Ganesh Bhattarai

Organizations must cope with the current business demands and strive for a competitive advantage. Apart from many measures to enhance competitive advantage, employees’ innovative work behavior is instrumental. Hence, this study aims to measure the contribution of person-environment fit (person-job fit and person-organization fit) on innovative work behavior directly and indirectly through creating work engagement. Cross-sectional perceptual data were collected through surveys from the employees working in humanitarian non-profit organizations in Nepal. After ensuring the goodness of fit index, 499 responses were analyzed in the structural equation model showing path analysis with the help of AMOS. The conservation of resource theory was a foundation to test and analyze the hypotheses adopting positivist research philosophy and deductive reasoning approach. Regression analysis revealed a positive effect of person-job fit (B = .23, p < .001) and person-organization fit (B = .20, p < .001) on employees’ innovative work behavior. Work engagement mediated the influence of person-job fit and person-organization fit on innovative work behavior. Out of the total effect size of employees’ compatibility on innovative work behavior, 30% effect size of person-job fit and 23% effect size of person-organizational fit on innovative work behavior went through work engagement.

The impact of gender participation on the maturity of crossed-due loans is observed in this study. Furthermore, the associations between maturity of crossed-due loans, their number, and loan issued on physical collateral and collective bail are also monitored using the unbalanced panel data of thirty microfinance companies. The study investigates the short- and long-term link between response and predictor variables. It is founded on an exploratory and descriptive research design. The Hausman test, fixed effect or LSDV model, Pedroni and Kao co-integration test are used to observe the relation and impact. The maturity crossed due loan number, total loan amount, loan issued against physical collateral, and loan allocated on collective bail are jointly significant to determine the maturity of crossed due loan amount of microfinance companies of Nepal. It is found that women are more conscientious in repaying loans on time compared to male borrowers. Per rupee 0.382 rupees, a maturity crossed due loan is found in microfinance companies where only women can borrow, but per rupee 0.404 rupees, a time crossed due loan is found where men and women can borrow. Policymakers of banks are not necessarily hesitant to provide loans to female borrowers.

Employees cannot benefit more from formal and legal relationships alone, and a framework for addressing their psychological aspects at the workplace is essential. Therefore, this study aims to gauge the direct effect of psychological contract breaches on employee withdrawal behaviors and ownerships and the mediating role of ownerships in the relationship between psychological contract breaches and withdrawal behaviors in Nepal. This study adopted the cross-sectional survey to gather the perceptional data on a 5-point Likert scale from the 701 staff members working in the Nepali travel and tourism business. The hypotheses were tested via the positivist research philosophy and deductive reasoning approach aligning with the social exchange and equity theories. The study used structural equation modeling for data screening and analysis. The current study revealed a positive impact of psychological contract breach on predicting psychological-withdrawal behavior (B = .22, p < .001) and physical-withdrawal behavior (B = .18, p < .001) and a negative impact of psychological contract breach on job-based ownership (B = –.15, p < .001) and organization-based ownership (B = –.19, p < .001). Job-based ownership mediated the relationship between psychological contract breach and psychological-withdrawal behavior (B = .08, p < .001) and between psychological contract breach and physical-withdrawal behavior (B = .06, p < .001). Finally, organization-based ownership mediated the relationship between psychological contract breach and psychological-withdrawal behavior (B = .02, p < .01) and between psychological contract breach and physical-withdrawal behavior (B = .05, p < .001).

This study aims to investigate the relationship between Nepal’s industrial sector output, economic expansion, and CO₂ emissions. The analysis uses secondary data from various World Bank reports and covers the period from 1990 to 2022. It is founded on an exploratory and analytical research design. The relationship and effect of Nepal’s GDP and manufacturing output on CO₂ emissions are investigated using various statistical and econometric tools, including descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, unit root testing, Granger causality test, Johansen co-integration test, and autoregressive regression model. The results show that the production of the industrial sector and CO₂ emissions are highly positively correlated, as is GDP. The GDP granger causes CO₂ emissions, but manufacturing output does not. Johansen’s co-integration test shows a long-term relationship between predictor and response variables. The previous value of CO₂ emission is also responsible for the present level of carbon emissions: a one percent increase in GDP leads to a 0.314 percent increase in CO₂ emissions in Nepal. The impact of industrial sector output is statistically insignificant. The condition of GDP and CO₂ emissions shows the initial phase of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). The study recommends adopting an environment-friendly production technique to overcome the problem of carbon emissions in Nepal.

This study analyzes the possible impact of diversity in non-interest income on Nepalese Depository Financial Institutions (DFIs) performance. The study examines variables such as service fees, dividends on equity instruments, and the non-interest revenue ratio to total operational income as endogenous factors. The ROE serves as the key profitability indicator. Additionally, the study explores the impact of control variables on the performance of financial institutions, such as the cost-to-income ratio, the equity-to-total assets ratio, and the ratio of non-performing loans to total loans. Secondary data from fiscal year 2015/16 to 2021/22 are utilized for analysis, employing correlation and regression analyses to assess the relationships between variables. Based on the Hausman Specification test, this study uses a Dynamic Analysis of Panel Data approach, adopting a Random effects regression model. The findings indicate that dividends from equity instruments ( = –0.565*) adversely affect profitability. At the same time, service fees and non-interest revenue as a proportion of overall operating revenue show no significant impact. Control factors like the cost-to-income ratios ( = –0.432**) and the equity-to-total assets ( = –94.101**) adversely affect profitability. The study suggests that income diversification may not be beneficial, urging Nepalese DFIs to prioritize interest income and consider alternative investment opportunities. Reducing the cost-to-income ratios and equity-to-total assets is recommended for enhancing profitability.

