Using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), this study investigated the effect of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, social influence, facilitating condition, lifestyle compatibility, and perceived trust on both the intention to use and adoption of an e-wallet among adults. This quantitative study employed a cross-sectional research technique to collect data from 501 respondents via Google Form. The acquired data was assessed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Therefore, perceived usefulness, perceived simplicity of use, social influence, lifestyle compatibility, and perceived trust all had a strong positive impact on both intentions to use and adoption of an e-wallet. This study demonstrated that the intention to use an e-wallet mediated the links between predictors and e-wallet adoption. Respondents’ age and gender moderated the effect of lifestyle compatibility on their intention to use an e-wallet. The study’s findings can assist managers and policymakers establish successful ways that capture customers’ intention to use and experience with employing an e-wallet amid a tumultuous market. Finally, such well-crafted policies may stimulate the digital platform and web-based apps, as well as raise e-wallet acceptance rates in undeveloped countries.

This research aims to explore the impact of government policies to promote mass tourism in Bali. Qualitative method with the support of a phenomenological approach and in-depth interviews and FGD. The Butler tourism area life cycle model theory is used to evaluate the impact of tourism on land use and cultural conflict with six stages of destination development, namely exploration, involvement, development, consolidation, stagnation, and decline or rejuvenation. The findings reveal that Bali has experienced all stages of Butler’s model. From 1960–1970, Bali was in the exploration phase, offering tourists authentic experiences. At the beginning of 1970–2000, Bali had entered five phases marked by rapid tourism growth. Now, Bali reached a consolidation phase with a focus on managing tourism quality. Now, Bali is entering a phase of stagnation, facing challenges such as overcrowding and environmental degradation. Bali is at the crossroads between phases of decline and rejuvenation, with efforts to overcome environmental problems and diversify tourism products. This study concludes that mass tourism has significant positive and negative impacts on tourist destinations. Although it can improve the local economy and preserve culture, it can also cause environmental damage and cultural conflict. The Bali government’s policy strategy for the future is to overcome cultural conflicts including tourist education, sustainable tourism development, empowerment of local communities, enforcement of regulations, and intercultural dialogue. The implementation of this policy strategy can be carried out effectively to manage cultural conflicts towards a sustainable Bali tourism future.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces unique challenges and opportunities in integrating sustainability into sovereign credit assessments. This research study examines environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors embedded in the lending policies of jurisdictional institutions in MENA. By analyzing existing literature and case studies, we identify key drivers and barriers to ESG integration in sovereign lending. Our findings suggest a growing recognition of sustainability’s importance in financial stability and credit, driven by global climate guarantees and local socio-economic development. However, challenges such as data availability, regulatory frameworks, and market acceptance persist. This paper provides an overview of current practices, highlights best practices, and offers recommendations to enhance ESG integration in sovereign debt reviews in the MENA region. The study concludes that a robust ESG framework is necessary to accurately reflect the long-term risks and opportunities associated with sovereign debt, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic growth regionally.

The study intends to identify the existing implementation bottlenecks that hamper the effectiveness of the Ethiopian forest policy and laws in regional states by focusing on the Oromia Regional State. It attempts to address the question, "What are the challenges for the effective implementation of the federal forest policy and law in Ethiopia in general and Oromia Regional State in particular?". The study followed a qualitative research approach, and the relevant data was collected through in-depth interviews from 11 leaders and experts of the policy, who were purposively selected. Furthermore, relevant documents such as the constitutions, forest policies and laws, and government documents were carefully reviewed. Based on this, the study found that there is the dichotomy between the provision of the constitution regarding the forest policy and lawmaking and the constitutional amendment on one hand and the push for genuine decentralization in the Ethiopian federal state on the other. To elaborate, the constitution is rigid for amendment, and it has given the power of forest policy and lawmaking to the federal government. On the other hand, the quest for genuine decentralization requires these powers to be devolved to the regional states. As the constitution is rigid, this may continue to be the major future challenge of the forest policy and lawmaking of the state. This demonstrates a conflict of interests between the two layers of governments, i.e., the federal and regional (Oromia Regional State) governments. Respecting and practicing the constitution may be the immediate solution to this pressing problem.

While there has been much discussion about the large infrastructure needs in Asia and the Pacific, less attention has been paid to public expenditure efficiency in infrastructure services delivery. New constructions are not the only solution, especially when governments have limited capital to invest. Globally, new infrastructure projects face delays and cost overruns, leading to an inefficient use of public resources. The root causes include the lack of transparency in project selection, the lack of project preparation, the silo approach by public entities in assessing feasibility studies, and the lack of public sector capacity to fully develop a bankable pipeline of projects. To tackle these issues, governments need a smarter investment approach and to do so, enhancing public service efficiency is very crucial. The paper suggests a “whole life cycle” (WLC) approach as the main strategic solution for the discussed issues and challenges. We expand the definition of WLC to include the entire life cycle of the infrastructure asset from need identification to its disposal. The stages comprise planning, preparation, procurement, design, construction, operation and maintenance, and disposal. This is because we believe any efficient or inefficient decision throughout such a wide life cycle influences the quality of public services. Hence, in this holistic approach, infrastructure life cycle consists of four phases: planning, preparation, procurement, and implementation. Governments could enhance public efficiency and thus improve access to finance throughout the WLC by several solutions. These are (i) preparing infrastructure master plan and pipelines and long-term budgeting during the planning phase; (ii) establishing framework and guidelines and improving governance during preparation phase; (iii) promoting standardization, transparency, open government, and contractual consistency during the procurement phase; and finally (iv) continued role of government and total asset management during the implementation phase. In addition to these phase-specific means, key WLC solutions include proper use of technology, capacity building, and private participation in general and public-private partnership (PPP) in particular.

This study aims to explore the link and match policy through industrial classes and its impact on the competence and employability of Vocational High School (VHS) graduates. The importance of this research is to address the gap between education and industry by assessing the effectiveness of industrial classes in improving the skills and employability of VHS graduates. Horison Industrial Class (HIC) in 4 schools, namely: (1) SMKN 57 Jakarta, 2 batches of Hospitality expertise programs; (2) SMKN 6 Yogyakarta, there are 3 batches of Hospitality expertise programs; (3) SMKN 6 Semarang, there are 2 batches of Hospitality expertise programs; (4) SMKN 2 Semarang. This research emphasizes the important role of industry involvement and commitment in aligning the curriculum with industry needs. The field findings show that the implementation of the link and match policy through industrial classes significantly affects the quality of learning in VHS. The study also highlights the influence of government support and industry associations in ensuring the successful implementation of industrial classes. Student participation in industry classes directly enriches their learning experiences by allowing them to engage in direct practice in a real work environment. These findings can contribute to the implementation of policies and regulations in the field of education, especially in the context of vocational education. The findings of this study can also be applied to vocational students to improve the quality of graduates in order to meet the qualification standards of employees in companies or industries.