Nexus between environmental development and agricultural productivity: A study of inclusive sustainable development for Brazil.

This study investigates the cointegrating relationships among financial inclusion, institutional quality, and economic growth in 20 Sub-Saharan African nations from 2008 to 2024. Employing the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimator in an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) panel, the analysis showed a significant and favourable long-term association between economic growth, financial inclusion and institutional quality. In particular, regardless of the proxy for economic growth, the long-term association between financial inclusion and economic growth is positive and statistically significant. Similarly, institutional quality demonstrates a favourable and significant long-run linkage to economic growth, suggesting that improvements in institutional frameworks are related to sustained economic expansion. In contrast, short-run dynamics differs. There is a short-term correlation between institutional quality and economic growth but not between financial inclusion and economic growth. These findings show the importance of institutional quality as a catalyst for economic growth in the region. Consequently, the study recommends that governments in Sub-Saharan Africa should prioritise setting up strong institutions and policies to foster financial inclusion, which has a correlation with sustainable economic growth. This is crucial for both overall economic development and the creation of job opportunities.

Towards inclusive growth and prosperity: Does financial literacy bolster financial inclusion among persons with disabilities (PWDs) in India?

<p class="MsoNormal">The paper seeks to understand the relationships that exist between the standardization of food testing technology and the quality of high economic development within the industry. The relationship is sought through conducting thorough theoretical analysis alongside empirical research of the two subject matters. The study focuses on three new elements employing the use of panel data and multiple regression models to analyze the implementation of different economic outcomes over the period of 2015 till 2023. Beyond economic outcomes, the findings demonstrate that the standardization of food testing technology also serves as a governance mechanism that enhances social welfare, improves institutional trust, and supports equitable participation in the industrial ecosystem. By reducing information asymmetry and reinforcing regulatory credibility, standardization contributes to long-term sector resilience and sustainable social development. Therefore, standardization should be recognized not only as a technical instrument for efficiency improvement but as a foundation for inclusive growth, fair market access, and sustainable industrial governance aligned with SSD objectives.</p>

ABSTRACT European cities are still entrenched in social inequalities, exacerbated by the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and compounding austerity measures, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war. To mitigate inequalities, the European Union (EU) has promoted multilevel governance mechanisms, in particular Community-Led Local Development (CLLD), in order to empower local actors and foster inclusive growth. However, structural barriers continue to obstruct access to EU funds for the most marginalised communities. This article critically examines how urban development policies, shaped by neoliberal logics and the economisation of governance, have come to prioritise market efficiency over democratic participation and social equity. Drawing on qualitative research from seven European cities, we analyse how excessive bureaucracy, short-term project cycles, and the lack of genuine co-production systematically exclude grassroots actors and reinforce inequality. Our findings show that, despite an inclusive discourse, funding frameworks often privilege resource-rich organisations while further marginalising those most in need. We argue that these limitations are not incidental, but symptomatic of deeper governance structures that prioritise rapid, quantifiable outcomes over long-term, transformative social change. The paper calls for a recalibration of EU urban policy: one that centres co-creation, redistributes decision-making power, and meaningfully integrates community voices. Without such a shift, EU Cohesion Policy risks perpetuating the very exclusions it aims to resolve.

The growing pace of digital transformation is reshaping business structures across the European Union. While large enterprises have embraced mainly digital technologies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain unevenly integrated into the digital economy. This paper investigates the extent and nature of digital transformation among SMEs in the EU between 2017 and 2022. The study is motivated by the observed gap in the literature, where quantitative analyses often focus on large firms, overlooking the micro-level dynamics of SME digitalization. Using an indicator-based approach grounded in Eurostat and DESI data, the research evaluates key metrics of digital adoption, including internet access, e-commerce activity, and the use of advanced technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The methodology combines descriptive and comparative analysis to identify trends and disparities in digital maturity across EU member states. The findings reveal that although SMEs have made incremental progress in digital transformation, significant structural barriers persist, particularly related to financing, skills, and access to ICT infrastructure. The results underline the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance SMEs’ participation in the digital economy and to promote inclusive technological growth within the EU.

