal value variable from the prospectus in this study is the novelty, as no previous research has been found. Investors indicate the nominal value as a positive signal from the company to reduce existing information asymmetry. Research Objectives: This study examines the phenomenon of IPO underpricing on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, resulting in suboptimal IPO fund-raising. Research Method: Using a quantitative approach with descriptive and causality designs, the study analyzed 251 companies from 2017 to 2023 through multiple linear regression analysis. Empirical Results: Indonesia has a high IPO underpricing rate of 37.17%. Most IPOs (68.54%) were Shariah-compliant. The reputation of underwriters changed each year, and the free float ratio declined over time. On average, IPOs were oversubscribed by more than 28 times each year. Although COVID-19 affected market sentiment, it did not impact underpricing. The nominal value of IPO stocks varied each year but generally declined. Regression results show Shariah compliance and strong underwriters reduce underpricing, while higher free float, oversubscription, and nominal value increase it. Implications: The implications of this research theoretically support signaling theory and information asymmetry. Practically, this research can be a reference for further researchers, investors, companies, and the government as regulators. JEL Classification: G10, G24, G32, D82

Research Originality: Despite numerous studies conducted on similar topics, this study uniquely examines the short- and long-run dynamics of the interest rate, exchange rate, and stock prices in China under two distinct epochs: pre- and Covid-19 periods. Research Objectives: This study compares the impact of interest and exchange rates on the Chinese stock market during the COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 periods. Furthermore, the study also investigated the speed of adjustment towards equilibrium following short-run shocks in the stock market. Research Method: This study employs monthly data on the Chinese stock market and the autoregressive distributed lag model-error correction model (ARDL-ECM) approach on a separate period. Empirical Results: On COVID-19, the interest rate and exchange rate are not jointly and individually cointegrated significantly in explaining the stock prices. Nevertheless, the short-run relationship is identified as significant for both variables. Meanwhile, during COVID-19, the variables are jointly significant, with the exchange rate also identified to explain the stock market movement in the long run individually. In the short run, despite the greater impact of the exchange rate, the interest rates have a hysteretic impact. Implications: The findings suggested that policymakers should leverage the exchange rate instrument as a better predictive tool in devising effective future policy-making. JEL Classification: C320, G11, G15

Research originality: Women tend to be chosen as the non-labor force, even though they are potential workers who can contribute directly to the economy. Their level of education influences this contribution. Research objectives: This research examined the impact of female labor force participation on regional economic and income convergence. Research methods: Pooled Least Squares (PLS) and panel data estimation were conducted using cross-sectional data on 472 cities/districts across Indonesia between 2016 and 2022. Empirical result: The findings reveal that female labor force participation significantly enhances regional economic growth only when women have at least a senior high school education. However, their contribution to accelerating economic convergence remains suboptimal, as most female workers are elementary school graduates. Implications: To improve the contribution of the female workforce to the economy, the government should extend compulsory education from 9 to 12 years, expand access to non-formal education for women, and establish a female-friendly labor market through job flexibility and improved childcare access. JEL Classification: I25, J21, E12, J20

Research Originality: This research is unique in that it consolidates macroeconomic and institutional studies to better understand how Islamic banks absorb and recover from financial shocks. Research Objectives: To investigate the conceptual and empirical development of Islamic banking resilience over the past 14 years, concentrating on dominating variables and thematic clusters. Research Method: The research examines 42 peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus through a comprehensive systematic literature review (SLR) methodology utilizing bibliometric instruments. Empirical Results: Internal factors like capital adequacy, liquidity, and profitability, as well as macroeconomic indices like GDP and inflation, influence resilience. The keyword “bank resilience” is underused, implying a lack of conceptual consistency in the literature. JEL Classification: G21, G32, E44, E58, Z12 Implications: An integrated view of resilience in Islamic finance and the requirement for specialized regulatory frameworks and resilience-based performance metrics customized to Islamic banking principles has substantial implications for researchers, policymakers, and regulators.

Research originality: This study links religiosity to green finance in emerging-market banks, highlighting internal drivers, green HRM, organizational identity, and leadership over external pressures. It uniquely shows how personal beliefs shape sustainable finance through cultural and theoretical pathways. Research objectives: The research aims to examine how religiosity affects the willingness of banks to engage in green finance, and under what conditions this relationship is strengthened. Research methods: The research employs a quantitative survey method involving employees across both private and state-owned banking institutions within the specified province, involving a cross-section of 43 banks. Structural equation modelling is used to test the hypothesised relationships. Empirical result: The results reveal that religiosity influences green finance indirectly through the enhancement of internal organisational capacities. Specifically, religiosity strengthens environmental values and practices within human resource systems, leadership approaches, and organisational identity, which in turn foster commitment to green financial strategies. Implications: These findings highlight the strategic importance of cultural and leadership-based resources in promoting environmental sustainability in the banking sector. JEL Classification: G21, Q56, M14, J53, L21

