• East Asian Journal of Business Economics (EAJBE)
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2016

This study analyzed the successful case of Naver LINE's entry into the Japanese market. LINE pursued a strategy of establishing its dominance early on and implemented localization for Japan and thereby achieved success in the Japanese market. The various strategies adopted by LINE allowed it to win over 80% of the market share in Japan and function as a nationally ubiquitous mobile messenger. The conclusions to be drawn from our LINE analysis is that LINE must implement localization strategies suited to the characteristics of each country, as it had done successfully in Japan. In the Asian region, it should retain the platform that provides various contents while pursuing a localization strategy to secure competitive edge, by offering emoticons suitable for each country, such as Ramadan emoticons in Islamic regions.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.177-186
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• 2022

This study aimed to measure the impact of societal participation of Saudi banks on customer satisfaction and determine the statistical differences in customer satisfaction according to sex, age, income, education, and work type. Societal participation has economic and environmental dimensions. The study population includes all Saudis in the government, military, and private sectors reaching 3.58 million in 2021. The unit of analysis is Saudi customers of commercial banks. The 12 banks have societal programs. The research tool is a "Questionnaire," It is distributed face-to-face at places of work. The study concludes that economic participation has no impact on customer satisfaction; however, the impact of environmental participation on customer satisfaction is proved. The study shows no statistical differences in customer satisfaction according to mediators (sex, age, income, education, and work type). Despite the environmental participation being the tangible product by Saudi banks in the local market, the study concludes the positive relationship between societal participation and customer satisfaction. The study presents a set of recommendations for enhancing societal participation in the Saudi businesses environment.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2022

The study aims to investigate whether Musharakah management has an impact on Chinese and Malaysian business partnerships. To estimate the relationship between Musharakah and the Sino-Malaysian partnership, this study uses a panel econometric technique namely pooled ordinary least squares. Ordinary Least Squares regression (OLS) is a common technique for estimating coefficients of linear regression equations which describe the relationship between one or more independent quantitative variables and a dependent variable. Data was retrieved from the annual reports (from 2009 to 2019) of non-financial firms listed on the stock exchange of China and Malaysia. Four partnership measures (i.e., Musharakah, Mudarabah, Tawuruq, and Kafalah) were used to estimate the impact of Musharakah on the Sino-Malaysian partnership. Empirical results reveal that Musharakah and Mudarabah are positively related to Kafalah but the relationship is statistically insignificant. Alternatively, Musharakah is positively and significantly related to Mudarabah. Musharakah and Mudarabah have a positive but insignificant relationship. The findings of this study suggest that management of partnership has a positive impact on firm partnership. Furthermore, it supports the hypothesis that improving partnership enhances Musharakah, which has a positive impact on the firm's partnership.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.363-370
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• 2021

This study aims to revisit the issues and misconceptions about financial inclusion (FI) indices. For indices construction, this study uses two approaches: one approach following the methodology of Sarma (2008) which is based on UNDP methodology, while the other is the Dynamic Factor Model (DFM)-based index of Stock and Watson (2002) and Rehman et al. (2021). The data of 18 economies of Asia from 1997 till 2017 is used for indices construction and analysis. The authors constructed macro and micro-level financial inclusion indices based on the different types of financial inclusion indicators. Second, the authors have critically evaluated two different approaches, and the results show that Sarma (2008)-based index show financial inclusion's level, while DFM-based index reveal fluctuation in the current year's financial inclusion level due to the prior variations. For measuring the level of financial inclusion, the Sarma (2008) index is effective, while for forecasting the level of financial inclusion, the DFM approach is more appropriate. Furthermore, the micro and macro aspects of financial inclusion should be reflected in separate indices for better understanding and in-depth insights.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.19-29
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• 2021

This study aims to measure financial inclusion and examine its impact on income inequality in a panel of 18 Asian countries over the period 1997-2017. Two alternative approaches for developing financial inclusion index are used: one approach following the methodology of Sarma (2008), while the other is the Dynamic Factor Model (DFM)-based index. The impact of individual indicators and index of financial inclusion on inequality in income is analyzed. The Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) approach is used for empirical analysis. The results indicate that micro-level financial inclusion has a weak negative and statistically significant impact on income inequality. Macro-level index and all individual indicators of financial inclusion do not affect income inequality in the selected sample of economies. The income inequality issues have different natures and cannot be fixed by financial inclusion only. It needs holistic structural reforms to enable fair distribution of income and make an equitable financial system. Financial inclusion is a relatively less important intervention tool regarding fixing the issue of income inequality. This is one of the first studies that used the DFM method for financial inclusion indices construction.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.11
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• pp.317-324
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• 2021

