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Painkiller (mis)use in sport presents a range of potential health risks to athletes (e.g., injury exacerbation). There is a lack of qualitative data examining the sociological genesis of variations in attitudes toward painkiller use. Focusing on the concept of physical capital, this article explores how attitudes toward painkiller use among professional cricket players in England are socialized by their workplace. Attitudes toward painkiller (mis)use stem from field-level structures that foster employment vulnerability, ensuring physical capital is precarious and legitimating painkiller (mis)use as a method of protecting economic opportunities with the added benefit of accruing symbolic capital by demonstrating toughness. Based on the findings, this article advocates for a sociologically informed harm-reduction approach to pain management in elite sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This article examines the prevailing assumption by donors that connecting smallholder women to value chains will close the gender gap and empower women. Based on a case study of a programme that seeks to empower women through their integration into value chains in Vietnam, the article assesses women's empowerment across four dimensions: economic, psychological, social and political. The authors argue that women's engagement in value chains does not always financially benefit and empower women because patriarchal power structures within families, communities and businesses make it challenging for women to gain authority over production decisions in higher‐value crops. Women in the study gained more autonomy over ‘women's crops’ which yielded small incomes, while men had control over production that was seen as ‘men's work’, and in large‐scale and more lucrative production. Gendered power relations affect women's access to economic opportunities: in this context, development agencies should reconsider their approaches to women's economic empowerment by focusing on relational rather than individual empowerment. This means that women's economic empowerment programmes should involve both men and women, with targeted interventions ensuring women are empowered within the household and in their connections with the community, local authorities and businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'blue economy' is slowly emerging as a catch-all concept that captures the goals of sustaining economic development opportunities while simultaneously maintaining ocean ecosystem health. However, identifying the scope and boundaries of the blue economy has proven to be a challenging task. The aim of this article is to provide a new approach to finding a practical definition of the blue economy. Social equity is noted as the legal component and balancing mechanism that operates between the economy and the environment. This legal compensation mechanism has so far only been rudimentarily elaborated on in governance texts and must be given concrete form through legal methods and, in particular, through the creation of an institutional and procedural framework. The article introduces the idea that an advanced legal concept for the blue economy can be realised by using existing administrative processes and by strengthening the participation of private actors within these processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of illicit lottery activities has caused significant harm to both agricultural production and the livelihood of rural residents. An analysis of the factors that influence rural residents' participation in underground lotteries can provide crucial insight for regulating the lottery industry's development. This study examines the present state of rural residents' participation in underground lotteries, investigates the factors that impact their participation using the Double-Hurdle model, and further employs the ISM model to evaluate the correlations and hierarchical structure among the factors, using field survey data collected from 603 rural residents in S Province, China. The findings reveal that 53.07% of the respondents have participated in underground lotteries. Risk preference, information acquisition, social networks, age, education, family burden, percentage of agricultural labor, agricultural business scale, and household income significantly affect whether residents purchase lotteries (WPL). All factors, except the percentage of agricultural labor and agricultural business scale, also significantly impact underground lottery spending (LS). Among the significant influencing factors, rural residents' risk preference is the direct surface factor, whereas agricultural business scale, household income, information acquisition, and social networks are the middle indirect factors, and residents' age, education, family burden, and percentage of agricultural labor are the deep-rooted factors. It is recommended to regulate the lottery industry's development can be achieved by enhancing entertainment and cultural activities, expanding economic opportunities, enhancing rural education, increasing law awareness, and improving the public welfare lottery business model. The conclusions offer a valuable reference point for the standardized development of the lottery industry and the promotion of social stability in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social housing offers a way of promoting upward mobility and urban integration by improving people's access to economic and social opportunities. These are prominent goals of South Africa's social housing programme. In practice, household advancement tends to be taken for granted rather than deliberately pursued or monitored. We review survey data for 1632 households across ten social housing projects and find modest evidence of social mobility and racial integration. One reason for this is that other considerations have taken precedence during implementation. We conclude by identifying various ways of reaffirming the transformative goals of social housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of the output of six Australian opinion journalists about the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), across a range of newspapers, reveals a shift from positive to negative views between 2013 and 2020, with the BRI agreements with Victoria revoked in 2021. At first neutral, with, in some cases, a positive assessment of economic opportunities, the change from around 2017 reflected Australian attitudes to China's alleged human rights violations, questions of Australian national sovereignty, Australia's global order choice between China-led 'authoritarianism' and United States-led 'liberal democracy', the designation by Australian allies of China as a strategic rival, and claims about debt-trap diplomacy. The nadir in BRI narratives was in 2020. Also, anti- or pro-BRI attitudes did not depend on media ownership but by individual journalists' expertise and experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The injustices that have been visited upon racial minorities in the United States have a substantial economic legacy, both in terms of wealth disparities and resulting structural differences in economic opportunities. In response, some prominent Black scholars and policymakers have proposed a 'baby bonds' wealth-building policy. In this paper, I complement the economic justifications for this policy by examining the case for the proposal in terms of racial justice. The common justifications in the literature use a 'justice as rectification' framework, but this framework is a poor fit for the baby bonds proposal, unless we first examine the policy as a way to mitigate barriers to economic opportunity caused by persistent wealth gaps. This analysis focuses the case for baby bonds on their real selling point: a universal wealth policy can limit the intergenerational impact of injustice and misfortune of all kinds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for renewable resources to replace fossil fuels has increased. Fruit and agricultural wastes