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Interannual global mean surface temperature (GMST) forecast provides critical insights into the economic and societal implications of climate variability. The pronounced GMST elevation in 2023–2024 indicates that the Earth may have accumulated enough heat to cause widespread disasters, underscoring the necessity for establishing accurate short-term GMST predictions to offer timely and sustainable public service. However, capturing high-frequency annual variability (ANV) component of GMST poses challenges due to its susceptibility to intraseasonal-to-interannual (ISI) noises, particularly across the Northern Hemisphere's mid-to-high latitudes. Averaging these ISI variations in November and December effectively enhances signal clarity, especially over oceans, and masks unpredictable noises on land. By forecasting the average GMST for November and December to extract ANV predictability, a strategy for annual GMST prediction was established. This approach successfully advanced precise GMST hindcasts by up to 2-months during 1980–2022, exceeding performance of existing climate models and boosting early warning for interannual GMST shifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution process of regional space between coastal and interior areas is a direct manifestation of the theory of regional economic development imbalance. Previous research has neglected the impacts of population, and economic factor flows on the balance of regional development between coastal and interior areas. By constructing global coastal-interior regional population-economic panel data and a threshold effect model, this study explored regional development imbalance on the largest scale between global coastal and interior areas. The results indicated that the global population is unevenly distributed across coastal and interior areas. Global coastal areas (accounting for 18.43% of the world's landmass) are occupied by ~52.8% of the global population; meanwhile, ~23% of the global population is concentrated in the 'near region' subtropical zone extending from 10° to 30° north and south in latitude. The economic pattern between global coastal and interior areas has become more balanced, and the per capita GDP gap between the two sub-regions has decreased from 2.08 times to 1.78 times during the study period (2000 to 2018). Nevertheless, the evolutionary process of population factors lags behind that of economic factors. Apart from Africa, the development gap of intercontinental coastal and interior areas has been converging to varying degrees. Adjusting regional per capita income levels and population-economic density can promote balanced development between coastal and interior areas both globally and across continents. These findings may contribute to the implementation of effective policies for spatial balance and sustainable development in coastal and interior areas across multiple spatial scales. This study extends the theoretical research on uneven regional growth and provides a foundation for further research to achieve the goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa began implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 emphasizing on sustainable management and effective use of natural capital to spur economic growth (Goals 12, 14, and 15). This study using World Bank data sets from 46 African countries selected for the years 2000 to 2022, examined the nexus between natural resource endowments and economic growth in Africa. We used the system generalized method of moments (sys-GMM) and dynamic panel threshold regression (DPTR) to analyze the data. The findings of the two-step sys-GMM estimation using 'xtabond2' revealed that when the institutional quality variable is added and excluded from the model, natural resource dependence negatively impacts economic growth, but the impact is greater when the institution is excluded. In the estimation of the interaction variable of natural resource dependence and institutional variable included in the model, natural resource dependence positively impacts economic growth. The results of the DPTR using "xthenreg" showed that when the threshold value of natural resource dependence is ≤ 1.73% of gross domestic product, natural resource dependence has a positive impact on economic growth and a negative impact when the threshold value is above 1.73%. Similarly, when the institutional quality threshold is ≤ 0.277, natural resources dependence impacts economic growth negatively; above the threshold (0.277), the impact is positive. In conclusion, natural resource endowment is a curse with no or low-quality institutions and a blessing with high-quality institutions. Thus, building strong institutions and proper utilization of natural resources helps to minimize the adverse impact of resource endowments on economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article attempts to overcome the lack of protectionism policy underlying the existing approach to managing sustainable business development, which is due to the fact that such a policy limits the influence of the external environment on business, as well as eliminates its incentives to adaptation and reduces business flexibility. The research methodology is based on the use of the method of regression analysis. Based on the representative international statistics by IMD and the UN for 2021 (60 countries), we use regression analysis to determine the dependence of the indicators of the sustainable development of the business—GDP and SDG 9—on the factors of protectionism and the use of Big Data and analytics based on AI. The reliability of the econometric modeling results is verified by determining their correspondence to the Gauss–Markov theorem. The key conclusion is that change management based on smart technologies contributes to sustainable business development, expressed in an increase in GDP and the result of SDG 9 implementation. The significance of the managerial aspect of the article is that, using the progressive methodology of SAP–LAP, we compile a SAP–LAP model of change management based on smart technologies for sustainable business development, which makes it possible to increase its flexibility and adaptability. The main result of this paper consists in the substantiation of the critical role of the flexibility of business as the main condition for its sustainable development. The paper's novelty lies in the development of a new approach to the management of the sustainable development of the business, which specific feature is change management based on smart technologies—which ensures increased flexibility of the business. The state economic policy implications are connected with the necessity to refuse protectionism in favor of the deregulation of markets to allow competition to create natural stimuli for the increase in the flexibility of business through change management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Trade Organization (WTO) and European Union (EU) have both put forward tax reforms that impact fisheries' fuel costs, which are similar in the object of taxation but quite different in the externalities addressed, goals, scope, exemptions or tax rates, creating an opportunity to compare the effects and discuss the alternatives. These proposals are the result of long and intense debates in political, social and academic spheres. However, certain aspects remain unclear. First of all, the number of empirical studies is still limited, particularly considering that fisheries governance is subject to heterogeneous management systems and institutional contexts creating room for different potential outputs. Second, coastal states have no fiscal competence beyond 12 miles, which limits the scope of the reforms to small scale fleets (SSF). All in all, the economic consequences for the fleets remain unclear. To this end, we will build on the Galician fishing sector (NW Spain) input–output tables to discuss the direct impacts, effects and side effects of these reforms on a representative European fleet. Flaws identified in both initiatives mean that targeted externalities will not be corrected and, moreover, additional ones, such as distributional effects penalising SSF or fuel spillovers, could be boosted. Alternative policy approaches are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rewilding, a concept often defined as an open-ended approach to ecological restoration that aims to establish self-sustaining ecosystems, has gained much interest in recent conservation science and practice. The economic dimensions of rewilding remain understudied, despite repeated calls for research, and we find that synthetic or programmatic contributions to the scientific literature are still missing. Here, we mined Scopus and Web of Science databases through a systematic review, looking for "rewilding" with various economic terms in the peer-reviewed literature, in the English language. We then screened out a 257 references-rich corpus with 14 variables, including the position of rewilding regarding positive and negative economic effects in specific sectors, and geographical or ecological foci. Our corpus amounts to ca. 40% of recent rewilding literature, with a clear emphasis on European study sites and the economic consequences of rewilding initiatives. Rewilding studies often refer to positive economic impacts on tourism and hunting, e.g., through higher income and employment rates, although very few studies properly quantify these. Conversely, most authors find rewilding harms farming, which is threatened by abandonment and damages by wildlife, raising interest in potential EU subsidy regimes. We highlight the surprising paucity of rewilding literature truly focusing on economics and/or providing detailed quantification—with remarkable exceptions. While rewilding's ecological relevance is no longer in question, demonstrating its economic benefits and sustainability will undoubtedly help scaling up. Thus, we advise rewilders to systematically measure and report investments and outcomes of rewilding initiatives, and to adopt common standards for cost and benefit assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are relatively common among the general population and have been shown to be associated with eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder. It remains relatively unknown whether ACEs are associated with muscle dysmorphia. