SMS Journal of
Business Management

The convergence dynamics among Indian states have been a subject of profound debate among researchers for several decades. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the convergence phenomenon among t5 states in India. The states are classified into four distinct groups based on their average growth rates over the period spanning from 2005 to 20t9. Employing advanced panel cointegration methods, including the Pedroni residual cointegration test, Johansen trace test, JMOlS, and Panel YECM, this research investigates the patterns of convergence among fiscal, social, and infrastructure−related variables. The data analysis reveals compelling evidence of convergence and divergence trends across the identified groups. The study identifies clusters of states experiencing similar growth patterns through rigorous statistical techniques, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms driving their economic trajectories. Moreover, it discerns distinct patterns of divergence in certain vital variables, signaling variations in economic performance and policy outcomes among the states. The findings of this research contribute to a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics of economic growth and development across the diverse landscape of Indian states. The insights from this study may assist policymakers in formulating region−specific strategies to promote inclusive growth and equitable development across the country. Jurthermore, adopting sophisticated panel cointegration methods paves the way for a more robust and accurate convergence analysis among subnational entities, thus enhancing the scope and quality of future research in this domain.

As countries emerge from the pangs of the pandemic, the rules of customer activation, engagement and advocacy are being rewritten. The researcher examines how functional and psychological benefits accrued from product attributes and the sales & service experience translate into loyalty for car buyers in an emerging market. There is a need for a comprehensive model examining the interrelationships between product, salesperson and dealer experience and brand loyalty. A structured questionnaire survey is administered to car buyers chosen through Systematic Random Sampling of customers from dealerships of a leading foreign car manufacturer. Subsequent analysis identifies customer satisfaction with the sales and service experience as being the most important variable influencing both dealer loyalty and brand loyalty, followed by satisfaction with product attributes. However, it is only when product satisfaction levels are low that other factors like after-sales & service experience and dealer loyalty become means for customer retention. Salesperson loyalty follows naturally from close the first customer-brand interactions while establishing dealer loyalty is a time-consuming process requiring multiple interactionsThe study takes a fresh look at the brand loyalty construct. Knowing that car buyers assign primary importance to product satisfaction, only in the absence of which other frills like service quality and dealer efficiency get noticed, can be of help to manufacturers in strategic planning. Additionally, the revelation that the salesperson- affinity is synonymous with product and dealer satisfaction for first time car buyers, forces dealers to revisit their human resource management policies. 

SRI, or socially responsible investing, is an investment strategy that tries to produce profits while simultaneously fostering favourable social and environmental results. SRI has grown in popularity despite being once regarded as a very unconventional method. 85% of individual investors, up from 75% in 2017, expressed interest in sustainable investment, according to a 2019 Morgan Stanley survey. Due to the rising popularity of this investment discipline, research on socially responsible investment (SRI) is gaining importance recently. Therefore, the current attempt is to identify the key topics and the contemporary SRI research dynamics by employing bibliometric analysis using VOS Viewer software. The present study identified the most significant journals, authors, countries, articles, and themes in the field of SRI by conducting a bibliometric analysis of around 297 articles from 1993 to 2023 extracted from the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science database.

The convergence   of   electronics   with   telecommunications   has   helped   open   the   door to novel possibilities for transmission of information, retention, and retrieval. However, it's not merely confined to the business sector, but it's increasingly utilized by the government sector. As a result of this transition, e-Governance has become an essential component of any nation. There is a noticeable digital divide problem in the nation. The digital gap has recently piqued the interest of academicians and policymakers due to its economic, social, as well as political implications. E-services increase the government's responsiveness, efficiency, and openness. Unfortunately, not everyone will be able to reap these benefits due to digital divide. So, there is a need to look into the possible impact of digital divide on e-governance using Structural Equation Modelling. Moreover, the study makes an attempt to look into the role played by Corporate Social Responsibility to bridge the gap.

In this study, regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the Indian capital market and important macroeconomic variables like the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Crude Oil (CO), Gold Price (GP), and Index of Industrial Production (IIP) of the Indian economy. The study's proxy for the Indian capital market was the BSE Sensex. Correlation matrix and Multivariate Regression Model derived using the Standard Ordinary Least Square (OLS) methods are used to determine the association. All tests are performed using monthly data, and the time frame under consideration is from 2018 to 2022. According to correlation analysis and derived regression coefficients, the price of crude oil significantly influences Indian stock prices in the positive direction.