A study in the International Journal of Business Forecasting and Marketing Intelligence, reveals the financial challenges faced by urban Indian consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The work then offers strategies that individuals might use to help them cope with the complexities of the post-pandemic world with greater resilience and mental well-being.

The COVID-19 pandemic which began in China in 2019 ravaged humanity, leaving many dead in its wake, many more grieving, and countless suffereing the health consequences in the form of long-covid. Moreover, while the World Health Organisation no longer considers the world in a pandemic situation, there remain many hospitaliations and deaths caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen and many vulnerable people remain at serious risk of debilitating or lethal infection.

Meenakshi Handa and Swati Jain of the University School of Management Studies at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in New Delhi, India, have focused on the economic impact of the pandemic and the subsequent effects on mental health among urban Indian consumers. The team carried out a a qualitative research study seeking to understand the experiences of adults aged between 18 and 39 years during the pandemic through open-ended questioning in an online survey.

The team reports that many people suffered serious hardships. Indeed more than half of the respondents had financial struggles that affected their daily lives and many of those reporting negative effects on their psychological well-being. Many of the respondents reported ongoing worries about their future financial security, income, and job security.

There were many difficulties with which the respondents had to cope during the height of the pandemic. However, the research has also shown that some people made healthy lifestyle changes and tried to adopt a more optimistic outlook on life in the wake of the devastation wrought by the coronavirus. These changes, the team suggests, indicate a conscious effort on the part of many individuals to cope with these unprecedented challenges and endeavour to improve their overall well-being.

The team suggests that it might be possible to build upon this and to offer strategies and interventions to help people who were unable to navigate the adversity quite so well as others. The initiatives could provide support and guidance to those facing economic uncertainty and psychological stress in the post-pandemic world.

There are thus important implications for businesses and policymakers alike hoping to develop products and services to improve the psychological and financial well-being of the population. Moreover, there is a role for counsellors, clinicians, and educators to implement the requisite initiatives. The researchers also point to individuals adopting sustainable consumption practices as a part of their lives and so helping themselves to potentially lead a simpler and more responsible life with long-term personal benefit and also benefit to society at large.

Handa, M. and Jain, S. (2023) 'Coping with the dark shadows: consumer response to financial hardships during a health pandemic', Int. J. Business Forecasting and Marketing Intelligence, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp.193–211.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBFMI.2023.131748

Star Wars is a series of science fiction fantasy movies and television shows. As is now quite common across movies and TV, the filming locations have become popular tourist destinations for fans of the franchise. Moreover, given the Disney buyout of the franchise from LucasFilms in 2012, the inevitable theme park attractions at Disney resorts are now a major pull for that kind of tourism too.

The renowned science fiction franchise has become something of an international cultural phenomenon since the release of the first movie in 1977. It now attracts countless dedicated fans to places associated with the movies and spinoffs, such as TV shows, exhibitions, conferences, and film locations in Ireland, Norway, Tunisia, and elsewhere. Research in the International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy looks at Star Wars tourism as an intriguing example of movie and television-related tourism and sheds light on the positive and negative aspects of this kind of tourism.

Dag Øivind Madsen of The University of South-Eastern Norway in Hønefoss, discusses the various examples of Star Wars filming locations and tourist destinations across the globe. His work suggests that these places have witnessed increased tourist interest due to their association with the iconic movie franchise. On the positive side, this boost in tourism has contributed to the economic growth of several destinations, boosting local businesses and creating job opportunities. However, the converse of that is that there are some concerns associated with this form of tourism, such as overcrowding. The influx of tourists represents a new strain on local infrastructure, could impact the environment, and diminish the quality of the visitor experience for non-movie tourists and regular tourists alike. Madsen also highlights the issue of sustainability and how natural and cultural resources in these destinations must be conserved and carefully managed to ensure long-term viability.