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ACEs and muscle dysmorphia symptomatology among a sample of Canadian adolescents and young adults. A community sample of 912 adolescents and young adults ages 16–30 years across Canada participated in this study. Participants completed a 15-item measure of ACEs (categorized to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 or more) and the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory. Multiple linear regression analyses were utilized to determine the association between the number of ACEs experienced and muscle dysmorphia symptomatology. Participants who experienced five or more ACEs, compared to those who had experienced no ACEs, had more symptoms of muscle dysmorphia, as well as more symptoms related to Appearance Intolerance and Functional Impairment. There was no association between ACEs and Drive for Size symptoms. Participants who experienced five or more ACEs (16.1%), compared to 10.6% who experienced no ACEs, were at clinical risk for muscle dysmorphia (p =.018). Experiencing ACEs, particularly five or more, was significantly associated with muscle dysmorphia symptomatology, expanding prior research on eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder. Social workers should consider screening for symptoms of muscle dysmorphia among adolescents and young adults who experience ACEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between atopic dermatitis in pregnant women and preterm births, accounting for maternal ritodrine hydrochloride administration status. Methods: Data of 83,796 women with singleton pregnancies at and after 22 weeks of gestation (enrolled between 2011 and 2014) were analyzed. These data were obtained from the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Atopic dermatitis was defined based on self-reported questionnaire responses obtained during the first trimester. The primary outcome measures were preterm births before 37, 32, and 28 weeks of gestation. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, odds ratios for preterm births in pregnant women with atopic dermatitis were calculated, with women without atopic dermatitis included in the reference group. This analysis considered confounding factors and maternal ritodrine hydrochloride administration. Results: Among pregnant women with atopic dermatitis, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for preterm births before 37, 32, and 28 weeks of gestation were 0.89 (0.81–0.98), 0.98 (0.74–1.30), and 0.88 (0.50–1.55), respectively. This trend remained consistent after excluding participants who received ritodrine hydrochloride. Conclusions for practice: Atopic dermatitis in pregnant women was significantly associated with a decreased incidence of preterm births before 37 weeks of gestation, even after accounting for the effects of maternal ritodrine hydrochloride administration. Significance: What is already known on this subject?: Atopic dermatitis is among the most prevalent chronic dermatological conditions in pregnant women. The association between atopic dermatitis in pregnant women and obstetric outcomes remains unclear owing to conflicting research findings. What this study adds?: Atopic dermatitis in pregnant women was significantly associated with a decreased incidence of preterm births before 37 weeks of gestation. The trend was the same in participants without maternal ritodrine hydrochloride administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of baloxavir marboxil compared with oseltamivir or no antiviral treatment from a US payer perspective using data from a real-world US administrative claims study. Given baloxavir's ability to rapidly stop viral shedding, the potential health economic implications of a baloxavir-induced population-level reduction in viral transmission was also explored. Methods: A decision tree cost-effectiveness model was developed for seasonal influenza (2018–2020) using a lifetime time horizon with 3.0% discounting for costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Patients aged ≥ 12 years could receive baloxavir, oseltamivir or no antiviral treatment. Patient characteristics, complications, and costs were derived from the Merative™ MarketScan® Research Databases including US commercial claims and Medicare and Medicaid Supplemental databases. A scenario analysis explored the impact of reduced viral transmission with baloxavir. Results: In the base case analysis, baloxavir was cost-effective within a willingness-to-pay threshold of US$100,000/QALY compared with oseltamivir [incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), $6813/QALY gained] or no antiviral treatment (ICER, $669/QALY gained). The net monetary benefit (NMB) of baloxavir was $1180 and $6208 compared with oseltamivir and no treatment, respectively. The NMB of baloxavir increased linearly with reductions in viral transmission, where a 5% transmission reduction yielded an NMB of $2592 versus oseltamivir and $7621 versus no treatment. Baloxavir became dominant (more effective and less costly, with ICERs < 0) starting with a 12.0% reduction in viral transmission versus oseltamivir and 6.0% versus no antiviral treatment. Conclusion: Baloxavir was cost-effective compared with oseltamivir or no antiviral treatment. The potential of baloxavir to reduce viral transmission offers a substantial economic benefit from a US payer perspective. Plain Language Summary: Baloxavir is a prescription medicine that reduces the duration of flu symptoms and reduces the likelihood of complications from the flu, including serious complications that may require hospitalization. Baloxavir may reduce the spread of the flu to healthy people by reducing the amount and duration of virus shedding from infected people. We designed a model to estimate the cost benefits of using baloxavir versus another flu treatment, known as oseltamivir, or no flu treatment at all. Using baloxavir led to more cost savings than oseltamivir or no treatment for people in the US who have commercial health insurance. Baloxavir was even more cost-effective in the scenario where it reduced the number of flu cases (transmission benefit). This could ultimately have a meaningful benefit across a large health insurance population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does China pull up its 31 mainland provinces as it converges to the incomes of advanced economies? The conventional method of modelling convergence in the Chinese provinces has been the Barro approach. This paper models convergence through a common factor, interpreted as the rising tides that lift the boats—the growth of China lifts its provinces. We question the conventional (Barro in Q J Econ 106:407–443 1991) definition of convergence. Imposing a common convergence rate across provinces would bias the convergence rate towards zero. We focus on the heterogeneous model where the convergence rate and long-run elasticity to the common factor differ across provinces. The rising tides of growth disproportionately benefit the poorer provinces and lifts the poor provinces more than the wealthier ones. This reveals the effects of transfer from the coastal provinces that developed first to the inner provinces that developed later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Documents serve as records of humanity's activities and are continuously generated. To fulfill their primary purpose effectively, these records require specific care and treatment. Some documents, due to their cultural and historical significance, are preserved for centuries, whether in physical form, digital format, or both. However, maintaining these documents entails financial costs. This study investigates the feasibility of discarding permanent physical documents following digitization, considering legal, social, and economic factors. An analysis was conducted regarding the legal and economic implications of destroying physical documents from permanent public archives after digitization. The findings reveal that while some countries allow for the reassessment and disposal of digitized permanent archive documents, this option is not available under Brazilian legislation. Consequently, duplicate management of permanent public archive documents occurs. Possible causes for this duplicate management are discussed, along with potential solutions. In economic terms, the estimated monthly cost of digitized permanent archives occupies a substantial portion of resources, with Brazilian courts alone spending close to R$ 0.5 million. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PM2.5 is the main air pollutant in China, the future health burden and economic impact it poses in China has not been fully studied. In this study, a mathematical model of PM2.5 emissions and concentrations was constructed using a fitting method, and the changes of PM2.5 concentrations from 2035 to 2060 were predicted including Ambitious-pollution-1.5°C-goals, Ambitious-pollution-2°C-goals, Current-goals and Baseline scenarios, the health impacts of PM2.5 mortality were predicted in this period. The resulting economic losses including value of statistical life(VSL) attributed to the burdens of disease were predicted. The results show that: (1) Compared with 2035, the change range of PM2.5 concentration in 2060 is -83.37 ~ 21.33μg.m−3 under different carbon neutrality scenarios, and the pollution reduction degree of Ambitious-pollution -1.5°C-goals and Ambitious-pollution-2°C-goals is usually higher than that of Current-goals and Baseline scenarios; (2) Overall health impacts increased by Ambitious-pollution-1.5°C-goals, Ambitious-pollution-2°C-goals, Current-goals, and Baseline. In 2060, compared with the 1.5°C scenario, the changes in health impacts in each province under the 2°C and Current scenarios were 15.88%-21.50% and 17.29%-97.55%, respectively. (3) In 2060, the economic loss of each province in the Ambitious-pollution-1.5 °C-goals will account for 0.02% ~ 0.05% of the total national GDP, and the proportion under the baseline scenario will be 0.21% ~ 57.89%. The study shows that significant health and economic benefits can be achieved