The accessibility of FinTech services is increasing, and their convenience is making them more popular than traditional banks, particularly among Generation Z. The objective of this research is to identify and compare the factors influencing the conscious use of FinTech services among Generation Z members, who are the most active participants in this field of financial technology. The questionnaire based purposive sample consisted of Generation Z students who demonstrated adequate financial literacy and utilized FinTech, and who were learning in a university environment in Hungary and Romania. A sample of 600 respondents was selected for analysis after cleaning the data online. The methodological approach entailed the utilization of covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). The results indicate that social influence (β = 0.18), consumer attitude (β = 0.53) and facilitating conditions intention (β = 0.11) all have a significant effect on the behavior intention, explaining 49% of the variance. In the context of performance expectation, the effect of facilitating conditions intention is not significant (p = 0.491). The motivation of Generation Z towards fintech solutions is evident in their preference for speed and ease of use. However, in order to reinforce consumer expectations and transfer the necessary experience and attitudes, it may be beneficial for service providers to adopt a partially different strategy in different countries. Generation Z can thus serve as a crucial reference point for the even more discerning expectations of subsequent generations. The findings may inform the formulation of strategies for fintech service providers to better understand customer behavior.

The article presents a study of the connectivity and integration of sovereign bond and stock markets in 10 BRICS+ countries in the context of crisis instabilities in 2019−2024. Financial markets are becoming more integrated, and an increasing share of public investments are carried out across borders, which increases not only the opportunities for participants, but also the risks of a new crisis. The work used data on central bank rates of the considered countries, yield indices of 10-year government bonds, gold and Brent oil prices. The methods include the analysis of exchange rate dynamics, connectivity estimates based on the multivariate concordance coefficient and two-factor Friedman rank variance analysis, VAR models, Granger predictability and cointegration. The objective of this study is to analyze the interrelationship and cointegration between the sovereign bond and equity markets of selected BRICS+ countries during crisis periods. Our findings indicate that market interrelationship intensifies during crises, which in turn amplifies volatility. Additionally, we observed that none of the economies within the BRICS+ group can be classified as fully integrated or entirely isolated markets. The disruption of the interrelationship in the sovereign bond markets of the group is primarily reflected in the inconsistency of dynamic changes between Russia, China, and India. During the global shock of 2019–2020, the crisis spread from China, followed by Indonesia, and later to the other countries of the group. The financial and debt markets of the sampled countries were able to quickly cope with the severe shocks of the COVID-2019 period. The 2022–2024 crisis, which lasted significantly longer, began in Russia before spreading to countries across Asia and Africa. By 2024, Russia’s sovereign bond yields showed a marked decline. The increased market volatility following 2022 disrupted the integration and interrelationship of the stock and debt markets within the BRICS+ countries.

Management and efficiency have a fundamental impact on the performance of public hospitals, as well as on their philanthropic mission. Various studies have shown that the financial weaknesses of these entities affect the planning, setting of goals and objectives, monitoring, evaluation and feedback necessary to improve health systems and guarantee accessibility as an inalienable right. This study aims to analyze the management and efficiency of third-level and/or high-complexity hospitals in Colombia, through a statistical model that uses financial analysis and key performance indicators (KPIs) such as ROA, ROE and EBITDA. A non-experimental cross-sectional design is used, with an analytical-synthetic, documentary, exploratory and descriptive approach. The results show financial deficiencies in the hospitals evaluated; hence it is recommended to make adjustments in the operating cycle to increase efficiency rates. In addition, the use of the KPIs ROA and ROE under adjusted models is suggested for a more precise analysis of the financial ratios, since these adequately explain the variability of each indicator and are appropriate to evaluate hospital management and efficiency, but not in EBITDA ratio, hence the latter is not recommended to evaluate hospital efficiency reliably. This study provides relevant information for public health policy makers, hospital managers and researchers, in order to promote the efficiency and improvement of health services.

Based on the resource-based view and institutional theory, this study investigates the impact of their environmental management capabilities and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) pressure on the non-financial performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In particular, it examines the interaction effect of ESG pressures on the relationship between SMEs’ environmental management capabilities and non-financial performance. For this study, a total of 1865 SME lists were obtained through Jeonnam Techno Park and Jeonnam Small Business Job and Economy Promotion Agency. Based on this, a total of 127 questionnaires were returned as a result of a telephone, e-mail, and online survey, and finally, an empirical analysis was conducted based on 120 questionnaires. We conducted an empirical analysis of Korean SMEs and obtained the following results: First, environmental management capabilities have a significant, positive effect on SMEs’ non-financial performance. Second, ESG pressure has a significant, negative effect on the non-financial performance of SMEs. Next, we analyzed the moderating effect of ESG pressures and observed that ESG pressures strengthen the positive effect of environmental management capabilities on non-financial performance. Based on the resource-based perspective and institutional theory, this study provides meaningful academic implications by examining environmental management capabilities and ESG pressures, which have not been identified in previous studies, as factors of non-financial performance that are becoming important under the new management paradigm, such as climate change and ESG. Furthermore, while ESG pressure has a significant negative effect on non-financial performance, we find that it is a moderating variable that strengthens the relationship between SMEs’ environmental management capabilities and non-financial performance, which has useful academic and practical implications for ESG and strategic management.

Several studies have explored green economy and the needs for improvement on the standard of living among low-income families or households in many developing countries including Bangladesh. Similarly, there is an emphasis on economic growth and vision 2030 is regarded stressed. Nonetheless, there is less attention in exploring green economy in propelling sustainable financial inclusion among low-income families and households in Bangladesh in order to attain vision 2030 and overall economic growth.  The primary objective is to explore green economy in fostering sustainable financial inclusion among low-income families and households in Bangladesh in enhancing economic growth and vision 2030 in Bangladesh. Content Analysis (CA) and systematic literature review (SLR) as an integral part of qualitative research. Secondary data were gathered through different sources such as: Web of Science (WOS), related journals, published references, research papers, library sources and reports. The results indicated that poverty is a prime challenge impeding sustainable financial inclusion among low-income families and households in Bangladesh. The study has further established the potential of green economy in improving well-beings and social fairness in fostering sustainable and inclusive finance among families or households with low-income in the country. The paper also highlighted the necessity of implementing policy relating to vision 2030 by enhancing sustainable and inclusive finance among low-income households in particular and overall economic growth in the country in general. In conclusion, it has been reiterated that green economy has been a mechanism for achieving sustainable development in general and poverty eradication among low-income households in Bangladesh. It is therefore suggested that the government and economic policymakers should provide enabling environment for improving green economy among low-income households in achieving Vision 2030 and overall economic growth in the country.