This study examines the socio-economic impacts of slum resettlement through the case of Lebrahma’s relocation to Al Marouwa in Casablanca, Morocco. While formalization efforts under the Villes Sans Bidonvilles program aimed to improve housing and urban order, they overlooked the informal economic systems and social networks that sustained residents’ livelihoods. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, the research reveals how the transition from flexible, community-based informal economies to rigid formal planning structures disrupted home-based businesses, severed support networks, and eliminated informal job opportunities. Informed by the work of Weber, Roy, Ben Haman, and de Soto, the paper critiques top-down planning models that ignore local knowledge and survival strategies. It does not romanticize informality, but recognizes its critical role as a strategic mechanism for navigating precarity. The study argues that when resettlement policies fail to engage with informal realities, they risk producing not only greater vulnerability and social marginalization, but also deepening impoverishment. The findings call for urban planning models that integrate, rather than erase, the adaptive strategies of informal communities. • Resettlement disrupts informal economies, undermining household livelihoods. • Formal land-use regulation and spatial design reshape economic opportunities and social networks. • Informal activities function as adaptive survival strategies, not merely planning failures. • Flexible housing and designated spaces for small businesses can support displaced communities. • Integrating local practices into planning mitigates vulnerability and strengthens resilience.

The article deals with the creation and implementation of the Digital Analytical Platform of the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat DAP) as the core of the National Data Management System in the context of the digitalization of the economics. The authors have revealed and systematized the problems of the national statistics: fragmented data, high bur den on small and medium-sized businesses, lack of efficiency and evidence of information. The analysis of the normative evolution is used to formulate priorities of the development of statistics up to 2023: the transition to predictive analytics, ensuring trust in data, integration of sources based on the “one-stop shop” principle, personalization of services, staff development, international harmonization, transparency. The authors have described functional components of DAP: sample constructor, interactive visualization, statistical and network analysis, machine learning-based forecasting, application programming interface. It has been shown that the platform ensures the interaction of the state, business, science and society in a single digital environment on the principles of interdepartmental automation using the System of Inter departmental Electronic Interaction (SIEI), Unifi ed Identification and Authentication System (ESIA) and the Gostech platform. The results will be useful for the government authorities, large business and small and medium-sized enterprises, researchers and teachers.

Khat use is an increasing public health concern in Somaliland, linked to various mental, physical, social, and psychological problems. This study examined the effect of khat consumption on work performance among small business employees in the City-Center Market, Hargeisa, Somaliland. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, with purposive sampling of 150 male respondents. Data were collected through a structured Likert-scale questionnaire measuring khat consumption patterns and work performance. Reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha, and multiple linear regression analysis was applied to assess the predictive effect of khat consumption on work performance. Demographic and occupational variables (education level, marital status, employment type, type of khat commonly chewed, and age categories) were included as controls. Regression analysis showed khat consumption was significantly associated with work performance (B = 0.774, β=0.879, t=15.062, p<0.001). Higher levels of khat use were associated with lower work performance, while other variables including education level (p=0.281), marital status (p=0.548), employment type (p=0.902), type of khat (p=0.700), and age (p=0.429) showed no statistically significant effects. The study suggests that khat consumption may negatively influence employee productivity, while demographic and occupational factors appear to have limited influence. These findings highlight the importance of workplace awareness and policy measures aimed at reducing the potential adverse impact of khat use on work performance.

ABSTRACT This study examines how psychological fit and entrepreneurial orientation shape managerial performance in rural enterprises. In resource-constrained and decentralized contexts, effective leadership depends on how individual attributes are translated into managerial action. Using a quantitative explanatory design, data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of rural enterprise managers and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The findings show that person–job fit and entrepreneurial orientation improve managerial performance indirectly through managerial behavior, whereas person–organization fit mainly strengthens organizational commitment without directly improving performance. Organizational commitment also shows limited explanatory power in informal rural enterprise settings. These results identify managerial behavior as the central mechanism linking individual attributes to performance. The study contributes to fit–performance and entrepreneurial orientation research in small business contexts and offers practical guidance for improving managerial selection, leadership development, and behavior-based performance evaluation in rural enterprises.

