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In numerous developing nations, challenges such as insufficient investment in innovation and limited capabilities for conversion impede the growth of the construction sector, thus affecting the overall economic well-being of these regions. This paper focuses on construction industry innovation (CII) and its correlation with region economic development (RED), providing valuable insights to overcome these challenges and promote sustainable economic advancement. This study references existing literature to devise an evaluation indicator system dedicated for CII and RED. It then proceeds with an empirical analysis of the integration and synergy between CII and the economic development across 31 Chinese provinces from 2012 to 2021. Furthermore, this paper employs ArcGIS and Geoda software to meticulously dissect the spatial distribution characteristics underlying this coordination. The main conclusions are succinctly summarized as follows: CII in China is intricately connected to RED, exhibiting a strong connection that diminishes from south to north. Nonetheless, the coordination level between these factors remains relatively low, with notable regional disparities, particularly from southeast to northwest. The primary obstacles to effective coordination are related to innovation input, output, and economic scale. Additionally, spatial correlation analysis demonstrates pronounced regional clustering, showing stability despite slight fluctuations over the study period. This research underscores the concept of coupling coordination between CII and RED, underpinned by scientific analytical methods. The outcomes provide a definitive guide for advancing the transformation and enhancement of the construction industry while promoting RED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The consensus that manufacturing was the strategic road for development has recently been challenged. • We constructed an original and extensive database on the world manufacturing production, that provides information about value added and employment for 200 countries, of which 160 developing countries, for the 1970–2018 period. • The study does not reveal evidence of a recent decline of manufacturing in developing countries, including or not China. Rather we document a continuous expansion of manufacturing employment in the developing world, that accounts now for 82 % of the world employment, while the share of the developing economies in the world output has doubled over the period. • Since 2010, we observe and we quantify a new pattern. Manufacturing employment does not increase any more in China, while it has continued to grow at the same pace in the rest of the developing world. • Our findings show that manufacturing has continued to play a key role in economic development. Thus, low-income countries should not give up industrialization strategies and should learn from the recent experiences of rapid industrialization and growth. The "rise of the Rest" and almost all successes in economic development have relied on late industrialization. However, the consensus that manufacturing was the strategic road for development has recently been challenged. This paper addresses the issue of the status of manufacturing for economic development in the current period. To clarify whether the importance of manufacturing in developing countries has declined or not in the 21st Century, we constructed an original and extensive database on the world manufacturing production, that provides information about value added and employment for 200 countries, of which 160 Developing countries, for the 1970–2018 period. The study does not reveal evidence of a recent decline of manufacturing in developing countries, including or not China. Rather we document a continuous expansion of manufacturing employment in the developing world, that accounts now for 82 % of the world employment, while the share of the developing economies in the world output has doubled over the period. Since 2010, we observe and we quantify a new pattern. Manufacturing employment does not increase any more in China, while it has continued to grow at the same pace in the rest of the developing world. Our findings show that manufacturing has continued to play a key role in economic development. Thus, low-income countries should not give up industrialization strategies and should learn from the recent experiences of rapid industrialization and growth. In the near future, the upgrading of China's industrial structure will enlarge the windows of opportunities in manufacturing for late-comers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In this paper, the heterogeneity of the linkages among financial development, productivity and growth across income groups is emphasized. Design/methodology/approach: An empirical analysis is conducted with an illustrative sample of 130 economies over the period 1991–2019 and classified into four subsamples: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), developing, least developed and net food importing developing countries. Forecast error variance decompositions and panel vector auto-regressive estimations are computed, with insightful findings. Findings: Higher levels of output stimulate the economic development in the agricultural sector, mainly via the productivity channel and, in the most developed economies, also through access to credit. Differently, in developing and least developed economies, the role of access to credit is marginal. The findings have practical implications for stakeholders involved in the planning of long-run investments. In less developed economies, priorities should be given to investments in technology and innovation, whereas financial markets are more suited to boost the development of the agricultural sector of developed economies. Originality/value: The authors conclude on the credit–output–productivity nexus and contribute to the literature in (at least) three ways. First, they assess how credit access, agricultural output and agricultural productivity are jointly determined. Second, they use a novel approach, which departs from most of the case studies based on single-country data. Third, they conclude on potential causality links to conclude on policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is an attempt at applying Samir Amin's lens in the analysis of socio-economic development in Africa. Social and economic development in Africa has been substandard, largely because of the economic system followed and because effective structural transformation has not taken place – Samir Amin's works explained what needed to be done to transform Africa (and the broader global south). It is in this context that the paper posits that post-colonial Africa has had to contend with disruptive socio-economic and political realities instituted by European colonialism, slave trade and inappropriate integration of Africa to the so-called global economy. The fundamental explanation for the poor socio-economic development in Africa is global capitalism, and one of the possible solutions is in Samir Amin's delinking proposal as well as the restructuring of the African economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the importance and the implications of Australia's defense policy as described in its 2009 defense white paper, the first statement of its defense policy in nine years. The policy is important because of Australia's strategic prominence in an area that is developing rapidly and has increasing interstate conflict. The article notes that Australia and other nations in the Asia-Pacific area rely heavily on unimpeded maritime activity for their success and development. The article discusses the white paper in detail and presents information about its implications.

