Studies in Business and Economics

Editorial Foreword

ojsadmin production — 2026-04-14

DANCING WITH AI: TOWARD A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW EMERGING MARKET ENTREPRENEURS INTEGRATE GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WITH EFFECTUAL DECISION-MAKING

Hamza El Guili — 2026-04-14

Drawing on effectuation theory, this study examines how resource-constrained entrepreneurs in emerging markets reconcile the analytical capabilities of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) with relationship-based effectual decision-making under high uncertainty. It aims to resolve the tension between algorithmic efficiency and human-centric logic in non-Western contexts. Adopting an abductive multiple case study design, we conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with twelve Moroccan entrepreneurs (N=12) engaged in international expansion across three distinct sectors: agri-business, traditional crafts, and sports technology. Data analysis followed a hierarchical coding process to identify cross-case patterns of integration and resistance. Findings reveal a Decision-Type Integration Hierarchy (DTIH) where entrepreneurs delegate analytical tasks to AI to operationalize affordable loss while strictly retaining human control over trust-intensive decisions. We document Crisis Reversion (CR), a novel phenomenon where entrepreneurs abandon algorithmic tools during supply chain shocks, reverting to human effectual networks. Furthermore, cultural authenticity acts as a strict boundary condition limiting AI adoption in high-touch sectors. This research extends effectuation theory by demonstrating how GenAI functions as a mechanism for Cognitive Expansion rather than substitution. It contributes a preliminary framework for AI-Enabled Effectuation challenging linear adoption models by highlighting the temporal fragility of AI reliance during crises.

Structural Transformation and Economic Resilience: A High-Dimensional Econometric Assessment of Qatar’s Post-2022 Diversification Trajectory

Rodrigo Bochner — 2026-04-14

This study provides a comprehensive econometric assessment of Qatar’s economic diversification trajectory following the 2022 FIFA World Cup, employing dynamic factor models and structural break analysis to evaluate sectoral transformation and resilience. Using quarterly data from 2017–2024, we test three formally derived hypotheses concerning structural breaks in economic composition, sectoral resilience to external shocks, and the effectiveness of diversification policies. Our findings reveal a statistically significant structural break in Q4 2022, with non-hydrocarbon sector growth accelerating while exhibiting lower volatility relative to hydrocarbon sectors, consistent with the hypothesis of a sustained legacy effect rather than a purely transitory construction boom. Tourism, financial services, and logistics demonstrate the strongest resilience to external shocks, while construction exhibits persistent fiscal-cycle vulnerability. The estimated diversification elasticity suggests moderate but incomplete progress toward reducing oil-revenue dependence. Policy simulations indicate that current trajectories may approach, yet require acceleration to comfortably achieve, Qatar National Vision 2030 targets. Findings contribute to the broader literature on mega-event legacies and structural transformation in resource-rich economies.