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Campanella, Francesco; Serino, Luana; Crisci, Anna
2023 Qualitative Research in Financial Markets
doi: 10.1108/qrfm-01-2022-0009
Customer satisfaction has been traditionally the main goal aimed at by managers. Focusing on the banking industry, the importance of this concept is even greater because of the increasing focus of banks on mobile services to reach out to a larger set of customers. To investigate user’s behavior in a Fintech context, this study aim to focus on two relevant issues: service quality and perceived risk. For the purpose, the authors integrated a technology quality-based model with a green image perspective to investigate the impact on customer satisfaction in Fintechs users.Design/methodology/approachThe primary data is based on a survey directly taken from a questionnaire survey. The survey is collected by researchers. This research used probability sampling technique with convenience sampling. The data of this study data is derived from an online survey of Italian households performed between August 2020 and December 2020. In accordance to other studies, the questionnaires used Likert scale model that was conducted by measuring five categories of responses. For methodology, the authors analyzed data by structural model equations.FindingsThe authors find that some of quality services factors impact on user satisfaction as well as the trust in Fintech providers. Moreover, the empirical findings highlight that the importance of a green reputation in Fintech providers from the perspective of consumer as it enhances both the trust and the satisfaction in internet banking services offered. It is needed to highlight that the most important thing for a Fintech provider is to secure loyalty and to be sustainable from a green perspective. The authors found that trust and green image give great influence on use intention. Therefore, it is most important for financial providers to develop financial products with trust and e-loyalty in mind.Research limitations/implicationsThis study suggests that nowadays Fintech companies should invest more resources in the increasing of green image because it is positively associated with trust and customer’s satisfaction. The authors incentive the financial institutions to promote the sustainable development and green strategies in their planning as concern for the environment and sustainability affects consumers, who increasingly consider certain non-financial attributes in their investments, such as environmental, social and governance criteria. Future research that includes different cultural settings would enhance generalizability and external validity as the respondents all live in Italy.Originality/valueFor the purpose, the authors integrated a technology quality-based model with a green image perspective to investigate the impact on customer satisfaction in Fintechs users. This paper, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, is the first to study consumer satisfaction in Fintech context in this sense. Although existing research has investigated relevant aspects of customer trust, satisfaction, these issues have not been discussed from a green perspective. Apart from that, the main contribution of this paper is its exploration of the influence of green image on loyalty and satisfaction. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, however, no studies have been done on sustainable banking in Italian banking sector, focused on Fintech services. In this paper, the authors attempt to fill this research gap.
2023 Qualitative Research in Financial Markets
doi: 10.1108/qrfm-11-2021-0184
Motivated by the increasing momentum of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, this research aims to test the impact of ESG-related news on stock returns, comparing different geographical areas to check whether the cultural background makes any difference.Design/methodology/approachUsing a classic event–study methodology, this study measures extra returns following the broadcast of positive or negative ordinary news concerning ESG issues using a panel of major international companies located in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.FindingsESG news are interpreted differently in different geographical areas. In Europe, bad news matter more than good news and produce a negative price impact. In the USA, a mirror picture emerges: good news matter more than bad news and produce a negative price impact. In the APAC area, ESG news are no news and are not correlated to significant extra returns. This study also shows that ESG reputation plays an important role and affects the impact of news on equity returns.Practical implicationsBoth managers and equity investors need to be aware of the potential magnitude and direction of stock market’s reactions to news concerning ESG matters, taking also into consideration the location of the firm and the moderating effect of ESG reputation. Sustainability cannot be ignored anymore and need to be included into information data set and decision-making processes.Originality/valueThis study adds to the current literature insights on how ESG-related news impact in different geographical contexts. This study finds that news of similar tone may produce divergent effect on stock returns according to the prevailing cultural and economic interpretation of sustainability investments.
Chatterjee, Sheshadri; Chaudhuri, Ranjan; Vrontis, Demetris; Thrassou, Alkis
2023 Qualitative Research in Financial Markets
doi: 10.1108/qrfm-01-2022-0005
This study aims to examine the impacts of adopting big data analytics (BDA) on firm sustainability performance (FSP) mediated through firm financial performance (FIP) and operational performance (OPP).Design/methodology/approachA theoretical model is based on ideas from existing literature on BDA, sustainability, FIP, dynamic capability view theory and resource capability view theory. The model is then validated using the partial least squares–structural equation modeling technique with consideration of 312 responses from 24 Indian firms.FindingsThe study provides three important findings. First, there is a significant and positive impact of BDA on firms’ financial and OPP. Second, BDA significantly and positively impacts firm business process performance (BPP) and dynamic capabilities (DYC), which, in turn, significantly impacts the firm’s financial and OPP. Finally, both the financial and OPP of the firm significantly and positively impact sustainability performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis theoretical model is unique in showing the impacts of BDA on BPP, firm DYC, financial and OPP. The study also shows how BDA can enhance FSP by mediating through financial as well as the OPP of the firms. The study uses data only from India and thus the proposed model cannot be generalizable.Originality/valueThis study provides valuable input to researchers, academicians and industry practitioners on the importance of BDA for FSP. The study also adds value to the body of knowledge on sustainability, FIP and technology adoption. The proposed unique theoretical model has an explanative power of 70%, which is quite high and can be used across different industries.
