Investment Patterns Research Articles

A Comprehensive Study on Investment Analysis in a Changing Global Financial Landscape: Trends, Strategies, and Risk Management (2024)

Investment analysis is pivotal in understanding economic trends, evaluating securities, and determining the risks and returns associated with various investment avenues. This study builds on the foundational work from 2020, focusing on how global factors like technological advancements, the COVID-19 pandemic, and geopolitical conflicts have shaped investor behaviour. By integrating new data on emerging markets, algorithmic trading, and sustainable investments, we aim to provide a more nuanced understanding of current investment patterns. This paper analyses updated data from 2021 to 2024, offering insights for both individual and institutional investors.

Investment Pattern and Behaviour of Rural Households on Investment Avenues with Special Reference to Ernakulam District

Two-thirds (67.63% of the total population) of the people in rural India live there and contribute one-third of the country's GDP1. One of the most significant areas that increases gross domestic savings is the household sector. The main objective of the study is to understand rural household savings and investment behaviour that is influenced by a number of factors including years of age, schooling, financial status, and occupation. According to the study, the majority of respondents have lower earning potential, and even those who did earn more only set aside a little fraction of their income for savings. In India, there are numerous investment opportunities and there are advantages and disadvantages to any investment strategy. Making the best investment decisions will meet the various demands of different people requires having a thorough understanding of these investing options. This paper projects various investment options and the level of household awareness in rural areas areas. The study utilized a meticulously designed questionnaire to explore the investment preferences and awareness levels of rural investors. The primary aim was to gain insights into their preferred investment avenues and their level of understanding regarding various investment options. For data analysis, simple percentages were employed to summarize the findings, and the chi-square test was used to assess relationships between categorical variables. 300 rural households selected as sample size from Ernakulam District through convenience sampling method.

Trilateral Dynamics of India–China–Nepal: Assessing Geo-strategic Relations in South Asia

The strategic importance of South Asia stems from its natural resources and advantageous location. However, in recent years, China and India’s rivalry in the subcontinent has altered the geo-strategic landscape in the region. Though much had been explored in the trilateral dynamics of India–China–Nepal, comparative analyses to empirically assess the relative strength of the relationships have been overlooked. Hence, the current paper examined the dynamics of these three countries by evaluating their ability to uphold their ties. It looked at India’s neighbourhood first policy with a particular focus on Nepal, and it further examined how China uses the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a springboard to utilise it as a geopolitical manoeuvre to offset India’s hegemony in the area. On the empirical front, the paper examined the pattern of investment from China’s BRI in Nepal and contrasted it with China’s overall investment trends in Nepal. The paper argues that although BRI investment in Nepal is increasing, there is a significant decline in the overall investment from China. In contrast, India’s investment in Nepal had an upward trajectory that surpassed China’s investment volume. The paper discussed potential ways to achieve trilateral relations among these three countries by promoting sustained cooperation.

Tertiary education as social policy: Comparative theoretical perspectives

Abstract In this paper, we conduct an in-depth review of and commentary on two frameworks for international comparative work focused on education systems and skill formation – specifically, welfare regime and production regime approaches. We focus on how tertiary education is understood to function relationally within a national policy repertoire and explore the interplay between education and economic systems. Whereas the welfare regime literature illuminates why some regimes are conducive to human capital production and create more equitable educational and labour market opportunities, the production regime literature focuses on the ways that actors such as government, educational institutions, and unions optimise skill formation. These two theoretical perspectives offer both rival and complementary explanations of varying patterns in public investment, differentiation in education systems, and participation rates in tertiary education across countries. Our analytical account provides useful insights for understanding different national education policies and framing future research, including informing these perspectives with the more recent theoretical contributions of the social investment approach. In relation to changing conceptions of the knowledge economy, education, skill development, and the nature of employment, these two theoretical perspectives continue to provide useful conceptual lenses to examine the education/skill /employment nexus.

