https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/9727 2026-04-13T07:24:25Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/10190 Title: Analysing the payment habits of the University population of Malta Abstract: People’s needs and wants demand the need to purchase goods and services on a daily basis. As a result, this process leads to the use of various different payment instruments to complete the transaction in hand. Different payment instruments create different types of transactions between the payer and payee, of which some are more efficient than others in terms of both cost and security. This dissertation, entitled ‘Analysing the payment habits of the University population of Malta’, aims to explore the behaviour of Maltese students with respect to their choice of payment instruments when purchasing goods or services. Furthermore, this study aims to understand the reasons behind people’s choice in payment instruments. The rationale behind this study is to understand how the student generation of Malta is going about its payments, and in turn to understand how efficient this generation is being in those choices. In order to gather the required data, a questionnaire was distributed to the University population of Malta, whereby 250 usable replies were obtained. Here, the main findings show that cash is both the most used as well as the most preferred payment instrument by the student population of Malta. Reasons to complement this choice emerged due to its ease and convenience of use, as well as the fact that it is practical in small value transactions. While cash is the favourite instrument among 53% of respondents, there is also a relatively high interest in card payment instruments, with the debit card being the preferred payment instrument of 27% of respondents and the credit card for 15% of respondents. This study shows how abolishing cash and replacing this payment instrument with cards will not appeal to this generation of people since 69% of respondents admitted that they would not consider never carrying cash and only using a card for all payments in the near future. The implication of this finding points to the need for more education of the public on other forms of payment instruments. The education needed relates to both the awareness of other payment instruments as well as the way in which these are used. Description: B.COM.(HONS)BANK.&FIN. 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/10187 Title: Customers' perceptions towards internet banking in Malta Abstract: Internet banking usage is an important factor for some customers in today's lifestyles. Malta has adapted to modern methods to stay in line with the technological changes and economically developed countries. Banks, should therefore encourage their customers to use their electronic banking services so that our country advances and increases productivity growth. This study aims to identify and understand factors that affect bank customers' when using the internet banking system by analysing their perceptions. This is done by first understanding the technology acceptance model (TAM), the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and theory of reasoned action (TRA) and integrates the service quality dimensions and perceived risk & trust. In this way, the researcher was able to analyse the factors affecting customers' perceptions towards internet banking through. Primary data was collected via surveys that were distributed online through social media and the registrar. Internet banking users and non-users were asked on their opinions on how to improve the internet banking system in Malta. General findings through this research were that non-users perceive internet banking to be much more risky than users of internet banking, since they do not have enough knowledge about the system. Non-users have access to the resources and ability to use the system since only online users were targeted throughout the study. This suggests that banks need to improve their customer support services in order to encourage them and increase customers' knowledge to use their services. Recommendations were proposed to Maltese banks in order to improve their internet banking facility from a customers' and researchers point of view. Description: B.COM.(HONS)BANK.&FIN. 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/10186 Title: The international financial crisis and SMEs in Malta : implications for access to finance Abstract: Overview: SMEs are crucial for the Maltese economy as they are the providers of new jobs; enhancers of innovation and contributors to national output. However, with the eruption of the global financial crisis, the ability of SMEs to operate effectively has been fairly diminished in terms of access to finance. Post-crisis access to finance became more limited for SMEs due to several factors. Aims and objectives: The main scope of this dissertation is to analyse the implications of the past global financial crisis on Maltese SMEs financing. Further objectives of this study are: - To understand why this is a major problem for Maltese SMEs, - To determine why and how this financial gap extended following the global financial crisis, - To determine the extent of the problem, - And to analyse what is being done and could be done to mitigate the problem. Approach: A set of face-to-face and electronic interviews have been used to collect data on the study. Conclusion: The study revealed that the past global financial crisis made access to finance more limited for Maltese SMEs. SMEs are finding it more difficult to access finance through traditional retail banks. It was found that post-crisis banks appetite to lend to SMEs decreased drastically due to risk associated with SMEs and tighter regulatory requirements. v The study revealed that part of the problem can be attributed to SMEs operating in certain sectors of the economy mainly the construction industry, where the latter may find it more difficult to access finance mainly through banks. Yet, the study also reveals that there is also a more general problem related to the requirement of collateral in securing bank loans. It has also been found that SMEs are being charged with excess rates of interest and high bank Malta is still lacking behind in Seed Funds and Venture Capital. This implies that bank financing is still the main source of finance to SMEs due to lack of alternative financing options. A number of recommendations have been proposed with the scope of facilitating access to finance for SMEs in developing their business ventures. Description: B.COM.(HONS)BANK.&FIN. 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/10185 Title: The EU ETS and carbon market : success or failure and should Malta participate in this market Abstract: For the past 150 years, society has been responsible for causing global warming by polluting the world's atmosphere with greenhouse gas emissions than any other known time period. As of a result, this brought forth the International Climate Change Legislation of 1997, better known as the Kyoto Protocol; a legally binding agreement to reduce emissions by 80% to 90% below 1990 levels by 2050, and later in 2005 the establishment of the first largest carbon market under the EU ETS policy. Since its inauguration, the EU ETS and carbon market have been under constant debate between those who support its initiative and consider it as the solution against climate change and those who claim it to be a failure of green economy and that another course of action should be sought, such as,taxation. The purpose of this research is to determine if the EU ETS and carbon market are the appropriate method of tackling climate change and whether Malta should participate in this market and possibly profit from it in the future, thereby, further enhancing itself as the Financial Centre of the Mediterranean. To achieve the aims of the study, a Qualitative approach was conducted using Grounded Theory and an Interview approach, where some of the answers sought in the latter were based on the context of the study and literature whilst conceding the interviewee the freedom to expand and discuss openly. The general findings have demonstrated similar views concurring on a general good perception of the EU ETS and carbon market, accordingly erasing any doubts that scientists, economists and many more have confuted and hence corroborating it to be a great opportunity for Malta's financial role. Description: B.COM.(HONS)BANK.&FIN. 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z