This financial modelling case study describes the development of the 3-statement financial model for a large-scale transportation infrastructure business dealing with truck (and some rail) modalities. The financial modelling challenges in this area, especially for large-scale transport infrastructure operators, lie in automatically linking the operating activity volumes with the investment volumes. The aim of the paper is to address these challenges: The proposed model has an innovative retirement/reinvestment schedule that automates the estimation of the investment needs for the Business based on the designated age-cohort matrix analysis and controlling for the maximum service ceiling for trucks as well as the possibility of truck retirements due to the reduced scope of tracking operations in the future. The investment schedule thus automated has a few calibrating parameters that help match it to the current stock of trucks/rolling stock in the fleet, making it to be a flexible tool in financial modelling for diverse transport infrastructure enterprises employing truck, bus and/or rail fleets for the carriage of bulk cargo quantifiable by weight (or fare-paying passengers) on a network of set, but modifiable, routes.

This study systematically examines the literature of electric vehicle (EV) purchase intention and consumer behavior using a bibliometric method to unveil three main research questions: 1) identifying influential publications, authors, and journals; 2) analyzing the thematic evolution of research over time; and 3) identifying emerging research directions. The main objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of knowledge and to guide future research in this evolving field. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted, using Scopus statistics analysis, R-Studio Biblioshiny and VOSviewer, comprising 687 publications authored by 1743 researchers representing 34 different countries with the dataset sourced from the Scopus database from 2010 to 2023. To achieve a nuanced understanding of the research landscape, a multifaceted approach was adopted, including detailed citation analysis, author co-citation analysis, keyword analysis, and thematic mapping. Through meticulous analysis, this study identifies the most influential publications, authors, and journals in the domain of EV purchase intentions and consumer behaviors. It also traces the evolution of themes over time and identifies emerging research directions, providing valuable insights into the trajectory and future avenues of inquiry within this field. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics shaping research in the realm of EVs. The insights gained contribute significantly to advancing knowledge in this crucial domain, offering theoretical insights and practical implications for policymakers, businesses, manufacturers, and academics.

Since its inception in 2013, “The Belt and Road Initiative” has become an important engine driving global economic growth. The initiative has not only promoted infrastructure construction in countries along the Belt and Road but also strengthened financial integration, unimpeded trade, people-to-people exchanges, and policy communication. In this context, higher education, as an important avenue for talent training and scientific and technological innovation, is of great significance to promoting the economic and social development of countries along the Belt and Road. By strengthening academic cooperation with Chinese universities, Kyrgyzstan can enhance its curriculum, adopt advanced teaching methods, and integrate cutting-edge research to foster more skilled labor. In addition, innovation and technology transfer through higher education partnerships can drive sustainable economic growth and diversification. This paper explores the strategic path of integrating higher education into the Belt and Road. Initiative, focusing on academic collaboration, enhancing R&D capabilities, and fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The telecommunications sector is crucial in a country’s economy. The advancements in information and communication technology have had a significant impact on this sector, particularly in the electronic transactions domain. The utilization of electronic transactions in the telecommunications sector can yield substantial benefits, including increasing non-tax state revenue and economic development in Indonesia. The Covid-19 pandemic has served as a catalyst for the sharp rise in internet usage and telecommunications services, such as work-from-home, distance learning, online shopping or payments, industrial digitization, telemedicine, and others. Consequently, digital transformation has accelerated, necessitating the equitable distribution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Indonesia. The utilization of electronic transactions has directly contributed to the increase in state revenue from non-tax sector, particularly in the telecommunications sector. This can be observed through the continuous growth of non-tax revenue achieved by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, surpassing the set targets each year in terms of realized value. The objective of this research is to analyze the effectiveness, challenges, and impacts of electronic transactions in increasing non-tax state revenue, in order to generate policy recommendations in Indonesia. This study uses a normative juridical method, analyzing positive legal provisions. Data sources were obtained from three types of legal materials, and data collection was conducted both online and offline. The research results indicate that the utilization of electronic transactions can increase non-tax state revenue in the telecommunications sector through various forms such as telecommunications bill payments, e-commerce transactions, sales of prepaid credit and data packages, telecommunications devices, digital services, content delivery, and transaction monitoring and oversight.

