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Background: The work examines the results and conclusions of the roundtable held on May 24, 2023, within the framework of the research project. The participants of the event discussed the main challenges that the Ukrainian government will face after the war when restoring the economy. The war and Ukraine's expected victory should significantly change the geopolitical and economic situation in the world, change the understanding of energy as a weapon, and thus, create a guarantee of energy independence for the entire European continent. Scholars, policy makers, scientists, and practitioners joined together in discussion about addressing the needs of Ukraine after the victory, during the reconstruction phase. The participants noted the inevitability of institutional changes in the Ukrainian state, which is required by the future accession to the EU and NATO. However, in addition to economic challenges, Ukraine will face a complex of significant post-war problems: ensuring social stability, restoring infrastructure, ensuring the integration of the military into peaceful life, restoring the ecology of the territories where military operations were conducted, and significantly reforming the judicial system. Results and Conclusions: The policy paper concerning Ukraine's reconstruction efforts was announced as a result of the roundtable. It was highlighted that, to establish a future regional infrastructure and foster a win-win business perspective, it is crucial to engage in practical discussions with the Romanian government and private companies. Creating a shared business platform would facilitate the transition from expressing interests to direct participation in the recovery process. To achieve broader reconstruction goals, it is essential to involve other Western industry actors from countries like Germany, France, Italy, the U.S., the UK, Poland, Norway, etc., with their financial, technological, and implementation capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs the difference-in-differences (DID) to investigate the impact of “going global” on enterprises' financialization. Baseline estimation shows that the degree of financialization of enterprises participating in the Belt and Road Initiative was lower compared with those not participating in the Initiative. Mechanism analysis reveals that “going global” through Belt and Road Initiative has improved enterprises' profitability of real sector investment and inhibited their motivation of financialization. These findings provide new perspectives for more effectively promoting enterprises to participate in the Belt and Road construction and helping inhibit enterprises’ financialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Through a nationally representative household survey in Afghanistan, we conducted an operational study in two relatively secure provinces comparing effectiveness of computer-aided personal interviewing (CAPI) with paper-and-pencil interviewing (PAPI). Methods: In Panjshir and Parwan provinces, household survey data were collected using paper questionnaires in 15 clusters, and OpenDataKit (ODK) software on electronic tablets in 15 other clusters. Added value was evaluated from three perspectives: efficient implementation, data quality, and acceptability. Efficiency was measured through financial expenditures and time stamped data. Data quality was measured by examining completeness. Acceptability was studied through focus group discussions with survey staff. Results: Survey costs were 68% more expensive in CAPI clusters compared to PAPI clusters, due primarily to the upfront one-time investment for survey programming. Enumerators spent significantly less time administering surveys in CAPI cluster households (248 min survey time) compared to PAPI (289 min), for an average savings of 41 min per household (95% CI 25–55). CAPI offered a savings of 87 days for data management over PAPI. Among 49 tracer variables (meaning responses were required from all respondents), small differences were observed between PAPI and CAPI. 2.2% of the cleaned dataset's tracer data points were missing in CAPI surveys (1216/ 56,073 data points), compared to 3.2% in PAPI surveys (1953/ 60,675 data points). In pre-cleaned datasets, 3.9% of tracer data points were missing in CAPI surveys (2151/ 55,092 data points) compared to 3.2% in PAPI surveys (1924/ 60,113 data points). Enumerators from Panjsher and Parwan preferred CAPI over PAPI due to time savings, user-friendliness, improved data security, and less conspicuity when traveling; however approximately half of enumerators trained from all 34 provinces reported feeling unsafe due to Taliban presence. Community and household respondent skepticism could be resolved by enumerator reassurance. Enumerators shared that in the future, they prefer collecting data using CAPI when possible. Conclusions: CAPI offers clear gains in efficiency over PAPI for data collection and management time, although costs are relatively comparable even without the programming investment. However, serious field staff concerns around Taliban threats and general insecurity mean that CAPI should only be conducted in relatively secure areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides interim results of my PhD dissertation. The research hypothesis is "Firms increase and decrease employment in response to changes in expected demand." The paper seeks to answer the question "What are the determinants of changes in aggregate employment in the United States of America (U.S.)?" This is an important research topic because significant increases in unemployment can have a profound effect on an entire society, not just on its unemployed workers. When employment declines, public health declines, crime increases, suicides increase, and public revenues decrease. The paper uses quarterly data from 1948-2021 to estimate the effect of important macroeconomic variables on aggregate employment. The macroeconomic variables include personal consumption expenditures, U.S. federal government expenditures, nominal GNP, international trade (imports plus exports), M3 money stock, the minimum wage level, non-residential fixed investment, nonmanufacturing employment, and U.S. federal tax receipts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

