Asset Ownership Research Articles (Page 1)

This study examines the relationship between environmental information disclosure (EID) and financial performance among 2,229 listed Chinese manufacturing firms from 2020–2024. Drawing on stakeholder, resource-based, and institutional theories, the analysis explores how firm characteristics—asset size, workforce, and ownership—affect disclosure behavior and financial outcomes. Using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and panel regression, results reveal that while overall disclosure levels remain low (38.9%), larger and government-linked enterprises consistently outperform small and medium-sized firms. EID shows a significant positive association with market capitalization (β = 0.18, p < 0.01), but weaker relationships with short-term profitability (ROA, ROE). Findings suggest that environmental transparency enhances long-term market valuation rather than immediate accounting returns. Policy implications highlight the need for tiered ESG reporting frameworks, capacity-building programs for SMEs, and stronger regulatory incentives to align environmental governance with China’s “Dual Carbon” goals.

This paper aims to analyze the livelihood status of the urban poor in Dhaka city. A total of 120 households from one urban poor or slum settlements were surveyed. Based on participants’ responses in the study area, we utilized a Likert scale from 0 to 1. This scale was subsequently classified into different categories based on the specific dimension being assessed. The study revealed different levels of livelihood capital in the poor households, which reflected their overall livelihood status. The findings indicated a challenging situation for slum dwellers. Although the human capital score was relatively good compared to other capitals, there were lack of formal education and training opportunities. Financial capital was notably in poor condition, with very low income, expenditures, savings, and limited asset ownership. While housing structures in the slum were good, insufficient sanitation and water supply facilities led to a moderate physical capital status. Social capital was characterized by strong community relationships but limited organizational participation, resulting in a moderate status. Overall, the livelihood status of the slum dwellers was moderate. The findings recommend that greater importance should be given to improving capitals to enhance the adaptive capacity of the urban poor households to reduce their poverty and to cope with periods of crises. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 10 (2): 195-210 (December 2024)

Asset ownership plays a crucial role in improving livelihoods and reducing poverty among beneficiaries of the Youth Development Fund (YDF). However, ownership of productive assets has remained a significant challenge among these beneficiaries. Guided by the Sustainable Livelihood Framework, this study examines the effect of the YDF on asset ownership among its beneficiaries. A cross-sectional research design involving multistage sampling targeted 10 wards in two Local Government Authorities. Data were collected from 200 YDF beneficiaries through semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics and an asset ownership index were used to analyse the quantitative data, while the qualitative data was analysed through content analysis. The findings revealed that 50% of YDF beneficiaries are at a high level of asset ownership, 49% are at a low level, and 1% are at a moderate level. The results further show a more remarkable change in the ownership of non-productive assets than productive assets, which does not guarantee sustainable livelihoods. For example, ownership of economic assets like motorcycles increased from 3.5% to 33.5% after accessing the YDF. The findings also indicate ownership of new productive assets acquired after accessing the YDF, such as photocopiers, welding machines, sewing machines, tricycles, and milling machines. Despite these changes, 49% of the beneficiaries are still in low asset ownership, with limited ability to sustain their livelihoods. The study recommends that Local Government Authorities (LGAs) should increase funding for youth loans to enable beneficiaries to engage in income-generating activities (IGAs) for the acquisition of livelihood assets. Additionally, LGAs should collaborate with like-minded stakeholders in all youth empowerment interventions to provide mentorship and coaching. This would enable youth to gain the skills required for effectively using resources by investing in productive assets instead of non-productive household assets.

Watermark text detection is a crucial process in image processing and digital forensics, particularly for ensuring content authenticity and preventing unauthorized use of digital media. Watermarks, often embedded in images, serve as a visible or invisible form of protection, and their detection is essential for verifying the integrity and ownership of digital assets. Detecting watermark text which is often subtle, semi-transparent, or integrated into the background presents significant challenges. In this paper, we propose an effective approach for watermark text detection using a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), an edge detection technique, and morphological functions. A Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) with four cluster components is applied to model the distribution of pixel intensities. The GMM represents the intensity histogram as a mixture of Gaussian distributions, each parameterized by its mean, variance, and weight. Canny edge detection is applied to the grayscale image to retain the actual edge information. The resulting image is then refined using morphological closing a process that involves dilation followed by erosion to fill small gaps and smooth edge contours. To further isolate meaningful edges, Otsu’s thresholding method is applied, selecting an optimal threshold that minimizes intra-class variance between the foreground and background. Finally, the watermark text is embedded into the image by modifying the pixel values in a predefined region, resulting in a watermarked output image.

