PEARL

The Influence of Financial Literacy, Income, and Financial Attitude on Financial Planning

2025-10-25T02:35:10+00:00

The phenomenon of consumerism among the younger generation is a serious concern. This increases financial vulnerability, particularly among Budi Luhur University students who are transitioning to independence. This study aims to analyze the influence of financial literacy, income, and financial attitudes on determining financial planning at Budi Luhur University students. This study used a quantitative approach with primary data collected through a Google Form questionnaire from 100 student respondents selected using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression using SPSS version 25. The results of the study showed that simultaneously, financial literacy, income, and financial attitudes significantly influenced financial planning, with a value of 0.000 < 0.05. This result indicates that these three factors play a significant role in shaping financial planning behavior. Partially, financial literacy (0.000<0.05) and financial attitude (0.003<0.05) showed a significant influence on financial planning, but the income variable (0.438>0.05) did not have a significant influence. Partially, students' financial planning is highly dependent on the level of knowledge (literacy) and psychological factors (attitude) towards money management, indicating that technical and mental abilities are more dominant than the amount of funds owned. Universities are advised to design campus-based financial education and literacy programs that not only enhance technical knowledge, but also actively shape disciplined and rational financial attitudes as the main foundation for effective and sustainable financial planning for students.

Leadership Styles and Employee Performance: Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction in Addis Ababa Commission

2026-03-03T07:25:01+00:00

This study investigates the effects of leadership styles on employee performance with the mediating role of job satisfaction at the Addis Ababa Planning and Development Commission (AAPDC). Although the Full Range Leadership Theory has been widely applied to examine transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership, prior empirical findings remain inconclusive regarding how job satisfaction mediates the leadership–performance relationship, particularly in public-sector institutions within developing countries. Furthermore, limited evidence exists from the Ethiopian administrative context, creating a contextual and empirical gap in the literature. This study addresses that gap by simultaneously examining direct and indirect relationships among leadership styles, job satisfaction, and employee performance. A quantitative explanatory research design was employed using stratified random sampling. From a population of 403 permanent employees, 200 were selected, and 184 valid responses were analyzed, resulting in a 92% response rate. Data were collected through structured questionnaires adapted from the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), and validated employee performance scales. Reliability analysis confirmed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.70). Descriptive findings reveal that laissez-faire leadership is the most frequently practiced style, followed by transactional and transformational leadership. Employee performance was reported at a moderate-to-high level, while job satisfaction varied across dimensions, particularly in compensation and recognition. Multiple regression analysis indicates that leadership styles significantly influence employee performance, and job satisfaction partially mediates this relationship. The findings contribute context-specific evidence from Ethiopia’s public sector and emphasize the importance of leadership alignment with employee motivational mechanisms to enhance organizational effectiveness.

The Influence of Product Quality, Social Media, Product Innovation, and Consumer Trust on Purchase Decision

2026-03-03T07:22:54+00:00

The rapid growth of the coffee shop industry has intensified market competition, requiring a more comprehensive understanding of the determinants of consumers’ purchase decisions. Although previous studies have examined product quality, social media marketing, product innovation, and consumer trust independently, limited empirical research has integrated these variables within a single analytical model to identify their relative influence and dominant effect in the context of lifestyle-based cafés. This study addresses this gap by simultaneously analyzing the effects of product quality, social media, product innovation, and consumer trust on purchase decisions at Cafe Dom Social Hub. A quantitative survey method was employed, involving 110 customers selected using the Hair et al. sampling formula. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS, including validity and reliability testing, classical assumption tests, multiple linear regression analysis, coefficient of determination analysis, and hypothesis testing through t-tests and F-tests. The results indicate that product quality, social media, product innovation, and consumer trust each have a positive and significant effect on purchase decisions. Consumer trust demonstrates the most dominant influence among the predictors. Simultaneously, the four independent variables collectively explain a substantial proportion of variance in purchase decisions (Adjusted R² = 0.569), indicating that 56.9% of the variability in consumer purchase decisions is accounted for by the proposed model. The findings confirm that consumer purchasing behavior in competitive coffee shop markets is shaped by an integrated interaction of product excellence, digital engagement, innovation capability, and relational trust. This study provides theoretical contributions by offering an integrated empirical model and practical implications for managers in designing effective and sustainable marketing strategies.

The Influence of Managerial Ownership, Capital Intensity, Sales Growth, and Profitability on Tax Avoidance

2026-03-03T07:12:55+00:00

This study examines the influence of managerial ownership, capital intensity, sales growth, and profitability on tax avoidance among primary consumer goods sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during 2021–2024. Although prior research has explored the determinants of tax avoidance, empirical findings remain inconsistent, particularly regarding the role of internal ownership structures and firm performance in emerging markets. Furthermore, limited recent evidence focuses specifically on the primary consumer goods sector in Indonesia following post-pandemic economic adjustments and regulatory developments. This study addresses these gaps by providing updated sector-specific evidence. Tax avoidance is proxied by the Cash Effective Tax Rate (CETR), reflecting actual tax payments relative to pre-tax income. Managerial ownership is measured by the proportion of shares held by management, capital intensity by the ratio of fixed assets to total assets, sales growth by annual revenue growth, and profitability by Net Profit Margin (NPM). Employing a quantitative explanatory approach, the study analyzes 80 firm-year observations using multiple linear regression to assess both partial and simultaneous effects. The findings indicate that managerial ownership has a significant positive effect on tax avoidance, suggesting that higher managerial shareholding may incentivize tax minimization strategies. Capital intensity does not significantly affect tax avoidance. In contrast, sales growth and profitability show significant negative effects, implying that financially stronger firms tend to exhibit higher tax compliance. Simultaneously, all independent variables significantly influence tax avoidance. These results contribute to the corporate governance and taxation literature by clarifying inconsistent prior findings and offering contemporary empirical evidence from an emerging market context.

The Influence of After-Sales Service, Brand Trust, Social Media, and Sustainable Innovation on Purchase Decisions

2026-03-03T07:19:06+00:00

This study examines the influence of after-sales service, brand trust, social media, and sustainable innovation on the purchase decisions of Samsung smartphones in Tangerang. The research addresses the increasingly competitive smartphone market, where consumers evaluate not only technical specifications but also service quality, psychological assurance, digital engagement, and innovation consistency before making purchasing decisions. Although prior studies have explored these variables independently, empirical evidence remains fragmented regarding their simultaneous effects and relative dominance within a unified structural model, particularly in urban Indonesian contexts. A quantitative approach with a causal survey design was employed. Data were collected from 250 Samsung smartphone users in Tangerang using purposive sampling. The instrument applied a six-point Likert scale to reduce neutral bias and increase response discrimination. Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess both measurement and structural models. The findings reveal that after-sales service (β = 0.243; p = 0.006), brand trust (β = 0.442; p < 0.001), social media (β = 0.179; p = 0.045), and sustainable innovation (β = 0.152; p = 0.001) each exert positive and statistically significant effects on purchase decisions. Brand trust demonstrates the strongest influence, underscoring the importance of perceived reliability in high-involvement technology purchases. The model explains 66.9% of the variance in purchase decisions (R² = 0.669), indicating substantial explanatory power. Overall, purchase decisions are primarily driven by brand trust, followed by after-sales service, social media engagement, and sustainable innovation, offering strategic insights for strengthening competitive positioning in urban technology markets.