The gig economy represents a relatively contemporary phenomenon that remains insufficiently examined or documented in academic literature. The term "gig economy" pertains to labour markets characterised by short-term, intermittent, on-demand, and predominantly task-oriented employment arrangements. Due to its non-traditional nature, part-time employment typically lacks the comprehensive benefits and safeguards associated with full-time employment. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the gig economy market, we utilise the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique. This approach allows us to specifically examine the factors that significantly contribute to the low insurance penetration among the gig economy workforce. In order to achieve our objective, we have gathered data from a total of 374 participants. Our research indicates that gig workers are facing a significant lack of coverage, and they express a willingness to enrol in a flexible and customised takaful product.

This study examines the impact of financial development on bank risk-taking, measured as bank capitalization and bank income diversification. We observe the relationship using annual bank-level data from countries with dual-banking systems. The dataset spans from 2000 to 2014. Our results suggest that the impact of financial development on bank capitalization is heterogeneous across Islamic and conventional commercial banks. Moreover, the effect is different across listed and unlisted banks. However, on average, the response of income diversification to financial development is similar across most specifications. Additionally, bank risk is found to be countercyclical, suggesting that bank risk increases in good times. On average, these results (countercyclical evidence) hold across bank types (Islamic and conventional) and ownership structure (listed and unlisted). However, these results are contingent on the size (small vs. large) factor. The results are robust to alternative proxies of financial development.

We examine the impact of competition and portfolio diversification on banking stability for conventional and Islamic banks in Indonesia. We find that the Islamic banking sector is less stable, when compared to the conventional banking sector. Competition in the banking sector reduces stability, while diversification enhances it. We find that competition negatively impacts the Islamic banks, but diversification has no impact on these banks. An interesting finding is that competition and diversification complement each other in enhancing the stability of the Indonesian banking sector. These findings carry an important policy implication for the banking sector of Indonesia.

The gig economy is a relatively new trend that has not yet been researched or documented significantly. The term "gig economy" refers to labor markets that offer contract-based, temporary, on-demand work and focus primarily on completing specific tasks. This research attempts to conduct a literature review on the risks that gig workers experience and the variables contributing to their lack of protection. In addition, the paper presents an idea for a model of takaful that would apply to gig workers. In addition, the study details the policy implications for the various stakeholders.

This paper investigates the impact of non-intermediation activities of banks on economic growth and volatility of OIC. For the purpose, we utilize LSDVC estimation approach using the sample of Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) member countries for the period of 2001-2013. We find non-intermediation income to be insignificant for both economic growth and volatility of OIC member countries in general though it reduces volatility of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies. Intermediation activities are found to be insignificantly related with the growth of OIC member countries, but on the other hand, they are found to reduce volatility in OIC member countries. Our results are robust across different specifications and estimators.

The primary goal of this paper is to explore the viability of initiating Islamic finance (IF) in an unchartered economy. Canada is taken as a case study for this paper. To achieve our objective, we proceed in two stages. The first stage involves the analysis of market opportunities for IF. More precisely, the first stage involves the cost/benefit analysis which would enable the IF industry to see whether it is feasible for them to initiate. Second, the more challenging stage involves the analysis with regard to the barriers in offering IF products.

The slides highlight: 1) the needs of Islamic finance; 2) sources of Shariah; 3) prohibition in Islamic finance.

Benchmarks serve multiple purposes in financial markets and hence play a critical role. They serve as a reference point for pricing instruments, reflect the opportunity cost and also serve as a reference rate for the relative performance of a portfolio. Hence, a benchmark that is transparent, liquid, easy to calculate and non-manipulative is considered critical for the efficiency of financial markets. In this paper, we suggest a model proposed, by Mirakhor (1996) which can well serve the purpose of a potential benchmark for pricing. We also show the feasibility of the model in contemporary financial system. The main motivations behind the paper are, a) to move away from any fixed rate of return, b) to present a benchmark that reflects the return based on real sector of an economy as far as possible and, c) to present a non-manipulative benchmark.

Islamic finance refers to a financial system that operates in accordance with Islamic laws (Shari'ah). It started off initially with a modest objective to meet the demands for Islamic financial services in Muslim majority countries. It has grown multifold, fostering trade and business activities as well as promoting development of credit. This introductory chapter serves as a preliminary backdrop on the general overview of Islamic finance and its progressive development; a lead up to the chapters that follow. The historical context of Islamic finance is first presented and followed by the principles of Islamic finance, a synopsis of issues and challenges faced by the industry...

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in their Recommendation on Principles and Good Practices for Financial Education, argues that, in the contemporary world, financial literacy is related with standard of living and that, in the deficiency of financial knowledge, individuals and households are more exposed to indebtedness and bankruptcy (OECD, 2005). The World Savings Bank Institute (WSBI) in support for children's financial education stated that, "not only to support their habit building, but also because children are key actors of change for their families" (2009). Despite of its importance, financial literacy still remains poorly explained and imperfectly measured (Holzmann, 2010). Professionals and scholars have contended with competing theoretical frameworks for research on financial education. Moreover, comprehensive strategies for instructing children to be effective managers of money and successful participants of a complex financial marketplace have not yet emerged (McCormick, 2009).

In the wake of increasing competition and financial deregulation, the traditional intermediation activities have been declining as proportion of total banking activities. Banks are left with no choice but to be more creative to survive in the market place. Therefore, banks have been attempting to offset this decline in profits with income generated from non-traditional / non-intermediation activities. After the recent global crisis, both Islamic and conventional banks in OIC countries have also shifted their business focus. This invites a thorough investigation into the impact of non-intermediation activities on bank performance as well as on the economic growth and volatility. In the first part of this study, we examine the impact of non-intermediation activities on the performance of banks ...

This chapter examines the economic impact of the migrants' return to Kerala, India during the Gulf oil crisis 2014-2016. Many migrants returned to their homeland during the crisis because they could not find work in the Middle East. The Kerala economy confronted this as one of the biggest threats which directly affected the economy. Almost USD 900 million had been brought to the homeland as remittance from Non-Residential Keralites (NRKs) working in Gulf countries. But the return of a large number of NRKs decreased the remittances to 10-15%. This chapter proposes Social Impact Sukuk to support the migrants who are back to their homelands from GCC countries. Data and information are collected from primary and secondary sources. This study provides policy implications for Kerala state government to examine the impact of returning NRKs issue and a feasible solution for their immediate rehabilitation.