Mutaju Isaack Marobhe

PhD Research Fellow Department of Management and Innovation

Email: mutaju.i.marobhe@uia.no
Phone: +47 38 14 21 83

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Research

My research interests are broadly divided into two disciplines: i) entrepreneurship and innovation, and ii) finance. Currently, my research projects are based on the emerging theme of entrepreneurial ecosystems. In terms of methodological interests, I have extensive skills and knowledge in quantitative methods using statistical analytical software such as STATA and R Studio. I have been guiding and supervising undergraduate research projects for six years. In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I have personally participated in various research projects that span the fields of finance and entrepreneurship. Below is a description of my publications, current research, and future research plans. My research is published in very well-ranked journals such as the International Journal of Entrepreneurial Research and Behaviour, Journal of Small Business & Enterprise Development and Journal of Transport Geography, Journal of Air Transport Management, the Journal of African Business, and the Review of Behavioral Finance.

Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack & Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter (2026). Unraveling the Crypto Conundrum: how climate policy uncertainty shapes the cryptocurrency market. Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment. ISSN 2043-0795. doi: 10.1080/20430795.2026.2683375. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Our study examines the impact of climate policy uncertainty on the volatility of Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. Using monthly Climate Policy Uncertainty Index data from 2010 to 2024, we forecast daily cryptocurrency volatility with a GARCH-MIDAS model. The results show that higher climate policy uncertainty significantly increases volatility across all three cryptocurrencies over the full sample period. Out-of-sample analysis, which captures structural changes in energy consumption, reveals stronger effects for Bitcoin. Ethereum shows insignificant responses following its transition to a proof-of-stake mechanism, while Litecoin exhibits a significant positive relationship with uncertainty. Overall, climate policy uncertainty proves to be a strong predictor of cryptocurrency volatility, particularly for energy-intensive assets. The findings highlight the importance of policy-related information in shaping investor behaviour in crypto markets and provide useful implications for cryptocurrency issuers, retail investors and portfolio managers seeking to manage risk under changing regulatory and environmental conditions.
Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter; Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack; Fubah, Clavis Nwehfor & Bhat, Mohd Abass (2026). Psychological capital and firms' performance during crises: the role of entrepreneurial ecosystem quality. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. ISSN 1462-6004. p. 1–24. doi: 10.1108/JSBED-06-2025-0367. Full text in Research Archive
Fubah, Clavis Nwehfor; Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter; Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack & Acikdilli, Gaye (2026). Green Entrepreneurship Research: A Review of the Domain and Future Research Agenda. Business Strategy and the Environment (BSE). ISSN 0964-4733. doi: 10.1002/bse.70813. Full text in Research Archive
Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter; Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack; Fubah, Clavis Nwehfor & Solano, Christopher (2025). Crossing the Chasm: A Review and Future Agenda on the Fintech-Based Financial Inclusion in Africa. Journal of African Business. ISSN 1522-8916. p. 1–30. doi: 10.1080/15228916.2025.2591971. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Despite the burgeoning of financial technologies (fintech) in Africa, there are still inconclusive findings on its transformative impact on financial inclusion (FI). This article aims to synthesize extant research on how fintech shapes the FI dynamics in this continent, with great potential but still less developed. Thus, we conducted a systematic review of 91 novel peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and July 2025. Despite the growth in research, the results reveal theoretical, methodological, and contextual gaps. The results also reveal that research on fintech-driven FI in Africa currently clusters itself around four trending themes, including i) antecedents, ii) accelerators, iii) processes, and iv) outcomes. The paper further discusses the (inter)connections among these themes and offers nuanced implications for policy designs and interventions. The article concludes by providing potential research avenues that can further the fintech-FI development in the region.
Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack & Lawuo, Aisia (2025). Faith-driven ventures: the intersection of religion, entrepreneurial behavior, and entrepreneurial ecosystem quality. Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. ISSN 0827-6331. 37(6), p. 913–946. doi: 10.1080/08276331.2025.2481151. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Our article examines the role of religion in shaping entrepreneurial behavior, drawing on evidence from 73 economies. We specifically examine the mediating effects of entrepreneurial intentions and attitudes on the linkage between religiosity and entrepreneurial behavior. Moreover, we utilize the metaphor of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to closely examine its moderating role in the previously mentioned relationships. The results from fixed-effects regression estimations reveal a significant positive relationship between religiosity and entrepreneurial behavior. We also observed that entrepreneurial intentions play a mediation role in the relationship between religiosity and entrepreneurial behavior. However, we do not find evidence of mediation for entrepreneurial attitudes. Above all, the findings reveal that entrepreneurial ecosystem quality moderates the relationship between religiosity and entrepreneurial behavior. We observed no moderating effects in the interlinkages between entrepreneurial intentions and attitudes toward entrepreneurial behavior. Our study is unique, as it examines the relationship between religiosity and entrepreneurial behavior through the lens of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. We provide essential insights for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders involved in the entrepreneurial process.
Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter; Fubah, Clavis Nwehfor; Tabas, Abdollah Mohammadparast & Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack (2025). Strategic Pathways for New Venture Legitimacy within the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. European Management Journal. ISSN 0263-2373. doi: 10.1016/j.emj.2025.03.004. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Understanding how new ventures establish legitimacy within entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) is crucial for fostering their growth and survival. Using data from 228 Finnish firms, we employ fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to explore the configurations of strategic paths that (new) ventures adopt to establish legitimacy within the dynamic and resource-dependent environments of EEs. The results reveal different strategic configurations (solutions) for new ventures' passive and active legitimacy. The findings show that while conformance and selection are fundamental traditional strategies for gaining passive legitimacy, new ventures can still employ innovative strategies such as manipulation and selection. However, new ventures strictly employ innovative strategies (manipulation and creation) to gain active legitimacy. The study highlights the imperative of understanding the complexity of strategic choices and the resulting dynamic nature of new ventures’ legitimacy within EEs. It also suggests that policymakers and managers should consider flexible, context-specific approaches to foster small- and medium-sized companies' success by capitalizing on innovative strategies for active engagement and sustainable growth.
Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack; Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter & Munim, Ziaul Haque (2025). Geopolitical uncertainty and shipping stock returns: An event study of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Journal of Transport Geography. ISSN 0966-6923. 123. doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2025.104122. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
This article investigates the impact of the Israeli-Hamas conflict on maritime sector stocks using an event study approach, highlighting the sector's vulnerability during crises. Analyzing 32 companies across container, tanker, and dry bulk sub-sectors, we employ the Fama and French three-factor model to assess how maritime stocks respond to conflict-related news. Our findings reveal predominantly adverse stock reactions, particularly in the container and tanker segments, with the dry bulk sub-sector less affected. Notably, container shipping stocks showed significant declines following missile attacks on cargo vessels. Conversely, the market response to positive news, such as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, was muted, suggesting that good news impacts trading behaviour less than bad news. This study underscores the importance of monitoring news during major crises for theoretical and practical implications in the maritime industry, as it significantly influences stock performance.
Fubah, Clavis Nwehfor; Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter; Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack & Tabas, Abdollah Mohammadparast (2025). Youth entrepreneurship: a systematic literature review of the domain and future research agenda. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. ISSN 1462-6004. 32(2), p. 496–516. doi: 10.1108/JSBED-07-2024-0346. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Purpose – The purpose of this article was to review the existing literature on youth entrepreneurship (YE), focusing on the context, methodological and theoretical approaches employed, alongside any emerging themes on the subject. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted, drawing on an evidence base of 77 articles identified from different databases. These articles were either published in Association of Business Schools (ABS list 2021 edition) or Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) listed journals. Findings – The review revealed that the majority of research on the topic has been conducted in Africa, employing a quantitative methodology. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) has been the dominant theoretical lens used by scholars. The four major themes covered on the topic to date include (1) entrepreneurial motivations; (2) entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) and entrepreneurial attitudes (EAs); (3) entrepreneurial competencies, education, training, and support, and (4) innovation and technology adoption. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this SLR is the first review that addresses this fastgrowing area of research. This paper incorporated insights on YE across academic disciplines. It also provided a nuanced discussion of the major themes covered in the research and suggested directions for future research.
Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter; Fubah, Clavis Nwehfor; Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack & Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack (2024). Unravelling the entrepreneurial ecosystem conditions spurring the global value chains: a configurational approach. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research. ISSN 1355-2554. 30(6). doi: 10.1108/IJEBR-07-2023-0738. Full text in Research Archive
Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter; Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack & Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack (2024). Weathering the Unforeseen: The Interplay of Resilience and Innovation in Start-Up Performance Amidst Crisis. Journal of African Business. ISSN 1522-8916. 26(1), p. 225–242. doi: 10.1080/15228916.2024.2361501. Full text in Research Archive
Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack & Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter (2023). Asymmetric volatility spillover between hospitality sub-sectors during COVID-19: evidence from the USA. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights. ISSN 2514-9792. 6(5), p. 2139–2157. doi: 10.1108/JHTI-08-2022-0322. Full text in Research Archive
Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack & Dickson, Pastory (2023). Bearish conditions and volatility persistence during COVID-19 can microchip stocks weather the storm? Review of Behavioral Finance. ISSN 1940-5979. 15(4), p. 511–533. doi: 10.1108/RBF-11-2021-0235. Full text in Research Archive
Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack & Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter (2023). High frequency volatility spillover between oil and non-energy commodities during crisis and tranquil periods. SN Business & Economics. 3(91). doi: 10.1007/s43546-023-00463-y. Full text in Research Archive
Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack; Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter & Wald, Andreas Erich (2022). Cushioning the Covid-19 Economic Consequences on Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: The Role of Stakeholders' Engagement, Collaboration, and Support. Journal of African Business. ISSN 1522-8916. 24(2), p. 214–234. doi: 10.1080/15228916.2022.2078933. Full text in Research Archive

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Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack (2022). Cryptocurrency as a safe haven for investment portfolios amid COVID-19 panic cases of Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. China Finance Review International (CFRI). ISSN 2044-1398. 12(1), p. 51–68. doi: 10.1108/CFRI-09-2021-0187. Full text in Research Archive
Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack (2022). Investors' reactions to COVID-19 related announcements: evidence from the cargo shipping industry. Review of Behavioral Finance. ISSN 1940-5979. 14(5), p. 833–853. doi: 10.1108/RBF-04-2021-0071. Full text in Research Archive
Marobhe, Mutaju Isaack & Kansheba, Jonathan Mukiza Peter (2022). Stock market reactions to COVID-19 shocks: do financial market interventions walk the talk? China Finance Review International (CFRI). ISSN 2044-1398. 12(4), p. 623–645. doi: 10.1108/CFRI-01-2022-0011. Full text in Research Archive

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Published Jan. 24, 2025 5:53 AM - Last modified Feb. 14, 2025 2:58 PM