International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Economic Issues
The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Economic Issues is a double-blind peer-reviewed journal, ISSN 2616-0048 (Print version) and ISSN 2631-231X (Online), dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of scholarly works in the field of entrepreneurship, business, economics, and management. This journal is published annually by the Center for Research and Development, King's College, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Changing business practices and coping mechanisms of entrepreneurs (SMEs) during COVID 19- a study on Kathmandu based SMEs
The continuous rage of the COVID 19 pandemic has severely impacted the lives of people globally. The strict lockdown measures not only presented an unprecedented challenge, but also caused economic and social disruption. The most vulnerable to the economic effects of COVID-19 were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially the booming entrepreneurs. Without the means, well-equipped strategies, and resources they have been hit hard during the lockdown. Moreover, absence of robust plans and schemes to support the private sector has added to their misery. So, the purpose of this research is to understand the impact of COVID 19 on business, how business has changed and how entrepreneurs have coped to the situation in Nepal, studying the case of Kathmandu based SMEs. The study was studied in two phases, in first a survey was run with 104 participants and in second, an in-depth interview was conducted with 17 participants.
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Assessment of AgriTech Startups in Nepal: Prospects, Challenges, Policy Recommendations, and the Way Forward
The Agritech sector in Nepal has gained momentum in recent years, promising to revolutionize the country's agricultural landscape. This article attempts to assess the Agritech Startups landscape in Nepal and delves into the prospects and the challenges encountered by the Agritech startups in Nepal. Alongside this article discusses on the policy recommendations that are required to be implemented promptly in the sector for its sustainable growth. Through a comprehensive secondary analysis of the market dynamics, technological innovations and socio- economic conditions, this study explores the uncharted potential that could assist in agricultural productivity. Furthermore, the research highlights the role of government policies in fostering a conducive environment for Agritech entrepreneurship. The findings emphasize the importance of digital literacy, market linkages, technical support and targeted incentives in propelling the growth of Agritech startups in Nepal. By considering the unique Nepalese context, this research identifies the major players in the market, major segment of the Agritech business currently in operation in Nepal and aims to provide a roadmap for the way forward, fostering the sustainable development of Agritech startups, and contributing to increased food security and economic prosperity in Nepal.
Contribution of Remittances to GDP: Case of Nepal
The article explores how remittances significantly impact Nepal's economy, contributing nearly a quarter of its GDP. These funds, sent by migrants, support essential needs like food, education, and healthcare, thereby improving living standards and alleviating poverty. Remittances boost household purchasing power and stimulate demand for goods and services, driving economic growth. However, the study also highlights risks such as dependency on these inflows and their limited role in productive investments. It suggests that while remittances are crucial for Nepal's economic stability, a diversified strategy is essential for sustainable development, reducing reliance on remittances and fostering broader economic resilience.
Use of Quick Response (QR) Code Payment Gateway in Nepal: Entrepreneur’s Perspective
A Quick Response (QR) code payment gateways are becoming increasingly popular in Nepalese business environments, especially in urban areas. QR Code payment facilities are available even in small business in Nepal. There were a number of factors that influenced Nepali entrepreneurs to adopt QR code payment gateways for their shops. Therefore, this paper attempts to determine what factors mainly influenced Nepali entrepreneurs to install QR payment gateways. For this purpose, the paper surveyed 200 Nepali small and medium enterprises (SME) running enterprises within Kathmandu Valley. Most Nepali entrepreneurs only implemented QR facilities a year or two ago, according to the paper. The paper also discovered that consumer factors (3.80 points on average) were a key factor among the four criteria studied. According to the regression analysis, customer and environmental factors account for 27.3 percent of QR code payment gateway adoption among Nepalese entrepreneurs.
Factors That Influence Entrepreneurial Intention Within University Students in Nepal
The research aims to identify the key factors that significantly influence entrepreneurial intention of Nepalese university students. Primary source has been used to collect the data through a questionnaire survey conducted in Nepal, involving 384 respondents studying management in different universities in Nepal. This study has used descriptive and casual comparative research design. Statistical tests, including descriptive analysis, correlation coefficient, and regression analysis has been employed to analyze the data using the SPSS Statistical Program. Through an extensive review of relevant literature on entrepreneurial intention, five determinants attitude towards behavior, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, locus of control and need for achievement were identified where entrepreneurial intention represents dependent variable and attitude towards behavior, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, locus of control and need for achievement represents independent variables. The multiple linear regression results reveal that attitude towards behavior, subjective norms, and locus of control exerts significant influences on entrepreneurial intention while perceived behavioral control and need for achievement has statistically insignificant relationship with entrepreneurial intention.
