Explore the vast range of titles available.

This study is to examine how FDI and green economic growth are related in Southeast Asian economies. It also attempts to find out the role of fiscal policy development in the relationship between FDI and green growth in the economies of the region. For this purpose, a dynamic panel threshold model is used for the data over the period 2000–2018. The main results show that FDI has a positive impact on the progress of green growth in these economies, with a stronger impact in the group of Southeast Asian economies with high fiscal development. This result confirms the pollution halo hypothesis, which states that FDI can promote green growth in a country. Aligning economic priorities to improve green fiscal policies, reforming fiscal integration programs, planning for green job creation, and implementing policies to attract FDI are recommended as important policy implications over the COVID-19 period.

The research examines how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance influences firm performance in the ASEAN region, focusing on how country regulatory quality and government effectiveness affect this relationship. The study uses a comprehensive dataset and finds that environmental and social performances do not directly impact firm performance significantly. However, governance performance has a notably positive effect on firm performance, highlighting the importance of sound governance practices. The study also identifies that the connections between environmental and social performance and firm performance are notably affected by country regulatory quality and government effectiveness. This suggests that the benefits of environmental and social initiatives on firm performance depend on the regulatory and governance environments in which firms operate. Similarly, the link between governance performance and firm performance is also influenced by these factors. These findings underscore the essential role of supportive regulatory structures and effective government practices in enhancing the positive effects of ESG initiatives on firm performance. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of ESG impacts within the ASEAN context and emphasizes the need to integrate ESG efforts with broader institutional support to achieve optimal firm performance.

This paper aims to investigate the extent of anti-corruption reporting by ASEAN companies and examine whether coercive factors influence the level of disclosure. The authors adopt indicators from the Global Reporting Initiative version 4.0 to measure the extent of anti-corruption disclosures in 117 companies' reports. Informed by a coercive isomorphism tenet drawn from the institutional theory, the authors propose that several institutional factors influence the extent of their voluntary disclosures. The findings reveal that a large degree of variability difference between the average levels of anti-corruption disclosure in Thailand (434 words) and the Philippines (149 words). The dependence on government tenders and foreign ownership are associated with the level of disclosure. Surprisingly, the United Nation Global Compact membership is not a significant determinant of anti-corruption reporting. This signifies that the membership in the international initiative does not correspond to individual company's commitment to disclose anti-corruption information. In spite of significant efforts undertaken by global organizations to combat corruption, the level of anti-corruption disclosure is significantly different among the four countries under study. The disclosure of sensitive information such as the confirmed incidences of corruption cases requires careful consideration by the top management as it is subjected to legal implications and reputational risks. Thus, impression management can complement the coercive pressure in explaining the level of anti-corruption reporting. This study is among the first studies which explores the association between coercive factors and the level of anti-corruption disclosure in ASEAN region.

Increasing energy insufficiency is the main trench for the South East Asian countries. Though, there are rare empirical inquiries in relation to the energy firms’ capital structure determinants for the firms functioning in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Therefore, this study is an attempt to discover the capital structure determinants of energy firms that are functioning in the six key economies of ASEAN region which are Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam. In this setting, a total of 144 energy firms’ yearly Panel Data is involved over 14 years period from 2007 to 2020. The seven core determinants of capital structure, namely tangibility, return on equity, current ratio, non-debt tax shield, inflation and annual gross domestic product are inspected in relation to capital structure which is measured by ratio of debt to total asset. Employing both Panel Data models that are Static and Dynamic models via using robust estimator i.e. Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), the results reveal that tangibility and profitability are the most prominent determinants among all others. Evidently, the two newly introduced capital structure determinants that are inflation and energy consumption for ASEAN region energy firms are also reported significant by dissimilar estimators. The significant character of tangibility, profitability and lagged dependent variable directly infers the relevance of Dynamic Trade-Off theory. The findings provide new ways for policy makers to construct parallel strategies which will not only help out to overcome the energy scarcity issues but also to enhance regional level integration.

The association between economic growth (EG) and environmental degradation (ED) has been highlighted extensively in prior studies. However, investigation regarding 'technological innovation and clean energy role' in dealing with environmental concerns has comprised limited context while considering the ASEAN economies under sustainable development goals. Therefore, the study attempts to investigate the phenomenon by using CS-ARDL analysis under short as well as long run. The findings through CS-ARDL in long- and short-run indicate that REN have impact carbon emission and ecological footprints negatively. Additionally, the EG in targeted economies is causing a higher level of CE and ecological footprints. Whereas, GDP2ofund to be significant in lowering the ED in the form of CE and ecological footprints. It is suggested that policies related to CE through EG should be developed in order to control the environmental issues in the future.