Context and background In recent years, there has been a notable resurgence of medium-scale commercial farms in Africa. However, scholarly focus on their capacity to drive structural transformation, promote inclusivity, empower communities, generate wealth, and enhance livelihoods has been limited. Specifically examining the Zimbabwean context, this article contends that medium-scale farms play pivotal roles in production, social reproduction, income generation, commercialisation, investment and capital accumulation. These contributions have been significant in facilitating structural transformation, wealth generation, and improved livelihoods. Goal and Objectives: The paper is primarily concerned with exploring the extent to which mediumscale commercial agriculture contributes to structural transformation, wealth creation and enhanced livelihoods in the Zimbabwean and wider African context. Methodology: The paper utilized a mixed methods research approach comprising of a survey and in-depth interviews which targeted 200 resettled households in two rural districts in Zimbabwe. Results: Medium-scale farms possess the ability to play a role in structural transformation, wealth generation, and improved livelihoods. Factors such as land access, a supportive macroeconomic and policy environment, robust and inclusive land governance, and efficient administrative institutions hold promise in addressing and mitigating the challenges related to poverty, disenfranchisement, marginalization, and inequalities in power and resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the impact of agricultural investment on agricultural output in the Democratic Republic of Congo using secondary data for the period 1980 to 2019. Using the Johansen and Jusseleus cointegration test, agricultural investment and agricultural output were observed to have a statistically significant long-run relationship. Additionally, the error correction model (ECM) shows that the short-run coefficient of agricultural investment has a statistically significant positive impact on agricultural output, implying that investment (machine, infrastructure etc.) does spur agricultural output in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The results show the presence of unidirectional causality between agricultural output toward agricultural investment. It was also observed that unidirectional causality from labour force to agricultural investment, labour force to education and agricultural investment to land use and a bi-directional causality between land use and labour force exists. The paper concludes that an increase in investment in the agricultural sector will result in agricultural output in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building and other construction assets constitute a significant part of a country's physical and economic infrastructure. According to several writers, the knowledge of reliable data of building and other construction assets of a specific country or region is a crucial element for the long-term management of these assets. Built capital stock statistics at the national or international levels have been available for most countries of the world, both developed and less developed ones, for some time, but construction infrastructure stock statistics at the disaggregated level are very scarce, even for most developed countries. Furthermore, the methodologies to produce the estimates of built capital stock, at the international level, do not consider countries' specificities. This paper discusses the methodologic issues for producing construction infrastructure stock statistics for Cape Verde, and makes estimates for the period 1980-2019. The paper outlines the Perpetual Inventory Method (PIM) used to produce capital estimation, data employed, and the assumptions made to estimate missing data. The paper analyses the level of the construction infrastructure stock estimates for Cape Verde, as well as their impact on the development pattern of the country's construction industry, and suggests how further studies can enhance our comprehension of the relationship between construction investment and economic growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The paper investigates the results and conclusions of the conference held on 29 November 2023 within the framework of the research project. The conference extensively discussed the current problems facing Ukraine amidst an aggressive ongoing war. Considerable attention was paid to the country's post-war recovery, necessitating significant reforms in various sectors of the national economy. Participants underscored the need for these reforms to be integrated rather than isolated initiatives, serving as a comprehensive solution for Ukraine's achievement of the SDGs and fulfilling the criteria for joining the EU and NATO. The paper delves into the main challenges for implementing such reforms, their main elements, and their relationship, all of which were discussed during the conference. Particular attention was paid to achieving and maintaining the country’s macroeconomic stability during military operations and identifying the main programs essential for revitalising Ukraine's economy. Furthermore, the paper presents successful cases of reform implementation at the micro level in state institutions. Results and Conclusions: Following the conference, a program document on the directions for the restoration and development in Ukraine was drafted. It pointed out the critical need for unity between European countries and the USA in supporting Ukraine and providing timely aid. In Ukraine, achieving unity between the government and business regarding the de-shadowing of the economy, reform of the tax system, customs service, and administration of basic taxes and fees emerged as an issue. This should create prerequisites for the inflow of investments into the Ukrainian economy, ultimately reducing the gap with European countries. The Romanian-Ukrainian research project “A modern science-based concept for Ukraine to ensure the sustainable development, recovery & reconstruction: cost assessment, model, and policy framework” was launched in 2023 to analyse new geopolitical challenges for achieving the goals of sustainable development of Ukraine in the post-war period. Conducting such an analysis should contribute to developing the concept of sustainable development and post-war renovation until 2030 under the global consequences of war. The conference held in November 2023 was part of research aimed at providing a better understanding of how to develop a blueprint for security, resilience and development in Ukraine and the Black Sea region. A bilateral Romanian-Ukrainian team of six scholars from the Luciano Blaga University of Sibiu and the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv focused on designing a roadmap for stabilising the region, fostering economic interconnection and facilitating Ukraine’s integration into the democratic core of Europe. The research is directed to practical