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With increasing attention to climate change and biodiversity loss, conservation social science research on land management practices is burgeoning. Researchers have broadened their focus from protected areas to diverse types of land management to support conservation and climate mitigation. But, developing effective strategies for these issues requires an in‐depth understanding of both the socio‐psychological factors that guide landholders' decision‐making and global trends in land management practices and literature. To assess the trends and status of land management behavior research, we systematically reviewed research published between 2010 and 2020 in five seminal conservation journals. Of 11,607 articles reviewed, we identified 100 articles about land management behavior. We assessed theoretical groundings, measurement methodology, land‐use terminology and practices, ecosystem type, and geographic distribution. We identified strengths and significant gaps and weaknesses across land management research. For example, 52% of articles made no meaningful connection to theory, only 14% of papers used observed behavioral data, 86% of studies uses non‐experimental methods and researchers disproportionately measured land management behavior in developed nations (66%). We also find that language used to describe land management behavior is very heterogeneous, making it difficult to summarize land management research using traditional systematic review methods. Conducting a limited systematic review can help summarize research and also identify trends across disciplines that might otherwise missed. Results from our limited systematic review can guide future research and support the development of evidence‐based policies to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to analyse how financial literacy (FL) is conceptualised and operationalised in the Indian context. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) protocol. Thirty-six articles published between 2010 and 2020 were considered for analysis. The FL conceptualisation was examined based on knowledge, ability, skill, attitude and confidence elements. The FL operationalisation was analysed using the modified version of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012 model for organising the domain for an assessment framework. Findings: The findings indicate that, despite offering operationalisation details of the FL, 13 out of 36 studies did not include a conceptual definition of FL. Of the 23 studies that mentioned a conceptual definition, 87% are primarily focused on the "knowledge" element and only 39% have combined knowledge, ability/skill and attitude elements in defining FL. As in the developed countries, the Indian studies also preferred investment/saving-related contents in their FL measures. The volume of content focusing on the financial landscape is meagre amongst the FL measures used in India and developed countries. The survey instruments of most studies have been designed in the individuals' context but have failed to measure the extent to which individuals apply the knowledge in performing their day-to-day financial transactions. Further, it was found that 20 out of 36 studies did not convert the FL level of their target groups into a single indicator or operational value. Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that explores the FL's assessment practices in India. Further, this study offers new insights by comparing the contents of FL measures used in Indian studies with those used in developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the quality and safety of exported agricultural products and improving export competitiveness is the key to establishing enhanced competitive advantages in agricultural products, developing a trade powerhouse and realising high-quality development of agriculture. This paper uses the data of Chinese listed companies and Chinese Customs from 2007 to 2016 to discuss the effect and mechanism of digital transformation of enterprises on the quality and safety level of export agricultural products by using the staggered differential method. The study shows that (1) Enterprise digital transformation effectively improves the quality and safety of exported agricultural products, and this result holds after endogeneity, placebo and multiple robustness tests; (2) Heterogeneity analyses reveal that the quality and safety effect of enterprise digital transformation is greater for exporting to developed countries' markets, non-state-owned enterprises and enterprises in the eastern region, in addition to bulk agricultural products and consumer-oriented agricultural products; (3) Mechanism analyses shows that enterprise digital transformation raises the quality and safety of exported agricultural products through technological innovation, product tracing, information sharing and quality assurance effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social discount rate (SDR) for infrastructure policies is applied in public projects' benefit/cost analysis and measures the rate at which a society is willing to pay for present consumption. The choice of the discount rate in such project evaluation may play a vital role in the relative weighting of cost and benefits. A high SDR will evaluate the benefits of certain projects at a lower present value. A low SDR will raise the present value of the project's economic benefits, and it will weigh the long-term environmental damages more heavily. The current paper has examined variations in social discount rate policies of various countries around the world. Developed countries have applied lower rates like 3–5% while developing countries apply 7.3–15%. Higher SDR numbers means intervention to future generation rights. Developing countries should review the appropriateness of their SDR levels according to changing domestic economic circumstances and international capital market conditions. Developed countries should give less-developed countries or developing countries a chance by transferring their technologies applied in abatement policies. The key that will open the door to a better future for our grandchildren is in the hand of developed communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia is a growing global health issue, particularly in developed countries with high and increasing life expectancies. Often, health care and social approaches problematise and see as defective people with dementia; they are viewed in terms of their deficiencies. The concept of personhood helps provide a theological framework of inherent worth, regardless of physical or cognitive capacity. This paper takes a case study approach and considers how the notion of personhood impacted the motivations and practice of two chaplains working in Aotearoa New Zealand residential dementia care settings. These chaplains offered a ministry of personal and sacramental presence. They provided simple ecumenical services, comprising elements that were familiar to the residents. They were motivated by and acted with love and compassion. The article concludes by noting implications for chaplaincy