ABSTRACT This study examines the intersection of state’s nation-branding and marriage migration. It reveals how Vietnamese marriage migrant women and their Korean spouses often function as unintended ambassadors who inadvertently showcase and promote Korea’s image abroad. Site visits to Can Tho, the primary sending region of marriage migrant women from Vietnam, were conducted alongside interviews and document analysis. The findings demonstrate that, firstly, marriage migration has played a significant role in promoting Korean language education. Korean language education was found to be a derivative economy of marriage migration, driven by marriage migrants’ language requirements and the rising popularity of Korean dramas. Korean – Vietnamese couples were found to have actively engaged in Korean language education, collaborating with Korean and Vietnamese universities to meet this growing need. Secondly, the dissemination of Korean culture was further bolstered by Vietnamese marriage migrant women’s social remittances, as they not only informally traded beauty products but also facilitated the establishment of small K-beauty businesses through their personal networks. By focusing on the transformative roles of marriage migrants and their spouces, this study illuminates the intricate interplay between various state-led transnational projects and the derivative economy of marriage migration.

ABSTRACT This article examines lived citizenship among migrant-owned small businesses in Ulaanbaatar through their routine place-making practices under socio-economic constraints. Building on a four-dimensional framework suggested by Kallio, Häkli, and Wood the article argues that affective citizenship should be understood as a connective force that enables spatial, performative and intersubjective forms of citizenship. Drawing on urban ethnography conducted in two ger-area localities, the findings show how trust, familiarity, care, and symbolic attachment enable business owners to navigate precarious urban conditions while building socio-economic security and local recognition. By foregrounding affection as a mode of agency, the study reframes ger areas as spaces of grassroots urbanism and extends debates on lived citizenship from a post-socialist, rapidly urbanizing context that remains under-represented in global urban studies.

In South Korea, residents living near industrial complexes are subject to environmental pollutant exposure not only from large-scale facilities but also from small businesses. This study investigated the environmental and health impacts of such exposure in Gyeonggi-do using atmospheric dispersion modeling and meteorological analysis. Health effects were assessed through cohort analysis using national health big data and SAS Enterprise Guide. The highest average PM₁₀ concentration over a 3-month period was recorded in 2019 (77.54μg/m3), followed by 2017 (76.32μg/m3) and 2020 (54.02μg/m3). The dominant wind direction was westerly (8%), followed by northwesterly (7%), contributing to pollutant accumulation within a 2-km radius of the industrial area. PM₁₀ levels exceeded the annual average standard (50μg/m3) by 4.0% to 74.8%, corresponding to concentrations of 2.00-37.38μg/m3. Epidemiological analysis revealed a significantly higher incidence of rhinitis in both the exposed (50.31%) and control areas (51.60%) (p < 0.01). However, the overall respiratory disease incidence was significantly greater in the exposed group (34.60%) compared to the control group (30.31%) (p < 0.01). These results indicate that long-term residence near multipurpose industrial complexes is associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases and may contribute to cancer and chronic illness. This study provides critical baseline data for future research on environmental health impacts in industrial regions.

