The paper presents a multifaceted analysis of the strategic impact of the Georgian railway corridor on the country’s economic development through an innovative synthesis of physical, mathematical, and financial modeling frameworks. Located on the Eurasian transit axis, the corridor is a critical artery for the flows of freight, capital, and innovation that underpin economic sustainability and regional competitiveness. Yet traditional macroeconomic approaches only partially capture these processes, while the systemic nature and diversity of corridor effects call for an integrated methodology, especially under mounting socioeconomic challenges such as energy-price volatility, external shocks, and shifting regional competition. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the simultaneous application of three advanced models: (1) economics-adapted Navier–Stokes equations to simulate operational flows and systemic risks; (2) a multidimensional Ricci Flow model to assess dynamics of economic inequality and structural transformation; and (3) an EVA (Economic Value Added) framework to analyze long-term value creation, investment efficiency, and capital allocation. Drawing on a multi-year dataset for the Georgian railway corridor, the empirical results indicate that modernization and operational efficiency are associated with higher liquidity velocity and lower residual risk; stress-testing reveals the corridor’s sensitivity to external shocks; Ricci Flow curvature maps parameters driving inclusion or polarization; and the EVA matrix indicates that a sustained annual growth rate of approximately 3% or more supports a positive EVA margin. Overall, the multi-model synthesis advances applied mathematical economics and offers a transferable methodology for evaluating complex infrastructure systems amid uncertainty and rapid technological change. Policy guidance centers on institutionalizing monitoring and stress-testing, prioritizing inclusion-enhancing parameters, optimizing investments, and strengthening resilience to socioeconomic challenges.

Education, being a merit good, must be accessible to each and every individual in the society. However, regional inequality in educational access and performance creates serious socioeconomic challenges, especially in the context of fiscal austerity policies adopted all over the globe. This paper evaluates interstate disparities in the efficiency of the education sector in India using a panel data envelopment analysis (DEA) framework. It employs constant returns to scale and variable returns to scale production technology frameworks to assess input-oriented and output-oriented technical efficiency of states’ education sectors over the period 2012-13 to 2021-22. The result highlights socioeconomic challenges owing to considerable disparity among states regarding efficiency under both the constant returns to scale (CRS) and variable returns to scale (VRS) frameworks. The large and populous states have performed at the bottom, while smaller states have enhanced their performances. This underscores the fact that regional inequality in the efficiency of the education sector of India is rooted in both managerial inefficiency and suboptimal scale of operation. The study provides dual policy suggestions for minimizing regional socioeconomic challenges in the education sector to tackle both input and output-oriented efficiency bottlenecks.

This study investigates the implications of social engineering attacks on mobile device security in the UAE, situating these threats within broader socioeconomic challenges. It employs a mixed methodology to understand both quantitative patterns and qualitative experiences of mobile device users across the seven emirates. The study combines large-scale survey data from 1,247 respondents with 45 in-depth qualitative interviews conducted between November 2024 and February 2025 to examine mobile-based social engineering vulnerabilities in the UAE. It examines demographic factors, cultural influences, technology adoption patterns, and vulnerability to various social engineering attack vectors, including SMS phishing, voice phishing, and mobile application-based deception. The results indicate that social engineering attacks are widespread among UAE mobile users. Age, educational background, and cultural factors, such as trust in authority and collectivist communication trends, influence vulnerability. Qualitative analysis outlines technological empowerment, cultural trust patterns, language barriers in security messaging, and the generational digital divide, as well as inadequate security awareness programs, as critical themes. The results also prove that social engineering attacks targeting mobile devices in the UAE exploit both universal human psychology and culture-specific trust patterns, thus deepening existing socioeconomic challenges related to digital inequality and cyber risk exposure. The study further reemphasizes the need for policymakers to develop culturally adapted security education programs that address the intersection of mobile security vulnerabilities and socioeconomic challenges to build a more resilient digital environment.

In the face of growing socioeconomic challenges, digital transformation has become a critical driver of efficiency and competitiveness across industries, particularly in developing economies. This study investigates the impact of digital transformation on the operational and service performance of freight forwarding companies in Alexandria, Egypt, with a particular focus on time efficiency, cost efficiency, and service quality. It also examines the mediating role of organizational readiness and the moderating influence of governmental support. Using a quantitative research approach, data were collected through structured questionnaires from 393 employees working in freight forwarding firms and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS through multiple regression and bootstrapped mediation/moderation analyses. The results reveal that digital transformation (through technology adoption, process automation, and digital integration) significantly enhances time and cost efficiency as well as service quality. Furthermore, organizational readiness partially mediates these relationships, emphasizing the importance of digital preparedness in maximizing transformation benefits. Governmental support was found to positively moderate the relationship between digital transformation and time efficiency, underscoring the critical role of public policies and institutional facilitation in promoting digital logistics performance. The findings contribute theoretically by enriching the understanding of digital transformation dynamics in emerging economies and practically by offering evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and industry leaders to strengthen the competitiveness and operational excellence of Egypt’s freight forwarding sector in addressing contemporary socioeconomic challenges.

