Analyzing Critical Success Factors for Sustainable Cloud-Based Mobile Learning (CBML) in Crisp and Fuzzy Environment

Mobile Learning (M-Learning), driven by technological digital advancement, is one of the essential formats of online learning, providing flexibility to learners. Cloud-based mobile learning (CBML) provides value additions by providing an economic alternative to E-learning. Revolutionary changes in smartphone design and features have enhanced the user experience, thus encouraging mobile learning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, E-Learning and M-Learning allowed continuing education to occur. These methods continue to offer more opportunities to learners than constrained face-to-face classroom learning. There are many main critical success factors (CSFs) and subfactors that play an influential role in sustainable M-Learning success. The current study focuses on the assessment and ranking of various main factors and subfactors of CBML. Analytic hierarchy process-group decision-making (AHP-GDM)- and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP)-based methodologies were used to evaluate and model the main factors and subfactors of CBML in crisp and fuzzy environments. Higher education institutes must strive to address these main factors and subfactors if they are to fulfill their vision and mission in the teaching-learning system while adopting sustainable M-Learning.

Nonlinear nexus between cryptocurrency returns and COVID-19 COVID-19 news sentiment.

The paper examines how various COVID-19 COVID-19 news sentiments differentially impact the behaviour of cryptocurrency returns. We used a nonlinear technique of transfer entropy to investigate the relationship between the top 30 cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation and COVID-19 COVID-19 news sentiment. Results show that COVID-19 COVID-19 news sentiment influences cryptocurrency returns. The nexus is unidirectional from news sentiment to cryptocurrency returns, in contrast to past findings. These results have practical implications for policymakers and market participants in understanding cryptocurrency market dynamics under extremely stressful market conditions. .

Is greenness an optimal hedge for sectoral stock indices?

The paper examines the role of green bonds in hedging the risk against industry portfolios and other major asset classes. It mainly focuses on how the greenness of the portfolio reduces the risk of green portfolios containing green bonds and 11 industrial sectors and major financial assets from October 2014 to November 2021. The results show that the risk of green portfolios is lower than that of unhedged (non-green) portfolios. Furthermore, our study provides evidence that the hedging effectiveness of green portfolios improves during the COVID–19 pandemic. Finally, the results show that investors across the risk aversion spectrum gain higher utility after considering the transaction costs while investing in green portfolios. These results are new additions to prior literature that can interest investors, fund managers, and policymakers.

Systemic risk-sharing framework of cryptocurrencies in the COVID-19 crisis.

We use the Conditional Value-at-Risk (CoVaR) model to develop the systemic contagion index (SCI) for cryptocurrencies and examine their spillover effects. The SCI exhibits the highest value during the COVID-19 period, indicating evidence of pandemic-driven contagion channels. Similarly, cryptocurrency systemic networks show that the COVID-19 period induced increased interconnections, highlighting a higher number of systemic contagion channels. Our study has practical implications for investors to identify the systemic vulnerability of each cryptocurrency and make informed decisions during the crisis and non-crisis periods.

COVID-19 crisis and risk spillovers to developing economies: Evidence from Africa.

This study provides new evidence on how risk spillovers occur from the United States to developing economies in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that downside risk exposures of African markets, financial firms and banks particularly increased during Phase I (30 January to 30 April 2020). The nature and magnitude of downside risk exposures of African financial markets were similar to those of the United States. Our results also reveal that the United States is a net transmitter of risk spillovers while Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and Morocco are net recipients. Our conclusions offer guidance to risk managers, policymakers and investors.

Is gold a hedge or a safe-haven asset in the COVID–19 crisis?

This study examines the role of gold as a hedge or safe-haven asset in different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, corresponding to the timing of fiscal and monetary stimuli to support the weakened economy. Using high-frequency data, the results show that gold served as a safe-haven asset for stock markets during Phase I (December 31, 2019−March 16, 2020) of the pandemic. However, gold lost its safe-haven role during Phase II (March 17−April 24, 2020). The optimal weights of gold in S&P 500, Euro Stoxx 50, Nikkei 225, and WTI crude oil portfolios significantly increased during Phase II, suggesting that investors expanded investment in gold as a ‘flight-to-safety asset’ during the crisis. Further, hedging costs increased significantly during Phase II. These findings provide insight for individual and institutional investors and guidance to policymakers, regulators, and media on how gold evolved as a hedge and safe-haven asset in different phases of the pandemic.

COVID-19 media coverage and ESG leader indices.

This study examines the dynamic connectedness between COVID-19 media coverage index (MCI) and ESG leader indices. Our findings provide evidence that MCI plays a role in facilitating the transmission of contagion to advanced and emerging equity markets during the pandemic. The connectedness between MCI and ESG leader indices is more pronounced around March and April 2020 at the peak of the pandemic. The US is a net receiver of shocks reaffirming that it was the most affected country during the pandemic. Our results provide implications for investors, portfolio managers, and policymakers in mitigating financial risks during the pandemic.

COVID-19 and oil price risk exposure.

This study investigates oil price risk exposure of financial and non-financial industries around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. The empirical results show that oil supply industries benefit from positive shocks to oil price risk in general, whereas oil user industries and financial industries react negatively to positive oil price shocks. The COVID-19 outbreak appears to moderate the oil price risk exposure of both financial and non-financial industries. This brings important implications in risk management of energy risk during the pandemic.

Financial contagion during COVID-19 crisis.

This study examines how financial contagion occurs through financial and nonfinancial firms between China and G7 countries during the COVID-19 period. The empirical results show that listed firms across these countries, financial and non-financial firms alike, experience significant increase in conditional correlations between their stock returns. However, the magnitude of increase in these correlations is considerably higher for financial firms during the COVID-19 outbreak, indicating the importance of their role in financial contagion transmission. They also show that optimal hedge ratios increase significantly in most cases, implying higher hedging costs during the COVID-19 period.