Zobayer Ahmed

Energy poverty (EP) remains a persistent global challenge with important implications for economic development, public health, and social welfare. While natural resources, particularly oil and gas, are often viewed as key sources of energy access, their effectiveness in mitigating EP remains underexplored in emerging economies. This study examines the relationship between natural resource rents (NRR), specifically oil rents (OR) and natural gas rents (NGR), and energy poverty (EP) in the Next Eleven (N-11) countries from 2000 to 2020. The primary objective is to assess how NRR influences EP at various levels of poverty using the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR). Our findings demonstrate that NRR significantly reduces EP, particularly in countries with higher baseline energy poverty, while the effect weakens at lower quantiles. This suggests that while resource wealth can alleviate energy poverty, it requires robust governance and sustainable management policies to be effective. The study contributes to the literature on resource wealth and energy poverty, providing insights relevant to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy). The findings also offer policy recommendations for enhancing energy access in resource-rich yet energy-poor nations. Specifically, policymakers should prioritize reinvesting natural resource rents into energy infrastructure, focusing on renewable energy development, rural electrification, and long-term economic diversification to ensure sustainable and inclusive energy access.

Women’s financial inclusion and entrepreneurial aspirations are central to achieving sustainable and balanced economic development. Therefore, in this study we examine how knowledge (KN), subjective norms (SN), attitude (ATT), perceived complexity (PC), and relative advantage (RA) influence the adoption of Islamic microfinance (AIM) through mediating factor social system norms (SSN). Using the structural equation model (SEM) via SmartPLS, we evaluated eleven hypotheses, with primary data collected from 384 female entrepreneurs. Using innovation diffusion theory (IDT) and theory of planned behavior (TPB), the study finds that KN, SN, and RA significantly and directly affect the social system norms. In addition, KN, SN, RA, and SSN substantially contribute to AIM. The effect of KN and SN on AIM is substantial and is mediated through SSN. By screening how social construction significantly influences women’s microfinance borrowing behavior, we add to the standing body of literature on Islamic finance. It delivers practical insights for policymakers and microfinance organizations on how to raise consciousness, implement policies that improve social acceptance, and disseminate information to improve women’s access to Islamic microfinance.

The study aims to examine the impact of the circular economy ( CE ) on sovereign credit risk (SCR) for selected European countries, as well as the moderating effect of institutional quality (IQ). The sample of the study covers 20 European countries, and methodologically, it applies both static panel and dynamic panel two‐step difference generalized method of moments (GMM) models. The robustness of the findings has been verified by the panel quantile regression (PQR) method in the study. The results reveal that CE significantly reduces SCR. With the moderation of IQ, the CE further intensifies the reduction of SCR. Moreover, the PQR results also align with the negative impact of CE on SCR in the lower and midlevel quantiles. The study offers valuable insights for policymakers and academics, highlighting the importance of enhancing IQ and CE principles to enhance creditworthiness. The findings of this study will ensure not only economic efficiency and financial stability but also secure sustainable development across Europe.

Trade Policies and the Shadow Economy: The Nexus of Tariffs, Non-Tariff Barriers and Trade Freedom in N-11 Countries-Shadow Economy, Informal Economy, Tariff, Non-tariff, Trade Freedom

This study investigates the impact of natural resource exploitation, renewable energy consumption, economic growth, biocapacity, and information and communication technologies (ICT) on the ecological footprint of BRICS + nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newly joined Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and UAE) from 1991 to 2019. Using advanced econometric techniques, including FMOLS, DOLS, CCR, and GMM, the findings reveal that natural resource exploitation and economic growth exacerbate ecological degradation, whereas renewable energy and biocapacity reduce environmental pressures. ICT’s impact remains statistically insignificant in the current context. The study emphasizes the need for BRICS + nations to adopt tailored policy frameworks integrating renewable energy, promoting sustainable resource use, and enhancing biocapacity to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 12, and 13. The research offers critical insights for balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability in diverse and rapidly industrializing economies.