Volume 6 Issue 10 2025

This study aims to analyze the role of blockchain management and green marketing in improving the sustainability of MSMEs in the ASEAN region by positioning green brand image and consumer trust as mediating variables. The method used is mixed methods with a convergent parallel design strategy. The quantitative approach was carried out through a survey of 350 MSME actors in five ASEAN countries, while the qualitative approach was carried out through in-depth interviews with MSME owners/managers, business practitioners, and FGDs with MSME groups. The quantitative analysis uses Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS) to test causal relationships between variables, while the qualitative analysis uses thematic analysis to explore the experiences, contexts, and real challenges of MSMEs in adopting blockchain and green marketing strategies. The results of the study indicate that blockchain management and green marketing have a positive effect on the sustainability of MSMEs. Furthermore, green brand image is shown to mediate the effect of blockchain management on sustainability, while consumer trust mediates the relationship between green marketing and sustainability. The integration of quantitative and qualitative results confirms that blockchain use strengthens supply chain transparency, enhances green brand reputation, and drives consumer loyalty. These findings are consistent with previous research emphasizing the importance of digitalization and environmental orientation in the development of sustainable MSMEs. This research provides theoretical contributions to the development of blockchain management and green marketing literature, as well as practical implications for MSMEs, regulators, and policymakers in formulating digital transformation and sustainability strategies in the ASEAN region.

This study evaluates the seasonal dynamics of limnological and ecotoxicological parameters in three urban lakes—Ullal, Herohalli, and Lingadheeranahalli—located in Bangalore North. The research spanned over a year (2022-2023) and involved monitoring physical, chemical, and biological parameters across the lakes to assess water quality, pollution levels, and ecological impacts. Water samples were analyzed following standard protocols (APHA 2017), and zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were used to gauge the ecotoxicological effects. The results highlighted significant seasonal fluctuations in physico-chemical parameters. The lakes showed high organic pollution, particularly during monsoons, indicating poor water quality. Overall, Ullal Lake showed better water quality than Herohalli and Lingadheeranahalli. Ecotoxicological assessments showed reduced heart rates in zebrafish embryos exposed to lake water, suggesting ecological stress. The research emphasizes the need for strict pollution regulation and sustainable water management strategies to protect urban lakes.

This study aims to analyze the impact of remittance ideology and capital on local economic independence, with the empowerment of remittance-receiving MSMEs as a mediating variable in the context of Indonesia and Nigeria. This study is motivated by the phenomenon of increasing global remittance flows, which not only serve as a source of household income but also as a means of social and economic development at the local level. However, the contribution of remittances to economic independence still depends on the ideology, social values, and productive capacity of the recipients. This research employed a mixed-methods sequential exploratory approach. The first stage involved in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) to explore perceptions, meanings, and practices of productive remittance use. The results of this exploration were used to formulate variable categories and indicators, which were then quantitatively tested using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) on 400 respondents (200 in Indonesia and 200 in Nigeria). The results of the study indicate that remittance ideology and remittance capital have a positive and significant influence on MSME empowerment and local economic independence. MSME empowerment acts as a key mediating variable, transforming remittances from a consumptive to a productive function. Furthermore, there are contextual differences between Indonesia and Nigeria, particularly in cultural aspects, gender roles, and local financial access. In Indonesia, religious and community values are the primary drivers of productive remittance behavior, while in Nigeria, social solidarity and migrant networks are more dominant. This research confirms that remittances are not only financial but also ideological and social, thus remittance-based development needs to be directed at strengthening the capacity of MSMEs and sustainable local economic ecosystems. These findings provide theoretical contributions to the migration and development literature and offer policy implications for remittance-receiving countries in strengthening their people-centered economies.