Financial Infrastructure Research Articles

EVALUATING RESOURCE ALLOCATION MANAGEMENT TO HOSPITALS IN BAUCHI STATE: A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE AZARE AND PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CENTRE AZARE

Background: This study evaluates resource allocation management in hospitals in Bauchi State, focusing on Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Azare and Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) Azare. The research addresses significant disparities in resource allocation that affect healthcare service delivery and patient outcomes. Methods: Using a mixed-method approach, the study combines quantitative data analysis of financial records, resource allocation reports, and healthcare service delivery metrics with qualitative insights from interviews and focus group discussions. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was utilized to measure the relative efficiency of the hospitals in converting inputs such as financial resources, staff, and infrastructure into healthcare services and outputs. Additionally, descriptive analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 27 to analyze 100 questionnaire responses and demographic data. Results: The findings reveal significant disparities between FMC Azare and PHC Azare, with FMC Azare benefiting from more adequate financial resources, human resources, medical supplies, and infrastructure. These disparities lead to differences in patient satisfaction, service delivery efficiency, patient outcomes, and waiting times. Conclusions: The study underscores the need for more equitable resource allocation to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes at under-resourced centers like PHC Azare. Recommendations for policy interventions include addressing resource allocation inequities, staffing solutions, supply chain improvements, and infrastructure development. These recommendations aim to enhance resource allocation management, thereby improving healthcare services in Bauchi State and providing insights applicable to similar contexts in Nigeria, Africa, and globally. KEYWORDS: Resource Allocation Management, Healthcare Delivery, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Federal Medical Centre, Primary Healthcare Centre.

Blockchain and Smart Cities for Inclusive and Sustainable Communities: A Bibliometric and Systematic Literature Review

Smart cities are urban areas that leverage technological solutions to enhance traditional network management and efficiency to benefit residents and businesses. Based on the Scientific Procedures and Rationales for Systematic Literature Reviews (SPAR-4-SLR) protocol, this study presents a systematic literature review aimed at analyzing the existing literature on smart cities research. The literature review specifically focuses on the impact of blockchain technology on the urban environment and its potential to contribute to the development of inclusive and sustainable communities, including financial systems and infrastructures with similar characteristics to serve these societies. The findings reveal a lack of studies on the practical applications of distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), particularly blockchain, that specifically focus on the urban context capable of developing the (financial) ecosystem of smart cities. To address this gap, a future research agenda is proposed, highlighting several research questions that could guide academics and practitioners interested in exploring the development of smart city systems, with particular attention on the financial framework.

Occupational Disease in New York State: The Political Economic Context.

In 1987 Landrigan and Markowitz co-authored a report entitled "Occupational Disease in New York State." They found that death and illness from occupational disease were common and that the costs of exposure to hazardous conditions warranted public funding for new occupational health infrastructure in New York State. A recent confirmatory report recognized a wider spectrum of contemporary hazards and emphasized how public health problems connect to work. These reports provide factual snapshots at 2 points in time, but they do not explain nor analyze the changing conditions they describe. Including macro-contexts such as globalization, financialization, and neoliberalism, this article demonstrates several unique occupational safety and health implications by clarifying key themes related to the state's role, especially regulation and healthcare delivery systems. Conclusions directly tie the trajectory of occupational disease to workers' collective ability to confront and roll back neoliberalism while pushing occupational disease out of its medical/science silo.

