Abstract:constrained by limited buyer options, price-information gaps, high distribution costs, inadequate storage facilities, and fragmented product flows. This study examines the effects of market access and logistics efficiency…
y on the competitiveness of salt farmers. A quantitative explanatory survey was conducted with 100 active salt farmers. The three constructs were measured using a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed through multiple linear regression. Market access had a positive and statistically significant effect on competitiveness (p < 0.05), indicating that broader buyer networks, timely price information, alternative marketing channels, and stronger negotiating opportunities improve farmers’ ability to reach markets and sustain sales. Logistics efficiency also had a positive and significant effect (p < 0.05); reliable transportation, lower distribution costs, appropriate storage, proper handling, and shorter delivery times help preserve quality and reduce avoidable losses. The simultaneous test confirmed that both variables jointly affected competitiveness (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that increasing production alone is insufficient when farmers cannot reach profitable markets through efficient product flows. Collective marketing, transparent market information, shared storage, coordinated transportation, and direct relationships with processing industries are therefore essential for strengthening farmers’ bargaining power and market performance
Abstract:This study analyzes the dividend policy of PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (TLKM) during the 2020–2025 period using a quantitative descriptive approach and a longitudinal case study based on secondary data from audited…
ed financial reports. The variables analyzed include Dividend Per Share (DPS), Earnings Per Share (EPS), Dividend Payout Ratio (DPR), Dividend Yield, and Free Cash Flow (FCF), with trend analysis using the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). The results show that DPS grows 6.05% per year, higher than EPS of 1.87%, resulting in DPR increasing from 80.00% to 93.95% in 2024. Nevertheless, strong and stable operating cash flow ensures that dividends remain supported by FCF, so there is no indication of financial distress. However, the increasing FCF-to-dividend ratio indicates the company's increasingly limited reinvestment space. The decline in net profit of 20.48% in 2025 also increases the risk of dividend policy sustainability. Furthermore, the increase in dividend yield was more influenced by stock price declines than dividend growth. This finding suggests that SOE dividend stability reflects not only fundamental performance but also institutional pressure from the government as the controlling shareholder, supporting the relevance of Agency Theory and Catering Theory in explaining dividend policy of state-owned enterprises in emerging markets
Abstract:This study aims to examine the role of competition law in regulating corporate conduct, protecting consumers, and enhancing economic efficiency in contemporary market economies. Amid increasing market concentration, digital…
tal platform dominance, and the emergence of data-driven business models, competition law has become an essential regulatory instrument for ensuring fair competition, safeguarding consumer interests, and promoting sustainable economic development. This study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) based on the PRISMA 2020 framework. Relevant literature was systematically collected from six major academic databases, namely Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Emerald Insight, and Taylor & Francis Online. The review process included identification, screening, eligibility assessment, and inclusion stages. A total of 78 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025 were selected and analyzed using thematic synthesis techniques. The findings reveal that competition law performs four interconnected functions. First, it serves as a regulatory mechanism that shapes corporate behavior and prevents anticompetitive practices, including monopolization, cartel agreements, price-fixing, and abuse of dominant positions. Second, competition law enhances consumer welfare by promoting competitive prices, product quality, innovation, and consumer choice. Third, effective competition policy contributes to allocative, productive, and dynamic efficiency, thereby supporting long-term economic growth. Fourth, digital markets introduce new challenges associated with data concentration, platform dominance, network effects, and algorithmic pricing, requiring adaptive regulatory frameworks and strengthened institutional capacity.This study contributes to the literature by integrating Economic Efficiency Theory, Consumer Welfare Theory, Competition Policy Theory, and Regulatory Governance Theory into a comprehensive analytical framework that explains the relationship between competition law, corporate conduct regulation, consumer protection, and economic efficiency.The findings provide policy recommendations for competition authorities and governments, particularly in developing economies, regarding digital competition governance, institutional strengthening, cross-border enforcement cooperation, and data-driven market regulation.Unlike previous studies that focus on isolated dimensions of competition law, this research offers a holistic synthesis of legal, economic, consumer welfare, and governance perspectives. It further highlights how competition law can address emerging challenges in the digital economy while simultaneously promoting consumer protection and economic efficiency.
