The main objective of this study is to assess the social, financial and corporate governance (CG) implications of the proposed social enterprise (SE) legislation in Malta. In light of such implications, the study also assesses the applicability of the SE under such legislation. A mixed methodology was adopted. Fifteen interviews were held with experts. Such data was supplemented by 52 valid responses to a questionnaire sent both to co-operatives and voluntary organisations (VOs) in Malta. The study concludes that the proposed legislation has various positive social, financial and CG implications and that the SE, as being proposed, is applicable and filling a void within the Maltese environment. Although such legislation offers both a new legal form and a label, its reference to the Companies Act which ignores SEs’ unique social dimension is questionable. Alternatively, a holistic SE regulatory framework may be developed. Furthermore, statutory thresholds, such as for dividend distribution and trade income, are to be possibly rendered more flexible. This study aspires to raise awareness about the implications of a proposed regulatory framework in Malta, hence hopefully promoting the application of the concept.

The aim of this research is to provide projections of the labor market in the Republic of Serbska, as a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RS) in the period 2017 - 2021, based on an analytical approach and precise indicators. The basic methodology in creating projections on the labor market in the Republic of Serbska (RS) is statistical extrapolation of trends in demand and supply of labor at the level of the RS. Data for this study were standard reports of statistical institutions (Statistical Yearbook, Labor Force Survey, etc.), as well as special reports generated for the specific needs of this research. The results show that in the next 6 years, the number of working-age population will shrink by a further 59,000 people with 867,000 to 808,000. Out of the total working-age population, ie the active population. labor force (the sum of employed and unemployed) is will not change greatly, while the level of the inactive population, ie. working-age population not seeking employment will drop significantly. On the other hand, our projections show that, even in terms of the decline in the working-age population, the demand for labor will continue to grow. Also, according to projections, the number of unemployed ie. the excess of supply over demand of the labor force will decrease in the period 2017-2021. All this will not be without impact on wage levels. Total average gross wages will rise by 2021, but wage growth in the manufacturing industry will be much more pronounced. Therefore, it is essential to increase productivity and added value of companies because it is the only way to compensate for this increase in wages.

Reforms in the insurance sector were introduced much later in fact almost a decade later with the enactment of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act 1999, which facilitated the liberalization and opening of the insurance sector. There were two options before the Government of India to privatize insurance sector viz. (a) selling of two public sector insurance companies (LIC and GIC) to private and (b) allowing private sector to enter into insurance market and compete with the LIC and GIC. The Government took the latter route to open the insurance sector in 2000 and LIC and GIC were left untouched. Indian private companies entered the market as joint ventures with some of world’s largest insurance companies. Coexistence of private and public companies heightened competition and Indian insurance sector witnessed several significant changes such as a large number of new innovative products, improved distribution channels and the introduction of world class regulatory and supervisory standards. The most significant product innovation in the life insurance segment is the introduction of unit linked products (ULIPs). Unit linked plans offer long term investment option plus life coverage. In fact ULIPs are combination of both investment and insurance.In this research paper an attempt is made (a) to examine the rise and fall of ULIPs across the private insurers and LIC in the Indian insurance market by analyzing the distribution of first year premium during 2003-14 . The materials in the form of data and information are gathered from the Annual Reports of IRDA and Reports of Economic Survey of India of various years. The data and information collected were processed presented and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Mann Whitney Test Z value (equivalent to Wilcoxon’s rank sum z test) is also used in addition to the calculation of growth rate and percentage contribution of ULIPs to the total premium.

This paper investigated the efficacy of street vending as a means for achieving economic sustenance by those engaged in the business with special interest to those operating in the central business district of Harare. A sample of 225 street vendors was decided on and questionnaires were used to gather data. The questionnaires had a response rate of 89.7%. The paper also adopted the descriptive research design. The study found that most of the street vendors understudy are earning less than $2 per day which is very low. Moreover, the majority cannot afford decent homes and are renting or still living with their parents and relatives. The study also found that street vending could be a means for achieving economic sustenance by those engaged in the business if proper support structures are put in place by the government.

Long-term orientation is the tendency to prioritize the long-range implications and impact of decisions and actions that come to fruition after an extended time period. This paper examines the sustainability of entrepreneurs based on long term commitments and respect for tradition. The specific influence of long term commitments and respect for tradition predictors on demographic outcome variables like Age, Gender, Internal Motivation, External motivation, Academic experience and technical experience has been attempted to develop an instrument to measure Hofstede’s cultural dimensions to evaluate its impact on entrepreneur development.

The traditional brick and mortar buildings labeled “Banks” are fast becoming a historical notion being replaced by electronic, paperless and virtual money. Globalisation has ushered a new era resulting in availability of mobile phones to the larger populace of the world despite physical location. Mobile networking has created a platform that has seen acquisition of mobile phones which in turn has accorded billions of people Self Service Technologies (SST). These services know no boundaries. This paper seeks to explore two determinant variables of the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM) which have become major variables in the implementation of mobile banking projects. Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) are arguably the cornerstones if mobile banking is to be successfully implemented, and hence adopted, in these financial services sector advancements. This Paper seeks to hypothetically explore the argument that PU and PEOU have the greatest impact on the implementation of mobile banking projects when considered in relation to other factors. The case of the mobile banking situation in Zimbabwe will be explored.