practice, including the importance of being personhood-affirming, acting out of love, and being expectant of and attentive to the discipleship and spiritual formation of residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to compare the economic resilience of industries and regions along the last four decades, which include the three last major crises for the advanced countries (90s, Great Recession in 2007 and recent COVID-19 pandemic). Productive structure and sectoral specialization are introduced as explaining factor for the different regional behaviors. For this purpose, we estimate both resilience and specialization indices based on employment data. To analyze the relationship between specialization and resilience, a cross-sectional descriptive analysis is complemented by a panel data model that includes some controls. Finally, a regional shift-share analysis contributes to exert some other regional effects affecting economic resilience. The results of this research show some continuities and other significant changes in the regional impact of crises from one to the next. Although there are other effects to have played a role, results show economic specialization is found to have exerted influence on the recovery of certain regions during this period. Recovery periods differ from each crisis and the results might be affected for this dimensionality limitation. Due to the characteristics of the database, the study includes only six sectors. However, general results are generalizable to other regions as the response of employment growth to crises is similar in many advanced regions and specialization patterns does not significantly differ among regions. The paper carries a structural long-term comparison between the last major crises for Spanish regions, which clearly differentiates one from another in their causes and effects. We introduce specialization to explain the different regional resilience patterns. Methodologically, we estimate both sectoral and regional resilience indices for these three crises and relate this resilience to specialization and other explaining factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurship is associated with economic growth in developed countries. Education level, however, has different impacts on entrepreneurship. In some contexts, it has a negative impact due to educated individuals having greater job choice and awareness of risks and challenges in establishing a business. In other cases, low levels of education may drive the pursuit of entrepreneurship out of necessity. Using Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data from 2016, this research sought to determine the role of education and related factors in entrepreneurial motivation. The study focuses on the following Latin American countries: Panama, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize. Extending current research on entrepreneurship in the Latin American context, specifically related to opportunity and necessity motivations, the current study examines household income, education level, and work status. In this paper, findings indicate that education plays a role in entrepreneurial participation intent. Higher levels of education the intent leans toward opportunity motives and lower levels of education by necessity. We find that low-income households show greater evidence of nascent entrepreneurship. The study also looks at fully employed versus part-time employed entrepreneurs who show a propensity to not only see but act on entrepreneurship due to a perception or reality of a good opportunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scaling in health and social services (HSS) aims to increase the intended impact of proven effective interventions. Patient and public involvement (PPI) is critical for ensuring that scaling beneficiaries' interests are served. We aimed to identify PPI strategies and their characteristics in the science and practice of scaling in HSS. Methods: In this scoping review, we included any scaling initiative in HSS that used PPI strategies and reported PPI methods and outcomes. We searched electronic databases (e.g., Medline) from inception to 5 February 2024, and grey literature (e.g., Google). Paired reviewers independently selected and extracted eligible reports. A narrative synthesis was performed and we used the PRISMA for Scoping Reviews and the Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public (GRIPP2). Findings: We included 110 unique reports out of 24,579 records. In the past 5 years, the evidence on PPI in scaling has increased faster than in any previous period. We found 236 mutually nonexclusive PPI strategies among 120 scaling initiatives. Twenty‐four initiatives did not target a specific country; but most of those that did so (n = 96) occurred in higher‐income countries (n = 51). Community‐based primary health care was the most frequent level of care (n = 103). Mostly, patients and the public were involved throughout all scaling phases (n = 46) and throughout the continuum of collaboration (n = 45); the most frequently reported ethical lens regarding the rationale for PPI was consequentialist‐utilitarian (n = 96). Few papers reported PPI recruitment processes (n = 31) or incentives used (n = 18). PPI strategies occurred mostly in direct care (n = 88). Patient and public education was the PPI strategy most reported (n = 31), followed by population consultations (n = 30). Conclusions: PPI in scaling is increasing in HSS. Further investigation is needed to better document the PPI experience in scaling and ensure that it occurs in a meaningful and equitable way. Patient and Public Contribution: Two patients were involved in this review. They shared decisions on review questions, data collection instruments, protocol design, and findings dissemination. Review Registration: Open Science Framework on 19 August 2020 (https://osf.io/zqpx7/). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the issue of women's position in research was studied both for developing and developed countries Women participation in research increased substantially in the past few decades. Globally, women make up 33.3% of researchers (in head counts), according to data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics for 107 countries covering the years 2015-2018. Several countries are collecting and reporting sex-disaggregated data on researchers than 20 years ago. However, a large data gap remains. Further increase in the involvement of women in research is crucial both for the development of the research and for the empowerment of women by increasing their role in society. This recantation is devoted to the comparison of involvement in research between European developed and developing countries in recent years. Examples from larger context have also been provided. There is no straightforward correlation between a country's wealth and its success in achieving gender parity in the research. Therefore, the origins of the differences are more complex than it is usually expected, which requires quite attentive study of the issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we aim to analyze the behavior of developed-country