Star Wars tourism represents a captivating case study within the realm of movie and television-related travel. There are many other franchises, such as Game of Thrones (Croatia and Ireland), Harry Potter (Northumberland, King's Cross station, and other locations in the UK), Twilight (Forks, Washington, USA), Breaking Bad (Alberqueque), The Lord of the Rings (New Zealand), all of which have boosted tourism at location sites used in the movies. The concept stretches much further back in movie history to the likes of The Sound of Music, which attracted visitors to Salzburg in Austria, Gone with the Wind (Atlanta, Georgia), Casablanca (Morocco), and other destinations. Moreover, literature and art had and still do add to tourism in many iconic places Shakespeare and Stratford-upon-Avon for instance, Bath, the setting for Jane Austen's novel "Pride and Prejudice", and Canterbury a popular destination for those hoping to find the roots of Chaucer's tales.

The scale of tourism in general and that associated with movie franchises, present challenges for those destinations related to over-tourism, sustainability, and the maintenance of an authentic experience for visitors. Madsen's work in highlighting the issues for one particular case the fandom of which spans several generations, is important. The franchise remains very popular and it is likely that there will be new filming locations added to the list as it grows over the years. "The future trajectory and development of Star Wars tourism ultimately remains an empirical question that will have to be addressed in future studies," Madsen writes.

Madsen, D.Ø. (2023) 'The trajectory and development of Star Wars tourism', Int. J. Management Concepts and Philosophy, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp.276–284.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMCP.2023.131768

A study in the International Journal of Managerial and Financial Accounting has looked at the relationship between relevance and reliability in annual and semi-annual financial statements. An analysis of more than 300 manufacturing companies across a seven-year period reveals the trade-off between these two factors and sheds new light on the dynamics of financial reporting.

Alexios Kythreotis and Milad Soltani of the Department of Accounting, Economics, and Finance at the European University Cyprus, point out that relevance and reliability are critical qualities of a company's financial statements. Relevance refers to the degree to which information influences economic decisions, while reliability pertains to the accuracy and faithfulness of the information being reported. The team has found, however, that these two factors are often in conflict, forcing companies to perform a delicate balancing act as they face different demands from shareholders, regulators, and standard-setting bodies.

Part of the problem is due to the way in which the quality of financial statements is defined and determined according to the framework set out by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). How reliability measures up or otherwise to the IFRS framework's rationality underscores the complexity of the challenge faced by organizations striving to simultaneously provide accurate and relevant financial information to the various stakeholders. The trade-off between relevance and reliability has remained largely ignored until this present research. The team's comprehensive analysis of panel data from a diverse range of manufacturing companies offers strong evidence and highlights this trade-off.

The implications of the work are not purely academic. Indeed, they hold practical value for companies seeking to provide meaningful and reliable financial information to the various stakeholders. They must strike the right balance between relevance and reliability without compromising the trust and confidence of investors, lenders, and other interested parties. Regulators and standard-setting bodies might also now be aware of the trade-offs and how they affect effective financial reporting practices. Ongoing research in this area might now provide illumination for those involved in financial reporting on both the corporate and regulatory side of the coin so that a balance can be struck between the two apparently conflicting aspects of this endeavour – reliability and relevance.

Kythreotis, A. and Soltani, M. (2023) 'Relevance and faithful representation (reliability) of annual and semi-annual financial statements; a trade-off?', Int. J. Managerial and Financial Accounting, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp.393–412.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMFA.2023.131779

Consumers are constantly bombarded with enticing product promotions and time-limited offers. That might be a flash sale on an e-commerce platform or a time-constrained deal at a physical store. Businesses use these marketing tools to trigger consumers and so drive sales. Research in the International Journal of Services Technology and Management asks whether consumers are so gullible or whether cynicism means such promotions are largely ineffective.

