COVID-19 Epidemic Research Articles

MSMEs’ resilience strategies during the Covid-19 Crisis: a case of the tourism sector in South Africa

MSMEs’ resilience strategies during the Covid-19 Crisis: a case of the tourism sector in South Africa

Displacing the displaced: the response to the protracted precarious situation of Syrian refugees in Türkiye during the Covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT The Covid-19 crisis exposed deeply-rooted systemic problems for Syrians in Türkiye, especially continuous instability in accessing public health and social support services. By reviewing legal amendments and policies, this article examines the legal situation and the humanitarian challenges they encounter during the pandemic in Türkiye. Although the Turkish government provides free access and includes Covid-19 treatment within the emergency scope, the barriers impoverished the Syrian refugees accessing those services. This article does not address all aspects of the impact of Covid-19, thus emphasising how Turkish legal policies on refugee maintenance have constrained the life of Syrians in Türkiye. The study implies the multiple barriers, such as registration requirements and structural problems of the asylum policies restricting the Syrian refugee’s access to healthcare and State services in all aspects. The article concludes by demonstrating that the precarious legal status brings even more vulnerability at times of crisis for the Syrian refugees in Türkiye.

Racism and discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of Turkish migrant women in the Netherlands

As observed in numerous historical crisis scenarios, the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated unfavorable perceptions of ‘foreigners’ and ‘migrants’ in the Netherlands. The construct of a ‘foreigner’ has been socially fashioned as a label that distinguishes what is dissimilar from the norm, and within the context of the COVID-19 crisis, the concept of the “other” has gained prominence. Building upon this central premise, the present study aims to probe into the occurrence of racism and discrimination directed at Turkish migrant women in the Netherlands, a nation often characterized as progressive and liberal, with an intersectional approach. Considering the increased awareness surrounding Dutch colonial history, exemplified by events like the Black Lives Matter protests, the research also delves into whether migrant women draw connections between their experiences of racism and the historical Dutch colonial past. How have migrant women experienced and reacted to racism during the pandemic? Does the encounter with racism and discrimination prompt an intensified identification with or detachment from their migrant identities? To unravel answers to these inquiries, the article draws from semi-structured interviews with fifteen migrant women alongside a non-governmental representative, an artist, and an activist in the Netherlands. Through the personal narratives of these women, this article illuminates the ongoing discussions surrounding racism and discrimination within the broader discursive landscape of the Netherlands during the pandemic.

The New EU Industrial Policy: Opening Up New Frontiers for Financial Capital

The EU has implemented a whole array of industrial policy programmes over the past decade to bolster the competitiveness of selected knowledge-intensive industries and to induce a digital and green transition. Responding to shifting competitive challenges in global capitalism, and the adoption of industrial strategies by other major economies, the new EU industrial policy seeks to onshore manufacturing capacity in sectors of geoeconomic importance, and simultaneously reduce dependencies on global value chains. Drawing on a historical materialist perspective, this article historizes and contextualises the financing strategies adopted within EU industrial policy. Faced with tight budgetary constraints, and deficit spending not being an option at the EU level, unlocking private investment takes centre stage, such as by tapping into capital markets or using member state aid or EU structural funds as a precursor, as well as by incentivising private investments through risk-absorbing financial instruments that rely on the EU budgetary resources. As will be shown, the EU has been experimenting with such risk-absorbing financial gimmicks for industrial policy purposes since the 1990s; yet, their usage has reached unprecedented levels with the heightened geoeconomic tensions since the 2008 and Covid-19 crises. The article demonstrates moreover that organised factions within financial and industrial capital have actively advocated for public safeguards, and that their deployment thus is not merely a functionalist response to shifting power dynamics or a desperate last resort in the absence of a supranational fiscal policy.

