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.

Analysing external factors with a design-thinking approach is crucial for adaptation, identifying opportunities, and mitigating risks in native digital enterprises. This research introduces a framework rooted in design principles and future scenarios for external analysis, with the aim of meeting current market needs. The study employs a mixed qualitative-quantitative research approach, incorporating methods such as literature review, workshops, and surveys. These methods enable the collection and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data, providing a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the research topic by using it in a DNVB case study. Developing a conceptual framework using a design-thinking approach which we call ASPECT contributes to a comprehensive interpretation of complexity, intertwining collective and individual factors. This reduces the risk of overlooking essential elements when making strategic decisions in ambiguous, uncertain, and volatile contexts. This method contrasts with traditional external analysis frameworks like CAME, Pestle, and SWOT. The document aims to contribute to the literature by exploring new models of external analysis based on the design process. This framework combines the conventional stages of a design thinking process with methodologies for future scenarios to identify relevant external factors for organizations. It provides an innovative conceptual framework for creating new business models and growth strategies for digital enterprises.

Our environment has been significantly impacted by man-made pollutants, primarily due to industries making substantial use of synthetic chemicals, resulting in significant environmental consequences. In this research investigation, the co-precipitation approach was employed for the synthesis of cellulose-based ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃/cellulose) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO_x-NPs). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were conducted to determine the properties of the newly synthesised nanoparticles. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles were employed for eliminating chromium from aqueous media under various conditions, including temperature, contact time, adsorbent concentration, adsorbate concentration, and pH. Additionally, the synthesised materials were used to recover Cr(VI) ions from real samples, including tap water, seawater, and industrial water, and the adsorptive capacity of both materials was evaluated under optimal conditions. The synthesis of Fe₂O₃/cellulose and CuO_x-NPs proved to be effective, as indicated by the outcomes of the study. 

In recent years, an ‘international’ unanimity has been reached as to the importance of collective collaboration to avoid the negative effects of climate change. This requires rethinking the old or traditional development model based on economic growth as the exclusive indicator of wealth. Thus, humanity has an urgent need to adopt a new, more humane and fairer economic model that constitutes an alternative to the models of exponential growth that have dominated in the last two centuries. To do so, humanity is looking to the Degrowth model as a potential concept that aims to reduce wealth from pollutants, seeks more justice (as equity), and the improvement of the capabilities of those who are poor and disadvantaged (in the sense of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum). The purpose of this article is to question this model and whether it actually does improve environmental quality. Additionally, if the response is positive, another question arises: How to finance degrowth especially when we seek other less polluting energy sources whose costs seem to be very high?

In this paper, we explore the static and dynamic effects of oil rent on competitiveness in Saudi Arabia’s economy during the period 1970–2022. In addition, we examined the short-run, strong and long-run relationships between exports and industry, inflation, energy use (oil rents) and agriculture using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach developed. The analysis showed that government spending will contribute to enhancing the competitive environment with a difference of one year. Moreover, the industry will contribute to increasing competitiveness for a positive relationship in the long term. The results stated that there is an insignificant relationship between competitiveness, inflation, and oil rents. The analysis also shows that inflation has a negative impact with statistical significance in the short term. In addition, the error correction model (ECM) coefficient is negative and has statistical significance at 0.76 at a 1% significant level, which indicates the existence of an error correction mechanism and thus the existence of a long-term relationship between the variables.