BackgroundDelayed childbearing is increasingly recognized as a demographic trend with profound implications for public health, particularly among women aged 35 and older. While often viewed as a challenge due to associated maternal health risks and socio-cultural pressures, this study contends that, if effectively managed, delayed childbearing can serve as a strategic tool for achieving the First Demographic Transition (FDT) in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. By examining the relationship between women’s empowerment and delayed childbearing, this research aims to highlight how empowerment can be leveraged to mitigate health risks and contribute to sustainable demographic transitions.MethodsThis study constructs four empowerment dimensions—decision-making autonomy, asset ownership, control over reproductive health, and socio-cultural beliefs—using data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) to explore their influence on delayed childbearing among women aged 35 and older. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses are employed to assess the impact of these dimensions on reproductive timing.ResultsDecision-making autonomy and asset ownership emerged as significant predictors of delayed childbearing. Women with medium and high levels of decision-making autonomy were substantially more likely to delay childbirth (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.643, 95% CI: 1.144–6.106, and AOR = 2.024, 95% CI: 1.009–4.059, respectively). Medium asset ownership was also associated with delayed reproduction (AOR = 1.750, 95% CI: 1.016–3.013), whereas high asset ownership showed no significant effect. In contrast, socio-cultural empowerment and control over reproductive health were not significantly associated with delayed childbearing.ConclusionsThis study underscores the pivotal role of women’s empowerment—especially decision-making autonomy and economic resources—in shaping reproductive choices and delaying childbearing. Policy interventions that enhance women’s agency, expand economic opportunities, safeguard reproductive health rights, and challenge restrictive socio-cultural norms are essential for addressing the health risks and societal challenges posed by delayed reproduction. By aligning these strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 5 (Gender Equality), Nigeria can foster a socio-cultural environment in which women are empowered to make informed reproductive decisions, thereby contributing to demographic stability and sustainable development.

The paper examines how rural women in India have been economically empowered by being enrolled in SelfHelpGroup (SHG) related microfinance programs. The study examines the extent of income and savings behaviour, assetown ership and self employment among SHG beneficiaries in three different states in India (Bihar, Odisha andKarnataka) using a structured Economic Empowerment Scale. A cross sectional survey of 300 participants wascarried out in a quantitative way, and the d ata were analysed both descriptively and inferentially. The results indicatethat SHG membership is highly beneficial in increasing the household income, disciplined savings, investment inproductive assets and self employment. The effect is however differ ent in different regions and this is largelydependent on institutional support, quality of training and the length of SHG membership. Other challenges that thestudy identifies include lack of uniformity in access to training, inefficiency in regional ban king, and inability tomonitor informal earnings. These lessons highlight the promise of SHG based microfinance as a revolutionaryinstrument of rural development, as well as the necessity of policy interventions, sustained capacity building, andmonitorin g mechanisms that are more regular. The paper provides a better insight into the potential of microfinancein inclusive economic growth and the areas of future research.

Abstract Blockchain technology has revolutionized digital financial transactions and asset ownership by enabling decentralized and automated operations through smart contracts. Solidity smart contracts, used in the Ethereum blockchain network, facilitate secure and trustless execution of agreements. However, like any code, smart contracts are prone to vulnerabilities. Considering the assets and value of currency these smart contracts handle, their exploitation leads to severe financial losses and loss of operations. Such exploits have resulted in billions of dollars in stolen or locked assets. In this paper, we present an ensemble multilabel classifier model approach for the automated detection of vulnerabilities in Solidity smart contracts using a real smart contract dataset, with a detailed methodological process that includes processing the dataset. The proposed model stack achieves excellent results with F1 scores ranging from 82.0% to 99.9% for each vulnerability dataset. The proposed model is also compared with common static analyzer tools and models proposed in the literature following a similar approach. Moreover, we package the models into a web application, demonstrating deployment and functionality.

