This research aims to identify and evaluate different factors influencing the customer decision in selecting a community pharmacy in the city of Amman, and study the possible impact of branded pharmacy on the selection process. Five main factors were selected based on the literature review, including convenience, physical environment, sales promotions, qualified and experienced pharmacists and customer service and three main hypotheses and twelve sub-hypotheses were developed. A descriptive analytical methodology, quantitative approach, utilizing survey strategy utilizing questionnaire were used. The population of this research consists of customers who decide to choose a community pharmacy which is estimated at 934.5 thousand households. To collect the primary data, a self-administered questionnaire was pre-pared based on previous studies; 1070 questionnaires were distributed in different community pharmacies in Amman using convenience sample (pharmacy intercept), 801 filtered and screened questionnaires were sent for statistical analyses. The results reveal that customer service factor had the highest effect on customers’ selection of pharmacies, followed by qualified and experienced pharmacists and convenience, respectively. Sales promotions and physical environment have the least impacts on customers’ decision. The results also show that there is a partial statistically significant mediation effect of branded pharmacy on the direct relationship between the selected factors and customers’ pharmacy selection. The demographic variables have no statistically significant moderating effects on the direct relationship between the selected factors and pharmacy selection. Discussion, managerial implications, and future research recommendations are provided.

In recent years, the rapid transmission of information and interconnectedness of global financial markets have amplified the convergence and influence among them. Consequently, the occurrence of spillover effects in one market can significantly impact other markets. Accurately identifying and understanding these spillover effects is crucial for effectively managing and controlling market fluctuations. This research aims to measure and analyze the spillover effects between China's stock market and selected emerging economies in the Middle East, with a focus on exploring diversification opportunities. The analysis encompasses three distinct time periods, including the overall period from May 1, 2005, to May 31, 2023. The sub-periods consist of the first sub-period from May 1, 2005, to October 31, 2009, and the second sub-period from December 1, 2010, to May 31, 2023. Multivariate Generalized Heterogeneous Autoregression (MGARCH) is employed in this study to examine the spillover effects between China's economy and the emerging economies under consideration. The Granger causality analysis reveals a unidirectional causality running from the Chinese stock market to Jordan, as well as from the UAE to China throughout the entire observation period. However, no spillover effects are found between China and Saudi Arabia in either direction during any of the periods. Notably, a two-way causality is detected between the Chinese and UAE markets in the second sub-period. Furthermore, MGARCH results indicate no spillover effects from China to the emerging economies during the overall period, first sub-period, or second sub-period. The findings of this research offer valuable insights for investment portfolio managers in the Chinese economy, who may consider the examined emerging economies as potential destinations for risk diversification.

This paper investigates the impact of post-purchase user generated content (UGC) and traditional reference groups on the purchase intentions for electronic products (e-products) among young consumers in Jordan. To achieve this, a descriptive methodology was adapted, with a quantitative approach and survey strategy utilizing a five-point Likert scale questionnaire distributed to 450 university and college students in Jordan. 400 filtered and screened copies underwent statistical analyses. SPSS version 21 was utilized to describe and analyze the data. The results revealed a strong impact of post-purchase UGC on purchase intentions of e-products among young consumers. The results also revealed that traditional reference groups have a lower significant impact on the purchase intentions of young consumers, indicating that young consumers rely on online communities more than they rely on family, friends, colleagues, and other social organizations. The findings are discussed with a view to their implications, with recommendations for future research.

This paper examines the determinants of banks’ performance in emerging economies. Sustainable growth of emerging economies depends on the financial performance of their banks’. The determinants of banks’ performance are, therefore, analyzed through panel econometric techniques over the crisis period of 2008-2014 using data of the top 50 banks from the 10 sampled emerging economies. Both banks’ specific and macroeconomic variables are considered in the analysis. Results reveal that macroeconomic variables like GDP and inflation are significant forces behind high Return on Assets (ROA) in emerging economies banks’, however, both negatively influenced the Net Interest Margins (NIM). Among the banks’ specific variables high profitability and NIM are related to high operating costs. This shows that expenses are managed properly in these economies. Further, leverage has a positive impact on both (ROA) and (NIM).While reserve requirement has negatively and significantly influence both profitability and net interest margins, which indicates the prominence of central bank’s monetary policy by considering the importance of liquidity for emerging economies commercial banks in economic recovery phase.