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) are a central instrument in international development cooperation and of key importance in guiding donors' policies towards southern recipients. However, many aspects of the PRSP have been criticised by a variety of development stakeholders. A checklist of 85 questions has been developed to analyse the inclusion of aspects of sustainable development in PRSPs and to point to sustainability challenges and opportunities. It thus facilitates targeted advice and quality improvements. The checklist was applied to a selection of 12 PRSPs of developing countries. The results reveal an insufficient integration of the ecosystem services concept, of biodiversity and of climate issues. Property rights, gender issues, water and energy are as a rule well elaborated. PRSPs show significant variation in the integration of environmental sustainability issues. Sustainability assessments can contribute to significant improvements between first and second generation PRSPs provided the assessments are supported by a strong institutional framework and a dedicated political commitment towards sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this paper was to analyze the bidirectional relationship between financial development and economic growth for a dataset of Latin American and Asian developing countries between 2001 and 2019. Method: This research employed an empirical approach to analyze the statistical relationship between financial development and economic growth, by presenting an estimation of a system of simultaneous equations for a panel of Asian and Latin American countries using 3SLS. Main Results: The results presented in this research provided evidence that financial development does not appear to have a significant impact on economic growth, although growth appears to have a significant and positive influence on financial development. Moreover, the results also suggested that regulatory quality and domestic credit directed to the private sector have a positive effect on economic growth, while urbanization and education showed a negative influence on growth. The estimated model also indicated that urbanization has a positive influence on financial development while foreign direct investment presented a negative effect on the development of the financial sector. Relevance / Originality: Most of the research agenda on the topic of finance and growth has focused on identifying correlation or causality between these variables, with little attention given to the simultaneous relationship between them. This is still a clear gap in economic literature. Following this premise, the objective of this paper was to analyze the bidirectional relationship between financial development and growth by estimating a system of simultaneous equations using the Zellner and Theil’s (1962) 3SLS methodology. In this sense, the main contribution will be given empirically, based on data and analysis from emerging countries in Latin America and Asia. The fact that financial development has an influence on growth and growth plays a role on the development of the financial sector indicates a simultaneous relationship between these variables. Another relevant contribution is to update the debate on financial systems and economic development for emerging countries, highlighting institutional aspects and financial cycles. Theoretical / Methodological Contributions: The main contribution of this study is in the empirical strategy, whose results dialogue with part of the literature on the financial system and development presented along the text. That is, this research explored the statistical relationship between economic development and financial development for a sample composed by twenty-two Asian and Latin American emerging countries, using a simultaneous equations model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization and new technologies are now firmly on the agendas of governments worldwide. New technological trends have not only become catalysts for economic development, but are also reshaping how the public sector works and implements its policies. Amid technological transformations, the countries of Central Asia are searching for new ways to adapt to these changes. This paper aims to assess these attempts by exploring the digitalization policies of the five Central Asian countries. By using qualitative methods and expert interviews, the article identifies key limitations and potential areas of development for the Central Asian states regarding digitalization and artificial intelligence. By providing valuable insights, the article contributes to a deeper understanding of the digitalization challenges faced by developing countries. Through the analysis of local expert opinions, the article seeks to contribute valuable insights to the distinct approaches adopted by these countries, thus enriching the understanding of the region’s trajectory in the digital era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1964 UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is often presented as a pivotal moment in the post-Second World War relations between the Global North and Global South. At this conference, Australian policymakers devised a Middle Zone policy that sought to present Australia as neither 'developed' nor 'developing'. This had significant consequences for the colonial administration of Papua New Guinea (PNG), which Australia administered as a UN Trust Territory. In the two decades following the Second World War, Australia had administered PNG in a way that promoted gradual development, arguing that the road to independence would be a slow one. By 1964, however, international pressure (exemplified by the call for UNCTAD) had made this policy less viable. This article examines the impact of UNCTAD on the decolonisation of PNG, as it sparked an acceleration of calls for PNG independence in the second half of the 1960s. The Conference also prompted indigenous leaders within PNG to engage with the increasingly diverse field of development in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Local leaders, such as Michael Somare, became increasingly prominent as decolonisation loomed large. Their developmental approaches, informed by other movements within the Global South, steadily became a part of the plan for an independent PNG. UNCTAD can be seen as a starting point for this process. By examining the connections between the 1964 UNCTAD and the decolonisation of PNG, this paper adds a new dimension to the scholarship of the Conference as well as the process of decolonisation in the Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swedish economist Gunnar Myrdal's solution to global inequality was to move Beyond the Welfare State (1960) and national boundaries to create a 'welfare world.' Built on a vision to globalize or scale-up the Swedish approach, Myrdal's proposal was rejected by both international technocrats and impoverished nations. This article examines the Swedish intellectual tradition on inequality, considering both how it contributed to the emergence of the Swedish welfare state and later to Myrdal's welfare world. By examining the roots of Myrdal's proposal, as well as its international reception, this article contributes to several different strands of intellectual history. First, it illustrates how dissonance about a concept such as inequality can emerge when its use is context dependent. Second, the paper explores how an idea that is purported to be international in nature can fail to make sense or 'travel' in the international realm, e.g. the 'non-globalization' of a concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capital misallocation is a main obstacle to China's economic development. This paper deploys a quasi-natural