acquiring firms in dealing with Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions location choices at both national and sub-national levels with the impact of carbon risk and heterogeneous environmental regulations (Government, Civil, and Market Environmental regulations) and to explore their Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions performances under different situations. A sample of 874 intra-manufacturing Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions completed by developed-country acquirers and conducted in developed countries and China during 2002–2021 was analyzed using logistic regression and multiple linear regression. The results show that: (1) Acquirers with higher carbon risks tend to choose China rather developed country as the target location, while this relationship is not strengthened by the home country's high-level environmental regulations; (2) At the sub-national level, Chinese provinces' government environmental regulations cannot impede acquirers to enter; what's more, the civil environmental regulations even attract these acquirers, this is particularly the case if the acquirer has high carbon risk; (3) Acquirers with higher carbon risks can achieve more performance, no matter whether they choose China as the target country. Our findings add insight into the effect of carbon risks on companies' decisions and the unique characteristics of the heterogeneous environmental regulations in China. What's more, implications are provided for Chinese regulators and policymakers, e.g., listening to the public opinion, improving the governance quality, and attracting foreign investors to help domestic industry upgrading and maintain long-run economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a Stein-like combined estimator for large heterogeneous panel data models under common structural breaks. The model allows for cross-sectional dependence through a general multifactor error structure. By utilizing the common correlated effects (CCE) estimation technique, we propose a Stein-like combined estimator of the CCE full-sample estimator (i.e., estimation using both the pre-break and post-break observations) and the CCE post-break estimator (i.e., estimation using only the post-break sample observations). The proposed Stein-like combined estimator benefits from exploiting the pre-break sample observations. We derive the optimal combination weight by minimizing the asymptotic risk. We show the superiority of the CCE Stein-like combined estimator over the CCE post-break estimator in terms of the asymptotic risk. Further, we establish the asymptotic properties of the CCE mean group Stein-like combined estimator. The finite sample performance of our proposed estimator is investigated using Monte Carlo experiments and an empirical application of predicting the output growth of industrialized countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To execute the defense budget efficiently, the ROK military has emphasized effectiveness and efficiency in selecting defense capability improvement needs and promoting projects. Accordingly, the “Defense Acquisition Program Act” is continuously being revised. In addition, the ROK JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff) is working to benchmark the development trends of advanced countries’ defense planning systems and apply the concept of “CBP (Capability-Based Planning)” to strengthen the JCS of ROK authority to make necessary decisions. However, these efforts have mainly focused on formal systems and procedures. The focus must shift to implementing concrete measures and detailed methodologies to implement formal systems and procedures. In this study, we proposed a plan to more actively accept the concept of CBP in the ROK military’s defense planning system, which currently has a strategic planning-requirements planning structure, and improve it to a structure of strategic planning-capability planning-requirements planning. In other words, by converting the perspective of defense planning limited to individual weapon systems to a capability unit, a high-level strategic concept encompassing the military’s overall operational area was reflected in individual weapon system requirements. In addition, this concept enables the ROK military’s bottomup defense planning method to be converted to top-down defense planning by strengthening necessary and insufficient capabilities from an operational capability perspective rather than a weapons system perspective. Additionally, this concept helps evaluate capabilities against threats that are difficult to define as a specific unit weapon system, such as cyber threats, which have recently emerged as a new threat. Accordingly, this paper presents the concept of “capability planning” under CBP. It presents the concept and analysis method of “functional analysis,” which classifies force by function to evaluate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perturbations that have occurred in recent history regarding critical infrastructure have highlighted two essential features. Firstly, critical infrastructure was exposed to unexpected incidents of a wide variety, mostly natural disasters, and secondly, the dysfunctionality and local damages due to the phenomenon of interaction and cross-border logics of functioning of the systems has created a domino effect in the security dimensions. On the other hand, the risks have evolved, extreme meteorological incidents have been observed, threats to health security, such as the pandemic have become widespread, cyber-attacks have appeared as a result of technological progress, the technical-technological and economic interdependence has been emphasized, as the evolution of the economic environment and the market have also affirmed that there is a need for international legal regulation. In the last twenty years, especially after the terrorist attacks of 11 September, 2001 in New York, the issue of critical infrastructure protection has caused particular attention in the majority of industrialized countries, with the USA, the EU, Australia, Japan, Russia in the forefront, but also in a number of countries aspiring to join the EU. The war in Ukraine demonstrated the strategic importance of critical infrastructure. Between October 2022 and April 2023, Russia carried out 1.200 attacks on Ukraine’s energy system. These attacks damaged 45% of the high-voltage grid and half of Ukraine’s power generation, leaving more than 12 million people without electricity. According to an estimate by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the damage to Ukraine’s electricity, gas, and heating infrastructure exceeds $ 10 billion. Furthermore, according to Marie Struthers, Director for Eastern Europe and Asia at Amnesty International, the morale of the civilian population is not a legitimate target; however, carrying out attacks on critical infrastructure to terrorize civilians is a war crime. That is why this paper makes a brief interpretation of the need for critical infrastructure protection at the EU level, including a brief analysis of the methodology of establishing critical infrastructure protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to discuss the most relevant literature related to the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in the public sector in developed and developing countries, identifying the constraints and stimuli they represent in the implementation of the public accounting reform. It also presents future research proposals on the factors identified. