International journal of economic perspectives

The impact of economic strain on life satisfaction in Taiwan

2025-11-28T18:25:17+00:00

This study examines the impact of high inflation and surging food prices in 2022–2023 on food-related satisfaction and overall life satisfaction among Taiwanese consumers. Given Taiwan’s heavy reliance on imports (over 90 % of goods), global supply shocks, particularly those triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war, translated directly into sharp increases in living costs. Using a nationwide online survey of 1,069 valid respondents conducted in December 2023, the research reveals a broad decline in both food-related and overall life satisfaction. The negative effects are significantly stronger among men, younger individuals (≤30 years), corporate employees, and university graduates, who face heightened financial pressure, job stress, and unmet expectations. Conversely, women report relatively higher satisfaction, attributing it to greater appreciation of food quality, family relationships, and adaptive household management during economic hardship. These findings enrich the understanding of consumer resilience under economic strain and offer actionable insights for policymakers and businesses aiming to mitigate the well-being costs of inflation in import-dependent economies.

Determinants of green cosmetics purchase behaviour: A systematic review and research agenda

2026-04-29T14:20:09+00:00

This research offers a comprehensive review of the empirical literature on consumer purchase intention and behaviour of green cosmetics. The increasing awareness of environmental issues, health considerations and ethical consumerism have driven the consumer shift towards sustainable cosmetic products. While research interest is growing, the literature is fragmented in terms of factors, theories and geographical scope. Adhering to the PRISMA 2020 framework, a systematic review of the literature was carried out in Scopus and Web of Science with no temporal constraints. Following thorough screening and eligibility evaluation, 45 peer-reviewed articles (2007-2024) were analysed. This study shows a significant increase in the number of publications, especially post-2020, with the highest number of publications in 2022. The research is concentrated in Asia, with under-representation in Europe, Africa and South America. The most widely applied theoretical framework is the Theory of Planned Behaviour, often augmented with constructs like trust, health value and social pressure. Among the key factors, consumer attitude emerges as the most important, followed by environmental concern, subjective norms and health consciousness. Trust factors, such as eco-labels, certifications and brand trust, are essential in overcoming scepticism and greenwash. But obstacles such as price, limited access and risk perceptions contribute to the attitude-behaviour gap. In general, the research calls for a greater integration of theories, improved emphasis on behavioural measures, and more geographical scope for future research.

Bridging the Technological Divide in Malaysia’s Palm Oil Sector: Enhancing Smallholder Access to Plantation-Scale Innovation

2026-04-30T06:40:30+00:00

large plantations and over 440,000 smallholders who cultivate around 40% of the country’s total oil palm area. While large plantations have adopted precision agriculture, mechanized harvesting, and advanced crop monitoring systems, independent smallholders often lack access to such innovations, leading to significant productivity disparities. This technological gap not only hampers national output but also entrenches economic inequality within the sector. To address this, there is an urgent need to identify plantation-level technologies suitable for smallholder adoption and to understand the drivers that influence their readiness to adopt these technologies. This study aims to identify the technologies employed by large oil palm plantations that have the potential to be adopted by smallholders. The findings from this review are expected to inform inclusive technology integration strategies in Malaysia’s palm oil sector and provide evidence-based insights into bridging the productivity gap between plantations and small farms.

The role of farmers and competence of extension workers in rice demonstration plots on the formation of smart farming perceptions in East Denpasar District

2026-06-08T14:11:35+00:00

Implementing smart farming is a strategic approach to boost agricultural efficiency amid land conversion and labor scarcity. In East Denpasar District, this modernization is facilitated through precision technology-based rice demonstration plots. This explanatory study aims to analyze the influence of farmers' roles and extension workers' competence on the effectiveness of rice demonstration plots and their implications for shaping farmers' perceptions of smart farming. The research areas were selected purposively in Subak Umalayu and Subak Umadesa. A total census method was applied, involving all 59 farmers within the demonstration areas as respondents. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS). The structural model results indicated that, directly, farmers' roles (coefficient=0.370; p-value=0.003) and extension workers' competence (coefficient=0.322; p-value=0.005) exerted a positive and significant effect on the success of the demonstration plots. Concurrently, the demonstration plots emerged as the most dominant factor directly driving smart farming perceptions (coefficient=0.523; p-value=0.000). Conversely, while internal farmers' roles and external extension competence failed to yield a direct significant impact on technological perceptions, both factors demonstrated significant indirect influences fully mediated through the performance of rice demonstration plots (full mediation).