Locus of Control and Need for Achievement
Challenges of Online Education during COVID-19 Pandemic in Nepal
Covid-19 urged colleges and universities to shut down. The online education that nourished after COVID-19, has been challenging in Nepal because students, teachers, and administrators were not prepared for it. Stakeholders of education should work in many areas to enhance the effectiveness of online education and make it complementary to classroom education.
Teacher Education: An Adaptive Response to the Movement to Online Instruction
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted teacher training programs, as the shift to online instruction sent waves through the K-12 public education system in the United States. Teacher education programs were found in situations where their current student teachers needed significant additional support to navigate the rapid changes in the means that instruction was provided in their schools. This essay provides some insight on how one university navigated this process and provides suggestions for training future teachers. Covid-19, online instruction, pre-service teachers, teacher education
Sri Lanka's Economic Woes amidst COVID-19 and the Way Forward
Whereas the ongoing COVID-19 crisis is yet another tragic event that has added a further blow to Sri Lanka’s already reeling economy, it also presents an opportunity to rethink about the country’s economic future. This essay argues that the way forward for Sri Lanka after the crisis is to practice traditional economics by putting in place a state sponsored manufacturing sector, instead of relying heavily on activities like tourism and supplying migrant labor to other countries. The pandemic provides further proof that depending on such service oriented sectors to lead the economy can have bad consequences in times of global emergencies.
Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security in Nepal
The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought Nepal into the standstill and most of the economic activities have been suspended with the imposition of lockdown. There are significant impacts visible in the food security of Nepal. Question remains- how has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the food security in Nepal? The secondary data were used to find the answer to the question. Because of lockdown, the food security has been threatened by the reduction of purchasing power of the household as well as disruption of national and international food supply chains.
Leveraging Innovative Entrepreneurship in Shaping Nepal's Agriculture Sector post-COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of Nepal’s agricultural system and the urgent need to strengthen food security. This paper explores the primary constraints in Nepal’s agricultural sector and presents innovative entrepreneurial strategies and solutions to alleviate said constraints. By strategically assessing existing value chains, engaging both the public and private sector, and by re-evaluating the migrant crisis as an opportunity, the paper highlights agri-business opportunities in Nepal post-COVID-19.
The Importance of Decisive Leadership and Clear Direction During Crisis
This essay considers the importance of strong leadership during critical incidents and crisis, including a decisive approach that seeks to understand problems through exploring data and stakeholder feedback, but ultimately leadership's willingness to take ownership, and finally action. This work also sets forth organizational benefits of establishing clear direction, as well as the downfall of failing to provide support.
A New Era of Social Enterprise? A Global Viewpoint
The outbreak of Coronavirus across the world has fundamentally changed the way society functions. The pandemic has shifted the way a capitalist economy works for the state. Drastic measures have had to be put in place; for example, many countries have put extra investment into the health sector and generated support for people who cannot work due to the lockdown rules that have been implemented. More than ever before, the state is playing a vital role. Therefore, various institutions, from charities and non-government organisations, to the public/private sectors, are the driving forces in tackling this pandemic. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the ways forward and the ways in which social enterprise will be imperative in this global pandemic.
2020: COVID-19 & International Higher Education
In this study, international students are portrayed as they present themselves now and as they have been affected and effected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Universities and colleges are featured as they react and explain their reactions, dicta, and information concerning the status of international students at their institutions. Critical to the study is that it tells the story of international students studying abroad both directly from their impressions and according to the university and college policy provided to them. Of particular interest to both reactors is the focus on offering online courses to students, which generally has received acceptance but with negative reactions. Of concern is the impact of using technologies when poor countries may not even have broadband or are mired in political decisions about technology use. No permanent solutions to the introduced issues are offered as the pandemic is a continuing with little agreed upon understanding about its permanence.
How to Overcome Stress during COVID19 Pandemic
The epidemic COVID-19 is a global public health emergency causing an adverse impact on people’s lives from different perspectives. The misconception about COVID19 has contributed to physical and psychological diseases among people that sometimes even leads to the higher risk of suicide. Stress endurance varies from person to person; some person can manage it and some cannot. Some therapies can address this problem with solution. The aim of this write up is to discuss stress response and how to manage stress response. In addition to this, it also discusses some causing factors behind suicidal acts; and the ways to overcome suicidal thoughts during pandemic.