The rapid digitization of finance has transformed household asset structures, introducing new financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and digital investment platforms. However, the implications of this evolving asset composition on household consumption behavior remain underexplored. Traditional models often fall short in capturing the temporal and nonlinear dynamics of such relationships. Research aims to assess the impact of financial asset structures, including both traditional and digital assets, on household consumption decisions by leveraging advanced neural network architectures. The dataset comprises household-level financial and consumption data drawn from finance surveys, enriched with detailed metrics on digital asset ownership and usage. Key variables include household income, traditional and digital asset composition, demographic attributes, and monthly expenditure patterns. Data pre-processing involved handling missing values and outliers, followed by Z-score standardization to ensure normalization. A stacked Long Short-Term Memory (SLSTM) network was employed to model time-series consumption trends and capture underlying temporal dependencies. The Enriched Satin Bowerbird (ESB) algorithm was used to enhance training efficiency and convergence. The Enriched Satin Bowerbird mutated Stacked LSTM (ESB-SLSTM) model effectively identified complex nonlinear interactions and temporal patterns between asset structures and consumption behavior. Implemented using Python , the proposed ESB-SLTSM model accurately analyzes household consumption based on financial asset structures. It achieves over 93% in F1-score, accuracy, recall, and precision, ensuring robust and insightful behavioral predictions. Results indicate that households with significant digital asset holdings display more dynamic and sensitive consumption responses, particularly in response to market fluctuations. The model achieved superior predictive performance compared to baseline econometric models. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and financial planners aiming to promote stable consumption and responsible digital asset integration.

Abstract This study investigates the factors influencing women’s agency and adaptive capacity in response to climate change in the coastal union of Sarankhola, Bangladesh. Drawing on 27 community case studies from 162 individuals in group surveys, it applies a five-step fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to identify combinations of conditions that explain the presence or absence of women’s agency. The analysis defines women’s agency through asset ownership, decision-making power, and ability to mediate conflict. Causal conditions were selected based on existing scholarship and local context, and each case was calibrated using a four-point fuzzy scale. The fsQCA results reveal that a combination of restricted mobility, lack of household support, and absence of material conditions consistently contributes to the absence of agency across most cases. Two solution pathways explain the observed outcomes, with consistency scores above 0.72. The study also shows how disaster events, such as Cyclone Sidr and Amphan, have disrupted entrenched vulnerabilities and temporarily expanded women’s roles—analysed through a modified Radical Capacity Framework and a Discharging Vulnerability Model. These findings suggest that adaptive responses and enhanced agency can emerge not only through targeted interventions but also through structural shifts triggered by crisis events. The paper concludes by arguing for climate adaptation strategies that engage with these dynamic, non-linear pathways, and that recognize the role of social restructuring, support networks, and institutional presence in shaping women’s resilience.

IntroductionIntimate partner violence (IPV) affects an estimated 27% of women globally, with consequences spanning mental, physical and societal well-being. Previous research identifies individual and relational risk factors for IPV, but less is known about wider structural factors. This study examines the association between food insecurity and IPV using nationally-representative data from 156 countries, exploring gendered asset policies as a potential mediator.MethodsWe used nationally representative survey data on women’s experience of IPV (1993–2019) and the Food and Agriculture Organization data on moderate to severe food insecurity. Multilevel mixed-effects generalised linear models estimated the association between standardised variables for food insecurity and IPV, accounting for country-level clustering and adjusting for gross domestic product (GDP). Mediation analysis estimated the role of gendered asset policies (Women, Business and the Law Index Score). Sensitivity analyses lagged food insecurity by at least 4 years among a subset of 59 countries.ResultsWe examined data from 219 country-years representing 156 countries globally across the period of 1993–2019. After controlling for national GDP, models estimated an independent cross-sectional association between food insecurity and IPV (b=0.49; 95% CI 0.37 to 0.62). Gendered asset policies mediated 18.9% of the food insecurity-IPV relationship (indirect effect 0.099 (0.044–0.155); total effect 0.526 (0.422–0.631)). In lagged analysis, food insecurity was associated with higher IPV 2 years later (b=0.78; 95% CI 0.48 to 1.06), with a similar mediation effect (21.0%).ConclusionThis study is among the first to harness global data to demonstrate country-level effects of food insecurity on IPV, which countries enacting more equitable asset policies were able to mitigate a substantial proportion of. Future research should prospectively pinpoint how supportive gender policies and asset ownership can amplify the benefits of food security for women’s safety and longevity.