ABSTRACT: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is crucial for skills development and inclusive growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet gender inequalities in access, participation, and outcomes remain widespread. This paper systematically reviews empirical and review studies published between 2019 and 2025 on women’s participation in TVET within African contexts. Using databases and grey literature explorations, predefined inclusion criteria, and structured data extraction templates, the review examines how institutional arrangements, socio-economic conditions, and cultural norms influence gendered TVET pathways. Thematic and comparative analysis synthesises evidence across countries, disciplines, and TVET subsectors. Results indicate that, despite global progress in girls’ education, African TVET systems often perpetuate gendered divisions of labour and exclude women from high-value technical fields. Barriers include persistent funding shortages, gender-insensitive institutional environments, socio-cultural norms favouring boys’ technical education, weak links to decent work, and intersecting disadvantages related to poverty, disability, rural residence, and informal settlement living conditions. New evidence highlights the importance of self-efficacy, social justice awareness, and perceptions of fairness in shaping women’s TVET ambitions and perseverance, while highlighting the positive impact of targeted advocacy, bursaries, and industry partnerships in reducing financial and informational barriers. Effective practices include gender-responsive pedagogy, safe and supportive learning environments, structured mentorship, community engagement to challenge stereotypes, and localised, gender-responsive policies addressing regional and sectoral disparities. The review concludes that incremental, isolated interventions are unlikely to close gender gaps; instead, multi-level, gender-transformative reforms are necessary to align TVET financing, curricula, governance, and labour-market linkages with Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5. It recommends: (1) integrating gender-responsive budgeting and accountability into TVET systems; (2) expanding gender-transformative institutional practices, including safeguarding and leadership development for women; (3) strengthening pathways from TVET into decent work through inclusive industry partnerships; and (4) investing in rigorous, context-sensitive impact evaluations of gender-focused TVET interventions, especially in under-researched regions and sectors. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is vital for skills development and inclusive growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, but gender inequalities in access, participation, and outcomes still persist. Ongoing gendered divisions of labour and women’s under-representation in high-value technical fields restrict the transformative potential of TVET for advancing gender equality and decent work. Methods This paper systematically reviews empirical and review studies published between 2019 and 2025 on women’s participation in TVET within African contexts. Searches of academic databases and grey literature utilised predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and employed structured data extraction templates. Thematic and comparative analyses were used to synthesise evidence across countries, disciplines, and TVET subsectors, with attention to the institutional arrangements, socio-economic conditions, and cultural norms that shape gendered TVET pathways. Results Findings show that African TVET systems often reinforce gendered occupational segregation and exclude women from high-value technical fields. Barriers include chronic funding shortages, gender-insensitive institutional environments, socio-cultural norms that prioritise boys’ technical education, weak links to decent work, and intersecting disadvantages such as poverty, disability, rural residence, and informal settlement living conditions. Emerging evidence highlights the roles of self-efficacy, social justice awareness, and perceived fairness in shaping women’s TVET aspirations and perseverance. Targeted advocacy, bursaries, and industry partnerships offer promise in reducing financial and informational barriers. Effective practices include gender-responsive pedagogy, safe and supportive learning environments, structured mentorship, community engagement to challenge stereotypes, and locally adapted gender-responsive policies. Conclusions and Recommendations: Incremental, isolated interventions are unlikely to close gender gaps in African TVET. Multi-level, gender-transformative reforms are needed to align TVET financing, curricula, governance, and labour-market linkages with Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5. Priorities include integrating gender-responsive budgeting and accountability into TVET systems, expanding gender-transformative institutional practices (including safeguarding and women’s leadership development), strengthening pathways from TVET into decent work through inclusive industry partnerships, and investing in rigorous, context-sensitive impact evaluations of gender-focused TVET interventions, particularly in under-researched regions and sectors.