Application of data mining technique for customer purchase behavior via Extended RFM model with focus on BCG matrix from a data set of online retailing

This study explores the integration of data mining, customer relationship management (CRM), and strategic management to enhance the understanding of customer behavior and drive revenue growth. The main goal is the use of application of data mining techniques in customer analytics, focusing on the Extended RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary Value and count day) model within the context of online retailing. The Extended RFM model enhances traditional RFM analysis by incorporating customer demographics and psychographics to segment customers more effectively based on their purchasing patterns. The study further investigates the integration of the BCG (Boston Consulting Group) matrix with the Extended RFM model to provide a strategic view of customer purchase behavior in product portfolio management. By analyzing online retail customer data, this research identifies distinct customer segments and their preferences, which can inform targeted marketing strategies and personalized customer experiences. The integration of the BCG matrix allows for a nuanced understanding of which segments are inclined to purchase from different categories such as “stars” or “cash cows,” enabling businesses to align marketing efforts with customer tendencies. The findings suggest that leveraging the Extended RFM model in conjunction with the BCG matrix can lead to increased customer satisfaction, loyalty, and informed decision-making for product development and resource allocation, thereby driving growth in the competitive online retail sector. The findings are expected to contribute to the field of Infrastructure Finance by providing actionable insights for firms to refine their strategic policies in CRM.

The nexus among digital financial inclusion, monetary policy transmission, and economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper aims to examine the complex relationship between digital financial inclusion, monetary policy transmission, and economic development in 18 Sub-Saharan African countries from 2004 to 2021. The study utilizes panel data and employs a digital financial inclusion index, broad money growth, and real gross domestic product per capita as proxies for digital financial inclusion, monetary policy transmission, and economic development, respectively. The panel autoregressive distributed lag model results uncover a bi-directional causality between economic development and digital financial inclusion, emphasizing the pivotal role of digital financial inclusion in fostering economic development. Additionally, another bi-directional causality between digital financial inclusion and monetary policy transmission highlights their interdependence. Unidirectional causality from monetary policy transmission to economic development is also established. This study emphasizes the crucial role of robust measures in enhancing digital financial inclusion to avert adverse consequences, offers nuanced insights into policy dynamics, particularly regarding inflation mitigation, and enhances monetary policy effectiveness. These findings underscore the importance of policy reform, legislation, and regulatory improvements to promote digital financial inclusion by Sub-Saharan African central banks. Strengthening rural financial infrastructure is crucial for driving digital financial inclusion, sustainable economic development, and reducing regional inequalities.

Quantum AI for cybersecurity in financial supply chains: Enhancing cryptography using random security generators

Securing the financial supply chains of the United States against sophisticated cyber threats is crucial in the digital age. This research integrates Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance cybersecurity in financial supply chains. QRNGs leverage quantum mechanics to generate truly random numbers, essential for creating secure cryptographic keys, addressing the vulnerabilities of traditional deterministic RNGs. Our results demonstrate the superior performance of the QRNG-based system compared to classical RNG systems. The QRNG showed high entropy and unpredictability, passing NIST SP800-22 and Diehard tests with significantly higher rates. The AI component achieved high precision and recall in detecting cyber threats, enhancing the system's real-time security capabilities. The combined QRNG and AI system exhibited faster encryption and decryption speeds, lower latency, and higher resistance to predictive, quantum, and brute-force attacks. This research underscores the critical importance of adopting QRNGs and AI to secure financial supply chains. The integrated system offers robust cryptographic protection and real-time threat detection, providing a comprehensive solution to mitigate cyber threats. These findings highlight the potential of QRNG and AI technologies to revolutionize cybersecurity in the financial sector, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of financial transactions and protecting critical financial infrastructure.

Any alternative to the Wall Street Consensus? Comparing the infrastructure financing models of the US, the EU, and China

ABSTRACT Global South countries (excluding China) need USD 40 trillion in infrastructure finance by 2035. Most of this must be sourced externally. The US’s Partnership on Global Infrastructure and Investment, the EU’s Global Gateway, and China’s Belt and Road Initiative all aim to provide parts of this capital. Conceptualising the state-capital relation of the US’s approach, the ‘Wall Street Consensus’ appoints host countries to catalyse private capital by de-risking infrastructure projects. Here, I conduct a comparative study of the state-capital relationships within the financing models of the three initiatives, drawing from 123 interviews conducted across the global North and South, official documents, and existing literature on infrastructure finance. I find that while the three models assign different roles to host countries, they all entail a heavy financial risk burden. Highlighting differences between initiatives, I conceptualise the US‘s model as ‘host country de-risking’, the EU’s as ‘ODA bargained de-risking’, and China’s as ‘state-organised risk-sharing’. Positioned between these models, I find that global South countries face a dilemma between the need for a ‘green state’ approach to drive infrastructure development and pressure for a limited risk-carrying state role imposed by the three models.