A prenuptial agreement is a legal instrument that grants married couples the authority to regulate the ownership of assets, rights, and obligations during marriage. In Indonesia’s legal system, its provisions have evolved from the Civil Code and Law Number 1 of 1974 on Marriage to the Constitutional Court Decision Number 69/PUU-XIII/2015. This decision is a significant milestone as it allows the agreement to be made not only before but also after the marriage. A postnuptial agreement may take effect either from the date of marriage or from the date the deed is signed. If it takes effect from the deed date, assets acquired beforehand remain as joint property, which carries legal implications, particularly concerning land ownership by foreign spouses. This paper discusses the legal development of postnuptial agreements and their impact on asset management, recommending that notaries explain potential legal risks and consider applying the agreement from the start of the marriage to prevent disputes.

This study investigates the application of the hybrid contract concept in murabahah financing within Islamic banking, focusing on its legal validity, operational procedures, and compliance with Sharia principles. Hybrid contracts (al-‘uqud al-murakkabah), which integrate multiple contractual elements into a unified framework, have emerged as a significant innovation to address the limitations of conventional murabahah structures in meeting complex financing demands. Employing a normative juridical research design with a qualitative-descriptive approach, this research analyzes primary Islamic legal sources (Qur’an, Hadith, and classical fiqh), relevant regulations, and fatwas, particularly DSN-MUI Fatwa No. 04/DSN-MUI/IV/2000, alongside secondary literature on Islamic finance. The findings reveal that the hybrid contract model, particularly al-murabahah wa ar-rahn (murabahah with collateral), is legally permissible and aligns with the maqasid al-shariah when implemented with full asset ownership and risk assumption by the bank prior to contract execution. The study contributes to the discourse on Sharia-compliant financial innovation by proposing standardized governance protocols, enhanced transparency, and adaptive legal frameworks to strengthen hybrid murabahah financing practices.

This research looked at the contribution of National Microfinance Bank (NMB) loans to women entrepreneurs in Arusha City, Tanzania. The need for this present study stems from ongoing discussions in the literature regarding microfinance’s function in bettering the livelihoods of the poor. This is more so in emerging economies, e.g., the Philippines, India, Indonesia, and several countries in Africa, where evidence has remained vague. Notwithstanding the fact that microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Tanzania have undergone accelerated growth, the vast majority of small-scale businesses struggle to remain afloat. It has been noted that most businesses stagnate or, worse, fail within the first five years of operation. As such, this issue underscores the value of critically evaluating whether microfinance interventions, especially those focusing on women entrepreneurs, are attaining their intended objectives, namely poverty reduction and economic empowerment. This study was guided by the following specific objectives: (i) to document and analyze benefits of NMB’s loan to women entrepreneurs, (ii) to examine the use of loans by women entrepreneurs, and (iii) to identify factors affecting loan performance in women enterprises and NMB. This research was anchored on the empowerment theory. This study utilized a case study research design. The targeted population encompassed women entrepreneurs and NMB staff in Arusha City. A sample size of 138 responders was purposively and randomly chosen. Data was obtained through structured questionnaires and interviews and later analyzed thematically and statistically in order to address the study objectives. The key findings indicated that NMB loans contributed positively to women entrepreneurs. This was through boosting incomes, bettering asset ownership, and raising their social standards. Accessing loans allowed women beneficiaries to finance basic needs like food, education, shelter, and health care. In addition, it assisted in diversifying their business portfolios. Nonetheless, challenges were encountered.They comprised diversion of loans, deceit, and late repayment. These curtailed the sustainability of the program. In the same vein, the minimum loan amounts availed proved to be meager to generate substantial profits. As a result, it limited entrepreneurs' capacity to expand their businesses. This study's outcomes concluded that despite the fact that NMB loans have the ability to lift the well-being of women entrepreneurs, their impact on poverty eradication remains limited without complementary measures. This research recommended that NMB ought to empower borrowers by means of training them in business management and operational skills. It also suggested that loan amounts should be increased so as to enhance business growth and sustainability. These kinds of interventions will be beneficial to the institution through better repayment rates. To the beneficiaries, there will be increased profitability and long-term business success.

