International Journal of Sustainable Society (13 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Situational Analysis and Conceptual Model development of Crimes against Women and Children  
  by Aathira T, Rangasami P, Narassima MS 
  Abstract: Violence has existed in many forms in society whilst those against women and children have always been higher. The rate of occurrence of violence has been in an increasing trend over the last decade worldwide. The present study involves a detailed study on the impact of violence and the factors that contribute to violence. Situational analysis of the various forms of violence against women and children was studied in the state of Kerala, India. Several predominant factors across various levels of the Socio-ecological model were identified and a conceptual model was developed using an Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) approach. Matrice d'Impacts Crois
  Keywords: Violence Against Women and Girls; Violence Against Children; Interpretive Structural Modelling; Situational Analysis; Matrice d'Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée á un Classment.
  
  
• THE IMPACT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL POLICY ON THE WELFARE OF CAPITAL ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM  
  by Rose Abdullah, Mohamad Zahir Zainudin, Muhammad Zaki Zaini 
  Abstract: This article aims to understand the implementation of social policy in Brunei Darussalam, explore the implementation of social policies on capital assistance recipients, and study the impact of social policy on social development planning in Brunei Darussalam. Data collection is done through face-to-face interview processes, focus groups, observations, document analysis, and organizational reports. The main findings of this article are as follows. First, the budget allocation for social welfare is increasing every year. Second, economic investment strategies have changed participants' living conditions but less attention was given to social investment strategies. Third, a need to strengthen capital assistance and extend this method by providing launch grants to non-governmental organizations so that more targeted groups can be reached. The findings of this article contribute to the improvement of social policy to create a better social welfare ecosystem.
  Keywords: poverty; capital assistance; welfare; social policy.
  
  
• Neighbourhood satisfaction, quality of life and place attachment: a study on urban locations in India  
  by Pankaj Kumar, Pardeep K. Ahlawat, Parveen Kumar, Ramesh Kumar Garg 
  Abstract: The present study examines the antecedents of neighbourhood satisfaction, quality of life, and place attachment of residents living in the urban locations of Gurugram, India. Survey data from 321 residents (293 considered usable) of seventeen private residential estates was collected and analyzed by performing PLS-SEM. Results revealed that liveable amenities followed by environmental features and social aspects of neighbourhood environment positively and significantly impact to neighbourhood satisfaction of residents. Results also indicate that residents quality of life is significantly influenced by their neighbourhood satisfaction, environmental features, liveable amenities, and social aspects of neighbourhood environment. Finally and most notably, residents' place attachment to urban locations is significantly affected by their quality of life and neighbourhood satisfaction. This study will contribute to future researchers for measuring the impact of liveable amenities, environmental features, and social aspects on residents' neighbourhood satisfaction and their quality of life or subjective wellbeing and place attachment perception.
  Keywords: India; urban locations; residents; neighbourhood satisfaction; quality of life; place attachment.
  
  
• The Effect of Environmental Concern and Global Environmental Connectedness on Green Purchase Intention of Hotel Customers in Malaysia  
  by Punitha Sinnappan, Farah Akmar Anor Salim, Mazuwin Binti Haja Maideen, Shamuni Kunjiapu 
  Abstract: This study attempts to investigate the key antecedents of green purchase intention of hotel customers in Malaysia. This study is guided by two research objectives: (1) To examine the relationship between environmental concern (EC) and green purchase intention (GPI); and (2) To examine the relationship between global environmental connectedness (GEC) and green purchase intention (GPI). A total of 765 usable questionnaires are obtained from hotel customers through stratified random sampling (SRS) technique. The effects of EC and GEC on GPI are investigated by using the structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings suggest that EC and GEC positively affect GPI. Additionally, among these two independent variables, GEC has the best ability to predict GPI. Then, this study discusses the managerial implications arising from these findings. Lastly, limitations and directions for future research are addressed.
  Keywords: environmental concern; global environmental connectedness; green purchase intention; consumer behaviour; environmental sustainability; green hotels; hotel industry; Malaysia.
  