under the 1.5 °C scenario in the future, however, given future population and GDP changes, China needs to take more aggressive air pollution mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil has been known for its mineral resources, which have been exploited by companies spread for the whole country. Nonetheless, the Brazilian mining sector has also been known for the recent disasters which have generated unprecedented social, economic, and environmental costs. In this way, this work presents an analysis of the impacts of the imposition of a new tax on the Brazilian mining activity, since it is a potential cause of negative externalities, causing damage to the environment and the society. For this, the computable general equilibrium (CGE) model was used. The results show that the introduction of a tax for the mining sector increased the production cost of mining activity and related sectors, which implies a reduction in economic dynamism. On the other hand, an introduction of the tax has also generated an increase in government revenues, which can finance new spending on other sectors of the country. Therefore, the economic losses resulting from the policy are not very pronounced, making it feasible to impose the tax on mining activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public spending influences a country's economic activities due to its effect on aggregate demand. Although existing research has focused on government expenditures to understand the multiplier impacts of public spending, there is scant literature focusing on the spending of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), especially in strategic sectors such as the oil sector. This study analyzes the spending behaviour of an important Brazilian SOE, Petrobras, to understand its consequences to the Brazilian economic activity. The results suggest that multiplier impacts during recessions are bigger than those during economic expansions. The accumulated multiplier of Petrobras's investment expenditures is higher compared to current spending, especially in periods of recession. Moreover, the forecast error variance decomposition showed the impact that changes in government spending in Petrobras had on the Brazilian GDP growth in periods of expansion and contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the understanding of sovereign credit default swap (CDS) markets by examining the response of CDS spreads to macroeconomic factors and exploring extreme value dependence and its relation to economic cycles. The study focuses on four emerging countries in the Asia–Pacific sovereign CDS markets from 2009 to 2023 and utilises a dynamic quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) approach to account for statistical stylized facts. The findings reveal significant relationships between economic growth, inflation, volatility index (VIX), interest rates and real effective exchange rate on CDS spreads, with varying effects across quantiles and countries. Additionally, the study explores the impact of economic expansion and contraction on CDS spreads, highlighting the significant negative effects of the expansion in certain countries and the positive impacts of contraction phases. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers in risk management and policy decision-making, emphasizing the need for policies that promote sustainable growth; manage market risks during volatile periods and consider the implications of interest rates, exchange rates and economic phases on financial stability. The empirical model used is evaluated for dynamic stability, and policy implications are discussed in light of the research outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This seminal study explores systemic sustainability within the Industry 5.0 paradigm, using the strategic lens of geoanthropology to shape the emerging concept of Industry 6.0. A transdisciplinary approach is adopted, integrating geoanthropological insights into the analysis of the Italian ceramic district. Seven key factors are considered: resource consumption, production dynamics, innovation, environmental impact, social impact, market dynamics, and economic impact. Historical events such as changes in Italian industrial policy, market slowdowns, and the COVID-19 pandemic are identified as significant for the sector. A contingent analysis tailored to the unique characteristics of the ceramic district provides an in-depth understanding of its challenges and opportunities. The incorporation of geoanthropology provides a transdisciplinary perspective that allows for an in-depth examination of the complex interactions between people and their environment in an industrial setting. The study highlights the central role of innovation, digitalization, and government policies in driving positive changes in production efficiency, market dynamics, and economic impact. Nevertheless, challenges remain, including the delicate balance between environmental sustainability and resource consumption, as well as the effective management of the social impacts of digitization. To address these challenges, a systemic sustainability index derived from geoanthropological insights is proposed as a pragmatic tool to measure and guide the development of sustainability initiatives in the ceramic district. The results of this study not only pave the way for new horizons in sustainability assessment but also provide valuable insights for industrial district managers to formulate strategies that foster organizational flexibility and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The British Conquest of Quebec in 1760 was a key moment in Canadian history as it marked the beginning of a tense coexistence between French and English Canadians. Many argue that the Conquest had strong economic consequences in the form of the relative poverty of the French settlers. All the proposed mechanisms rely on a retreat from the market by French farmers. Using 171 years of wheat price data for Quebec City and Montreal, I test whether there are signs of this retreat and instead find the opposite: markets grew more integrated across regions. Additionally, over time, regional prices became better predicted by current prices elsewhere than by the lagged prices in the same region. By the 1830s, markets in Quebec were as well integrated as those in economies such as the USA, France, Britain and Germany. The evidence in this paper is consistent with recent empirical findings about Quebec's economic history, and so I argue that the case for the Conquest's initiation of the relative poverty of Quebec is non-existent as defined by conventional explanations. This does not exclude long-run consequences of the Conquest, but the correct answer must lie elsewhere than in conventional explanations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimates of the cost of damage caused by invasive alien speices and the money spent addressing biological invasions are needed to guide policy and management. Here, we quantify the known monetary costs of biological invasions to South Africa, using data from the InvaCost database, literature searches, and stakeholders. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, and agencies directly funded by them, provided most of the information on money spent, with very little information was available from other government agencies and the private sector. There was also very little information on the monetary costs due to the impacts of invasions. Between 1960 and 2023, ZAR9.6 billion (adjusted to 2022 values) was spent managing biological invasions in South Africa. This is only 4% of the money predicted as being necessary for management, which amounted to ZAR231.8 billion in 2022 values. There is uncertainty in the obtained estimates due to a paucity of information on both impacts and management costs. A few key points emerged from our analysis: the cost of damage caused by invasions far exceeds expenditure on control; the amount spent on control is much less than what is predicted to be needed; almost all management has focussed on a few invasive plant species; and there are large gaps in information that reduce the confidence in our estimates. Transparent cost reporting, strategic public–private collaborations, standardised impact metrics, and reliable assessments of management effectiveness are needed to enable South Africa to more effectively account for and prioritise investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the current literature on healthcare policies and cost analyses around international Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) laws. The study design is a mapping literature review following Preferred-Reporting-Items-for-Systematic-Reviews-and-Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Methods: Original research articles published between January 1990 to March 2023, investigating the financial cost and healthcare budget effect of VAD laws internationally. Citations were screened for relevance and eligibility, and any non-full-text research that did not explore cost analysis was excluded. The following data sources were screened: MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and any relevant international health authority annual reports were also reviewed. Results: Of the 2790 screened articles, eight studies met the inclusion criteria and three were included in the mapping review. The reviewed studies included prospective studies, two Canadian and one US. Only one of the Canadian studies provided a cost analysis using data from current VAD laws. All three studies showed VAD laws would reduce healthcare spending, with the US approximating $627million in 1995. Canada approximating $17.1 to $77.1million in 2017 and $86.9 to $149.0million in 2021, overall, leading to an average percentage reduction in costs of approximately 87% compared to original costs of end-of-life care. Conclusion: This review identifies a scarcity in cost-analysis literature and provides a summary of the latest international VAD laws, from which a potential cost reduction is apparent. The absence of retrospectively collated financial VAD data highlights a need for future research to inform policymakers of the economic factors affecting current policies with a need for annual fiscal