Studies in Economics and Business Relations

Fee-Based Income and Bank Profitability: A Study of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

Dumani A. Markjackson, Leturah P. Tanen-John — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The study examines how credit-related fees, account maintenance fees, and other fees and commissions influence the return on assets (ROA) of deposit-taking institutions in Nigeria. Using a causal-comparative design, the study extracted longitudinal data from the periodic reports of eleven (11) listed deposit money banks (DMBs) for the period 2014 to 2022 to assess the interplay between ROA and the study's explanatory variables. The Durbin-Wu-Hausman (DWH) test was conducted, and the Fixed-Effects model was found to be the most consistent and efficient estimator. The results indicate that credit-related fees, account maintenance fees, and other fees and commissions positively influence the ROA of DMBs. This affirms the crucial role of strategic diversification of fee-based income in banking resilience. Therefore, the study concludes that non-interest income is a significant determinant of the profitability and financial stability of DMBs in Nigeria. The study recommends expanding non-interest income as a policy to enhance financial stability and resilience. Banks should ensure that credit-related fees, other charges, and commissions are fair and transparent to support the long-term sustainability of fee-based income. As banks diversify their fee-based income activities, the Central Bank of Nigeria must strengthen its regulatory capabilities to stamp out predatory practices that could derail banking penetration and usage in Nigeria.

Exploring Macroeconomic Factors and Sustainability Practices in the Technology Sector: A Global Perspective

Salim Bagadeem — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores sustainability practices within the technology sector, focusing on how macroeconomic factors and corporate sustainability practices affect renewable energy consumption. The dependent variable is renewable energy consumption, while the independent variables include macroeconomic factors (foreign direct investment, GDP growth, and inflation) and sustainability practices (energy commitment, environmental teams, resource use score, ESG score, carbon emission performance, and board oversight of climate change risks). The results indicate that energy commitment, resource use score, and carbon emission performance positively and significantly influence renewable energy consumption. Conversely, the ESG score negatively affects renewable energy consumption. Although carbon emission performance has been widely studied in various industries, there is limited empirical research on its impact within the technology sector. This research contributes to the existing literature in several ways. It bridges this gap by investigating the effect of macroeconomic factors on renewable energy consumption in the technology sector. Further, it explores the impact of several sustainability factors on renewable energy consumption.

The Impact of AI Governance on the Financial Reporting Quality: Sustainable Dimensions

Amal Yamani — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The study aims to investigate the role of artificial intelligence (AI) governance on financial reporting quality (FRQ), exploring how various governance mechanisms influence sustainable corporate behavior in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The study employs the quantitative research method of multiple regression analysis (the study uses a dataset of 18,560 firm-year observations of publicly listed companies from the GCC region), exploring how dimensions of AI governance (ethical compliance, data transparency, regulatory compliance) relate to financial reporting quality and firms’ sustainability. The study provides evidence of a statistically significant, positive relationship between robust AI governance and higher levels of financial reporting quality, supporting the notion that organizations with strong measurements of AI governance are more likely to produce financial disclosures of appropriate transparency, accuracy, and reliability that could support long-term sustainability. The results of this research provide new evidence for organizational actors (leaders, regulators, policymakers) to strengthen financial transparency, potentially leading to sustainable development, though evidence of enhanced stewardship of the AI process under consideration serves only as an important first step toward supporting productive, sustained engagement with AI-enhanced corporate performance. Finally, this study provides one of the first empirical investigations linking AI governance to financial reporting quality within the GCC context. By using a large-scale dataset, it offers robust evidence on how responsible AI integration can strengthen corporate accountability, improve reporting practices, and support sustainable economic growth.

Antecedents of Organic food purchase behavior for consumer wellbeing: A Social Media Perspective

Mst. Anjuman Ara, Dr. Md. Borak Ali — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In recent years, growing environmental awareness and health consciousness have significantly influenced consumer behavior, especially in the organic food industry. This study explores the factors driving organic food purchasing behavior through the lens of social media influence, focusing on its impact on consumer well-being. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the research examines how social media attributes—informative content, trendiness, and credibility—affect consumer attitudes toward organic food, perceived value, and ultimately, purchasing decisions. Social media serves as an essential platform for sharing information and shaping consumer perceptions. The study finds that while content credibility has minimal effect on attitude and perceived value, informativeness and trendiness foster positive engagement and knowledge, leading to favorable attitudes. These attitudes and cognitive responses, in turn, influence consumers’ intentions and actual purchasing behaviors toward organic food. Employing a quantitative approach with survey data from social media users interested in organic products, the study tests a structural model linking social media factors to TPB constructs and outcomes. The findings highlight the mediating roles of attitude and perceived value between social media credibility and purchase behavior. Furthermore, buying organic food positively impacts consumer well-being, emphasizing the broader social and psychological benefits of organic consumption. This research enhances understanding of how social media impacts organic food choices and provides strategic insights for marketers and policymakers promoting sustainable consumption and consumer health through digital platforms.