Fakarudin Kamarudin

China’s cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) has expanded rapidly, yet province-level evidence remains limited on how AI development conditions the contribution of logistics fulfilment efficiency (LEF) to cross-border e-commerce development (CBED), especially across regions with uneven digital maturity. This study tests whether AI capability amplifies the marginal effect of logistics fulfilment efficiency (LEF) for CBED and whether this complementarity varies across eastern, central, and western China. Using a balanced panel of thirty-one provinces over 2017–2023 (N = 217), we combine a Super-SBM DEA logistics fulfilment efficiency measure (LEF), a four-pillar AI Development Index (AIDI), and customs-based CBED indicators. Two-step System GMM models are estimated for the full sample and regional subsamples to account for dynamic persistence and endogeneity concerns. Results indicate that higher LEF is associated with higher CBED and that AIDI strengthens this relationship via the interaction term; the complementarity is the largest in eastern provinces and remains positive but smaller in central and western regions. Overall, the evidence suggests that logistics fulfilment efficiency and AI capability act as complementary enablers of cross-border e-commerce development, supporting provincial competitiveness as CBEC scales. Sustainability implications are therefore discussed via operational-efficiency channels rather than direct environmental outcomes.

Purpose: This study aims to generalize the effect of country governance on NPL (non-performing loans) of commercial banks and measure whether higher-quality country governance outperforms lower-quality country governance in controlling NPL. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses unbalanced panel data from the World Bank from 2010 to 2021. The unit root test is used for the stationary test, while multiple correlation and VIF (variance inflation factor) tests are used for multicollinearity diagnosis. Based on the results of heteroskedasticity, serial correlation and cross-sectional dependence tests, this study uses pooled OLS (Driscoll–Kraay standard error) and panel corrected standard error (PCSE) estimation to ensure robustness in the regression outputs. A robustness check has been done by the two-step system GMM estimation. Findings: This study finds that all the country governance indicators have significant negative associations with NPL. It also finds that the negative impact of higher-quality country governance on NPL is significantly higher than that of lower-quality country governance. Moreover, the level of NPL has been significantly reduced during the COVID-19 period compared to the non-COVID-19 period. Practical implications: The findings of this study will help formulate relevant and effective regulatory, financial and other government policies in controlling the aggregate NPL of the commercial banks at the national level. Originality/value: This study overcomes the limited scopes and geographical contexts of past studies and generalizes the overall impact of country governance on commercial banks’ NPL. Furthermore, it shows how higher-quality country governance creates competitive advantages over lower-quality country governance in controlling NPL.

Although macroprudential policies (MAPPs) are widely implemented to safeguard financial stability (Ćehajić & Košak, 2022), their implications for bank efficiency remain insufficiently investigated, with most existing studies concentrating only on conventional banks’ (CBs) (Chen et al., 2022). This study examined the impact of MAPPs on Islamic banks (IBs) and CBs’ efficiency in countries that meet a standard where 1 per cent share of Islamic banking assets is in their total domestic banking sector assets. Using bank-level panel data from 14 countries (2006–2021) and ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed- and random-effects models, the results indicated that MAPPs reduced bank efficiency, with effects varying by bank type. In addition, the coefficient of CBs was slightly higher than that of IBs. Country governance (CG) significantly strengthened the negative effect of MAPPs on CBs’ efficiency, but not for IBs. Regression in the high-income and low-income group countries showed a similar sign to the basic regression results. Furthermore, additional robustness tests showed that MAPP is negatively related to both types of banks’ efficiency. These results are highly relevant for policymakers aiming to design macroprudential frameworks that stabilise the economy without disproportionately hindering banking efficiency.

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In this study, we use panel data from 2010 to 2019, covering a sample of 64 countries, including developing and developed economies. This study provides an in-depth exploration of the impact of financial development on foreign direct investment (OFDI) by applying four different estimation methods, namely hybrid ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effects estimation, random effects estimation, and systematic generalized method of moments (GMM). Impact. Investors from the source country plan and conduct direct investments in foreign countries, representing the cross-border flow of direct investment (OFDI). We measure financial development through three indicators: economic growth scale, financial product structure composition, and financial development efficiency. Our results reveal a consistent positive relationship between all dimensions of financial development and OFDI. In addition, we introduce country-specific dummy variables to stratify the analysis between developing and developed countries. Our empirical results highlight the statistical significance of these dummy variables, indicating clear differences in OFDI patterns between the two categories of countries. On this basis, this article examines developing and developed countries, respectively, and draws different conclusions. This study reveals that the impact of financial development on OFDI is significantly different in developing and developed countries, and provides new evidence on the growth of OFDI in developing countries to support this theory. The findings of this study can better provide a reference for governments in developing countries to formulate policies.

Research background: Economic freedom plays a pivotal role in ensuring the progressive productivity of banks. It fosters a favorable economic climate and acts as a catalyst for the generation of innovative ideas. In addition, economic freedom allows new domestic and foreign entrants in the banking sector which leads to increased competition as well as wider range of product offerings and thus potentially affect bank efficiency. Purpose of the article: This study aims to identify the effects of regulatory efficiency and market openness in terms of economic freedom on the bank’s productivity at three income levels: lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income economies. Methods: A sample of 15 countries are included in the study from differing income levels. The study uses the data envelopment analysis (DEA) based Malmquist productivity index (MPI) approach to measure banks’ productivity. This non-parametric approach measures the relative efficiency of banks by considering the production change while taking into account technical efficiency change and technological change in order to capture a comprehensive view over time. Then, regression analysis was performed utilizing the ordinary least squares (OLS) approach, fixed effect (FE), and random effect (RE) panel multiple regression estimation methods are utilized to measure economic freedoms and other determinants’ effect on banks’ productivity change over time. Findings & value added: The results show that banks in high-income economies are more productive and have higher growth rates than those in upper- and lower-income economies. Furthermore, starting, obtaining permits, and closing businesses under business freedom have a detrimental effect on banks’ output, whereas the effects of labor freedom on employing, managing, and supervising staff members have a substantial favorable impact on banks’ productivity. Moreover, financial freedom and investment freedom under the market openness dimension negatively influence banks’ productivity. Government intervention is required to introduce regulations that allow foreign countries to provide labor at lower wages, introduce tax allowances, and control inflation rates. Thus, the empirical results of this study will benefit regulators and policymakers in developing a system and plan to increase banks’ productivity based on indicators of business, labor, financial, and investment freedom.