The nexus between spirituality and personal financial behavior: a study of students with entrepreneurial intentions

PurposeThe current study explores the relation between students' spiritual quotient (SQ) and personal financial planning (PFP). The students with entrepreneurial intentions were considered for the present study.Design/methodology/approachThe students from higher educational institutes with an intention to be entrepreneurs were considered for data collection. Using a well-designed, closed-ended questionnaire, primary data from college and university students was collected. Using quota sampling, a total of 189 responses were gathered, however the responses of students with entrepreneurial intentions (n = 100) were considered for analysis. To investigate the relationship between PFP and SQ, descriptive analysis, Spearman's rank correlation and forecasted trend line were employed.FindingsThe study revealed a significant positive relationship between PFP and SQ. Thus, SQ also has potential to determine individuals' investment behavior. The study suggests that students' spiritual development can determine their PFP and entrepreneurial actions.Practical implicationsThe outcome of the study can be practically used to explore the investment pattern and behavior of youth. The study would further benefit the stakeholders including issuers, developers and consultants involved in the creation and distribution of financial products. The study guides researchers to undertake further research in this domain.Originality/valueThe existing literature on personal financial behavior has lacked in establishing a relationship between spirituality and investment decisions. The present study is novel in substantiating this void. We contribute to the advancement of literature in behavioral finance. This study identifies multifaceted factors that shape investors' behaviors and preferences in finance and proposes the avenues for future research.

Non-trade issues in preferential trade agreements and global value chains

How do labor and environmental provisions (also known as non-trade issues) that are increasingly part of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) affect investment patterns within global value chains (GVCs)? In this article, we explore how the design of these provisions and the local regulatory environments of trading partners influence the geography of production. By employing a difference-in-difference analysis of quantitative data on the design of non-trade issues in 478 PTAs and mergers and acquisitions between 1948 and 2018, we assess the influence of labor and environmental provisions in PTAs on GVCs. Building on the legal and business studies literatures, we expect and empirically find that when countries join PTAs, enforceable non-trade clauses interact with domestic regulatory environments and induce changes in GVCs, especially in Global North hosts. Our findings provide nuance to our current understanding of the interconnections across trade agreement design, domestic regulations, and vertically integrated multinational production.

Austrian FDI in Asian economies: Does knowledge capital matter?

PurposeWhile Austrian foreign direct investment (FDI) in Asian economies experiences a rising trend, the following question arises: Why does Austria invest more in certain economies over others? This study intends to assess the factors that drive Austrian investment in Asian economies.Design/methodology/approachBased on the ownership, location and internalization framework and the knowledge capital approach, this study hypothesizes that knowledge capital significantly attracts FDI from Austria. Meanwhile, this study applies the panel-corrected standard error method to analyze data for 11 Asian economies from 1990 to 2022.FindingsAfter considering endogeneity, the results show a positive and significant correlation between expenditure in research and development per gross domestic product (GDP) in the host economies and FDI inflow from Austria. In addition, the study reveals that factors such as market size, trade openness and natural resources in the host economies significantly influence Austria’s FDI, which indicates that Austrian investors fall into the three main FDI typologies: market-seeking, resources-seeking and efficiency-seeking.Originality/valueThis study fills the literature gap by becoming the first to analyze the determinants of Austrian FDI in Asian economies, thus enriching our understanding of Austria’s global investment pattern.

Beyond nearshoring: The political economy of Mexico's emerging electric vehicle industry

Nearshoring and global value chain reconfiguration trends have gained renewed relevance amid mounting disruptions in globalized production models. However, the precise dynamics behind shifts in the nascent electric vehicle (EV) industry value chain remain unclear. This study examines the factors that drive direct investment into Mexico's EV production ecosystem. It analyzes how these investment patterns reshape regional value chains while accelerating the transition toward electromobility. This analysis is based on an original 2019–2023 dataset of 48 Mexican EV production investment projects and three emblematic case studies: Tesla, Metalsa, and Sanhua. The findings suggest that the confluence of USMCA trade pact stipulations, US-China tensions, climate policy, and consumer incentives in the US, alongside specialized capabilities in Mexico, catalyze this nascent EV industry. In this fluctuating landscape, Mexico plays a dual role, both reducing US reliance on Chinese-dominated chains while attracting international firms interested in integrating into regional production networks. Thereby, the study delineates the specific drivers beyond nearshoring that have attracted EV production investment to Mexico. It, therefore, provides insights into the forces shaping Mexico's emergence as a strategic hub for regionalized EV manufacturing and outlines implications for future corporate strategies and public policies.

Informatization of Educational Management in Private Colleges of Guangdong Province: Challenges, Investments, and Infrastructure Improvements

This study explores the state of informatization in educational management within private colleges in Guangdong Province, using H College as a case study. Despite recent advancements, the informatization process faces significant challenges, including misconceptions about digital management, insufficient investment, a lack of digital sharing mechanisms, and suboptimal user experiences for both students and faculty. Through a comprehensive analysis of educational indicators, investment patterns, and the current status of digital resources, this paper highlights the critical need for a strategic approach to educational management informatization. The findings underscore the importance of fostering a service-oriented framework that prioritizes the needs of teachers and students while advocating for increased investment in infrastructure and digital platforms. Ultimately, the research aims to contribute to the ongoing efforts to modernize educational governance in private higher education institutions, ensuring they can effectively meet the demands of the evolving educational landscape.