This study examines the impact of economic recessions on workers, managers, and organizations in Turkey, highlighting strategies for resilience, adaptability, and long-term sustainability. Employing a mixed-method approach, the research combines a systematic literature review with semi-structured interviews of 43 Turkish entrepreneurs, managers, executives, and academic experts, who collectively bring nearly 628 years of professional experience across diverse industries. Findings reveal that recessions shape not only immediate financial outcomes but also long-term perceptions of social equity, wealth distribution, and economic fairness, influencing both individual and organizational decision-making. Several key themes emerged, such as household pressure, uncertainty in the market, psychosocial effects, coping strategies, and policy expectations. The study identifies key recession-proof sectors in Turkey, including healthcare, energy, utilities, and tourism, and highlights the importance of skill diversification, professional networking, and digital literacy for individual economic resilience. For managers, proactive planning, employee development, and fostering agile, collaborative teams emerge as critical factors for maintaining morale and productivity. Organizations benefit from diversifying revenue streams, leveraging regional trade opportunities, investing in innovation and automation, and engaging with local entrepreneurial ecosystems. By combining traditional industry strengths with modern strategies in digitalization and sustainable development, Turkish workers, managers, and organizations can transform economic challenges into opportunities to ensure stability, competitiveness, and growth in an increasingly interconnected global economy.

This study examined how key macroeconomic indicators, such as the federal funds rate, inflation rate, real GDP growth rate, S&P 500 returns, DXY index returns, and major external shocks, affect the performance of U.S. equity mutual funds in the technology sector amid evolving socioeconomic challenges. Using multiple linear regression, the analysis evaluated the individual contributions and statistical significance of these variables in explaining variations in fund returns, particularly as technology-focused funds reacted to shifting macroeconomic conditions shaped by broader socioeconomic challenges. The dataset covered the period from 2012 to 2022, providing a comprehensive perspective on the interplay between macroeconomic conditions and fund performance over time during a decade characterized by substantial economic, geopolitical, and technological transitions and intensifying socioeconomic challenges. A sample of seven technology-focused U.S. equity mutual funds was selected based on thematic relevance, data availability, and heterogeneity in investment strategies, reflecting how different fund profiles respond to ongoing socioeconomic challenges. The results showed that the federal funds rate, S&P 500 returns, and external shocks exerted significant positive effects on fund performance, whereas the inflation rate, GDP growth rate, and DXY index returns had significant negative effects, patterns that became more pronounced under conditions shaped by socioeconomic challenges. The statistical significance of the model’s constant term further underscores the likelihood that additional, unobserved determinants, potentially linked to underlying socioeconomic challenges, influence mutual fund returns beyond those captured in the model. Overall, the study deepens understanding of how macroeconomic dynamics shape mutual funds’ performance within a sector particularly sensitive to global economic conditions, capital market fluctuations, and persistent socioeconomic challenges, offering practical insights for investors, fund managers, and policymakers. Nonetheless, the analysis is limited by constraints in data availability. Future research may benefit from expanding the set of explanatory variables, increasing the sample size and diversity of funds, exploring additional sectors and geographic regions, and integrating complementary qualitative methods to provide richer contextual interpretation of macro-financial relationships in light of ongoing socioeconomic challenges.