Jing-Bo Shao, Fei-Si Yao, and Min Xie of the Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, China, have explored the concept of restrictive marketing, which encompasses both traditional online-to-offline businesses and emerging original design manufacturer (ODM) enterprises. They have identified various factors that help to shape consumer behaviour when faced with various types of promotion and whether those factors have a positive, negative or neutral effect on their decision to purchase a product. The various factors include time constraints, price discounts, product price levels, and past online buying experience.

Fundamentally, when consumers are faced with limited time to take advantage of a promotion, they are more likely to make a purchase. This is a key finding from the research. However, the effect is moderated by previous online experience of buying online – the more experienced, then perhaps the more cynical, less gullible, and the less likely to be swayed by such a marketing tactic.

The researchers also found that perceived value plays a significant role in moderating purchase intention when faced with time constraints. Ultimately, consumers tend to decide on value before making a purchase decision rather than being triggered or nudged to make a summary decision foisted on them by a time constraint. Of course, the degree of price discounting can counter their cynicism as it will boost the perceived value of a product, making it more appealing to consumers within the limited timeframe.

Insights from this work should feed back to marketing departments keen to nudge consumers. They must understand the experience of their putative customers better in order to target them more effectively with such marketing strategies. Conversely, consumers themselves can understand how such marketing works, how well they themselves are being targeted and so seek out the best offers and discounts when they do wish to buy a product but without being led too heavily by marketing tricks.

Shao, J-B., Yao, F-S. and Xie, M. (2023) 'Is time-constrained promotion actually effective? The moderating role of price discounts and previous online consumption experience', Int. J. Services Technology and Management, Vol. 28, Nos. 3/4, pp.159–184.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2023.131712

Research in the European Journal of International Management, has looked at the connection between economic distance and the survival of foreign subsidiaries. The findings, based on a sample of 1771 Finnish foreign direct investments, shed light on the non-linear relationship between these factors and underscore the role of focused strategy in ensuring the success of a company's foreign subsidiary operations.

As a concept, economic distance refers to the disparities in economic conditions and factors between a company's home nation and foreign countries that host its subsidiaries. It is a major focus of international management research. In the paper by Pratik Arte of the Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University, UK and his late colleague Jorma Larimo who was at the University of Vaasa, Finland, it is argued that economic distance, when combined with arbitrage opportunities and associated costs, can shape the fate of foreign subsidiaries.

The researchers constructed an index to measure economic distance, drawing upon international production and organizational learning theory and using the statistical Mahalanobis method to calculate economic distance based on various factors. They tested their hypothesis using Cox's proportional hazard model to analyzing the sample of Finnish foreign direct investments. The analysis showed an inverted U-shaped relationship between economic distance and the survival of subsidiaries. Initially, as economic distance increases, subsidiary survival improves but beyond a threshold, survival rates begin to decline as operating costs outweigh the benefits of operating in countries that are even more economically distant.

The study also highlights the role of prior experience and ownership in coping with the challenges in economically distant countries. Firms that have experience with foreign host countries, as well as wholly owned subsidiaries, could cope much better with the requisite operating costs. In contrast, joint ventures worked best between economically similar countries, where the costs and challenges were relatively lower.

This research could have implications for companies attempting to venture into foreign markets. While an economically distant country might be enticing because it presents lucrative arbitrage opportunities, the study shows that companies need to work strategically lest they fall fowl of that U-shaped curve! Prior experience and an appropriate ownership structure can mitigate some of the challenges, the research suggests.

Arte, P. and Larimo, J. (2023) 'Revisiting economic distance and its role in foreign subsidiary survival', European J. International Management, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp.369–407.
DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2023.131719

In forensic science, the identification of deceased or missing individuals is often at the heart of an investigation. Dental records have long been used as a valuable tool in this process given that it is rare that two people will have matching records of their teeth present or absent, caps and crowns, or fillings, and the alignment of teeth seen in an X-ray. One thing that is perhaps not necessarily immediately obvious from dental records is the biological sex of the individual, but this would be very useful information in almost every investigation in the absence of other indicators.