This study investigates how farmers' socioeconomic characteristics and sustainability conditions shape agricultural credit allocation, productivity, and credit utilization across farm-size groups in Pakistan. Using survey data from 1,150 farmers and three complementary econometric approaches multiple linear regression (MLR), structural equation modeling (SEM), and propensity score matching (PSM) the analysis reveals that age, education, farming experience, farm size, and income all exert positive and statistically significant effects on the amount of credit received, with farm size emerging as the strongest determinant of loan volume. Sustainable agriculture indicators, particularly the Crop Production Index and irrigated land share, are positively associated with both credit and productivity, indicating that more productive and sustainability-oriented farmers are more likely to secure higher credit and translate it into yield gains. The structural model shows that farm size and income dominate the latent socioeconomic status construct that drives credit access, while the Crop Production Index simultaneously enhances credit allocation and farm productivity, underscoring the central role of sustainability in the credit productivity linkage. Propensity score matching further demonstrates that borrowers attain substantially higher annual farm income than comparable non-borrowers, confirming a robust income-enhancing effect of agricultural credit after controlling for observable selection. A key novel contribution of the study, reflected in the detailed credit-use patterns by farm size, is that smallholders allocate a larger share of credit to core farm inputs, whereas medium and large farmers divert a non-trivial portion of loans toward non-agricultural expenditures, revealing heterogeneous and sometimes inefficient credit utilization. These results support differentiated, farm-size–sensitive credit policies that prioritize concessional, input-tied credit and simplified procedures for smallholders, link lending conditions to sustainability performance, and strengthen monitoring of off-farm diversion among larger farms, thereby aligning agricultural credit policy with inclusive productivity growth and sustainable, SDG-consistent agricultural transformation in Pakistan.

This paper argues that eliminating employment discrimination is a prerequisite for achieving the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Decent Work Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) in Nigeria. Drawing from the ILO’s Decent Work Indicator Framework, the paper explores how entrenched gender bias, weak labour administration and poor policy enforcement undermine fair wages, job security, and social protection, thereby hindering inclusive economic growth. It further highlights the crucial role of trade unions particularly the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and their affiliates in combating inequality through collective bargaining, advocacy, and social dialogue. However, trade unions themselves face internal gender disparities that limit their representative capacity. The paper proposes a coordinated approach involving legal reform, capacity-building, integration of equality clauses into collective agreements, and international solidarity among unions. These strategies are essential to dismantle systemic discrimination, strengthen labour institutions and advance a non-discriminatory, equitable, and productive work environment that upholds the dignity and rights of all Nigerian workers.

This study investigates the extent to which the quality of financial reporting practices among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria affects their access to local currency financing. Despite being key drivers of employment and inclusive economic growth, Nigerian SMEs face persistent challenges in accessing credit largely due to inadequate financial disclosure and accounting practices. Anchored on the pecking order theory and financial intermediation theory, this study adopts a cross-sectional survey design covering the period from 2019 to 2023. The population comprises all registered SMEs operating in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano as listed in the SMEDAN 2023 directory, from which 400 SMEs were randomly selected using stratified sampling techniques to ensure sectorial representation. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires, while interviews were conducted with 20 credit officers from commercial and development finance banks. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Results reveal that compliance with basic accounting standards, maintenance of proper financial records, and external audit assurance significantly enhance SME access to local currency financing. The study recommends simplified reporting templates, mandatory bookkeeping training, and policy incentives to promote financial transparency among SMEs and improve their creditworthiness.