The Abnormal Stock Return Before And After Stock Split

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether there is a significant abnormal return before and after the stock split event and whether there is a difference in abnormal return before and after the stock split event. The analysis method used in this research is the paired sample t-test method. The population in this study were all companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during the 2017-2022 period. The samples used in this study were 32 companies. The results of the paired sample t-test test obtained a significant value of 0.958 which means above 0.05. So the results of the paired sample t-test test of the difference in abnormal stock returns before and after the stock split event found that there was no difference in abnormal stock returns before and after the stock split event even though in that period there was a period of covid-19 crisis did not affect the abnormal stock returns of companies that had done a stock split.

MOTIVATION FOR STUDENTS LEARNING ENGLISH ON DIGITAL MEDIA DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AT EIGHT GRADE OF MTs MUHAMMADIYAH 3 MASARAN

The objectives of this research were followed: 1) Implementation digital media forstudents’ eight grade to learn English at MTs Muhammadiyah 3 Masaran and 2) motivatethe students’ eight grade to learn English using digital media at MTs Muhammadiyah 3Masaran. The research used descriptive qualitative which conducted in OctoberNovember 2021, The subject of the research was the students of especially 8A with 22students at MTs Muhammadiyah 3 Masaran in 2020/2021 academic year. The researcherused observation, interview and questionnaie with teacher and students’ to collect thedata. The researcher used data triangulation to analyze data of observation, interview andquestionnaire the researcher used the table questionnaire and share via whatsapp. Theresults of the research on student learning motivation consisted of intrinsic and extrinsicfactors by knowing the character of students to increased motivation and interested inlearning, giving a positive response to learning English used digital media during theCovid-19 pandemic, could foster students' independent learning attitudes. Teachers andschools could provide good motivation to students in the right way, such as prepared anddesigning teaching materials according to the needs, competencies of students, providingfacilities and infrastructure. So that students are interested in the learning process and canmotivate themselves to be active in learning English, especially by using digital media.Keywords: Motivation, Learning English, Digital Media

Data on selfـــefficacy and its sources during the COVID-19 crisis: A Saudi auditor’s perspective

Background Auditors during COVID-19 experienced an unprecedented situation where normal audit activities became difficult to conduct. Moreover, COVID-19 forced auditors to introduce a new audit approach, “remote auditing,” which was not common in most audit firms and required the adoption of more advanced technologies. Overall, auditors during COVID-19 needed both cognitive and technical factors to deliver high-quality audits. Despite the challenges, research into how auditors dealt with these issues is limited, presenting an intriguing area of study. Methods This dataset provides insights into the Saudi auditor’s experience and beliefs regarding audit activities during COVID-19. Through an online survey, researchers collected data from 193 out of 417 registered auditors with the Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA). The survey assessed the auditors’ self-efficacy in conducting audits during the pandemic, exploring its sources and potential moderating factors. Specifically, the dataset includes responses on eight items related to self-efficacy, 19 items covering the four common sources of self-efficacy (mastery experience, vicarious experience, social persuasion, and physiological/emotional states), and six items assessing virtual audit competency. Additionally, the dataset contains demographic information valuable for researchers analysing the relationship between auditor self-efficacy, its sources, and other influencing factors. Conclusions Overall, the dataset included in this article may serve a broader audience and be useful in improving several stakeholders’ understanding of the effects of COVID-19 on auditors and how auditors assess their ability to adapt to the COVID-19 consequences. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the need for auditors to adapt to new circumstances and adopt innovative approaches during challenging times, thereby ensuring the delivery of high-quality audits.

The Learnings from Archimedes on the leverage of medical research funding in the post-Corona era

The Corona pandemic has increased pre-existing financial pressure on universities further. Universities will face closure as a realistic scenario in the future, and need to compete for research success. Medical faculties are at a particular risk of being the subject of cost-cutting measures. In this challenging environment, using the concept of financial leverage is key for maximising financial possibilities.

