An examination of Vietnam's financial sector for the period 1990 to 2022 provides empirical evidence of the relationship between banking development, trade openness, inflation, and economic growth. The findings, published in the International Journal of Economics and Business Research, suggest that a well-functioning banking system plays an important role in supporting economic activity. They also highlight some of the challenges facing developing nations associated with financial sector expansion in a globalized economy.

Thao Huong Phan and Thao Viet Tran of Thuongmai University and Trang Mai Tran of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, in Ha Noi, Vietnam, discuss how Vietnam's banking sector remains the dominant channel for capital allocation, given the relatively underdeveloped nature of its financial markets. Banks provide credit to businesses and individuals, facilitating investment and economic activity. Their research found a positive relationship between banking sector growth and economic expansion, both in the short and long term.

Trade openness, defined as the extent to which an economy engages in international trade, has previously been linked to economic growth. By participating in global markets, businesses gain access to new customers, technologies, and competitive pressures that can improve their overall productivity and their bottom line.

Of course, this kind of international exposure also comes with risks, particularly if domestic financial institutions are not well-equipped to manage the inevitable external shocks. The researchers suggest that Vietnam's banking sector needs to strengthen its ability to address such problems through improved risk management and regulatory oversight.

Inflation, another key factor in economic stability, also plays a role in financial sector performance. While moderate inflation can signal a growing economy, excessive inflation undermines purchasing power and creates uncertainty for investors. The study suggests that sound monetary policy, including responsible credit expansion and liquidity management, will also be important in ensuring financial stability.

As Vietnam continues to integrate into the global economy, its financial sector will need to adapt to new demands. Strengthening banking regulations, enhancing risk management practices, and ensuring adequate liquidity controls will be important in maintaining financial stability, the work suggests.

Phan, T.H., Tran, T.V. and Tran, T.M. (2025) 'Banking development contributes to economic growth and inflation control in Vietnam', Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 29, No. 7, pp.1-16.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2025.144102

Research in the International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management has looked at digital transformation in the German and Japanese automotive industries. The study highlights key differences in how companies in each country have adopted digital technology.

Martin Schröder of Ritsumeikan University in Osaka, Takefumi Mokudai of Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, and Hajo Holst of the University of Osnabrück, Germany, explain how digital transformation in the automotive industry is an ongoing process. It is encompassing a range of technological developments, including automation, smart manufacturing, mobility-as-a-service (MaaS), and the broader shift towards new business models.

One might talk of "Industry 4.0" as being the state-of-the-art where the emphasis is on automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. It is this that has been particularly influential in shaping how companies innovate and adapt and how they make the most of new opportunities.

The researchers found some notable distinctions between German and Japanese companies and their approach digitalization. German companies tend to adopt top-down, systematic approaches, implementing digital technologies across entire production lines. This, the team explains, is done in order to optimize manufacturing processes. In contrast, Japanese firms take a bottom-up approach, integrating digital tools incrementally into existing systems. This, the research suggests has led to "island solutions," or individual digital enhancements that are not necessarily integrated fully.

Nevertheless, firms in Germany and Japan are both evolving. Japanese firms are adopting more comprehensive and systematic digitalization models. While their German counterparts are increasingly focusing more on operational flexibility, reducing downtime, and improving product quality, rather than simply pursuing extensive automation. The changes reflect a broader shift in the automotive sector, as companies in both countries adapt to the challenges posed by digital technologies, the transition to electric vehicles, for instance.

Schröder, M., Mokudai, T. and Holst, H. (2024) 'Industry 4.0 and lean augmentation? Digital transformation in the German and Japanese automotive industry', Int. J. Automotive Technology and Management, Vol. 24, No. 6, pp.1–27.
DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2024.144148

A lot has been said about the tragic, and ongoing outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic. There has also been much discussion about the economic impact and how the pandemic led to a dramatic shift in work culture for many people. Remote working and working-from-home, while having been part of many people's day-to-day routines for decades, emerged more obviously for others from the emergency measures such as lockdowns and quarantines.

Research in the International Journal of Business Performance Management discusses how what began as a response to health and safety concerns for many people has since become the norm and an essential component of modern work structures for many organisations. Simanchala Das, Sanam Jaswanth, Nethi Sandhya, Ponnada Satya Sumanth, and Pattem Gayathri of the KL Business School at the Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation in Andhra Pradesh, India, point out that while remote work and working-from-home offer many advantages for lots of workers they also present challenges that organisations must address to maintain both productivity and employee well-being.