This article provides a systematic scientific study of the legal and organizational foundations for the reintegration of war veterans into the socio-economic life of society through the development of the social entrepreneurship sector. The relevance of the research is driven by unprecedented challenges facing Ukraine: as of the spring of 2026, the number of veterans has exceeded 1.7 million, many of whom have complex injuries and disabilities. This necessitates a fundamental shift in the social protection paradigm – moving from a paternalistic model of welfare payments to a model of active engagement and economic agency. For the first time within a comprehensive legal analysis, this work integrates labor law concepts, approaches to adult vocational education, and systemic modeling of social processes. The author argues that social entrepreneurship is the most appropriate tool for adaptation, as it allows veterans to maintain the value-based identity of “serving the community” inherent in military service, while simultaneously ensuring financial independence. The study is based on a critical analysis of global models: the American “Hiring Our Heroes” and “Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business” systems, the Israeli “Talpiot” program focusing on the high-tech sector, and the British model of competitive tendering for reintegration services. Systemic legal barriers in Ukrainian legislation are identified and classified. First, the absence of a validation procedure for informal education creates a “qualification gap” between real combat command experience and a veteran’s official civilian status in the labor market. Second, there is a legal vacuum in defining the status of a “social enterprise,” which precludes targeted state support. Third, the study identifies the low efficiency of existing tax incentives for employers, who perceive hiring veterans as a risk factor rather than an investment in high-quality human capital. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the justification for introducing a special legal regime for “Veteran Social Enterprises” (VSEs). The author proposes clear criteria for identifying such entities: a minimum of 50% veterans among employees, limitations on profit distribution in favor of reinvesting in the social mission, and mandatory psychological support for personnel. Proposals are formulated for amending current legislation, including the Laws of Ukraine “On the Status of War Veterans,” “On Education,” and “On Professional Development of Employees.” Specifically, the development of a national “Correspondence Directory” (modeled after the American MOS Crosswalk) is proposed to automatically equate military duties with civilian managerial and technical qualifications. A distinct emphasis is placed on the legal framework for “trauma-informed learning.” The author argues that the state must legislatively establish requirements for educational programs for veterans that account for the specifics of cognitive adaptation after combat operations. A mechanism is proposed for creating regional inclusive business incubators operating on the principles of public-private partnership. The study concludes that the successful adaptation of veterans through social entrepreneurship will transform a potential risk group into a “locomotive” of post-war recovery. This will ensure a transition from passive consumption of budget resources to job creation and the strengthening of social cohesion within communities. The article holds practical value for legislative activities, local government bodies, and non-governmental organizations involved in veteran affairs.

ABSTRACT This study identifies entrepreneurial characteristics that function as informative indicators of resilience in Dutch small businesses. It focuses on firms facing financial distress and examines how recovery differs from persistent stagnation. Rather than equating resilience with survival, the analysis analytically distinguishes resilient recovery from persistent economic stagnation in order to isolate characteristics relevant for refining viability assessment and failure prediction models. A qualitative-led mixed-methods design is employed, combining semistructured interviews with 24 entrepreneurs, validated psychological and behavioral instruments, nonparametric statistical tests, and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. The findings indicate that higher levels of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and timely, solution-oriented responses to crisis distinguish resilient recovery trajectories from stagnation. Background characteristics, effectual behavior, and network support do not emerge as independent differentiators. Overall, the results suggest that resilience in distressed small businesses is shaped primarily by adaptive psychological and behavioral capacities rather than static attributes. These findings provide a refined basis for integrating nonfinancial indicators into small business viability assessment and failure prediction practices.

This article analyzes a low-cost soap making machine proposal designed for small-scale production, emphasizing technical and economic comparison with industrial equipment used in mixing, dosing and molding processes. The objective was to evaluate whether a compact solution composed of reservoirs, mixing tank, agitation system, Mitsubishi PLC control panel and molding drawer can represent an accessible alternative for small-scale soap production, especially in educational environments, workshops, small businesses and residual cooking oil reuse actions. The methodology was based on field research, including observation of operating requirements, comparative component survey, cost estimation and analysis of industrial machines available in higher capacity and automation ranges. The results indicate that the proposed machine has lower implementation cost and easier maintenance, although it has lower production capacity and a lower automation level than industrial lines. It is concluded that the project does not replace large-scale industrial equipment, but can play an important role as an accessible, didactic and economically viable solution for local soap production.