The Need for Increasing Black Entrepreneurship as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 and recent high-profile police killings are putting focus on the inequities and societal hurdles facing blacks in the U.S. There is no quick fix or singular solution; however, increasing black entrepreneurship may be a key piece of the solution. The reasons for, and potential benefits of, new public policies and private investment to spur black entrepreneurship are discussed.
Mental health among entrepreneurs: The benefits of consciousness
High enterprise failure rates, the need to pivot, and fleeting runways are contributing to mental health issues among entrepreneurs. To treat a myriad of mental health conditions, western medical practitioners are acknowledging the effectiveness of consciousness and mindfulness tools, like yoga and meditation that have been practiced by indigenous people and eastern cultures for millennia. Some entrepreneurs are starting to use consciousness practices as not only a tool to balance the mind-body connection, but they are also using them to optimize performance. Implications for practice are discussed.
Perception of Environmental Change Relationship to Labor Migration in the Chitwan Valley
This research examines environmental change, in terms of agriculture production, influence on outmigration from the Chitwan Valley in Nepal. As the first part of a longitudinal study, a maximum variation sampling method was used to gather data on farming households' perceptions of environmental change and labor migration. While collecting field data, verbal consent was obtained from research participants and their identities protected. This study uses the measures of environmental change, social capital, and environmental history to analyze risk formation and amplification along migrant networks. Additionally, using t-tests, this data was compared to a sample from the Chitwan Valley Family Study (CVFS) to observe change in perception and labor migration over time. The analysis concludes that perception of environmental change interacts with socio-cultural processes in ways that intensify household level migration. In addition, environmental change is one of the main factors causing low efficiency in agriculture production, leading households to diversify occupation and income through labor migration.
ECHO Education: A Multisectoral Effort Ensuring Educational Success During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Unforeseen challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have taken a significant toll on people across the world. This essay deals with a holistic, multisectoral effort that one US higher education institution took to collaborate with national, state, and local entities in order to serve their State’s constituents during the pandemic. The goal of this essay is to describe this endeavor as a model that can serve other sectors, agencies and institutions worldwide.
Sustainable Organizations to Emerge as Leaders During the COVID-19
Organizations design sustainability framework to proactively assess and manage risks, make financial decisions, and to generate positive environmental and social impact. Empirical research in developed markets show that sustainable practices enable organizations to manage global risks such as COVID-19 and perform better than competitors. This paper explains how sustainable integrated approaches can enable organizations in emerging markets to have a robust model to overcome and flourish after times of crisis, by looking at a case study in Nepal.
An Analytical Model for Strategic Promotion of Growth-Oriented Women Entrepreneurship in Rural Nepal
Entrepreneurship promotion initiatives in Nepal have paid limited emphasis on helping the growthoriented micro-enterprises transform into small enterprises. There is also a lack of knowledge and effort in customization of entrepreneurship promotion strategy to meet specific needs of entrepreneurs, particularly for women. This formative study seeks to explore such gaps and also propose an ecological framework to help future programs and policies to better address the issues identified. The study conducted interviews and enterprise observations of selected entrepreneurs of an enterprise accelerator program. The findings inform the development of a holistic framework for analyzing and designing growth promotion strategies across the dimensions of four Es: Entrepreneur, Enterprise, Ecosystem, and Economy. The study underlines the importance of forming a grounded understanding of key dimensions across the 4 Es while creating entrepreneurship promotion strategy.
When Cultures Collide: Global Cultural Intelligence in the Age of Covid-19
The first step is to consider that the “pâ€ in pandemic means a type of passport, a passport to recovery, passport to resurgence, but a passport to a direction in which the leaders’ respective messages guide the local response. The ‘p’ is a passport to a global new normal, yet culturally competent leaders must set the path that will not lead to further ruin. Closing borders and restricting travel to other countries and states to control the spread of COVID-19 are strategies that should reflect decisions made by culturally intelligent leadership. Therefore, this paper will reflect on the past successes of global collaboration, and the current medley of responses from various countries to deal with COVID-19.
Monetary Policy Peri- Post Covid-19 and rise of enterprises in Nepal
The paper analyzes the way distressed enterprises of Nepal can be kept afloat or conserved against upheaval through major amendments in the monetary policy. The narrowed business groups can be revitalized if the government would immediately impose certain leverages on monetary policies and increase the inflow of capital to make it accessible to the needy entrepreneurs. There prevail high chances for re-emergence of companies post Covid accommodating repatriated people for employment with an effective draft of the monetary plans.
