The Asian Bulletin of Contemporary Issues in Economics and Finance

The Role of Mineral Rent, Energy Poverty, and Green Economic Growth in Environmental Degradation: New Insights for Sustainable Futures in G5 Countries

Sydul Arefin — 2025-07-06

Policymakers and academics continue to focus on environmental degradation as it remains a pressing global issue. This study aims to explore the roles of mineral rents, energy poverty, green economic growth, and human capital in influencing environmental degradation within the G5 countries from 2000 to 2022. By providing new insights, the study seeks to contribute to the ongoing discourse on sustainable futures. A series of econometric estimates namely the augmented mean group, feasible generalized least squares, and fixed and random effects models were employed to achieve the research objectives. The Hausman test was used to validate the feasible generalized least squares results, which formed the basis of the study’s conclusions. The findings reveal that mineral rents significantly contribute to environmental degradation, while energy poverty has an inverse relationship with it. Robustness checks affirm the reliability of the study's models and highlight additional insights: trade openness does not significantly impact environmental degradation, whereas human capital has a pronounced detrimental effect on the environment. The study emphasizes the importance of implementing targeted policy measures to effectively mitigate environmental degradation and support sustainable development.

Mineral Resources, Fintech, Innovative Human Capital, and CO2 Emissions: Missing Evidence from The Mineral Rich Asian Countries

Abaidullah — 2025-12-30

This paper examines the intricate relationship between innovative human capital, mineral resources, fintech, and CO2 emissions across mineral-rich Asian countries, highlighting the pressing need for sustainable development. Through a comprehensive literature review and empirical analysis using the Generalized Method of Moments-Panel Vector Autoregression (GMM-PVAR) model, the study underscores the persistent nature of CO2 emissions and the critical role of human capital and fintech in mitigating environmental degradation. It reveals a positive correlation between the abundance of mineral resources and CO2 emissions, suggesting a dire need for sustainable resource management. Moreover, the study demonstrates the significant negative impact of fintech on CO2 emissions, offering new pathways for green finance and sustainable economic practices. By analysing data from 2003 to 2019 across selected countries, this paper contributes to the understanding of how innovative human capital and technological advancements in finance can lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions. It concludes with policy implications that advocate for the integration of sustainability into economic planning, the promotion of green skills and education, and the harnessing of fintech for environmental sustainability. This study not only provides valuable insights for policymakers in Belt and Road Initiative countries but also lays the groundwork for a more sustainable and environmentally conscious global economy.

The Impact of Digitalization on Tourism Performance and Economic Effects: Mediating Roles of CSR Social Practices and Tourism Promotion

Saira Ghulam Hassan — 2025-12-30

The objective of this study is to examine the influence of digitalization and corporate social responsibility (CSR) social practices on tourism economic effect in China. To achieve this objective, this study examined the relationship between digitalization, CSR social practices, tourism promotion, tourism performance and tourism economic effect. A survey was carried out in tourism industry of China. Data were collected from the managerial employees of tourism companies. 224 valid responses were received from the respondents and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data by using PLS as a statistical tool. Results of the study identified the important role of digitalization to promote tourism performance. Along with digitalization, CSR social practices have central importance to enhance tourism promotion. Results of this study are helpful for management of tourism industry and other policy makers to enhance the tourism economic effect through digitalization and CSR activities.

Role of Social Media in Religious Values and Islamic Banks Financial Performance

Sydul Arefin — 2025-12-30

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of social media in financial performance of Islamic banks in Middle East.This study adopted quantitative research approach and survey questionnaire was used for data collection by using a cross-sectional research design. Data were analyzed by using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). It was concluded that social media play a positive role in the conveyance particularly about religious values, between the Islamic banking system and its customers that eventually add values to build customers’ trust rate and bank personnel’s professionalism which guarantees an increase in the financial performance of Islamic banking system.

Originality: This study examined the unique relationship between social media, religious values, personnel’s professionalism, trust and financial performance in Middle East Islamic banking sector which is not considered in previous studies. This is pioneer study which examined the effect of social media on bank personnel’s professionalism, religious values and trust in Islamic banks along with the indirect effect of religious values.This study helps practitioners to boost the financial performance of Islamic banking system. Moreover, this study, also helps employees to understand professionalism related duties specifically which influences the employees and the bank customer’s relationship. Therefore, this study is helpful for practitioners while making the strategies to promote financial performance of Islamic banks.