experiment formed by the 'Revitalization Plan for Ten Industries' (RPTI) and examines the impacts that selective industrial policies have on capital misallocation. It is found that the RPTI significantly exacerbates capital misallocation and that the effect does not disappear when the RPTI ends. Mechanism analysis indicates that the RPTI significantly increases the capital productivity of firm groups with high capital productivity but significantly reduces the capital productivity of firm groups with low capital productivity. This can be further interpreted by a decrease or an increase of inefficient investment and financial constraints faced by the corresponding firm groups. The documented relationship is stronger in state-owned enterprises and in firms located in areas of high marketization. Our findings advance the understanding of governmental policy intervention in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How is policy for information and communication technology (ICT) for developing countries actually formulated? How are the negotiations made, and with whom? What are the dialectical queries and responses, the give and take that compose policy discussions? Some of this is accomplished behind the scenes, and will remain inaccessible to our scrutiny. However, much of the critical interaction among key players such as government officials, academics, consultants, employees of non-government organizations, donors, and development officers is available publicly for analysis and interpretation via the text exchanges produced on open forum Internet discussion groups. Thus, when subjected to systematic analysis, this data becomes a prime source for developing a rich understanding of policy formulation. In this article the authors use a special kind of qualitative rhetorical analysis called dramatism to analyze and thus understand the formulation of policy online through an open discussion forum. Rationales for ICTs for development, appropriate ICT impact assessment, and implementation for economic development in a variety of countries were available via the Internet forum studied. The language of the discussion from actual, unedited texts of Internet discussions using dramatistic analysis is examined. The ensuing discussions reveal a collective vision that helps influence ICT policy formulation, rationales, distribution, implementation, and use in developing countries. Dramatism is construed to be a humanistic method that rests on the assumption that dramas are created through small group interaction and chain through written speeches and documents until they reach the mass media and are picked back up by small groups once again. Through analysis, the emerging main plot, subplot, hero, and villain of the ICT policy drama that took place from 1998–2002 in an Internet discussion forum are identified. The conclusions drawn are intended to be useful to both researchers and policy makers, who will be able to draw on this contribution to create a wide-ranging set of information technology strategies and policies that can be implemented in many developing nation contexts. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the crowded landscape of conferences and organizations within which the International Foundation for Science (IFS) was shaped in the early 1970s. The IFS aimed to support scientists from developing countries, circumventing the bureaucracy of established international organizations such as UNESCO and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The new foundation was a potential rival to such institutions, which ironically provided the conditions essential to its emergence. Their conferences, board meetings and assemblies, where scientists and policy makers convened, provided key infrastructure for the development of the IFS. This infrastructure appears simultaneously both as an almost invisible feature of international science policy, and as a political problem. The solution to this problem was Stockholm: a geographical place that was also placeless, occupying both national and international status, desirable in its political, scientific and geographical neutrality. In an organizational context, academies and scientific societies who found their role circumscribed by existing international institutions used the IFS to argue for their particular role and expertise in funding and promoting scientific development. Geographically and politically, neutral Sweden provided a setting which was located between East and West, and which added to the country's own reputation for championing the causes of developing nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on the research related to regional integration attempts in Latin America and their effect on the economic development of Latin American countries. Recent analyses clarify that the US’ intervention in the politics of Latin America has been the main obstacle of the regional integration process. Most importantly, political fragmentation of the countries in the region affects the success of the organizations that are formed for the regional integration. This is especially visible in the political processes of the countries such as economic crises in Argentina, political instability in Venezuela and increasing migration to the US from Latin American countries. Notable studies reveal that despite the regional integration efforts, the economic benefits to the region has been limited compared to the benefit of the global economic powers. Different from the current literature, this paper focuses on the internal dynamics of Latin American countries. In this respect, this paper investigates the effect of the regional integration attempts for the economic development of the countries in Latin America. In this regard, the rational state behaviour was found as an important element to explain in relation to the Latin American integration attempts. With a liberal intergovernmentalist perspective, this paper aims to reveal the success of regional integration attempts in Latin America with the cases of Latin American Free Trade Association (LAFTA), Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and Andean Community (CAN). The main argument of this paper is that increasing economic cooperation and creating a reconstruction model with a financial assistance to the less developed countries in the region have led to a regional economic development in cohesion with the policies of the regional powers of Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fifth‐generation (5G) technology is seen to be a solution for developing countries to improve their quality of services in terms of transportation, education, health, agriculture, and other fields, thereby holding the promises of economic transformation by improving productivity and the quality of life. The paper considers some of the challenges that face operators, investors, and providers when planning to introduce 5G technology to developing countries. The main focus of this paper is the 5G transport network, in particular, the backhaul network. The 5G transport network architectural options and scenarios are discussed based on several standards and previous studies, the problems of existing infrastructures of developing countries are investigated, and new proposed technologies that may help to address those challenges are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the European Commission's trade and sustainable development discourse from 1993 to 2022. By employing a discursive institutionalist framework and examining a comprehensive corpus of over 1,400 press documents, this study traces the discursive process that has created both significant changes to, and persistent elements in, the Commission's trade-sustainability agenda. The analysis reveals noteworthy shifts within the