can be fermented to yield biofuels and biochemicals. However, the high cost of the feedstock and limitations of the catalytic process hinder the application of such wastes. Therefore, we aimed to develop an efficient enzymatic saccharification process, without pretreatment, for fruit and agricultural wastes. The conversion rate of the mixed agricultural wastes (MAW) to fermentable sugars was approximately 91 % after 24 h. The ethanol yield increased by 4.5 % after limonene removal. The D-allulose yield in the hydrolysate was 4.6 mg/mL at 4 °C and 3.3 mg/mL at 50 °C, whereas the fructose yield in the sugar medium was 13.2 mg/mL at 4°C, demonstrating a high conversion yield of 73.2 %. Lactic acid was produced at a conversion rate of approximately 67.4 %. Therefore, this study presents a novel approach of the biosynthesis of functional sugars and chemicals from waste biomass, introducing a cost-effective enzymatic saccharification process that bypasses pretreatment, thereby enabling the production of biofuels, biochemicals, and functional sugars and opening up a promising economic opportunity in the field. [Display omitted] • Fruit and agricultural waste can be fermented to yield biofuels and biochemicals. • Fruit and vegetable wastes do not require pretreatment prior to saccharification. • Bioethanol yield was approximately 84.9 % after removing limonene. • The yield of D-allulose in the hydrolyzate was 4.6 mg/mL at 4°C and 3.3 mg at 50°C. • Lactic acid was produced from hydrolysate with high conversion rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union's Recovery and Resilience Facility is an unprecedented investment opportunity for economic modernisation. However, while the supranational European Commission assumes considerable influence over the design of national Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRPs), there is substantial diversity among RRPs. This paper analyses the interaction between national governments and the Commission in the coordinative RRP design process. We argue that national policy preferences, rooted in the partisan profiles of governing coalitions, ultimately explain variation in RRP content. We analyse the policymaking process in three semi-peripheral economies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) – Estonia, Romania, and Slovakia. CEE countries are especially suitable because as expected rule-takers, they function as least likely cases for the relevance of government agency, i.e., national partisanship. Through elite interviews, we trace various elements of each RRP to specific positions of governing coalitions and, with national variation, the Commission's ability to impose its own policy preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australia-New Zealand alliance is a critical element of New Zealand foreign and defence policy. It is especially important in a region that is becoming less stable and more competitive. This commentary asks how the alliance influences New Zealand’s China policy. Australia and New Zealand both enjoy significant trade relations with China, and both have sought to manage relations to maximise economic opportunities. Following decades of economic growth, China has led a regionwide increase in defence spending, becoming a more powerful, consequential and at times disruptive regional actor. This shift has complicated China policy in both countries and further underlined the importance of the alliance partnership for New Zealand. Both countries have recalibrated their China policies and strengthened the cohesion of the alliance. This is shown by shared assessments of opportunity and risk, of synchronised shifts due to changes in China and joint actions to shape China’s behaviour and the regional order. Temporal differences in policy shifts, notably in security settings and public diplomacy, follow a tradition of loyal opposition that ultimately strengthens the alliance response to a rejuvenated China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bright future of any society is always associated with its upcoming generation. Children are the future prosperity of any nation as they are productive workers of tomorrow. The main objective of this study is to estimate the opportunities available for children under age of 5 years and their mothers for different regions of Pakistan and Bangladesh. The core idea of this study is to access and compare Pakistan with Bangladesh as it was previously a poor and struggling part of it. Data of this study are gathered from Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey and Pakistan Demographic Health Survey for the year 2017–18. The overall comparison of Pakistan and Bangladesh had put Pakistan in a situation where it lagged in every aspect of health-related facilities provided to its citizen. Governments should focus on providing economic opportunities, Health, education, and nutrition to enhance regional and area-level living standards. Further, rural areas should be more focused, especially by the Government of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to analyze the impact of the Strong Synergy Program to Support Clean and Healthy Villages through the concept of "From Waste to Happy Community." Based on data that has been collected from posyandu activities in May 2024 in Keluang Village, Tungkal Ilir District, Banyuasin Regency, there are 8 toddlers experiencing stunting and malnutrition conditions out of 40 toddlers who attended the activity. The program is designed to reduce the amount of wood waste thrown away and reduce the negative impact caused, provide educational play tools that can improve the quality of children's learning and stimulation, help improve stunting conditions through better cognitive and motor stimulation, and provide economic opportunities for local artisans and drive the community's economy. This paper and the program can be a breakthrough in synergistic innovation, where it is a combination of environmental solutions with health and education interventions in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global shift toward next-generation energy systems is propelled by the urgent need to combat climate change and the dwindling supply of fossil fuels. This review explores the intricate challenges and opportunities for transitioning to sustainable renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydrogen. This transition economically challenges traditional energy sectors while fostering new industries, promoting job growth, and sustainable economic development. The transition to renewable energy demands social equity, ensuring universal access to affordable energy, and considering community impact. The environmental benefits include a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a lesser ecological footprint. This study highlights the rapid growth of the global wind power market, which is projected to increase from $112.23 billion in 2022 to $278.43 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 13.67%. In addition, the demand for hydrogen is expected to increase, significantly impacting the market with potential cost reductions and making it a critical renewable energy source owing to its affordability and zero emissions. By 2028, renewables are predicted to account for 42% of global electricity generation, with significant contributions from wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, particularly in China, the European Union, the United States, and India. These developments signify a global commitment to diversifying energy sources, reducing emissions, and moving toward cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions. This review offers stakeholders the insights required to smoothly transition to sustainable energy, setting the stage for a resilient future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, a combination of natural and human factors has led to the lack of cost-effective production, resulting in the downturn of traditional animal husbandry (DTLH) in rural regions. This research aims to investigate the factors contributing to the DTLH in indigenous