Fraud is one of the most harmful phenomena, because it leads to collapse of organizations, causes economic downfall of countries, and destroys faith in a country’s capital markets. The impact of fraud is complex and has varying degrees depending on political and financial institutional structures of a country. In this paper, we investigate the combined effect of economic and non-economic variables on fraud using a sample of 41 developed, in transition, and developing European countries. The data cover the period July 2014–December 2020. Panel data techniques of pooled estimation and the dynamic panel data/generalized method of moments (DPD/GMM) is used, keeping in view the endogeneity perspective. Nevertheless, two-way impacts of fixed effect model estimation—cross-sectional and time-based (panel) effects (alternatively)—are used for analyzing the relationship among the given variables, based on Hausman specification test results. Empirical results of panel data extended REM and FEM approaches with country-specific cross-sectional effects showing that political stability, economic freedom, poverty, and GDP significantly affect fraud proliferation. Political stability is appraised to be the most scoring determinant of fraud incidence in a country.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that are contributing to the remarkable growth of the m-commerce sector. The article examines eight variables, including socioeconomic (Internet access, mobile users, mobile Internet penetration rates, card payment transactions, consumer confidence, Internet use: selling goods or services) and macroeconomic (GDP and wage), that are considered to influence global m-commerce growth. The Generalized Method of Moments (DPD/GMM) was used to analyze a panel of data that covers the years 2011 through 2020, on a sample of 42 developed and developing countries. The empirical findings show that wages, GDP, consumer confidence index, card payment transactions, mobile users, Internet access and Internet use (selling goods and services) have a positive impact on m-commerce, whereas the mobile Internet penetration rate has a negative impact. Using a sizable and representative panel data set on socioeconomic and macroeconomic indicators, this research advances the state of the art in customer comprehension of these topics. The study’s novel contribution is the incorporation of under-researched m-commerce drivers into empirical analysis. Detailed policy recommendations are provided, with an emphasis on practical, implementable measures to enhance the m-commerce industry.