The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence financial leverage of small business firms in India. This study also seeks to extend the findings of Michaelas et al. (1999). Small business owners from Punjab area of India were surveyed in order to gather information. Subjects were asked about their perceptions, beliefs, and feelings regarding the factors that influence financial leverage of their firms. This study utilized survey research (a non-experimental field study design). The findings of this paper show that small business growth, small business performance, total assets, sales, tax, and family have positive influence on the financial leverage of small business firms in India. This study contributes to the literature on the factors that influence financial leverage of small business firms. The findings may be useful for the financial managers, investors, and financial management consultants.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between transformational leadership (TL) and employee desire for empowerment (EDFE). This study also aims to extend Gill and Mathur's findings regarding improving employee dedication and pro-social behavior. Design/methodology/approach -Hospitality industry employees from Canada and India were surveyed to test the relationship between TL and EDFE in countries that differ substantially in their levels of cultural power distance. Findings -Results suggest that the improvement in the degree of EDFE is positively related to the improvement in the degree of perceived TL implementation in the hospitality industry in both countries. However, substantial differences in relative impact were observed between restaurant (high in both countries) and hotel/motel workers (low in Canada, high in India). In addition to cultural power distance, levels of TL and EDFE were significantly lower in India than in Canada, and levels of TL were significantly lower among restaurant workers than among hotel/motel workers. Practical implications -Managers who exhibit TL behaviors are more likely to heighten their employees' desire to be empowered, regardless of cultural context. Originality/value -The findings help to explain failures in organizational efforts to empower workers by demonstrating the critical role of TL behaviors in heightening EDFE.

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Apiculture is a way of life and management of caring of bees in a scientific way. Beekeepers should not only think that the only product in beekeeping is honey whereas products like pollen, propolis, wax, royal jelly and venom, the queen, the beehives and the apicultural materials are other products that constitute it. To improve the fabrication and productivity of beekeeping, it is important to adopt improved beekeeping technologies. In this present study, separate open pre-structured questionnaire survey for both beekeepers and non-beekeepers were used. To assess the socio demographic characteristics, types of hives, average production per hive, colonization rate, hive baiting, inspection, cleaning and protection, and constraints faced in beekeeping, location and form in which hive products are marketed, factors affecting adoption of the beekeeping, beekeeping equipment availability in different sources, and major pests and predator. It was observed that majority of the beekeepers lacked of working with capital. So, they do not produce the best quality honey product, either they sell it directly or in comb form. Due to the attack of pest, predator and diseases, and other internal and external constraints, the productivity of hives is not significant compared to their potential in the study region.

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