This study assesses the simultaneous influence of hard and soft infrastructural indicators on exports in 46 Asian states from 2001 to 2017 with panel data. We constructed two main aggregate indicators such as hard infrastructure and soft infrastructure with fifteen primary or subgroup variables. The infrastructural aggregate indicator contains four groups: transportation, communication, and financial infrastructural and border-transport efficiency. These indicators are taken into account in estimating the influence on export levels and probability between bilateral Asian trading partners by using factor analysis, the augmented gravity model and the twostage sample selection model. Findings show that simultaneous improvement in hard infrastructure such as transport and telecommunication improved bilateral exports. Similarly, simultaneous improvement in soft infrastructure like financial infrastructure and border-transport efficiency increased bilateral exports in Asian countries. For both export and import, the coefficients of infrastructural indicators have a positive impact and are statistical significant at each econometric scale. Improving financial infrastructure is important in achieving a higher level of trade volume and increasing the probability of exporting between partners. We also examine the evidence on the complementarity or substitutability between hard and soft infrastructure as captured by indicators which shows us that main aggregate indicators have a lower impact on exports. Contribution/ Originality: This study is one of very few studies to investigate the influence of hard and soft infrastructural indicators on exports in sense of indicator substitutability or complementarity in different dimensions such as transportation, communication, and finance and border-transport efficiency. Improving soft infrastructure is complementary to establishing hard infrastructure between bilateral trading partners.

Purpose: This research explores the causal linkage between TQM and financial performance or non-financial performance within the higher education sector of Pakistan. In this regard, the link between each element of total quality management, including tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy, was explored and empirically analyzed concerning financial and non-financial performance. Methodology: The regression and correlation statistical measures, using SPSS version 20.0, were used to study the linkage of TQM with financial and non-financial performance. The study utilized a quantitative research approach for data collection purposes, and data was gathered from 220 employees of well-established higher educational institutes of Islamabad and Rawalpindi with the help of a directly administered survey approach. Results: The results support the causal linkage between TQM and financial or non-financial performance. The findings indicate that TQM has a significant positive link with the financial and non-financial performance of service organizations within the higher education sector of Pakistan. Applications of this study: The higher education industry is the backbone of every nation, especially the developing countries. The higher education sector of developing countries, such as Pakistan, has been facing issues of quality, and hence the implementation of TQM practices can have a considerable effect on its improvement. This study provides valued insights for higher education practitioners to revise policies for the positive growth and development of this sector. The Novelty of this study: The contribution of this research is the investigation of TQM practices on financial and non-financial performance of higher educational institutes of a developing nation, i.e. Pakistan, where it is relatively a new concept. It was found that TQM practices have a significant impact on financial and non-financial performance.

No abstract

No abstract