Importance of artificial intelligence in achieving sustainable development goals through financial inclusion

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence on the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and financial inclusion to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs), an agenda set by United Nations for 2030. Financial inclusion is an enabler of 8 of the 17 SDGs. This paper emphasizes the introduction of AI in the financial sector, which is indispensable for achieving financial inclusion and plays a crucial role in the achievement of SDGs. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts qualitative research methodology to highlight the significance of AI in achieving high levels of financial inclusion in an economy. Both narrative and comparative approaches are used to provide empirical evidence for reaching the UN SDGs target through AI-assisted financial inclusion. Findings AI implementation in finance enables people to take part in the formal financial sector and thus, enhances economic growth and reduces poverty. Research limitations/implications This research is limited in its data. Only five top AI applications are chosen and comparison is made between two countries only. Future research should consider it as an established concept and include more data to strengthen the evidence. Practical implications The results of this paper will help policymakers convince governments and institutions to put their efforts toward AI implementation in financial infrastructure of countries. Originality/value This research is unique in providing real-life examples and cases demonstrating the significance of AI implementation in the financial sector. Recent literature lacks evidence on the relationship of AI, financial inclusion and SDGs. This study adds to the existing literature by compiling data on top AI applications and comparing the performance of countries in achieving financial inclusion with the help of AI.

Fintech's impact on conventional and Islamic sustainable equities: Short- and long-term contributions of the digital financial ecosystem

This study investigates the integration of cutting-edge financial technologies, such as distributed ledger diversity, next-generation payment trackers, democratized banking, and cryptocurrency, and their impact on global sustainability and ethical ratings in Islamic markets. Our analysis spans the period from May 31, 2018, to May 10, 2023, and uses a novel analytical framework based on quantile time–frequency connectedness and causality analysis. Results showed that democratized banking, future payment opportunities, and sustainability-screened markets had stronger associations than distributed ledger technologies and crypto-based tokenization. Second, Islamic sustainable markets have slightly closer ties to the digital financial ecosystem than traditional responsible investments. Third, causality analysis revealed bidirectional relationships between sustainable markets and democratized banking and potential payment opportunities in the short to mid-term. Fourth, in the short term, there was unidirectional causality from conscious markets to investments in digitized currencies and blockchains; however, no long-term causality between the digital financial ecosystem and sustainability investments. Fifth, the diversity of distributed ledgers had a limited relationship with green investments, whereas advanced transaction monitoring platforms and inclusive financial infrastructure could serve as catalysts for nature-based portfolios. These findings inform policymakers in green finance and provide insights for digital financial network strategists, investors, and regulators, enabling sustainable interdisciplinary investment practices. This comprehensive examination sheds light on the evolving landscape of sustainable finance in the context of rapidly advancing financial technologies, paving the way for informed decision-making and strategic planning in the field of green investments.

Challenges and Opportunities in Access to Essential Medicines in Rural Uganda

Access to essential medicines in rural Uganda is hindered by multifaceted challenges related to infrastructure, logistics, regulatory frameworks, and financial constraints. Poor road networks and inadequate transportation systems delay the delivery of medicines, while storage and supply chain management issues compromise medication quality and availability. Human resource shortages further impede distribution efforts, alongside financial limitations that affect procurement and sustainability. Regulatory reforms aimed at enhancing pharmacy practice have improved standards but pose implementation challenges. This review article employed a comprehensive literature review and analysis of existing research, policy documents, and case studies related to access to essential medicines in rural Uganda. Despite these obstacles, opportunities such as community-based interventions, technological innovations like mHealth, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) offer promising avenues to address these barriers. Strategic investments in infrastructure, regulatory compliance, and sustainable funding are crucial to improving access to essential medicines and healthcare outcomes in rural Uganda. Keywords: Essential Medicines Access, Rural Healthcare Challenges, Pharmacy Regulation Uganda, Medication Distribution Logistics, Public-Private Partnerships Healthcare

Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of a national research strategy for paramedicine in Ireland: Findings from a focus group study

Background Paramedicine research and education has progressed significantly over the past two decades in Ireland. The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council recently commissioned a research team to develop a new National Research Strategy for Irish paramedicine. The strategy will serve to build research capacity and establish research priorities into the future. This study aims to explore the perspectives of diverse stakeholders to identify barriers and facilitators to the implementation of a national research strategy for paramedicine in Ireland. Methods The research employed an action research approach. Purposeful and snowball sampling was used to identify and recruit participants (n=37) from diverse stakeholders and knowledge users working in the out-of-hospital setting. Data collection took the form of focus groups (n=6) facilitated by experienced researchers. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim using Otter AI and thematic analysis was performed in NVivo. Results Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the research strategy exist at individual and system levels. The themes developed from the Focus Groups included; Challenges in the Research Landscape and Opportunities to Build a Research Ecosystem. Individual barriers included Experience and Skills, Time and Wellbeing. At system level, Operational, Educational, and Professional barriers were identified in addition to an undeveloped Research Infrastructure (Leadership, Support, Funding and Data Access). Individual facilitators included; Professional Identity, Evolving Roles and Protected Time. At system level, Collaboration, Knowledge Translation, Educational facilitators and Professional facilitators, in combination with a strong Research Infrastructure were considered important for successful implementation of the Research Strategy. Conclusions The findings are congruent with international studies and highlight the complexity of implementing a national research strategy aligned with the needs of diverse stakeholders in the out-of-hospital setting. Collaboration will be essential for successful strategy implementation. To ensure optimal effectiveness of the research strategy the development of an implementation plan is recommended.

Digital Finance, Research and Development Investment, and Corporate Green Technology Innovation

The development of digital finance is anticipated to alleviate the dilemma of corporate green technology innovation. This study selects manufacturing enterprises that are publicly listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges as well as the Growth Enterprise Market in China, as research samples, of which the data spans from 2011 to 2020. An empirical research using a matched dataset of this period demonstrates that the growth of digital finance has a significantly positive impact on the promotion of green technology innovation in Chinese manufacturing companies. This result remains valid even after conducting rigorous testing to ensure its reliability and taking into account the potential influence of endogeneity. Moreover, this promoting effect exhibits heterogeneity due to differences in enterprise size and property rights. In the future, governments, financial institutions, and enterprises should collaborate to promote the improvement of digital finance infrastructure, bolster policies and financial support for enterprise green technology research and development (R&D) investment, and effectively foster the improvement of corporate green technology innovation capabilities.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES BY PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLE OPERATORS IN KENYA

This research investigates the factors influencing the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) among public service vehicle operators in Kenya. The study employs a descriptive survey design, encompassing 212 public vehicle operators in the country. The primary objectives include assessing the impact of cost, infrastructure development, knowledge, and social-cultural factors on the adoption of EVs by public service vehicle operators in Kenya. The study conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with a selected subset of participants to gain deeper insights into the qualitative aspects of the study. The study reveals that cost, infrastructure development, knowledge, and social-cultural factors collectively influence the adoption landscape. High upfront costs and operational expenses pose significant barriers, emphasizing the need for financial incentives and supportive policies to make EVs more economically viable. Infrastructure development, particularly the establishment of a robust charging network, is crucial to alleviate range anxiety and enhance the practicality of EVs. Knowledge gaps among operators highlight the importance of educational programs and training initiatives to enhance understanding and promote the benefits of electric vehicles. Social-cultural factors, such as attitudes and perceptions, also shape adoption patterns, emphasizing the need for awareness campaigns to address misconceptions. In conclusion, a comprehensive strategy involving financial incentives, infrastructure development, knowledge dissemination, and cultural sensitization is recommended to foster the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in Kenya's public service transportation sector