For many workers, the benefits of working-from-home are obvious. The flexibility to manage one's own schedule and work environment has contributed to an improved work-life balance for so many people. Moreover, without the need to commute, employees can save time and reduce stress, factors which have been linked to increased job satisfaction. Remote work offers autonomy, allowing employees to structure their day around personal priorities within limits, and this has led to greater perceived control over their work.

Employers have recognized many advantages, including reduced overheads associated with reduced facilities and utilities needs. Remote work also opens up the possibility of hiring talent beyond the local area, increasing access to a more diverse pool of candidates.

However, the widespread adoption of working-from-home has given rise to several challenges, particularly concerning employee well-being. Isolation is a recurring issue, with many remote workers reporting feelings of loneliness and a lack of connection to their colleagues. The absence of casual, in-person interactions, can make it harder to maintain team cohesion and effective communication. This lack of face-to-face contact can hinder collaboration and may reduce creativity and innovation, which thrive in environments where ideas can be shared informally. Additionally, there are suspicions among employers and industry leaders that staff working-from-home might in some ways lead to lower productivity without the pressure of one's boss keeping a weather eye on an employee's work in the office, for instance.

In response to challenges associated with well-being and mental health, many organisations are recognizing the importance of creating a supportive work culture in a remote setting. This includes not only providing the necessary digital tools to facilitate communication and productivity but also fostering an environment where employees feel connected and valued. Regular virtual check-ins, team-building exercises, and informal conversations are some of the strategies that can help mitigate the sense of isolation many remote workers experience.

However, if there is a shift in emphasis to outcomes rather than hours worked, then employee and employer can benefit greatly, it seems. A results-oriented approach allows businesses to strike a balance between offering flexibility to employees while ensuring that the goals of the organisation are still being met.

Das, S., Jaswanth, S., Sandhya, N., Sumanth, P.S. and Gayathri, P. (2025) 'Active and passive links between work from home and employee well-being: a post-COVID performance perspective', Int. J. Business Performance Management, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp.46–58.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBPM.2025.143644

The COVID-19 pandemic left few facets of life untouched tragically in so many cases. It also had a major impact on economics and shopping habits in particular. While e-commerce emerged at a time when the children of the Baby Boomer generation, Gen X, were first logging on, before the Millennials ever had a bank card and before Gen Z was even born, perhaps even before silver surfers were to be minted, it became the domain of the younger tech-savvy users. See footnote for generational definitions.

As the pandemic hit, Gen X and the Baby Boomers, many of whom had opted out after the dot-com bubble burst, found themselves opting back in out of necessity especially as online pharmaceutical platforms became de rigueur for dealing with the aches and ailments of the ageing internet players.

A study in the International Journal of Business Information Systems has looked closely at specific elements that inspire trust among older consumers, especially when purchasing medicines online. After all, this is an area of e-commerce fraught with safety concerns. Trust in this sector is more than just a buzzword. It does not matter so much if the latest gadget or fashion accessory does not live up to expectations, but when your life-saving pills and potions fall short…well, it could be game over.

It has to be emphasised that for consumers who spent decades relying on face-to-face interactions at local pharmacies, for many making the digital leap to online transactions requires overcoming a lifetime of ingrained habits. The researchers conducted a detailed analysis of survey data from 314 respondents. They used structural equation modelling, a sophisticated statistical method, to identify relationships between variables emerging from the survey answers.

The team has found that three factors are associated with reliably building trust among older e-commerce users: brand image, monetary value, and offline presence.

Brand image emerges as a powerful influence. A vendor with a strong, positive reputation can reassure wary customers by reducing perceived risks, a critical concern for individuals used to assessing products in person. Whether through word-of-mouth, advertising, or long-standing credibility, a trusted brand becomes a dead cert, if you'll pardon the allusion.

Equally important, the team found, was value for money. Competitive pricing and well-crafted discounts are not mere enticements. For older consumers, often living on fixed incomes, such financial incentives can make online shopping more appealing and more accessible.