communities in northwestern Iran. The statistical population consisted of pastoralists residing in the villages of Namin-Ardabil, Iran. The research method employed was descriptive-analytical, and a questionnaire was used as the data collection tool. The sample size was determined by selecting approximately 5–10% of households in each village, preferably the household head. Friedman's test was utilized to prioritize the most significant factors influencing DTLH. The findings reveals that the most crucial economic criteria contributing to the DTLH were "the high cost of providing inputs and fodder required for livestock (mean rank = 11.12)," "more economic opportunities and access to well-paying employment opportunities in the city (mean rank = 8.99)", and "low profit from livestock farming in the rangeland (mean rank = 10.60)". Moreover, the most important social criteria were "uncertainty regarding the future well-being of children and the social and economic situation in the village (mean rank = 14.12)", "motivation for academic and career development in urban areas (mean rank = 14.10)", and "access to specialized and professional training opportunities in cities (mean rank = 13.80)". Furthermore, the most crucial ecological criteria impacting the DTLH were "drought" (mean ran = 7.96)" and "non-implementation of range management plans and grazing permits" (mean rank = 6.07)". In general, the results indicated that the ecological criteria had the highest impact on the DTLH, followed by social and economic criteria, with values of 41.1%, 34.6%, and 24.29%, respectively. Overall, understanding the challenges faced by traditional livestock husbandry and identifying the factors contributing to its decline is crucial for developing effective strategies to support and sustain this industry in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, overseas labour migration has become a lifeline for many households in Nepal. Using survey data from 465 randomly selected households and 227 overseas labour migrants, this paper examines the factors influencing overseas labour migration and migration intensity in farming households by employing a generalised two-part fractional regression model, and migrants’ destination choice by using the probit model. We find that a higher proportion of educated members in the household, along with household’s credit access, indebtedness, and contacts with manpower agencies significantly increase the likelihood of overseas labour migration and migration intensity in the households, whereas the presence of employed members in the household, larger farms, irrigation access, and higher asset index significantly lower such likelihood. We find a lower likelihood of migration to Malaysia and the Middle East countries among individuals with employed household members and a higher asset index, while those connected to manpower agencies are more likely to choose these countries as destinations. Our findings emphasise the significance of creating and providing decent economic opportunities, including strengthening the agriculture sector, to address the existing surge in overseas labour migration from farming households in Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy is a paradigm shift from the traditional linear model of production and consumption where goods have to be used and dispose. Circular economy (CE) is a system where materials and products are continually reused, recycled, and refurbished to minimize the waste and to lesser the negative environmental impact. In recent times, business and government and the society at large have started recognizing the need to deviate from the take-make-dispose approach of production and consumption because the circular economy offer a promising framework for achieving economic prospect while reducing the environment challenges of the 21st century. Thus, the study tried to explore the concept of circular economy, its schools of thought, drivers and strategies. The study made use of the library research method. From our exploration of circular economy, we observed that CE is a pragmatic and economic viable strategy and it has the potential to drive innovation, redefine business model, and create new economic opportunity. Nevertheless the transition to circular economy has some challenges which require concerted effort from the government, individual, industries, and collaboration on a global scale to overcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong commercial ties promote peace as states shun the opportunity costs of economic disruption. However, trade also enriches and empowers states, rendering them more capable of enforcing long-term settlements. Given economic disruption does not last forever, countries can be incentivized to trade short-term economic losses for long-term political or territorial gains. This trade-off can restrict or even reverse the pacifying effect of commerce as it renders states incapable of committing to existing peaceful deals. I argue the scope condition hinges on the existing power imbalance and the security externalities of trade, defined as states' abilities to translate trade gains into (potential) military power. For countries where the existing power gap is not extreme, the impact of bilateral strategic trade is contingent upon a country's trade externality relative to its opponent's. Although increased bilateral trade can be peace-promoting when the relative externality is small, the pacifying effects can dissipate as a relatively weaker state becomes more capable of exploiting trade gains. Building on recent work in network analysis, I propose a new measurement of trade externalities to test the above theory and find supporting results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the second half of the nineteenth century, the Kanien'kehá:ka community of Kahnawà:ke was strained by several intersecting economic, social, and political tensions. Drawing on recent scholarship and a variety of primary source materials, this article examines these tensions and considers lacrosse as a source of economic opportunity and social capital that enabled Kahnawa'kehró:non to cope with these strains and maintain the economic and social fabric of their community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of geography in debates around education and labour market inequality is an enduring public policy concern. This paper argues that local economic contexts have a role in shaping the kind of university and career trajectories working-class young people are exposed to. Drawing on multi-sited data on working-class young people in different local contexts across England, it underlines the importance of regional economic development, the geography of elite universities and the spatial patterning of widening participation networks and activity. In the capital, a sophisticated widening participation infrastructure exists – including multiple partnerships between schools and the third and private sectors – which far exceeds the networks and support found elsewhere. Combined with London's high economic capital and elite career pathways, this infrastructure greatly facilitates systems of support designed to drive aspirations to elite universities and careers. Whilst advocating for a fairer distribution of educational opportunities nationwide, we argue that, without acknowledging the origins of spatial imbalances within the UK, any attempt at simply 'spreading out the same' opportunities risks offering a superficial response. If long-term change is to be truly advanced, a more systematic dismantling of how economic functions and social relations are configured spatially must first be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional coalbed methane (CBM) reservoir models for injection fall-off testing often disregard the quadratic pressure gradient's impact. This omission leads to discrepancies in simulating the transient behavior of formation fluids and extracting critical reservoir properties. Accurate determination of permeability, storability, and other properties is crucial