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology is based on a systematic review of the literature described by Moher et al. (2009). The final sample includes 90 academic papers published from 2000 to 2022. Findings: The main findings indicate that there are differences between constraints and stimuli in the implementation of accounting standards between developed and developing countries. In terms of constraints, the main factor in developed countries is the lack of training, whereas in developing countries it is the limitation on financial resources. In addition, the results demonstrate that in developed countries the factors that most encourage the implementation of accounting standards are modernization and improvement of accounting, while in developing countries, encouragement comes mainly from external and internal pressure. Practical implications: This study helps countries and institutions to learn from experience and better prepare for the accounting reforms of public administration that they will undertake. Managers of public organizations may be willing to make decisions in the adoption of IPSAS if they take into account the factors established herein. Social implications: This study helps countries and institutions to learn from the experience, better prepare for the public administration accounting reforms that they will undertake and add greater transparency in the accountability of public accounts to citizens. Originality/value: In addition to previous studies, this study addresses a number of factors perceived by those involved in the implementation of IPSAS in developed and developing countries and provides a robust research agenda to pursue during the coming years, as there are several important unexplored questions that invite further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Advanced Nursing (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, we investigate the impact of household debt service burden on the economic growth of a sample of advanced countries over the short and medium run. Using data from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) on debt service ratios, we find that the debt service burden reduces economic growth over both the short and medium run. This finding is in contrast to the effect of household debt level, which boosts economic growth in the short run while reducing it in the medium run as in Mian et al. (2017). We further find the same protracted negative influence of debt service burden on unemployment and household consumption. Therefore, our paper identifies a new debt market transmission channel, i.e., the 'debt service channel', on economic growth and demonstrates that this channel is quantitatively much stronger than the household debt level channel. When faced with a rise in the debt service burden, households need to adjust other variables in order to act within their budget constraints. The present results indicate that they decrease their consumption levels significantly, with adverse effects on economic output and employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious diseases account for millions of deaths each year. To reduce the number of infectious disease related deaths, diagnostic testing needs to be more accessible to patients in low-income countries as well as developed countries. Current diagnostic methods involve centralized laboratories, trained personnel, and are time-intensive, limiting translation to the point-of-care (POC). Microfluidic devices are a popular alternative for diagnostics due to reduced assay times, reduced sample volume, and lower cost. Microfluidic devices are small (<10 cm) and can perform complex assays. Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) are a popular approach to help translate diagnostics to the POC but historically suffer from poor sensitivity when compared to established laboratory methods. Magnetically labeling analytes allows samples to be sorted resulting in improved sensitivity and specificity. Microfluidic magnetophoresis is the process of manipulating magnetic particles in a magnetic field and offers the ability to wash and concentrate a sample during flow. However, until recently, magnetophoresis has not been used in conjunction with µPADs because magnetophoresis requires complex and expensive instrumentation to control flow. Coupling magnetophoresis with µPADs enables pump-free flow control, simple operation, and low cost. Early magnetophoresis µPADs showed detection limits similar to traditional methods but higher than targets for clinical use. In this work, we demonstrate a novel, simple MagnEtophoretic Slider Assay (MeSA) that is free of any external instrumentation and offers a new platform for POC diagnostics. We demonstrate the assay's capability through biotin competitive assays and a sandwich immunoassay for E. coli detection. The calculated limit of detection for E. coli was 1.62 × 103 Colony Forming Units per mL (CFU/ml). The work described is a novel and simple microfluidic platform that has potential for a wide range of future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to identify the main factors responsible for the 2007–2008 crisis development and transmission across the 10 developed European Union (EU) countries. In order to achieve this objective, trade and financial linkages, crisis contagion from the United States and EU countries and countries' internal and external economic vulnerabilities are examined. The results of logistic regression model covering the period from 2002 to 2012 presented in this paper indicate that the transmission of the crisis occurred through contagion from the United States but also from other EU countries. Additionally, the empirical results confirm that high inflation, a decrease in the exchange rate, and a decrease in the US long‐term interest rates increased the probability of the 2007–2008 financial crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dominance of the 'After the Washington Consensus' for international development is based on mainstream-neoclassical economics that has been imposed by Washington upon debt-stranded developing and developed countries. Against this tide, the purpose of this paper is to develop an alternative scheme and recommendations for international development, pulling from the Marxist political economy practice. Considering, Marxist political economy as a living tradition, the paper contributes to offering a Marxist political economy perspective to international development in the form of a retort to the 'After the Washington Consensus'. 