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PurposeThe aim of this paper is to investigate the contingency effect of natural resource abundance on the foreign direct investment (FDI)–growth relationship in a nonlinear (threshold) model.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use the fixed effect threshold model for panel data with annual frequency for 83 countries and estimate threshold level of natural resource abundance that split the sample and change the FDI–growth relationship.FindingsThe results show that FDI has a strong positive impact on the economic growth of the host country if the host country's natural resources export is below the statistically significant estimated threshold. However, this FDI-induced economic growth is watered-down if the countries natural resources export is larger than the estimated threshold.Originality/valueThe results show that FDI has a strong positive impact on the economic growth of the host country if the host country's natural resources export is below the statistically significant estimated threshold. However, this FDI-induced economic growth is watered-down if the countries natural resources export is larger than the estimated threshold. The results are robust for alternative indicators of natural resources, i.e. natural resources rents.

PurposeThis paper investigates the factors crucial for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in establishing business relationships with banks in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachTo investigate how SMEs select banking relationships using criteria, such as decision factors, decision-makers, and decision processes, a comprehensive literature review was used to classify SMEs' decision factors for bank selection. A survey questionnaire was distributed to 200 SMEs, randomly selected from the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority database in Pakistan. Probit/Tobit model is estimated to explain the behavior of SMEs.FindingsThe results reveal that SMEs consider a bank's Reputation, Price, and Location essential while establishing bank relationships. SMEs tend to terminate relationships with banks when the Price and Location of the bank are considered essential factors in the relationship with the banks. Price and Location are necessary for SMEs to reduce banking relationships. The SMEs also tend to reduce if they get attractive offers, or the SMEs are recommended to make a banking relationship. This study also provides intuitions for bank policymakers to design policies to retain SME customers and attract new business relationships.Practical implicationsThe research emphasizes the importance of competitive and transparent pricing strategies in designing products for SMEs. Banks must prioritize their Reputation and credibility to attract and retain relationships with SMEs.Originality/valueThe study attempts to provide evidence on the SME-Bank relationship focusing on the factors that are crucial for SMEs to decide while establishing business relationships with banks. Also, most of the related literature focuses on developed countries; this research adds to the literature on SMEs' behavior, particularly in a developing country's context.

AbstractThe current study examines the inclusion of 'gender' in the policies/legislation relating to the human development of women migrants (from Asian and African origins) and their impact on six determinants of migrant's gender ideology in two different European gender regimes: Germany and Sweden. The study is conducted in four stages: (1) thematic analysis of different conventions and recommendations of the UN, ILO, and EU, (2) latent analysis of selected policies/legislation, (3) survey of women migrants, and (4) expert interviews. Exposure to relatively egalitarian gender regimes through migration has brought positive changes in all determinants of the gender ideology of migrants, except domestic chores and caregiving responsibilities. Inclusion of a missing 'gender' perspective in relevant measures can expedite smooth integration of migrants, but lack of political commitment, scarcity of financial resources, the absence of gender experts, and lack of coordination between line ministries/agencies are salient barriers to its 'inclusion' in both countries.

Data The computerization of land records and the introduction of new administrative models have greatly improved public access and control over land records in Pakistan. However, an ongoing problem faced by many landlords on a daily basis is the challenge of 'long distance loading', which could be solved by vertically extending the Arazi Records Center to the union council level. Increase. Research findings show that digitizing land registry services is costly and inaccessible to relevant authorities when needed. In addition, informal payments and lengthy procedures remain prevalent. To address these issues, it is recommended that authorities initiate awareness campaigns at the village level and regularly monitor personnel to improve existing systems.

The evolving nature of warfare is characterized by technology's ability to adapt and attack enemies in different ways at different times and places. This adaptability also extends to the realm of cybersecurity, where billions of dollars are illegally transferred, data breaches occur, national secrets are compromised, and critical public infrastructure is hacked. Pakistan, like many other countries, is not immune to these challenges. Pakistan recently experienced a massive cyberattack against a major institutional website, resulting in a successful intrusion by hackers. In response, Pakistani lawmakers introduced a cyber law, but at the time the scale and complexity of these new threats were not fully recognized. To protect itself from such risks, it is important for Pakistan to stay vigilant and continuously adapt its cybersecurity measures to meet the evolving cyber threat landscape.

This comparative study of COVID‐19 lockdown aims to underline changes in gender role behaviors of South‐Asian men (husbands) living in different gender regimes: Pakistan and Germany. As a nascent contribution to existing discourses of political science (gender regimes), international migration, and men and masculinity, the study compares self‐reported changes in husbands' masculine and feminine role behaviors with perceptions of their wives during the lockdown period. A gender role behavior scale is adapted to design an online survey and collect data through convenient and snowball sampling techniques. By computing analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures, the study infers that the COVID‐19 driven first lockdown has limited the mobility of men (husbands). Thus, they have reported a significant decline in their traditional masculine role behaviors (outside the home) in both countries. Nonetheless, a subsequent increase does not appear in their feminine role behaviors. Although temporary suspension of their breadwinning roles due to lockdown has allowed them to modify their gender role behaviors by sharing increased domestic and caregiving tasks in families, a significant change does not appear in their behaviors. Findings conclude that social upheaval (COVID‐19) does not convince men (husbands) to interchange their masculine and feminine role behaviors in families. Thus, inferences support key prims of bio‐socialists that gender role behaviors are inherited and may change through cultural advancements (through gender education and enabling legal frameworks) in relatively less gender‐egalitarian societies and proper 'gendered integration' initiatives in relatively more gender‐egalitarian societies.

In recent times, religiosity and spirituality have received much attention towards mental health, but very few investigations worked on their role on life satisfaction within the gender perspective. The present study, however, investigates the relationships between religiosity, spirituality, and life satisfaction among individuals residing in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Pakistan, with special reference to gender. For this purpose, a sample of 150 adults (71 men and 79 women) were selected by convenient sampling technique and was evaluated using validated versions of three scales: Religious Orientation Scale (ROS), Spirituality Scale (SS), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SLS). Results indicate that religiosity and spirituality have a significant positive correlation with life satisfaction. Results of linear regression showed that religiosity and spirituality significantly predict life satisfaction. Women reported more religious orientation and spirituality as compared to men in the sample studied. The study is useful for both men and women, highlighting the importance of one's orientation towards religion.