This paper aims to segment online consumers based on their attitude toward self-interest and ethical attitudes and explore the impact of these attitudes on the purchasing behavior of agricultural products online in China. The study was conducted using 633 online survey responses from consumers who have purchased agricultural products online in China. First, to validate the relationship between attitude and behavior by structural equation modeling. Next, the number of segments was determined using K-means. Finally, Pearson Chi-square difference tests were performed to analyze demographic and behavioral variables and identify each segment’s characteristics. The results of this study provide a segmentation analysis of the online market for agricultural products in China. The four segments identified are pure ethical consumers, information communicators, brand-quality pursuers, and well-heeled shoppers. Additionally, this study reveals the characteristics of each segment based on demographic and behavioral variables. This study provides a novel approach to segmenting Chinese consumers who purchase agricultural products online based on their attitudes toward self-interest and ethical attitudes, aiming to understand the impact of these attitudes on their purchasing behavior. Moreover, from an ethical consumerism perspective, it explores the effect of ethical information on purchasing agricultural products online, highlighting its significant implications for online marketing strategies.

This research explores the role of digital economy in driving agricultural development in the BIMSTEC region, which includes Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan (with Bhutan excluded due to data limitations) with a particular focus on mobile technologies, computing capacity and internet connectivity which were the most readily available data points for BIMSTEC. Using a combination of document analysis, and panel data analysis with the data covering 10 years (2012–2021), the study examines the interplay of key digital technologies with agricultural growth while controlling for factors including water usage, fertilizer consumption, and land temperature and agricultural land area. The analysis incorporates additional variables such as infrastructure development, credit to agriculture, investment in agricultural research, and education level. The findings reveal a strong positive correlation between mobile technology, Internet and computing capacity in BIMSTEC. This study underscores that digital tools are pivotal in enhancing agricultural productivity, yet their impact is significantly combined with investment in infrastructure and education. This study suggests that digital solutions, when strategically integrated with broader socio-economic factors can effectively challenges in developing countries, particularly in rural and underserved regions. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on digital economy in agriculture, highlighting how digital technologies can foster agricultural productivity in developing countries.

This study developed a specific scale to measure the impact of extrinsic motivations on students’ decisions to pursue online graduate programs at business schools in Latin America. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research proceeded in three stages. In the first stage, the construct was defined by identifying key extrinsic factors motivating students to enroll in online graduate programs, followed by the creation and initial validation of the scale in Colombia. The second stage involved testing the scale in Chile to determine its cross-cultural applicability. In the third stage, the scale’s predictive validity was confirmed, demonstrating its effectiveness in explaining how extrinsic motivations influence students’ intentions to enroll in online graduate programs. The findings indicate that the scale, composed of five dimensions—Cost Reduction, Ability to Study from Any Location, Control Over Learning Pace, Flexibility to Balance Study and Work, and Avoiding Commuting Time—is a reliable predictor of student preferences and intentions in online graduate education. The final scale includes 25 items across these dimensions, measuring extrinsic factors through items related to flexibility, time savings, and global accessibility. Validation in two Latin American countries confirms the scale’s relevance across diverse cultural contexts, enhancing its applicability within the region. This study provides empirical evidence that extrinsic motivation is a key determinant of students’ intentions to enroll in online programs in developing countries. It confirms that extrinsic motivations reflect a preference for flexible learning options compatible with students’ lifestyles and professional needs, linked to their beliefs about time management, professional advancement, and career opportunities associated with earning a graduate degree.

The study, taking China as an example, employs a mixed-method approach of questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews to explore the differing perspectives of disabled and non-disabled individuals on how to improve the social integration and quality of life of disabled people in developing countries. The study finds that the vicious cycle created by severe accessibility issues in developing countries is the root cause of the disabled’s difficulty in integrating into society. The impersonal barrier-free facilities suppress the desire of the disabled to travel, resulting in fewer disabled people on the streets and less visibility and attention, which leads to poorer accessibility facilities. Secondly, the study also finds that non-disabled people unconsciously show excessive sympathy and compassion when helping the disabled, which affects their self-esteem due to being patronized and helped. This creates two separate “social circles” between the disabled and the healthy. To address these issues, we have designed an application called “AbleMind” where the disabled can share experiences, make friends, seek help, and better integrate into society.

The paper proposes a methodology for the analysis and evaluation of the traffic scheme of Bulgarian cities. The authors combine spatial, network, and socio-economic analyses of cities with transport operators’ financial-economic evaluation, sociological studies of transport habits, and the possibilities of new information technologies for transport modeling (such as geographic information systems). The model proposes several approaches to optimize the municipality’s transport scheme. It results from a new need to improve urban traffic, the quality of transport services, and the integration of urban transport into the regional economy of Stara Zagora municipality. It presents a description, analysis, and outline of the opportunities for developing urban transport connectivity and mobility in Stara Zagora municipality. The research results show a deficit of transport connectivity between the different parts of the city, reflecting on the regional economy’s development and the efficiency of the environment and the population.

This study investigates the intricate relationship between a nation’s GDP growth rate and three key variables: the number of granted patents, research and development (R&D) expenditure, and education expenditure. The purpose of the research is to discern the impact of these factors on GDP growth rates. Drawing on theoretical frameworks, including Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), and Canonical Correlation Regression (CCR) techniques, the paper employs a robust methodological approach to unveil insights into the dynamics of economic growth. Contrary to conventional assumptions, the results reveal a negative correlation between R&D expenditure and GDP growth rate. In contrast, the number of patents granted and education expenditure shows a positively significant effect on the GDP growth rate, underscoring the pivotal roles of intellectual property creation and education investment in fostering economic growth. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of a nuanced understanding of these relationships for policymakers. The research’s implications highlight the need for balanced investments in innovation and education. The originality and value of this study lie in its unique findings challenging established beliefs about the impact of R&D expenditure on economic growth.