'After the Washington Consensus' represents an evolution from the Washington Consensus, due to the need for capital to adapt to new forms of exploitation. Students and scholars of international development would benefit from this worthwhile exercise that distinguishes in a succinctly and methodically manner between mainstream-neoclassical and Marxist political economy perspectives on international development. The paper concludes that in contradistinction, a Marxist political economy approach to international development that serves the interests of the working class does not have any commonalities with the 'After the Washington Consensus' that serves the interests of international capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) around the time of pregnancy is a recognized global health problem. Ethnic minorities and immigrant pregnant women experiencing IPV require culturally responsive health services. The aim of this scoping review was to identify aspects of cultural sensitivity in interventions to prevent or reduce IPV among ethnic minorities and immigrant pregnant women in high-income countries. Eight databases were searched in November 2019. Any type of scientific research, quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods studies regarding interventions against IPV among pregnant women were considered for inclusion. Resnicow et al.'s definition of cultural sensitivity was used to identify aspects of cultural sensitivity. Ten papers relating to nine interventions/studies met our inclusion criteria. These studies, which included randomized controlled trials, a mixed methods study, a program evaluation, and a longitudinal study, were conducted in Australia, Belgium, Norway, and the United States. Aspects of surface cultural sensitivity, including the translation of intervention content into the language of the target group(s) and the involvement of bilingual staff to recruit participants, were identified in eight studies. Deep structure aspects of cultural sensitivity were identified in one study, where the intervention content was pretested among the target group(s). Results that could be related to the culture-sensitive adaptions included successful recruitment of the target population. Three studies were planning to investigate women's experiences of interventions, but no publications were yet available. This scoping review provides evidence that culturally sensitive interventions to reduce or prevent IPV among immigrant pregnant women are limited in number and detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looked at the current global paradigms in cataloguing and the significance and difficulties for library adoption in developing countries like Nigeria. The paper employed a four-sturdy approach to explore the subject. The first approach to the paper put forward the concept of library in the 21st century. The second approach focused on the dimension of information and communication technology in cataloging and the latest modern cataloging practices. The third approach compared cataloging practices in advanced countries with Nigeria, while the last approach expatiated the significances, problems, and methods for libraries in Nigeria to espouse. The paper enumerated some problems and methods that libraries in Nigeria and other emerging countries in Africa can embrace for instance, sufficient funding, adequate staff training, adequate provisions and prompt maintenance of infrastructure, elimination of corrupt practices, and so on. Although a lot of literature has appeared on the problems of ICT diffusion to library operations and management in Nigeria, only a few significant doable and practical strategies have been identified for solving the problems. The writer proffered the utilization of the latest development to cataloguing initiatives and suggested the adoption of new and workable strategies for the effective application of ICT to cataloguing operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reviewing current literature on human mobility and border securitisation during the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper contends that nation-states are likely to act unilaterally and disregard international law/norms under the pretext of territorial integrity and the need to protect their own. The pandemic highlighted why the securitisation theory is still relevant in explaining events in international relations. Borders became reinforced, and human mobility was restricted and characterised by increased surveillance. Leaders argued for the need to urgently react (to what was seen as an existential threat to society) and protect one's own as justification for implementing securitisation measures at the border. However, this paper argues that with harsh and inhumane lockdown regulations in their home countries and the hoarding of vaccines by developed nations, the increase in undocumented migration from developing countries was not surprising as the need to survive and access vaccines meant people were likely to do all they could to circumvent structures meant to hinder their mobility. This paper concludes that a cooperative global framework for addressing issues of common interests is critical to fostering cooperation in times of crisis rather than unilateral actions that compound the suffering of many. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the authors discuss the responsibility for material deficiencies of goods, with reference to the organic agriculture products, given the specific and highly demanding production system and the growing demand for organic products in developed countries and in Serbia. An integral part of everyday life is the risk that the goods purchased are more or less materially defective. Organic production methods involve the usage of natural processes and substances, and limit or completely eliminate the use of synthesized agents. Also, producers inevitably suffer from various external influences. The desire of consumers is to buy products which use natural ingredients that are obtained on the basis of natural procedures. Research in this paper has shown that in the creation of an organic product may occur material defects that more or less impair its essence. Therefore, this paper analyzes such shortcomings and also recommends how customers can act when they find themselves in this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores whether inequities in access to COVID‐19 vaccines can be attributed to governance deficits, particularly for developing and emerging countries where poor governance is widespread, but also for developed countries, where governments' performance fell short of expectations. These shared performance deficits beg questions about the impact of governance quality as well as the interplay of ethics in governance when life‐or‐death decisions must be made. It also explores the impact of COVID‐19 on development, especially in the areas of poverty and employment. The findings of the paper show that there is a positive correlation between vaccine equity and good governance, meaning that countries with higher scores in governance rankings have more access to vaccines and have vaccinated most of their populations. Similarly, countries with relatively lower scores in governance rankings have poor access to and distribution of vaccines and have only covered a limited number of their people. The paper further points to