  
• INVESTMENT UNCERTAINTY DUE TO COVID-19 ON ENERGY-EFFICIENT INVESTING IN INDIA  
  by Peeyush Bangur, Ruchi Bangur 
  Abstract: This study examined the volatility implications of energy-efficient investing in India due to COVID-19. We have been used the symmetric GARCH (p,q) model on the S&P BSE GREENEX index returns to assess the certainty of investment related to energy-efficient practices in India. The result shows increased volatility and a large degree of persistence on the energy-efficient investing in India. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the volatility of the S&P BSE GREENEX index by 130.155%. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first article where the volatility of energy-efficient investing in India has been measured.rnrnrnrn
  Keywords: Key Words: Energy-efficient practices; Investment certainty; COVID-19; GARCH (p,q) Model; and India.
  
  
• An alternative to analyse the 'Environmental Bioethics'  
  by Abdénago YATE ARÉVALO, Carlos Díaz Rodríguez, Alfonso Pazos Alvárez 
  Abstract: The article presents an alternative to analyse 'environmental bioethics', which in a syncretic way articulates the etymology, the bioethics of dilemmas and creativity and industriousness, in such a way that it allows an innovative stance in the approach to current environmental challenges. Thus, it is recognised, at first, that the environmental is immersed in the bioethics, but then it is noticed that the environmental contributes, as a positive non-zero sum game, to the concept of 'environmental bioethics', in order to strengthen the principles, the values, aspects and approaches of its object of study, taking into account the Bioethical imperatives proposed by Fritz Jahr and Hans Jonas to relate rationality to human behaviour and their interactions with nature. Hence, environmental bioethics considers that there is a set of ethical aspects and approaches with a bioethical perspective that function as a toolbox that emerge as a function of the challenges and circumstances and not as a battery of principles in the sense of the principlism bioethics.
  Keywords: environmental bioethics; ethics; moral; moral principles; moral values.
  
  
• Toxic air, choked ecosystem: Paradox of economic growth vs ecosystem sustainability  
  by Sunil Barthwal 
  Abstract: This article highlights rising air pollution in India to dangerous levels and companies seizing the opportunity to sell air purifiers as people scramble for pure air and fall sick. While electronic and healthcare industries revel and grow owing to such a catastrophic development, the vicious cycle of need creation, production and economic growth continue to exploit natural resources and burden the planet. The present critical survival and health issues have to do with anthropogenic activities in the past. Environment was possibly not in the reckoning for leading economies of the world in the process of their becoming one and should emerging economies follow suit, it would certainly spell doom faster. Present scenario can be an opportunity for emerging economies to develop economic structure based on clean technologies and sustainable use of natural resources. This article binds multidisciplinary concepts and ideas to address economy vs ecosystem sustainability paradox.
  Keywords: Air pollution; air purifier; economy; creative destruction; health.
  
  

Special Issue on: ERPBSS-2020 Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity

• Understanding the impact of cross-cultural friendships and residency status on multicultural attitudes: A UAE perspective  
  by Nishtha Lamba, Fadhila Mohideen, Tisha Virani, Sachi Kariappa, Vineeta Aroz, Hafseena Bind Ashraf, Zainab Udaipurwala, Clea Dsouza, Somer Rodrigues, Ashley Paulson, Aishwarya Patil 
  Abstract: With 80% of the population comprising expatriates, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) presents itself as a unique place to explore multicultural attitudes. This study examines how cross-cultural friendships and exposure to different cultures impact young adults' sociocultural development and social cynicism levels in the UAE. Two distinct surveys measuring sociocultural development and social cynicism were administered to dual samples consisting of 155 and 166 young adults. Participants provided information about their number of cross-cultural friendships and residency status. It was found that a) both number of cross-cultural friends and residency status did not impact participants' sociocultural development and b) that only residency status, not cross-cultural friendships, had a significant effect on social cynicism. Short-term expatriates showed the least social cynicism levels compared to long-term expatriates and locals. This research study provides a unique perspective on the effects of cross-cultural interactions on both positive and negative aspects of multicultural attitudes. In contrast to previous literature, the findings challenge the emphasis on diversity for development, and show that short-term expatriates feel welcomed and do not feel threatened by the host culture in the UAE. On a global scale, the study contributes to a better comprehension of negative multicultural attitudes and encourages the growth of sustainable cities.
  Keywords: Cross-cultural friendships; Sociocultural development; Social cynicism; Multicultural attitudes; UAE.
  
