Abstract: This study examines the major challenges affecting the implementation of the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) in Bauchi State, Nigeria. A quantitative descriptive survey design was adopted, and a total of 264 questionnaires were distributed across four selected Local Government Areas. Out of these, 252 were correctly completed and returned, representing a response rate of 95.5 percent. Findings revealed that although 154 respondents (61.1%) participated in NAPEP skill acquisition programmes, several structural barriers continue to hinder successful implementation. The leading challenge identified was inadequate funding, reported by 207 respondents (82%), followed by political interference (194; 77%), poor monitoring and evaluation (174; 69%), insufficient training facilities (161; 64%), and delays in fund disbursement (154; 61%). These constraints significantly weaken programme delivery and limit its capacity to support sustainable youth empowerment. The findings align with Institutional Theory, which highlights how administrative inefficiencies and political interests undermine public-sector interventions. The study concludes that NAPEP’s impact in Bauchi State remains limited primarily due to weak institutional frameworks and inconsistent resource allocation. It recommends strengthening monitoring systems, depoliticizing programme processes, improving training facilities, and ensuring timely funding if NAPEP is to achieve meaningful poverty reduction and long-term youth development.

Abstract: The global financial crises of 2008 and COVID-19 triggered market volatility, disrupting trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, and impacting financial integration among economies. This study investigates the degree of financial integration between India and selected global economies—US, UK, China, Hong Kong, and Japan—during crises, using daily closing stock index data from January 2002 to June 2022. Econometric tools, including the Johansen Co-integration Test, Granger Causality Test, and Augmented Dickey-Fuller Unit Root Test, are applied to analyse short- and long-term financial linkages. The Johansen Co-integration Test results reveal long-term integration among all economies, with significant co-integrating equations detected (Trace Statistic = 98.18, Max-Eigen Statistic = 35.37) during the post-COVID period. However, the Granger Causality Test shows fluctuating short-term causal relationships, particularly with India and China shifting from bi-directional to uni-directional causality post-COVID. Standard deviations across indices, such as China (1.73) and India (1.51), highlight market volatility. The correlation matrix reveals a high correlation between India and the US (0.93 pre-COVID, 0.98 post-COVID), indicating limited opportunities for portfolio diversification. The results emphasise that sustained financial integration reduces diversification benefits and increases the potential for volatility spillovers during crises. Policymakers must identify highly connected markets and implement risk mitigation strategies to avoid systemic shocks. This study offers actionable insights for investors to navigate interconnected markets during turbulent times and provides guidance for future policy frameworks to enhance financial stability.

Abstract: This paper investigates the influence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors on financial development, using Domestic Credit to the Private Sector by Banks (DCB) as the core indicator of credit market development. To effectively market the research within the broader literature on finance and ESG issues, the authors employ an approach combining econometric analysis, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), cluster analysis, and network analysis. By analyzing the impact through the estimation of the model parameters through the impact of instrumental variable estimation on the model parameters (using Two-Stage Least Squares (IV), Random Effects (IV), and First-Differenced (IV) methods), the study confirms that access to clean fuels and natural resource depletion impact the model margins significantly. However, across all the models used in the analysis, the impact of access to clean energy is positive. By analyzing the significance of the issue using the KNN model throughout the research process on the impact of ESG on credit market dynamics across countries, the research demonstrates that the issue is significant. By performing hierarchical cluster analysis on the significance of the research by considering the significance of the issue in its contribution to the impact on credit market dynamics in countries, in terms of climate stress issues being core in influencing the dynamics of credit in countries, through network analysis mapping performed by carrying out research on the topic.

