NEW TRENDS IN CONTEMPORARY ECONOMICS, BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Beyond e-government: reconsidering the GovTech paradigm in stimulating R&D and innovation in the context of the twin transition

The review suggests that GovTech is defined inconsistently and that links between GovTech instruments and business R&D and innovation outcomes remain insufficiently clarified, particularly when twin transition goals are treated as constraints rather than strategic drivers.

NEW TRENDS IN CONTEMPORARY ECONOMICS, BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Reforming State-Owned Enterprises in Developing Countries: A Conceptual Framework for Enhancing Performance and Economic Contribution

The study identifies key drivers of digital transformation, including leadership commitment, customer-centric innovation, and technological readiness, and proposes a conceptual framework to guide digital transformation in emerging markets.

NEW TRENDS IN CONTEMPORARY ECONOMICS, BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

From Bytes to Businesses: The Role of Digital Technologies in Fostering Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Asia

Digital tools are changing how entrepreneurs across Asia start, scale, and sustain their ventures. Drawing together recent work on digital transformation, financial technology (fintech), and sustainable entrepreneurship, this conceptual paper asks how information technology (IT) adoption helps small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups pursue economic, environmental, and social goals at once. Building on studies of entrepreneurial orientation, organizational resilience, and green finance, it proposes an integrated framework — tested through eight hypotheses (H1–H8) — in which digital adoption operates as a mediated, moderated pathway to sustainable performance rather than a direct cause of it. The review indicates that IT adoption expands market reach, financial inclusion, and resource efficiency, yet its sustainability payoff hinges on entrepreneurial competencies, infrastructure maturity, and policy support that differ sharply across the region. The paper closes with a proposed empirical design, literature-grounded expectations for each hypothesis, and implications for researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers.  

Circular Economy 2.0: A Study on the Financial Viability of the "Product-as-a-Service" (PaaS) Model in Emerging Markets, with Special Reference to India

The shift from traditional linear economic systems to circular economic frameworks has created a need for new business models that combine economic sustainability with resource efficiency. Circular Economy 2.0 has emerged, supported by digital technologies and service platforms. This has led to increased adoption of Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) models. In these models, the provider retains ownership of the product while users access it through service-based agreements. This study examines the financial viability of the PaaS model in emerging markets, with a focus on India. The primary goal of this study is to investigate whether PaaS can be a financially sustainable business model that supports circular economy principles. A descriptive and analytical research design is used, utilizing secondary data from industry reports, policy documents, corporate publications, and academic literature, covering the period from 2022 to 2025. This period has seen rapid growth in digital platforms and service-based economic models in India. The study focuses on two sectoral applications: E-mobility through Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) and Agricultural Machinery Services, including tractors and agricultural drones. These sectors were chosen for their high capital costs and rising demand for shared or service-based asset use. The findings suggest that PaaS models can enhance asset management, lower entry costs for users, and provide service providers with a steady income over time. However, financial sustainability remains affected by high initial capital investment, operational costs, and infrastructure requirements. The study concludes that with effective policy measures, digital infrastructure, and capital systems, sector-specific PaaS models can become a viable path for implementing Circular Economy 2.0 in emerging markets like India.