for effective reservoir characterization and production forecasting. Inaccurate estimations can lead to suboptimal well placement, ineffective production strategies, and ultimately, missed economic opportunities. To address this shortcoming, we present a novel analytical model that explicitly incorporates the complexities of the quadratic pressure gradient and dual-permeability flow mechanisms, prevalent in many CBM formations where nanopores are rich, presenting a kind of natural nanomaterial. This model offers significant advantages over traditional approaches. By leveraging variable substitution, it facilitates the derivation of analytical solutions in the Laplace domain, subsequently converted to real-space solutions for practical application. These solutions empower reservoir engineers to generate novel type curves, a valuable tool for analyzing wellbore pressure responses during injection fall-off tests. By identifying distinct flow regimes within the reservoir based on these type curves, engineers gain valuable insights into the dynamic behavior of formation fluids. This model goes beyond traditional approaches by investigating the influence of the quadratic pressure gradient coefficient, inter-porosity flow coefficient, and storability ratio on the pressure response. A quantitative comparison with traditional models further elucidates the key discrepancies caused by neglecting the quadratic pressure gradient. The results demonstrate the proposed model's ability to accurately depict the non-linear flow behavior observed in CBM wells. This translates to more reliable pressure and pressure derivative curves that account for the impact of the quadratic pressure gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic unleashed a global crisis with far-reaching impacts on various aspects of society, including labor migration and family dynamics. Among the vulnerable populations affected were transnational mothers who, having migrated in pursuit of economic opportunities, found themselves unexpectedly laid-off and compelled to return to their home countries. This phenomenological research endeavored to unravel the lived experiences of these laid-off transnational mothers as they navigate the complex journey of emergency return and reintegration during the pandemic. Drawing on a qualitative phenomenological approach, this study engaged in-depth interviews to explore the dimensions of these mothers' experiences. The research journey illuminated the challenges, coping mechanisms, and transformations that emerged as these mothers embarked on a journey of returning to rebuild their lives and identities. Findings revealed that the sudden job loss and subsequent return disrupted established life trajectories, leading to a profound sense of dislocation and ambiguity. The mothers' narratives captured the struggles of renegotiating roles within families and communities, grappling with economic instability, and confronting the intersections of gender, migration, and resilience. By bringing these individual stories to the forefront, the research underscored the urgent need for tailored support mechanisms, inclusive policy responses, and heightened awareness of the unique challenges faced by transnational mothers in crisis situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boko Haram terrorism has since its inception in 2009 claimed the lives of over 20,000 people and caused the displacement of about 3 million following violent attacks on communities and the destruction of social structure and economic livelihood opportunities for communities. Since the number of displaced persons resulting from the activities of Boko Haram is on the increase, efforts are being intensified by both the state and non-state humanitarian actors to manage the crisis that results from this displacement. Despite these efforts, very few results have been achieved. This is largely a result of problems that bedevil the Nigerian state, namely (i) inadequate resources to finance humanitarian programmes for the internally displaced persons (IDPs), (ii) poor data management system, (iii) clash of responsibilities among humanitarian delivery agencies and institutions and (iv) the lack of policy support and poor implementation of provisions of other frameworks. Utilising systems theory, the study investigates the efforts of state and non-state actors in managing Boko Haram-induced internal displacements and the effectiveness or otherwise of managing the IDPs in Nigeria. It is found that the management of IDPs in Nigeria remains poorly handled owing to the above factors. Relying on the secondary method of data collection, the study also found that prolonged Boko Haram terrorism increases the possibility of internal displacements. Based on these findings, the study concludes that the government should quicken the process of policy adoption and implementation on IDP to serve as a legal framework for the management of IDPs in Nigeria, as well as develop a robust mechanism of data management to enhance the administration of humanitarian support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European defence policy offers opportunities for spending more and better where better achieves more from existing resources. Increased defence spending needs to be justified by the threats to Europe which have to be identified and defined. Higher defence expenditure usually focuses on inputs rather than final outputs in the form of greater peace, protection, security and the safety of a nation's citizens. The task is to show the opportunities for applying economic analysis to the complexities of European defence policy and collaborative defence projects. Economic efficiency criteria identify the contribution of final outputs, substitution and competition to the formulation of European defence policy, but the final outcomes are likely to be determined by military-political factors rather than economic efficiency criteria. The paper provides a critique of European defence policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary trends in low fertility can in part be explained by increasing incentives to invest in offspring's embodied capital over offspring quantity in environments where education is a salient source of social mobility. However, studies on this subject have often neglected to empirically examine heterogeneity, missing out on the opportunity to investigate how this relationship is impacted when individuals are excluded from meaningful participation in economic spheres. Using General Social Survey data from the United States, I examine changes in the relationship between number of siblings and college attendance for White and Black respondents throughout the 1900s. Results show that in the early 1900s, White individuals from larger families had a lower chance of completing four years of college education than those from smaller families, whereas the likelihood for Black individuals was more uniform across family sizes. These racial differences mostly converged in the later part of the century. These results may help explain variations in the timing of demographic transitions within different racial groups in the United States and suggest that the benefits of decreasing family size on educational outcomes may be conditional on the specific economic opportunities afforded to a family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This paper examines the impact of local economic activity on criminal behavior. We build on existing research by relaxing the identification assumptions required for causal inference, and estimate the impact of local economic activity on recidivism. Methods: We use the fracking boom as a source of credibly exogenous variation in the economic conditions into which incarcerated people are released. We replicate and extend existing instrumental variables analyses of fracking on how many released offenders return to state prison seperately from aggregate crime and arrests. Results: Our instrumental variables estimates imply that a ten thousand dollar increase in the value of per capita production