reports and to optimise future legislative frameworks internationally. Key points: - This study highlights the absence of cost analysis reports on the provision of VAD globally, at a time when VAD is becoming an evolving part of end-of-life care particularly in developed countries base on the notion of patient autonomy. - The impact of this study is its ability to inform future research and policymakers of the economic factors affecting current VAD policies with a need for annual fiscal reports and to optimise future legislative frameworks internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect biodiversity and abundance are in global decline, potentially leading to a crisis with profound ecological and economic consequences. Methods and technologies to monitor insect species to aid in preservation efforts are rapidly being developed yet their adoption has been slow and focused on specific use cases. We propose a computer vision model that works towards multi-objective insect species identification in real-time and on a large scale. We leverage an image data source with 16 million instances and a recent improvement in the YOLO computer vision architecture to present a quick and open-access method to develop visual AI models to monitor insect species across climatic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A consensus and buying pattern regarding luxury brands has endured a paradigm shift from being envied to being questioned or entirely overlooked. The pandemic has led to a fair share of economic implications. Brands are forced to watch their product range fully, except for reserving a portion of merchandise optimistic for brand jingoism. The study aims to quantify the impacts of financial metrics utilized to gain goodwill amidst an average consumer's mindset. A composite Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) score represents the extent of a luxury brand's efforts in contributing to social and environmental concerns. The CSR score is hypothesized against these brands' financial and brand-value metrics. A Few Research questions are proposed on the same. A Panel-level analysis is undertaken to quantify the dependence and obtain insights. Relevant data is collected, with metrics identified from financial statements. The impacts of financial metrics and the firm's age on the CSR score are determined. While the Profit Margin, firm size, Tobin's Q, and Firm Age contribute positively to the CSR score, the firm's Return on Assets has a surprising negative influence. The impact of net income accrued is negligible, as inferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanding floating wind into new markets could support emission reduction targets in several national contexts. It furthers the need for adequate assessments to gain a full understanding of the technology's potential in future markets. South Africa is a prime case study as it has seen limited industry and policy developments despite its huge technical potential for floating offshore wind (FOW). This paper assessed the locational potential of floating wind in South Africa through a three-phased approach that evaluated the key technical drivers/barriers of the technology, conducted a Geographic Information System analysis (GIS) using ArcMap 10.8 to exclude unsuitable sites based on a predetermined exclusion criteria (including marine protected zones, underwater cables, major oil and gas deposits, etc.), and estimated the total harvestable capacity in the feasible sites. The study found that 2% (246,105.4 km2) of South Africa's entire Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is suitable for hosting floating wind turbines, with a potential to generate a maximum of 142.61 GW of floating wind power. Although the Western Cape province holds the highest potential (80.52 GW) for floating wind in the country, the Eastern Cape region, with a locational potential of 20.04 GW, is considered most suitable for early-stage developments due to the availability of grid connection points, limited marine traffic, and proximity to appropriate port facilities. Future work can conduct techno-economic assessments to evaluate the technical and economic implications of developing floating wind in distinct sites in the country's EEZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean seed oil and protein contents are negatively correlated, posing challenges to enhance both traits simultaneously. Previous studies have identified numerous oil and protein QTLs via single-trait QTL analysis. Multiple-trait QTL methods were shown to be superior but have not been applied to seed oil and protein contents. Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of single- and multiple-trait multiple interval mapping (ST-MIM and MT-MIM, respectively) for these traits using three recombinant inbred line populations from advanced breeding line crosses tested in four environments. Using original and simulated data, we found that MT-MIM did not outperform ST-MIM for our traits with high heritability (H2 > 0.84). Empirically, MT-MIM confirmed only five out of the seven QTLs detected by ST-MIM, indicating single-trait analysis was sufficient for these traits. All QTLs exerted opposite effects on oil and protein contents with varying protein-to-oil additive effect ratios (-0.4 to -4.8). We calculated the economic impact of the allelic variations via estimated processed values (EPV) using the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) and High Yield + Quality (HY + Q) methods. Oil-increasing alleles had positive effects on both EPVNOPA and EPVHY+Q when the protein-to-oil ratio was low (-0.4 to -0.7). However, when the ratio was high (-4.1 to -4.8), oil-increasing alleles increased EPVNOPA and decreased EPVHY+Q, which penalizes low protein meal. In conclusion, single-trait QTL analysis is adequately effective for high heritability traits like seed oil and protein contents. Additionally, the populations' elite pedigrees and varying protein-to-oil ratios provide potential lines for further yield assessment and direct integration into breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In 2022, in Italy, general practitioners (GPs) have been allowed to prescribe SGLT2i in Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) under National Health Service (NHS) reimbursement. In the pivotal clinical trial named DECLARE-TIMI 58, dapagliflozin reduced the risk of hospitalization for heart failure, CV death and kidney disease progression compared to placebo in a population of T2D patients. This study evaluated the health and economic impact of dapagliflozin for T2D patients who had or were at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in the Italian GPs setting. Methods: A budget impact model was developed to assess the health and economic impact of introducing dapagliflozin in GPs setting. The analysis was conducted by adopting the Italian NHS perspective and a 3-year time horizon. The model estimated and compared the health outcomes and direct medical costs associated with a scenario with dapagliflozin and other antidiabetic therapies available for GPs prescription (scenario B) and a scenario where only other antidiabetic therapies are available (scenario A). Rates of occurrence of cardiovascular and renal complications as well as adverse events were captured from DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial and the literature, while cost data were retrieved from the Italian tariff and the literature. One-way sensitivity analyses were conducted to test the impact of model parameters on the budget impact. Results: The model estimated around 442.000 patients eligible for the treatment with dapagliflozin in the GPs setting for each simulated year. The scenario B compared to scenario A was associated with a reduction in the occurrence of cardiovascular and renal complication (−1.83%) over the 3 years simulated. Furthermore, the scenario A allowed for an overall cost saving of 102,692,305€: 14,521,464€ in the first year, 33,007,064€ in the second and 55,163,777€ in the third. The cost of cost of drug acquisition, the probability of cardiovascular events and the percentage of patients potentially eligible to the treatment were the factor with largest impact on the results. Conclusions: The use of dapagliflozin in GPs setting reduce the number of CVD events, kidney disease progression and healthcare costs in Italy. These data should be considered to optimize the value produced for the T2D patients who had or were at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined caregivers' lived experiences during the initial weeks of stay-at-home mandates within the unique socio-cultural and healthcare context of the United States.To learn about the experiences of caregivers during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted seventeen semi-structured interviewswith caregivers of young children with autism (ages 3–8) in Illinois.The inability to meet demands, the abrupt loss of social and therapeutic support, and the loss of opportunities for leisure and self-care took an emotional toll on the caregivers and the families. Although four caregivers attributed positive changes in their lives to the lockdown (e.g., more family time and improved academic standing for their child), the reported negative impacts overshadowed the positives. To foster resilience and reduce the adverse long-term effects of world-changing events on families of young children with autism, the information gleaned from this study can inform educators, service providers, and other concerned parties about unique considerations when creating future proactive and responsive support measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graduate education is among the fastest growing segments of the U.S. higher educational system. This paper estimates the returns to Master's degrees and examines heterogeneity in the returns by field area, student demographics and initial labor market conditions. We use rich administrative data from Ohio and an individual fixed effects model that compares students' earnings trajectories before and after earning a Master's degree. Findings show that obtaining a Master's degree increased quarterly earnings by about 14% on average, but the returns vary largely across graduate