The rapid development of the digital age has transformed education, governance, economics, and social interaction by making online participation a key agent of development. However, the digital age has also witnessed a parallel surge in cybercrimes, specifically targeting women—manifesting as online harassment, cyberstalking, identity theft, financial fraud, sextortion, gendered disinformation and sexual exploitation. These cybercrimes cause psychological, financial, and social harm and act as substantial barriers to women’s participation and empowerment in digital domains, thus impeding their holistic development in society. It intersects with patriarchy, economic inequality, and the digital divide, producing cumulative disadvantages for women. Studies like (Sarma, 2024), (Ahlawat & Sharma, 2024) & (Vaishnav & Dewan, 2024) have shown that the prominent presence of gender-based cybercrime limits women’s access to educational, economic, and other official opportunities online. This withdrawal weakens inclusive growth, slows innovation, and reinforces patriarchal exclusion. According to UN Women (2022), one in three women worldwide has experienced some form of online violence, with younger women and women in public life facing the highest risk. The objectives of the study are to identify the most prevalent forms of cybercrime targeting women in the digital age and evaluate the impact of such cybercrimes on women’s personal, professional, and social development. This study shall be conducted through an online survey targeting 60-80 participants in Kolkata on types of cybercrime experienced, frequency, reporting behaviour, psychological impact, awareness and the impact on their digital participation. Convenience random sampling shall ensure the representativeness of the population’s probability of being a victim of cybercrime. The quantitative data shall be analysed through descriptive graphs. The data shall also be thematically analysed to uncover recurring patterns and socio-cultural factors. This research will contribute to the sociological understanding of how gendered online violence functions as a barrier to inclusive development in the digital age.

This article on the role of leadership in government development status and policies since independence in Nigeria investigates leadership, governance, and provides an overview of key development policies in Nigeria. The paper conceptualised leadership and national development. The paper uses secondary sources of data collection and was analysed. The Finding shows that the nature of the Nigerian state evolved a predatory political class that was concerned with power struggle, consolidation, alignment and realignment in the context of hegemonic control. The political elite is not a productive class, but relies on the control of state structures to access economic rewards. The paper provided a way forward that the political leaders, governance practitioners in both the public and private sectors and other stakeholders need to rededicate themselves by embracing some core ethical values and norms which are essential to nation building, political stability, progress and development. The paper concluded that in the 21st century, Nigeria faces both daunting challenges and transformative opportunities. The emergence of a more informed citizenry, technological innovation, and global partnerships offers new avenues for inclusive growth.

The Role of Digital Transformation in Achieving Inclusive Growth in Egypt during the period ( 2007–2023)

The financial sector in India has been rapidly changing digitally, which has been driven by technological innovation and governmental efforts, in addition to changing consumer behaviour. Artificial intelligence, blockchain, mobile banking and the unified payments interface (UPI) have reconfigured service delivery through streamlining operations, achieving transparency and increasing access to formal finance. As a result, these innovations have strengthened microfinance institutions, enabled MSMEs to engage with the digital economy, and transformed the payment infrastructure in the country. Even then, even with this advance, there is a significant research gap; most studies concentrate on individual factors, such as digital payments, fintech growth, banking reforms or MSME digitisation, but also do not consider how these factors are interconnected. Not many studies question the systemic interaction between these developments or compare the annexation, technology and user capability in the context of long-term financial stability. To address this gap, the current research adapts a qualitative and descriptive approach that will use secondary data as a source of information based on scholarly literature, governmental reports and datasets of the Reserve Bank of India, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and other institutional repositories. The most important indicators, such as the UPI transaction volumes, trends in fraud, the increase in Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts, and the extension of payment systems, were analysed to create a complete portrait of the digital transition in India. The findings indicate that the country has been adopting digital finance robustly, as the number of UPI users is skyrocketing, the use of mobile wallets is becoming more popular and access to credit and investment platforms is being made available through fintech. Still, consistent complications remain, such as spiralling cases of cyber fraud until 2024, a shortage of digital access in rural areas, system imbalances and language barriers in payment systems. A detectable decline in fraud in early 2025 indicates the early success of increased cybersecurity systems and social awareness policies. The digital transformation in India provides significant pressure, but it requires continuous improvements in security, access and infrastructure to ensure well-balanced and inclusive financial growth.