Intra-household bargaining, resource allocation and cost of gender-based violence in Egypt: the role of asset ownership and gender role attitudes

BackgroundSlum areas in Dhaka, Bangladesh, experience frequent water-logging after heavy rain. However, the extent to which access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) varies between normal vs. water-logging periods has not been described. The objectives of this study are: 1) to describe WASH access and behaviors among Korail Slum residents during normal vs. water-logging periods, and; 2) to describe the extent to which the differences in WASH access and behaviors between normal vs. water-logging periods varied by socioeconomic status (SES).MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in Korail Slum, Dhaka, Bangladesh, during November 2024 using face-to-face interviews and rapid observation of WASH infrastructures. We selected adult residents to Korail Slum via systematic random sampling and invited them to participate. We interviewed participants regarding WASH access and behaviors, as well as their education, income, and asset ownership (i.e., socioeconomic status (SES) indicators). We categorized participants into SES tertiles using principal component analysis (PCA). We analyzed data using descriptive statistics and McNemar’s tests.ResultsNearly all of our participants (n = 404) reported a Basic level of water access during normal and water-logging periods, and no participant reported using unimproved latrines or open defecation. Approximately 85% of the participants reported access to Basic hygiene facilities during normal periods, most (95%) of whom also reported the access during water-logging periods (p-value = 0.134). The majority of participants did not always wash their hands at key moments during the normal period. Among those who reported always washing hands during the normal period, between 15% to 30% regressed and did not always wash their hands during the water-logging period. There were no statistically significant variations in the difference between WASH access and behaviors at normal vs. water-logging periods by socioeconomic tertile.ConclusionWe found near-universal access to water and improved sanitation, but low level of hand hygiene behaviors. Limitations regarding generalizability and potential social desirability bias should be considered as caveats in the interpretation of the study findings.

ABSTRACTTraditional values and beliefs perpetuate gender inequalities and marginalize women in many societies worldwide by limiting their access to economic resources and decision‐making abilities. In‐depth interviews were conducted among 53 young women and men to explore the barriers to asset development and decision‐making autonomy among adolescent girls transitioning into young women in southern Uganda. Five themes emerged from the participants’ narratives, including societal expectations, restricted mobility, early pregnancies and marriages, limited motivation and parental perceptions. Findings from this study emphasize the widespread gender disparities in asset ownership and decision‐making autonomy in southern Uganda, rooted in restrictive gender norms.Trial Registration: The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01447615

ABSTRACT In recent years scholars started exploring new dimensions of the economic vote: patrimony (asset ownership) and positional economic voting. Mushrooming literature in this field finds evidence that both of these dimensions make important contributions to the explanation of voters’ choices. This empirical confirmation may carry a strong “advance democracy bias.” Previous scholarly work has only scratched the surface of studying positional economic voting in other countries. We know little about positional economic voting in Eastern Europe (EE). Whether and to what extent this is happening, remains an open question that needs an empirical investigation. While we remain agnostic, at the outset of the study, we formulate a working hypothesis in favor of positional economic voting. By combining data from nine rounds of the European Social Survey (ESS) and five modules of Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES), the study tests these propositions and seeks to identify which factors contribute to positional voting in the region. We found evidence that some positional voting is happening in EE. This occurs significantly more often for individuals who follow politics. Additionally, the rate of unemployment and fragmentation of the party system contribute to more positional voting in EE.