Abstract: This paper focuses on the design and development of a decision support system (DSS) for the governance of intralogistics processes and, in particular, devoted to optimize capacity management and the workload of activities characterizing freight entry. This research activity was carried out as part of the Logistics Research and Development 4.0 Project launched by La Logistica Srl, a new player in the distribution of hydro-thermo sanitary products, with the support of the Puglia Region. The purpose of this study is to provide managers with a range of customized process information to improve workforce efficiency and management in receiving, controlling, and storing goods entering the newly established logistics hub. Other researchers’ work had shortcomings, as did the lack of this study’s practical approach. This study aims to overcome these constraints. To do so, the study introduces the Content Load Parameter (CLP) index. This index integrates three variables relevant to defining the workload, such as quantity, size and weights of the goods to be handled, using a single standard value. This makes it easier for managers to estimate the required capacity all along the work cycle. As part of the system development, a module analyzes and simulates operational scenarios. Simulation facilitates the management of analysis capacity by allowing alternatives to be compared and evaluated to bridge the gap between demand and availability of production capacity in various situations. Scenario simulation, combined with tools for concise and effective visualization of results, therefore allows organizations to identify critical capacity points and take preventative measures to manage overhead and minimize consequences. In summary, this study demonstrates how integrating the Content Load Parameter index into a decision support system can significantly contribute to making intralogistics process management more effective. By addressing quantifiable workload parameters and facilitating scenario-based operational analysis, the proposed system provides managers with useful information for capacity optimization. These advances not only overcome the limitations of previous research but also help develop resilient and efficient logistics operations, thus strengthening the critical role of empirically informed decision-making in contemporary logistics governance.

Abstract: While product returns pose challenges for retailers, prior research suggests that high-quality return services can turn these experiences into opportunities to strengthen customer loyalty and encourage repeat purchases. However, existing studies have largely treated returns as a uniform phenomenon, focusing on their overall impact on repurchase behavior while overlooking the distinct effects of different return types. This study addresses this gap by categorizing returns based on customer attributions of blame—specifically, self-attributed, seller-attributed, and intermediary-attributed returns—and examining how these attributions influence future purchasing behavior. The findings reveal significant variations in consumer responses depending on the perceived cause of the return. Customers who attribute a return to their own mistakes (self-attributed) demonstrate a notable increase in future repurchases. In contrast, returns attributed to seller-related issues (seller-attributed) significantly reduce repurchasing behavior. Meanwhile, returns with ambiguous attributions involving intermediaries (intermediary-attributed) do not have a statistically significant impact on future purchases. By addressing the overlooked role of return attributions, this study advances the understanding of return service recovery and provides actionable insights for businesses seeking to optimize return policies, enhance customer retention, and allocate resources more effectively.

Abstract: This study examines the determinants of renewable energy consumption among BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia) between 2000 and 2022. Using static (Fixed and Random Effects) and dynamic (First-Difference GMM) panel data models, the research investigates how economic, institutional, and social factors influence renewable energy transition. The results reveal structural heterogeneity within the bloc. Among the founding members, renewable energy consumption is positively associated with governance quality and trade openness, while GDP per capita exhibits a negative relationship, consistent with the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis. In contrast, the new members show strong energy dependence and limited institutional capacity, with dynamic models confirming high persistence in energy consumption and weak responsiveness to economic and policy changes. Variables such as education and life expectancy were omitted in the dynamic specification due to limited temporal variation, without compromising model consistency. Diagnostic tests (Hansen, Sargan, and AR(2)) confirm the robustness of the estimates. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of strengthening institutional governance, technological innovation, and intra-bloc cooperation to advance energy transition and achieve sustainable development across the BRICS economies.

