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Publication Open Access Unlocking Gen Z engagement in phygital retailing: Evidence from a multi-mediated customer experience model(PloS one, 2026-08-06) Selvendran, M; Salman, S; Lakvidu, D; Dahanayaka, U; Wisenthige, K; Dayapathirana, NThis study investigates how phygital experience influences Gen Z customer loyalty in Sri Lanka's consumer electronics retail sector, addressing the limited evidence from emerging markets on hybrid retail approaches. The research emphasizes the growing relevance of integrating physical and digital touchpoints to create immersive consumer journeys and explores how such experiences foster loyalty among younger consumers. A quantitative research design was adopted using a structured 5-point Likert scale survey questionnaire was completed by 480 Gen Z customers of consumer electronics retailers in Sri Lanka. Data were analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine direct and indirect relationships between phygital experiences and loyalty. The study also evaluated a serial mediation mechanism to explain how immersive, technology-enabled environments and seamless physical-digital integration contributes to loyalty formation. Results demonstrate that phygital experiences significantly and positively influence customer loyalty. Gen Z consumers place high value on interactive, technology-driven retail environments that enhance satisfaction and strengthen their commitment to brands. The findings highlight the importance of co-creation, engagement, and perceived value in shaping loyalty, while underscoring the role of digital literacy in navigating hybrid retail contexts. The study provides actionable insights for retailers seeking to design effective phygital strategies that resonate with Gen Z consumers. It offers guidance for innovation and market expansion in emerging economies. However, the reliance on self-reported, cross-sectional data from a single sector and demographic limits generalizability. Future research should extend across industries, age cohorts, and cultural contexts, incorporating variables such as trust, emotions, and digital fatigue. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on phygital experiences by contextualizing the phenomenon in an emerging market setting. It advances theoretical understanding by empirically validating a mechanism linking phygital experience to loyalty and provides practical recommendations for retailers aiming to enhance customer journeys through hybrid strategies.Publication Embargo Economic Uncertainty as a Sustainability Risk: Cross-Income Directional Evidence From 135 Countries(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2026-06-15) Navamohan, P; Gamage, D; Hansika, S; Madurawala, R; Jayathilaka, R; Weerathunga, WThis paper examines the direction of causality and the relationship between economic uncertainty, suicide rates, unemployment, economic growth, and trade openness across different income levels. By situating these relationships within a sustainability framework, the study conceptualises economic uncertainty as a systemic risk affecting social stability, labour markets, and long-term development trajectories. The analysis investigates 135 countries from 2000 to 2022, employing Granger causality and Multiple Linear Regression, with robustness tests using varying lag lengths to assess the reliability of the results. The findings reveal that economic uncertainty acts as a cross-dimensional sustainability stressor influencing socioeconomic systems across income strata, confirming prior evidence while extending it through Granger-causal analysis. Our findings show that in low-income countries economic uncertainty and unemployment rates have a bidirectional relationship. In lower-middle-income countries, suicide rates and trade openness affect economic uncertainty, while in upper-middle-income countries, suicide rates, economic growth, and trade openness affect economic uncertainty. Our findings suggest that economic uncertainty can be mitigated through improvements in mental healthcare services, the promotion of free trade agreements, advancements in education and technology, and fostering economic diversification. Recommendations for policymakers tailored to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals are provided in this study to mitigate uncertainty risks on sustainability. These findings contribute to sustainability science by demonstrating how uncertainty functions as a structural constraint on inclusive and resilient development pathways.Publication Open Access Management and safe disposal of unwanted medicines in community pharmacies in Sri Lanka(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-07-10) Perera, C; Herath, RIntroduction – Pharmaceutical pollutants, such as antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), have been detected in Sri Lankan waterways. These contaminants may arise from multiple sources, including community pharmacy disposal practices. This raises concerns that improper disposal of unwanted medicines poses an increasing risk to the environment and public health. Community pharmacies—both chain and independent pharmacies—serve as the final point in the pharmaceutical supply chain at the community level and play a crucial role in managing the disposal of unwanted medicines. This study aimed to explore the current practices, factors influencing these practices, and strategies for improving the management and safe disposal of unwanted medicines in community pharmacies in Sri Lanka. Methods – A qualitative research design was adopted. Semi-structured interviews using the validated interview guide were conducted with the participants. The participants primarily comprised the community pharmacists representing both chain and independent pharmacies operating in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved. Using the thematic analysis, emerging reporting patterns within the data were identified. Results – The study identified four main themes: current disposal and waste management practices; factors influencing and limiting disposal practices; perceptions and attitudes toward disposal responsibility; and recommendations for improvement. Community pharmacies use various methods for medicine disposal and pharmaceutical waste management. Their practices are primarily influenced by the absence of proper medicine collection mechanisms, weak regulation, limited awareness, and inadequate disposal facilities. Pharmacists suggested implementing a well-structured medicine collection system, strengthening laws, and conducting awareness programs to minimize pharmaceutical waste. Discussion – Although a regulatory framework exists for pharmaceutical waste management, implementation and monitoring within community pharmacies, particularly