Introduction: Chatbots are increasingly utilized in education, offering real-time, personalized communication. While research has explored technical aspects of chatbots, user experience remains under-investigated. This study examines a model for evaluating user experience and satisfaction with chatbots in higher education. Methodology: A four-factor model (information quality, system quality, chatbot experience, user satisfaction) was proposed based on prior research. An alternative two-factor model emerged through exploratory factor analysis, focusing on “Chatbot Response Quality” and “User Experience and Satisfaction with the Chatbot.” Surveys were distributed to students and faculty at a university in Ecuador to collect data. Confirmatory factor analysis validated both models. Results: The two-factor model explained a significantly greater proportion of the data’s variance (55.2%) compared to the four-factor model (46.4%). Conclusion: This study suggests that a simpler model focusing on chatbot response quality and user experience is more effective for evaluating chatbots in education. Future research can explore methods to optimize these factors and improve the learning experience for students.

Using a qualitative research methodology and explanatory approach to collect data, we assessed whether the Beijing Consensus diplomacy in Africa is a promoter or threat to Africa’s pathway to sustainable development. The collected data were analysed using document and content analysis techniques. Analysis of the data revealed that the Beijing Consensus diplomacy in Africa is a positive initiative that has created a win-win situation, promoting sustainable development. The Beijing Consensus is opposed to the Washington Consensus, which influenced a win-lose situation that has deepened poverty, making Africa unable to move towards achieving sustainable development. The study found that China’s resource-for-development approach has similarities with pre-colonial Africa’s barter trade approach, which Africans practised in the entire continent. The analysis showed that applying the Beijing Consensus diplomacy to Africa has led to economic growth and development. The results showed that China’s Belt Road Initiative has transformed Africa, changing the continent from poverty to economic productivity, as road infrastructure is associated with economic growth and development. Moreover, it was evident from the analysis that without an African continental foreign policy rooted in continental sovereignty with transparent terms and conditions, Africa’s current benefits from China’s investments would lead to poverty instead of sustainable development. A continental foreign policy would create an African Consensus, which would act on behalf of the entire continent. This African Consensus diplomacy would thus become a continental foreign policy defining Africa globally. However, as it stands, the Beijing Consensus diplomacy is a promoter of sustainable development, but this promotion would not last long without African Consensus diplomacy. The study recommends that Africa should establish a continental foreign policy with African Consensus diplomacy to enable the continent to have one standard foreign policy and goal when trading with China and any other external world.

Financial shocks have an incredible socioeconomic effect on both developed and developing countries. Various recent studies demonstrated that bad public governance impacted public health across all nations. In fact, this study aims to use panel data for 21 countries from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region over the period 2000–2020 to scrutinize the effect of both governance and financial crises on public health. We use the generalized method of moments (GMM) approach to carry out the empirical analysis. The objective of using this method is to deal with the issue of endogeneity between exogen variables. Results outline that there is a significant positive association between public governance indicators and public health. Moreover, we found a strong negative association between financial shocks and public health. Thus, the direct negative impact of financial crisis on public health could be mitigated by the indirect positive impacts via institutions and good public governance. This study gives insights to policymakers to take appropriate measures to decrease the severity of the financial shocks and improve healthcare services.

Given the importance of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in stimulating stock market development, many researchers have investigated their influences on the developed markets and high-income economies. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of ICT diffusion on stock market development for a panel of 17 selected emerging countries over the period 1990–2020 and employed the system-generalized method of moments (S-GMM) to test its objective. Three stock market development indicators are also used, namely: stock market capitalization (SMC), stock market total value traded (SMTT), and stock market turnover (SMT). Three ICT indicators are also employed, namely: Fixed telephone subscriptions (FTS), Individuals using the Internet (IUI), and Mobile cellular subscriptions (MCS). Three financial development indicators (deposit money among bank assets (DMB), liquid liabilities (LLB), and private credit by deposit money bank (PCM)) were employed as control variables. In its findings, all selected ICT dynamics positively affect stock market development and its constituents. Secondly, no proof was confirmed in relation to the impact of fixed telephone and stock market development with its elements. Thirdly, evidence of a positive relationship is sparingly apparent in financial development and its components. Fourthly, compared with fixed telephone, internet users more positively and significantly affect stock market development indicators. Policy implications are discussed.