Research in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, has made progress towards the development and training of an algorithm that can determine biological sex from dental X-rays with 94 percent accuracy. This application of what is referred to as a deep-learning method demonstrates the potential of such an approach to augmenting conventional evidence in an investigation.

B. Vijayakumari, S. Vidhya, and J. Saranya of the Mepco Schlenk Engineering College in Sivakasi, Tamilnadu, India, explain how their algorithm comprises three components: image pre-processing, gradient-based recursive threshold (GBRT) segmentation, and classification. Initially, they use a so-called prime magic square filter during the image pre-processing step to remove unwanted noise. The prime magic square filter uses a special grid of numbers overlaid on the image within the computer and compares pixel values in the image with the corresponding values in the grid to determine what are distortions or compression artefacts, which contribute to image noise and so can be brushed away to give a clean and accurate image for the subsequent analysis.

The GBRT segmentation technique refines the images, enhancing the algorithm's ability to extract relevant information. Finally, the classification stage utilizes a Resnet50 neural network, a widely adopted deep learning architecture. The team trained the algorithm with 3000 dental X-rays for which the individual's biological sex was known. This allowed the algorithm to discern the biological sex associated with dental X-rays presented to it in which the biological sex of the individual is not known. For the purposes of testing the team used 1000 images, a subset of the original collection where sex was known to determine whether the system would correctly assign biological sex. Teeth and jawbones are sexually dimorphic in humans to varying degrees but there are also marked effects of nutrition and socioeconomics on how our jaws and teeth grow. The new system can see through these potential discrepancies based on its training with the X-ray images.

Within the specific context of legal proceedings, there is now a need to assess the algorithm more rigorously so that reliability of the data, potential algorithm biases, and the need for expert interpretation should be taken into account. Ongoing research and validation efforts will contribute to its refinement and development for use in forensic analysis. The team also plans to extend the approach to age determination from dental X-rays.

Vijayakumari, B., Vidhya, S. and Saranya, J. (2023) 'Deep learning-based gender classification with dental X-ray images', Int. J. Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp.109–121.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2023.131694

Research in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology shows how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to fuse images from clinical X-ray computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging scans. The method, known as the Dual-Branch Generative Adversarial Network (DBGAN), has the potential to allow a clearer and more clinically useful interpretation of CT and MRI scans to be carried out. Essentially, combining the hard, bone, structures of the CT scan with the soft tissue detail of the MRI image. The work could improve clinical diagnosis and enhance patient care for a wide range of conditions where such scans are commonly used but where each has limitations when used alone.

CT imaging utilizes X-ray technology to capture detailed cross-sectional images of the body or part of the body, which are converted into a three-dimensional representation of bone, which are opaque to X-rays. In contrast, MRI uses employs strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce precise images of soft tissues, such as organs or diseased or damaged tissues. The potential of merging both modalities could give clinicians a more comprehensive representation of a patient's anatomy and reveal otherwise hidden details of their physical problems.

Wenzhe Zhai, Wenhao Song, Jinyong Chen, Guisheng Zhang, and Mingliang Gao of Shandong University of Technology in Zibo, China, and Qilei Li of Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom have used DBGAN to carry out their CT and MRI fusion. DBGAN is an advanced AI technique based on deep-learning algorithms. It features a dual-branching structure consisting of multiple generators and discriminators. The generators are responsible for creating fused images that combine the salient features and complementary information from CT and MRI scans.

The discriminators essentially assess the quality of the generated images by comparing them with real images and discarding those that are of lower quality until a high-quality fusion is achieved. This generative adversarial relationship between generators and discriminators allows the AI to fuse the CT and MRI images efficiently and realistically so that artefacts are minimised and visual information maximised.

The duality of the DBGAN approach uses a multiscale extraction module (MEM) which focuses on extracting important features and detailed information from the CT and MRI scans and a self-attention module (SAM) which highlights the most relevant and distinctive features in the fused images.