disastrous societal impacts of COVID‐19 vaccine inequity on poverty and employment, which have hindered global development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infrastructure and methods for developed countries' economic statistics, largely established in the mid‐20th century, rest almost entirely on survey and administrative data. The increasing difficulty of obtaining survey responses threatens the sustainability of this model. Meanwhile, users of economic data are demanding ever more timely and granular information. "Big data" originally created for other purposes offer the promise of new approaches to the compilation of economic data. Drawing primarily on the U.S. experience, the paper considers the challenges to incorporating big data into the ongoing production of official economic statistics and provides examples of progress towards that goal to date. Beyond their value for the routine production of a standard set of official statistics, new sources of data create opportunities to respond more nimbly to emerging needs for information. The concluding section of the paper argues that national statistical offices should expand their mission to seize these opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality control methods have been used by construction civile industry and road for many years to control the compaction process carried out, either of the soil or of the asphalt mixtures. These control procedures are based upon experimental and/or statistical concepts and their goal are to be an instrument to assist the contractor to carry out the execution checks in insuring that impose degree compaction was achieved in accordance with technical project of the works. These concepts are built around the idea according to which it is possible to randomly select a small sample of a soil or asphalt mixture and then to predict from this sample an average value of compaction quality to be assigned to the entire area of the layer tested. For the most part, these aspects are valid in our country, but the technical regulations of developed countries provide for a variety of methods based on the in-situ measurement of specific compaction parameters in order to predict the quality of the area under control. The paper will describe the methods used in Romania (laboratory and in-situ tests) along with those implemented in the world and used with remarkable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motive for writing this paper is to answer the question of what are the new indicators of international capital flow and how they have affected to date, despite the great turbulence with the Covid crisis. But also to indicate whether and to what extent the international flow of capital had a positive impact on the overall socio-economic and financial relations of markets around the world. This paper connects the issues of the relations between the international capital flow, on the one hand and the other, the monitoring and analysis of the movements of the national finances of a large group of countries, the so-called developing countries and the 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 the capital markets 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 is 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 methodological studies that draw conclusions. The purpose of this paper is to show the structure and dynamics of the movement of international capital flows, as they went through a process of crisis, especially in developing countries, poorly developed countries and developed countries. The following results are expected from the research: greater and correct conceptualization of capital flows from highly developed countries to poorly developed and developing countries, which will ensure the stability and efficiency of their real economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article comments on a paper by professor Assar Lindbeck on the slowdown of productivity growth in industrialized western nations. Lindbeck's paper adopts a broad and ambitious target. It is partly, though not entirely, in the growth-accounting mould, and presents a reasonably exhaustive quantitative breakdown of the causes of the slowdown.The longer term factors in Lindbeck's paper were also discussed inthearticle.Firstishigher inflation, causing more uncertainty, tax distortions and demand restraint as a result of anti-inflation policies.Second is thedeclining profitability, resulting from increased international competition, and causing lower growth and lower investment.Andthirdis the tendency to factor immobility, resource misallocation and inflation, as a result of private agents' recognition of government's commitment to full employment. There is also a link between capital-labour substitution and capital productivity growth. For there are indications that the latter has also declined, perhaps further than labour productivity growth, though given the measurement problems it is difficult to say. But if it has done so, then the question of causality becomes even more confused. The slowdown in productivity growth can itself be the unexplained exogenous variable which then slows the rate of capital-labour substitution.

Purpose: This paper explores the current state of Robo-advisory services in India. This paper further highlights the problems experienced by the service providers in disseminating the innovative business model among the Indians. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopts a qualitative approach to investigate the industry experts by conducting semi-structured interviews. The data collected were transcripted and further analyzed using the content analysis technique. Finally, the authors utilized categorization and coding techniques to frame broad study themes. Findings: The study findings reveal that the three pillars of Robo-advisory are ease and convenience, the time factor and transparency in operations. Robo-advisory services are still at a nascent stage in India. Furthermore, keeping the sentiments of Indians in mind, FinTech companies could combine automated Robo-advisory with a human touch of a wealth manager for optimal advisory services. Research limitations/implications: Since the present study is qualitative, the authors cannot generalize the study results. Future research can focus on empirically proving the constructs of the study using quantitative methods. Practical implications: Robo-advisors have a well-established market in developed nations but are still nascent in developing countries like India. The current focus of service providers and regulatory authorities must be to increase awareness among investors by educating the investors and building trust. Originality/value: The present study is the first to qualitatively synthesize the challenges faced by the FinTech service providers in the Indian market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present an investigation of the effectiveness of the G7 countries' COVID-19 responses as assessed by the stringency index and provide insights for the future. By observing trends in people's mobility, a factor affected by stringency, we can find some interesting features in the