This research explores the profound impact of war-induced business shocks on companies operating in Ukraine during the ongoing conflict. It examines how businesses across sectors navigate extreme challenges, including operational disruptions, infrastructure damage, mass migration, and economic instability. Using a combination of qualitative analysis and case studies, the work investigates adaptation strategies, sector-specific responses, and the role of innovation in fostering resilience. Key findings highlight the critical role of leadership, organizational flexibility, and financial reserves in mitigating the effects of war-induced shocks. The research employs a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection method. Three business owners from different sectors and scales were selected to provide diverse perspectives on adaptation strategies during wartime conditions: large retail network, small medical practice, and specialized healthcare provider. The interviews were conducted online and focused on understanding initial responses to the conflict, key challenges encountered, and opportunities identified during the war. Sectoral differences are emphasized, with retail businesses, demonstrating agility through supply chain reorganization and online sales expansion, while medical centers faced challenges in retaining skilled personnel and maintaining service quality. The study provides valuable theoretical and practical insights. Theoretically, it enhances the understanding of war-induced business shocks, offering a framework to analyze their unique characteristics and long-term impacts. Practically, it presents actionable recommendations for businesses to build resilience, such as investing in strategic reserves, fostering a culture of innovation, and prioritizing digital transformation. By analyzing the Ukrainian experience, the work contributes to broader discussions on crisis management and business adaptation, offering lessons for companies and policymakers worldwide. It concludes that war-induced shocks, while profoundly disruptive, also serve as catalysts for organizational transformation, innovation, and strategic growth.

This study investigates the role of business analytics in advancing digital inclusion and promoting economic equity among underserved populations in India, with a focus on mitigating persistent socioeconomic challenges. While digital access has expanded rapidly, meaningful inclusion, defined by affordability, digital literacy, relevant content, and the ability to translate digital engagement into tangible outcomes, remains uneven. Drawing on mixed-methods data collected during March to August 2025 from 390 survey respondents and 30 in-depth interviews across urban and peri-urban India, the research tests five hypotheses linking digital inclusion, business analytics adoption, digital literacy, perceived algorithmic fairness, and socioeconomic outcomes. Quantitative data analysis is done using multiple regression analysis, where the bootstrapped mediation and interaction-based moderation are used to test all five hypotheses, and thematic analysis was performed on qualitative data. Findings confirm that higher levels of digital inclusion correlate positively with perceived economic equity, but this relationship is significantly mediated by digital literacy and amplified by institutional use of business analytics. Analytics-driven services enhance accessibility, personalization, and responsiveness, thereby strengthening the equity-enhancing potential of digital tools. Crucially, perceived algorithmic fairness emerges as a foundational element of user trust and sustained engagement. The study underscores that technological interventions alone are insufficient; to effectively address socioeconomic challenges, they must be embedded within ethically designed, transparent, and human-centered ecosystems that prioritize the needs and agency of marginalized communities. These insights carry important implications for policymakers, practitioners, and designers aiming to harness data-driven innovation for inclusive development and overcome the socioeconomic challenges.

Addressing socioeconomic challenges has become a central concern for emerging market economies, where financial instability can rapidly spill over into the real economy and undermine sustainable development. This paper develops novel stress indices for Türkiye’s financial institutions, financial markets, and real economy using three widely applied methodologies: equal variance weighting, principal component analysis, and portfolio theory (CISS). By constructing sector-specific and aggregate indicators, the study provides a comprehensive framework for monitoring financial stress in an emerging market context. The proposed indices are further evaluated using discrete choice models to assess their ability to signal periods of elevated financial vulnerability. This research makes three main contributions. First, it extends the financial stress literature by developing a multi-dimensional stress measurement framework that integrates financial institutions, financial markets, and the real economy for an emerging market economy. Second, it offers a systematic comparison of alternative aggregation methodologies, highlighting their relative strengths for different types of stress episodes. Third, it provides policy-relevant tools that can support macroprudential surveillance and early-warning systems. Overall, the study underscores how tailored stress indicators can contribute to more effective economic policy design and help address socioeconomic challenges arising from financial instability.

This paper addresses the question of to what extent fundamental principles of quantum mechanics can be theoretically applied to corporate risk management. The goal is to increase the effectiveness of corporate risk management under complex and uncertain conditions, such as those currently existing due to geopolitical tensions, socioeconomic challenges, or multiple crises. The starting point is the realization that classical risk models often reach their limits, particularly due to nonlinear interactions, systemic dependencies, and human error. A literature review identified few results that explore an interdisciplinary connection between the two subject areas. Building on these results, an inventive analogy is developed in which central quantum mechanical principles, such as superposition, quantum entanglement, the observer effect, and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, are contrasted with the phases of the risk management process. The resulting structural and heuristic analogies serve as a basis for deriving new theoretical approaches and solutions, with the goal of addressing existing limitations and challenges in corporate risk management. The results demonstrate that quantum-inspired corporate risk management can be understood as a networked, adaptive system that, compared to traditional risk management, integrates more probabilistic assessments, parallel courses of action, and context-dependent decision-making processes. Further developments could arise in the future, particularly through empirical case studies and the integration of interdisciplinary perspectives.