This study investigates how economic growth, energy intensity, financial inclusion, and trade globalization impact the load capacity factor in the ASEAN-5 region. Using data from 2000 to 2022 from reputable databases, the study analyzed the load capacity curve (LCC) hypothesis through comprehensive statistical analysis. Several diagnostic tests, such as cross-sectional dependence, slope homogeneity, unit root, and cointegration, to select a suitable long-run estimation model were conducted. The study utilized the Driscoll-Kraay standard error (DKSE) approach to address identified issues like cross-sectional dependence, heterogeneity, and unit root problems. DKSE estimation showed that the LCC hypothesis was not present in the ASEAN-5 region. It is worth noting that an inverted-U-shaped relationship between per capita income and the load capacity factor was found, emphasizing the complexity of economic dynamics in the region. Furthermore, the analysis revealed a strong correlation between energy intensity and the load capacity factor, with trade globalization having a significant negative effect. Surprisingly, financial inclusion did not show a significant correlation with the load capacity factor, highlighting the intricate role of financial accessibility in economic performance. To enhance the strength of the DKSE estimation, the study also utilized quantile regression analysis, which supported the results of the DKSE approach. The study confirmed that the LCC hypothesis is not applicable in the ASEAN-5 region and offered a more detailed analysis of the varying effects of energy intensity and trade globalization at different levels. Conclusively, this study provides valuable insights into the complex relationships among economic growth, energy intensity, financial inclusion, and trade globalization in the ASEAN-5 region. A thorough analytical approach enhances comprehension of sustainable development and economic resilience in the region, guiding policy decisions and future research efforts.

The aim of this study is to explore the effect of environmental performance on economic growth, the effect of environmental performance on health expenditure, the effect of health expenditure on economic growth, and the role of health expenditure in mediating the effect of environmental performance on economic growth. The study uses a quantitative research method with a verification approach and utilizes secondary data from the World Bank Indicator. Purposive sampling has been used in this study, and the sample involved countries from the ASEAN region. The statistical analysis tool used in this study is EViews version 12. The results indicate that environmental performance has an impact on economic growth, that environmental performance affects health expenditure, that health expenditure has an impact on economic growth, and that health expenditure can mediate the impact of environmental performance on economic growth. According to the study's findings, ASEAN companies must reduce the environmental damage caused by their activities in order to improve their environmental performance, which will help boost economic growth in ASEAN countries

Corruption is a serious problem in some ASEAN countries except Singapore and Brunei, judging from their ranking and scores on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The concept of good governance is much broader than control of corruption. Governance and corruption may be related, but they are distinct nations and should not be regarded as the same. However, this study's objective is to investigate the nexus between control of corruption and quality of governance from 1984 to 2021 for eight ASEAN countries. Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Square (DOLS) methodologies were used to estimate the long- and short-run relationships. The result reveals a positive and significant relationship between control of corruption and governance quality in ASEAN countries. It means better anti-corruption leads to enhancing the quality of governance in the ASEAN countries. In addition, the relationship between governance quality and control of corruption is also positive and significant. It shows that better governance quality will reduce corruption in the ASEAN region. This study's practical contribution is strengthening its governance and control of corruption in the ASEAN member country's leader. This study's scientific contribution investigated the vice-versa of the relationship between control of corruption and quality of governance, especially in the context of the ASEAN region.

This paper re-examines the volatility spillover effects between oil prices and stock market returns in ASEAN countries in the post-COVID-19 context. Utilizing daily data from March 2021 to December 2023, the study employs the EGARCH (1,1) model to measure asymmetric volatility transmission across six ASEAN markets—Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The findings indicate significant volatility spillovers, albeit with varying degrees of magnitude and direction compared to the pandemic period. Notably, oil price shocks continue to influence emerging ASEAN markets, reflecting heightened integration with global commodity markets. The results have practical implications for investors and policymakers in managing risk and structuring portfolios during economic normalization.

This contribution addresses the question of whether economic growth among ASEAN member countries is converging or diverging within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. ASEAN has significantly developed economic and social mechanisms aimed at achieving greater integration among member countries, with the goal of enhancing economic growth and especially accelerating the catch-up of the poorer member countries. How resilient have the member countries been? Has the COVID-19 pandemic more severely affected the poorer member countries? To answer these questions, our contribution addresses this issue based on economic growth theories, particularly drawing on Solow’s theory regarding beta and gamma convergence. The study covers the period from 2000 to 2022. In the pre-pandemic period from 2000 to 2019, there is a general phenomenon of absolute convergence, demonstrating a reduction in the disparity in absolute values between less advanced and more modern countries, which also leads to a reduction in inequality as shown by the confirmation of the σ-convergence hypothesis. This is true for both GDPC and GDPW variables. The catch-up effect of absolute β-convergence is not evident when looking at the period from 2020 to 2022. During this timeframe, both the absolute β-convergence and σ-convergence hypotheses are rejected, which slows down the economic growth of poorer economies relative to the more advanced ASEAN countries. Overall, the entire 2000–2022 period confirms the unconditional β-convergence and σ-convergence assumptions of the pre-pandemic period.