The team has carried out thorough testing of their proposed DBGAN approach with both subjective and objective assessments. It proves itself to have superior performance compared to existing techniques in terms of image quality and diagnostic accuracy. Given that CT and MRI scans individually have strengths and weaknesses, the use of AI could allow radiographers to fuse synergistically both types of scan, combining the strengths of each and discarding the weaknesses. Fundamentally, the team explains, the DBGAN fusion retains the bone structure details commonly accessible with a CT image and the soft tissue information provided by an MRI scan.

Zhai, W., Song, W., Chen, J., Zhang, G., Li, Q. and Gao, M. (2023) 'CT and MRI image fusion via dual-branch GAN', Int. J. Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp.52–63.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2023.131696

Research in the International Journal of Business Innovation and Research suggests that innovative accountants can play an important role in the growth and success of a firm. The study, by Kanthana Ditkaew Rajamangala of the University of Technology in Lanna Tak, Thailand, looked at the skills of accountants and found that their competency influenced company growth through two key factors: business management efficiency and financial reporting quality. The study also looked at the link between innovative accountant competency and the public image of the company, with a particular focus on how financial reporting quality plays a mediating role in that image.

Rajamangala surveyed some 441 accounting directors and used a structural equation model (SEM) to evaluate the data obtained. She found that the competence of innovative accountants within a company affects growth but that this is mediated by both business management efficiency and the quality of financial reporting. Financial acumen essentially helps drive growth by improving business operations underpinned by high-quality financial reports.

The implications of this work are quite far-reaching. In emphasizing the importance of innovative accountants within an organization, Rajamangala's work suggests that organizations ought to prioritize the development and nurturing of innovative skills among their accountants. By doing so, they can foster a culture of innovation that drives growth and improves the overall perception of the firm.

In the near future "blockchain" technology, "artificial intelligence", and other disruptive innovations will begin to play a role in company accounting offering new approaches to conventional transaction recording and predictions about a company's finances. Those accountants who recognise the potential of such innovations and use them to their advantage will also be serving their companies better than those who ignore the opportunities and fail to innovate.

There is always a lot of hyperbole surrounding new technology and concerns that it will lead to redundancies in certain sectors. In the face of this, strong support for the accountant's function requires the administrative committee to collaborate on the strategy and participate in the evolution of accounting, Rajamangala's work suggests. Hi-tech provides us with novel and powerful tools, but we will always need the human touch.

Ditkaew, K. (2023) 'The effect among innovative accountant competency, business management efficiency, financial reporting quality, and firm growth', Int. J. Business Innovation and Research, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp.580–607.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2023.130108

How do we take a look inside AI's black box and define what we see?

The term "artificial intelligence", usually abbreviated as "AI", means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Initially, the phrase was used to allude to the potential of machines, computers, specifically, somehow gaining sentience on a par with human consciousness. This notion inspired a lot of philosophical debate about what it means to be human and whether or not a machine can have self-awareness. The same notion was at the heart of a lot of science fiction throughout the twentieth century and to the present day, although the idea of entities other than humans having human-like consciousness has been around for millennia.

As we enter a new phase in the development of AI technology, the concepts surrounding what we mean by that term are changing. We now consider neural networks that can be trained genetically to undergo machine learning and to take on certain properties we now refer to as AI. However, many of these tools, computer algorithms backed by enormous information databases do not come close to displaying consciousness and they many such as the now infamous large language models come close to behaving like a human. When prompted with text, they can produce a seemingly authentic response that is, superficially at least, coincident with the response a human might give to that same prompt.

Of course, these models are only as good as the training they have been given and the algorithms they run to generate their responses. At this point in the history of this kind of AI we are fast approaching the notion of a "black box" AI. A system that given a prompt, generates a response that even the programmers and developers of the system cannot predict. Such systems and their responses reaching the point where they cannot be explained, although this is not to suggest that the system is in any way approaching the sci-fi singularity of self-awareness, emotional behaviour, and any kind of concept of right or wrong.