The influence of consumption values on green repurchase intention toward slow fashion products in Indonesia: Extending the theory of consumption value with hedonic value

2026-06-07T16:24:43+00:00

The fashion industry is increasingly criticized for its negative environmental impacts, leading to growing interest in sustainable alternatives such as slow fashion. Despite increasing environmental awareness, consumer willingness to repurchase slow fashion products remains relatively low, particularly in developing countries. This study aims to examine the influence of Consumption Value dimensions on Green Repurchase Intention among Indonesian slow fashion consumers. Drawing upon the Theory of Consumption Value, the study investigates the effects of functional value, social value, emotional value, epistemic value, conditional value, and hedonic value on green repurchase intention. A quantitative approach was employed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that functional value (β = 0.156, p = 0.024), social value (β = 0.122, p = 0.014), and epistemic value (β = 0.280, p < 0.001) have significant positive effects on green repurchase intention. Epistemic value emerged as the strongest predictor, highlighting the importance of consumer curiosity, knowledge acquisition, and learning experiences regarding sustainable fashion. Conversely, emotional value demonstrated a significant negative effect (β = -0.134, p = 0.006), while conditional value (β = -0.016, p = 0.778) and hedonic value (β = 0.023, p = 0.725) were found to have no significant influence. These findings extend the Theory of Consumption Value within the slow fashion context and provide practical insights for marketers seeking to strengthen consumer loyalty through product quality, social identity, and sustainability education.

Green accounting practices and the profitability of oil and gas companies in Nigeria

2026-06-07T12:14:50+00:00

The study examined Green Accounting practices and the Profitability of Oil and Gas companies in Nigeria. The research was carried out using an Ex-post facto research design. Secondary data were employed for this study. A purposive sampling technique was adopted, selecting companies based on the availability and completeness of their financial data for the study period. The research revealed a significant negative effect of Environmental Cost Accounting on ROE, while Carbon accounting disclosure has a positive and significant effect on ROE. The study, therefore, concluded that environmental costs have significant positive effects on profitability. In contrast, carbon accounting disclosure has a significant positive relationship with profitability. Therefore, the study concluded that Environmental expenditures have a direct and negative impact on a firm's profitability in the short run. Transparency about carbon accounting practices has a positive influence on a firm's Return on Equity. Carbon accounting disclosure is a powerful tool for driving shareholder value. The study recommended that Oil and gas companies in Nigeria should adopt a strategic approach to managing environmental costs such as investing in environmental-friendly initiatives that generate long-term financial benefits. It also went further to recommend that Oil and Gas companies should prioritize transparency in their sustainability reporting as this can improve their ROE by attracting environmentally conscious investors and gaining a competitive edge over companies without carbon disclosure.

Does fintech's development affect money demand? Evidence from Uemoa

2026-05-22T02:16:57+00:00

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of financial technologies on the demand for money in the countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union over the period 2000–2024. A Vector Error Correction Model was estimated using the modified semi-parametric least squares estimator. The results show that the number of ATMs, debit cards and the use of mobile money have a positive influence on money stock. Furthermore, the coefficient of the error correction term is statistically significant and negative, reflecting an adjustment mechanism towards long-run equilibrium. Consequently, it is imperative that the Central Bank of West African States closely monitors developments in financial technologies and explicitly incorporates indicators of technological innovation into its analytical frameworks. Such an approach enables monetary policy instruments to be adapted to the actual behaviour of economic agents, strengthens monetary stability, and ensures the effectiveness and credibility of monetary policy in a context of digital transformation.