This study aims to analyze how to increase the brand loyalty of BPJS Healthcare participants who are Muslim in Indonesia by increasing customer engagement and brand trust. This study is based on the premise that effective customer engagement is the first step toward gaining brand trust and loyalty. The five dimensions of customer engagement, namely enthusiasm, attention, absorption, interaction, and identification, were tested on how they affect brand trust and brand loyalty. This research was conducted by distributing questionnaires to 216 Muslim respondents who were BPJS Health users from six Islamic hospitals in Central Java, Indonesia. Data analysis was performed using a regression test with SPSS. The results showed that the dimensions of customer engagement consisting of enthusiasm, attention, and absorption had a significant effect on brand trust. Meanwhile, the dimensions of customer engagement which consist of interaction and identification, do not affect brand trust. Furthermore, brand loyalty can be influenced by enthusiasm, interaction, and brand trust. Meanwhile, attention, absorption, and identification cannot affect brand loyalty. Thus, the dimensions of customer engagement that can directly affect brand loyalty are enthusiasm and interaction, while those that affect indirectly (through brand trust), are enthusiasm, attention, and absorption.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2023

The paper aims to investigate the asymmetric long-run and short-run relationships between inflation and remittance outflows in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (hereafter KSA) over the period 1971-2019 by using the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model. The statistical tests have supported the validity and stability of the model. The Wald F-test statistics confirm the existence of a long-run equilibrium relationship among the model variables; remittance outflows, positive (negative) shocks in inflation rates, investment, real GDP, and trade openness. Moreover, the empirical results confirm the existence of an asymmetric effect of the inflation rate on remittance outflows. The response of foreign workers to an increase in inflation rates differs from their response to a decrease in inflation rates. However, this asymmetric relationship between the increases/decreases in inflation and remittance outflows is significantly weak. The weakness of this relationship is due to the high marginal remittance propensity of migrant workers, which is explained by the low consumption propensity of foreign workers and their ability to adjust to the high cost of living due to inflation and the imposition of accompanying fees. Finally, the change in the inflation rate is not among the main factors influencing foreign remittance decisions in Saudi Arabia.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2013

Purpose - Our goal was to determine whether there is a relationship between actual profits' deviation from the profits expected in earnings per share's adjustment announcements and the degree of apparent earnings management in annual financial statements. Research design, data, and methodology - The samples consisted of 133 companies from ten industries. The companies were selected among those listed in the stock exchange, and their data were examined covering the two-year period from 2008 to 2010. Tests were conducted using a regression model and SPSS statistical software. Results - The findings indicate the following. There is no significantly positive relationship among the last earnings per share's adjustment forecast, the first earnings forecast per share, and earnings management. Moreover, the amount of the latest earnings per share's adjustment forecast relative to its first forecast is not associated with the companies' discretionary accruals items. Finally, the hypothesis that a relationship exists between companies' latest adjustments of their earnings per share and earnings management was tested the results indicate that there is no such relationship. Conclusions - The study's results suggest that the amount of earnings per share's adjustment is not a motivation for earnings management.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.5-15
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• 2017

The Northern States of Malaysia comprises of four states (Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Perak) still record high poverty incidence eventhough Malaysia has experienced a remarkable reduction of poverty over the past century. Economic activities in Perlis and Kedah that are predominantly agriculture in the rural area contribute to this disparity. To add, rural households are also subject to risks and uncertainties that make them more vulnerable to poverty. This study examines the impact of risks and assets on households' vulnerability to poverty. A survey of 400 respondents was conducted in December 2015 in the northern region of Malaysia. From these 400 questionnaires, only 298 were considered valid and used in the analysis. Using a logistic probability function, the results indicated that risks are not a significant threat to households. Gender and strata are crucial elements that significantly determine households' vulnerability. While human capital and financial capital significantly reduce households' vulnerability to poverty, physical and natural capitals were not statistically significant. The study suggests that the government and practitioners design strategies and policies with an assets-based approach. The asset-based approach is more appropriate for linking the causes of poverty to vulnerability.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.10
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• pp.717-728
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• 2020

The objective of this study is to explore the whole process of fraud risk management strategies that should be implemented by the organizations. Secondly, this study discusses the governance issues that arise at each stage of the process. For the purpose of this study, a content analysis of previous literatures is used as a technique for gathering data. This process usually involves codifying qualitative and quantitative information into pre-defined categories in order to derive patterns in the presentation and reporting of information. Based on our content analysis, we found that the fraud risk management process should be made of at least five stages which are inculcating the culture of managing risks in an organization, identifying the risks, evaluating the risks, determining preventive actions and implementing and reviewing stages. Our extended analysis of the fraud risk management process finds that a lot of governance issues arise in the fraud risk management process that should be solved by regulators and companies in order to ensure that fraud risk management process is embedded as corporate culture, not merely as a process. Among them are how to create the risk culture in an organization and whether auditors and risk management committees identify risks from each available source.