Finally, the existence of a physical shop, somewhere in town or a not-too-distant location, offers additional reassurance. An offline location tethers the online operation to the real world. This makes it tangible and legitimate, almost suggesting that if one really had to, one could drive to the shop and discuss any concerns face to face with the manager. Ultimately, this notion bridges any gap in the trust might one have in a virtual as opposed to a physical shop.

What began as a necessary adjustment during the pandemic, is evolving into a permanent shift, with many older shoppers who may well not have had a prior digital life, proving that it can be, for them just as with any Gen Z, all about the clicks.

Maddodi, B., Shetty, D.K., Tatkar, N.S., Parthasarathy, K., Shridutt, B., Prasad, S.K., Pavithra, S., Naik, N., Mahdaviamiri, D. and Patil, V. (2025) 'Factors influencing online purchase decisions of pharmaceutical products by baby boomers: mediating effect of consumer behaviour and attitude on trust development', Int. J. Business Information Systems, Vol. 48, No. 1, pp.118–135.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2025.144077

The term artificial intelligence (AI) has perhaps been much misused, not least in hyperbolic reports in the media of its potential to destroy the creative industries and to wreak havoc on the job market. However, AI encompasses so many disparate tools not just the generative software that magics up images, music, video, and text from user prompts but also the analytical tools that can spot latent patterns in data whether that's financial reports or medical scans.

Despite the hyperbole, it can be said that AI and related tools are changing the way many processes across industries and academia are carried out. Sometimes the transformation is certainly for the better when the AI tools can detect patterns that would normally be missed by human or even conventional software analysis. Research in the International Journal of Behavioural Accounting and Finance has looked at how AI might benefit corporate operations in terms of financial reporting, decision-making, and stakeholder engagement.

Adel Almasarwah of Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia, Assyad Al-Wreikat of Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland, USA, Yahya Marei of Seneca College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Nizar Alsharari of Jackson State University in Jackson, Missouri, USA, point out that conventional labour-intensive tasks can be automated using machine-learning tools, neural networks, algorithms. These could allow businesses to handle data, make decisions, and communicate transparency more readily than previously.

The shift reflects the ability of AI tools to process enormous quantities of data quickly and accurately. Given that financial reporting is usually an arduous task prone to human error, the refinements offered by AI's capacity to identify trends and anomalies could ensure greater accuracy in corporate disclosures. This should allow companies to meet increasingly stringent regulatory requirements and the expectations of investors and other stakeholders more effectively.

Accurate and timely financial reporting, supported by AI, has the potential to foster trust among stakeholders and strengthen corporate governance practices. For investors, in particular, the ability to rely on clear, data-driven insights should enhance confidence in a company's management and operations.

Almasarwah, A., Al-Wreikat, A., Marei, Y. and Alsharari, N. (2024) 'AI's influence on corporate transparency and financial performance: a new era', Int. J. Behavioural Accounting and Finance, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp.233-253.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBAF.2024.143833

A study in the International Journal of Agriculture Innovation, Technology and Globalisation looks at a little-researched factor in pig farming: the libido of boars and the impact this has on sow fertility. Tshepo Teele of the Center of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the University of South Africa, has looked at indigenous pig breeds in South Africa and identified the sex drive of the boar as having a big impact on litter size. Obviously, litter size has a big effect on the efficiency and sustainability of pig-farming operations.

Teele points out that Southern African indigenous pig breeds have not generally undergone the same genetic selection processes as other more widely held porcine stock. As such, they have unique reproductive characteristics. Moreover, they are commonly adaptable and have resistance to troublesome diseases. Given that pork is a significant source of relatively low-cost protein, these breeds could have an even more important role to play in the market for pork. However, attention needs to be paid to their reproductive capacity and breeding.

Efficient breeding systems are important for meeting demand, keeping costs down, and ensuring breeders and farmers make a sustainable living from their livestock. Teele explains that conventional breeding programmes tend to focus on growth rate and carcass quality, reproductive factors, particularly boar libido, deserve closer attention for facile ways to improve yields.

Porcine libido can be measured in terms of reaction time (the interval from mounting to ejaculation). It can have a direct impact on sow fertility, not least because boars with a higher libido can through their behaviour and pheromone release stimulate earlier maturity in gilts, young female pigs, and trigger the development of larger litters.

The work argues for the inclusion of libido-focused estimated breeding values as a statistical tool for predicting genetic potential in breeding strategies. By doing so, farmers can build on the natural strengths of their pigs to improve yields.