The Rise of Gaming Nations

The article illuminates a paradigm shift in the digital landscape, where blockchain technology, Web 3.0, and gaming communities converge to redefine socio-economic dynamics. By examining the emergence of “Gaming Nations,” this article explores how virtual environments have transcended mere leisure, evolving into thriving economic ecosystems. Through case studies, including the transformative impact of Yield Guild Games during the COVID-19 crisis, the article demonstrates how guilds, traditionally formed for gameplay, are becoming veritable businesses. The integration of blockchain assets, particularly Non-Fungible Tokens, as essential elements of gameplay, blurs the boundaries between digital recreation and traditional economic activities. By envisioning a future where digital homes hold equivalent significance to physical residences, the article provokes contemplation on the changing landscape of human interaction and productivity. This comprehensive analysis offers a forward-looking perspective on the potential socio-cultural and economic impacts of this burgeoning phenomenon at the intersection of gaming, blockchain, and Web 3.0 technologies.

A Pragmatic study of Persuasive Strategies in Selected Speeches of WHO Director-General during the Covid-19 Crisis

A Pragmatic study of Persuasive Strategies in Selected Speeches of WHO Director-General during the Covid-19 Crisis

An empirical analysis of asset misappropriation fraud during the COVID-19 crisis

The objective of this paper is to examine asset misappropriation fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study examines the impact of four elements of fraud risk factors and Islamic religiosity on the propensity for fraud among employees who manage assets in government organizations. Data collection involved a questionnaire distributed to 210 employees responsible for asset management within the government organization in Indonesia. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized as a statistical method. The test results show that the theoretical model is supported by empirical data. The study revealed that pressure, opportunity, rationalization, and capability positively influence asset misappropriation with a coefficient of 0.250, 0.134, 0.211, and 0.288, respectively. These results indicate that the higher the four fraud risks, the higher the possibility of asset misappropriation in the organization. On the other hand, Islamic religiosity exhibits a negative association with asset misappropriation with a coefficient of –0.113. These results indicate that religiosity plays an important role as a preventive factor in reducing the occurrence of asset misappropriation by employees. This study contributes to limited literature exploring factors influencing occupational fraud, specifically asset misappropriation during the COVID-19 crisis. The study recommends managerial strategies to mitigate asset misappropriation within the framework of the fraud diamond model.

To Leave or Stay During the COVID-19 Crisis: Exploring the Impacts of CSR Motives on Employee Distrust and Turnover Intentions

ABSTRACT In response to the increasing prominence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study investigates the interplay between employees’ perceived CSR motives, distrust in their employer, perceived crisis controllability, and turnover intention. Using a structural equation model and data from a survey of 740 U.S. employees, our findings indicate that intrinsic CSR heightens employees’ distrust in their organization, whereas extrinsic CSR reduces it. This distrust intensifies employees’ turnover intentions. Employees’ perceived crisis controllability, a personal risk assessment of the situation, mediates the relationship between employee distrust and turnover intention. The theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

Exploring interconnections and risk evaluation of green equities and bonds: fresh perspectives from TVP-VAR model and wavelet-based VaR analysis

PurposeThis study attempts to examine the time-varying volatility spillovers between environmentally sustainable assets and quantify the value-at-risk of the portfolios across various frequencies.Design/methodology/approachTo accomplish these objectives, this paper utilizes a connectedness index-based TVP-VAR model and applies the wavelet-based VaR ratio to daily data spanning from January 2018 to September 2023.FindingsThe empirical findings reveal a notable increase in the connectedness index between green stocks and green bonds during the COVID-19 crisis, signifying evidence of a contagion effect. The portfolio’s risk ratio also exhibited a sharp rise amid the pandemic, particularly over medium and long-term horizons, driven by increased spillover among green assets. Notably, our analysis indicates that green bonds influence the connectedness system between green stocks and the value-at-risk ratio, reducing volatility spillover and portfolio risk ratios across various investment horizons. These results highlight the role of green bonds as an effective diversification asset against the risks associated with green equities.Originality/valueThis research investigates the dynamic connectedness and value-at-risk ratio between eight green sectoral renewable energy and non-energy equities and green bonds. We put forward some portfolio implications for green investors with an environmental consciousness who desire to decarbonize their portfolios and mitigate environmental issues.