Effects of tourism on socio‐economic well‐being and its inter‐regional convergence: Evidence from China's 291 cities

AbstractBig socio‐economic well‐being gap is common across countries and regions. This study examines the impact of tourism on socio‐economic well‐being and its convergence from a comprehensive and inter‐regional convergence perspective. Using panel data of 291 cities during the period 2005–2019, we provide the comprehensive evaluation of socio‐economic well‐being at the city scale in China. Considering the dynamic characteristics of socio‐economic well‐being, we therefore estimate the impact using the system generalized method of moments. The result indicates that tourism significantly enhances local socio‐economic well‐being and is found to be robust. We also find the dominance of domestic tourism, the positive moderator effects of general budget expenditure, GDP per capita and urbanization, and a greater driving force in cities with higher socio‐economic well‐being. Since both β‐ and σ‐convergence hold, we confirm the positive effect of tourism on the convergence of inter‐regional socio‐economic well‐being. We emphasize policies support for tourism development in underdeveloped regions through fiscal expenditure, financial transfer payments, intellectual support, urbanization, and infrastructure construction. We suggest incorporating tourism into frameworks such as rural revitalization and regional coordinated development. We also recommend accelerating the expansion of tourism in underdeveloped regions and enhancing the quality of tourism in developed regions as spatial strategies, while emphasizing inter‐regional tourism coordination and cooperation.

The Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on the Effectiveness of Industrial Structure Upgrading: An Empirical Analysis Based on Panel Data from 31 Provinces in China

In the context of the accelerating global digitization process and the increasingly interconnected global economy, China is striving to establish a modern financial system that is innovation-led, data-enabled, and inclusive to all. This study, based on panel data from 31 provinces in China from 2013 to 2022, employs a two-way fixed effects model to delve into the impact of digital inclusive finance on the advancement and rationalization of industrial structure. The findings reveal that: (1) digital inclusive finance has a significant positive effect on the upgrading of industrial structure; (2) innovation investment plays a partial mediating role in this process; (3) there are notable regional differences in the impact of digital inclusive finance on industrial structure upgrading. Therefore, it is recommended that local governments formulate policies based on their respective realities, strengthen financial supervision and technological infrastructure construction, fully tap the potential of digital inclusive finance in promoting industrial structure upgrading, and promote the deep integration of financial resources and technological innovation to achieve continuous optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure.

Taxes and Infrastructure Development: A Review from Various Countries

The purpose of this study is to examine the intricate interplay between taxation policies, infrastructure financing, and economic competitiveness, with a focus on identifying key drivers and challenges in facilitating sustainable infrastructure development. Employing a qualitative literature review approach, the research design involves systematically analyzing a diverse range of scholarly articles, books, and reports related to taxation, infrastructure development, and public-private partnerships (PPPs). Keywords such as "taxation policies," "infrastructure financing," "public-private partnerships," "economic competitiveness," and "sustainable development" are utilized to refine the search and ensure inclusivity. The findings and discussion highlight the pivotal role of taxation policies in mobilizing funds for infrastructure projects, the potential benefits and challenges of PPPs in addressing infrastructure deficits, and the implications of sustainable infrastructure development for long-term economic prosperity. The implications of this study extend to both academia and practice, offering insights for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders involved in infrastructure development. By understanding the mechanisms driving infrastructure investment and governance, policymakers can formulate evidence-based strategies to promote inclusive and sustainable development. Moreover, practitioners can leverage these findings to enhance project planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement in infrastructure projects. Overall, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding taxation, infrastructure development, and PPPs, ultimately informing more effective and sustainable approaches to infrastructure investment and governance.