Abstract: This study develops a comprehensive two-stage hybrid framework to forecast food prices in Turkey, addressing inflation prediction challenges critical for sustainable food security in emerging economies. In the first stage, systematic relationship and causality analyses—comprising correlation, ARDL, cointegration, and Granger causality tests—identified ten key predictors from the Turkish Statistical Institute and Central Bank datasets. In the second stage, ten predictive models, including ensemble (Gradi-ent Boosting, Random Forest, SVR), traditional (ARIMA, Linear Regression), and deep learning approaches (LSTM, NARX-RNN, ANFIS), were evaluated using rice prices as a pilot case. Ensemble models demonstrated clear superiority, with Gradient Boosting achieving optimal single-split performance (R² = 0.9990) and high cross-validation consistency (mean R² = 0.9742 ± 0.03). Support Vector Regression (R² = 0.9896 ± 0.02) and Random Forest (R² = 0.9811 ± 0.02) showed statistically equivalent performance, reinforcing ensemble robustness. NARX-RNN analysis revealed a six-month lag in economic shock transmission, providing a practical policy intervention window. SHAP-based interpretability identified insurance, healthcare, transportation, educa-tion, and social protection expenditures as major drivers of food price formation, un-derscoring Turkey's cross-sector inflation mechanisms. These findings integrate econometric rigor with machine learning transparency, offering practical tools for sustainable inflation management and early warning systems in volatile emerging markets.

Abstract: New account fraud poses a persistent challenge in modern banking systems due to the sparsity, heterogeneity, and incompleteness of user information. Existing methods often struggle with missing data, limited cross-view representation, and weak adaptability to evolving fraud patterns. To address these issues, we propose NAFNet, a deep learning framework that integrates dynamic feature imputation, multi-view encoding, and attention-based representation learning. NAFNet employs a learnable imputation module guided by statistical priors, encodes heterogeneous views via dedicated encoders with bilinear fusion, and enhances global dependency modeling through attention-augmented neural layers. A fine-tuned training regime ensures robustness and generalization. Experiments show that NAFNet offers substantial improvements over conventional methods, demonstrating its effectiveness in complex, real-world fraud detection scenarios.

Abstract: Hierarchical multi-label financial event detection in Chinese news is difficult because of limited data, vague semantics, and label inconsistency between general and specific categories. Transformer-based models often fail to capture financial language details such as negation and modality, and they struggle to maintain consistency across label hierarchies. This paper presents HARTE, a Hierarchical Adaptive Risk-Aware Transformer Ensemble that combines risk-aware representation, hierarchical decoding, and uncertainty integration in one framework. HARTE uses a contextual risk encoder with adaptive attention and BiLSTM-gated fusion to represent risk semantics, dual-level contrastive learning to improve feature discrimination under limited supervision, and progressive knowledge distillation to align probabilities and attention for efficient transfer. It also ensures hierarchical consistency with structured gating and fuses multiple encoders through uncertainty weighting. These designs allow HARTE to improve semantic clarity, structural consistency, and reliability for financial event detection with scarce annotations.

Abstract: Hospital consolidation has increased in the USA, raising concerns about reduced competition and higher costs. This study investigates whether recent consolidations have enhanced efficiency or boosted market power. Data from 2017 to 2024, collected from RAND Hospital Data, which combines Medicare Cost Reports and hospital ownership information, were analyzed using a difference-in-differences approach to assess efficiency changes before and after hospitals joined multihospital systems. The treatment group consisted of hospitals affiliated with a hospital system between 2019 and 2020, while standalone hospitals served as the comparison group. The analysis examined overall, operating, and cash flow margins. Fixed-effects models with clustered standard errors accounted for hospital-level differences. Results showed a significant increase in overall margins (β = 0.0064, SE = 0.0028, p = 0.021) and operating margins (β = 0.0068, SE = 0.0025, p = 0.006), but no significant change in cash flow margins (β = 0.0019, p = 0.415) for hospitals that joined systems between 2019 and 2020. Pre-trend lines support causal inference. These findings suggest efficiency improvements rather than increased market dominance. The results differ from previous studies on cost inflation but reflect recent efficiency gains under new regulations following the public healthcare law.

