International Journal of Trade and Global Markets (7 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Strategic HRM and green training driving SDG performance in Malaysias Oil & Gas: serial mediation via ethical climate and green commitment, moderated by green leadership  
  by Rana Tahir Naveed, Mohammad Adnan, Abdul Hamid Tasawar 
  Abstract: Aligning high-emission industries with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) requires transforming the human capital systems that operate them, not only their technologies. Drawing on the abilitymotivation opportunity framework and social cognitive theory, this study models strategic human resource management (SHRM) and green training as antecedents of SDG-aligned sustainable performance, serially mediated by employee green commitment and environmental ethical climate, with green leadership moderating the trainingcommitment path. A two-wave time-lagged survey of 312 employees in Malaysian Oil & Gas firms was analysed using PLS-SEM. SHRM (= 0.22, p < 0.01) and green training (= 0.18, p < 0.05) relate positively to sustainable performance; serial mediation is supported; and green leadership strengthens the trainingcommitment relationship (= 0.12, p < 0.01). The model explains 62% of variance in sustainable performance. Findings position HRM as a strategic lever for SDGs8, 12 and 13 in trade exposed, hydrocarbon-dependent economies.
  Keywords: strategic HRM; green training; sustainable performance; SDGs; sustainable development goals; Oil & Gas; Malaysia; ethical climate; green leadership.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTGM.2026.10080660
   
  
• Mapping digital trade facilitation research: customs modernisation, technology adoption, and policy gaps  
  by Huy Hoang Doan, Thi My Linh Tran 
  Abstract: Digital technologies such as electronic single windows, blockchain, and artificial intelligence are reshaping trade facilitation by reducing customs delays, compliance costs, and cross-border frictions. However, the intellectual structure and thematic evolution of digital trade facilitation remain underexplored. This study conducts a bibliometric and science-mapping analysis of 185 Scopus-indexed publications from 1985 to 2025. Using VOSviewer and the Bibliometrix R package, we apply co-citation analysis, keyword cooccurrence mapping, strategic diagram analysis, and thematic evolution analysis. The findings show rapid growth after 2018, associated with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and accelerated customs digitisation during COVID-19. Four clusters are identified: trade costs and gravity modelling, customs modernisation and blockchain, cross-border e-commerce and the digital economy, and regional integration and ASEAN. The study proposes a future research agenda on theoretical integration, micro-level evidence, regional diversification, and technology evaluation for developing economies.
  Keywords: digital trade facilitation; customs modernisation; technology adoption; bibliometric analysis; science mapping; electronic single window; blockchain; trade facilitation agreement; developing economies; global markets.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTGM.2026.10080829
   
  
• Effect of digital regulation and development on digital trade: a dynamic panel analysis  
  by Rikha Susanty Ariffin, Normaz Wana Ismail, Rusmawati Said 
  Abstract: This study examines the impact of digital regulations and the level of digital development on digital trade. Using balanced panel data from 73 high- and middle-income countries spanning 2017-2023, a two-step system GMM has been employed to estimate dynamic specifications that address endogeneity and lagged dependence. The results indicate a strong persistence in digital trade and reveal significant and negative relationships with digital regulations. In contrast, improvements in digital infrastructure, skills, usage, and security contribute to the growth of digital trade. The inclusion of COVID-19 and interaction for robustness has demonstrated that the pandemic acted as an exogenous catalyst, accelerating the growth of digital trade. Policy implications suggest that alleviating regulatory barriers while investing in inclusive digital ecosystems can bring significant trade benefits.
  Keywords: digital economy; digital regulation; digital trade; digital trade restrictiveness index; dynamic panel model; system GMM.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTGM.2026.10080895
   