means and policy recommendations. Therefore, a combination of academic approaches and database research combined with policy design will generate academic papers, books, and policy papers. The conference was addressed to investigate two main questions. How can we effectively address the new geopolitical challenges and achieve sustainable development goals in Ukraine and the region during the post-war period? How can regional actors enhance their joint profiles with the support of the EU, NATO and Western partners to strengthen regional security and stability? Ukraine's success and post-war reconstruction are a matter of interest for the broader region and its long-term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a method employed in area-based developments to address civic mobility, automation, inequality, community, equality, and climate change in metropolises. This research paper utilizes a comparative analysis of various published papers to create a cohesive analytical study. The main goal is to identify critical parameters that contribute to the success of TOD. It examines highly successful global examples of TOD, including Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Shenzhen, México, and Washington D.C., to understand how the aforementioned parameters impact TOD development and its achievements. Indian cities are making substantial investments in public transportation and transitioning into transit hubs. The success of this progress depends on implementing TOD regulations, such as zoning rules for mixed-land use, density control, limited parking, PPP finance, and fostering collaboration between public and private agencies near transit stations. In conclusion, while planning frameworks have been widely adopted and implemented by various countries, financial frameworks play a more pivotal role in influencing success, making TOD more practically viable worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current context, after a pandemic that has left traces in all socio-economic fields and during major geopolitical problems, Basic research is needed in order to identify directions for rapid and sustainable socio-economic recovery. The agricultural sector has played a particularly important role in speeding economic growth and development in less developed countries. As a result, we may argue that the agriculture sector has aided these countries' integration into global trade. The proposed paper aims to identify the degree of dependence of the Moldovan economy on agriculture and how this dependence can be transformed into a challenge that will help the country's economy. Also, the paper aims to identify the link between agricultural production and gross domestic product at the level of the Moldovan economy, as well as the need to create a stability in the labour market in agriculture. The above mentioned will be achieved in the conditions in which there is already a decrease in the labour force, a decrease due to medical, geo-political and migration factors. To develop a sustainable economy, sustainable agricultural public policies must be enacted, resulting in the attraction of personnel from metropolitan regions (where unemployment is higher) to rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes a financing problem for an innovative firm that is considering launching a web-based platform. The model developed in the paper is the first one that analyzes an entrepreneur's choice between initial exchange offering (IEO) and initial coin offering (ICO). Compared to ICO, under IEO the firm is subject to screening by an exchange that reduces the risk of investment in tokens; also the firm receives access to a larger set of potential investors; finally tokens become listed on an exchange faster. The paper argues that IEO is a better option for the firm if: (1) the investment size is relatively large; (2) the extent of moral hazard problems faced by the firm is relatively large; (3) the degree of investors' impatience is relatively small. Furthermore, a non-linear relationship between firm quality and its financing choice is found. Most of these predictions are new and have not been tested so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceptance sets are used for modeling regulatory preconditions for financial institutes. In this paper, we consider directionally closed acceptance sets in the linear space of capital positions. Assuming finitely many eligible assets, the decision maker of a financial institution has to decide how to invest into these assets to secure acceptability for the financial position, meaning that the resulting capital position belongs to the acceptance set. We study the risk measure that describes the costs for reaching acceptability in the linear space of capital positions. The aim of our paper is to derive a general characterization of the solution set of the optimal payoff map based on our previously published results concerning the properties of the risk measure. Furthermore, we also give some more details about (weakly) efficient points of the acceptance set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Social and organisational changes in businesses have led to the appearance of "emergent risks" which affect workers but are less evident and hard to quantify such as psychosocial risks. Linked to psychosocial risks, issues such as work‐related stress and workplace violence are major challenges to occupational health and safety. This paper analyses the trends in the concerns expressed by wage‐earners in Spain regarding psychosocial factors that may affect them in the workplace. Methods. A causal analysis based on the application of binary logistic regression is presented, covering certain social and occupational characteristics of survey respondents and the psychosocial factors included in the Spanish National Surveys of Working Conditions for 2007 and for 2011‐2012. Binary logistic regression is a multivariate statistical tool that serves as a classification technique, identifying the variables that affect the probability of the event to be studied (dichotomous variable). This technique has the advantage that it does not require that the explanatory variables follow a normal distribution. The aim is to estimate the influence of the explanatory variables on the probability of the occurrence of the event under study, represented by the explained variable. Results. During the economic crisis of 2008, workers became more concerned about losing their jobs and about factors related to personnel cutbacks and decreases in investment in the prevention of occupational risks. Downsizing due to the crisis led to increased workloads for many of those still