Journal of Sustainable Business and Economics

Human Capital Formation and Territorial Governance at the Heart of Building a Skill's Local Economy: The Exemplarity of Corsica

Christophe Storai — 2024-02-26

In Corsica, the island economy is characterized by the absence of large multinational groups that direct and shape the global economy. Nor is there any mention of the existence of medium-sized enterprises, which in many other regions, like the Third Italy, constitute the spearhead of a dynamic economy. The Corsican economic fabric consists mainly of very small businesses, small farmers and producers, artisans, and traders. Given the hypertrophy of the public sector, private companies seem to be the only option likely to trigger a dynamic of territorial development. The latter necessarily involves the development of strategies for the formation of human capital and a technological research process whose objective is to increase the level of skills, responding to the immanent needs of the island territory. In this perspective, the mode of territorial governance prefigures a model of economic development to be favored.

Strategy, Ownership, and Performance of Firms in India: A Study of Manufacturing and Service Industries in India

Rahul Gupta Choudhury — 2024-03-14

Purpose: There is considerable interest among academicians as well as practitioners in strategic differences between foreign-owned firms and domestic businesses. Linked with this is the question of whether there is a relationship between strategy and performance. This paper primarily concentrates on the differences in strategy pursued by foreign-owned firms and domestic firms. Methodology: A questionnaire was constructed. It was administered to senior level managers of reputable firms. The comprehensive list of managers was obtained from various databases including that of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Responses to the questionnaire were received in two phases. The questionnaire was sent again after a fortnight of sending it the first time. None of the respondents asked for any clarification during their responses to the questionnaire. Findings: Results of analysis of the responses obtained clearly showed the differences in strategy between the two sets of firms. In the overall perspective, foreign-owned firms are much more holistic in their approach, whereas the domestic firms are quite narrow in their outlook—the domestic firms primarily concentrate on resources and how to add customers in order to survive and grow. The concept of investing in R & D, which is a prime parameter of strategy for foreign-owned firms, is completely absent in the case of domestic firms. As a result, factors affecting performance are far more widespread for foreign-owned firms than it is for domestic firms. Originality: While the comparison has been made between FOB and DOB, the differences in strategy have never been investigated before.

The Belt and Road Initiative's (BRI) Impact on International Trade of SAARC Countries

Naveed Sultan — 2024-01-25

The impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on foreign commerce in the nations that make up the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is compared in this study. With data taken from the World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) for two different time periods (2008–2012 and 2014–2018), the study assesses changes in imports, exports, trade balances, and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Different patterns in trade dynamics are revealed by the findings. Bangladesh had notable improvements in trade over the 2014–2018 period, whereas Afghanistan’s development was less than anticipated. Bhutan’s trade development was encouraged and in line with the goals of the Belt and Road Initiative. India demonstrated trade endurance by continuing to develop steadily. Positive developments were demonstrated by the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, confirming the BRI’s contribution to the growth of commerce. There have been improvements in the trade balances of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Maldives. Following the BRI, the FDI landscape steadied, with increases in FDI observed in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Maldives. With an emphasis on the significance of taking into account the particular context of every nation and the dynamic nature of international commerce, this research offers a comprehensive assessment of the effects of the Belt and Road Initiative. The results provide insightful information to help stakeholders, scholars, and policymakers navigate the intricate web of international commerce in the SAARC area.