  
• Financial inclusion, external shocks, and FDI resilience in West African countries: a panel data approach  
  by Umar Bala, Muhammad Bello Abubakar, Nasiru Inuwa 
  Abstract: This study examines the influence of financial inclusion on foreign direct investment (FDI) using the panel data of 10 West African countries from 2005 to 2024. The study employed fixed and random effects methods of estimation. The study examines both the direct impact of financial inclusion and its moderating effect during periods of external economic shocks. The results reveal that financial inclusion exerts a positive and statistically significant effect on FDI inflows, suggesting that improved access to financial services enhances investor confidence and facilitates capital inflow into the region. The introduction of external shock variables, such as the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, indicates a negative short-term impact on FDI. However, the interaction between financial inclusion and shocks shows that inclusive financial systems help mitigate these adverse effects. The findings underscore the importance of financial inclusion as a vital mechanism for promoting FDI resilience and sustaining long-term economic growth.
  Keywords: FDI; foreign direct investment; financial inclusion; external shocks; West Africa.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTGM.2027.10081853
   
  
• From ideas to markets: the export effects of patenting in the EU and UK  
  by Michaela Schönová, Zuzana Kittová 
  Abstract: This paper examines how innovation indicators relate to bilateral export flows among EU countries and the UK over 2013-2023. The analysis evaluates whether patent activity and R&D intensity translate into stronger export performance across total exports, selected intellectual property rights (IPR) sensitive and IPR non sensitive exports. Patent activity shows only small and statistically weak associations with export outcomes. R&D intensity does not exhibit statistically significant effects in any specification. Exporter gross domestic product (GDP) per capita displays a strong and statistically significant relationship with export performance in the total export and IPR sensitive models, while the effect is not significant in non-sensitive sectors. The study contributes by applying a two-step gravity framework based on Poisson pseudo maximum likelihood (PPML) and by distinguishing between IPR-sensitive and non-sensitive sectors. The results offer limited evidence of innovation-driven export advantages and indicate that innovation support is most effective when paired with broader competitiveness-enhancing policies.
  Keywords: gravity model; bilateral trade; intellectual property; patents; R&D investment.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTGM.2027.10081854
   
  
• Social disclosure and bank performance in Vietnam: the mediation effect of bank reputation  
  by Thi Lam Anh Nguyen, Hoang Hai Nguyen, Duy Anh Tran 
  Abstract: This study examines how social disclosure influences bank performance, emphasising the mediating role of bank reputation in Vietnam, a developing country with distinct socio-economic characteristics. Drawing on a cross-sectional sample of 1452 employees from 18 Vietnamese commercial banks and secondary data from audited financial reports, this study applies structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the proposed relationships. The findings reveal that three dimensions of social disclosure job satisfaction, labour rights, and stakeholder engagement exert significant and positive direct effects on bank performance. More importantly, bank reputation functions as a robust mediator across all relationships, amplifying the influence of social disclosure and underscoring its role as a critical intangible asset in the banking industry. Based on these insights, this study provides practical suggestions for banks and regulators to enhance social disclosure practices to improve bank reputation and performance.
  Keywords: social disclosure; job satisfaction; labour rights; stakeholder engagement; bank performance; bank reputation.
  
  
• Relationships between coping with barriers, work engagement, and career aspiration: the serial mediation effect of stereotype threat and occupational self-efficacy  
  by Sinto Sunaryo, Joko Suyono, Lilik Wahyudi, Alifah F. Fibayani, Dian Ekowati 
  Abstract: Drawing on the social cognitive career theory (SCCT) this study investigates the mechanism in which coping with barriers reduces the proximal contextual factor in the form of stereotype threat in women employees. Data were collected from 400 women employees across various industries in Indonesia and analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis to explain the proposed relationships. Our analysis finds that coping with barriers reduce stigma consciousness, while stereotype threats reduce occupational self efficacy. As a contrast, occupational self-efficacy increases work engagement which later improve career aspiration. We highlight the mediating role of stigma consciousness in explaining the connection between coping with barriers and occupational self-efficacy, and its serial mediation with occupational self-efficacy on the relationship between coping with barriers and work engagement. These findings addressed a gap in SCCT research, particularly on the mediating mechanism, as well as the issues of low womens participation in the workplace due to gender stereotypes.
  Keywords: stereotype vulnerability; stigma consciousness; self-efficacy; job engagement; career aspiration.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTGM.2026.10081910