discourse, notably a transition from a primary concern with labour and human rights during the 1990s to an increased focus on economic development and poverty reduction in the early 2000s. This was followed by a discernible move towards more stringent differentiation among developing countries and an amplified emphasis on reciprocity. In recent years, we are witnessing a strong focus on environmental and climate protection, labour rights, and enforceability. The findings underscore the enduring presence of trade-sustainability ideas within EU trade policy and their gradual evolution over time, while contributing to the literature on the role of ideas in shaping the Union's external policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effect of ICT progress on economic growth by constructing an ICT diffusion index. Along with ICT, this study further investigates the role of financial development and the combined impact of ICT and financial development on growth in 10 Asian developing economies covering the period 2001–2017. To analyze the panel data, this study employed the ARDL model and estimated the Pooled Mean Group estimator. The estimated results reveal a significant positive long-run relationship between financial expansion and economic progress. While ICT hurts economic growth on its own, it has a significant positive impact when combined with financial development. The robustness of the results has been verified by Fully-Modified OLS (FMOLS) and Dynamic OLS (DOLS) estimations. To promote enduring economic growth in Asian developing countries, the paper recommends ensuring inclusive financial development combined with modern ICT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper used the dynamic panel data technique to examine the combined indirect effect of remittance inflows via human capital and financial inclusion on economic growth in developing and developed countries over the period between 2007 and2 018. The results from the endogeneity-robust System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) analysis revealed that with with financial inclusion and human capital, are engines of economic growth in remittance-receiving developing countries. Specifically, better financial inclusion absorbs and efficiently channel remittance inflows into proper and productive economic activities, while developed human capital directly encourages robust economic activities. Therefore, this paper provides insights into the mechanisms that boost remittances' effect on economic growth, i.e. financial inclusion and human capital. Accordingly, we recommend that regulatory frameworks aiming to encourage inward remittances should consider developing financial inclusion and human capital to leverage remittance funds for developmental agendas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contemporary global capitalism's development system appears to be similar to the historical patterns and processes of global capitalism characterised by excessive exploitation of natural resources, depredation of peripheral economic development policies, and capital accumulation at the expense of peripheral security. Furthermore, through an increase in the interconnectedness of the world, global capitalist development has reinforced the exploitative dependence that leaves development a mountain too high to climb for peripheral nations. Thus, dependency theory is often skewed in analyses that juxtapose it with modernisation theory in explaining the Third World dilemmas. The aim of this paper was to review the literature to analyse the contesting and harmonious views on dependency theory to determine its relevance in the modern world. Using extant literature, this paper argued that dependency theory is relevant in explaining today's world. This is because it extensively describes how the current international trade system supports the territorial invasion of Third World countries by the core to repatriate resources to their motherland, impeding Africa's socio-economic progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the background of globalisation and state rescaling, promoting decentralisation and enhancing local governance capacity have become prioritised objectives of transnational city-to-city partnerships mainly between developed and developing countries. However, considering the critical debates on Global East's uniqueness, two questions emerge when studying the transnational partnerships of Chinese cities. (1) Are Chinese cities' partnership establishments and objectives remarkably different from the existing international body of knowledge? (2) In China, whether decentralisation and local governance are promoted by city-to-city transnational partnerships as well? To cope with the questions, this paper examines 28 Chinese world cities' partnership establishments and objectives and reaches two conclusions. (1) With the objective of economic development, Chinese cities have consistently maintained strong connections with cities in both the developed and developing countries. (2) Chinese cities' transnational partnerships do not observably promote decentralisation, and China's political decentralisation is much more unstable than its economic decentralisation. Overall, both the binary partnership establishments and the dual-track decentralisation in political and economic aspects are highly embedded in China's interstitial and transitional position as a Global East country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motive for writing the paper is to answer the question of how foreign direct investment has moved in the financial markets to date, despite the great turbulence with the Covid crisis. But, also to indicate whether and to what extent FDI had a positive impact on overall socio-economic and financial relations in markets around the world during the Covid crisis. This paper connects the issues of the relationship between foreign direct investment on the one hand and on the other hand, monitoring and analyzing the movements of national finances of a large group of countries, the so-called developing countries and emerging market economies. Different motives are the reason for the international tendencies, changes and effects caused by the Covid crisis. The main research question is what tendencies and movements FDI faced in conditions of great market turbulence, uncertainty and crisis. On the other hand, an attempt is made to predict what will happen in the coming years in the post-crisis Covid period. The main focus now should be on the process of economic recovery. But, the question is not just about reviving economies, but how to make a better recovery that will be more sustainable and more resilient to future shocks. For this purpose, this paper is generally divided into qualitative studies that draw conclusions. The purpose of this paper is to show the structure and dynamics of the FDI movement as they go through a process of crisis, especially in developing countries, underdeveloped countries and developed countries. The paper highlights the advantages and disadvantages of foreign models for stimulating foreign investment in times of crisis. In addition, the paper aims to highlight the causes of the turbulence, as well as to indicate possible future directions for action. The following results are expected from the research: greater proper conception of a strategy for attracting FDI, with their constant monitoring of the situation, by regulating the international movement of capital on a global, and especially at the regional level. However, according to the constant analysis, to remove the restrictions for greater attraction of FDI in countries where they are necessary. Also, the flow of capital should be directed from highly developed countries to poorly developed and developing