Leveraging Community-Driven Fintech Innovations for Resilience and Inclusive Growth in Emerging Economies: Insights from Kenya

Purpose Rapid digital transformation following COVID-19 has increased the need for immersive tourism technologies. However, most prior studies focus on consumer adoption and overlook post-adoption and experiential factors among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Addressing this gap, the purpose of this study is to integrate the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2), Flow Theory and Expectation-Confirmation Theory (ECT) into a unified Metaverse Adoption Continuance Framework to examine both adoption and continuance of metaverse tourism platforms among SMEs in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 388 SME owners and managers through structured surveys. Using partial least squares structural equation modelling, this study tested the mediating role of user experience and the moderating effects of technology-savviness and familiarity. Findings This study found that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, flow state, perceived enjoyment and presence positively influenced user experience, whereas privacy concerns had a negative effect. User experience significantly affects both behavioral intention and continued usage, which are strong predictors of adoption. Technology-savviness and familiarity moderate these relationships. Additionally, ethical and equity considerations, particularly privacy and digital inclusion, emerged as important contextual factors shaping SMEs’ adoption decisions. Research limitations/implications This study used a cross-sectional design, which limits the ability to see how perceptions and metaverse use change over time. Future research should adopt longitudinal methods to observe such changes. Because the data were self-reported, there is a possibility of bias, so future studies could include actual usage indicators. The focus on Kuala Lumpur tourism SMEs also limits generalization; comparing regions or cultures could improve validity. The Metaverse Adoption and Continuance Framework can be expanded by adding elements such as AI-based personalization and blockchain security. Qualitative studies can further explore emotional, social and ethical aspects of metaverse use. Practical implications This study provides useful insights for tourism SMEs, policymakers and technology developers. Tourism SMEs can enhance user experience by creating simple, engaging and affordable metaverse content such as guided virtual tours and browser-based virtual reality. Collaboration with universities and start-ups can reduce costs and promote innovation. Policymakers can support digital transformation through grants, training and improved broadband access. Ethical practices, including transparent data protection and inclusive design, are vital to build user trust and social equity. Balancing immersive engagement with privacy safeguards ensures sustainable adoption and wider community benefits. Social implications This study highlights the potential of metaverse technologies to enhance digital inclusion and innovation among tourism SMEs, particularly in developing economies. By promoting immersive virtual tourism, SMEs can reach broader and more diverse audiences, including individuals with mobility limitations. The findings of this study emphasize the need for digital literacy and privacy awareness to encourage socially responsible technology adoption. Moreover, supporting SMEs in this digital transition can generate employment opportunities in VR content development, digital training and related services, contributing to inclusive economic growth and stronger community resilience in the post-pandemic tourism landscape. Originality/value This study refines existing hybrid adoption continuance models by benchmarking against prior frameworks and contextualizing them for Malaysian tourism SMEs. This study contributes theoretically by integrating experiential and post-adoption constructs and practically by offering actionable insights into SME digital readiness, ethical data governance and sustainable metaverse implementation.

Purpose This study investigates the relationship between informal employment (IE) and economic growth (EG) across countries at different stages of development. Specifically, it examines whether IE promotes or constrains EG, and whether institutional factors such as economic freedom (EF) and government expenditure (GE) moderate this relationship. Design/methodology/approach The study employs a balanced panel dataset of 161 countries from 2011 to 2019. Long-run econometric estimators including fixed effects, fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares are applied to address endogeneity, serial correlation and unobserved heterogeneity. IE is treated as the key independent variable, while per capita income, GE, EF and unemployment are included as control variables. A quadratic specification is incorporated to capture non-linear threshold effects. Findings The results confirm a statistically significant inverted U-shaped relationship between informality and EG. Moderate levels of IE initially support growth, but excessive informality inhibits gross domestic product (GDP) per capita growth. EF and GE exert significant positive effects on growth. Unemployment exhibits an indirect short-run positive effect by pushing workers into informal activities that sustain consumption and productivity. The positive growth effect of informality is strongest in emerging economies and weakest in high-income countries. Research limitations/implications This study reinforces the need to incorporate IE into mainstream economic development models rather than treating it as a residual labour category. The findings confirm that the relationship between informality and growth is non-linear and income-dependent, suggesting that future research should examine threshold levels of informality across different institutional settings and sectors. The results also highlight the importance of accounting for unpaid and informal work in national accounts, labour-market modelling, and development theory. Scholars may further extend this research by exploring how digitalisation, automation, and financial inclusion influence the transition from informal to formal employment. Practical implications The results show that the informal sector (IS) is a major source of jobs and economic stability, especially in emerging economies. Policies should not try to remove informality suddenly but should improve working conditions and support a gradual shift toward formality. Measures such as skills development, entrepreneurship support, financial inclusion, and digital access can increase income and productivity. Policy design should differ across income groups and sectors because the impact of informality on growth is not uniform. Social implications The IS plays a central role in reducing poverty by offering work to low income and vulnerable groups. Expanding access to microfinance, social protection, and skill building can improve income security and reduce inequality. Supporting informal workers can contribute to more inclusive growth where formal jobs are limited. Originality/value This study is one of the few that analyses the nonlinear link between IE and EG across many countries while combining dual sector theory, the Kuznets curve, and institutional perspectives. It offers evidence for designing development policies that support inclusive and sustainable growth.

