This systematic review aims to analyze the contributions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to sustainable development by examining how businesses address critical global challenges such as zero hunger, health and well-being, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities, life on land, and peace and justice. Purpose: The study seeks to identify gaps in the existing literature and propose future research directions. Method: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple bibliometric databases, yielding 2,520 studies. After applying stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria, 100 relevant studies were selected for analysis. The review synthesized empirical and theoretical findings, focusing on the effectiveness of CSR initiatives and their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Results: The findings reveal that while CSR initiatives significantly contribute to addressing global challenges, there are critical gaps in their long-term sustainability and effectiveness, particularly in developing regions. The review highlights the importance of integrating stakeholder engagement, addressing systemic inequalities, and measuring the impact of CSR practices to enhance their effectiveness. Contributions: This study provides valuable insights into the role of CSR in fostering sustainable development, contributing to existing theories and offering practical applications for industry and policymakers. It identifies underexplored areas for future research, emphasizing the need for robust frameworks that ensure CSR initiatives are equitable, inclusive, and sustainable.

The aim of this study was to assess how global crises influenced volatility spillovers between BRIC and South African stock markets. In conducting the study, the methods employed are the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) framework and the time-varying parameter vector autoregressive (TVP-VAR) Diebold-Yilmaz approach, based on a sample period segmented into pre-crisis, COVID-19, and Russia-Ukraine conflict phases. The study results revealed that volatility spillovers intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic due to economic disruptions and uncertainty. At the same time, the Russia-Ukraine conflict saw reduced spillovers due to geopolitical isolation and risk aversion. South Africa consistently emerged as a key volatility transmitter, particularly during crises. The study concludes that different global crises have distinct impacts on volatility transmission and should, therefore, be treated distinctly. The key contribution lies in enhancing the understanding of crisis-driven market integration, providing valuable insights for risk management and policy-making in interconnected financial systems.

Empty Container Depots (ECD) and container repositioning play pivotal roles in optimising the efficiency of global supply chains, especially within strategic facilities such as port terminals. This study aims to assess the influence of ECD on container repositioning within the context of Tanzanian ports. Specifically, it explores how ECD and repositioning processes are essential for managing container traffic and ensuring effective port operations in Tanzania. Methods: This study employed a survey design, targeting a population of 95 respondents. A stratified sampling technique was used to determine the sample size. Data were collected through questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis was employed to show the statistical relationships between the variables. The results revealed that investments in modern infrastructure and equipment at ECD significantly enhance container repositioning efficiency and reduce operational costs to alleviate congestion. The study underscores the importance of stakeholder collaboration in improving logistical performance. The study recommends improving the road network along transit routes to minimise delays in transporting empty containers.

The author examines the relationship between female executives and enterprise innovation in Chinese A-share listed companies. The subject of the study is the impact of female executive representation on research and development (R&D) investment and innovation output in firms. The purpose of the research is to determine whether female executives inhibit innovation performance and to explore the mediating role of R&D investment while also assessing the variation of effects between state-owned and non-state-owned enterprises. The relevance lies in the growing international interest in understanding how gender diversity in top management affects firm-level strategic outcomes, especially in emerging markets with distinct institutional and cultural contexts. The scientific novelty lies in the empirical identification of the mechanism through which female executives affect innovation, using a panel dataset of 3,920 Chinese listed companies over the period 2012 to 2021. As part of the study, the author used the methods of two-way fixed effects, mediation analysis to assess indirect effects through R&D investment, and heterogeneity analysis to compare state- versus non-state-owned enterprises. Based on the results, it was found that female executives are significantly associated with reduced innovation output, primarily due to lower R&D investment. The author concluded that gender-based differences in risk-taking behavior influence innovation outcomes and that these effects may also be shaped by institutional settings and ownership structures.

Green bonds are attracting growing interest as sustainable financial instruments that support the transition to a low-carbon economy by financing environmentally responsible projects. Understanding how these instruments interact with CO₂ emissions and investor sentiment is essential to assess their stability and long-term potential. The aim of this study is to explore the dynamic relationships between green bonds and a selection of financial and environmental variables, including US conventional bonds, the WilderHill Clean Energy equity index, and CO₂ emission allowances. Additionally, the study evaluates the impact of investor sentiment and financial stress on green bond performance. The methods used include a quantile regression model, which assesses whether the Standard and Poor’s (S&P) Green Bond Index can be explained by the aforementioned variables — namely CO₂ emissions, clean energy stocks, investor sentiment (proxied by Google Trends), and financial stress [measured by the Office of Financial Research (OFR) Index]. The analysis covers the period from July 6, 2011, to September 15, 2023. To account for time-varying relationships, a Bayesian time-varying vector autoregressive (BTC–VAR) model is also applied. The results show a negative unidirectional effect from CO₂ emissions to the green bond index and a positive unidirectional effect from the clean energy index. However, green bonds appear weakly correlated with the other considered assets. Investor sentiment does not show a significant influence, while financial stress plays a more important role, indicating that green bonds may be perceived as safer assets during periods of uncertainty. The key conclusion is that green bonds exhibit selective sensitivity to specific financial and environmental factors. Their relative stability during episodes of financial stress reinforces their position as both sustainable and resilient investment tools. These findings provide useful insights for investors, policymakers, and researchers interested in the evolving dynamics of green finance.

The aim of this study is to empirically investigate the impact of various macroeconomic variables on the Borsa Istanbul Benchmark and Sectoral Indices. The impetus for this inquiry stems from the significant fluctuations in macroeconomic variables within the Turkish economy, particularly during the early 2020s. We utilized the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) methodology to examine the dataset covering the period from 2013 to 2024. The results indicate that, in the long term, the Borsa İstanbul (BIST) general indices are negatively affected by interest rates and credit default swaps (CDS) premiums, while exchange rates positively influence them. Notably, there is no discernible impact from US interest rates, inflation, or gold prices; however, the influence of the volatility index (VIX) is observed to be significant only in the short term. When examining sectoral effects, the negative impacts of interest rates and CDS premiums, as well as the positive influence of exchange rates, are consistent across sectors, with particularly pronounced effects in the banking and real estate sectors. Conversely, the effects of US interest rates, inflation, gold prices, and the VIX index mirror those observed in the general indices. An interesting finding is that while the VIX fear index only negatively affects bank and construction company stocks in the long term, companies in almost all sectors are affected by global risks in the short term. The key conclusion of the research is that exchange rates and domestic risk indicators — such as interest rates and CDS premiums — are the most influential long-term drivers of Turkey’s stock market and sectoral performance, whereas global factors like US monetary policy and the VIX primarily affect short-term dynamics and investor sentiment.

The aim of this study is to analyze the causal relationship between tax revenues and economic growth in Indonesia using an endogenous growth economic model. The causality analysis employed a multivariate setup using a vector autoregression approach, with the Toda–Yamamoto method serving as the causality test. Using time series data from 1983 to 2021, the research findings indicate that the control variables — capital, labor, foreign direct investment, government spending, inflation, and exchange rates — reflect innovation mechanisms and technological progress or total factor productivity in the endogenous growth model, which captures the relationship between tax revenues and economic growth in Indonesia. The results of the causality test using the Toda–Yamamoto method show that tax revenues and economic growth influence each other; tax revenues help boost economic growth, and at the same time, higher economic growth leads to more tax revenues. The authors concluded that, in addition to tax revenue causing or encouraging economic growth through financing economic activities, increased economic growth and activity will also raise the amount of tax revenue, both from the tax base and from nominal tax revenue determined by economic growth.