Journal of the Knowledge Economy最新文献

The shortage of digital specialists is a pressing issue in the labor market of the European Union (EU). Despite large-scale measures to train specialists, there is a significant gap between the demand and supply of digital specialists. This shortage affects various industries, including IT, software development, cybersecurity, and data analytics, and hinders growth and innovation in the EU digital economy. This work aims to evaluate the effectiveness of existing EU initiatives related to the digital economy in training digital specialists and alleviating the shortage of these specialists in the European labor market. Priority in the study is given to such EU initiatives as the Digital Single Market (DSM) and Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition (DSJC). To achieve this goal, the work uses the “difference-in-differences” method to compare the growth rates of IT specialists in the EU and other European countries. The results show that the growth rate of the number of digital specialists in EU countries is much higher. The article also examines the relationship between the growth rate of the share of digital specialists among the working population and the indicator of the lack of IT skills in different countries. Regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between high growth rates and a higher level of skills shortage in different countries. In addition, using Pearson’s chi-squared methods and Welch’s t-test, the work shows that in the EU countries, there is a higher level of shortage of digital specialists in all studied IT skills compared to other developed countries in Europe and the world. In general, the results of this work indicate that although programs related to the digital economy have proved effective in attracting and training digital specialists in the EU, the shortage of qualified workers remains a critical challenge. Therefore, further efforts are needed to address this challenge and ensure the growth and innovation of the digital economy in the EU.

This study provides insights into three issues regarding the nexus between information and communication technology (ICT) and energy consumption. First, what are the impacts of different dimensions of ICT development (i.e., fixed telephone subscriptions, mobile cellular subscriptions, fixed broadband subscriptions, and internet usage) on energy consumption? Second, how does ICT development influence energy consumption in nations with different levels of economic development? Third, how does ICT development affect renewable and non-renewable energy consumption? Using the generalized method of moments (GMM) on the panel data of 132 countries, this study indicates that fixed telephone subscriptions, mobile cellular subscriptions, and internet usage have positive impacts on energy consumption, while fixed broadband subscriptions have negative impacts. However, when the panel was split, the analysis reveals that mobile cellular subscriptions and internet usage positively influence energy consumption in high-income countries, while the impact is negative in low and middle-income countries. Moreover, when energy consumption was disaggregated, the analysis reveals that ICT dimensions have positive effects on renewable energy consumption, whereas ICT dimensions (except for fixed telephone subscriptions) have negative effects on non-renewable energy consumption. This study implies that ICT development is a fundamental determinant of energy consumption. Based on the empirical outcomes, this study recommends some policy options.

The industrial sector plays a crucial role in propelling Vietnam’s development, emphasizing the need to analyze the connection between corporate governance frameworks and the performance of listed manufacturers. However, insufficient integration of governance components can impede the implementation of effective business development strategies, turning the governance model into a bottleneck. This study delves into the intricate interplay between board independence, board size, and gender diversity and their impact on corporate financial performance within 92 manufacturers from 2017 to 2022. We discovered that board size has a significantly positive effect on financial performance. Conversely, our empirical analysis revealed notable patterns, showing a negative correlation between board independence and gender diversity with the return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). Our findings emphasize the need for manufacturers operating within emerging economies to cultivate a nuanced understanding of the complex challenges of navigating environments characterized by diverse political and economic frameworks. We provide theoretical insights into corporate governance and offers practical implications by highlighting the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as inadequate support for diverse employees, which can harm corporate financial performance. Therefore, by shedding light on these complex relationships, our study equips stakeholders with actionable insights, including business decision-makers and policymakers within the Vietnamese corporate landscape. This empowers them to make informed decisions in the face of the ever-changing socio-economic landscape, potentially shaping the future of our business environment.

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the volatility spillover between financial stress, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stock markets, and oil and gold markets in the presence of state (regime) dynamics. We first use the Dynamic Conditional Correlation (DCC)-GARCH model in order to study the correlation between variables. Second, the authors use a continuous wavelet decomposition technique so as to examine the interactions between financial stress, oil and GCC stock, and gold markets. Finally, the authors examine the spillover effects by estimating the Baba-Engle-Kraft-Kroner (BEKK)-GARCH model. The findings indicate various patterns of spillover between GCC financial stress index and oil, gold, and GCC stock market returns in high- and low-volatility regimes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The wavelet coherency results indicate a substantial co-movement between oil and GCC financial stress and between GCC financial stress and GCC stock markets in the periods of high volatility. BEKK-GARCH model outcomes confirm this relation and report the noteworthy bi-directional transmission of volatility between GCC financial stress and oil market for some countries (see Oman, Saudi Arabia, and UAE in the bearish state and Bahrain and Saudi Arabia under bullish state) and between oil market shocks and the GCC stock market returns, chiefly in the turmoil period. Thus, these results are important for investors aiming at managing and reducing portfolio risk. These empirical findings are of significant importance in the development of effective allocation strategies to mitigate financial stress (FSIs) prevalent in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Moreover, they hold crucial implications for portfolio diversification, risk management, and policy formulation by shedding light on the interdependencies among various asset classes and financial markets across different market conditions.

