Law and Economy

Financial Literacy Moderation of Fintech and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Financial Performance in Cameroon’s Mfoundi Division

Ayuk Takemeyang — 2025-12-15

This study investigates the moderating effect of financial literacy on the relationship between fintech adoption and financial performance of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Cameroon’s Mfoundi Division. Using a quantitative research approach, data was collected from 300 respondents through a questionnaire, selected via purposive sampling. The analysis revealed a positive moderation effect of financial literacy on the relationship between fintech adoption and SME financial performance, with a coefficient of 0.122, t-statistic of 2.075, and p-value of 0.038. The findings suggest that SMEs with higher financial literacy levels can leverage fintech adoption to improve their financial performance. These results align with the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Theory of Financial Innovation. The higher the financial literacy of SME owners, the more effectively they utilize fintech to enhance financial performance. The study’s insights have implications for SMEs, policymakers, and fintech providers, highlighting the importance of financial literacy in enhancing the benefits of fintech adoption. The results contribute to the growing body of literature on fintech and SME performance, with a focus on the critical role of financial literacy in moderating this relationship.

International Risk Early-Warning System Construction and Application for International Pharmaceutical and Chemical Trade: An Empirical Analysis Based on Multi-Source Data Fusion and LSTM-PSO Algorithm

Die Wang — 2025-12-26

International pharmaceutical and chemical cross-border trade is characterized by high compliance requirements, significant market volatility, and long supply chain links. Small and medium-sized foreign trade enterprises (SMEs) generally face the pain points of unpredictable compliance risks, lagging market responses, and insufficient supply chain early warnings. To address these issues, this study focuses on four core risks: compliance, market, supply chain, and credit. A four-dimensional risk assessment framework comprising 23 indicators is constructed. By integrating multi-source data from policies, markets, and enterprises, and optimizing the key parameters of the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, an intelligent risk early-warning system based on the LSTM-PSO algorithm is established. An empirical analysis is conducted using the cross-border trade data of Wuhan Kuda Hui Trading Co., Ltd. from 2019 to 2024. The results show that the model achieves a high-risk event early warning accuracy rate of 92.3%, and the lead time for logistics delay risk early warning is extended to 168 hours. After the system is implemented, the incidence of high-risk events in the enterprise decreases from 15.6% to 4.8% (Benamor, W. D., 2022), and in 2024, a loss of 2.16 million yuan is avoided. Moreover, the relevant solutions have been promoted to 12 enterprises in the industry, with an average reduction in risk losses of 37.2%. The study confirms that the LSTM-PSO risk early-warning system can effectively enhance the risk prevention and control capabilities of SMEs in the pharmaceutical and chemical foreign trade sector and has significant practical application and industry promotion value.

Closing the Protection Gap: A Critical Appraisal of the Legal Framework Governing Humanitarian Relief Personnel in Non-International Armed Conflicts

Dr. Kwebe Augustine Nkwiyir — 2025-12-26

Humanitarian relief personnel operating in non-international armed conﬂicts face heightened risks due to the fragmented and limited scope of existing legal protections. This study critically examines the adequacy of the international legal framework governing the protection of these personnel, with a focus on identifying gaps and assessing the effectiveness of applicable norms. Anchored in legal positivist theory and supplemented by the protection gap framework, the study adopts a doctrinal legal research methodology, analyzing treaties, customary international humanitarian law, and domestic legislation. The findings reveal that protection for humanitarian relief personnel is largely indirect and fragmented, arising from the limited applicability of treaty law, inconsistencies in customary law, and weak domestic enforcement mechanisms. These gaps expose humanitarian personnel to significant risks and perpetuate impunity for violations committed against them. The study concludes that closing the protection gap requires clearer normative standards, stronger domestic incorporation of international obligations, and more effective accountability mechanisms. By applying a theory-driven lens, this research not only evaluates the current legal framework but also contributes to scholarly and policy debates on enhancing the protection of humanitarian actors in contemporary armed conﬂicts.

Prospects and Challenges of the Protection and Enforcement of Registered and Unregistered Trademark Rights Within the OAPI Sub-Region

Ebai Arrey Vanessa — 2026-01-05

This study critically examines the prospects and challenges of protecting and enforcing registered and unregistered trademark rights within the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI) sub-region. Anchored in institutional theory and the economic incentive theory of trademarks, the research explores how legal harmonization through centralized registration interacts with decentralized national enforcement mechanisms to shape practical outcomes. Drawing on doctrinal analysis of the Bangui Agreement, national laws, and international treaties including TRIPS and the Paris Convention, the study assesses the effectiveness of civil, criminal, administrative, and border enforcement mechanisms. Findings reveal that while the OAPI framework provides strong legal protection for registered trademarks, enforcement effectiveness is uneven due to institutional weaknesses, procedural delays, limited judicial expertise, and inadequate protection for unregistered marks, particularly affecting informal and small-scale businesses. The study identifies systemic challenges including fragmented enforcement, high litigation costs, and low stakeholder awareness, which undermine the broader objectives of trademark law. Based on these findings, the research proposes context-specific recommendations to strengthen institutional capacity, harmonize enforcement procedures, expand protection for unregistered trademarks, and enhance awareness among stakeholders. The study contributes to knowledge by offering a nuanced analysis of OAPI’s hybrid intellectual property regime, highlighting enforcement gaps, and providing practical insights for policy reform, judicial practice, and regional cooperation, thereby advancing understanding of trademark protection and economic development in African regional IP systems.