is associated with a 2.8% reduction in the 1-year recidivism of ex-offenders at the county level. Improved labor market conditions, specifically an increase in wages for young adults, may explain a non-negligible fraction of the reduction in recidivism associated with economic booms. In contrast, we replicate existing work finding that fracking increased aggregate measures of crime and arrests. Conclusion: Increased economic opportunity appears to have a different impact of overall crime than on recidivism. This suggests that the relationship between economic opportunity and offending may be conditioned by local social ties. Further research examining how social connections and labor markets affect individual criminal behavior is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental objective of this study is to analyze banking access and its contribution to economic development in the Manta canton, Ecuador, through the loans granted by the financial institution, savings and credit cooperative Cooprogreso to adult residents. The importance of the research lay in the need to understand how access to financial credit can influence the economic situation and quality of life of citizens. Scientific methods at the theoretical, empirical and mathematical statistical level were used to develop the methodology. Among the main findings, it was known that the banking rate in the aforementioned canton has increased significantly in recent years, improving the financial inclusion of the population. It is concluded that banking has had a positive impact on economic development, expanding economic opportunities for citizens, as well as stimulating and promoting a local economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China–Malaysia economic engagement has deepened since the 1990s. The scale and scope of this relationship has also expanded significantly following the 2013 announcement of the Belt and Road Initiative. Offering a context-rich, historically-nuanced perspective, this paper analyses how Malaysian policymakers have engaged with economic opportunities opened up by the burgeoning Chinese market. In particular, it examines how Chinese foreign direct investment has contributed to industrial upgrading trajectories in Malaysia. The paper makes two inter-related arguments. First, it uncovers a correlation between closer Chinese–Malaysian economic integration and services liberalization, which results in Malaysia's lower emphasis on manufacturing and 'proper' industrialization. In other words, structural transformation has occurred, but it is geared towards the services sector. Relatedly, Chinese investment entering Malaysia, notwithstanding its relatively recent status, is composed primarily of service industries. The services-heavy nature of Chinese investment results in a relatively modest economic multiplier effect, potentially exacerbating some societal tensions and inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: There are significant challenges when obtaining clinical and economic evidence for health technology assessments of rare diseases. Many of them have been highlighted in previous systematic reviews but they have not been summarised in a comprehensive manner. For all stakeholders working with rare diseases, it is important to be aware and understand these issues. The objective of this review is to identify the main challenges for the economic evaluation of orphan drugs in rare diseases. Methods: An umbrella review of systematic reviews of economic studies concerned with orphan and ultra-orphan drugs was conducted. Studies that were not systematic reviews, or on advanced therapeutic medicinal products, personalised medicines or other interventions that were not considered orphan drugs were excluded. The database searches included publications from 2010 to 2023, and were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane library using filters for systematic reviews, and economic evaluations and models. These filters were combined with search terms for rare diseases and orphan drugs. A hand search supplemented the literature searches. The findings were reported by a compliant Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram. Results: Two hundred and eighty-two records were identified from the literature searches, of which 64 were duplicates, whereas five reviews were identified from the hand search. A total of 36 reviews were included after screening against inclusion/exclusion criteria, 35 from literature searches and one from hand searching. Of those studies 1, 27 and 8 were low, moderate and high quality, respectively. The reviews highlight the scarcity of evidence for health economic parameters, for example, clinical effectiveness, costs, quality of life and the natural history of disease. Health economic evaluations such as cost-effectiveness and budget-impact analyses were scarce, and generally low-to-moderate quality. The causes were limited health economic parameters, together with publications bias, especially for cost-effectiveness analyses. Conclusions: The results highlighted issues around a considerable paucity of evidence for economic evaluations and few cost-effectiveness analyses, supporting the notion that a paucity of evidence makes economic evaluations of rare diseases more challenging compared with more prevalent diseases. Furthermore, we provide recommendations for more sustainable approaches in economic evaluations of rare diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a thorough examination of methane capture from Polish coal mines, contextualized within the framework of the European Union's (EU) climate policy objectives. Through a strategic analysis encompassing the interior of coal mines, the surrounding environment, and the macro environment, this study elucidates the complex dynamics involved in methane emissions and capture initiatives. The key findings include a declining trend in absolute methane emissions since 2008, despite fluctuations in coal extraction volumes, and a relatively stable level of methane capture exceeding 300 million m3/year since 2014. The analysis underscores the critical role of government support, both in terms of financial incentives and streamlined regulatory processes, to facilitate the integration of methane capture technologies into coal mining operations. Collaboration through partnerships and stakeholder engagement emerges as essential for overcoming resource competition and ensuring the long-term success of methane capture projects. This paper also highlights the economic and environmental opportunities presented by methane reserves, emphasizing the importance of investment in efficient extraction technologies. Despite these advancements, challenges persist, particularly regarding the low efficiency of current de-methanation technologies. Recommendations for modernization and technological innovation are proposed to enhance methane capture efficiency and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a host–parasitoid model with a Holling type-II functional response and incorporate harvest effort. The Holling type-II response leads to saturation in parasitized hosts, creating a potential economic harvesting opportunity. To address overexploitation risks, we integrate a harvest effort function, determining an optimal threshold to prevent depletion. We explore model dynamics and bifurcations, including co-dimension one behaviors such as flip and Neimark–Sacker bifurcations, we provide numerical examples for validation. Our suggested difference-algebraic model, compared to continuous-time models, exhibits rich dynamics within the Nicholson–Bailey host–parasitoid framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global pig production has increased by 140% since the 1960s. The increase in global population, coupled with improving socioeconomic conditions of many countries has led to an increased consumption of meat globally, including pork. To keep up with demand and capitalize on economic opportunities, the countries of China, the United States (US), and the European Union (EU) have