Business and Economics Research Journal

Number 1, 2024

1-18
Economic Cycles and Employment Growth in the WAEMU Zone: An Analysis Using a Non-Linear ARDL Panel Model

Authors: Vassy Pierre Sangare, Wadjamsse Baudelaire Djezou, Caroline Ble

Abstract

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The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) is facing frequent and diverse crises that are affecting economic stability and employment opportunities in the region. It is important to analyze the impact of economic cycles on employment, as the response of employment supply differs during economic growth and contraction. This article uses a lagged non-linear auto-regressive model (NARDL) on panel data from 1990 to 2022, along with various filters, to examine the relationship between employment and business cycles. The study found that there is an asymmetric relationship between economic growth and employment, with the impact of economic recessions being stronger on long-term employment than on short-term employment. The study suggests that countries have not fully utilized their economic potential to benefit employment. To achieve sustainable economic growth and reduce the proliferation of the informal sector, economies should focus their efforts on translating their potential into action.

19-32
Long-term Bank Financing of Productive Investments and Economic Growth in French-speaking African Countries

Authors: Dongho Wamba Tejio Willi Verlaine, Dinah Gembom Phungeh, Takoulac Kamta Marcel

Abstract

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This study focuses on the influence of long-term bank financing of investments on economic growth in French-speaking African countries over the period 2004-2022. The empirical evaluation of this link is made through a dynamic panel model and the generalized method of moments. The results indicate that long-term bank financing expressed as a percentage of the total credit offered has a positive and significant impact on economic growth in these countries. In addition, gross domestic savings positively and significantly affect economic growth. It seems essential that the public and monetary authorities implement incentive measures to encourage the more significant collection of savings and encourage banks to boost the supply of long-term loans by the more significant transformation of maturities.

33-50
Analyzing Profitability Performance with the Integrated MEREC-COBRA Method: The Case of BIST Retail Companies

Authors: Alparslan Oğuz, Haluk Satır

Abstract

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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the financial performance of retail trade enterprises whose shares are traded on Borsa Istanbul by using profitability ratios. Within the scope of the study, the data of ten retail trade enterprises covering the period 2021-2022 were used. The weight of the performance criteria used in the study was determined by the MEREC method. COBRA method was used to determine the performance ranking among the firms. A two-stage sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the consistency of the analysis results. In the first stage, seven different multi-criteria decision-making methods were used to rank the firms according to their performance. The consistency between the results of the study and the results of other methods was determined by Spearman correlation coefficients. In the second stage, scenarios with different criteria weights were tested. Sensitivity analysis showed that the results were stable and consistent. According to the results of the study, MIPAZ ranked first in profitability performance for both years.

51-65
The Impact of Hopelessness on Perceived Organizational Performance: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation

Authors: A. Rahim Emhan, Amanda M. Main, Etka Topaloglu, Sinem Guravsar Gokce, Yasin Bez

Abstract

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Number of views: 10

The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship between hopelessness and organizational performance; and if so, to evaluate the mediating effect of emotion regulation on this relationship. To test this model, hopelessness, organizational performance, and emotion regulation was measured in employees working in the banking sector. In total, 221 employees completed this study and to test research hypothesis structural equation modeling was used. The current study demonstrated that hopelessness has a significant negative relationship with both emotion regulation and organizational performance. It was also found that emotion regulation has a mediating effect on this relationship where higher emotion regulation decreases its strength. Additionally, t-test and ANOVA analyzes were used to reveal differences between demographic variables and study variables. Efforts of employees to develop their emotion regulation abilities in a variety of situations may play an important role in reducing the negative effects of hopelessness and develop the performance of individuals. The current study presents new insights on the mediating effects of emotion regulation on the relationship between hopelessness and individual perceptions of organizational performance.