Purpose: The study aims to delineate Shariah Governance Framework (SGF) by applying the components of New Institutional Theory (NIT) to provide an understanding of how Islamic banks theoretically influence Shariah Governance (SG) practice, structure, and process. Design/methodology/approach: As it is a conceptual paper, this paper has prepared based on an analytical approach to show how such institutions could provide a more effective system concerning the contents, procedures, and practices for the multiple users in the SG process of Islamic banks. Findings: The paper critically explores the adoption of NIT to develop SGF with its existing practice, structure, and procedure. Utilizing NIT, a proposed theoretical framework has developed for exploring the SG through its major components, i.e., 'isomorphism' and 'legitimacy'. It is stated that NIT can offer a useful framework by which homogenous structures, comprising guidelines, standards, and practices become recognized and authorized as a satisfactory standard corporate exercise. Thus, the proposed theoretical framework would be beneficial in understanding and exploring the SGF. Conclusion: The application of this SGF could help to justify the key dimensions of NIT with its overall formation, function, and practices that might also help to attain legitimacy.

Purpose: This study extends previous empirical work on the threshold effects of institutions on the relationship between infrastructure and economic growth. It does so by using three sub-indices of institutions as the threshold variable in place of aggregate index. This is with a view to determining the roles of the sub-indices in the nexus between infrastructure and economic growth. Research design, data and methodology: The analysis is based on a dynamic panel threshold regression model using a panel data set comprising 41 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa over the sample period of 1996-2015. Data are obtained from Ogbaro (2019). Results: The study finds that infrastructure exerts significant positive effects on economic growth below and above the threshold values of the three sub-indices, with higher effects above the threshold values. Results also show that on average, the Sub-Saharan African countries are not able to satisfy any of the threshold conditions, which accounts for their poor growth experience. Conclusion: The study concludes that countries with weak institutions do not benefit maximally from infrastructure development policies. The paper, therefore, recommends that countries in Sub-Saharan Africa need to focus on improving their institutional patterns if they are to reap the optimum benefits from their infrastructure development efforts.

Purpose: This article aims to provide a balanced understanding of the structural conditions and social processes involved in the creation and diffusion of innovation. Research design, data and methodology: Drawing on organizational and economic sociology and strategic management literature, this article offers a conceptual framework that highlights the two dimensions of network structures: the vertical dimension focusing on power and legitimacy vs. the horizontal dimension highlighting information value. By organizing the literature on the functions and consequences of network, this paper advances a theoretical perspective in understanding the vast array of empirical studies on innovation involving network analysis. Results: Using the proposed framework, this article explains how the mechanisms of power, legitimacy, and information value work together with social structural factors, thus enriching our understanding of innovation. This study reveals that the information mechanism (horizontal dimension) has been most important in innovation creation and diffusion, and that trust, credibility, and legitimacy are operative in innovation diffusion. Conclusions: This paper contributes to the literature by responding to calls to extend existing frameworks to better account for the dynamics between innovation and network. In addition, this article highlights how conceptualizing innovation within the horizontal-vertical dimensions of network structures, creates new opportunities for future research.

Purpose: This study seeks to establish the environmental damage theory applicable to Kenya. The analysis is based on annual data drawn from World Bank on carbon dioxide emissions (CO2e) and gross domestic product per capita (GDPPC) for Kenya spanning 1963 to 2017. Research Methodology: The study adopts explanatory research design and autoregressive distributed lag model for analysis. Results: The results revealed a coefficient of -0.017 for GDPPC and 0.004 for GDPPC squared indicating that economic growth has negative effect on CO2e in the initial stages of growth but positive effect in the high growth regime with the marginal effect being higher in the initial growth regime. The findings suggest a U-shaped relationship consistent with Brundtland Curve Hypothesis (BCH). Conclusions: The findings emphasize the need for sustainable development path that enables present generations to meet own needs without compromising the capacity of future generations to meet their own. Sustainable development may include, investment in renewable energies like wind, solar and adoption of energy efficient technologies in production and manufacturing. The study concludes that BCH is applicable to Kenya and that developing affordable and effective mechanisms to boost sustainable development implementation is necessary to decrease the anthropogenic impact in the environment without any attendant reduction in the economic growth.