become the top 3 pork producers globally. China is of particular interest, as it is the both the largest country in pork production and pig numbers, as well as being the largest importer of pork from other countries. Globally, the efficiency of pork production has improved, in relation to the integration of pig production and the dramatic increase in research efforts in pig nutrition and production. Through integration, large producers can consolidate resources and maximize profits and efficiency. The increased research interest and efforts in pig production have given scientists and producers the opportunity to collaborate to adapt to challenges and identify possible solutions to issues brought on by a volatile global market. Intestinal health (23%), general nutrition and growth (23%), and amino acid nutrition (15%) were the top 3 areas (61%) leading research trends in pig nutrition and production. Major dietary interventions with feed additives evaluated include functional amino acids, feed enzymes, pre-/pro-/post-biotics, and phytobiotics with a common goal to improve the growth efficiency by enhancing nutrient utilization and intestinal health. With increasing global issues with environment, pig producers and the supporting scientists should continue their efforts to improve the production efficiency and to reduce the environmental footprint from pig production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on previous research, this study investigates the international migration network and its changes from 1990 to 2017. The findings suggest that certain core countries play pivotal roles in shaping global migration by providing economic opportunities or political refuge. Community detection identified nine groups of nations in 2017, indicating regionalization. The study also examined the networks of antecedent factors that reflect both structural factors, such as geography, language, colonial history, political stability and economic differences, as well as transnational interactions, including student flow, trade, Internet flow and remittance, in relation to the international migration network. Applying multiple regression quadratic assignment procedure, it was found that these networks constituted approximately 11% of the migration network's distribution when chain migration was excluded, and 16.5% when it was included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the studies on the moral economy of pre-capitalist African societies have singularly asserted that wealth redistribution in these societies was made only for the moral satisfaction of the redistributors. However, since the late 1960s this notion has been increasingly criticised with the claim that pre-capitalist societies were also economically rational. This paper presents the political economy of the pre-capitalist society of Gamo in Southern Ethiopia, where wealth redistribution can be interpreted as having been made not only for moral satisfaction but also for economic and political gains. The Gamo have a redistribution culture embedded in an institution known as haleqa in which economically better-off individuals redistribute wealth to the ordinary community members to get elected as clan leaders, a position that will give them opportunities to accrue economic benefits. The paper argues that cultures of wealth redistribution which are often daubed entirely 'moral' in fact significantly mix rational political and economic behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article employs ordered probit to examine the effect mother's education and other socio-economic and community factors on the prevalence of childhood anaemia in urban and rural areas and severity of anaemia in Uganda using the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey. In Uganda, 53% of children aged 6–59 months suffered from some degree of anaemia, with 24% being mildly anaemic, 27% moderately anaemic, and 2% severely anaemic (UDHS, 2016). Anaemia has substantial negative effects on the health and economic wellbeing of nations and communities. The study findings indicate that mother's education attainment and the partner's schooling and socio-economic factors are important in explaining the prevalence of childhood anaemia in Uganda. The major implication of these results is that raising women's education improves their economic opportunities, and the behavioural responses and this can greatly improve children's health outcomes in terms of low prevalence of childhood anaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) has been a crucial trade and development initiative, offering preferential access to qualified Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries to the United States market since its enactment in 2000. This paper presents a comprehensive review of scholarly articles and policy reports that analyze the impact of AGOA on the economic performance of SSA countries. Employing various econometric methods and data analysis techniques, researchers have investigated the effects of AGOA on trade flows, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, employment, economic growth, and poverty levels. The findings reveal that AGOA has positively affected the region's trade, particularly in apparel, textiles, and agriculture. However, its influence on promoting export diversification and attracting FDI is nuanced, with substantial heterogeneity among the beneficiary countries and industries within each country. While some SSA countries have experienced substantial export growth and FDI inflows, others have not fully leveraged the benefits of AGOA due to absorptive capacity constraints and governance challenges. AGOA's effectiveness in promoting broad-based employment, GDP growth, and poverty reduction remains an active area of inquiry, necessitating further research to understand the policy's sustained impact and inform future trade policy designs for SSA countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between African urban peripheries and informal development that also aligns with the broader goal of creating inclusive and sustainable urban environments. The authors employed a literature review approach and examined the complexities of informal settlements. In the presentation of their findings, the authors focus on conceptualizing of informality beyond slum areas, unravelling urbanization complexities in African urban peripheries, analysing the emergence of informal development in urban peripheral zones, and addressing informal settlements in the context of SDG 11. The findings reveal the embeddedness of informal practices in African urban peripheries, and the emphasis on adaptability, hybridity, and the role of informal entities in shaping complex urban fabrics. Additionally, inclusivity, safety, resilience, and sustainability are emphasized within the context of SDG 11. The authors conclude that a holistic and collaborative approach is important for shaping inclusive and sustainable urban futures in African urban peripheries. Additionally, they propose strategies for upgrading and formalizing informal settlements, the provision of essential social services, creation of economic opportunities, enhancement of safety, and to foster resilience through adaptive strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last three decades, Santiago, Chile has experienced rapid urbanisation. The city's expansion has prompted the proliferation of high-rise residential buildings, mediated by spatial segregation along class lines and fragmented urban governance. Concurrently, economic opportunities in Chile have drawn regional labour migrants, resulting in an unprecedented increase in migratory flows. Drawing on ethnographic research, this article charts the everyday experiences of migrants in high-rise residences. As new arrivals seek housing, social networks channel migrants – particularly Venezuelans – into shared high-rise apartments, producing specific buildings as vertical enclaves. Lived experiences within the confines of verticality are frequently shaped by the challenges of overcrowding. As