countries, which will ensure the stability and efficiency of their real economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial inclusion is a policy priority in both developed and developing countries. Yet almost one in four people remain financially excluded around the globe, with the vast majority living in the developing world. In this paper, we argue that financial resilience: an individual's ability to function effectively in adverse financial situations, can better help us assist people to cope with financial adversity, develop effective policy and, ultimately, improve economic development. This paper builds on an existing financial resilience measurement framework and adapts it to develop a measure appropriate to the context of developing countries. Indonesia, where one in three people are financially excluded, is used as a case country from which to draw conclusions. We use the Indonesia Family Life Survey and put forward the country's first snapshot of financial resilience. Implications for research and policy are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry in many developing countries is considered the main engine for economic growth. Quantification of the resilience of the construction industry in developing economies is essential for stakeholders and decision makers. Many researchers have attempted to quantify the construction industry's resilience in the context of developed economies; however, there is lack of established measures of such quantification in developing countries. This paper proposes a framework for the composition of an index that quantifies the resilience of the construction industry in developing countries. The proposed framework is demonstrated in the context of three developing countries: Rwanda, Egypt, and Turkey. The index is composed of measures such as the construction value added to a country's gross domestic product (GDP) and employment in construction. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is utilized for weighting and aggregation of the individual variables. Studying the causal relationship between construction growth and economic development from 1971 to 2022, results show that construction growth leads to economic development in each of the three countries. Results of the proposed index values indicate that the construction industry in each of the three countries demonstrated increased resilience by sustaining both its outputs and its employment generation aspect in the two years following the coronavirus pandemic in 2019. Quantification of the construction industry's resilience in countries where the construction growth leads to the economic growth would provide a crucial insight for stakeholders and decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most cited definition of sustainable development was created more than three decades ago, by the Brundtland Commission. The problem that was defined then is equally present today. There are various definitions of 'sustainable development', and thus, in the past, different countries have made different frameworks. However, the current framework has been presented by the 2030 Agenda and specifically divided into 17 goals, defined by the United Nations. It is not the same starting point for countries with developed and underdeveloped economies. This paper highlights the economic and educational structure of the population as a potential for economic and social development, but also for the Gross Value Added. These are the main parameters that were analysed to extract the most sensitive areas. The analysed data refer to the 25 administrative areas (NSTJ 3) in Serbia. The most endangered areas that should be emphasized in further research and action plans are distinguished. The results of the paper should serve as a starting point for further and more in-depth research, as well as for creating projects for the more balanced regional development of Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic literature highlights the vital role that women can play in enhancing the economic development of nations. However, there is still gender inequality in developing countries, especially in education and labour market participation. Although women represent nearly half of the population in Egypt, their labour force participation rate is still very low compared to men. This paper's primary goal is to investigate the short and long-run associations between female labour force participation and Egypt's GDP growth rate. The study used annual time series data from 1990-2019, where the vector error correction model (VECM) was employed. The study found that female labour force participation and the gross fixed capital formation growth rate can enhance the GDP growth rate in the long run. Nevertheless, there is no statistically significant relationship in the short run. This paper's main recommendations are that the Egyptian government needs to implement policies that encourage women's labour force participation and decrease gender inequality. These policies could be changes in legislation, modernization of social norms, Job flexibility, and increasing access to childcare. Moreover, they need to focus on both the demand and supply sides of the quality of female labour force participation by matching the women's education with the creation of suitable jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The word poverty had been and is still one of the most familiar and serious problems facing different economies of the world. While the developed countries try to minimize this menace to some extent, other underdeveloped countries wallow in its dominance with impunity. Poverty has been identified to be more associated with rural country side, and linked with some known barriers for its reduction such as government failures, deprivation, inflation and diseases. In Nigeria, although several poverty alleviation policies and programmes have been implemented the problem still persists, it is against this background that this paper examines whether poverty alleviation policies could be a catalyst to the development of the economies of the south-Saharan region that is mostly affected. This paper finds out whether it is lack of democratization, inability to tap the abundance of human and natural resources in Nigeria that could be the bane for the persistent increases in the poverty status of the populace. The paper also suggests positive and attitudinal changes that could properly implement the numerous policies and programmes, to reduce poverty to the bearrest minimum, towards the development of the Nigerian economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mega-urban agglomerations in developing countries have been main parts of economic development. But at the same time, they have become the most prominent and sensitive areas of resource and environment problems. It is important to clarify the mechanism and driving factors of green growth in mega-urban agglomerations. Based on the panel data of 28 major cities in China's Pan-Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration from 2006 to 2015, this paper evaluates the level of green development of urban agglomeration by green total factor productivity index (GTFP) based on Global Malmquist DEA model, and decomposes GTFP into technological progress, pure technical efficiency change, scale efficiency change and technological scale change. On this basis, this paper constructs a panel econometric model to analyze the influencing factors of GTFP and its decomposition factors. The results show that GTFP of Pan-Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration is growing, and the scale effect caused by technological progress is the main driving factor. Green development in the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration takes into account efficiency and regional fairness, which causes differences in GTFP growth patterns of sub-urban agglomerations within mega-urban agglomerations. The technological progress and technical efficiency improvement are becoming the main driving force of GTFP growth in relatively backward areas. Furthermore, according to the influencing factors of GTFP and its decomposition factors, mega-urban agglomeration should eliminate internal administrative barriers to build an integrated market. It should also increase the proportion of technology industries in core cities, and give full play to the role of technology spillover effect on surrounding cities. In addition, improving the efficiency of resource and energy utilization is also helpful to promote the transformation of urban agglomeration development from factor-driven to efficiency-driven and innovation-driven. Our research results have implications for the coordinated development of economy and environment in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GDP is one of the most robust indicators of civil war onset. As debate continues over the mechanisms underlying the relationship between economic development and civil war, this paper scrutinizes the indicator of GDP directly, disaggregating it into its constituent components to examine whether their distinct associations with conflict onset can shed some light into the black box. Analysis of the individual correlations allows for identification of the driving force behind the aggregate statistical relationship. With this information to hand, consistency checks can be made with existing theories and a new theory presented in this paper, which draws attention to a critical structural factor that drives the supply of civil war labor, namely the lack of consumption opportunities. This factor increases the likelihood of civil war in less economically developed countries as individuals with low consumption opportunities have little to lose from reordering the economic and political system. Analysis of the correlations between components of GDP and the onset of civil war shows that this new theory is most consistent with the key drivers of the aggregate relationship. The examination also highlights a new indicator, which is arguably preferable to GDP as a measure of this relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Development assistance for health (DAH) is an important source of financing for health for many low-income and some middle-income countries. Most DAH has predominantly been contributed by high-income countries. However, in the context of economic progress and changing global priorities, DAH contributions from countries of the Global South such as India have gained importance. In this paper, we estimate DAH contributed by India between 2009 and 2020. Methods: We leveraged data from budgetary documents, databases, and financial reports of the Ministry of External Affairs and multilateral organizations to estimate DAH contributions. The proportions of development assistance that go towards health in major recipient countries were estimated and reported by recipient country and year. Results: Between 2009 and 2020, DAH contributed by India to bilateral and multilateral partners totaled $206.0 million. South Asian countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar received the most DAH from India. DAH contributed relative to DAH received ranged from 1.42% in 2009 to 5.26% in 2018, the latest year with country-level data. Health focus areas prioritized by India included technical training and innovation, health care infrastructure support, and supply of medications and medical equipment. Conclusion: India is an important development partner to many countries–particularly to those in the South Asian region. India's DAH allocation strategy prioritizes contributions toward neighboring countries in the South Asia region in several health focus areas. Detailed project-level data are needed to estimate DAH contributions from India with greater precision and accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent vote against the first-ever UN Human Rights Council resolution looking at the situation of Uyghurs in Xinjiang has prompted discussions and concerns over China's increasing grip over UN human rights bodies. Amidst tensions between Chino and the West, China's growing influence within the UN human rights system poses a challenge to progressive Global South governments, who seek to cooperate with Beijing on trade and development, while sharing major divergences on human rights priorities. This paper aims to present the goals and tactics behind China's increasing presence at the UN Human Rights Council, and propose some reflections on its impact for progressive Latin American and other Global South governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of intermodal transport (IT) systems is one of the global and European imperatives with the goal of mitigating logistics activities (especially transportation) negative impact on the environment, but also to improve the efficiency of logistics systems. Despite its importance acknowledged long ago, the treatment of IT greatly varies in different countries. In the developed countries, IT has an institutional character and clearly defined development directions, while in the developing countries, the problems of IT in most cases are ignored. The main scientific contribution of this paper is in being the first one to assess the status of IT in the countries of the Danube region. Seven criteria and six evaluation scenarios, that were not present in the existing literature in this form, are defined, which represents another contribution of the paper. The criteria are defined so that they would include the treatment of IT in strategic documents, the opinions of users and service providers, but also empirical/ statistical indicators of IT development degree. The evaluation scenarios differ in the criteria significance and the aspect of the problem. A novel hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model, based on fuzzy SWARA and fuzzy MARCOS methods, is developed for the assessment, which represents an additional scientific contribution of the paper. According to IT results, the countries are grouped into five categories, micro-regions. The results indicate that with the degree of economic development the status of IT improves as well, so Germany and Austria are leading, followed by the Czech Republic, then by countries such as Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia, while other countries fall behind greatly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) was founded in 1948 with the aim of connecting European countries to the United States through the economic project of the Marshall Plan. Since 1958, the OECD has worked with Greek governments to modernize and develop the country. Part of the investigations undertaken by the OECD in order to achieve successful globalization in cooperation with European governments has provided expertise to the member countries which has affected the development trends of the nations and states. Even though the decisions and suggestions of these two organizations seem to have had an impact on urban planning, there is little research in the international literature that has examined their participation in the evolution of spatial data in the post-WWII period. In this paper, my aim is to examine the dynamics between the different actors involved in the process of creating the University of Patras and to question the role of international experts in that process. Τhe research is based on material in the OECD in Paris, the Historical Archives of University of Patras and Constantinos A. Doxiadis Archives, Athens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunger continues to be a major problem in developing countries despite various efforts. Countries with differing socioeconomic profiles, as reflected in their level of development, seem to respond differently to identical programs. The aim of this paper is to therefore propose a new conceptual tool, namely our hunger-management model, which takes into account a country's developmental level. To investigate the role of a country's developmental level in making progress in its GHI score over time, data for 124 developing countries were gathered. These countries were divided into two groups according to whether they used a high or low number of "criteria" (i.e., approaches such as school meals and direct food aid) to fight hunger. To assess the effect of this distinction, repeated measures ANOVAs were applied for the various GHI scores and outcomes for a selection of representative years. To reveal any differences between the years, a post hoc analysis was conducted using Bonferroni correction. The findings suggest that (i) the rate of change for a country's GHI score and other examined indicators depends upon its developmental level, and (ii) there is a direct relationship between the hunger-management model and the level of hunger in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mystery of China's economic growth has been widely concerned by the world. However, little attention has been paid to the transformation of the economic growth momentum of Guangdong Province, which has long occupied the top in China's economic growth. This paper analyzes the evolution and the transformation of the momentum source of economic growth in Guangdong Province from 1979 to 2019, using Total Factor Productivity Growth Decomposition method. The results show that capital investment contributes the most to economic growth, the contributions of total factor productivity, and labor input rank second and third, respectively; the change of the contribution of each momentum source to GDP growth mainly comes from the impact of the secondary industry. Both industrial capital productivity and capital allocation structure play a negative role in driving the overall capital productivity, and both industrial labor productivity and labor allocation structure play a positive role in driving the overall labor productivity. Industrial factor productivity and industrial factor allocation structure play a major positive role and a weak negative role in promoting economic growth, respectively. Our findings provide some ideas on how to maintain economic growth in the new era especially for the developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information and communication technology (ICT) revolution has brought positive spill-over effects on institutions and economies across the globe, but it has also increased the information gaps between countries. A key characteristic that may explain these widening gaps is the deepening endogenous relationships between ICT infrastructure, institutions of governance, and economic growth in many developing countries. Thus far, the links between these variables have not been discernible in developing economies, so few studies have explored them. In this paper, we investigate the possible Granger causal relationships among institutional quality, economic growth, and ICT infrastructure development for a sample of developing countries for the period from 2005 to 2019. The application of a vector error-correction model reveals strong inter-relationships between all the variables in the short run. In the long run, institutional quality and ICT infrastructure development stimulate economic growth. These complex relationships are explored and lessons are drawn for policymakers. We assess interactions between institutional quality and ICT infrastructure as well as economic growth. We deploy a panel Granger causality test for low- and lower middle-income countries from 2005 to 2019. We show that there is Granger causality between the variables in the short and the long term. For each case and specification, there is support for the hypothesis that ICT infrastructure and institutional quality both Granger-cause growth in the economy. In the short run, we note a feedback relationship between institutional quality and economic growth. Other short-run results are more varied, based on the particulars proxies for institutional quality and ICT infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to empirically assess the impact of remittances on the economic performance of the 16 Asian developing countries, taking account of their institutional qualities. Design/methodology/approach: A panel of 16 Asian developing countries (Central Asia, South Asia, and ASEAN) over the period of 2002–2016 is employed in the analysis. To assess the impact of remittances on economic performance in consideration of institutional quality, OLS estimates as well as GMM are used. Findings: The effect of remittances on economic growth is statistically significant. In addition, they also impact economic growth when they interact with institutional or financial development variables. For the long-run growth process of Central Asian, South Asian, and ASEAN countries, a sound and smooth institutional framework appears to be indispensable. Also, it was found that more fragile economies tend to achieve bigger growth than less fragile economies, as this kind of growth is triggered by more remittances flowing into fragile economies. However, the impact of remittances on growth does not depend on the level of ICT. FDI and financial development have positive impact on growth. Research limitations/implications: There are limitations to this research as well. Due to the unavailability of data, several countries had to be removed from this study. The cost of sending money might be an important variable for this study. However, the data on this variable from reliable sources are almost impossible to gather. Therefore, this variable is also not included in this research. The savings from remittances when intermediated through formal financial channels will, in fact, produce a positive allocation and distribution of resources that may eventually become an important source of growth. However, one precondition for larger and greater growth is that remittances need to be well and properly utilized by the financial sector. Therefore, quality institutions should be formed first, which can facilitate investment activities and make the flow of remittances more convenient. Originality/value: This paper exclusively considers the case of Asian developing countries (Central Asia, South Asia, and ASEAN) to assess the impact of remittances on the economic performance of these countries, with special consideration of the interaction effects of remittances and institutional quality in these emerging Asian economies. The previous studies on the effect of remittances on growth do not conform to one concrete conclusion. This study is undertaken in a bid to get the best possible result on the impact of remittances on the growth of the selected countries, majority of which attract substantial chunk of remittances into their economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1980s, inequality has been rising in Europe, North America and parts of Asia. How does our understanding of global inequality dynamics change if coverage is extended to the rest of the developing world? To rebalance the perspective on global inequality trends, this paper surveys data and literature on recent inequality trends in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It finds that in these regions there are more countries with falling than rising inequality over the past 20 years, as measured by Ginis of income or consumption inequality. At the global level, therefore, there