Naeem, Muhammad Abubakr; Karim, Sitara; Rabbani, Mustafa Raza; Bashar, Abu; Kumar, Satish
2023 Qualitative Research in Financial Markets
doi: 10.1108/qrfm-10-2021-0174
Growing attention of policymakers, governments and regulation authorities towards climate change and global warming has spurred the extensive need to carefully examine the current practices of green and sustainable finance. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis on the current state and future directions of green and sustainable finance through bibliometric analysis.Design/methodology/approachFor extensive bibliometric analysis, the study comprises 1,413 documents published in peer-reviewed journals indexed in the SCOPUS database for the period ranging from 1990 to 2021.FindingsThe authors find that there are mainly three key areas of green and sustainable finance, which are largely addressed by the scholars following the given time. The key areas include socially responsible investments, green finance and climate finance that are in line with the previous studies and existing trends and practices prevailing in the business and corporate world.Practical implicationsThe findings are important for policymakers, regulatory bodies, upcoming scholars, environmentalists and investors as findings of the study provide an effective framework for adopting sustainable strategies, to trade-off between profits and environmental hazards and to generate value from the green avenues of research and practice.Originality/valueThe study offers novel contributions to the existing literature in terms of comprehensively providing evidence of the current practices of green and sustainable finance. Meanwhile, significant implications for the prospective audience further refine the contribution of research.
Salvi, Antonio; Petruzzella, Felice; Raimo, Nicola; Vitolla, Filippo
2023 Qualitative Research in Financial Markets
doi: 10.1108/qrfm-02-2022-0015
Digitalization is an element capable of improving companies’ financial performance. Despite the relevance of the topic, the financial effects associated with extensive transparency in digitalization choices have rarely been explored in extant literature. This study aims to close this important gap by examining the effect of digitalization-related information on the cost of equity capital.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses manual content analysis on a sample of 122 international listed firms to measure the level of transparency in digitalization choices and a regression model to test the effect of this transparency on the cost of equity capital.FindingsThe results show that broad transparency allows firms to benefit from a lower cost of equity capital. From this perspective, disseminating information about digitalization choices in a signaling theory key represents the signal that companies send to investors.Originality/valueThis study extends the knowledge about the potential of transparency to facilitate access to finance by examining the effect of another type of information, namely, those relating to digitalization choices, on the cost of equity capital.
Cagli, Efe Caglar; Taşkin, Dilvin; Evrim Mandaci, Pınar
2023 Qualitative Research in Financial Markets
doi: 10.1108/qrfm-02-2022-0032
This paper aims to investigate the relationship between sustainable investments and a series of uncertainties from January 2014 to December 2021, including many economic and political turbulences and the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use Rényi’s transfer entropy method, a nonparametric flexible tool that considers both the center distribution and lower quantiles, capturing extreme rare events that give additional insights to analysis.FindingsThe authors’ results indicate significant bidirectional information transmissions between the crude oil volatility and sustainability indices. The authors report information flows between the cryptocurrency uncertainty and sustainability indices considering tail events. The results are essential for market participants making decisions during turbulent times.Originality/valueThis paper is carried out for a variety of uncertainty measures and environmental, social and governance (ESG) portfolios of both developed and developing markets. It adds to literature in terms of methodology used. Rényi’s transfer entropy methodology is first used to measure the relationship between uncertainties and ESG investments.
2023 Qualitative Research in Financial Markets
doi: 10.1108/qrfm-02-2022-0031
Owing to the worldwide outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2, social media conversations have increased. Given the increasing pressure from regulatory authorities and society, green accounting – as a dimension of sustainable development – remains the most discussed topic on most social media platforms. This study aims to incorporate a technological approach to green accounting and sustainability to enhance the innovation process inside and outside organizations.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses the hermeneutic phenomenological technique to investigate Twitter content. Tweets were subjected to a manual coding process to analyze their content, including recent advancements, challenges, cross-country initiatives and promotion strategies in green accounting. Public perception of green accounting and the COP26 climate summit was also studied.FindingsTweeters view green accounting favorably; however, they are apprehensive about its implementation. Regarding the challenges in green accounting, “corporate green washing” was the most tweeted content. The UK was the top-rated nation with respect to green accounting development. Furthermore, the most discussed breakthrough was the application of artificial intelligence in the domain of green accounting functions. However, Twitter users were observed to have directed heavy criticism at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.Originality/valueThis study’s primary innovation is its integration of emerging technologies such as machine learning and data mining with social media platforms such as Twitter. Incorporating manual coding of tweets is a rigorous procedure that amplifies the strength of machine learning software’s auto-coding feature.