PRIZREN SOCIAL SCIENCE JOURNAL

HARNESSING 4IR TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN CAPITAL THROUGH ONLINE LEARNING IN AFRICA

Queen MPOFU — 2025-12-31

With the advent of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), emerging technologies and calls for workforce preparedness through upskilling and re-skilling across the globe, many academic institutions have fully embraced the blended learning format. The blended format combines online and face-to-face teaching and learning formats. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of online learning methods, and many continued with it post-pandemic, leveraging its benefits such as flexibility, accessibility, and continuous skill development. This study examines how 4IR technologies can be harnessed for human capital development through online learning in Africa. The key objectives are as follows: determine the role of online learning in harnessing 4IR technologies, establish the benefits of online learning in human capital development and strategies for effective implementation of online learning. A desktop research approach was utilised in this study. A systematic literature review was employed to gather evidence on harnessing 4IR through online learning in Africa. Data was collected using the Google Scholar and Scopus databases, and only peer-reviewed research articles were reviewed. The findings reveal that Africa knows 4IR technologies' potential in developing human capital despite various challenges in harnessing these technologies, such as infrastructure and connectivity limitations, the digital divide, and the skills gap. To harness the new technologies effectively, this study recommends collaboration between industry and academia and integrating emerging technologies in online learning platforms.

DETERMINANTS OF AGRICULTURAL TRADE OPENNESS, AND THEIR LINK TO ECONOMIC GROWTH: A CASE OF SADC COUNTRIES FROM 2000 TO 2021

Sekedi MABATHA — 2025-12-31

This study evaluates the determinants of agricultural trade openness, exports, and their link to economic growth in the SADC region, using secondary panel data from 2000 to 2021. Countries in SADC have limited access to the advantages that are as a result of trade openness and agricultural exports. The aim of the study will be to analyse the determinants of agricultural trade openness, agricultural exports and the link to economic growth in the SADC countries from 2000 to 2021. Both fixed and random effects models are employed for estimation: the fixed effects model controls for individual country-specific factors, while the random effects model assumes no such correlation and allows for time-invariant variables to be estimated . Results show that agricultural GDP positively influences trade openness, indicating that increases in agricultural production encourage greater trade openness in the region. In contrast, the year variable has a negative effect on trade openness, suggesting a declining trend over time. These relationships vary across the broader regional context of 16 countries, highlighting the heterogeneity in trade dynamics within SADC.

IMPACT OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY USE, AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY ON CARBON EMISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA USING WAVELET-BASED TIME-FREQUENCY ANALYSIS

Adedeji Daniel GBADEBO — 2025-12-31

This study investigates the dynamic relationship between carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, economic growth, energy consumption, and industrial output in South Africa from 1990 to 2022. Employing a combined approach of Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modeling and wavelet coherence analysis, the research captures both long-run elasticities and localized time-frequency dependencies among the variables. The findings reveal that economic growth, energy consumption, and industrial activity significantly drive CO₂ emissions, highlighting the environmental challenges accompanying South Africa’s development path. Policy implications emphasize the need for integrated strategies focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, and green industrialization to achieve sustainable growth. The study contributes to the literature by providing nuanced insights into the temporal and spectral dimensions of emissions dynamics, offering valuable guidance for policymakers pursuing climate change mitigation in emerging economies.

THE ROLE OF PRODUCT, PROCESS, AND MARKET INNOVATION IN DRIVING THE GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF MICRO-INSURANCE BUSINESSES IN NIGERIA

Kamaldeen Ibraheem NAGERI — 2025-12-31

This study investigates the impact of innovation on the growth of micro-insurance businesses in Nigeria, focusing on product, process, and market innovation. Employing a descriptive research design, data were collected from 228 employees of five selected insurance companies using structured questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including multiple regression analysis, were employed to examine the relationship between innovation dimensions and micro-insurance growth. The findings reveal that all three innovation types significantly influence business growth, with process innovation exhibiting the strongest effect, followed by market and product innovation. The study underscores the importance of innovation-driven strategies in enhancing operational efficiency, customer acquisition, and market penetration in the Nigerian micro-insurance sector. Policy implications include the need for regulatory incentives, digitalization of operations, and expansion of distribution channels to promote financial inclusion and sustainable growth. The study contributes to the theoretical understanding of innovation-led growth and provides empirical evidence for policymakers and industry stakeholders.