The perception of organizational politics seriously affects working people, and it is an unavoidable detrimental aspect of an organization. Prior studies are focused on the detrimental consequences of perceived organizational politics and not paid attention to its remedial actions. Therefore, proper intervention as a corrective action for the harmful effect of organizational politics perception was essential. Hence, this study was motivated to know: (a) the effect of the perception of organizational politics on employees’ performance, and (b) the mitigating role of impression management (self-promotion and ingratiation) for the detrimental effect of perception of organizational politics on work performance. Perceptual cross-sectional data was taken from 725 employees working in Nepalese banks. Quantitative data analysis revealed that perception of organizational politics has a detrimental impact on employee performance; impression management (self-promotion and ingratiation) worked as an antidote for such effects. The study’s unique findings were a different form of association of perception of organizational politics with work performance under the different situations of impression management (self-promotion and ingratiation). Moreover, those employees were less suffered from the perceived organizational politics who were good in impression management (self-promotion and ingratiation). Impression management (self-promotion and ingratiation) is controlled, as an antidote, comparatively more effectively for the high poli-tics perceiver than the low perceiver. Numbers of theoretical and practical implications are suggested to cure perceived organizational politics’ detrimental outcomes on employee performance.

Acknowledgment
This article is a part of the PhD research work that was funded by the University Grants Commission of Nepal (award number: PhD/73-74/Mgmt/04).

In today’s complex and highly competitive marketplace, marketers, realizing a need to develop sustainable strategies, have turned to branding as a solution. Understanding the brand preferences of consumers is always under discussion. In such context, this study measured the effects of price, attributes, brand personality, appearance, and self-congruity on brand preference in buying a passenger car. A deductive reasoning approach, quantitative method, and positivist epistemology with predetermined hypotheses were used. A six-point Likert scale structured survey was utilized to gather the primary information. The sample included 411 passenger car users in Nepal. A judgmental sampling technique and a causal research design were used. Through path analysis, the effect of price, attributes, brand personality, appearance, and self-congruity on dependent variables was identified using structural equation modeling. The study’s outcome showed that attribute (β = 0.062, p > 0.05), price (β = –0.041, p > 0.05), and appearance (β = 0.022, p > 0.05) have no significant positive impact on consumer brand preference. Moreover, the study discovered that brand preference is influenced by self-congruity (β = 0.297, p < 0.05) and brand personality (β = 0.232, p < 0.05) in buying passenger cars in Nepal. It is concluded that brand image and prestige are more critical for high-involvement products. These outcomes provide a road map for future scholars and business people with a view of the emerging context of market development.

This study aims to examine the impact of foreign trade and foreign direct investment on Nepal’s long-term economic growth. It uses secondary data from 1989/90 to 2021/22 collected from various economic surveys of the Ministry of Finance of Nepal. Descriptive and explanatory research designs are used in this study. The trace, max-eigen tests, and fully modified least square methods search the long-run co-integration and impact between response and predictor variables. Trace and max-eigen tests consistently point toward the long-run co-integration between dependent (gross domestic product) and independent (import, export, total trade, and foreign direct investment) variables. Exports and imports are found to be negative and statistically significant to explain Nepal’s economic growth. One unit increase in exports results in a 0.748 unit decrease in Nepal’s economic growth. Similarly, total trade volume and foreign direct investment positively impact economic growth. Each unit increase in foreign direct investment results in a 0.0036 unit increase in GDP in Nepal. Foreign trade has a multiplier effect on Nepal’s GDP growth. The 76.35 percent variation in economic growth depends upon total foreign trade volume, exports, imports, and foreign direct investment. To promote sustainable economic growth, policymakers should prioritize policies encouraging increased total foreign trade and foreign direct investment while carefully managing the potential negative impact of excessive reliance on import dynamics.

Most developed and emerging economies pay substantial attention to liquidity to understand stock return behavior. However, there is a need for more focus on understanding the impact of such factors on stock returns in developing countries such as Nepal. This study aims to examine the effect of liquidity, size, financial and asset risk, growth potential, and profitability on stock returns in Nepalese commercial banks. A pooled ordinary least squares regression model is utilized, employing data from the Central Bank of Nepal and the Nepal Stock Exchange. There are 249 observations in the data set, which covers the period from 2009/10 to 2019/20. The model considers the impact of trading volume, market capitalization, book-to-market ratio, asset growth, and return on asset on stock returns in Nepalese commercial banks. The results indicate that trading volume, a proxy of liquidity, positively affects stock returns in Nepalese commercial banks. The finding reveals that when other variables are held constant, a 0.288 percent increase in stock returns is expected for a one percent rise in trading volume. However, asset growth and return on assets show a weakly favorable link with stock returns in Nepal. Conversely, the research findings suggest an insignificant inverse correlation between book-to-market and stock returns. A decrease in stock returns of 0.307 percent is expected for a one percent increase in the book-to-market ratio. Similarly, market capitalization has a negligible effect on stock returns in Nepal.