Nepalese Teachers' Resilience: Adjusting Learning Context in Pandemic
Schools and colleges have been closed due to pandemic. Face to face teaching and learning has been suspended. This essay explores the changing teaching and learning context and teacher resilience in Nepal during last three months.
The Rebirth of Eagle and Learning in COVID 19 Pandemic: An International Student's Perspective
COVID 19 has brought a new struggle in our lives throughout the world. Thousands of people are affecting every day with the coronavirus, and this virus is carrying out thousands of lives. It has brought a new order of life for us with many changes. This current pandemic is also a message for everyone to look for an alternative for the sake of survival. This paper portraits the experiences of an international student how the epidemic has affected and changed his study.
Unlocking the Relationship between Entrepreneurship and Socioeconomic Integration
This research project uses immigrant entrepreneur’s perspectives on how entrepreneurship has influenced or facilitated in integration processes in host country. The study is based on Nepali immigrants engaged in entrepreneurship in Lisbon. Semi structured interview was used to interpret the narratives of the conversation with the respondents, which is coded into themes using thematic analysis. Twelve Nepali entrepreneurs were interviewed who owned small or medium scale business ventures in Lisbon. Being Nepali as well as migrant here in Portugal, enabled the researcher to reflect, analyse and interpret insider perspective for the study which controls the possible limitations of understanding the social milieu of the respondents during the study process. Social capital theory was used to analyse immigration, and entrepreneurship start-ups in host country. As a whole, it has been found out that, the entrepreneurial ventures helps Nepali immigrants to integrate in the host societies by facilitating them in easy adjustment process from the period of arrival until they settle down. The implications of this research are useful for local authorities in host country to further strengthen bonds between immigrants and host society through entrepreneurship. The social capital that is evident in community can be strength for authorities to support in establishing entrepreneurial ventures for Nepali immigrants.
The Covid-19 global has exposed another pandemic, that of racism. As a result, Chinese citizens throughout the global community have faced bullying and malice. Bullying is a global problem; in this case the international community has concentrated its collective anxiety about Covid-19, which originated in Wuhan, China, to discriminate against those of Chinese descent. Therefore, this short essay reflects on some historical and psychological underpinning which inform the cruelty and blame ascribed to many Chinese people during this unprecedented public health emergency.
Evaluating the Policy Claims of Migration in Nepal
The Government of Nepal published the landmark Compact Rural Settlements Policy (CRSP) in 2013. The policy paper argued for clustering settlements in rural Nepal in order to improve quality of life for people. One of the main arguments of this paper is that rural out-migration happens due to lack of services. This paper analyzes the relationship between migration and availability of services in Nepal. The results demonstrate that the relationship among migration decision, availability of health and education services is statistically insignificant. In other words, the claims of the CRSP paper needs to be reevaluated and a comprehensive cost–benefit analysis of resettlements should be conducted before government led clustered settlements are built in the country.
Psychologists and sociologists have considered the types of leadership and organizational power used to manage and even control employees, communities, and institutions (Raven, 1958). When such dynamics emerge in the comics read across the globe, even those authors caution their protagonists and superheroes to “use power for good not evil…;â€ yet after reading the articles for this edition, I recognize that the Covid-19 pandemic has re-exposed global power structures and differentials. These power structures have either been used for the good of the people, or for evil to exacerbate the harmful experiences felt by disenfranchised populations.
Jay Barney and Trish Gorman Clifford, What I Didn't Learn in Business School: How Strategy Works in the Real World. October 12, 2010.
The Influence of local entrepreneurial environment and role models in motivating youths to create a new enterprise
Governments in almost all countries provide incentives to promote entrepreneurship generally and to establish new enterprises particularly. Creating new enterprises has also been an important goal in regional development policies of a country. However, what makes a person establish an enterprise still remains the most important question. This study investigates the issue among final-year students in four different secondary schools from western Norway. The results show that local entrepreneurial environment and role models are important factors to contribute to and/or correlated with young people's desire to create a new enterprise. In addition to extending the prior results, our study supports the previous findings regarding the importance of social capital and desire for independence. It should, however, especially be noted that leadership ambitions was an important correlate underlying establishment of an enterprise among youths. Therefore, this study recommends including activities that build up social capital, desire for autonomy, and leadership ambitions in education in order to motivate youths to found an enterprise.