ASSESSING THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF FOSSIL FUEL ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE

Yinka Ibrahim AGBEYINKA — 2025-12-31

This study critically examines the environmental and social impacts of Nigeria’s fossil fuel dependency, focusing on pollution levels, health outcomes, and climate risk exposure within oil-producing regions. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset spanning 2015 to 2023, the analysis employs panel regression and instrumental variable techniques to address potential endogeneity and capture dynamic relationships. Results indicate that fossil fuel extraction and associated activities contribute to environmental degradation and increased vulnerability to climate risks, though the direct statistical significance of some effects remains limited, potentially due to data constraints. The findings underscore the complex interplay between economic development, environmental sustainability, and social wellbeing in resource-rich contexts. Policy recommendations emphasize the importance of strengthening regulatory frameworks, promoting renewable energy transitions, and enhancing community health infrastructure to mitigate adverse effects. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on sustainable development in fossil fuel-dependent economies and highlights avenues for future interdisciplinary research.

SHORT- AND LONG-RUN EFFECTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION ON POPULATION GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM DYNAMIC PANEL GMM MODELS

Oloruntoba OYEDELE — 2025-12-31

This study investigates the dynamic interrelationship between population growth, renewable energy adoption, and carbon emissions within a system GMM framework, drawing on a balanced panel of countries and spanning the period 1990–2023. The analysis is motivated by Malthusian and neo-Malthusian perspectives, which emphasize the interaction between demographic expansion and environmental constraints. Empirical results reveal weak short-run effects of renewable energy and trade openness on population dynamics, yet underscore the long-term role of renewable adoption in mitigating carbon dependency and enhancing sustainable development pathways. Unit root and stationarity tests confirm the robustness of the data series, while correlation analysis suggests modest linkages between renewable energy, emissions, and economic activity. The GMM estimation indicates limited immediate impacts, but diagnostic tests highlight the importance of long-run policy consistency and institutional quality in reinforcing the population–energy–environment nexus. The findings suggest that a comprehensive mix of renewable deployment, governance reforms, and demographic-sensitive planning is essential to align economic growth with global climate objectives.

LIQUIDITY INSURANCE, CREDIT MARKET FRICTIONS, AND CORPORATE RESILIENCE: AN ASSESSMENT OF POST-FINANCIAL CRISIS LINE OF CREDIT FOR CANADIAN FIRMS

Emmanuel Imuede OYASOR — 2025-12-31

This paper investigates the role of lines of credit (LOCs) in supporting Canadian firms’ financing and investment behavior in the post-financial crisis period, with particular attention to their function as liquidity insurance during systemic shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Using firm-level data and econometric analysis, the study demonstrates that LOCs mitigate liquidity constraints, enhance corporate financial flexibility, and sustain investment capacity, although their effectiveness is moderated by firm size, leverage, and profitability. The findings further reveal that while large and financially robust firms gain significant benefits, smaller firms continue to face barriers in accessing LOC facilities. Moreover, systemic stress conditions highlight the dependence of LOC effectiveness on the stability of the banking sector and macroeconomic policy interventions. The study contributes to the growing body of empirical evidence by emphasizing the need for robust regulatory frameworks, enhanced banking sector resilience, and targeted policy interventions to ensure equitable access to liquidity insurance mechanisms. These insights hold significant implications for policymakers, banks, and firms seeking to strengthen corporate resilience and macro-financial stability in Canada’s evolving economic landscape.

FIRM CHARACTERISTICS, MARKET STABILITY, AND THE DYNAMICS OF STOCK PRICE CRASHES: EVIDENCE FROM FIRM-LEVEL DATA IN EMERGING MARKETS

Kayode David KOLAWOLE — 2025-12-31

The paper examines the risk of stock price crashes in emerging markets based on structural and governance features of companies. The analysis based on a balanced sample of 2010-2023 firms, as well as random-effects generalized least squares (GLS) regression, examines how leverage, firm size, firm age, and board size are associated with the probability of a crash event occurring. The findings indicate that the size of firms has a significant impact on the crash risk as the greater the size the less vulnerable it is, and the larger the board size the greater is the monitoring role of corporate governance mechanisms. The age of the firm is partly affected, as both reputational capital and structural rigidity are present, and leverage is statistically insignificant in explaining the risk of crashing. The robustness of the findings is supported by sensitivity tests of the fixed-effects, random-effects, and robust OLS models and the post-estimation diagnostic shows that there is no multicollinearity, autocorrelation, and heteroskedasticity. The results show that governance-based regulatory changes and transparency at the firm level play a significant role in reducing stock price crashes, hence, playing a crucial role in ensuring financial stability in the emerging markets.