Food loss and waste are consistent threats to food security which, if left unrelieved, may have serious social, economic, and environmental aftermaths. Food waste from consumers is a critical issue which influences the economy and the environment. The resolution of this study is to understand how food waste is influenced by psychological and household routine-related factors and what further research is needed. This study developed a questionnaire and collected data from the consumers in Faisalabad. We conducted data analyses in two stages. At first, the convergent validity and reliability of the measurement scales are tested by executing a preliminary confirmatory factor analysis. Secondly, two proposed models are tested by applying the Structural Equation Model. The outcomes of this study revealed that the pooled model including both psychological and routinized factors proved to be more explanatory as compared to the restricted model. The significant contribution of this study is considering the behavior of consumers which may help to ensure the implementation of food waste reduction campaigns.

The present research investigates the complex dynamics surrounding the adoption of green information technology and environmentally favorable technology solutions through using SEM. Using a comprehensive framework, this study investigates the impact of message content, environmental attitudes, demographics, perceived utility, attitude, and efficacy, as well as the emerging role of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) awareness on behavioral intentions regarding the adoption of green technology. This methodology was applied to Saudi Arabia where there was limited investigated literature that has been researched on this context. The findings emphasize the centrality of message content and demonstrate its significant influence on intention formation. Environmental beliefs and values emerge as significant determinants, highlighting the significance of aligning technology adoption with sustainability objectives. Demographic factors impact the adoption process, but the mediating effects of perceived utility, attitude, and efficacy provide a deeper understanding. Notably, there is positive correlation between ESG awareness and attitudes toward green technology. These results have practical implications for communication and adoption strategies, providing managers and policymakers valuable insights. In an era where digital advancements intersect with environmental responsibility, they also contribute to the broader societal objective of promoting eco-friendly technology options.

This paper aims to verify how communities of practice influence the development of innovations in the gastronomy sector. Primary data were collected at the interval of 1 year and achieved an amount of ten interviews using an unstructured interview with an in-depth interview with renowned chefs with parallel academic careers. To collect the data, the researcher adopted a snowball method, where the interviewees were motivated to indicate another participant until the study achieves theoretical saturation. The data were analysed using grounded theory through the analysis of incidents in three cycles of coding (open, axial, and selective), which enabled the generation of data-driven and theory-driven categories. The findings showed that chefs use their communities of practice to obtain the tacit and explicit knowledge they need to innovate in their menus. This study provides as practical implications a description of how chefs deal with sharing knowledge when they are thinking about menu modifications and how they obtained the necessary tacit and explicit knowledge to innovate in their menus to keep them up to date to the competitive marketing. The study carried out presents the process of obtaining knowledge using the community of practice by chefs to innovate in their menus.

Global value chains (GVC) framework provides an analytical tool to unravel development and upgrading trajectories for businesses from catching-up economies. At the same time, the catching-up literature tends to portray the upgrading in emerging economies as a gradual and linear process. Considering the digital transformation-driven trends in global value chains (GVCs) and the rise of new emerging industries, we show how small start-ups from catching-up economies can redefine the traditional pathways for entering and upgrading in GVCs. Based on three cases from the automated mobility and delivery industry in Estonia, we show how small start-up companies can achieve rapid global outreach not only via functional but also product-related, inter-sectoral, and end-market upgrading by specializing in novel niche value propositions and by building business models around digital platforms to reap the benefits from the network effects. As a result, the analysed companies have not faced established and occupied value chains, where latecomer manufacturers tend to enter, but have managed to shape and control their value chains by directing the developments on local as well as international levels, and paradoxically, without much policy support.

This paper investigates the impact of government policy consistency on firm innovation. We utilize the information about the firm’s self-evaluation of the government policy consistency in the World Bank Enterprise Surveys only available from 2002 to 2006. Controlling for endogeneity problem, our regression results show that the effects of government policy consistency on innovation decisions are heterogeneous in terms of firms’ size and location classified by the income level and region. These findings indicate that in countries with a high prevalence of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and lower income levels, a flexible policy mix that maintains consistency while promoting adaptability is more effective in fostering firm innovation. This is particularly crucial for supporting technological advancements and responding to dynamic market conditions in these regions.

Although energy use is essential for growth, economic growth also spurs the need for more energy demand. Hence, this study aims to align with the goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which includes ensuring access to modern and reliable energy. It also seeks to increase the resilience of human settlements and cities. It fills a lacuna in the literature to comparatively investigate the energy-growth dynamics in Ghana and Nigeria from two standpoints: (1) does the growth-led energy hypothesis hold, and (2) is the inverted U-shaped environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis? Using time-series data from 1980 to 2019, the ARDL-ECM and DOLS approaches demonstrate that (1) in the long run, a change in per capita GDP leads to a significant decrease (increase) in fossil energy use in Ghana (Nigeria). In other words, the asymmetric growth-led energy hypothesis holds in both countries; (2) the inverted U-shaped EKC does not hold for Ghana but for Nigeria; and (3) domestic credit exerts a positive demand for fossil energy in both countries. These outcomes show that, through proper implementation and legislation, both countries’ governments should address environmental concerns to accomplish the SDGs within the specified timeframe. Policy recommendations were mixed.