ABSTRACT This article examines Bulgaria’s post-Communist monetary transition, highlighting how institutional weaknesses and constraints shaped the country’s economic trajectory. Using a post-Keynesian monetary framework, it challenges the dominant view of the 1997 currency board as a stabilising success, arguing instead that it marked a long-term loss of monetary sovereignty. Despite early formal independence, the central bank lacked the regulatory knowledge to manage a two-tier banking system, leading to a collapse of domestic credit governance. The paper traces how subsequent banking sector consolidation resulted in a centralised, foreign-owned bank architecture that privileges large enterprises and urban centres, while marginalising small business lending and peripheral regions. This spatial asymmetry in credit allocation has entrenched structural inequality and weakened Bulgaria’s developmental prospects. By centring the role of bank credit in economic restructuring, the article contributes to post-Keynesian scholarship and invites further empirical research on the link between monetary institutions and development in post-Communist economies.

<sc></sc> This paper examines the adoption and impact of electronic tax services, specifically registration for and usage of e-filing, and e-payment of taxes, by small and medium enterprises in Burkina Faso. Using a unique dataset that merges survey responses from 1,090 SMEs with administrative tax records, we first document the key drivers of adoption, including business age, legal status, sector, internet access and use of electronic billing. Adoption significantly improves compliance margins: registering for and using eSINTAX increases declared tax liabilities by about 41–43 per cent, while paying digitally increases tax paid by about 22 per cent. Timeliness of filing also improves markedly: registering for eSINTAX increases the probability of filing on time by about 40 per cent relative to the control-group mean, while actual e-filing increases it by about 67 per cent. These effects are partly explained by changes in taxpayer perceptions: digital services are weakly associated with improved ease of filing and post-adjustment compliance, and more strongly with enhanced trust, fairness, transparency in the tax system, and reduce perceived corruption. The findings suggest that targeted awareness campaigns, practical training, and investment in digital infrastructure and secure e-payment systems can strengthen tax compliance through digitalisation.

ABSTRACT This paper examines how organizational identity evolves to sustain social purpose in long-lived family firms. Drawing on an online ethnographic case study of Peter Café Sport – a century-old maritime family business in the Azores – we trace how founding narratives, legacy-based commitments, and deep relational networks shaped responses during the COVID-19 crisis. Our findings show that organizational identity, often viewed as a stabilizing force, can also be a generative resource for adaptive action, promoting the balance between social and economic logics even in times of disruption. We demonstrate that the founder’s social involvement not only persists but can be reactivated decades after inception, enabling the reaffirmation of the firm’s enduring role as a community anchor. By explaining how hybrid economic – social logics sustain across organizational life stages, the study advances understanding of social entrepreneurship in crisis, emphasizing the role of family organizational identity beyond start-up contexts, and deepens insight into how small family enterprises preserve and reinterpret their social mission over time.

SME development for poverty alleviation using GIS and AHP-based multi-criteria decision analysis

Tax non-compliance remains a critical constraint to domestic revenue mobilization in Ghana, despite decades of tax reforms, modernization initiatives, and taxpayer education campaigns. To deepen the understanding of behavioural and institutional drivers of compliance, this study examines how tax-specific financial literacy and perceived tax fairness shape self-reported tax compliance behaviour, with trust in tax authorities serving as a key mediating mechanism. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Slippery Slope Framework, the study employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to analyse survey data from 1342 enterprises across micro, small, medium, and large-scale businesses in Ghana. The findings reveal that both tax-specific financial literacy and perceived tax fairness exert a significant positive effect on compliance, while trust in tax authorities partially mediates these relationships. This demonstrates that voluntary compliance is more effectively sustained when cognitive competence is complemented by perceptions of institutional legitimacy and fairness. The study makes a theoretical contribution by integrating cognitive and relational determinants of tax behaviour into a unified behavioural-institutional model tailored to developing economy contexts. Practically, it underscores the need for targeted tax literacy initiatives, transparent and equitable tax administration, and deliberate trust-building strategies to strengthen voluntary compliance and reduce reliance on coercive enforcement. The results provide actionable insights for revenue authorities and policymakers seeking to broaden Ghana's tax base through behavioural and institutional levers, and offer a replicable analytical framework for other Sub-Saharan African countries facing similar compliance challenges.