fields. We also find gender and racial disparities in the returns, with higher average returns for women than for men, and for White than for Black graduates. In addition, by comparing returns among students who graduated before and under the Great Recession, we show that economic downturns appear to reduce but not eliminate the positive returns to Master's degrees. There are important variations in the returns to Master's degrees during the recession across field area and race/ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study examines the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on postpartum mothers in England, with the aim of identifying opportunities to improve maternal experience and wellbeing. The postpartum/postnatal period is widely acknowledged as a time when mothers require greater levels of support from multiple sources. However, stay-at-home orders, commonly known as "lockdown," deployed in some countries to limit COVID-19 transmission reduced access to support. In England, many postpartum mothers navigated household isolation within an intensive mothering and expert parenting culture. Examining the impact of lockdown may reveal strengths and weaknesses in current policy and practice. Subject and methods: We conducted online focus groups involving 20 mothers living in London, England, with "lockdown babies," following up on our earlier online survey on social support and maternal wellbeing. We thematically analysed focus group transcripts, and identified key themes around Lockdown Experience and Determinants of Lockdown Experience. Results: Participants raised some positives of lockdown, including fostering connections and protection from external expectations, but also raised many negatives, including social isolation, institutional abandonment, and intense relationships within the household. Potential reasons behind variations in lockdown experience include physical environments, timing of birth, and number of children. Our findings reflect how current systems may be "trapping" some families into the male-breadwinner/female-caregiver family model, while intensive mothering and expert parenting culture may be increasing maternal stress and undermining responsive mothering. Conclusions: Facilitating partners to stay at home during the postpartum period (e.g., increasing paternity leave and flexible working) and establishing peer/community support to decentre reliance on professional parenting experts may promote positive postpartum maternal experience and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inter-basin water transfer projects are among the highly controversial issues in water supply policies. These projects have economic effects on the sources and destination areas. The costs and benefits of these projects should be investigated for their justification. This study examines the economic and welfare impacts of the Taleghan Water Transfer Project (TWTP) in Iran using a water-embedded multi-regional computable general equilibrium (WMRCGE) model. The results indicate that the increase in the equivalent variation (EV) of the water-receiving area is 6.9 times greater than the EV loss in the water supply area. Thus, the welfare improvement in the water-receiving area is much higher than the welfare loss in the water-supplying area. The results also indicated that the increase in total output in the water-receiving region is three times the total output reduction in the water supply region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A fixed 10-year lead-time in composite time-trade-off (C-TTO) tasks might compromise the precision of utility values below − 1. This study explored how alternative lead-times (ALTs) influence EQ-5D-5L value sets and their implications in economic evaluations. Methods: Leveraging data from Taiwan's EQ-5D-5L valuation and capitalizing on its exploratory willingness-to-accept question, we explored participants' quantification of "worse-than-dead (WTD)" health states with ALTs up to 50 years. We then derived alternative value sets incorporating these ALTs through interval regression and compared them against those from conventional models. To evaluate their impact on health change valuation, we simulated utility differences for all possible EQ-5D-5L health-state-pairs using each value set. Results: With a salient floor effect observed in the C-TTO values, the model with ALT led to a wider range of predicted utilities (– 2.3897 ~ 1), compared with those of conventional models (generalized least squares (GLS): – 0.7773 ~ 1; Tobit-GLS: – 0.9583 ~ 1). Compared to the Tobit-GLS model, the model with ALT increased the numerical distance in 80% of health-state-pairs, with 11% decreasing and 9% altering direction (e.g., positive to negative) in utility differences. Conclusions: While ALTs offer insights into patient preferences, their integration into economic evaluations might require rescaling. Future research should prioritize advanced rescaling methods or enhanced elicitation strategies for populations with substantial censoring. This is pivotal for improving the elicitation of extreme WTD states and accurately discerning the relative distances between health states. Countries developing EQ-5D-5L value sets should consider pilot studies and incorporating region-specific questions on social determinants, especially where pronounced floor effects are suspected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reasonable leverage ratio is conducive to the sustainable development of the enterprise. During the green transformation stage of China's economic structure, improving the relevant credit policies to support green development has become an urgent need for the relevant government departments in China. This study first systematically analyzes the influence of excessive debt on green technology innovation (GTI) using the data of China A-share listed companies from 2007 to 2020. The empirical results showed that the excessive debt of enterprises significantly restricted their GTI. Excessive debt had a significant negative impact on the GTI of non-state owned enterprises (non-SOEs) and enterprises that did not implement the ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) certification. However, its impact on SOEs and enterprises adopted the ISO 14001 EMS was insignificant. The excessive debt mainly inhibited enterprise innovation by affecting the R&D investment of enterprises and raising the debt cost of enterprises. This study supplemented the relevant studies on the economic consequences of corporate debt deviation with different enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inland waterway locks have become significant bottlenecks in waterway networks worldwide due to the disruptions caused by aging infrastructure and climate change. While these locks have traditionally received attention for traffic issues, the disruptive impact on the regional economy remains unclear. This study addresses this knowledge gap by assessing the economic impacts of inland water transportation system failures, specifically focusing on disruptions in agricultural commodities within the Upper Mississippi River–Illinois River (UMR–IR) region. These disruptions encompass both unscheduled climate-induced extreme weather events and scheduled maintenance and repair work due to internal system failure. To capture the spatial interdependence between the regional economy and shipping rate changes caused by disruptions, we developed an integrated modeling approach. This approach combines spatial econometric modeling and multi-regional computable general equilibrium modeling techniques. Detailed weekly data from 2013 to 2021, including variations in inland barge rates and environmental conditions, were utilized. The assessment reveals that lock closure events in the UMR-IR region have severe economic consequences, impacting both the region itself and beyond. Conversely, transportation resilience achieved through modal substitution from barge to rail services during disruptive events can substantially reduce GDP losses. Specifically, such resilience measures can reduce GDP losses in the UMR-IR region by 6.6–24.2% and in the rest of the USA by 5.2–19.5%. Overall, these research findings carry significant implications for future planning and investment in inland waterway systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure in childhood is common, with impacts on lifespan well-being. However, there are knowledge gaps about needs and barriers to services for IPV survivors with children. Method: We analyzed data from adults aged ≥ 19 years who resided in the U.S., were experiencing IPV, and who contacted the National Domestic Violence Hotline from 1/1/ 2017–12/31/2021 (N = 599,207). Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs were calculated to compare differences in IPV exposure, service requests, and service access barriers for IPV survivors with and without children at home, adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. We examined time trends (2017–2021), with comparisons before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Many adult IPV survivors (42.6%) reported having a child at home; survivors with children reported greater polyvictimization (mean IPV types: 2.27, SD: 1.03) than those without children (M: 2.06, SD: 1.04). A small proportion of those with children requested support identifying child-focused services (4.1%); a greater proportion of those with children (30.8%) requested economic stability services compared to those without children (25.2%) (aPR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.15–1.17). Additionally, 33.1% of survivors with children at home reported having any service access barrier; this was 16% higher than adult IPV survivors without children (28.7%) (aPR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.15–1.17). There were changes over time, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: IPV survivors with children need additional supports; organizations serving IPV survivors with children may consider the unique needs and victimization profile of this population when designing interventions and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gradual progress in aligning financial flows with the adoption of clean technologies reveals a persistent funding gap, signaling a global misallocation of capital. Addressing this challenge necessitates political leadership and robust policies to counteract the insecurities impeding the redirection of financial flows. This study investigates into the impact of energy-related public–private partnership investments (PPPIE) and macro-environmental variables on the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) across Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries from 1999 to 2021. Employing the Dynamac command technique, we conduct autoregressive distribution lag analysis and the Bounds Cointegration Test to evaluate ASEAN's efforts in achieving SDG7. Results indicate that a ten-year exogenous shock to the GDP growth rate initially causes a temporary decline in both GDP and PPPIE, albeit not statistically significant. However, in the long run, the shock becomes statistically significant, correlating with a negative decline in the GDP growth rate. This underscores the negative impact of external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic growth of ASEAN member countries. Specifically, a percentage increase in PPPIE leads to an 8.3% reduction in the GDP growth rate, revealing a detrimental and unsustainable impact on the economy. This signifies that energy investments in the ASEAN region, are predominantly unsustainable and adversely impact economic growth. Moreover, these energy investments contribute to a significant 52.6% increase in greenhouse gas emissions, indicating a substantial setback in the region's progress towards meeting SDG7's clean energy objectives by 2030. This suggests the present state of PPPIE does not align with sustainable clean energy goals of the region. Therefore, recommendations should include diversifying energy sources and investment strategies to enhance sustainable clean energy. Also, policymakers and researchers should reassess the terms and conditions of PPPIE, refining frameworks for private sector involvement to align with long-term economic sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to address climate risks and achieve green transformation has become a critical issue that businesses urgently need to consider. We apply growth option theory and prospect theory to examine the impact of corporate climate risk perceptions on green outward foreign direct investment (GFDI) using a research sample of heavily polluting listed companies in China from 2009 to 2022. Our findings reveal that companies with higher perceived climate risks tend to increase their inclination towards GFDI, and the informal hierarchy of boards reinforces the positive effect of both. Supplementary analyses indicate that through GFDI, corporations can exert positive effects on their own environmental performance and future green innovations. The positive impact is notably more visible in nonstate-owned companies and sample units from provinces along the Belt and Road. These findings extend the economic consequences of climate risk at the firm level from the perspective of international business research and provide empirical references for firms to promote their own green transformation from a practical perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Low socioeconomic status based on neighborhood of residence has been suggested to be associated with poor outcomes after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The area deprivation index (ADI) is a scale that ranks (zero to 100) neighborhoods by increasing socioeconomic disadvantage and accounts for median income, housing type, and family structure. We sought to examine the potential differences between high (national median ADI = 47) and low ADI among TJA recipients at a single institution. Specifically, we assessed: (1) 30-day emergency department visits/readmissions; (2) 90-day and 1-year revisions; as well as (3) medical and surgical complications. Methods: A consecutive series of primary TJAs from September 21, 2015, through December 29, 2021, at a tertiary healthcare system were reviewed. A total of 3,024 patients who had complete ADI data were included. Patients were divided into groups below the national median ADI of 47 (n = 1,896) and above (n = 1,128). Multivariable regressions to determine independent risk factors accounting for ADI, race, age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification grade, body mass index, diabetes, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, and tobacco use. The primary outcomes of interest include evaluation of the independent association of ADI with total postoperative complications (at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year) after adjusting for multiple relevant cofactors. Results: After adjusting for multiple relevant cofactors, at 90 days, ADI > 47 (OR, 1.36, 95% CI 1.00–1.83, P = 0.04), men versus women (OR, 0.73, 95% CI 0.54–0.99, P = 0.039), and CHF (OR, 1.90, 95% CI 1.18–3.06, P = 0.009) were independently associated with increased total complications. The ADI was not associated with increased total complications at 30 days or 1-year (All P > 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings of higher complications of the ADI > 47 cohort at 90 days, reaffirm the complex relationship between ADI, patient demographics, and additional socioeconomic parameters that may influence postoperative outcomes and complications after TJA. This study utilizing ADI demonstrates potential areas of intervention and further investigation for assessing arthroplasty outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin cancer's rising incidence demands understanding of its economic impact. The current understanding is fragmented because of the various methodological approaches applied in skin cancer cost-of-illness studies. Objective: This study systematically reviews melanoma and keratinocyte carcinoma cost-of-illness studies to provide an overview of the applied methodological approaches and to identify the main cost drivers. Methods: This systematic review was conducted adhering to the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from December 2022 until December 2023 using a search strategy with entry terms related to the concepts of skin cancer and cost of illness. The records were screened on the basis of the title and abstract and subsequently on full text against predetermined eligibility criteria. Articles published before 2012 were excluded. A nine-item checklist adapted for cost-of-illness studies was used to assess the methodological quality of the articles. Results: This review included a total of 45 studies, together evaluating more than half a million patients. The majority of the studies (n = 36) focused on melanoma skin cancer, a few (n = 3) focused on keratinocyte carcinomas, and 6 studies examined both. Direct costs were estimated in all studies, while indirect costs were only estimated in nine studies. Considerable heterogeneity was observed across studies, mainly owing to disparities in study population, methodological approaches, included cost categories, and differences in healthcare systems. In melanoma skin cancer, both direct and indirect costs increased with progressing tumor stage. In advanced stage melanoma, systemic therapy emerged as the main cost driver. In contrast, for keratinocyte carcinoma no obvious cost drivers were identified. Conclusions: A homogeneous skin cancer cost-of-illness study design would be beneficial to enhance between-studies comparability, identification of cost drivers, and support evidence-based decision-making for skin cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increasing burden of cancer has economic implications for the healthcare system in England. However, there is limited evidence on the cost of cancer treatment. We calculated the costs of initial cancer treatment (resection, radiotherapy, systemic anti-cancer therapy [SACT]) based on stage at diagnosis. Methods: Data from England's National Cancer Registration Dataset were matched to English Hospital, Radiotherapy and SACT data for breast, lung, prostate, colon and rectal cancers diagnosed between 2016 and 2018. Treatment data were matched to National Schedule of Reference Costs data to calculate the cost of each treatment event. Results: Breast, colon and rectal cancers treated with resection, radiotherapy or SACT had increasing costs with later stage at diagnosis; costs for lung and prostate cancers were lower at stages 1 and 4 compared to stages 2 and 3. In general, surgery and SACT were the most expensive treatments. Radiotherapy and SACT costs showed little change across stages 1–3; radiotherapy costs decreased in stage 4, while SACT costs increased. Conclusions: This analysis estimates initial treatment costs by stage based on observed data. Future research can build on this to provide more comprehensive costings associated with cancer; this is important for future planning of cancer services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an economic and relationship-strengthening intervention to reduce heavy alcohol use among couples living with HIV in Malawi (Mlambe). Mlambe consisted of training on financial literacy and relationship skills, combined with 1:1 matched savings accounts to invest in an income-generating activity. In a randomized controlled trial, we compared Mlambe to enhanced usual care (EUC). We enrolled 78 married couples having a partner on antiretroviral therapy (ART) who reported heavy alcohol use based on the AUDIT-C. Using targets of 75%, primary outcomes included retention rates at 10 and 15-months, session attendance rates, and satisfaction with Mlambe. Exploratory outcomes were heavy alcohol use (AUDIT-C and/or PEth positive), number of drinking days in the past month, AUDIT-C score, optimal adherence to ART (95% or higher), and viral suppression. We exceeded our targets for feasibility and acceptability metrics. Retention rates were 96% at 15-months. Session attendance and satisfaction levels were both 100%. From baseline to 15-months, Mlambe participants reported decreases in mean number of drinking days (from 6.8 to 2.1) and AUDIT-C scores (from 7.5 to 3.1); while ART adherence rates improved across the same period (from 63.2 to 73.9%). Participants in Mlambe, as compared to those