Zakariya Journal of Social Science

Sustainable urban growth from up and down? Saudi Arabia's Urban Infrastructure Revolution

Iqra Bashir, Muhammad Ahsan Sajjad, Zamurd Ali — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores Saudi Arabia's Sustainable Urban Growth, focusing on the synergy between top-down government initiatives and bottom-up community engagement in the Urban Infrastructure Revolution. It lacked environmental assessment policies and strategies and had been managed through a centralized structure. There were little environmental references in urban planning papers. As a result, Saudi cities' rankings for environmental sustainability are poor. The paper analyzes key aspects such as policy formulation, community participation, technology integration, and challenges faced. By presenting case studies, it highlights the harmonious blend of top-down and bottom-up approaches as a model for achieving resilient, eco- friendly, and inclusive urban development, contributing valuable insights to the global discourse on sustainable urban growth. The study indicates that in order to provide appropriate, sustainable, institutionalized urban government, a framework of laws and administrative procedures coupled with strategic environmental assessment (SEA) must be put into place. The results may provide guidance to individuals functioning in comparable political environments, particularly in developing nations

The Mediating Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility on the Relationship between COVID-19's Impact and the Performance of Nigerian Banks

O. R. Togun, M.A Babatunde, O.O Folajin — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The study employed a descriptive research design to investigate the mediating role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the relationship between the impact of COVID-19 on the performance of Nigerian banks. The target population comprised the entire staff of selected banks (Zenith Bank, Guaranty Bank, First Bank, Access Bank, and United Bank) in the Ibadan metropolis, Oyo State, totalling 207 respondents as provided by their regional headquarters. The selection of banks involved a purposive random sampling method, while the sample size of 138 respondents was selected as a sample size for the study. The data analysis was performed with the aid of Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) and Path Analysis- Structural Equation Modelling (PA-SEM). The results show that there is a positive relationship between COVID-19 and both banks’ performance and corporate social responsibility. This connotes that the surge of COVID-19 in Nigeria compelled banks to leverage digital age technology infrastructure, enabling the creation of opportunities. this shift also empowered consumers to conduct various banking transactions, including checking account balances and making payments through telecommunication networks. Furthermore, it was also revealed that corporate social responsibility exerts a partial mediating effect on the relationship between COVID-19 and banks' performance. This suggests that the influence of COVID-19 on banks' performance is more pronounced when CSR levels are elevated

Strategic Agility and Organizational Competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises in Oyo State, Nigeria: Mediating Role of Organizational Culture

O Grace Oyejope Egunjobi, Atinuke B. Aremu — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The research underscores the crucial role played by strategic sensitivity (SS) and strategic response (SR) in shaping key aspects of organizational competitiveness, such as price competitiveness and leadership in pricing. Intentionally, three industries (manufacturing, service, and trade) were specifically selected, and a sample of 550 Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) operators in Oyo State was chosen through a simple random sampling technique. The data collection involved using a structured questionnaire, and the analysis was carried out using Path Analysis – Structural Equation Modelling (PA-SEM) with the assistance of STATA version 15. The findings indicate that SS has a significant and positive direct impact on price competitiveness, price leadership, and organizational culture. Similarly, SR is shown to exert noteworthy positive direct effects on price competitiveness, cost leadership, and organizational culture. Furthermore, the study unveils that organizational culture indirectly enhances both price competitiveness and cost leadership through its connections with SS and SR. These findings suggest that organizational culture acts as a valuable asset for gaining a competitive edge. Investing in the development of a robust culture rooted in strategic awareness and effective response can indirectly contribute to both price competitiveness and cost leadership.

Analyzing the External Debt and Exports-Led Growth Hypothesis in Selected Asian Countries

Muhammad Muzammil Asghar, Rafia Sultana, Sami Ullah, Muhammad Arshad — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study analyzes external debt and exports-led growth hypothesis in selected Asian countries using the panel dataset from 2003 to 2020. For data estimation, unit root analysis, Pedroni test of cointegration, and panel ARDL model are used. The outcomes reveal that external debt, exports, gross capital formation, and labor force are directly associated to the economic growth, while debt servicing is adversely and significantly related to the economic growth in Asian countries. The variable inflation rate turns out to be negative but statistically insignificant. Granger causality analysis found a unidirectional causality between external debt and economic growth and a unidirectional causality between gross capital formation and economic growth. It is concluded that external debt and exports are substantially impacting the economic growth of Asian countries; therefore, it is suggested that external debt should be utilized to improve national well-being and export promotion techniques should be encouraged, such as export subsidies and tax-free business zones to promote production.

Enhancing Tax Revenue through Effective Training of Tax Staff in Nigeria

Adesola W, Sajuyigbe Ademola Samuel, Fadahunsi Adewale Charcles — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The objective of this research was to assess the impact of training tax personnel on revenue generation and identify the challenges of tax administration in Osun State, Nigeria. Employing a survey research design, data was gathered from 320 state tax officials through a structured questionnaire. Analysis involved mean calculations, chi-square tests, and path analysis. The findings indicate a positive and significant correlation between income generation and the training of tax officers. This finding suggests that income generation is an indicator of tax officer training. The study also found that limited training programs, outdated manual systems, poor technical integration, lack of qualified personnel, lack of tax culture and taxpayer awareness, and lack of resources are the main challenges of tax administration in Osun State Nigeria. The findings of this study have significant policy implications, training tax personnel improves tax compliance, efficient tax administration, fair and equitable taxation, enhanced taxpayer services, increased revenue generation, and better stakeholder engagement. These implications can contribute to a more effective and trusted tax system, benefiting policymakers, taxpayers, and stakeholders alike. The study offers empirical evidence regarding the revenue structure within the state, serving as a basis for the establishment of effective tax policies.