in work. Thus, in 2011, the likelihood of workers being concerned about working hours was greater, especially among respondents aged 25–34 and those working in commerce and transport. Workload was found to be a particular concern among respondents aged 25–34 and among workers in transport, communication, financial, professional, and administrative activities; health‐related activities; and industry. Conclusions. Policy should also be directed towards improving the structural aspects of psychosocial variations, in terms of work conditions, employment protection, and employment security to protect workers against income fluctuations as a result of job loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to analyze the possibility of changes in energy intensity of production in the context of farm investment scale. The empirical section relies on unpublished FADN microdata. The study answers the question of whether investments and fixed capital growth can contribute to improvements in environmental performance of agricultural production. As it turns out, the group of farms with the greatest amount of investments saw an increase in energy consumption costs, though at a much slower rate than growth in production value. As a result, there was a drop in energy intensity of production, defined as the ratio between energy costs and production value. These findings corroborate the hypothesis advanced in this study, namely that upon reaching a sufficiently large amount of investments, farms can become capable of reducing the energy intensity of their production activity. Hence, higher levels of capital productivity are attained when the farms invest in more energy-efficient fixed assets. Conclusions cannot be universal, as the analysis involved a portion of selected farms. However, the research indicates a trend in the study of energy intensity of production depending on the scale of investment and the validity of the investment comprehensiveness approach. These conclusions provide a basis for recommendations for an agricultural policy which should include support for investments that are large and comprehensive (in relation to the farm's assets) and go beyond the simple renewal of assets. Therefore, in its investment-oriented measures, the agricultural policy should take the innovativeness (including energy efficiency) criterion into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Horizontes de Linguística Aplicada is the property of Revista Horizontes de Linguistica Aplicada 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 integrated machine learning into the field of quantitative investment and established a set of automatic stock selection and investment timing models. Based on the validity test of factors, a multi-factor stock selection model was established to select stocks with the highest investment value to create a stock pool. By comparing the cumulative returns and the overall market returns of different timing signals over the same time period, both the decision tree and the long short-term memory (LSTM) models had great results. Finally, empirical research was reported to show that it is a good combination to introduce machine learning algorithms into quantitative timing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active funds vs passive funds represent one of the most prominent investment decisions that ought to be undertaken by investors over the decades. Our paper seeks to offer an insight into the average performance of equity mutual funds during the period when there were roughly 70 'all-time-highs' recorded by S&P 500 amid the COVID-19 health crisis. Additionally, our paper aims to explore the robustness and persistence of the explanatory powers of Morningstar sustainability globes, ratings from agencies and growth tilt during the health crisis. Our results indicated that the benchmark indexes seemed to dominate mutual funds in most cases during our sampling period. The ratings from Morningstar and/or Lipper together with growth investing appeared to be ideal elements to contemplate when making investment decisions during the COVID-19 health crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unemployment represents a negative phenomenon in almost all countries of the world. It is a complex phenomenon that has multiple causes and important economic and social-human consequences. This paper aims to analyze the correlation between the unemployment rate, respectively the number of unemployed persons and some of the influencing factors. Therefore, we identified the main influencing factors of unemployment in Romania based on an econometric model using the multiple linear regression. This model allows forecasting the future economic trends of the indicators highlighting the level of unemployment. The result showed that the growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product, the volume of foreign direct investments and the exports, as well as the inflation rate are significant factors influencing the unemployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes an analysis of the effective rate of absorption of European Structural Funds in Romania, allocated to the national agricultural sector, in the period 2019-2022.The research was carried out on the basis of the official information, provided by the Romanian and European statistical systems. National Institute of Statistics and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The results of the research show a strong correlation between the effective absorption rate of the European Structural Funds and the total net investments in the agricultural sector at the national level. Agriculture can be considered as a model for the other domestic economic sectors from the perspective of the degree of absorption of European funds. Considering the importance of the agricultural sector, it is necessary that the value of net investments increases, regardless of the source of financing used, but above all that farmers make the most of the opportunity to access non-reimbursable structural funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core idea behind government debt is to fund fiscal deficit, which is anticipated to drive economic investments. To a larger extent, this is not the case, as evidenced in the Nigerian context, where debt has risen so high with investment levels declining, thus questioning the government's ability to manage and sustain its debt to pursue vital investment needs. This study aimed to investigate the threshold effect of debt sustainability on investments amidst macroeconomic swings from 1981 to 2020. In this regard, the threshold autoregressive regression (TAR) was used because it