Abstract: Vietnam is an energy-intensive economy that has a rapidly growing industry. This fact has increased the urgency for firm-level sustainable energy management practices, especially given the country’s low ranking in global environmental performance. In this study, we investigate the firm-level determinants of sustainable energy management adoption in Vietnam, focusing on structural characteristics, innovation capabilities, and external linkages. Using data from the 2023 World Bank Enterprise Survey, we apply both a logit regression model and a Random Forest algorithm, a novel combination in the study of determinants of sustainable energy management adoption. The logit model identifies significant positive relationships between sustainable energy management adoption and factors such as firm size, R&D investment, international quality certification, and export orientation. Managerial experience shows a non-linear relationship with sustainable energy management adoption, whereas foreign ownership influences it only when combined with R&D investment. The Random Forest model complements these findings by revealing nonlinear relationships and highlighting the predictive importance of variables like international certification, managerial expe-rience, and manufacturing sector affiliation. Together, the models show that internal capabilities and external pressures drive the adoption of sustainable energy management. Our results suggest that policy interventions should be designed with sector- and firm-specific contexts in mind to foster more sustainable firms.

Abstract: We present a unified framework for modeling the term structure of interest rates using both the affine term structure models (ATSM) with jumps and regime-switches. The novelty lies in combining affine jump diffusion models with regime-switching dynamics within a unified framework, allowing for state-dependent jump behavior while preserving analytical tractability. This integration enables the model to simultaneously capture nonlinear market regimes and discontinuous movements in interest rates—features that traditional affine models or regime-switching models alone cannot jointly represent. Estimation is carried out using the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) with the believe that it is capable of handling nonlinearity, therefore should estimate the non-Gaussian dynamics well. The yield curve fitting demonstrate that both models fit our data well. RMSEs show that the regime-switching affine jump diffusion (RS-AJD) models outperforms the affine jump diffusion (AJD) in-sample.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyse the economic conditions of the beekeeping sector in Poland between 2019 and 2024, with particular emphasis on production costs, price formation mechanisms, the foreign trade balance, and the structure of honey supply. The analysis was based on data from public institutions, beekeeping organisations, in-dividual beekeepers, and the authors’ own research and analyses. The results indicate a clear increase in domestic honey production, which reached 31 thousand tonnes in 2024, confirming the growing potential of the sector. Poland is among the largest honey producers in the European Union. The market structure is dominated by direct sales; however, as production scale increases, wholesale channels become more important. Apiary size remains a key factor influencing unit costs and profitability – commercial apiaries benefit from economies of scale, while smaller operations have limited in-vestment capacity. During the analysed period, the sector faced significant cost pres-sures driven by high inflation and rising prices of beekeeping production inputs. The market analysis shows increasing competitive pressure, particularly in the wholesale segment, intensified by low-priced imported honey. The oversupply of popular honey types reduces profitability and weakens beekeepers’ bargaining position. The future development of the sector should focus on increasing the added value of production, diversifying distribution channels, expanding premium segments, and building strong and competitive brands. Ensuring the stability of the sector is crucial not only for the agri-food economy but also for ecosystem balance and food security. In this context, proactive measures and the consideration of appropriate market protection instruments are essential to mitigate the effects of market imbalances and enhance the sector’s re-silience to future economic shocks.

Abstract: In the context of China’s pursuit of high-quality economic development, enhancing agricultural productivity is crucial for ensuring food security and promoting common prosperity. This paper constructs a systematic IV-LP-ACF-SAR econometric framework to analyze agricultural Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth using panel data from 31 Chinese provinces spanning 2014 to 2023 (n=341 observations). The framework employs the Instrumental Variable (IV)-based Levinsohn-Petrin (LP) proxy variable method under the Ackerberg-Caves-Frazer (ACF) system to estimate a Translog production function while addressing endogeneity using multiple spatial weight matrices. TFP growth is decomposed into Technical Change (TC), Technical Efficiency (EC), and Scale Efficiency (SC). A Spatial Autoregressive (SAR) model with Dynamic Common Correlated Effects (DCCE) explores spatial spillover effects and regional heterogeneity. Results show that China’s agricultural TFP remained largely stagnant from 2014 to 2023 with an average annual growth rate of -0.18%, where Technical Efficiency decline (-0.33% annually) was the main constraint. Technical Change remained neutral, while Scale Efficiency contributed positively (+0.15% annually). Mechanization showed the highest output elasticity (0.99), while fertilizers, pesticides, and labor exhibited negative marginal returns. Spatial analysis revealed significant negative Scale Efficiency spillovers with regional patterns of “scale synergy in the Northeast/Northwest” and “efficiency synergy in East/North China.” These findings suggest that productivity policy should shift toward a dual-driver model combining efficiency enhancement and optimal scaling, with differentiated regional policies and inter-provincial coordination mechanisms necessary to mitigate negative spillovers and enhance sustainable agricultural growth quality.

