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This study aims to offer a new area of discourse by investigating the factors determining the usage of the Islamic non-bank financing product ar-rahnu (Islamic pawnbroking) among women micro-entrepreneurs in Malaysia within the framework of the informal credit market theory.

The study is based on primary data obtained by using self-administered questionnaires distributed in three states in Malaysia: Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. The questionnaires were distributed to a total of 750 participants, with each state contributing 250 respondents. Total number of respondents valid for data analysis was however 600.

Based on descriptive and inferential statistics by using the IBM statistical package for the social sciences and structural equation modelling analysis of moment structures, the results show that the main factor influencing women micro-entrepreneurs to use ar-rahnu is the service charge.

This study only covers three states in Malaysia and is limited to examining the use of ar-rahnu by women micro-entrepreneurs in those states.

As micro-entrepreneur s often face constraints to obtaining financial access in the formal credit market, ar-rahnu provides an alternative mode of obtaining business financing to female micro-entrepreneurs, so they can sustain their operations and even expand their businesses. The significance of such factors like service fee, as revealed in this study, indicates that managers should focus on this element when offering Islamic financial products, especially to women micro-entrepreneurs.

The informal credit market theory is frequently used in conventional studies. This paper adds Sharīʿah compliance in the context of this theory as a new area to be considered when discussing Islamic financial products.

Financial illiteracy could pose a significant challenge to micro-entrepreneurs. There is a pressing need to foster financial literacy;, therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine particularly how Islamic financial literacy may enhance their businesses toward achieving financial sustainability.

This study uses quantitative methods. Three hundred (300) questionnaires were distributed to micro-entrepreneurs in three states in Malaysia, namely, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. This study used the partial least squares (PLS) analysis using the SmartPLS 3.2.

The study found that the most robust Islamic financial literacy factors are financial behavior, followed by financial knowledge and financial attitude .The outcome of Islamic financial literacy, which is financial sustainability, also demonstrates a positive and significant relationship.

All variables show a positive and significant relationship toward financial sustainability. Stated differently, micro-entrepreneurs are aware that understanding the basic concepts of Islamic finance may help them achieve long-term financial sustainability

This study incorporates Islamic financial concepts into financial literacy while also assessing demographic aspects like years of business operation and education as moderators, which were not considered by previous studies.

The development of financial technology (fintech), especially digital payments (e-payments), aims to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of economic transactions. This study aims to see the extent to which microentrepreneurs in Indonesia and Malaysia take advantage of the existence of e-payments in developing their business and the factors that influence the adoption of e-payments.

This study uses qualitative and quantitative approach. For quantitative approach, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM 4.0) was used to analyze the data. Using the nonprobability convenient sampling technique, this study collected 400 respondents from microenterprises in Indonesia and Malaysia in various regions.

Most of the microentrepreneurs in Indonesia and Malaysia have used fintech platforms, especially e-wallet and ATM debit. However, for quick response code-based fintech for business transactions, most microentrepreneurs have not taken advantage of the platform. Then the results of the digital payment adoption factor also differ for each country.

This study is valuable for decision-makers and regulators. These results can be used to find a roadmap for regulators to build a digital economy, especially digital payments for microenterprises in both countries. In addition, these results can be used as a basis for making policies regarding digital payments.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to compare e-payment adoption by microentrepreneurs in Indonesia and Malaysia. Indonesia and Malaysia are two countries in the Southeast Asia region that have great attention in fintech development. This study provides new insights about fintech, especially digital payments as a strategic approach in the digitalization era.

The continuous and rapid growth of remittances has become one of the sources of income for millions of poor families in developing countries. As such, an increase of remittance flow can have a significant impact on the ability of the household not only to get enough food but also to get nutritious foods. Therefore, this study investigates the implication of remittances on food security (FS) in 51 developing countries from 2011–2016.

A dynamic panel estimator is applied to examine remittances and FS nexus.

By using the dynamic panel estimator, the results indicate that the level of food supply tends to be higher in countries with a higher flow of remittances. This study justifies the need for high income as well as high middle-income countries to be more open and receptive to migration as this could indirectly the mean through which host countries can assist economic development in low-income developing countries.

Given the diverse measure of FS, past studies demonstrated a positive association between remittance and FS, but it may focus on only one dimension of FS. To the authors’ limited knowledge, this is not enough to know the importance of remittance in determining the overall FS status. Hence, this study wishes to extend the literature by using a more comprehensive measure of FS and more countries in the sample.