are signs of inequality convergence, as inequality has been falling in countries with high inequality in the 1990s (particularly Latin America), and rising in historically low-inequality countries. We discuss the political and economic drivers of inequality decline in countries with a steady fall in the Gini. This suggests some common trends across the globe, including the role of democratisation, the rise of new social movements, and the expansion of education and social safety nets and favourable commodity prices, in reducing income disparities. This paper calls for more country-level comparisons of inequality trends, to highlight the multiplicity of paths in this latest phase of globalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between research and development (R&D) investment and economic development is well established. Yet, at a global scale, the resource-rich countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council are consistent outliers in this relationship, combining rich-world national incomes with R&D expenditure of developing countries. This paper uses a case study on Kuwait to illustrate a particular form of developmental trap, a version of the resource curse, which makes it irrational for private business firms to invest in R&D and innovation. Based on an analysis of the literature and secondary data, focus groups, and an original survey of large manufacturing firms, we argue that a narrow focus on R&D-led diversification of economic activity ignores the systemic problems faced by Kuwait and, particularly, the unsuitable supply of skills and capabilities provided by the national education and training system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of global value chains (gvcs) has allowed countries to specialise in the production of specific inputs (intermediate goods and final goods), which has a direct implication for productivity. This paper explores the impact of gvcs on the economic upgrading of developing economies. Specifically, our analysis relates to the effect of foreign value added in gross exports (gvcs) on domestic value-added content of gross exports (economic upgrading), which includes the added value that emanates from all the industries of the exporting country to their trading partners. The sample covers 50 countries (22 developing and 28 advanced countries) over the period 2005-2015. We employ both a pooled ols and a system gmm method. We contribute to the literature by differentiating between trade flows from developing economies (South-South) and developed economies (South-North). The results indicate a positive effect between gvcs participation and economic upgrading, with the effect being stronger in the case of South-North integration. Further, the results support the view that infrastructure development can play a key role in supporting the economic development of developing economies. gdp per capita, innovation, and institutional quality can all promote economic upgrading even though their effects vary across trade flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to bridge universality – as gentrification stands as a global threat to vulnerable communities – and local circumstances and geographies, by investigating structural factors, such as deindustrialisation and land rent gaps, as well as local political economies and socio-spatial structures, which are all common in the Global South. We conducted research in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to investigate whether a neoliberal economic development policy acted as a trigger for gentrification, relying on mixed methods research to analyse evidence of economic restructuring, land rent creation, changes in resident profiles and major urban development trends in the region. Findings indicate evidence of economic restructuring and that the policy triggered higher land values. However, we did not observe evidence of gentrification in the area and attribute this to a still-relevant manufacturing sector, the extensive presence of large informal settlements, the growing numbers of suburban gated communities, the low proportion of renters, and the fact that local elites are moving southwards while the policy took place in the northern peripheries of the metropolis. Federal policies such as minimum wage increases and housing programs partially contradicted neoliberal state policies. This case study offers a lens to investigate gentrification in different latitudes and illustrates how social policies may prevent gentrification processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), held in 1964, is often regarded as a pivotal moment in the history of relations between Global North and Global South. Yet there were a handful of countries at UNCTAD that sought to present themselves as not fitting into this system. These countries included Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Using Australia as a case study, this paper will demonstrate that the dominant dichotomy oversimplifies the developmental arguments that were presented at UNCTAD. Australia's policy at the Conference, which was generally referred to as the "Middle Zone," revolved around presenting Australia as being neither a "developed" nor "developing" country. By examining the Australian arguments, a more nuanced understanding of North-South relations is possible. Ultimately, the Australian case study provides a new way of understanding the significance of UNCTAD in the history of international development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural criminology as a topic of scholarly study, neglected over the past two to three decades, has bounced into the spotlight, with claims now being made that rural criminology is receiving justified attention among the academic fraternity. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the major challenge facing two countries with different levels of development as identified by the United Nations Human Development Index. A predicament for rural criminology is that the world is not equal: rural crimes is researched in developed countries but not in developing countries. This paper compares the types and prevalence of agricultural crimes in Australia (NSW) and South Africa to determine whether significant differences or similarities exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance Audits are among the competences of many Supreme Audit Institutions (sais), both in developed and developing countries. However, the level of real implementation of this technique in Latin America is underexplored. This paper aims to contribute to the analysis of the implementation of performance audits in Latin-American countries. This paper analyzed the situation of performance auditing in Latin America through a comparative study based on the evidence obtained from the websites of the sais and on a questionnaire sent to them. Results show a common rhetoric with respect to the importance of this technique but variations in practice. These variations can be explained by three reasons: rhetorical implementation, lack of fit between this technique and the problems facing Latin American countries and different levels of political and economic development. Access to information is quite difficult, fears to answer the questionnaire and lack of accessibility to the reports makes having a full picture a daunting task. Latin American sais should reevaluate the type of performance audit that suits their aims and adapt rather than adopt the tools developed in countries with different problems in public management. This paper offers a broad view of performance audit in Latin America. It reflects the effort of international organization and the limitations that performance audits confront in certain settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]