Celebrating the research career of Douglas Nelson

AbstractThis special issue celebrates Prof. Douglas Nelson's body of research. It comprises articles by many of his co‐authors, colleagues and students. They address two broad themes: the interplay between trade and investment flows and employment and equity on the one hand and the interaction between trade‐related policies and patterns of trade and investment on the other.

Weighting of sensory cues reflect changing patterns of visual investment during ecological divergence in Heliconius butterflies.

Integrating information across sensory modalities enables animals to orchestrate a wide range of complex behaviours. The relative importance placed on one sensory modality over another reflects the reliability of cues in a particular environment and corresponding differences in neural investment. As populations diverge across environmental gradients, the reliability of sensory cues may shift, favouring divergence in neural investment and the weight given to different sensory modalities. During their divergence across closed-forest and forest-edge habitats, closely related butterflies Heliconius cydno and Heliconius melpomene evolved distinct brain morphologies, with the former investing more in vision. Quantitative genetic analyses suggest that selection drove these changes, but their behavioural consequences remain uncertain. We hypothesized that divergent neural investment may alter sensory weighting. We trained individuals in an associative learning experiment using multimodal colour and odour cues. When positively rewarded stimuli were presented in conflict, i.e. pairing positively trained colour with negatively trained odour and vice versa, H. cydno favoured visual cues more strongly than H. melpomene. Hence, differences in sensory weighting may evolve early during divergence and are predicted by patterns of neural investment. These findings, alongside other examples, imply that differences in sensory weighting stem from divergent investment as adaptations to local sensory environments.

Debt Dynamics and Investment Patterns: Public Debt-Investment Nexus in G7 and ASEAN Economies

Debt Dynamics and Investment Patterns: Public Debt-Investment Nexus in G7 and ASEAN Economies

The Impact of Tax Planning on the Investment Patterns of Salaried Individuals in Bengaluru City

The Impact of Tax Planning on the Investment Patterns of Salaried Individuals in Bengaluru City

Pak-France Relations During 21st Century: Strategic Alliances and Bilateral Cooperation

This research aims to critically analyse the bilateral relations between France and Pakistan during the 21st century. It emphasizes political, economic, social, cultural and military relationships between the two countries. Its purposes are to demonstrate the political ideologies and foreign policy objectives that influence Pakistan-France relations, to examine the nature of economic ties between Pakistan and France, to analyse the patterns of trade and investment that changed over time, to evaluate the Pakistan-France collaboration on military and security matters, and other key areas of cooperation, and to elucidate Pakistan-France political relations, the influence of pressure groups(political and religious) on their relationship, and to imposing allegations on France as a result of religious disparity in Pakistan. This study concludes that Pakistan and France are having high time collaborations in various sectors with a particular focus on working together in the fields of nuclear technology, defence cooperation, and resolving global security issues.

Gender(ed) equity: The growth of female shareholding in Australia, 1857–1937

AbstractLittle is known about the history of female investing in Australia. We develop a new dataset of company shareholders between 1857 and 1937, covering all major sectors of the economy. We calculate the female fraction of shareowners, their occupational and geographic backgrounds, and we analyse their investment patterns and behaviours including their risk profiles and portfolio construction decisions. Our findings suggest that ‘gender equity’—and more—had been reached, for some companies, by the interwar period. Women investors came from many walks of life, had various motives, and appear to have largely acted independently of other women and of men.

The Impact of Streaming Platforms on Hollywood Film Financing: A Financial and Data-Driven Analysis of Disruptions and Strategies in the New Media Landscape

The rapid rise of streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney+ has fundamentally disrupted traditional Hollywood film financing models. This paper examines the financial impacts of these platforms on Hollywood's established funding mechanisms, highlighting how they have reshaped revenue streams, investment patterns, and risk management strategies. By leveraging data analytics and financial modelling, this study explores how traditional studios and new media companies have adapted their financing strategies to align with the evolving digital landscape. Additionally, the paper delves into the implications of these shifts for future film production and distribution, offering insights into how data-driven decision-making increasingly influences investment choices in the entertainment industry. Through a comprehensive analysis, this research provides a deeper understanding of the interplay between technology and finance in shaping the future of Hollywood.