Abstract: This investigation examines the efficacy of the Time Series Informer (TSI) architecture in forecasting stock prices, positioning it as a pivotal instrument within business intelligence (BI) paradigms. Amid the escalating intricacy and nonlinear dynamics inherent to financial markets, deep learning frameworks have emerged as preeminent modalities for delineating sequential dependencies. Employing a comprehensive historical dataset of stock prices sourced from Google, the present analysis juxtaposes the TSI with the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model. Performance is rigorously benchmarked through dual quantitative indices: The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and the Pearson correlation coefficient. Supplementary assessments encompass convergence trajectories, computational parsimony, and temporal overheads associated with model training. Empirical findings substantiate the superior predictive fidelity and correlative fidelity of TSI vis-à-vis LSTM, underscoring its adeptness at encapsulating protracted temporal interdependencies in financial chronologies. Visualization of convergence profiles evinces accelerated and more resilient optimization dynamics for TSI. Collectively, this multifaceted juxtaposition elucidates the model's viability for pragmatic stock market prognostication, thereby illuminating the transformative prospective of advanced neural architectures in fortifying strategic business intelligence infrastructures.

Abstract: This paper studies the volatility dynamics of the JSE Top40 Index by estimating a univariate GAS model with time-varying location, scale, and shape parameters (identity score scaling) and comparing its density and point-forecast performance against a standalone ARMA(3,2)-EGARCH(1,1) model and a hybrid ARMA(3,2)-EGARCH(1,1)-XGBoost framework. The GAS model is estimated on 3,515 daily observations, and several conditional densities are examined. The Student-t GAS model (GAS-STD) obtains the lowest information criteria within the GAS family (AIC = 10,188.142; BIC = 10,243.626) and exhibits statistically significant persistence in location and scale dynamics. Statistical diagnostics provide evidence of correct density calibration (Normalised Log Score = 1.1932; Uniform score = 0.4417), although residual skewness remains (IID-Test skewness p=0.0134). Out-of-sample analysis shows that GAS-STD performs strongly in density and risk forecasting, producing accurate 5% VaR and ES paths and passing coverage backtests (Kupiec LRuc p=0.8414; DQ p=0.2281). However, short-horizon point forecasts are best delivered by the hybrid ARMA-EGARCH-XGBoost model (RMSE = 0.1386), with Diebold-Mariano tests confirming a transitive ranking: Hybrid > ARMA-EGARCH > GAS-STD. Simulation experiments highlight the sensitivity of tail behaviour to degrees-of-freedom (e.g., kurtosis ν=5≈7.32). Overall, GAS-STD is a strong density and risk model for the JSE Top40, while the hybrid framework excels in short-term volatility forecasting.