in EUC, had lower rates of heavy alcohol use (89.5% vs. 97.2%) and higher rates of viral suppression (100% vs. 91.9%) at 10-months. Differences between arms were not statistically significant in this small pilot study. Mlambe was highly feasible and acceptable, and shows promise for reducing heavy alcohol use and viral non-suppression among couples with HIV in a larger efficacy study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a robust quantitative approach for determining significant economic factors for sex trafficking in the United States. The aim is to study monthly counts of sex trafficking-related convictions, and use a wide range of economic variables as covariates to investigate their effect on conviction counts. A count time series model is considered along with a regression setup to include economic time series as covariates (economic factors) to explain the counts on sex trafficking-related convictions. The statistical significance of these economic factors is investigated and the significant factors are ranked based on appropriate model selection methods. The inclusion of time-lagged versions of the economic factor time series in the regression model is also explored. Our findings indicate that economic factors relating to immigration policy, consumer price index and labor market regulations are the most significant in explaining sex trafficking convictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing global concern about climate change and the circular economy have successfully established itselves in international and national policies over the last decade, with the aim of reshaping the production and consumer behavior. The circular economy is one of the core pillars of European Union policy and its success depends on the energy efficiency, reducing production costs, and maintaining employment levels by ensuring continuous strong economic independency of the region. While crises are unavoidable and continue to appear, this paper aims to project the impact of any crisis on sustainability transitions using data analysis of the Global Financial crisis from 2008 to 2009 and discuss how the success of the circular economy implementation and environmental policies could be affected. The paper notes that the global financial crisis of 2008–2009 had a short-term positive impact on environmental degradation and that economic interests overshadowed environmental goals. Due to the recent events of the ongoing Russia and Ukraine war, COVID-19 societal and industrial behavior has shifted from sustainable to linear and has taken a step backward in reducing environmental pollution and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Analysis of already present data and the context of the 2008–2009 global financial crisis, reviewing of COVID-19 impact on the global economy, health sector, and environmental policies allows us to predict the consequences, as it relates to the future of circular economy policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with financial information, whether corporate social responsibility disclosure has impacts on debt financing cost has obviously become a heated topic in the academic. This paper selects A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets of China from 2013 to 2017 as sample to study the impact of corporate social responsibility disclosure on debt financing cost, including bond financing cost and bank loan cost. In addition, this paper divides the sample into voluntary corporate social responsibility disclosure group and mandatory corporate social responsibility disclosure group and studies whether the effects of voluntary corporate social responsibility disclosure and mandatory corporate social responsibility disclosure on bond financing cost and bank loan cost are different. The empirical results are presented as follows: Firstly, enterprise disclosing high-quality corporate social responsibility report is more conducive to reducing the debt financing cost. Specifically, corporate social responsibility disclosure significantly lowers both the bond financing cost and bank loan cost. Moreover, the reduction impact of corporate social responsibility disclosure on bond financing cost is greater than that of bank loan cost. Secondly, enterprises voluntarily disclosing corporate social responsibility reports are more conducive to reducing the debt financing cost than that of enterprises mandatorily disclosing corporate social responsibility reports. Thirdly, non-state-owned enterprises are more conducive to reducing debt financing cost than that of state-owned enterprise. The enterprises with more market competition are more conducive to reducing the debt financing cost than the oligopolistic enterprises. Finally, this paper concludes and gives policy implications. This paper amplifies the literature regarding the economic consequences of corporate social responsibility disclosure and improves the understanding of the impact of corporate social responsibility disclosure on debt financing cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the impact of social, demographic, and economic factors on the economic empowerment of rural women in agricultural activities in Ethiopia's Dire Dawa region, using a mixed-methods research approach. The research team collected data from a sample of 419 women engaged in agricultural activities and used the proportional odds model and the partial proportional odds model to identify the factors associated with economic empowerment. The study found that age, property ownership, and education and training had a negative effect, while social networks and media had a positive effect on economic empowerment. The results also showed that women aged 40 and above had a lower likelihood of being economically empowered and lack of property ownership and limited contact with extension agents hurt economic empowerment. The study recommended improving women's access to credit, land ownership, and training opportunities to promote gender equity and women's economic empowerment in the agricultural sector in Ethiopia. This study contributes to the literature by using a mixed-methods approach that integrated qualitative data with quantitative data, which has not been used before in Ethiopia. The findings provide important implications for policymakers and development practitioners in promoting gender equity and women's economic empowerment in the agricultural sector. The study highlights the need to address the challenges that women face in achieving economic empowerment, including limited access to credit, training, and land ownership. By improving access to these resources, policymakers and development practitioners can create an enabling environment that fosters women's economic empowerment and promotes gender equity in Ethiopia's agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of green transportation, the automotive industry is undergoing a revolution in autonomous, connected, electric, and shared (ACES) vehicles. ACES vehicles have a relatively short history and there is limited relevant market data available. Therefore, quantitative research on the economic impact of ACES trends remains a new area of exploration. The purpose of the paper is to explore the economic impact of ACES trends on the automotive value chain, with a specific focus on the production and aftermarket segments. In the paper, a detailed quantitative analysis of the installation scale and the market size of Chinese automotive production as well as the income changes of Chinese automotive aftermarket in 2030 is conducted. The findings show that the new markets for power batteries, electric powertrains, sensors, in-vehicle software and chips are created, thereby delivering more value to the business. While the ACES trends are expected to decrease the average aftermarket income per vehicle, the growth of the vehicle stock suggests significant potential for the development of the automotive aftermarket in 2030. Our research contributes by offering a business perspective on the impact of ACES trends. The quantitative insights presented are timely and crucial for all the stakeholders along the value chain, enabling them to adapt and thrive in the dynamic automotive landscape and align their strategies with the transformative ACES trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deliberate open burning of crop residues emits greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. This study investigates the environmental impacts (global warming potential, GWP) and economic impacts (net cash flow) of nine agricultural residue management schemes, including open burning, fertilizer production, and biochar production for corn residue, rice straw, and sugarcane leaves. The environmental assessment shows that, except the open burning schemes, fossil fuel consumption is the main contributor of the GWP impact. The fertilizer and biochar schemes reduce the GWP impact including black carbon by 1.88–1.96 and 2.46–3.22 times compared to open burning. The biochar schemes have the lowest GWP (− 1833.19 to − 1473.21 kg CO2-eq/ton). The economic assessment outcomes reveal that the biochar schemes have the highest net cash flow (222.72—889.31 US$2022/ton or 1258.15–13409.16 US$2022/ha). The expenditures of open burning are practically zero, while the biochar schemes are the most costly to operate. The most preferable agricultural residue management type is the biochar production, given the lowest GWP impact and the highest net cash flow. To discourage open burning, the government should tailor the government assistance programs to the needs of the farmers and make the financial assistance more accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic crises constitute the most important disruptions in firms' external environment, which have quite negative economic consequences for them, leading to significant reductions of their activities. However, the negative impacts differ significantly among firms, so it is important to identify factors that affect their magnitude at firm level, as they would provide to firms a useful basis for developing strategies for increasing their resilience to crisis. In this study, based on the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm as well as the dynamic-capability