independent pharmacies, remain limited. Furthermore, these pharmacies have fewer facilities to carry out safe drug disposal practices. Research revealed the need for improved infrastructure, tighter regulatory supervision, and increased awareness programs to address these challenges. Implementing a well-coordinated national medicine collection program and improving awareness of safe medicine disposal are important measures for protecting the environment and public health.Publication Embargo Socio-Economic and Environmental Drivers of Food Security in Low-Income Countries: A 32-Year Cross-National Analysis for Sustainable Development(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2026-04-06) Pulle, N; Sampath, P; Wijayaweera, D; Perera, S; Jayathilaka, R; Dabare, UEnsuring countries meet their basic food security needs has been a long-standing challenge. Despite numerous attempts to tackle this issue, it remains unresolved. Hence, considering the broad reach of this concern, our study aims to collectively analyse how urbanisation, greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy consumption, population growth, agricultural land, and gross domestic product per capita impact food security across countries. This study tests a stepwise panel-ordered probit model, utilising data from 17 low-income countries from 1992 to 2023. The research categorises the food production index into three categories: low, moderate, and high food security, allowing for the analysis of the likelihood of falling into a category of the food production index. The outcomes reveal that in low-income countries, urbanisation, greenhouse gas emissions, population growth, and agricultural land have a positive impact on the food production index, whereas renewable energy consumption has an insignificant negative impact. This analysis contributes distinctively to the existing body of knowledge by comparatively analysing the probabilities over the given period, together with the financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, thus providing insights into both events. Furthermore, this report highlights the effectiveness of policies implemented, focusing on the efficient use of agricultural land through technological advancements, promoting modern farming techniques, encouraging youth engagement in agriculture, managing population growth, and innovating climate-resilient strategies, which are directly aligned with the research findings. These recommendations address specific challenges identified in the highlighted countries, helping improve their food security and promote sustainable development.Publication Embargo Globalisation and CO 2 Emissions: Evidence From theWorld’s Largest Emitters(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2026-07-01) Ansar, A; Illiyas, O; Hussain, M; Hansani, C; Jayathilaka, R; Chandrasiri, RThe study examines the predictive relationship between political, economic, and social dimensions of globalisation and CO2 emissions across the world's largest emitting countries using a country-level VAR Granger causality framework. Political globalisation Granger-causes emissions in Australia and Japan, whereas emissions exhibit predictive precedence towards political globalisation in the United States. Economic globalisation demonstrates predictive bidirectional causal evidence with emissions in India and Malaysia, while social globalisation exhibits a predictive relationship with emissions in Canada, Japan, and Mexico. The findings highlight substantial heterogeneity in the predictive relationships between dimensions of globalisation and CO2 emissions across countries, reflecting differences in governance structures, industrial composition, and energy dependency patterns. Unlike panel-average estimation approaches, the country-level framework allows the identification of heterogeneous country-specific temporal dynamics across the major emitters. Nevertheless, the findings should be interpreted as a predictive relationship rather than definitive structural causation and may remain sensitive to omitted variables and long-run equilibrium dynamics which are not captured within the short-term VAR framework. The study contributes to additional country-specific evidence relevant to climate governance and sustainability-orientated policy discussions among major emitting economies.Publication Open Access Impact of Economic Globalisation on Agricultural Value-Added: The African Region Experience(Springer, 2026-01-27) Wisenthige, K; Jayathilaka, RGlobalisation has been a critical driver of economic growth in many nations. However, the agricultural sector has yet to realise its full potential in terms of agricultural value-added and the distribution of benefits to primary producers within value chains. Notably, the African region possesses a high potential for agricultural value-addition compared to other regions. This research examines the impact of economic globalisation on agricultural value-added within the African context. Using advanced statistical techniques, including panel data regression and multiple linear regression, the study assesses the influence of globalisation on agricultural value-added across 26 African countries from 2000 to 2021. The findings indicate that, while certain countries have benefitted significantly from economic globalisation, enhancing their agricultural value, the majority still require a greater focus on optimising agricultural value addition. Senegal exhibited the most pronounced impact on agricultural value addition, whereas Burkina Faso, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda showed negligible impacts. Policies aimed at optimising fertiliser inputs, advancing technology, developing the technical knowledge, skills, and attitudes of the agricultural labour force, facilitating foreign market access for raw materials, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices could help enhance value addition and support the overall economic development of the African region. This research contributes to the knowledge-based economy by providing empirical insights into the factors driving agricultural value-added, underscoring the role of knowledge creation, diffusion, and application in boosting agricultural productivity and economic growth in the African region.Publication Embargo Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Life Expectancy: A Global Perspective Across Income Levels(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2026-01-26) Kaluarachchi, S; Jayathilaka, RSocioeconomic factors influencing life expectancy are still underexplored across different income groups in global research. This study investigates the socioeconomic determinants of longevity across global income levels, drawing on World Bank data to analyze how various economic and