gave information on the optimal threshold of debt sustainability that would attract investments. Also, the Granger causality test was carried out to show the direction of causality among the variables. This paper concentrated on debt service to revenue and total debt stock to GDP as debt sustainability measures while investment was decomposed into public, private, and foreign investments. The paper yields that, based on the multivariate TAR analyses, the main threshold variables, that is, debt service to revenue and total debt stock to GDP, had a non-linear relationship with public, private, and foreign direct investments amidst changes in macroeconomic variables such as exchange rate, inflation, and monetary policy rate. The threshold coefficient of debt service to revenue indicated that public and foreign direct investments declined during low thresholds while private investment increased. However, the opposite prevailed when debt service to revenue exceeded the threshold values. However, the Granger causality test showed that debt service to revenue Granger caused total debt stock to GDP and exchange rate Granger caused debt service to revenue ratio, implying that exchange rate swings could affect the government's ability to service debt which in turn explains the non-linear relationship between debt sustainability and investments. Hence, it was concluded that Nigeria's lack of debt sustainability was associated with revenue generation, which explains why the models did not follow a linear path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green economy is currently a hotly debated global pillar as it has a significant impact on sustainable development. The implementation of this concept aims to identify viable solutions for the development, conservation and protection of the environment as a result of economic and social aggression. At the same time, international organizations are generating alternatives to combat the long-term negative factors that may affect the well-being of the population. In order to reach the proposed objective, that of implementing a sustainable economy, a coalition is needed between the private sector and the legislative power in Romania. The private and public spheres must reach a common point through which they can reduce the wear and tear of economic growth with the aim of reducing environmental risks, enhancing the use of resources and increasing the quality of life. This paper aims to identify the tools needed to adopt a Green Economy by analysing current opportunities for economic development based on sustainable policies and investments. In the context of those presented, the paper proposes some measures and tools to streamline the transition to a green economy in Romania. To reach the result of this descriptive analysis, research methods were used based on reports, studies, papers and specialized publications both online and offline. As a main result of this paper we can mention the identification of some changes at the level of demographic indicators but also the identification of some notable results in terms of share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption and recycling rate, important factors for the analysis of the green economy at national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relevance. Enhancing the development of the machinery manufacturing sector significantly contributes to realizing sustainable economic development goals, thereby fostering sustainable growth opportunities across various scales, ranging from local to global. The active advancement of the machine-building sector, which serves as the foundation for sustainable societal progress, demands careful consideration of key factors for the effective operation of machinery manufacturing enterprises with investments being one of the foremost. This highlights the imperative for comprehensive research into the tangible impact of investments in securing the sustainable growth of machine-building businesses. Objective. The paper targets the conduct of analytical research on investment practices and approaches adopted by machine-building enterprises in European Union countries to specify the key investment factors for their sustainable development. Methods. The research is based on both general scientific and specialized methods of economic theory, including methods of theoretical synthesis and comparative analysis. Throughout the research, statistical data from the European Union regarding the operation and performance of machinery manufacturing enterprises were utilized and processed using analysis methods, including comparison, grouping, calculation of averages, and absolute growth. Furthermore, a rating methodology was implemented to identify European Union member states exhibiting the most favorable indicators about the status and dynamics of the machine-building industry. Results. A comprehensive analysis of contemporary scholarly advancements regarding the examination of the role of investments and effective methodologies for their implementation within the machine manufacturing industry was conducted. A grouping of 22 European Union member states was undertaken based on the criteria of the number of machine-building enterprises and indicators of its absolute growth over a ten-year temporal span. The 22 EU member states are grouped by the parameters of the number of machine-building enterprises and their absolute growth over a tenyear period. The average revenue and gross income per enterprise in the selected countries of the European Union’s machinery sector were studied, and based on the results, a ranking was conducted. Utilizing the established ranking of the top selected countries, a comprehensive analysis of key investment indicators was conducted, focusing on parameters that include investments in tangible assets, machinery and equipment, as well as human resources. An overview of investment practices by machinery manufacturing enterprises was undertaken, resulting in the identification of their respective strengths and weaknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the effects of regional economic determinants on stock market volatility especially for the BRVM Stock Exchange by using Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) models with the data from March 2005 to September 2023. The effects of economic determinants as the USD exchange rate, CNY exchange rate, inflation rate, and average interest rate on credits on stock market volatility is tested with GARCH (1,1) models. The results show complex relationships, including an inverse relationship between stock market volatility, the USD rate, the CNY rate and AIR rate. However, inflation