This study aims to analyze how public debt influences economic growth in Kosovo, using quarterly data from Q1 2008 to Q4 2022 and employing the generalized method of moments (GMM). The research reveals that there is a negative relationship between public debt and economic growth when other factors such as trade openness, total investment, current account balance, and primary balance are considered. Furthermore, the findings confirm an inverted “U-shaped” relationship between public debt and economic growth, indicating that the optimal debt level is between 27.75% and 36.2% of GDP.

The Indonesian government is currently carrying out massive infrastructure development, with a budget exceeding 10. Risk mapping based on good risk management is crucial for stakeholders in organizing construction projects. Projects financed by government, whether solicited or unsolicited schemes, should also include risk mapping to add value and foster partnerships. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a risk management model for solicited and unsolicited projects, focusing on the collaborative management system among stakeholders in government-financed projects. Risk review was conducted from various stakeholders’ perspectives, examining the impacts and potential losses to manage uncertainty and reduce losses for relevant parties. Furthermore, qualitative analysis was conducted using Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and in-depth interviews. The results showed that partnering-based risk management with risk sharing in solicited and unsolicited projects had similarities with Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). This approach provided benefits and value by developing various innovations in the project life cycle.

This research focuses on patients’ perceptions regarding the accessibility of dental services in Slovenia across four dimensions: financial accessibility, time accessibility, geographical accessibility, and service quality. We observed how specific factors impact accessibility dimensions of dental services in Slovenia, that patients perceive important. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted using proportionate stratified sampling. Data was collected through an online questionnaire, and 599 completed responses were received from patients regarding their experiences and perceptions of accessibility to dental care. A SEM (structural equation model) approach was used to examine the data. The analysis revealed that patients perceive all four dimensions of accessibility: financial, time, geographical, and service quality important and they all constitute the perception of dental accessibility. The findings of this study can assist policymakers in developing a more accessible dental health system by considering the results proposed in our model.

How are telecommunications infrastructure, institutions and poverty related in a war-torn economy such as Afghanistan? Afghanistan has been plagued by poor governance, low usage of telecommunications, and extreme poverty levels which can be termed triple-challenges. High levels of political instability affected telecommunications investment and adversely affected the adoption and diffusion of modern technology. This study examines the asymmetric effect of telecommunications and governance (institutions) on poverty reduction over the period 1989–2019 using a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model. In the short run, we establish that information and communication technology, private domestic credit, governance, and educational access for males and females are essential tools that can be used for poverty reduction. In the long run, we also establish that Afghanistan can reduce poverty levels through the use of information and communication technology, governance, and educational access for both males and females. The following policy recommendations were suggested: research and development, robust policy formulation on governance and ICT, development of the ICT sector, and improved governance. These are critical in reducing the high poverty levels as well as solving the institutional challenges faced by Afghanistan.

This research investigates how accountants in Thailand are adapting to changes driven by advances in digital technology, environmental issues, and professional accounting organizations. The study identifies key factors influencing these shifts and assesses their impact on the accounting field. A survey of accountants from large manufacturing firms in Thailand was conducted, examining internal, external, and personal factors affecting their roles and responsibilities. The study uses Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze data from 174 respondents, identifying leadership and digital technology readiness as internal factors; sustainability force, professional entity, and digital technology force as external factors; and competency skills and attitude as personal factors. The fit indices collectively suggest that the model has a good fit to the data, demonstrated by Comparative Fit Index (CFI) value (0.91), Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) (0.891), Root Mean Squared Error of Approximation (RMSEA) (0.067), and chi-square/degree of freedom model (1.776). The combination of the indices supports the conclusion that the model is robust and well-aligned with the observed data, and importantly capturing the relationships between the constructs under the study. Results reveal a significant transformation in the professional identity of Thai accountants, primarily driven by their positive attitude towards changes. Notably, professional accounting bodies and educational institutions appear to hinder this evolution. The findings emphasize the need for professional organizations to realign their strategies to better support the evolving roles of accountants.