This study aims to examine the potential benefits and challenges associated with conversational artificial intelligence (CAI) implementation within small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The study employs a comprehensive literature review and thematic analysis as the primary data collection and interpretation methods. CAI technologies are examined, including chatbots, virtual assistants, and automated response systems. These technologies offer SMEs opportunities to automate customer service operations, gain valuable customer insights, and enhance operational efficiency. However, their integration also presents technical difficulties, financial constraints, data privacy and security concerns, and inherent CAI limitations. The study results provide a nuanced understanding of CAI’s role in SMEs, offering insights into practical applications, potential benefits, and hurdles. The findings highlight SMEs’ need to strategically approach AI implementation, balancing the potential benefits and associated challenges. The key conclusion drawn from this study is that the strategic and well-planned adoption of CAI can significantly benefit SMEs. However, it should be viewed as an augmentation of existing operations rather than a complete replacement. This study also identifies the need for future research, particularly empirical studies examining the implementation of CAI in SMEs and exploring its long-term impacts and ethical implications.

Investing in the economy of the Russian Federation as a whole and in its regions in particular is a task of paramount importance because the well-being of both the state itself and its citizens will depend on its proper execution. This determines the relevance of the research topic. Investments in the regions are aimed at increasing the regional product and production volumes, mastering new activities, and developing the existing material and technical base. The subject of this study is the investment climate in certain Russian regions. The purpose of the study is to analyze investments in Russia and its individual regions and assess their dynamics, development trends and state policy to improve the investment climate. Investments in the regions will help eliminate the uneven development of the regions and turn depressed subjects into donor entities. The scientific novelty lies in the analysis of the investment climate of the Russian Federation and the factors influencing the volume of investments in the regions. The article presents the current state of the investment climate in the two regions of Russia. A modern interpretation of investments is given. Two regions of Russia — Kaluga and Kaliningrad — are considered as examples of actively developing investment regions. The prospects for investment activity and possible problems due to the imposed sanctions are noted. As part of the study, the authors used methods for analyzing statistical data and official documents. Based on the results of the analysis, it was revealed that despite the high investment potential of the regions, many economic indicators have a negative tendency. It was concluded that improving the investment climate as well as active state participation will allow Russia to achieve completely different results of economic growth in the long term.

The banking sector holds immense importance in any economy. However, the non-performing loans of Nigerian banks are a concern for the economy and financial stability. This can be attributed to the effects of macro-economic factors on banking activities in the country. The study aimed to examine macroeconomic variables and the non-performing loans of banks in Nigeria. A descriptive research design method was used for the study. Secondary data were collected for the period from 1990 to 2021. The auto regressive distributed lag (ARDL) error correction model was used for data analysis. The study’s results show that tax revenue, recurrent expenditures and the real interest rate will in the long run resolve the problems of non-performing loans of banks in Nigeria. Contrarily, money supply and exchange rate, if not properly managed, may amplify non-performing loans of banks in Nigeria. The study concluded that macroeconomic variables, when properly devised, will help subdue the problem of increasing non-performing loans in Nigeria.

The process of charging a different price to a different group of consumers for similar goods and services is called price discrimination. The relationship between price discrimination and social welfare has been an important topic of research and discussion for many years. The purpose of the study is to determine the conditions under which price discrimination improves or reduces social welfare. The authors used a method of series of literature reviews to gather information about the relationship between price discrimination and social welfare. The study showed that price discrimination can improve social welfare if output is increased. The increase in output increases social benefits and overcomes the loss of welfare due to the inefficient distribution of products. The key conclusion is that the social benefits of price discrimination are the availability of essential services to low-income groups and the maintenance of equity in the consumption of public goods. This study has major implications for the formulation of a policy that introduces price discrimination to maintain equity among different income groups and ensure the availability of high-cost essential services.

The aim of this research is to explore the factors influencing housing prices in Pakistan. The author used monthly time series data for the period from 2011 to 2020, which were obtained from different sources: housing prices data from zameen.com, Karachi interbank offered rate (KIBOR) as a proxy for monetary policy, consumer price index as a proxy for inflation, and exchange rate data from the State Bank of Pakistan. Various methods, such as autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL), comparative analysis and deductive analysis were employed. Before using the ARDL technique, a proper lag length was selected, which turned out to be 11 months. Various diagnostic tests indicated model stability with no autocorrelation or structural breaks. The author concluded that the KIBOR rate negatively affected housing prices, while inflation and exchange rates affected house prices positively.

The aim of this paper is to assess the links or interfaces between poverty, livelihoods, institutions, and sustainable community development through a literature review. To realize this objective, the study used the Department for International Development’s (United Kingdom) Sustainable Livelihoods Approach as an overarching theoretical foundation. A descriptive method of data analysis using secondary data and a qualitative research approach were followed. The current state of the problem has been explored by means of a deductive approach. The results of the conceptual analysis show that the interactions between poverty, livelihoods, institutions, and community development are significant. The study also revealed that institutions are crucial for the formation of livelihood possibilities and strategies for the poor and marginalized groups, and they play a significant role in sustainable development. Existing empirical evidence demonstrates that livelihood outcomes may be positive or negative based on vulnerability contexts, the nature of livelihood, institutional frameworks, and livelihood strategies followed. The study concludes that institutional influence is pivotal since it directly or indirectly affects the access to livelihood, determines livelihood strategies and outcomes. Policymakers are therefore expected to consider and comprehend the relationship between these notions before formulating policies, plans or programs to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development effectively.

This study aims to examine the impact of cross-border e-commerce on rural income in China. Economic reforms in China since 1978 have led to the emancipation of approximately 700 million individuals from poverty. Recent rural economic growth in China has been significantly influenced by the widespread adoption of e-commerce, which is being hailed as a potent tool for reducing poverty in rural regions. Through enhanced access to government services, banking facilities, healthcare, and other vital amenities, as well as the provision of global market opportunities for goods and services, e-commerce exhibits the potential to have a profound impact on poverty alleviation. The study leverages data from village-level surveys conducted in rural areas. The analysis is conducted using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) model. The findings indicate that cross-border e-commerce plays a pivotal role in boosting rural income levels, enabling local communities to participate in international trade, and expanding their market presence. The conclusions underscore the significance of e-commerce as a driving force in poverty alleviation initiatives in rural China.