Reproductive traits in pigs are inherited at quite a low rate. However, dietary supplements such as zinc and selenium are known to boost testosterone levels, which may improve boar libido. Given the correlation between boar libido and sow fertility, there are obvious practical interventions that could complement any breeding efforts to boost reproductive outcomes.

Teele, T. (2024) 'Analysis of the reproduction components trait litter size in sows and interaction with boar libido in indigenous pigs', Int. J. Agriculture Innovation, Technology and Globalisation, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp.217–226.
DOI: 10.1504/IJAITG.2024.143902

The Tobacco Cutworm, or Cotton Cutworm, is a moth species native to Asia, it is considered a serious agricultural pest. The larvae of Spodoptera litura, to give the species its scientific binomial, are responsible for significant damage to economically vital crops such as vegetables, grains, and cotton, particularly. It can adapt easily to different environments and has developed resistance to conventional pesticides. These and other factors have made it a persistent and costly problem for farmers worldwide.

Research in the International Journal of Agriculture Innovation, Technology and Globalisation introduces a new system based on the Internet of Things (IoT) that might be able to address this agricultural threat by improving monitoring and allowing more targeted response to the species.

Jheng-Hong Hu, Ming-Yao Chiang, Jenn-Kuo Tsai, and Chiling Chen of the Ministry of Agriculture in Taichung City and Chau-Chin Lin of the Society of Subtropical Ecology in Taipei City, have suggested that by using an IoT system that brings together infrared automatic counting devices, low-power LoRa (Long Range) wireless data transmission and mobile platforms, it should be possible to monitor Tobacco Cutworm infestations in real time. Such an automated approach would provide timely alerts, allowing farmers to act quickly and prevent widespread crop damage.

The team has conducted field trials in partnership with the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute and local farmers and demonstrated the system's effectiveness when compared with manual monitoring as well as its adaptability for practical use. Fundamentally, the approach allows for a more timely response that avoids the use of blanket pesticide spraying and uses more focused treatment with effective materials. It will be effective in a wide range of agricultural settings, from small farms to large commercial enterprises.

Hu, J-H., Chiang, M-Y., Tsai, J-K., Lin, C-C. and Chen, C. (2024) 'Internet of things technology applied in monitoring and warning of Spodoptera litura Fabricius (tobacco cutworm) occurrences', Int. J. Agriculture Innovation, Technology and Globalisation, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp.257–272.
DOI: 10.1504/IJAITG.2024.143907

The Anthropocene is a relatively recent term, coined to define the epoch in which human activity is increasingly dictating environmental and biological change on earth as previous periods driven by natural occurrences did in pre-history; during the Pleistocene, for instance. Technically, the current epoch is the Holocene, but human activity has altered the world so significantly, that, with our usual species-centric perspective, we have shunned hubris and given the current epoch this new name in a fit of unaccustomed self-awareness.

Writing in the Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, Miti Mallick of Bankura University in Purandarpur, West Bengal, India, discusses how the concept of the Anthropocene plays out across the economic landscape too. While the Anthropocene has brought major improvements in living conditions for the wealthier nations, it is becoming ever clearer that the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation will demand more drastic measures from these same nations in terms of sustaining their own living standards and improving those of the majority that live in poverty.

At the heart of any such discourse is the concept of capitalism. This is the dominant global economic force that organizes production, labour, and the distribution of wealth. Capitalism is driven by the principles of private ownership and the pursuit of profit. It has been instrumental in driving what we consider economic growth but has also contributed to social inequality, environmental destruction, and a growing sense of disconnection between the economy and the planet's ecological limits.

Capitalism functions in liberal market economies, which emphasize decentralized markets, as well as in state-coordinated models, where government plays a more prominent role.

The consequences of capitalism have become increasingly difficult to ignore as historically the maximization of profits has been at the long-term cost of environmental and social considerations, the research argues. The rise of oligarchic capitalism, which benefits a select few and see multibillionaires in powerful positions within society, and the focus on technological innovation, have further worsened the social and environmental toll.