Exploring Financial Risks in Relation to Performance of MPESA Agents in Rural Areas, Kenya

The growth of mobile banking services, specifically Mpesa, has transformed financial transactions in Kenya, particularly in marginalized and rural regions. Ever since Safaricom introduced Mpesa in 2007, it has enabled various financial transactions like money transfers, bill payments, savings, and loans, becoming vital to Kenya's financial infrastructure. In rural areas, Mpesa shops are at risk of facing financial challenges which can impact their operations and long-term success. This research investigates how liquidity, credit, and operational risks affect the financial performance of Mpesa outlets in rural Kenya. The mismatch between cash coming in and going out results in liquidity risks, which can cause service interruptions and unhappy customers. Credit risks, resulting from borrowers failing to repay loans on time or defaulting, put pressure on cash flow and the stability of finances. Operational risks like technical failures, fraud, and regulatory non-compliance pose additional threats to the functionality and customer trust of the shops. By thoroughly analyzing pertinent literature and empirical data, this research investigates the way in which these risks interplay and impact the economic sustainability of Mpesa shops. The results are intended to guide improved risk management methods and policy suggestions to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of Mpesa agents, guaranteeing ongoing availability of crucial financial services in rural Kenya.

Recent Developments in Indian Central Banking: Flying through Turbulence but Aided by Some Tailwinds

This paper, an extension of our earlier work, presents a narrative of select broad aspects of Indian central banking during the pandemic and thereafter. As elsewhere, Indian monetary policy during the pandemic was characterized by substantial monetary expansion both in terms of rate cuts as well as asset purchase programs. The inflation targeting regime of Indian monetary policy was put to severe stress following the spurt in inflation after the pandemic. Besides, there have been two positive developments in Indian central banking. First, there has been significant improvement in the balance sheets of the Indian banking sector, following the institution of an effective corporate bankruptcy regime, write‐offs of earlier stressed assets, and recapitalization of public sector banks by the government. Second, India has made substantial progress in terms of adopting various facets of its digital financial infrastructure, where public initiatives were accompanied by private sector innovations. The digitalization of payments increased in both quantum and value and has touched the lives of the public through the ease of making daily payments, including the smallest of transactions.

Administrasi Keuangan,Sarana Dan Prasarana Di MIS Al-Musthafawiyah Medan

Financial administration is all activities, from setting up to managing everything, which are carried out to achieve common goals. Administration cannot be done by one person alone, because it requires cooperation between two or more people. In organizing educational facilities and infrastructure at MIS Al-Musthafawiyah, it is carried out through school budget planning and utilization of the school budget. The motive for this research is to find out the role of financial administration, facilities and infrastructure at MIS Al-Musthafawiyah Medan. The results of the research are financial administration, facilities and infrastructure. It is very important in the learning process to have adequate and efficient financial administration, facilities and infrastructure, so students will be more effective in learning.

MODELING PLN INC. CUSTOMER RECEIVABLES BASED ON GEOGRAPHICALLY WEIGHTED REGRESSION APPROACH

PLN Inc. implements a postpaid service that has resulted in many customer receivables issues. Customer receivables disrupt PLN Inc.'s cash flow, requiring the government to inject funds from the state budget. If the state budget experiences a deficit, it can increase the national debt. National debt impacts the achievement of SDG goals, namely sustainable economic growth (SDG 8), reducing inequalities (SDG 10), and financing infrastructure that supports development (SDG 9). The largest receivables occur on the island of Java, where many companies have high electricity consumption, while outside Java, electricity consumption is lower due to the scarcity of companies. This indicates a spatial influence on the size of PLN Inc.'s customer receivables, so this research was conducted using the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) method. The study found that the best weighting was fixed Gaussian with an R² value of 96.94%, which is better than the global regression value of 44.34%.