social factors influence lifespan worldwide. A stepwise panel data regression analysis was conducted to examine the determinants. The findings indicate that increase per capita gross domestic product and health expenditure substantially enhance lifespan, whereas increase population size, death rate, and infant mortality rate adversely impact life expectancy globally. In low-income countries, increase per capita gross domestic product, population size, and death rate significantly shorten life expectancy. In lower-middle-income countries, growing population size and death rate progressively lower life expectancy. In upper-middle-income countries, higher per capita gross domestic product significantly boosts longevity, while increase carbon dioxide emissions, population size, death rate, and infant mortality rate substantially reduce life expectancy. In high-income countries, increase male education significantly raises lifespan, while increase population size and death rate reduce life expectancy. These findings can help policymakers, governments, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations, and the World Bank address key issues affecting life expectancy, promoting global health and sustainable economic growth.Publication Open Access Does financial literacy matter for firms? An empirical investigation on Sri Lankan SMEs(PloS one, 2026-07-21) Arachchi, G. K; Perera, I; Gamage, C; Wijesinghe, S; Wisenthige, K; Dayapathirana, NSmall and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are vital to economic growth and job creation, especially in developing countries. However, their potential is not fully utilized due to challenges related to limited financial inclusion, poor resource management, and underdeveloped capital markets. Though financial literacy is well-researched in personal finance, its role as a knowledge resource at the firm level and its impact on firm performance remain underexplored. This study investigates the influence of owner-managers' financial literacy on firm performance, focusing on the mediating roles of FinTech adoption and access to finance. By taking a sample of 264 SME owner-managers in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, this study found that financial literacy significantly enhances firm performance (β = 0.241, p < .01). The findings indicate that financial literacy supports sound financial decision-making and risk mitigation and is positively associated with both FinTech adoption (β = 0.542, p < .001) and access to finance (β = 0.533, p < .001). These results underscore the necessity of enhancing financial literacy and promoting FinTech adoption to fully realize the potential of SMEs within developing economies. The study contributes a concise yet impactful framework for enhancing the performance of SMEs through the strategic application of financial literacy. Based on the study's findings, it is recommended that enterprise owners and managers prioritize achieving an adequate level of financial literacy. Furthermore, governmental institutions should revise their financial literacy programs, reconsidering their design and implementation strategies to effectively engage key personnel within enterprises. Current programs appear underutilized due to deficiencies in depth and practical applicability of the knowledge given in them.Publication Embargo Digital gig workers vs. artificial intelligence – a battle of the wits(Emerald Publishing, 2026-04-18) Kelly, S. N; Wisenthige, K; Perera, LPurpose – This article investigates in depth Sri Lankan gig workers' varying attitudes towards AI amid a hyper-digital world and its role of reshaping work patterns in developing economies. By exploring platform work transformations, it provides critical insights to guide equitable social policy and labour protections. Design/methodology/approach – This article is a qualitative study which utilises a semi-structured interview series consisting of fourteen platform-based gig workers across diverse professions, employing purposive sampling method to collect data and NVivo to run the analysis. Institutional ethical approval was obtained and ensured participant informed consent, anonymity and voluntary withdrawal rights throughout the interviews. Findings – This study assesses divergent AI attitudes among Sri Lankan gig workers: optimism towards efficiency gains, ambivalence regarding ethical trade-offs and pessimism concerning skill erosion. Segmentation occurs primarily by occupational specialisation, revealing patterning: IT gig workers embracing pragmatic efficiency while creatives defend identity-based skillsets. Given AI's structural impacts, proactive social policies leveraging gig worker insights are suggested to promote multiple sustainable development goals in emerging digital economies. Originality/value – This exploratory study examines AI attitudes through the lenses of Sri Lanka gig workers, suggesting occupational divergence (IT pragmatism versus creative resistance) in the nation's digital gig economy. It offers contextual empirical insights from gig workers lived experiences in the Global South, extending global AI research beyond existing GenAI and algorithmic management studies, which predominantly focus on quantitative analysis or ride-hailing platforms.Publication Open Access The Role of Virtual and Human Influencer Characteristics in Shaping Gen Z Purchases on TikTok: Hybrid SEM-ANN Approach(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2026-05-09) Peemanee, J; Udomlarp, T; Weber, P; Weerarathna, RThis study examines how human (HI) and virtual influencers (VI) shape consumer responses among Thai Generation Z users (Gen Z) on TikTok. Drawing on Source Credibility Theory (SCT), Parasocial Interaction Theory (PSI), and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the study develops a comparative framework to explain how influencer characteristics affect attitude and purchase-related responses. Data were collected from 400 Generation Z TikTok users in Thailand and analyzed using Govariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM). The results indicate that both human and virtual influencer characteristics positively influence influencer attitude (IA), which in turn significantly affects purchase decision (PD). However, the total effect of human influencer characteristics on purchase decision is substantially stronger than that of virtual influencers. These findings suggest that while virtual influencers contribute to favorable evaluations through innovation and visual consistency, human influencers remain more effective in translating attitudes into purchase-related outcomes. This study provides comparative evidence from a non-Western context and integrates credibility, relational, and technology-based perspectives into an integrated analytical framework.