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Researchers have concluded over the years, a significant relationship between consumer and corporate social responsibility and recommended the need for corporate interests to be aligned with consumer interests in order to increase social benefits. For Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) focussed businesses to thrive and be sustainable, there is an anticipation for the support and approval of consumers in purchasing products that promote the social good, which is very crucial for sustainable business growth. However, literature concludes an ethical purchase behaviour gap. This study evaluates the relationship between Organisational/Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Consumer Social Responsibility (CnSR) from literature with a view to drawing conclusions on the significant relationship and benefits for business sustainability, looking at the intervening role of education and culture. Analysis, focussing on extant literature and empirical evidence in the form of survey findings, case studies and findings from journal articles and views of business professionals, were considered to arrive at a conclusion that consumer social responsibility is a driver of organisational/corporate social responsibility and very crucial for business growth and sustainability. This is relevant for organisations poised to be socially responsible in their production with the anticipation that their efforts will be rewarded by consumers, willing to purchase products that promote the social good. Organisations need to recognise also the complexities of the consumer’s decision-making processes with respect to social purchasing and take appropriate actions to guide and educate consumers, not forgetting the cultural dimensions which also play an intervening role in purchase behaviour.

Keywords: Consumer Social Responsibility, Corporate/Organisational Social Responsibility, Sustainable business growth, Education and Culture.

In the globalised and open market economy, foreign direct investment is crucial for economic growth. The FDI in the form of greenfield investment and mergers and acquisitions not only influences domestic economic growth but also the domestic investment which in turn affects the economic growth of the host country. This paper estimates the effects of greenfield investment and mergers and acquisitions on gross fixed capital formation and growth rate developing countries. Empirically, on a panel data from 16 countries for the period 2003-2015, the panel fixed and random effects regressions, 2SLS and panel instrumental variable generalised method of moments estimation are applied. The estimated results show that green?eld investment has a significant positive effect and mergers and acquisitions have no signi?cant impact both on domestic investment and growth rate of the host economies. The green?eld investment also has a marginal crowding out effect, less than capital in?ow, on domestic investments and mergers and acquisitions does not contribute to capital accumulation in developing countries.

Keywords: FDI, greenfield investment, mergers and acquisitions, domestic investment, growth, panel IV-GMM estimation.

In the present day democratic society, political parties have recognized the importance of social media as a veritable tool in enhancing social change and political engagement. This study was designed to determine whether trust mediates the relationship between social media political advertising and voter patronage of political partied in Nigeria. A cross sectional survey using 358 electorates in Plateau Central senatorial Districts. Data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multi regression analysis. All analyses were performed using SPSS version 23. The finding buttresses the significant position of social media in promoting electorates participation. It revealed that social media significantly influence electorates’ patronage. The study also revealed that trust partially mediate the relationship between social media and voter patronage in Nigeria. The study is only restricted to Plateau Central Senatorial District. Further research could be conducted to cover the entire state and the North Central Zone of Nigeria. A longitudinal approach should be employed to study the trend over a period of at least two years. Finally the variables used to influence electorate patronage may not be enough in explaining the phenomenon. There are other variables that contribute in influencing voters’ decision of choosing a particular party over others. This study indicates a number of implications for political parties, policy makers and other stakeholders to develop keen interest in the use of social media in political electioneering process. Regulatory agencies should ensure people use these tools appropriately without disseminating false information.

Keywords: Social media advertising, Electorate patronage, Political parties, Commitment Trust Theory, Information Motivation and Behavioral Skills Model.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) implementation on the of quality of financial reporting of commercial banks in Saudi Arabia. The quality of financial reports has measured using qualitative characteristics of accounting information i.e., relevance, faith representation, understandability, comparability and timeliness. The study used the perceptions of preparers of banks financial reports to analyze about IFRS adoption in Saudi commercial banks. The data was collected through questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The finding of the study reveals that the quality of financial reports which is measured through (relevance, faith representation understandability, comparability and timeliness) was improved significantly after implementing of IFRS Compared with the period prior to the implementation of these standards.

Key words: IFRS, financial reporting quality, relevance, understandability, comparability, faith representation, timeliness, commercial banks, Saudi Arabia.

The paper intends to analyze the market inefficiencies in agriculture and how these inefficiencies can be overcome by Agricultural Market Information Systems (AMIS) and Digital Technologies in the context of an agrarian economy of Punjab. Market inefficiencies lower the profits that the farmer receives from agricultural operations. Numerous market inefficiencies limits agricultural operations, which includes technological inefficiencies, input and output market inefficiencies, land market inefficiencies, labour market inefficiencies, credit market inefficiencies, risk market inefficiencies, and informational inefficiencies. Therefore, in order to address market failures in agriculture, there is need to evolve the potential strategies for making markets more efficient to overcome existing inefficiencies through robust Agricultural Market Information Systems (AMIS) and Digital Technologies in the context of Punjab. AMIS can play a vital role in agricultural development by enhancing transparency, competitiveness and equity in benefit sharing. Robust AMIS can be useful for enhancing the capacity of the government to take appropriate programmes for agricultural growth. AMIS can strengthen the bargaining power of small farmers and improve their awareness on market opportunities and options. However, understanding market information often requires external assistance and in this context, the digital technologies can help the small farmers to identify and address market inefficiencies by tapping the opportunities of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). AMIS along with the digital technologies help the small farmers overcome the market inefficiencies and increase their knowledge by new ways of providing extension services for improving agricultural supply chain management. The “digital dividends” of ICTs in the form of improved rural livelihoods are evident, but have not scaled up to the extent expected, as the technology can only address some, but not all, of the market inefficiencies faced by farmers.

Keywords: Market inefficiencies, Agricultural market information systems, digital technologies, Punjab

JEL Codes: Q02, Q13, Q16, Q19