view (DCV) as theoretical foundations, we develop a set of research hypotheses concerning the effects of a series of factors on firm overall crisis economic vulnerability as well as crisis vulnerability with respect to several investment categories. We test these hypotheses using Greek firm data for the crisis period 2009–2014. We find evidence for a vulnerability reducing effect of new forms of "organic" workplace organization and human capital endowment, the latter effect particularly for investment in R&D and innovation, a stabilizing effect of a series of dynamic capabilities, a stabilizing effect of export activities, a de-stabilizing role of crisis-induced liquidity restrictions, and a de-stabilizing effect of crisis-induced decrease of overall private and public demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vietnam faces a heightened susceptibility to natural disasters stemming from climate change, yet the impact of these disasters varies markedly across its regions. Consequently, it is imperative to scrutinize the climatic factors affecting the regional economy, with a particular dearth of research addressing the nexus between natural threats and the economies of the Mekong River Delta and the Southeast region of Vietnam. The primary objective is to investigate how temperature fluctuations, rising sea levels, storms, and forest fires can detrimentally affect agriculture, forestry, and infrastructure in these regions. The present research uses the secondary data from Vietnam's General Statistics Office and the German Agency for International Cooperation. Employing quantitative analysis, the study endeavours to assess and compare the influence of climate change elements on the economic trajectories of the Mekong River Delta and the Southeast region. The findings reveal that the Mekong River Delta is disproportionately impacted by economic losses attributed to rising sea levels when juxtaposed with other regions in Vietnam. Firstly, the escalating sea levels significantly jeopardize residential and agricultural land in the Mekong River Delta (1). Secondly, while wildfires inflict damage on forestry in both the Mekong River Delta and the Southeast area, their overall impact is deemed negligible (2). Thirdly, the study ascertains that houses in the Mekong River Delta and the Southeast region remain relatively unscathed by storms (3). However, it is noted that specific storms have inflicted substantial damage on both regions (4). In light of these findings, future research should delve deeper into the analysis of storm risks in the Mekong River Delta and the Southeast region. Such insights are crucial for enhancing our understanding of the vulnerabilities and devising effective strategies to mitigate the economic repercussions of climate change in these pivotal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leveraging the Chinese capital market, we investigate the relationship between a CEO's scientific research background and the level of digitalization within enterprises. Our results demonstrate robust findings indicating that a CEO's scientific research background significantly enhances the level of enterprise digitalization. Moreover, we observe that this correlation is more pronounced in companies controlled by non-state-owned enterprises, those operating within a more advanced digital economy, and those engaged in high levels of regional integration. Furthermore, we establish that the positive impact of a CEO's research background on a company's digitalization level is primarily driven by fostering the organization's innovation drive. Overall, our research suggests that CEOs with scientific research backgrounds are instrumental in encouraging a culture of innovation within their firms, thereby enhancing enterprise digitalization performance. This study contributes to the literature by exploring the factors influencing enterprise digitalization levels through the lens of managerial experience and analyzing the economic implications of management experience on enterprise digital transformation. Methodologically, we have refined and enhanced the measurement approach for assessing enterprise digitalization levels. Practically, our findings underscore the importance of promoting cross-industry and cross-regional exchanges of high-caliber talent for executives, enterprises, and governmental entities alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess sugar is considered one of the primary factors contributing to overweight status. In Brazil, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) contain a significant amount of this nutrient and are consumed excessively. These beverages are associated with adverse health outcomes and impose costs on the healthcare system. The literature currently lacks studies that aim to attribute specific nutrients or foods as causes of diseases and also evaluate their economic impact, especially in middle- and low-income countries. This study aims to estimate the direct and indirect costs of obesity, stratified by sex and age group, resulting from the excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in Brazil from 2008 to 2020, and to project these costs for the year 2036. The estimation of obesity costs attributable to excessive consumption of SSBs was based on relative risks and the population prevalence of obesity, considering expenditures on hospitalizations and outpatient procedures in the Unified Health System (SUS). Cost information was obtained from the health information systems available at SUS. The highest burden attributable to the consumption of SSBs was observed among younger individuals and progressively decreased with advancing age. The total direct costs in the period between 2008 and 2020 amounted to approximately US$ 6.33 million, 87% of which was related to expenses for females. Additionally, deaths resulting from the consumption of SSBs cost the economy US$ 40 million due to the premature loss of productivity. The total costs of obesity attributable to the consumption of SSBs are substantial, impacting public spending and generating social and productivity losses that burden the economy. It is crucial to develop and implement cost-effective fiscal and regulatory policies aimed at preventing and combating obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently, the endovascular treatment (EVT) of acute ischemic stroke has made significant progress in many aspects. Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is usually recommended before endovascular treatment in clinical practice, but the value of the practice is controversial. The latest meta-analysis evaluation was that the effect of EVT versus EVT plus IVT did not differ significantly. The cost-effectiveness analysis of EVT plus IVT needs further analysis. This study assesses the health benefits and economic impact of EVT plus IVT in Shandong Peninsula of China. Method: We followed a cross-section design using the Chinese-Shandong Peninsula public hospital database between 2013 and 2023. The real-world costs and health outcomes were collected through the Hospital Information System (HIS) and published references. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) from the perspective of Chinese healthcare using the complex decision model to compare the costs and effectiveness between EVT versus EVT + IVT. One-way and Monte Carlo probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the economic evaluation model. Results: EVT alone had a lower cost compared with EVT + IVT whether short-term or long-term. Until 99% dead of AIS patients, the ICER per additional QALY was RMB696399.30 over the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of 3× gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Shandong. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis of 3 months, 1 year and long-term horizons had a 97.90%, 97.43% and 96.89% probability of cost-effective treatment under the WTP threshold (1×GDP). The results of the one-way sensitivity analysis showed that direct treatment costs for EVT alone and EVT + IVT were all sensitive to ICER. Conclusions: EVT alone was more cost-effective treatment compared to EVT + IVT in the Northeast Coastal Area of China. The data of this study could be used as a reference in China, and the use of the evaluation in other regions should be carefully considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meeting the energy and water demands of remote areas has created significant challenges globally. To address this issue, the utilization of hybrid energy-water systems, integrated with renewable energies, has been highlighted as a viable solution. This work has been focused on the multi-objective optimization of a hybrid energy system, encompassing photovoltaic panels, batteries, diesel generators, and desalination units. The design goals to achieve the optimal configuration include minimizing system costs, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, enhancing the renewable factor, and improving reliability. Also, for the mentioned design goals, the performance of three desalination methods including reverse osmosis (RO), multi-stage flash (MSF), and multiple-effect distillation (MED) was evaluated by Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software. Our findings reveal that the RO desalination method, when combined with renewable energy, outperforms other methods both economically and environmentally. Notably, the RO method reduces net present cost (NPC) by 6.18% and 8.25% and carbon dioxide emissions by 38% and 46%, respectively, compared to MED and MSF methods. Additionally, sensitivity analysis, considering factors such as interest rate, photovoltaic panel cost, battery cost, and fuel cost, was conducted on NPC. The results showed that with a 2% decrease in the interest rate, the amount of NPC increases by about 2.4% due to the increase in the share of renewable energy. Therefore, reducing the interest rate helps to design a system with less carbon dioxide emissions. This work, by highlighting the economic and environmental implications of different desalination methods, as well as key cost factors, contributes to the optimal design of combined energy-water schemes for remote areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]