The role of technology in stimulating economic growth needs to be reexamined considering current heightened economic conditions of Asian developing Economies. This study conducts a comparative analysis of technology proxied by R&D expenditures alongside macroeconomic variables crucial for economic growth. Monthly time-series data from 1990 to 2019 were analyzed using a vector error correction model (VECM), revealing a significant impact of technology on the economic growth of India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. However, in the cases of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Bangladesh, macroeconomic indicators were found more crucial to their economic growth. Results of Granger causality underlined the relationship of R&D expenditures and macroeconomic variables with GDP growth rates. Sensitivity analyses endorsed robustness of the results which highlighted the significance and originality of this study in economic growth aligned with sustainable development goals (SDGs) for developing countries.

This study explores the critical role of the retail sector in the global economy and the importance of working capital management within retail businesses. Recognizing retail’s influence beyond just income generation, the research examines its impact on economic stability, job creation, and national GDP, and how it links industries such as manufacturing and logistics. Employing a blended-methods approach, the study integrates quantitative analysis using AMOS software with qualitative insights from interviews with financial managers and retail experts. Key focus areas include cash flow management, market demand, and supplier relationship management in the context of working capital management. Findings highlight the necessity of effective working capital management in maintaining financial stability, optimizing shareholder wealth, and ensuring long-term business viability in the retail sector. Strategies for enhancing profitability, such as improving supplier relationships and adapting to market demands, are identified. This research contributes to understanding the economic impact of the retail sector and the intricacies of working capital management. It offers insights for policymakers, retail managers, and academics, emphasizing the need for supportive retail industry measures and effective financial management practices. The study fills a gap in literature and sets a foundation for future research in this critical area of economic studies and retail management.

This study examines the impact of education quality and innovative activities on economic growth in Shanghai through international trade and fixed asset formation. The study examines how higher education quality and innovation activities drive regional economic growth, with a focus on the mediating effects of international trade and fixed asset formation in Shanghai. The study adopts a quantitative approach utilizing panel data from 31 provinces in China covering the period from 1999 to 2022. The study incorporates variables such as education quality, innovation capacity, and GDP per capita, as well as control variables like labor, capital, and infrastructure. The methodology involves multiple regression models and robustness tests to verify the relationships between and effects of education quality and innovation with regard to economic growth. This study analyzes the direct and indirect effects of university R&D expenditure and innovation on economic growth using a regression model, based on data from 2014 to 2022 in relation to Shanghai. The model introduces variables such as international trade, capital formation, and urbanization to analyze the relationship between higher education quality and economic growth.

This study seeks to explore the information value of free cash flow (FCF) on corporate sustainability and investigate the moderating effects of board gender diversity and firm size on the association between FCF and corporate sustainability of Thai listed companies. The dataset consists of companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) in 2022. Multivariate regression analysis is executed in this study. Subsequently, PROCESS macro served to evaluate the proposed hypotheses. This study found that FCF has a significant positive relationship with corporate sustainability. As well, board gender diversity and firm size both moderate the relationship between FCF and corporate sustainability, such that the positive effect of FCF on corporate sustainability is stronger when the proportion of female boards diminishes, while firm size is smaller. However, when firms have a larger proportion of females on the boards of directors for all levels of firm size, free cash flow indicates that there is no statistically significant effect on corporate sustainability. This study contributes to FCF and sustainability literature by understanding the extent of corporate sustainability.

The consensus is that price stability promotes sustainable economic growth while excessive inflation harms growth. This study assesses the linkage between inflation and economic growth in South Africa to determine the optimal inflation rate threshold for the sustainable growth of the economy. Quarterly data from 1995 to 2022 was analysed through the ARDL and threshold regressions. The ARDL and threshold regressions estimate established a relationship between inflation and economic growth and computed the optimal inflation rate threshold for economic growth at 6 percent. The results also established that both the repo rate (repurchase rate) and real effective exchange rate have a negative relationship with economic growth. The Toda-Yamamoto causality test result indicated a unidirectional causality runs from inflation to economic growth. These results are crucial for the South African Reserve Bank to discharge its monetary policy functions to attain and maintain price stability. Therefore, this study offers the Bank a roadmap for targeting an inflation rate that aligns with the nation’s long-term objectives for sustainable economic growth.