migrants craft daily practices to mitigate these limitations, their routines make full use of limited space and meaningfully engage with building common areas, public spaces and neighbourhoods. The everyday practice of verticality articulates links between high-rises and surrounding sites, neighbourhoods and the broader urban fabric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union has made the development of a circular economy one of the central ambitions of its Green Deal, in which plastics are a defined priority. Current policies, however, have drawn criticism that the narrow focus on techno-innovation opportunities and economic growth falls short of addressing multifaceted socio-ecological challenges, overlooks trade-offs between proposed solutions, and conceals conflicts of interest among different actors. This paper contributes to opening-up the critical political debate on the circular plastics economy using discourse analysis. Looking at how arguments are framed, which priorities are defined, and how actors take positions, we identify three circular plastics economy discourses in Europe: 'Plastic fantastic' (material-focused), 'Circular economy will fly us to the moon' (plastics economy-focused), and 'Even plastic flowers are dead in this system' (socio-ecological systems-focused). Our paper demonstrates that the circular plastics economy is inherently political and is actively imagined, built, and created through discursive mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural tourism helps preserve cultural heritage and provides economic opportunities for local communities. A walkable cultural tourism route has been developed for the old town of Ratchaburi, Thailand. Here, we assessed changes in PM1 after cars were banned from the walkable tourist route. A near-roadway dispersion model, R-LINE, was evaluated and used to explore the base case (BC) and two scenarios, S1 and S2. In the BC, road traffic activities reflected the current situation; in S1, all vehicles were banned from the walkable route; and in S2, all drivers were encouraged to park their vehicles outside the study area. The road traffic activities in the study area were observed and used to calculate the PM1 emission rates for the model inputs. The model was capable of simulating PM1 concentration, especially the average PM1 concentration over the monitoring period. An increase in PM1 concentration was seen at the main road in S1 due to the increased traffic volume that had been redirected from the walkable route, with an increase in daily PM1 of 4.5% compared to BC. S2 showed a decrease in the PM1 concentration of 8.9%. These findings suggest the need for traffic mitigation measures prior to initiating a walkable route for cultural tourism, to meet environmental sustainability requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent passage of the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act (2021) (Cth) opened up the potential for Australia to produce renewable energy at unprecedented scale. Six regions have been identified as potential locations for developing offshore wind projects, promising thousands of new local jobs to legacy industrial regions. This paper charts the regulatory framework for Australia's offshore wind industry and how it positions local economic benefits in the licencing of projects. It then draws on interviews with key stakeholders supported by media and policy analysis to examine the early development of offshore wind capability in one of the proposed regions, the Illawarra, in NSW. Here existing steelmaking capacity positions the region to play a key role in supply chains for local and potentially national projects, but considerable structural and geographical constraints in the labour market will need to be addressed. In light of overseas experience indicating that economic benefits often fall short of promises, greater attention by policy makers is required to ensure hosting communities can develop local skills in the industry and facilitate their relative supply chain capabilities. This paper also calls for careful evaluation of early projects to allow for adjustments to policy settings as the industry matures domestically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the space economy and its profound geopolitical implications. Artificial intelligence is increasingly powering space missions, satellite networks and resource utilization, thereby reshaping the global landscape of the space industry. AI-driven advances are fueling economic opportunities and competition among nations in space-related sectors and the resulting geopolitical effects. From satellite services to lunar and Martian exploration, AI is poised to become a driving force in shaping the balance of power in the space arena, making it a critical topic for policymakers, strategists and industry leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Estonia joined the European Union in 2004, there has been a steady growth in transnational mobility for work or study among Estonian young adults, a phenomenon further boosted by the economic recession of 2008–09. This article analyses the factors that have influenced or would potentially influence their return to Estonia, following an online survey of over 2,000 participants from Estonia aged 20–35 years with a recent experience of living abroad. By deploying an analysis of logistic regression, we developed two models concerning the 'actual return factors' (comparing the stayers with those who have returned) and the 'aspirational return factors' (how the migrants imagine their future location). Some of the highlights of our results demonstrate that the likelihood of return migration is significantly lower for those whose prime reasons for leaving Estonia were related to living conditions and salary abroad. The extent of people's ties and connections to Estonia does not play a significant role in actually returning to Estonia. However, these connections do play a role, albeit limited, in envisioning one's future in Estonia. The outcomes of our analysis suggest that diaspora policies cannot be implemented without addressing the sending country's internal sociopolitical situation, which influences the living conditions and economic opportunities of its citizens, scrutinized particularly carefully by those who have left the country before deciding whether or not to return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration is always at the core of migration studies and is examined from various theoretical perspectives. While integration models are valuable for understanding how national political systems influence the integration of foreigners into society, the real challenge of integration manifests at the local level. From a neighbourhood-based approach, this article addresses the integration trajectories of Sri Lankan entrepreneurs in Rione Sanità, Naples, which is a socio-economically deprived neighbourhood hosting a substantial segment of foreign populations and has been the target of significant urban regeneration initiatives over the past decade. Sri Lankans established travel agencies, fiscal assistance centres, restaurants, takeaways, and retailers in a transformative context. This article highlights how entrepreneurial initiatives are shaped by the mutual connection linking immigrants with the place where they found economic and relational opportunities. The results serve as a crucial starting point for better understanding the long-term outcomes of the socio-economic integration at the neighbourhood level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people in cities in the Horn of Africa engage with diasporic mobility through social media on a daily basis. Apparent opportunities on these platforms both reflect and shape ideas about life in the diaspora, potential migration, and social mobility. These connections also bring risks of scamming, extortion and misinformation that contribute to the involuntary immobility of those who wish to move for economic or educational opportunities. Drawing from 'screen-shot elicitation' group