Research originality: The originality of this research lies in its integrated examination of psychological, social, and educational determinants of Islamic financial behaviour within a localized Malaysian context. Research objectives: Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the research investigates how Islamic financial literacy, financial risk attitude, parental financial socialization, and financial self-efficacy influence financial behaviour. Research methods: A structured questionnaire was distributed to 358 respondents aged 18 to 30, and the data were analyzed using covariance-based Structural Equation Modelling (CB-SEM). Empirical result: The study reveals two significant findings: parental financial socialization and financial self-efficacy strongly predict Islamic financial behaviour, while financial literacy and risk attitude show insignificant relationships. Implications: Policymakers should embed Islamic financial literacy in national youth programs, educators must integrate hands-on financial training into curricula, and Islamic finance providers are encouraged to offer youth-friendly, Shariah-compliant products supported by educational outreach and family-involved financial awareness initiatives. JEL Classification: D10, D14, D91, G41

Research Originality: This study adopts a multidimensional framework that integrates environmental sustainability and macroeconomic pressures to assess stock market behavior over the period 2018 to 2022, encompassing both pre-pandemic and post-pandemic economic contexts. Research Objectives: This research explores the impact of inflation, economic growth, green accounting, and environmental performance on stock returns of energy companies registered on IDXENERGY from 2018 to 2022. Research Methods: This study uses panel data regression analysis based on secondary data from 33 energy sector companies over five years. Empirical Result: Inflation has a statistically significant negative effect on stock returns, indicating that rising inflation tends to reduce investor returns in the energy sector. In contrast, economic growth, green accounting, and environmental performance do not show significant effects on stock returns, suggesting that these variables have no observable impact on firm performance in the capital market within the scope of this study. Implications: The findings emphasize the need for enhanced green reporting standards, stronger policy incentives for sustainable practices, and increased investor awareness regarding environmental performance. JEL Classification: E31, O47, M41, Q56, G12

Research Originality: This study focused on addressing the goal of reducing extreme poverty (EP) to 0% by 2024 in Indonesia, an objective that has been underexplored in global literature. Research Objectives: This study examined convergence in EP across Indonesia and analyzed the impact of economic as well as social variables on poverty reduction. Research Methods: Panel data from 34 Indonesian provinces (2017–2022) were analyzed using Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and K-means Cluster analysis for regional classification. Empirical Result: The results showed that provinces in Indonesia were reducing EP at an annual rate of 1.19%, with a half-life of 1.6 years. This process signified that the country was on a path to achieve near-zero EP by 2024. Major socioeconomic drivers identified during the study included employment expansion and investments in education. Moreover, K-means Cluster analysis identified Cluster 1 (Central Sulawesi, North Maluku, Papua) with the highest EP rate of 1.52%, showing critical geographic disparities. Implications: The Government should adopt a multilevel strategic framework prioritizing regions with the highest poverty rates. Job creation and better access to education played a crucial role. Additionally, Indonesia's success could serve as a model for sustainable EP eradication in developing nations. JEL Classification: I32, P46, Q01

Research Originality: This article presents novel and fresh empirical evidence on the relationship between intellectual capital and bank profitability and reports the results for the whole sample as well as at country breakdown. Research Objectives: Using a dataset of 60 banks from GCC countries between 2008 and 2022, the article investigates the association between intellectual capital and bank profitability by implementing M-VAIC. Research Methods: We developed two models in which profitability ratios are the dependent variables and the M-VAIC components are the independent variables and ran pooled OLS and panel regressions. Empirical Result: The study’s findings showed that while structural capital efficiency has a negative influence on bank profitability, other components have a positive impact on bank profitability. The signs and the significance levels at the country details do not show essential differences. Implications: The study’s results will have significant implications on how bank managers and policymakers invest and manage intellectual capital. The study offered an original contribution to the literature by presenting fresh empirical evidence from GCC countries for a reasonably long period. JEL Classification: E22, G21, O34, L25

Research Originality: This study presents a novel perspective by examining Indonesia’s economic growth over three crisis periods. It uniquely highlights how global economic uncertainty can strengthen Indonesia’s growth resilience when met with credible domestic policy responses. Research Objectives: The research investigates the effects of exports, imports, production value, interest rates, economic globalization, exchange rates, and state obligations on Indonesia’s economic growth at constant prices. Research Methods: Using quarterly time-series data from 1991Q1 to 2024Q1, the study employs a Dummy Variable–Autoregressive Distributed Lag model. Empirical Result: Exports have a direct negative effect on economic growth but when influenced indirectly by the global crisis and the pandemic, exports can actually contribute to growth. On the other hand, imports directly boost growth, but their impact is negatively affected by the global crisis. Additionally, interest rates support long-term growth but hinder it in the short run; however, crises may moderate this impact positively. Implications: These findings underscore the need for policymakers to craft dynamic, adaptable economic strategies that can safeguard Indonesia’s growth against future global shocks and uncertainties. JEL Classification: F41, E32, O53