rate has a significant impact on stock market volatility. In the dynamic landscape of the BRVM Stock Exchange, the study offers useful insights for risk management, policy considerations, and investment decisions enabling market participants to make appropriate decisions. Moreover, the study's outcomes bear relevance to policymakers, offering guidance for shaping economic policies that may influence stock market dynamics. Additionally, investors may benefit from the research by getting a broad view of the determinants that may affect stock prices, thereby enhancing their ability to formulate sound investment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In today's modern business and technological landscape, businesses are increasingly inclined to seek alternative methods for resolving disputes rather than rely solely on traditional court procedures. Businesses are also increasingly aware of the significance of resolving conflicts through alternative means and taking proactive measures to avoid litigation. In recent decades, investment arbitration has gained widespread acceptance and has emerged as a preferred mechanism for resolving disputes involving international investors in Western Balkan countries. Some countries demonstrate a favourable inclination towards employing arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism by enacting legislation that grants investors the right to initiate arbitration proceedings against the state in case of failure. This scientific research objective will be achieved through the reflection of the legislative framework in the matter of investment arbitration as well as the reflection of the flow of foreign investments, analysing and not limited to the treatment of concrete cases of arbitration disputes. Through this approach, we will answer the central question of how much arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism is a stimulating factor for attracting foreign direct investment or whether multinational companies only use the legislative and incentive favours offered by the Republic of Kosovo and North Macedonia. Methods: The article was conceived based on a modern methodological framework. Within the general methodological framework of scientific research, logical methods play a crucial role in the scientific processing of the research data, drawing conclusions and determining facts through which the truth of the thesis of the work is reached scientifically. In the context of this paper, the method of analysis through which the impact of arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism in relation to the flow of investments will be analysed is noteworthy. Additionally, methods of abstraction and concretisation will also be used. Abstraction is the basis of analysis, which sometimes represents the separation of parts from the whole subject. Moreover, the comparative method will highlight the diverse normative solutions in national legislation and international legal sources. Results and conclusions: In the article, the authors propose considering the effectiveness of existing provisions and determining whether adjustments or alternative approaches are needed to maximise the benefits of foreign investment while minimising potential risks and uncertainties associated with dispute resolution processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to study the concept and features of investment certificates of a mutual investment fund as a type of securities of collective investment schemes in Ukraine. The study is based on the current legislation of Ukraine, as well as scientific works in this area. The main method of the study is the method of analysis and synthesis, which allows, on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of numerous regulatory legal acts of Ukraine in the field of collective investment, to identify the features of investment certificates of a mutual investment fund. In addition, the rights of holders of this type of securities under Ukrainian legislation are structured using the method of systematization. As a result of the study, the author provides a comprehensive definition of investment certificates of a mutual investment fund which contains all the features of this type of securities. In addition, the rights of holders of investment certificates of a mutual fund are systematized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores lending interest rates' impact on private investments in six West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) countries from 2004 to 2020. Using the feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) and more robust econometric procedures (LSDV and POLS), the results show that persistent budget deficits have significantly impacted lending interest rates within the WAMZ. The study concludes that country risk premium, foreign interest rate, and money supply are critical predictors of lending interest rates. The study refutes the assertion that budget deficits do not influence lending interest rates and gives credence to the neoclassical hypothesis. This explains that crowding out private investments in the WAMZ is a possible outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture around the world faces a number of challenges. The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of gross investments and agriculture investments on the level of food security in the member countries of the European Union (EU) and non-EU member countries. In the paper as a method of research hierarchical regression analysis was used. The results of the research showed that there is a statistically significant influence of gross investments and agriculture investments on the level of food security in the EU and non-EU member countries. The largest amount of gross investments and investments in agriculture was recorded in Croatia and Slovenia, as a EU members countries, which have the highest level of food security. On the other hand, the lowest volume of gross investments and investments in agriculture was recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as non-EU member country, which has the lower level of food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an update on the BRI projects in Indonesia. It discusses the progress and challenges of China’s outbound investment and infrastructure projects under the Initiative and outlines how perceptions about the BRI have evolved in Indonesia. Moreover, some case studies highlight the issues and problems associated with BRI implementation, along with future prospects and necessary readjustments. It is argued that, by learning from previous projects, the government should create a clear legal and institutional framework to improve future BRI projects. The state should rigorously assess the viability and financial sustainability of the projects. Furthermore, proper environmental and ecological assessments by independent parties are critical to prevent conflict of interest. The central government authorities should work with various stakeholders, including NGOs and local communities, to address the issues they face. Finally, stricter regulations should be in place for the Indonesian government and Chinese investors to comply with, in order to ensure that locals also benefit from the projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Finance & Financial Law / Finanse i Prawo Finansowe is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Lodzkiego 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.)