interviews with young men in Hargeisa (Somaliland) and digital ethnographic investigation of social media content gathered before, during and after these sessions, this article argues that transnational flows of mobility-related information need to be studied from the perspective of people within contexts commonly understood as 'sources' of south-north migration, but beyond policy-orientated questions about the impact of ICTs on rates of migration. Emphasising the highly ambivalent role played by social media in shaping aspirations and experiences of youth (im)mobility, this approach brings into view a wider range of socially significant online practices. These include the transnational assemblage of elaborate digital scamming techniques, as well as multiple other types of mobility-focused user-generated content that circulate in transnational Somali social (media) networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines patterns and trends in household food security in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, from 2010 to 2019. We use data from a household panel nested in the Agincourt Health and Socio-Demographic Surveillance System. Findings indicate that there have been improvements in household food security in this rural setting over the last decade. By polychoric principal component analysis, an aggregate food security index was constructed and we observed a small, yet important, proportion of households (7.8%) that remained chronically food insecure. An ordered probit model was used to estimate the determinants of food security. Findings reveal that the observed differences in household food security status are as a result of differences in socioeconomic status. We therefore recommend that focus must be placed on identifying economic opportunities and empowering the chronically food insecure households if universal household food security is to be attained in rural South Africa and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies show that the deployment of a peacekeeping operation (PKO) can provide an economic boost to the host state and its population. Some of those studies also suggest that such a boost is unsustainable and that peacekeeping exit may trigger economic downturn within host states. If that is the case, however, do some locals feel the adverse economic effects of PKO exit more than others? In this article, we argue that individuals who come to directly or indirectly depend on economic opportunities that emerge following the deployment of peacekeepers are particularly likely to experience negative economic effects after PKO exit. However, those effects may be partly mitigated through individuals' economic actions and/or their access to new sources of outside support after the exit of peacekeepers. We test our argument on original data gathered through a large-scale household survey of Monrovia, Liberia, conducted in early 2020. We also draw on qualitative interview data. After noting an overall downturn in Liberia's economy after 2018 (when the UN Mission in Liberia closed), we find broad support for our claims in the survey data, albeit qualified by nuances in a secondary, disaggregated analysis. We conclude by highlighting implications of our study for the planning and management of peacekeeping withdrawal. Los estudios existentes demuestran que el despliegue de una operación de mantenimiento de la paz (OMP) puede proporcionar un impulso económico al Estado receptor y a su población. Algunos de esos estudios también sugieren que ese impulso resulta insostenible y que la finalización de las operaciones de mantenimiento de la paz puede llegar a desencadenar una recesión económica en los Estados receptores. Sin embargo, si ese es el caso, ¿existen algunos ciudadanos que noten en mayor medida los efectos económicos adversos derivados de la finalización de una OMP con relación al resto de la población? En este artículo, argumentamos que las personas que llegan a depender directa o indirectamente de las oportunidades económicas que surgen tras el despliegue del personal de mantenimiento de la paz tienen una mayor probabilidad de experimentar efectos económicos negativos después de la finalización de una OMP. Sin embargo, esos efectos pueden mitigarse, en parte, mediante las medidas económicas adoptadas por los ciudadanos y/o su acceso a nuevas fuentes de apoyo externo después de la partida del personal de mantenimiento de la paz. Ponemos a prueba nuestro argumento usando datos originales, que fueron recopilados a través de una encuesta realizada a gran escala en hogares de Monrovia, Liberia, a principios de 2020. También, nos basamos en datos cualitativos obtenidos de entrevistas. Observamos una desaceleración general de la economía de Liberia después de 2018 (cuando se cerró la Misión de las Naciones Unidas en Liberia), la cual proporciona un amplio apoyo a nuestras afirmaciones en los datos de la encuesta. Sin embargo, encontramos matices para este apoyo al realizar un análisis secundario y desagregado. Concluimos destacando las consecuencias que tiene nuestro estudio para la planificación y la gestión de la retirada de las operaciones de mantenimiento de la paz. Des études existantes montrent que le déploiement d'opérations de maintien de la paix (OMP) peut stimuler l'État hôte et sa population sur le plan économique. Certaines d'entre elles suggèrent que cet effet n'est pas durable et que la fin de l'OMP peut avoir des effets négatifs sur l'économie des États hôtes. Néanmoins, si tel est le cas, certains résidents ressentent-ils ces effets plus que d'autres? Dans cet article, nous affirmons que les personnes qui finissent par dépendre directement ou indirectement des opportunités économiques créées par le déploiement de l'OMP auront plus de chances de ressentir des effets économiques négatifs quand cette opération prend fin. Toutefois, ces effets peuvent être atténués en partie par les actions économiques individuelles et/ou l'accès à de nouvelles ressources d'aide extérieure après la fin de l'OMP. Nous évaluons notre argument grâce à des données inédites collectées à l'aide d'un sondage de grande échelle auprès de particuliers de Monrovia, au Libéria, mené au début de l'année 2020. Nous nous fondons également sur des données qualitatives d'entretiens. Nous notons une récession généralisée au Libéria après 2018 (quand la mission de l'ONU au Libéria a pris fin), puis nous trouvons nombre d'éléments pour venir étayer nos arguments dans les données de sondage, malgré qu'ils soient nuancés par une analyse ventilée secondaire. En conclusion, nous soulignons les implications de notre étude pour la planification et l'organisation de la fin des OMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a concept, the green economy refers to the transition from coal to renewable energy sources to reduce pollution, the energy efficiency of production processes to achieve savings, the reuse of materials from waste in business and energy production, changes designed to stop harmful climate change and bring new opportunities for economic development. In this way, conflicts between economic development and environmental issues are resolved, with the aim of achieving sustainability of the economy and society. The aim of the study is to provide a comparative analysis of the level of development of the green economy in selected 20 emerging economies and their progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the 2030 Agenda using the EEPSE Green Economy Index (EEPSE GEI), based on Quintuple Helix Innovation Model (QHIM), and examine the interdependence between each of the 5 subsystems (quality of education system, economic aspects, political system, civil society, and natural environment) with this index. The results indicate that among the group of countries observed, Estonia is the best performer, while Egypt has the lowest performance. The results, also, indicate the important role of each of the subsystems in EEPSE GEI. The study can be useful for policy makers to identify weaknesses in achieving the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]