Finance & Economics Review

Self-Employment in Cameroon

Marcel Sewoyehbaa — 2023-11-30

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of self-employment in the Ndop Central sub-division in the North West Region of Cameroon. Specifically, the study aimed to examine the usefulness of technical education and finance in the creation of self-employment in the sub-division.

Methods: Using a survey research design, data were collected from primary sources with the help of a questionnaire. The convenience sampling technique was used to collect the needed data from a sample of 384 people from three villages of the sub-division. Binary logistics was used to analyze the data.

Results: Results revealed that the coefficient of technical education was significant and negative (-2.6581). This finding signifies that graduates from the technical system of education are less likely to join self-employment as compared to graduates of general education background. Also, the availability of finance was seen to have a negative effect on the probability of being self-employed (-0.0632). It implies that individuals who have easy access to loans are less likely to be self-employed.

Implication: The study is expected to guide the government to revisit the curriculum and focus of technical education in the country, as regards its contribution to the unemployment problem of the country. The study also points to the fact that those who have access to loans are not those who deserve it.

Contribution of Agricultural Productivity to Industrialization in Africa

Evina Ofeh Anchi — 2023-11-30

Purpose: The objective of this study is to investigate the direct and indirect effects of agricultural productivity on industrialization. It also looks for the mediating role of infrastructural development on the effects of agricultural productivity on industrialization.

Method: The system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) methodology for 45 African countries is applied. It covers the period from 2005 to 2022.

Results: The results show that agricultural productivity has a positive significant role on industrialization in Africa. This result is robust when industrialization is measured by employment in industry (EMIND). Infrastructural development has an enhancing role on the agricultural productivity-industrialization nexus. These results are robust for the two different measures of industrialization but are more enhancing on Employment in Industry than on Manufacturing Value Added (MVA). The study also observes that agricultural productivity interacts with the Water and Sanitation Index (WSS) on MVA to yield a positive net effect. Moreover, agricultural productivity interacts with ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and ECI (Electricity composite index) on both MVA and EMIND to yield positive synergy effects.

Implications: The Electricity Composite Index is still not sufficient in Africa. Equally, there is a need for some countries like Chad, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Niger to boost WSS above this threshold of 32.96 since this threshold is below the mean value for Africa as a whole. Policy-wise, it could be recommended that both agricultural productivity and infrastructural development should be strengthened, with emphasis on electricity, so as to achieve the much-needed level of industrialization for Africa.

Significance of Transformational Leadership on Project Portfolio Success within the Micro Financial Sector in Cameroon

Gaston Gwemelang Ngochembo — 2024-02-13

Purpose: This research investigates the effect of transformational leadership on project portfolio success in the micro-financial sector in Cameroon.

Method: A quantitative research approach was used for this study. Data were collected from 205 managers of Microfinance institutions in Cameroon and analyzed with the help of the SPSS, version 25. AMOS 23 was used to conduct Confirmatory Factor Analyses to examine convergent and discriminant validity.

Results: The result showed that less than 60% of current microfinance institutions have adopted key aspects of transformational leadership (idealized influence; intellectual stimulation; inspirational motivation; and individualized consideration). It was observed that transformational leadership has a significant and positive effect on project portfolio success. The effect of such leadership is mediated by team building practices and teamwork quality.

Implication: Transformational leadership is not well recognized in the micro-financial sector of Cameroon irrespective of its effect on project portfolio success. Microfinance institution managers should adopt and apply such leadership for higher performance of their project portfolios.

Factors Affecting the Intention to Use Digital Banking

Mohammad Azhar Hossain — 2024-02-13

Purpose: Banks are adopting digital banking to attract clients by providing more useful services, and creating safe, dependable, and easy-to-use online tools. The purpose of this research is to examine the factors influencing the overall adoption of digital banking by retail banking customers.

Methods: An expanded technology acceptance model (TAM) serves as the basis for the theoretical framework of the study. A structured survey of 200 consumers is used to gather primary data, and multiple regression analysis is used to examine the correlations between six independent components.

Results: The research indicates that web capabilities, perceived utility, and awareness all have a positive and significant impact on the adoption of digital banking.

Implications: This study offers guidelines for creating service models and boosting the use of digital banking. The findings can help policymakers and financial organizations devise strategies for constructing the infrastructure and methods for offering digital banking services.

Originality: It is a pioneering effort to explore the combined effects of Perceived usefulness, usability, Privacy, safety, trust Cost of transactions Awareness and Web features on Bangladeshi users’ intention to use digital banking.

Limitations: This study is based on quantitative data analysis with limited sample size and period. In future, qualitative research may be conducted for deeper understanding of the issue.