COVID Street Cafés: Assessing Policy Windows in Five North American Cities

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Cities experimented with street design to address health and economic impacts of the COVID pandemic between 2020 and 2023. Scholars have suggested that COVID represented a window of opportunity to transform aspects of urban planning, but the degree to which emergency interventions portend longer-term changes requires study. This study focused on street cafés as one of the more significant COVID-era street transformations. Street cafés are allocations of space in the cartway for outdoor dining. They introduce a social use to street space while increasing the complexity of managing street space. To assess the idea that the COVID crisis was a window of opportunity, we conducted a comparative case study of COVID street café programs in five North American cities. We drew on 16 interviews and analysis of policy documents to examine how street café programs were implemented, how they adapted existing policy and institutions, and whether their implementation represented a policy punctuation. Despite common objectives, implementing COVID street café programs played out differently in each case city. Urban form, existing policy, administration of emergency programs, and café design and experimentation all affected outcomes. These COVID-era programs led to one city initiating a new street café program; in two other cities, they accelerated implementation of recent policy initiatives, and the experience in the final two cities was ambiguous. Takeaway for practice: This research highlights the importance of recently adopted street policy in shaping emergency response. Although installation of COVID street cafés was widespread, planners will have to renegotiate emergency actions taken to lessen regulatory, administrative, and financial hurdles to café implementation to sustain viable street café programs in the long run.

School-Home Crisis Communication During the First Wave of COVID-19

ABSTRACT In early 2020, UNESCO acknowledged that the scale of educational disruption associated with COVID-19 was unparalleled. Schools were forced to react swiftly. However, while remote learning has received considerable attention, less is understood of how educational leaders communicated during the COVID crisis. The study of school leaders’ initial crisis communications in response to government-mandated school closures is thus warranted. Accordingly, this study analyses a cross-section of seventeen Australian schools for the period late February through early April 2020 (i.e. term 1), with a focus on the emergency stage of schools’ crisis response, rather than the later remote learning continuity planning phase. A mixed-method research approach was adopted. Phase one involved quantitative content analysis of e-mail frequency, words per-sentence, readability (as measured by Flesch), and grade-level communication pitched at (as measured by Flesch-Kinkaid). Surprisingly, parents required university education to effectively comprehend the e-mails. Phase two confirmed that schools performed well in the first four of Smith & Riley’s (2012) five-step school crisis response model (getting the facts, implementing contingency plans, being decisive, showing concern), but were less effective at facilitating two-way communication. An additional (sixth) insight emerged in the form of school community.

IS THIS (TELE)WORKING? A path model analysis of the relationship between telework, job demands and job resources, and sustainable employability.

Technological advancements and the COVID-19 crisis have accelerated the adoption of telework, impacting employees' work dynamics. Moreover, an aging workforce emphasises the need for sustainable employability. With reference to the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model, this study explores how telework relates to job demands and job resources and, subsequently, to sustainable employability. The present study investigates the repercussions of increased telework on employees' sustainable employability. Hypotheses posit direct and indirect (i.e., mediated) relationships, providing insights for evidence-based telework policies. Data from 552 government employees was collected through an online survey. Data collection occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic when widespread teleworking was prevalent. A path model was employed to analyse associations between telework, job demands (specifically work pressure), job resources (social support, workplace communication, and role clarity), and sustainable employability dimensions, including vitality, work ability, and employability. Our path model reveals that heightened telework was associated with elevated work pressure and diminished role clarity. Surprisingly, a positive association emerges between work pressure and sustainable employability. Notably, no significant relationship is found between telework, social support, and workplace communication. Role clarity is likely to be pivotal, positively influencing vitality and employability. This study provides valuable insights into the effects of telework on job demands, resources, and sustainable employability. The unexpected positive association between work pressure and sustainable employability challenges conventional stressor paradigms. The relationships between telework, job demands, job resources, and sustainable employability uncovered in this study can contribute to evidence-based teleworking policies and strategies that support employee health and employability amidst evolving work structures.