We develop and train the algorithms, ask it to make a prediction, and we take the responses. The problems may well arise when those responses are used to make important decisions across society, in economics and finance, in industry, across healthcare and medical research, in the wider realm of science, in politics and most worryingly in the military machine. If the programming and training are unexplainable, then we or machines prompting AI systems for a response may get what turns out to be a very wrong response. If we have given such prompt-response systems control of important systems, then we may come unstuck when a prompt generates an entirely inappropriate response in a healthcare environment, in a factory, or on the world stage.

Fabian Wahler and Michael Neubert, writing in the International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, recognise the importance of defining and understanding AI and where it might take us, sooner, rather than later. They have homed in on a definition of explainable AI that might be used in future work by both practitioners and academics alike. The work seeks to remove the ambiguity of current definitions and to increase trust and reliability in decision making by making black-box systems understandable, interpretable, and transparent to human users.

Wahler, F. and Neubert, M. (2023) 'A scientific definition of explainable artificial intelligence for decision making', Int. J. Teaching and Case Studies, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp.88–116.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2023.131664

The global population of indigenous people surpasses the total population of the USA and is almost equal to that of the European Union, but despite this a stifling "Western" perspective on most aspects of culture, society, and economics, means that many indigenous people are often marginalised as minorities and caught in the poverty trap, as well facing many other hardships. Research in the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business now highlights the role of entrepreneurship in empowering indigenous communitie.

Prescott C. Ensign of the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, has conducted a study to investigate this phenomenon and sheds new light on the various factors that influence the establishment and operation of businesses by indigenous people. Ensign's findings underscore the significance of addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by indigenous entrepreneurs, while also emphasizing the interconnectedness of contextual factors that affect the outcomes of their efforts. Entrepreneurship might help individuals and their communities overcome some of the political and economic disadvantages they encounter. Indeed, entrepreneurship has emerged as a potential avenue for empowerment and wealth creation among these indigenous populations.

The research, aimed at investigating the dynamics of indigenous entrepreneurship, develops a conceptual framework of the various factors. Ensign's framework offers an analytical tool and allowed him to carry out a qualitative examination of over fifty instances of indigenous entrepreneurship in remote, rural, and urban areas across twelve countries.

Geographic embeddedness is an important factor as are indigenous cultural factors and the mainstream economic structures that surround them. All of these might conspire to shape the success and operation of a business. However, the Western-Eurocentric perspective is a common hindrance, the work suggests. By recognizing and valuing indigenous culture and practices, Ensign's research suggests that more effective and empowering strategies might be developed to better support entrepreneurship within indigenous communities.

There is an overarching urgency to change the perspective to one that emphasizes the importance of the indigenous entrepreneurial ecosystem and allows it to thrive, one that encompasses the unique challenges and opportunities specific to indigenous entrepreneurs rather than assuming such businesses can be treated with the aforementioned "Western" ethos.

Policymakers and stakeholders from both the indigenous and non-indigenous communities can best work together and can contribute to the economic well-being and overall empowerment of indigenous communities by recognising the barriers and limitations and finding ways to overcome them. A business model that is heterogeneous and not homogenous is now needed to create a more inclusive and culturally diverse world of entrepreneurship.

"Findings also provide evidence that indigenous entrepreneurship is growing and prevails in many forms around the world," writes Ensign. "This is positive considering current and past actions of oppression, neglect, marginalisation, and constraints that target indigenous people. Indigenous entrepreneurs are overcoming these and moving ahead."

Ensign, P.C. (2023) 'Contextual impact on indigenous entrepreneurs around the world: geographic location, socio-cultural context and economic structure', Int. J. Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 49, No. 1, pp.150–186.
DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2023.131648