Urban worn-out textures, due to their ancient and historically valuable physical structures, exhibit low adaptability to urban developments and advancements. Tehran, as a city with a rich historical background, also boasts considerable worn-out textures. Due to economic, geographical, and political conditions, a large population resides in these textures. In this regard, the present research aims to investigate the livability status of residents, identify key indicators, and design scenarios in the worn-out textures of Tehran city. This paper proposes a new approach to MicMac that promotes driving forces to scenarios. The results indicate that the livability of residents in worn-out textures of Tehran city, particularly in central regions, is in undesirable conditions. Furthermore, the analysis of the MicMac matrix showed that housing prices, residents' income, investment, and an increase in economic activities, as well as the role of urban management, are driving forces that have a vital impact on the livability of residents in worn-out textures. These driving forces have depicted three scenarios for the livability of worn-out textures in Tehran city until the year 2032. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of the study consists of the biasess made when investing in photovoltaic panels. The purpose of the study is to identify biasess associated with investing in renewable energy sources. Data from a survey conducted among owners of photovoltaic installations in Subcarpathia were used. The literature has identified papers on factors other than behavioral errors affecting investments in photovoltaic panels. Respondents succumbed to the anchoring effect, the error of positive retrospection, information bias, choice-supportive bias and framing bias when deciding to invest in photovoltaic panels. The research conducted makes it possible to confirm that people's behavior while investing is influenced by non-economic factors. Knowledge of behavioral biases can allow one to calibrate financial incentives in order to influence customers more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is an important sector that has an impact on the development of a country's economy. Among the main benefits of tourism are income generation and job creation. It is the most important source of wealth in many parts of the country. The national economy can benefit from tourism as long as there is availability for investment to develop the infrastructure that will meet the needs of tourists. Romania has tourist potential to develop coastal tourism and mountain tourism, but also other alternative forms of tourism. The aim of the article is to present the impact of tourism on the economy, especially on income. The paper presents tourism as an excellent potential, a catalyst for economic growth thus representing a key sector at the macro-economic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research in economic history has found that mortgage debt in relation to GDP has taken off in the historical long run ("great mortgaging"), as growing banking assets have been redirected into mortgage credit. This paper maps the parallel long-run investment history of private (life) insurance as the much overlooked second pillar of the financial system. Drawing on in-depth studies of the US and Germany, it finds that a "great de-mortgaging" took place in insurers' portfolios, with mortgages falling from up to 90 percent in the 19th century to below 5 percent today in favor of fixed-income securities. A parallel shift to secondary mortgage bonds has hardly offset this decline, while direct real estate remained largely a residual investment class. Banks' great mortgaging is thus partly an institutional substitution effect. The paper sees insurers' asset shift itself as mainly driven by long-run changes in capital demand and competition with banks and pension funds. It extends these findings to other long-term institutional investors and other OECD countries in the historical long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In response to the long-term challenges of skills shortages and mismatches, many countries worldwide have made significant investments in STEM education. However, to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the progress of global research on the implementation of STEM education, it is essential to compile case studies on STEM education. Therefore, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of 750 publications from Scopus database to assess the bibliographic content of case studies on STEM education from 2006 to 2022. Our main findings show that the first case study on STEM education dates back to 2006, and research in this direction has grown enormously and continuously over the last five years (counting for 72.9%). The most influential articles in the field are cited mainly in the background citations section and help provide an initial perspective for readers to understand the insights discussed later in the study. The most popular journals publishing case studies in STEM education are of good quality, ranking highly in Scopus and Web of Science categories. The analysis results show three main research directions: STEM education in higher education, STEM education expands to STEAM, and STEM education activities in K12- education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People's health is a necessary condition for the country's prosperity. Under the background of the COVID-19 pandemic and frequent natural disasters, exploring the spatial and temporal distribution, regional differences and convergence of China's provincial public health level is of great significance to promoting the coordinated development of China's regional public health and achieving the strategic goal of a "healthy China". Based on China's provincial panel data from 2009 to 