In the context of the Anthropocene, this economic model is coming under increasing scrutiny. It seems that capitalism as we know it may be at a pivot point. Given that scholars, activists, and policymakers are beginning to challenge the assumption that economic growth and ecological sustainability are inherently incompatible, there is a need for a new capitalism. One that redefines value in terms that extend beyond profit margins. This reimagined model of capitalism might centre on the well-being of individuals, communities, and the environment. Investments would no longer solely be evaluated on their financial returns but also on their potential to reduce inequality and promote sustainable development.

This putatively idyllic world may not be to everyone's taste especially some of those multibillionaires. While entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers are increasingly being called to task, there is not necessarily the political will nor the motivation for egocentric oligarchs to imagine such a world. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

Mallick, M. (2025) 'How capitalism could be the new market in the Anthropocene era: a review', Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp.1–15.
DOI: 10.1504/IER.2025.143620

Research in the International Journal of Computational Vision and Robotics could lead to faster and more accurate robots for high-precision tasks in factories.

Delta robots are parallel computer-controlled machines that have a fixed base and a set of three arms connected to a platform. They are typically used for pick-and-place applications in industries like packaging, assembly, electronics fabrication, pharmaceutical production, and food processing. They can work very quickly, making precise movements for even delicate tasks. Unlike serial robots, the parallel kinematics of delta robots means arms and actuators work together to move the platform.

Riyadh A. Sarhan, Zaid H. Rashid, and Mohammed S. Hassan of the Technical University in Babylon, Iraq, are working to make delta robots even more reliable and have developed a novel control system that boosts their ability to make swift, precise movements. In their paper, they integrate fuzzy logic with an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). This hybrid technology combines the best aspects of artificial neural networks and fuzzy logic to manage the complex kinematics, the mathematical description of the robot's movements, in order to improve performance significantly.

The improvement in control of precision delta robots should allow manufacturers to increase speed, quality, and overall efficiency on their production lines. Moreover, there is the potential in this hybrid control approach to allow delta robots to be more responsive to and to compensate for changes in their environment.

As industries continue to look for ways to improve automation, the research offers step towards faster, more accurate robotic systems.

Sarhan, R.A., Rashid, Z.H. and Hassan, M.S. (2025) 'Motion control of 3-DoF delta robot using adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system', Int. J. Computational Vision and Robotics, Vol. 15, No. 7, pp.1–16.
DOI: 10.1504/IJCVR.2025.143990

Digital therapeutics allow healthcare workers and patients use software is in the management and treatment of disease. The idea spans various healthcare areas, including mental health, chronic disease management, neurological disorders, addiction treatment, and rehabilitation.

Software-based interventions often offer personalized therapies through apps or digital platforms, using techniques like cognitive behavioural therapy, symptom tracking, and virtual exercises to help manage conditions such as mental health problems, diabetes, substance use, and recovery from physical injuries.

Research in the International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, suggests that digital therapeutics have changed the healthcare landscape Of course, the rapid commercialisation of these products has continued apace but equally important is the challenge of the internationalisation of such systems allowing them to be expanded into foreign markets. Amy Lee and Grigorij Ljubownikow of The University of Auckland, New Zealand, have highlighted how these processes commercialisation and internationalisation, traditionally seen as separate, are deeply interconnected for companies that start out as born-digital enterprises.

These companies all operate in highly regulated environments. What sets them apart from conventional healthcare companies is their use of wholly digital solutions. The shift from conventional to digital was happening steadily up to around 2020 but was accelerated enormously by the pandemic and the urgent need for remote, or virtual, care.

The researchers point out that while traditional companies might commercialise their product domestically first and then branch out internationally, digital therapeutics firms have had to rethink this linear path because in the digital world global is essentially just as immediate and local a market as the domestic one. The research reveals that for these companies, international expansion is not a separate concern to be tackled later, but has to be a key factor in the broader strategy from the outset.

The research emphasises how collaboration, networking, and continuous learning within these companies can help them address the additional challenges of regulatory and reimbursement hurdles across international markets. While global may be perceived as the new local, there are still enormous differences in the socio-political and economic environments between countries. Navigating the diverse institutional and international frameworks requires not only innovation in product development but also flexibility in business models. Lee and Ljubownikow's findings thus offer insights into how firms can refine their strategies for global growth.

Lee, A. and Ljubownikow, G. (2024) 'The road to commercialisation: expanding digital therapeutics across international markets', Int. J. Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, Vol. 21, No. 5, pp.1–25.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2024.143991