Bank ownership, governance changes, and small business lending in Indonesia: A two-stage estimation approach

Environmental corporate social responsibility, citizenship behavior, and ethical climate: Drivers of female green entrepreneurial intention in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Strategic planning has been proven to be an effective organizational tool that plays a vital role in organizational success and performance. Strategic managers understand the importance of the formulation and execution of strategic plans that can guide the direction of the organization, its decision-making process, implementation, evaluation, and control of plans. Strategic planning level and intensity are influenced by several managerial, organizational, and environmental factors and can vary from one organization to another. This paper mainly aims to investigate the impact of strategic planning on organizational performance. The study covers the services sector in Bahrain by implementing qualitative and quantitative approaches based on interviews and surveys with managers and other members in the strategic planning team from small businesses in Bahrain. Results showed that environmental scanning and resource availability have an insignificant impact on organizational success, while strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation have a significant impact and high correlation on organizational success and performance in the services sector in Bahrain.

The digital economy has emerged as an important driver of enterprise growth, productivity, and innovation across various industries in recent years. Nonetheless, the implementation of a digital economy presents numerous challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in states such as Kelantan with low gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Additionally, the presence of web technology is among the lowest in Kelantan compared with other states in Peninsular Malaysia, especially in the small- and medium-sized enterprise sector. This paper examines the key determinants affecting the adoption of the digital economy by small enterprises in Kelantan. As digital technologies persist in transforming economic activities, comprehending the factors that facilitate or impede their adoption is crucial for maintaining small business competitiveness. A quantitative approach was utilized, and structured questionnaires were administered to small business proprietors across diverse industries in Kelantan. Data analysis was performed utilizing SPSS (version 29.0.2.0) and SmartPLS4 (version 4.1.1.4). This research, led by the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, identified and studied the technological, organizational, and environmental aspects influencing adoption decisions. The findings indicate that organizational and environmental factors, including innovation culture, employee skills and knowledge, market competition pressures, government restrictions, and financial support from the government, greatly affect adoption levels. These findings provide important insights for policymakers, technology providers, and support agencies to formulate policies that might effectively advance digital transformation among small enterprises across the nation.

The digital technology landscape together with online platforms and data-driven business models has reached an advanced state of development which creates serious privacy and cybersecurity problems for personal data protection in India. The Government of India established the Digital Personal Data Protection Act DPDP Act 2023 to control personal data handling practices because of the increasing volume of digital transactions and incidents of data abuse. The legislation establishes new digital governance frameworks which protect user privacy rights while creating systems that hold organizations accountable for their personal data handling practices. The present study examines the impact of India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act on corporate compliance requirements and business operations. The research focuses on analyzing how organizations are adapting to new legal obligations related to consent management, data processing, cybersecurity measures, grievance redressal systems, and data protection responsibilities. The study also evaluates the operational and financial challenges faced by companies in implementing compliance frameworks. The research team used a descriptive research design to collect data which they obtained from secondary sources that included government reports and legal documents and industry publications and research studies. The research findings demonstrate that the DPDP Act requires businesses to take greater responsibility for managing data and protecting consumer privacy rights. Organizations need to develop more effective security systems and create clear consent processes and establish methods for monitoring their adherence to laws. The research results show that large companies with sophisticated technology systems can meet regulatory requirements more easily than small and medium-sized businesses which struggle with their operational and financial operations. The study reveals that businesses face significant difficulties due to their need to spend money on compliance requirements and employee training and technology updates. The Act will achieve its goal of increasing consumer trust while establishing digital business credibility and promoting responsible data management practices. The study shows that organizations need to develop awareness about the DPDP Act and prepare their legal systems and invest in technology and control their regulatory activities for effective implementation. The research helps explain how digital privacy laws interact with corporate governance practices and business sustainability in India's digital economy.