Physician-Led Synchronous Telemedicine Compared to Face-To-Face Care in Primary Care: A Systematic Review.

The COVID-19 crisis rapidly introduced telemedicine as the predominate modality to deliver healthcare however this change has not received attention in primary care settings and the health-related impacts are unknown. The study's objective was to explore the effects of physician-led synchronous telemedicine compared to face-to-face care delivered in the primary care setting on healthcare system use and attributes of primary care as reported in recent studies. We performed a comprehensive literature search in five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycInfo) and critical appraisal using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Of 6,247 studies identified, 157 studies underwent full text review, and 19 studies were included. Most studies were conducted in the U.S. (78.9%) and used video and telephone telemedicine (57.9%). An outcome-based qualitative description and narrative synthesis showed similar or fewer emergency department visits, hospital visits, and prescribing, and fewer diagnostic tests and imaging for telemedicine visits compared to face-to-face care. Our systematic review fills a gap in the literature on telemedicine in primary care settings however our results need to be interpreted cautiously given studies' susceptibility to selection bias, confounding, and limited applicability to other health systems and time periods.

Exit routes, investor type, and the Covid-19 crisis: Insights from UK equity-funded companies

Using a sample of UK equity funded companies, we examine differences in the exit strategy of companies funded by distinct investor types and operating in various technology intensive sectors during a period of crisis. Our results corroborate the hypothesis that investor involvement through oversight and imparting expertise augments the likelihood of favourable outcomes. This is particularly evident in high technology sectors. We observe increased exit activity amidst the crisis and notable disparities, contingent upon investor type, concerning chosen exit pathways.

The impact of digitalization on promoting business during crisis: evidence from Armenian SMEs

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the factors that affect the attitudes of Armenian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) regarding digitalization, examining whether they view it as a tool to foster innovation and business growth, while also assessing the extent to which digitalization mitigated the negative impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. Design/methodology/approach The empirical approach is based on data collected from 452 Armenian SMEs, which were further analyzed using SPSS Statistics 23.0 software. Scales for assessing the COVID-19 impact, innovation and digitalization were constructed and validated. To test five hypotheses, binomial logistic regression was conducted to appraise the importance of digitalization for Armenian SMEs, including the ability to mitigate the consequences of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Findings The results of the analysis showed that the economic sector plays a significant role in forming the expectations of firms on the positive impact of digitalization, while the company size does not affect them. This paper found that the provision of online services before the pandemic did not help Armenian SMEs to be less affected by the crisis. Furthermore, the perception of whether digitalization facilitated innovative processes, products and services did not depend on the degree of being affected by COVID-19. Finally, the findings indicate that the more agile companies which had the ability to convert their business model into an e-business model were less affected by the crisis. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature by studying the effect of digitalization on SMEs, as well as how SMEs in small developing countries like Armenia mitigated the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current work is unique as, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no prior empirical studies focusing on impact of digitalization and innovation induced by exogenous shocks in an under-researched country like Armenia.

Misreporting in the Norwegian business cash support scheme

We analyze the reporting response to an ambitiously targeted government support scheme for Norwegian businesses at the very start of the Coronavirus crisis in 2020. Our empirical design is based on cross-checking self-reported data in the applications for support with administratively reported data used for VAT. We find strong evidence that strategic misreporting was present but conclude that its remaining quantitative extent after enforcement actions already taken by the tax authorities was relatively small. Firms tend to misreport 4% more often than expected, and the actual support paid out was 5% higher than it should have been. We discuss possible reasons for the relatively limited extent of non-compliance and more general lessons for the design of transfer programs.