  

Special Issue on: RBDS-2020 Sustainability and Marketing in the Emerging Markets

• Coaching as Business: Exploring its Growth in India  
  by Jinny Sharma, Anjali Mehra, Ajaz Ahmed Ganaie 
  Abstract: Post- 1991 era has seen a significant growth of private sector in India. The private education sector has emerged as one of the leading sectors, showing ample opportunities of investment. Investment in education is not only limited to formal sector, but has also spread to non-formal sector. Coaching business is becoming prominent segment of non-formal sector, which has grown from individual private tuition centres to big coaching business enterprises. Not only the metros, but, every town in the country has witnessed the mushrooming growth of private coaching institutes. Growth of the business of certain coaching institutes is so spectacular that it casts a shadow on the working of formal education system leading to a big debate on their fairness of existence. The present paper attempts to examine the growth of big coaching houses in India.
  Keywords: Shadow education; corporate coaching institutes; growth; determinants.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2022.10044847
   
  
• Impact of Integrated Reporting on Firm Value: An Indian perspective  
  by Sushant Gupta, Lalit Bhalla 
  Abstract: Integrated reporting has created attention of policy makers in the past few years, in and around the world. An integrated report is a complete report communicating about how an organization's strategy, governance, performance and prospects lead to the creation of value over the short, medium and long term. India has taken the lead in its development by adopting on voluntary basis. Therefore, the present study has been conducted to examine the effect of on firm value for Indian companies. The sample for the present study consisted of total 369 companies listed on National stock exchange for the period 2018-2020 with 1107 observations. The study applied fixed effect model technique for the purpose of analysis. Further, findings showed that scores of Indian companies have significant impact on firm value along with control variables i.e size of the firm, profitability, and efficiency.
  Keywords: Integrated Reporting; Corporate Disclosures; Firm value; IIRC.
  
  
• A Study on Exploring the Determinants of Country-of-Origin Effect-based Brand Avoidance  
  by Ajay Singh Chandel, Punam Mishra 
  Abstract: Country-of-origin effect is a significant factor that marketers must keep in mind while introducing a product in a foreign country. The country-of-origin effect, commonly discussed to as the made-in image effect or ethnic group bias, is a psychosomatic outcome explaining how perceptions, attitudes and buying decisions of consumers are affected by country-of-origin of a brand which when are negative, may lead to country-of-origin effect-based brand avoidance. Country-of-origin-based brand avoidance is a phenomenon of consciously rejecting a brand based on the consumers evaluation of the country-of-origin. The study was conducted to explore the determinants of country-of-origin effect-based brand avoidance and to find out the factors most predictive of the phenomenon. The study concludes with clear academic and managerial implications.
  Keywords: Country-of-origin effect; Consumer ethnocentrism; Animosity; Financial patriotism; Brand avoidance.
  
  
• Integrating Employees, Customers and Technology to Build an Effective Sustainable Marketing Strategy  
  by Bijay Kushwaha, Ambu Sharma 
  Abstract: Primarily green marketing concentrates on delivering value to existing and future prospects with special focus on impact of delivered product in the environment. Undoubtedly sustainable marketing is an approach to build relationship with the existing and future customers, and it is one of the important aspects where marketers need to think at strategic level. Since last decade, the businesses have started selling and promoting eco-friendly products to save environment, resources, and society. This study examines the role of employees, customers, and technology in sustainable marketing practices. It will also identify the contribution of each element in sustainable marketing practices. The findings of the study resulted that technology is the most important contribution of sustainable marketing whereas the roles of employees are minimum. Employees support and technological advancements improve several aspects of sustainable marketing approach. The implications of this study are discussed.
  Keywords: Sustainable Marketing Practices; Green Marketing; Eco-friendly Products; Technological Advancements.
  
  
• Awareness and willingness to pay for nutritional labelling of food products among young consumers: a cross-sectional analysis  
  by Pooja Kansra, Pawan Kumar 
  Abstract: Nutritional labelling plays a vital role to provide valuable nutrition information to the consumers. Thereby, in the present paper an attempt was made to examine the awareness and willingness to pay for the nutritional labelling of the food products. The study was based on a structured questionnaire based survey conducted in the state of Punjab, with a multi-stage stratified random sample of 300 respondents. The data was analysed with descriptive statistics and logit regression. It was witnessed that majority of the respondents were aware but hold different perceptions towards nutritional labelling. Through an empirical study involving young consumers, it was found that willingness to pay for nutritional labelling was associated with gender, income, education, marital status and awareness. Therefore, present study suggested that manufacturers of food products should focus on these factors to target young consumers.rn
  Keywords: Awareness; buying behaviour; determinants; health; impact; nutritional labelling; perceptions; willingness; young; logit regression.rnrn.