course of the pandemic. Specifically, as the period of infection control measures is prolonged, there are indications that the effectiveness of such policies may diminish unless they are consistent with economic rationality. Furthermore, even when considering only developed countries, the situation in Japan is found to be unique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of globalization and internationalization of financial markets, issues arising from financial crises have become increasingly serious and fundamental, creating a lot of debate among experts around the world. So, many studies have attempted to investigate what measures can be taken to detect and prevent crises before they devastate the economies. Therefore, this paper examines the Effectiveness of the Monetary Policy (MP) to Avoid, Reduce or Treat the Financial Crisis in Malaysia. Scholars have yet to agree on the issue concerning the appropriate monetary measures, particularly with respect to the question of whether or monetary policy is more effective tool in dealing with financial crisis. Majority of comprehensive theoretical frameworks are fragmented. Somehow, this framework has been tested in developed countries. Only very few studies were conducted in developing countries. The results of this research provide empirical support for the extended model. Moreover, this work has added to the understanding of Monetary Policy (MP) to Avoid, Reduce or Treat the Financial Crisis in Malaysia also with theories research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Business incubators are advantageous to new venture legitimacy because they provide rich access to entrepreneurial resources, and their incubation networks can offer endorsement to incubatees. However, empirical evidence on this topic is limited, and the existing literature relies predominantly on the Western context. Given that not all developing country incubators have resourceful and reputable external entrepreneurial networks as in the industrialized countries, and that new ventures need to build legitimacy along cognitive and socio-political dimensions that require different actions to influence different stakeholders, this study investigates empirically how business incubators facilitate their incubatees to build legitimacy in a context where resource and reputation conditions are weak. The purpose of this paper is to clarify how business incubators perform legitimacy-building roles effectively. Design/methodology/approach: A multiple case study of business incubators in Chongqing, a second-tier Chinese city, is presented. Using grounded theory, this paper draws its findings from a synthesis of interviews and secondary data of seven incubators and their ten incubatees. Findings: The legitimacy-building role of business incubators is performed well in this research context. Evidence is presented that incubators play different roles in building different dimensions of incubatees' legitimacy. Government-associated incubators play a salient role in building incubatees' socio-political legitimacy whilst non-government related incubators shape their incubatees' cognitive legitimacy. Originality/value: This study contributes to the business incubators literature by revealing how incubators perform the legitimacy-building role when their resource endorsement is weak. The results suggest that incubators need to strengthen their ties with external stakeholders and that new ventures need to take key stakeholders into consideration when they select incubators to enter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Investigación Económica is the property of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Facultad de Economia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In developed countries, people spend nearly 90% of their time in buildings or during transportation. Recent research studies demonstrated that occupant behaviors have a significant impact on building performance in relation to the indoor environment and energy use. This paper presents the ASHRAE Global Occupant Behavior Database which aims to advance the knowledge and understanding of realistic occupancy patterns and human-building interactions with building systems. This database includes 34 field-measured occupant behavior datasets for both commercial and residential buildings, contributed by researchers from 15 countries and 39 institutions covering 10 different climate zones. It includes occupancy patterns, occupant behaviors, indoor and outdoor environment measurements. The database is open source, a public website was developed for the users to interactively explore, query, and download datasets. This paper focuses on a detailed data analysis to investigate patterns of nine occupant behavior types, examining impacted factors such as building type, country, and climate zone. EnergyPlus simulations have been implemented based on the occupancy profiles derived from this database, and results showed overall building electricity consumption can be reduced up to around 27% in Summer and around 10% in Winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis and comparison of the existing literature on the phenomenon of non-marriage or staying unmarried in Asian countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, as well as European and American countries such as Spain and the US, and explores the trends, characteristics as well as reasons behind such a phenomenon. Through analysis, the present study found that there is a growing trend of postponed marriage and parenthood as well as an increasing proportion of individuals who exhibit no enthusiasm towards matrimony or parenthood in the aforementioned countries. To some extent, non-marriage or postponed marriage has become a prevalent trend in developed countries and even some developing countries. Japan, South Korea, and several developed countries in Europe and America have exhibited this phenomenon since the middle to late 20th century, with a relatively long history. The emergence of this phenomenon in China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and other developing countries in Asia, however, was relatively late, exhibiting a gradual development process. The current marriage landscape in China is characterized by a growing number of non-marriage individuals and a significant level of marital stability. In terms of reasons for staying unmarried, the marriage rates in the aforementioned countries can be attributed to various factors at macro, meso, and micro levels. In China, the phenomenon of non-marriage is closely associated with a range of factors, including diverse values and attitudes towards romance and marriage, marriage squeeze, education expansion, and the rise in females' economic and social status. The emphasis in future research should be placed on predicting the phenomenon of non-marriage, with a specific focus on exploring the reasons for advocating non-marriage, examining the internal mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, analyzing the consequences of non-marriage, and proposing corresponding countermeasures while establishing the public identity towards marriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frame of the research: Studies highlight challenges affecting woman CEO selection. However, the literature falls short in emphasizing proactive measures and supportive conditions crucial for women's success in organizational leadership. Purpose of the paper: Several companies nowadays are committed to improving the presence of women at the corporate apex. However, little is known about the factors able to facilitate women's access to the CEO role. This paper relies on critical mass theory to investigate whether the presence of a critical mass of women on board facilitates the appointment of a woman CEO. Moreover, the paper investigates whether the presence of a sustainability committee on board strengthens the relationship between women on board and a woman CEO appointment. Lastly, the paper examines whether the presence of a sustainability-linked incentive system strengthens such a relationship. Methodology: Analyses are performed on a sample of companies listed in the most important market of developed countries (S&P100, FTSE100, IBEX35, DAX30, CAC40, SMI). The time frame is about ten years (2010-2019). To test the hypothesis, we first ran a regression analysis. Later, we ran robustness tests adopting different matching techniques. Findings: Results show a positive linkage between the presence of a critical mass of women on board and the presence of a woman CEO. In addition, results show that such a link is stronger when the company sets up a sustainability committee on board. Lastly, the results indicate that such a link is stronger when the company has a sustainability-linked incentive system for board members. Research limits: Our study's sample is confined to particular businesses in developed nations, with a particular emphasis on the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, and Switzerland. The concentration on these geographical regions prompts contemplation about the broader relevance of our results. Additionally, our sample consists solely of publicly traded companies, a deliberate choice aimed at guaranteeing the comprehensiveness of the data essential for our analyses. Practical implications: The results must be taken with care as people belonging to different interests' groups or categories could interpret them differently. For women, our empirical results may seem like one more reason to break the glass ceiling and promote workplace inclusion at the top of companies. For men, this empirical evidence could instead be interpreted as a mechanism that rewards people based on whether or not they belong to a certain demographic group and not so much based on the skills and abilities they possess. In essence, men may perceive that as the critical mass of women on boards increases, so does the likelihood that men will be excluded from top positions. Originality of the paper: This study investigates a phenomenon currently under-investigated in literature, namely the antecedents of having a woman CEO. In addition, the study investigates the possible role played by a company's effort toward sustainability in strengthening the relationship between women's presence on the board and a woman CEO selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Economics of Innovation & New Technology is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The author comments on the paper "Cash, Paper, and Electronic Payments: A Cross-Country Analysis," by David B. Humphrey, Lawrence B. Pulley, and Jukka M. Vesala, published in the November 2, 1996 issue of "The Journal of Money, Credit and Banking." He states that the writers expand on the payments system framework to consider cross-country variation, but suggests that if countries are idiosyncratic with basic cultural factors causing differences in the payment systems rather than the countries being at different development stages, then cross-country comparisons can give misleading forecasts. He comments on differences between the U.S. and several European countries concerning noncash transactions.

This article discusses the ten research papers compiled for the Journal of Academy of Marketing Science (JAMS) Special Issue, which has the express purpose of laying new groundwork for the understanding of business model innovations in emerging markets. Altogether, the papers delineate a new organizational framework for doing business in emerging markets and for optimizing gains from emerging market innovations. This Special Issue defines and clearly differentiates emerging market innovations (EMIs) from developed market innovations (DMIs) and provides a generalizable framework. The proposed framework corresponds to the process whereby developed market firms do business in emerging markets, capitalize on the innovative potential therein, reap the benefits and drawbacks of reverse innovations back to developed markets, and, finally, continually refine and optimize their innovation strategies. This study offers crucial managerial guidance through discussion on marketing to the Bottom-of-Pyramid (BoP), the importance of Grassroots Innovation (GRI), the necessity of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies, and the role of employees in open innovation. Lastly, this Special Issue posits conceptual and methodological limitations and future research direction to capture the emerging market phenomena entirely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local development planning (i.e. development planning of municipalities and cities) in all countries has always played an important social role. For this reason, in the last couple of decades, this area is regulated by adequate national laws, which differ in many ways due to insufficiently developed scientifically based local development theory. According to this, in the presently constituted first vision of the theory, two local planning systems were identified. The first system with a long tradition is called a partial system since the state with its development interests is exclusively responsible for all local and overall social development in a certain country. The second, new system, is called an integrated system and in it, both state and the most influential social forces, which have fought hard for such a role, participate together as partners. The integrated system has numerous advantages when compared to the partial system of local planning and is therefore, especially in developed countries, the reason for switching from partial to integrated system. This scientific paper has been created to support this, especially because of the insufficiently developed local planning theory, with the goal to contribute to the development of the local integrated development systems and the projection of its general implications on the local government, its nation state as well as the international community. In this paper, adequate research methods, primarily integrated, were used and the obtained results imply that when using this system, positive fundamental social changes are caused, which, especially in the less developed countries, facilitate faster and more efficient catching up with the developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]