Abstract The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the legal regulation of digital assets in leading jurisdictions. It discusses the key aspects of defining and protecting ownership rights to digital assets. The author focuses on how different countries regulate the circulation of these assets, identifying common features and differences in the approaches used in different legal systems. Modern economic relations are evolving under the influence of the latest technologies, forming the digital economy. Digital assets are becoming increasingly widespread in the world, despite significant gaps in their regulation around the world. Given their transnational nature and intangible form, investors may often face an incomplete understanding of how to protect their rights in such assets. National legislation is fragmented and often lacks a sufficient legal basis. There are differences even in the definition of ‘digital assets’. There is also no consensus on which term should be used, leading to fragmentation in legal acts around the world. Today, the European Union has the upper hand in the legal regulation of digital assets, as the Union has adopted the MiCA Regulation, which deeply regulates the issues of digital assets, protection of rights to such assets, and combating illicit trafficking. Nevertheless, this document still leaves a number of open issues related to the ownership of digital assets in civil relations, underscoring the need to improve the existing legislation. The main objective of the study is to analyse the current state of legal regulation of digital assets, identify gaps and propose ways to address them. The authors of the article evaluated legal acts in different jurisdictions, identifying advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the authors of the article reveal the existing challenges associated with insufficient harmonization of international legal standards on digital assets. The novelty of the study lies in the author’s proposed approaches to improving international regulation, including harmonization of legal norms and development of common standards through international organizations such as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.

This study aimed to investigate cattle farmer livelihoods that relate to cattle welfare in the region with the newly emerging Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in Indonesia. A semi-structured interview survey was conducted with randomly selected cattle farmers (n = 102), in Riau. Cattle were bled for analysis of LSD-post-vaccinal seroconversion. The Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF) was used; data on livelihood assets, activities, and outcomes were analysed using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), two-step clustering, and the radar chart of asset possessions. The survey showed that vaccination and veterinary services covered 82.4% and 90.2% of farms. Seroconversion was detectable in vaccinated (15.0%, n = 173) and in non-vaccinated animals (23.1%, n = 13). Farmers mostly fed only grass to cattle (92.2%), with neither pastoral management nor ad libitum water provision. The MCA and cluster analyses indicated that cattle shelter roofing and flooring and manure disposal were the most important markers of the community's livelihood. Poverty among cattle farmers was 23.5%. The cluster with lower income per capita had lower quality of shelter roofing and flooring, a lack of regular manure disposal, jobless second children, and the lowest possession of natural and physical assets. Helping to possess natural and physical assets might improve cattle farmers' well-being and cattle welfare.

Background: Food security is a global concern that many organisations and governments work to ensure that people have reliable access to food. The formation of the land restitution programme (LRP) by the South African government was to uplift the agricultural sector to generate employment and production growth to advance food security, and reduce poverty in rural areas.Aim: This article investigates the impact of post-settlement support (PSS) on the food security level of land restitution beneficiaries.Setting: The study focused on the land restitution beneficiaries in the rural areas of Limpopo province.Methods: A stratified and simple random sampling was employed to collect data from 200 households’ beneficiaries using a structured questionnaire. An ordered logistic regression model was used to determine the impact of PSS on food security.Results: The results reveal that 71% of smallholder farmers under the LRP were food secure. PSS plays a crucial role in influencing the level of food security among the beneficiaries. In addition, other factors influencing the level of food security were non-farm business, irrigation system availability, asset ownership, access to market information and farmer association membership.Conclusion: The study demonstrated how crucial the PSS is in enhancing the food security of the beneficiaries. Strengthening and tailoring this support can lead to more sustainable farming and resilient rural livelihoods.Contribution: The results of the article will contribute new knowledge to the literature, extending to policy recommendations or improvements that could improve and enhance the excellent performance and prosperity of the LRP in South Africa.