Vol. 7 No. 2 (2026)

Abstract

The study examined the effect of financial distress on tax planning among listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. Financial distress was measured by Altman Z Score while effective tax rate measured tax planning. Ex-post facto research design was deployed. The population comprised twenty-one (21) listed consumer goods firms, out of which a purposive sample of sixteen was selected. Secondary data for the study were obtained from the annual reports of the firms from 2014 to 2023. Panel least square regression was used to test the hypothesis. It was found that financial distress influences Nigerian consumer goods firms to engage in tax planning that will significantly reduce their effective tax rate (? = 0.005646; p-value = 0.0000). As firms experience declining financial health, they may prioritize short-term financial relief through tax planning measures, potentially sacrificing long-term tax compliance or optimal financial strategies. Hence, financial managers should implement a comprehensive tax risk management framework by focusing on legitimate tax-saving techniques, such as tax credits, loss carryforwards, and tax-efficient capital structuring. The study is limited by its reliance on secondary data from annual reports, which may not fully capture all relevant tax planning behaviors and firm-specific factors that influence financial distress and effective tax rates. This study contributes to filling this gap by specifically addressing how financial distress, as measured by the Altman Z Score, influences the effective tax rates of Nigerian listed consumer goods firms, an area that has been under-explored in existing literature.

Abstract

Climate change poses a growing threat to the world's economies, particularly those of developing countries. In Tunisia, a country with an arid and semi-arid climate, the effects of climatic variations are increasingly felt in the agricultural sector, the mainstay of the national economy.
This research aims to empirically analyze the dynamic relationships between climate variables (temperature and precipitation), agriculture and economic growth in Tunisia over the period 2000-2024. The aim is to measure the impact of climate change on agricultural production and its repercussions on GDP.
The analysis is based on the estimation of a VAR (vector autoregressive) model, enabling the interactions between the time series concerned to be assessed. The data used cover the years 2000 to 2024, and include GDP growth rate, mean annual temperature, rainfall levels, cereal yields and agricultural investment.
The results show that rising temperatures and irregularly falling rainfall are having a significant negative impact on agricultural production. This agricultural degradation directly affects economic growth, particularly in rural areas..
The period 2000-2024 is characterized by the Tunisian agricultural sector's growing vulnerability to climate change. The urgent integration of climate issues into public policy is essential to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth.

Abstract

This study examines the effect of coffee shop atmosphere perception on university students' behavioral intentions and the mediating role of perceived enjoyment in this relationship. Using quantitative research methods, data were collected via a survey. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS software. According to the findings, the coffee shop atmosphere did not have a direct significant effect on behavioral intention, but perceived enjoyment was found to have a positive and significant effect on behavioral intention. Path analysis results also revealed that the atmosphere indirectly affected behavioral intention through perceived enjoyment and that this mediating effect was statistically significant. In conclusion, students' behavioral intentions, such as revisiting or recommending coffee shops, are shaped more by the feeling of enjoyment created by the atmosphere than by the direct perception of the atmosphere. These findings offer strategic implications for businesses in terms of service marketing and experience management.

Abstract

Abstract

The research examines the how Regional Economic Integration (REI) has influenced trading among African nations. The scope of this study is from 2000 to 2024 from a total of 53 countries in Africa, this study looks at a group of 38 countries covering different areas. An investigation was carried out using different methods like pooled OLS, Fixed Effects and Random Effects (Static Effects) to determine the relationship among the points in the panel data. It was revealed that intra-regional trade strongly and positively relates to the MFN, Tariff bound and simple average tariff rates related to integrating economies. Greater intra-regional trade is closely linked with a rise in GDP and changes in the real exchange rate. The number of people in each African country is found to lower their intra-regional trade, implying a rise in population is bad for trading within the region. Trade barriers should also be removed, solid economic institutions put in place and good trade regulations developed to encourage more trade between African nations.

Keywords: Regional Economic Integration, Intra-regional trade, Fixed Effect, Random Effect.

Jel  Code: F21, F15,  C23