Abstract: We compare three modern Bayesian approaches, Hamiltonian Monte Carlo, Variational Bayes, and Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation, for two classic spatial econometric specifications: the spatial lag model and spatial error model. Our Monte Carlo experiments span a range of sample sizes and spatial neighborhood structures to assess accuracy and computational efficiency. Overall, posterior means exhibit minimal bias for most parameters, with precision improving as sample size grows. VB and INLA deliver substantial computational gains over HMC, with VB typically fastest at small and moderate samples and INLA showing excellent scalability at larger samples. However, INLA can be sensitive to dense spatial weight matrices, showing elevated bias and error dispersion for variance and some regression parameters. Two empirical illustrations underscore these findings: a municipal expenditure reaction function for Île-de-France and a hedonic price for housing in Ames, Iowa. Our results yield actionable guidance. HMC remains a gold standard for accuracy when computation permits; VB is a strong, scalable default; and INLA is attractive for large samples provided the weight matrix is not overly dense. These insights help practitioners select Bayesian tools aligned with data size, spatial neighborhood structure, and time constraints.

Abstract: A new software platform is presented in this article to oversee and manage urban and industrial smart systems by employing digital twin technologies and immersive, interactive metaverse settings, thereby achieving environmentally sustainable urban infrastructure. The system proposed is prepared to track, simulate, and optimize building performance using predictive analytics and interactive dashboards, and thus serves as a modular, interoperable solution. By defining a multi-residential site management case study, a working prototype is developed and implemented here using simulated and realistic datasets, thereby designed for real-time calculation and visualization of key performance indicators (KPIs) across various areas, including energy efficiency, preventive maintenance, user experience through design, and economic performance. The choice of KPIs, such as energy usage intensity, return on investment, and user satisfaction, can benefit from this technology setup and yield improvements through enhanced operational efficiency, clearer decision-making, and long-term cost-effectiveness. Although such obstacles exist, empirical testing with real data may reveal that integration with hardware, interoperability with existing setups, and economic costing are feasible for small to medium-sized players. With evaluation performed using simulated data, the platform suggests a prospective setup ready to be tested through pilot testing with real-world deployment. In situating the Smart Infrastructure Metaverse here, as a transformation setup of digital governance within a built and developed framework with technological innovation coupled with sustainability and with inclusivity to all the players/stakeholders, the cities embarked here through ever-increasing digital ecosystems with advantages of having such works through an emerging discussion of how immersive technology informs here of a next-generation potential of smart, sustainable, and participatory urban living.

Abstract: We study a stochastic differential model for the dynamics of institutional corruption, extending a deterministic three-variable system -corruption perception, proportion of sanctioned acts, and policy laxity- by incorporating Gaussian perturbations into key parameters. We prove global existence and uniqueness of solutions in the physically relevant domain, and we analyze the linearization around the asymptotically stable equilibrium of the deterministic system. Explicit mean-square bounds for the linearized process are derived in terms of the spectral properties of a symmetric matrix, providing insight into the temporal validity of the linear approximation. To investigate global behavior, we relate the first exit time from the domain of interest to backward Kolmogorov equations and solve the associated elliptic and parabolic PDEs numerically with FreeFEM, obtaining estimates of expectations and survival probabilities. An application to the case of Mexico highlights nontrivial effects: while the spectral structure governs local stability, institutional volatility can nonmonotonically accelerate global exit, showing that highly reactive interventions without effective sanctions increase uncertainty. Policy implications and possible extensions are discussed.

Abstract: The global energy transition has created unprecedented linkages between precious metals markets and renewable energy sectors. This study examines the relationship between gold prices, silver prices, and global solar energy capacity over 2005-2024 using ARIMA and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) methodologies. The analysis reveals statistically significant short-term relationships where silver prices (p < 0.01) and solar capacity (p = 0.014) influence gold price movements. The VECM identifies cointegrating relationships among variables, with solar capacity showing high explanatory power (R² = 0.97). However, the limited sample size (n=20) and potential specification issues require cautious interpretation. These findings contribute to understanding commodity-energy market integration during structural transformation periods, with implications for portfolio management and energy transition finance. The results suggest that precious metals markets have incorporated renewable energy information as fundamental pricing factors, though the economic significance and stability of these relationships warrant further investigation with larger datasets.