Capital Structure, Financial Performance, and Sustainability of Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs) in Bangladesh

Factors Affecting Small and Micro Enterprise Performance with the Mediating Effect of Government Support: Evidence from the Amhara Region Ethiopia

This paper aims to examine Factors Affecting Small and Micro Enterprise Performance with the Mediating Effect of Government Support; Evidence from Amhara Region Ethiopia. This study used both qualitative and quantitative research methodology. The proposed research model used a Structural equation model, growth path modeling analysis, and correlation matrix. The study also used both primary and secondary data sources. The study employed 384 determined entrepreneur leader and employee respondents through purposive sampling techniques and simple random sampling to estimate the required clusters. The findings of the study show that the mediating role of government support affects the independent variables by 0.971 *** enterprise performance. Moreover, the independent variables entrepreneur competence, 0.841 ***, microfinance, =0.714 **, infrastructure, 0.861 ** and entrepreneur training 0.831 ** have a positive and significant impact on enterprise performance. Microfinance and entrepreneur training are major factors that influence the enterprises’ performance next to the mediating role of government support. Therefore, the Small and micro enterprise besides government supporting role have gaps in enterprises’ performance due to lack of long-term loans, access to lease machines, unfair interest rates, production and selling the place, shortage of defining SMEs, and structural limitations. To solve currently existing limitations, the regional government should take policy measures to supply long-term loan financing, access to lease machines, fair interest rate, and working and selling places through a cluster management approach, re-define and restructure the existing SMEs strategy. This study suggests to executives, policymakers, SMEs, and microfinance to use the for enterprises’ performance based on the proposed recommendation. Further research should be conducted for knowledge gap of the field in the study area.

Impact of Climate Change on Rural Poverty Vulnerability from an Income Source Perspective: A Study Based on CHIPS2013 and County-Level Temperature Data in China

Harsh natural climatic environments, such as extreme weather and natural disasters, cause devastating blows to production activities and increase the probability of geographic poverty, climate poverty, and return to poverty. Thus, this study uses climate data and micro survey data (CHIPS2013) to examine the impact of climate on vulnerability to individual poverty in rural China. The results demonstrated that extreme temperatures (hotter summers, colder winters, and greater day-to-day temperature gaps) reduce vulnerability to poverty. This was also supported by the median and average temperatures. Second, there is an association between poverty vulnerability and poverty; that is, poorer people will become poorer with an increase in poverty vulnerability. In fact, in the case of higher income, the higher the probability of returning to poverty, the higher the vulnerability. Policy formulation processes should take into consideration different types of impacts from harsh climate on different vulnerable groups. No single action might be adequate and an integrative approach integrating various strategies and actions are required to overcome challenges posed by climate change and poverty vulnerabilities.

Community Empowerment and Utilization of Renewable Energy: Entrepreneurial Perspective for Community Resilience Based on Sustainable Management of Slum Settlements in Makassar City, Indonesia

The acceleration of metropolitan city development toward economic growth has an impact on over-urbanization, energy scarcity, slum settlements, and environmental degradation. Slum settlements that are predominantly inhabited by the urban poor will require an increase in the productivity of economic enterprises through the empowerment process. This study aims to analyze (1) community empowerment functions as determinants of the use of renewable energy in handling slum settlement and (2) the effects of community empowerment, utilization of renewable energy, strengthening of institutional capacity, and productivity of economic enterprises on improving the quality of the slum settlement environment. The study approach used is a combination of qualitative–quantitative research. Data was obtained through observation, in-depth interviews, surveys, and documentation. The results of the study show that community empowerment, coupled with the use of renewable energy, strengthening institutional capacity, and community participation, contributes positively to increasing the productivity of economic enterprises and improving environmental quality toward sustainable management of slum settlements. The effect of economic empowerment, strengthening institutional capacity, and the use of renewable energy to improve environmental quality with a coefficient of determination of 78.5%. This study recommends socio-economic empowerment based on the use of renewable energy in the implementation of the Makasssar City toward environmental, economic sustainability and the creation of social cohesion.