Abstract:Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) branding has become increasingly important in strengthening stakeholder relationships and corporate legitimacy, particularly in emerging economies characterized by institutional…
l uncertainty and diverse stakeholder expectations. However, limited studies have comparatively examined how ESG branding and communication strategies differ between business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) firms and how these differences affect relationship outcomes. This study aims to analyze the distinctions between B2B and B2C ESG communication strategies in emerging economies and their implications for stakeholder trust, loyalty, and long-term business relationships. This study employed a systematic literature review approach using evidence retrieved from the Elicit database integrating Semantic Scholar and OpenAlex sources. From an initial pool of 1,000 studies, 10 empirical articles published between 2020 and 2026 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using thematic synthesis. The findings reveal that B2B ESG strategies primarily emphasize governance structures, third-party ESG ratings, and verifiable sustainability metrics to strengthen interorganizational trust and reduce relational risk. In contrast, B2C ESG strategies rely more heavily on emotional storytelling, sustainability narratives, influencer engagement, and digital interaction mechanisms that enhance consumer identification, brand credibility, and loyalty. The study further demonstrates that ESG pillar salience is strongly shaped by institutional and cultural contexts rather than business model orientation alone. This study contributes to ESG and relationship marketing literature by developing a comparative framework explaining how ESG communication strategies shape stakeholder relationships across B2B and B2C environments in emerging economies.
Abstract:The current study addresses the impact of entrepreneurial orientation, innovation capability, market orientation, and networking capability on business sustainability in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The contribution…
ion of SMEs to economic development is important; however, sustainability in these entities can be threatened by resource scarcity and rapidly changing environments in markets. The current study adopts a quantitative approach that entails data collection using a structured questionnaire targeting owners and managers in SMEs. The collected data were analyzed through statistical methods to analyze the relationship among study variables. The results of this study indicate that entrepreneurial orientation, innovation capability, market orientation, and networking capability are positive and influential factors in improving business sustainability in SMEs. Market orientation and innovation capability have higher influences on sustainability in SMEs than other factors since customer-centric approaches and innovation have playing crucial roles in ensuring sustainability in business operations for these entities. This study is an important addition to existing theories since this research adopts an integrated approach within strategic capabilities for improved adaptability and sustainability of SMEs in competitive markets
Abstract:The rapid proliferation of AI-powered marketing technologies in emerging markets poses a fundamental challenge to culturally-grounded micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs): how can algorithmic imperatives be reconciled…
ciled with indigenous value systems that define not only business practice but collective identity? Despite growing research on both AI adoption in SMEs and indigenous knowledge preservation, scholarship rarely examines how traditional values actively mediate rather than merely moderate commercial technology adoption. This study addresses that gap by investigating how MSMEs in Makassar City, Indonesia, negotiate AI marketing integration while preserving siri’ na pacce, the Bugis-Makassar philosophical framework centred on dignity (siri’) and solidarity (pacce). Employing interpretive phenomenology integrated with Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), the study conducted 23 in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions with 44 MSME owners and key personnel across traditional culinary, artisan craft, ethnic fashion, and digital service sectors. Template analysis generated four overarching themes: (1) value-based technology discernment, wherein siri’ na pacce operates as an active epistemological filter for evaluating AI tools; (2) strategic selective adoption, wherein enterprises accept algorithmically aligned functions while rejecting culturally incompatible features; (3) cultural indigenization of technology, wherein AI systems are actively reoriented toward communal rather than individualistic ends; and (4) constrained agency under platform power, wherein algorithmic visibility systems penalise cultural non-conformity with market exclusion. These findings challenge technological determinism and advance decolonial computing theory by demonstrating that indigenous values simultaneously enable epistemological agency and are constrained by structural power asymmetries, a duality insufficiently theorised in prior technology adoption frameworks. The study calls for regulatory frameworks establishing indigenous data sovereignty, participatory AI co-design with local communities, and cooperative digital infrastructure as conditions for authentic, rather than performative, cultural integration.
