Digital Economy

The adoption of a floating exchange rate system constitutes a pivotal economic policy decision that both reflects and influences a nation’s broader political economy. The flotation of the Ethiopian Birr (ETB) marks a substantial shift in Ethiopia’s monetary policy framework, carrying significant implications for the country's macroeconomic stability and development trajectory. This paper investigates the rationale behind the policy shift, its anticipated economic impacts, and potential future pathways for Ethiopia. Through a systematic review of the literature and comparative analysis of case studies from other countries, the study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the benefits, risks, and strategic considerations associated with the move to a floating exchange rate. While the reform offers promising prospects for greater economic autonomy, enhanced trade competitiveness, and market-driven growth, it also introduces considerable challenges, including inflationary pressures, socioeconomic inequality, and political uncertainty. To fully leverage the potential of this transition, Ethiopia must prioritize sound policy management, institutional strengthening, and structural economic reforms. These measures are critical to mitigating the inherent risks of exchange rate liberalization and to ensuring that the country achieves long-term macroeconomic stability, inclusive growth, and sustained structural transformation.

The rapid development of the digital economy is a critical national strategy for the Chinese government, with the establishment of digital economy platforms as a key component. Simultaneously, both the government and enterprises have embraced the concept of sustainable development. Since corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance serves as a crucial micro-indicator of sustainability, it is essential to investigate whether the digital economy platforms developed by the Chinese government can enhance the ESG performance of relevant companies. This paper first examines the impact of urban digital economy platform construction on corporate awareness of ecological and environmental protection, social responsibility, and governance practices. It then proposes two primary mechanisms—technological innovation and business model innovation. Finally, empirical evidence is presented based on a sample of 107 urban CSI 300-listed companies in China, using data from 2015 to 2019. The analysis yields three key findings: (1) the construction of urban digital economy platforms significantly improves the ESG performance of companies in the region; (2) the impact on the social subindex is not significant, but the effect is more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises, the manufacturing sector, and the eastern region; and (3) business model innovation plays a more significant role in driving ESG performance compared to technological innovation. This study contributes to the understanding of how digital economy platforms influence corporate ESG performance.

This research aims to investigate whether there is a link between the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the benefits of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), both of which were significant contributors to Afghanistan's economic growth between 2003 and 2020. This study uses panel integration and causality assessment. It looks into the underlying causes of the problem in terms of short- and long-term partnerships, as well as diversity. The findings of this study support the existence of a positive and significant relationship between the adoption of IFRS and the flow of FDI, as well as the correlation between them. Furthermore, the examination of causes shows that IFRS-related FDI is both a short-term source of EG and a long-term cause of diversification. The analysis of causes demonstrates this. This study investigates Afghanistan and expands on the relationship between IFRS acquisition and FDI income. This research could help developing countries that use IFRS and those that do not use IFRS identify the financial implications of IFRS practices and boost economic growth.