This study investigates the effects of basic infrastructure, educational infrastructure, and the Human Development Index (HDI) on district and municipal economic growth in West Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The analysis encompasses road infrastructure, access to clean water, electricity, telecommunications, and educational participation from primary to senior secondary levels, with HDI serving as a proxy for human capital. Panel data covering 19 districts and municipalities over the period 2015–2024 are employed, obtained from Statistics Indonesia. To control for endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity, and growth dynamics, the model is estimated using the two-step dynamic panel System Generalized Method of Moments (System GMM). The findings reveal strong growth persistence, indicating that current regional economic performance is significantly shaped by past outcomes. Primary and senior secondary educational infrastructure, together with HDI, exert positive and statistically significant effects on economic growth. Conversely, water infrastructure shows a negative and significant association, while road infrastructure displays a negative but insignificant relationship. Electricity, telecommunications, and junior secondary education infrastructure present positive yet statistically insignificant effects. These results suggest that infrastructure expansion alone is insufficient to stimulate economic growth; its effectiveness critically depends on service quality, utilization efficiency, and complementarities with human capital. This study contributes empirical evidence on heterogeneous infrastructure effects in subnational dynamic panel settings and underscores the importance of integrating infrastructure quality improvements with human capital development to achieve sustainable and inclusive regional growth.

Community-based tourism (CBT) is widely promoted as a route to inclusive growth and conservation in emerging economies, yet outcomes vary because the communities’ ability to create, scale, and sustain CBT enterprises depends on the surrounding entrepreneurial ecosystem. Building on entrepreneurial ecosystem theory and grand challenges scholarship, this article reframes CBT as a place-based entrepreneurial ecosystem that mobilizes local and external actors, resources, and institutions to advance the United Nations 2030 Agenda. The purpose of the study is to develop and illustrate an SDG-oriented CBT entrepreneurial ecosystem framework and identify the ecosystem mechanisms and boundary conditions associated with SDG contributions. Using a qualitative multiple-case design and structured document analysis of 42 public artifacts (peer-reviewed studies, program evaluations, organizational reports, and organizational webpages), three initiatives were examined: Namibia’s communal conservancies, Chi Phat community-based ecotourism in Cambodia, and Bolivia’s Chalalán Ecolodge. Cross-case synthesis showed that progress on SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)—with complementary contributions to SDGs 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, and 17—emerges when ecosystems combine: (i) enforceable community rights and benefit-sharing rules; (ii) bridging organizations that provide training, finance, market access, and quality assurance; (iii) accountable local governance for transparency and conflict resolution; and (iv) reinvestment mechanisms that fund conservation and community services. The analysis also identified boundary conditions (e.g., elite capture, value leakage, donor dependence, uneven tourism potential, and demand shocks) and specific policy levers (tenure security, adaptive concession policies, blended finance, and impact monitoring) to strengthen CBT ecosystems for SDG delivery.

Beyond access: Digital skills as a new social determinant of health among older adults - evidence from a longitudinal panel study.