THE ROLE OF DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIES IN ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY AND FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN EMERGING BANKING SECTORS: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

Abdulrasaq MUSTAPHA — 2025-12-31

This study investigates the impact of digital marketing strategies on the productivity of United Bank for Africa (UBA), focusing on social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO). Using a cross-sectional survey design and quantitative analysis, the research explores the correlation between digital marketing variables and organizational productivity. The findings reveal that social media marketing and content marketing have significant positive effects on productivity, while SEO shows a moderate but meaningful contribution. Conversely, email marketing demonstrates no significant effect, reflecting changing consumer preferences toward more interactive platforms. The study reinforces the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, emphasizing digital capabilities as critical drivers of competitive advantage. Policy implications highlight the role of digital marketing in advancing financial inclusion, reducing transaction costs, and enhancing customer engagement in Nigeria’s banking sector. Overall, the study concludes that strategic deployment of digital marketing not only enhances firm performance but also contributes to broader economic growth in emerging economies.

DRIVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE ON RENEWABLE ENERGY INNOVATION AND CARBON INTENSITY REDUCTION IN BRICS ECONOMIES

Ahmed Oluwatobi ADEKUNLE — 2025-12-31

This study empirically examines the role of renewable energy innovation in promoting green GDP growth while reducing carbon intensity within BRICS economies. Utilizing panel data econometrics and dynamic System GMM estimation over the period 2010–2022, the analysis integrates innovation indices, patent data, and R&D expenditures to capture technological progress. Results indicate that renewable energy innovation significantly enhances green economic growth, supported by complementary factors such as human capital, financial development, and foreign direct investment, while carbon emissions from energy use negatively impact growth. These findings underscore the critical importance of fostering innovation ecosystems, strengthening human capital, and improving institutional frameworks to accelerate sustainable development in emerging markets. Policy recommendations include targeted investments in clean technology R&D, financial incentives for green innovation, and regulatory reforms to attract quality FDI for sustainable energy transitions.

STRATEGIC LEGITIMACY IN POLITICALLY SENSITIVE CONTEXTS: EVALUATING THE ROLE OF CSR DISCLOSURE, REGULATORY PRESSURE, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN LATIN AMERICA’S EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES USING FSQCA AND LOGISTIC REGRESSION

Taiwo A. MURITALA — 2025-12-31

This study investigates how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) serves as a strategic tool for legitimacy within extractive industries in Latin America. Using an original dataset of 45 extractive firms operating across five Latin American countries, the research integrates fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) and logistic regression to uncover causal pathways and assess the robustness of observed relationships. Key variables include CSR disclosure quality, community engagement intensity, conflict levels, regulatory pressure, and political sensitivity. The findings reveal that legitimacy is not determined by isolated factors but by specific configurations, particularly the joint presence of high CSR disclosure, active community engagement, and low conflict intensity. Logistic regression confirms the significance of disclosure and engagement as individual predictors of perceived legitimacy, while conflict intensity negatively predicts legitimacy. fsQCA further identifies three high-consistency (≥ 0.75) and supported configurations associated with legitimacy, emphasizing the importance of regulatory context and stakeholder alignment. The results underscore the configurational nature of CSR legitimacy in politically sensitive sectors and call for integrated CSR policies that align disclosure transparency with substantive stakeholder engagement. Policymakers are encouraged to strengthen participatory regulatory frameworks and enforce third-party CSR auditing. Future research should incorporate longitudinal and cross-sectoral analyses to better capture dynamic shifts in legitimacy construction across institutional environments.

CLIMATIC RISK AND CERTIFIED INPUTS AS DETERMINANTS OF POTATO PRODUCTION RISK: EVIDENCE FROM SHISHTAVEC, ALBANIA

Elona KOTARJA — 2025-12-31

This study empirically examines potato production risk in the Shishtavec Administrative Unit, focusing on two key determinants: climatic risk and the use of certified agricultural inputs. Based on primary data collected from potato farmers, the empirical analysis employs descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. The results indicate that climatic risk does not exert a statistically significant direct effect on potato yield, suggesting that local farming practices and farmers’ experience mitigate the impact of climatic variability. In contrast, the use of certified inputs shows a positive and statistically significant association with potato productivity, contributing to the reduction of production risk. These findings highlight the central role of farm-level management factors in stabilizing agricultural production. The study underscores the importance of agricultural policies aimed at improving farmers’ access to certified inputs and extension services as effective instruments for risk mitigation, particularly in mountainous farming systems.