2020, this paper constructs an evaluation index system for China's public health level from five dimensions: the popularization of a healthy life, optimization of health services, improvement of health insurance, construction of a healthy environment, and development of a health industry. In this paper, the entropy method, Dagum Gini coefficient, Kernel density function and spatial econometric model are used to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution, regional differences, dynamic evolution and convergence of China's public health level since the new medical reform. The study found that, first, China's public health level is generally low, structural contradictions are prominent and the construction of a healthy environment has become a shortcoming hindering the improvement of China's public health level since the new medical reform. The public health level of the four major regions showed a spatial distribution pattern of "high in the eastern, low in the northeastern, central and western" areas. Second, the overall Gini coefficient of China's public health level showed a "V-shaped" trend of first decreasing and then rising, but the overall decrease was greater than the increase, among which the regional difference was the main source of regional differences in China's public health level, but its contribution rate showed a downward trend. Third, except for the basic maintenance of a healthy environment, the Kernel density curves of China's public health level and its sub-dimensions have shifted to the right to a certain extent, and there is no polarization phenomenon. Finally, the level of public health in China has a significant spatial correlation. Except for the northeast region, the growth rate of low-level public health provinces in China and the other three major regions is higher than that of high-level public health provinces, showing a certain convergence trend. In addition, the impact of economic development, financial pressure, and urbanization on the convergence of public health levels in the four major regions is significantly heterogeneous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this paper is to analyze the involvement of institutional investors in the corporate governance of companies in their portfolio by analyzing characteristics of institutional investors concerning the type of investment, investment time horizon, and degree of involvement in the process of managing a company. Starting from the deductive approach, the method of description, compilation, and classification is applied in this review paper, which describes and groups the previous theoretical and empirical research. Main findings indicate that institutional investors are involved in the corporate governance of their portfolio companies and that control mechanisms they use include voting rights at general assembly meetings, direct communication with the management to discuss strategies for future development, and collaboration with other institutional investors in the ownership structure. The theoretical contribution of this paper is an extensive, critical, and systematic review of existing theoretical and empirical findings from the domain dealing with the impact of institutional investors on the corporate governance of companies, and identifying key future opportunities to advance knowledge in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper examines the effects and mechanism paths of monetary policy on firms' "short-term debt for long-term investment (SDFLI)" behavior using panel data of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2007-2019. The findings indicate that loose monetary policy suppresses corporate SDFLI behavior by lengthening corporate credit maturity structure through the credit maturity structure channel. In addition, heterogeneity analysis shows that loose monetary policy significantly inhibits the SDFLI behavior of state-owned enterprises(SOEs), non-high-tech firms, and firms in regions with high bank competition levels through the credit term structure channel, and the monetary policy credit term structure channel fails for non-state-owned enterprises(non-SOEs), high-tech firms, and firms in regions with low bank competition levels. The results of the heterogeneity analysis validate the plausibility that monetary policy affects firms' SDFLI behavior through the credit term structure channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examining the corporate practices of the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) member states, this paper demonstrates the imperative that GCC nations implement rational board practice models and improve current laws and regulations that pertain to corporate boards of directors. GCC member countries increasingly need to diversify revenue-generating streams; improved corporate board practices are likely to increase income from foreign corporations and investments. Rational board policies protect board members from frivolous challenges related to legal culpability because they operate on a "good faith" model, augmenting corporate growth. Providing a coherent analysis of the business judgment rule, a significant as pect of rational board practices, this paper examines how the rule has worked in the United States and provides a standard for GCC countries to emulate. Shifting domestic policies to this rational model will promote foreign investments and result in financial stability, benefits that current reform practices initiated by the GCC have not yet accomplished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new European financial framework for 2021- 2027 indicates digitalisation investments as a priority for the residential spaces, especially the urban ones. This is needed to increase the efficiency of the public administration and to optimize the relationships with the citizens (POR 2021- 2027). In Romania, there are some recent good practice models in this regard, accelerated also by the current pandemic context. The scope of the paper consisted in highlighting the scientific production associated to the use of UAV technology in public administration by means of bibliometric analyses. Research included three stages: a). Selection of the documents in the Scopus database, b). Data extraction and visualization and c). Interpretation of bibliometric analyses conducted. The bibliometric analyses that were conducted highlighted that the interest for this topic was relatively recent (since 1988). It was strongly customized in the North- American and North-Western European research, but this type of approach is also necessary in the South-Eastern European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]