Abstract:The rapid development of digital financial technology has significantly transformed investment activities by providing easier access to financial markets through digital investment applications. This study aims to explore…
e the perceptions and experiences of beginner investors in making investment decisions in the digital era. Using a qualitative research approach with a phenomenological perspective, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with beginner investors who actively use digital investment applications. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes related to investors’ experiences and decision-making processes. The findings reveal that investment decision-making among beginner investors is influenced by several interconnected factors, including the accessibility and usability of digital investment platforms, the influence of social media and online communities, the development of financial literacy, and psychological experiences related to investment gains and losses. Digital investment applications play a crucial role in lowering barriers to market participation by providing user-friendly interfaces and accessible financial information. However, reliance on social media as a source of investment information may also expose investors to misinformation and speculative investment behavior. In addition, emotional responses such as confidence, fear, and uncertainty often influence investment decisions among beginner investors. Overall, the study highlights that investment decision-making in the digital era is a multidimensional process shaped by technological accessibility, social influence, financial knowledge, and psychological factors. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of investor behavior in digital financial environments and emphasize the importance of financial education and responsible investment practices.
Abstract:This study examines the development of creative industry-based Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Ulunoyo District, South Nias Regency, with a focus on four main sectors: culinary, crafts, fashion, and music.…
. The purpose of this study is to describe the condition of creative MSMEs in Ulunoyo, identify the obstacles faced, and analyze the development strategies implemented by business actors to increase competitiveness. The method used is descriptive qualitative with data collection techniques through interviews, field observations, and documentation of 21 MSME actors in five villages. Data analysis was carried out through reduction, presentation, and verification of findings. The results show that the development of creative MSMEs in Ulunoyo is supported by the potential of community creativity, strategic location, and the existence of traditional markets as distribution centers. Development strategies include improving product quality, business diversification, design innovation, and the use of digital technology for promotion and marketing. However, a number of major obstacles are still encountered, including limited business capital, rising raw material prices, low managerial skills, lack of product innovation, limited market access, and high levels of competition. To overcome these obstacles, business actors carry out creative promotions, expand their collaboration networks, and utilize social media to reach a wider consumer base.
Abstract:This study aims to analyze the application of game theory in understanding strategic behavior among firms in an oligopolistic market. Using a qualitative approach with a literature review method, this research examines the…
he concepts of Nash equilibrium, dominant strategy, and price discrimination as foundations for determining optimal strategies among market players. The findings show that game theory, particularly the Cournot, Bertrand, and Stackelberg models, effectively explains competitive interactions in markets with limited participants. Moreover, regulations such as Law No. 5 of 1999 play an important role in maintaining fair competition. Game theory proves to be an effective analytical tool for formulating corporate strategies and economic policies in oligopolistic markets
Abstract:This study addresses the limitations of traditional Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems by analyzing the adoption and impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration (AI-Powered CRM). Informed by the Technology…
logy Acceptance Model (TAM) for employee perception and the Resource-Based View (RBV) for strategic capability, the primary objective is to evaluate how AI-driven automation enhances customer service processes and, subsequently, impacts marketing efficiency. The research employs an exploratory qualitative case study design, utilizing in-depth interviews, document analysis, and system observation on a single organization to gather rich, contextual data. The results demonstrate that AI integration significantly accelerated service, with chatbots handling 65–70% of routine queries and drastically reducing response times. Operationally, these improvements fostered high employee acceptance (TAM). Strategically, the AI-Powered CRM generated refined predictive analytics, resulting in a 12–18% improvement in campaign conversion rates and efficient resource allocation, confirming that AI creates a valuable and difficult-to-imitate strategic capability (RBV). The study concludes that AI-Powered CRM is a critical enabler for both operational efficiency and long-term strategic competitiveness in digital markets.