Automatic for the (tax) people: information sharing and cross-border investment in tax havens

Summary This paper examines the impact of international automatic exchange of information (AEOI) treaties on cross-border investments in tax havens. Using a restricted version of the BIS Locational Banking Statistics, we find that AEOIs significantly reduced cross-border deposits. A sectoral breakdown assessment reveals that households were the key driving force behind this contraction. However, we also document evidence of households’ deposits shifting to non-AEOI haven countries and larger deposits by non-bank financial institutions between tax haven countries, suggesting an increased use of shell corporation networks since AEOI introduction. Extending the analysis to portfolio and direct investment, we observe that changes in investment patterns vis-à-vis tax havens are consistent with a significant impact of AEOI treaties on these forms of cross-border investment.

Pathways to success: a machine learning approach to predicting investor dynamics in equity and lending crowdfunding campaigns

AbstractCrowdfunding has evolved into a formidable mechanism for collective financing, challenging traditional funding sources such as bank loans, venture capital, and private equity with its global reach and versatile applications across various sectors. This paper explores the complex dynamics of crowdfunding platforms, particularly focusing on investor behaviour and investment patterns within equity and lending campaigns in Italy. By leveraging advanced machine learning techniques, including XGBoost and LSTM networks, we develop predictive models that dynamically analyze real-time and historical data to accurately forecast the success or failure of crowdfunding campaigns. To address the existing gaps in crowdfunding analysis tools, we introduce two novel datasets—one for equity crowdfunding and another for lending. Moreover, our approach extends beyond traditional binary success metrics, proposing novel measures. The insights gained from this study could support crowdfunding strategies, significantly improving project selection and promotional tactics on platforms. By enhancing decision-making processes and providing forward-looking guidance to investors, our computational model aims to empower both campaign creators and platform administrators, ultimately improving the overall efficacy and sustainability of crowdfunding as a financing tool.

THE INVESTMENT BLUEPRINT OF LIC OF INDIA: A STUDY IN FINANCIAL PRUDENCE

This research paper investigates the investment pattern of India's Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), focusing on the tactics and outcomes of its investment decisions. The study dives into LIC's diverse portfolio, which includes government securities, equities, corporate bonds, and real estate, demonstrating how diversity reduces risk and assures consistent returns. LIC's conservative investment strategy, which prioritizes safety and long-term growth, places a strong emphasis on government securities and highly rated corporate bonds. The report emphasizes the significant impact of LIC's investments on the Indian economy, notably its backing for government bonds and infrastructure projects that promote national development and financial stability. Regulatory compliance with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) criteria promotes transparency and trust in the LIC's investment operations. The study also highlights LIC's constant record in providing sufficient returns to policyholders, highlighting its good portfolio management and the balance it strikes between high-yield and stable investments. Looking ahead, the report predicts that LIC will maintain its cautious investment strategy while looking for new opportunities in emerging areas, with a focus on adjusting to changing market conditions and regulatory environments. Overall, the research paper believes that LIC's investment strategy is well-balanced and risk-averse, with the goal of long-term financial security and significant contributions to India's economic development, strengthening its reputation as a stable and dependable financial organization.

Females increase reproductive investment when mated to less sexually attractive males in a serially monogamous fish

Reproductive investment decision is an integral part of life-history theory. Differential allocation hypothesis predicts that females should increase investment when mated to high-quality males, conversely, reproductive compensation hypothesis predicts that females should increase investment when mated to low-quality males. Empirical research dominantly focuses on polygamous species and rarely on serially monogamous species. So, the question remains: which hypothesis does serially monogamous species fit? And if it fits reproductive compensation hypothesis, do females only compensate once or continuously for multiple times when mating to low-quality males? Here, we used a serially monogamous fish, the lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus), to investigate the reproductive investment pattern of females in relation to male quality (measured by sexual attractiveness). We found that females allocated more resources into eggs when they mated to less-sexually-attractive males, indicating the investment pattern of lined seahorse falls in with the prediction of reproductive compensation hypothesis. This finding may imply that the sex role of seahorses is reversed, and female is the side imposed on a greater sexual selection pressure. On this basis, we compared the investment difference of females in two consecutive breeding events when mated to less-sexually-attractive males. We found that females allocated less resources into eggs in the second breeding than in the first one. Females reduced their reproductive compensation in the second breeding, which may be attributed to the improvement in the quality (e.g., paternal care ability) of their mates after the first breeding, thus eliminating the need for them to invest more in the second breeding.