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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]

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]

A separate Alberta Pension Plan (APP) has recently gained renewed attention. In this paper, I assess the long-run viability of such a plan by using both a detailed quantitative model and simple, intuitive approaches. I find only modest scope for changes in benefit levels and contribution rates relative to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). Specifically, I estimate an APP minimum contribution rate of 8.2 percent, compared to the base CPP's 9.5 percent. With the same 0.4 percentage point cushion as in the CPP, the APP legislated contribution rate would then be 8.6 percent. This figure is in sharp contrast to a recent government-commissioned report (LifeWorks 2023), which found a contribution rate of 5.9 percent. I explain this disparity and show that much depends on how one interprets imprecise language in the Canada Pension Plan Act. I also explore several relevant risks. Alberta's positive net migration flows, for example, account for nearly two-thirds of its pension advantage. And, depending on the time horizon, investment risks may eliminate its entire advantage. Overall, this paper provides an updated foundation not only to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of an APP but also to understand pension sustainability more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes Kazakh-European trade and economic relations from 2012 to 2021, aiming to elucidate the dynamics, trends, and strategic implications of these bilateral interactions. The primary purpose of this research is to scrutinize the dynamics of Kazakhstan's trade and economic interactions with European countries, assessing the trends, challenges, and opportunities within this framework. Employing a methodology that combines analysis and synthesis, inductive and deductive reasoning, and statistical methods including ABC analysis in MS Excel, the study provides a comprehensive examination of Kazakhstan's trade volumes, exports, imports, and foreign direct investments with European countries. It was revealed that for the countries of Europe, the indicators of the volume of trade, exports, and imports, gross investments showed a greater drop than in the economy. Summarized information characterizing the institutional aspect of the formation of relations between Kazakhstan and European states highlights Kazakhstan's active participation in international organizations as a key driver in developing these relationships. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and business stakeholders, highlighting the need for strategic approaches in optimizing trade and investment relations between Kazakhstan and Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the cryptocurrency adoption (CA) level among Indian retail investors who use cryptocurrency as an investment and mode of transaction. Design/methodology/approach: Through self-administered survey questionnaires, data is collected from 397 retail investors of Haryana (India). This study adopted a quantitative method using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings: This paper offered a robust model with a high explanatory value for CA in which four of the five proposed factors of diffusion of innovation theory (trialability, compatibility, complexity and observability) and one of the two proposed factors of consumer behavioral theory (perceived value) significantly influences CA. More specifically, the absence of regulatory support is a barrier to the broad adoption of cryptocurrencies, as its regulations are necessary to mitigate or minimize uncertain outcomes. Research limitations/implications: This research primarily focuses on CA in India. Thus, it can be extended to cover diverse other countries for more precise results. Practical implications: The results provide insights to the government to design the policies, better regulate and make investment strategies that can ultimately enhance CA. In addition, the study's results also inform financial educators, policymakers, employers and academicians about the significance of several variables affecting CA in India. Social implications: From a social standpoint, this study is an advance that directs central banks and governments to develop, regulate and manage digital currencies and implement a digital currency ecosystem. Moreover, the results assist in understanding investors' perceptions and decision-making perspectives toward cryptocurrencies through the country's digitalization. Originality/value: This paper fills the study gap to assist policymakers and cryptocurrency experts in broadening their knowledge base and recognizing prioritized intentions. Additionally, this study provides a theoretical model with the latent variable for a present and pertinent matter. [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]

Policy PointsThe health care sector is increasingly investing in social conditions, including availability of safe, reliable, and adequate transportation, that contribute to improving health.In this paper, we suggest ways to advance the impact of transportation interventions and highlight the limitations of how health services researchers and practitioners currently conceptualize and use transportation.Incorporating a transportation justice framework offers an opportunity to address transportation and mobility needs more comprehensively and equitably within health care research, delivery, and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government reports and documents claim that building a high skill society is critical for national success in China. In this paper, eight policies in relation to the government's espoused priorities of upskilling are examined. Applying the principles of critical policy analysis, the paper aims to expose the ideological presuppositions made in these policies. The findings in this paper reveal that the Chinese government may have focused on upgrading the credentials, rather than the actual skills that these credentials signal, thus reinforced forms of consciousness that maintain the academic-focus, credential-driven hegemony. The new policies have vigorously invested in the 'model schools', yet further excluding non-model schools and the marginalised learners. This investment, emphasising the 'supply-side' of skills provision, has also led to a more fragmented connection between the training system and industry. The promotion of 'entrepreneurial talent training', with an intention of enhancing young people's employability and building a knowledge-based economy, may act as a technique for 'self-government' under the influence of a neoliberal ideology. The responsibility of skill acquisition may have shifted to individual students, who will encounter increased precarity on their routes into work. Drawing on Gramsci's concept of hegemonic power, the paper highlights China's national skills policies may further facilitate the reproduction of current forms of inequality in training as well as contribute to construct and manage the neoliberal subjects required by the Reform Era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of skilled migrants moving from the Global North to the Global South has been increasing in recent decades. This paper develops and employs a capital-mobility framework to analyze empirical evidence about the new international migration of skilled U.S. migrants to the Pearl River Delta Region of China. Guided by the literature on im/mobility and capital, this paper asks the following questions: What affects skilled U.S. migrants' mobility to and from China? How do they experience the dynamics of voluntary and involuntary immobility in China? Drawing on 58 semi-structured interviews, we found that the level of capital accumulation and its transferability and convertibility influenced migrants' mobility and immobility. In addition, the global outbreak of Covid-19 facilitated mobility for some while hindered mobility for others. This study discusses the differences between North-to-South and South-to-North skilled migration and conceptualizes im/mobility as a continuum experienced by skilled migrants during their migratory trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About half of the rental properties in the U.S. are owned by small- to medium-sized investors, many of whom enter the trade with little prior experience. This paper considers the factors that motivate these amateurs to purchase real estate in high-poverty neighborhoods—an investment that involves high levels of financial risk for the inexperienced. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 93 investors in three real estate markets—Baltimore, Maryland; Dallas, Texas; and Cleveland, Ohio—this paper finds that amateurs decide to become investors due to anxieties regarding their financial position, specifically professional dissatisfaction and a lack of retirement savings. Real estate is particularly appealing because it provides a cultural repertoire aligned with middle class aspirations of independence and self-sufficiency. Consequentially, these ideologies motivate and legitimize strategies of action that allow for sometimes imprudent investments, presenting risks to the investors themselves and the communities in which they invest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 1990s, the large-scale collaboration Kreftbildet i Norden (KIN) drew attention to the need for timely cancer statistics for cancer control planning in the Nordic countries. Supported by the Nordic Cancer Union (NCU), a web-based version of NORDCAN was continually developed by the Association of Nordic Cancer Registries (ANCR) from 2003, with website support and hosting by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Despite empirical evidence of its global reach, the question of whether recurrent investment in NORDCAN brings added value was raised; we sought to formally assess this. Scientific value was determined by extracting publications citing NORDCAN from PubMed. We compared the funds allocated to the KIN project and later Nordic studies on cancer predictions and survival, with those allocated to NORDCAN. 96 publications in 43 journals were retrieved. Two publication peaks, in 2010 and in 2016 relate to Nordic cancer survival and Danish age care projects, respectively. Papers citing NORDCAN increased substantially from 4 published in 2017 to the 24 papers in 2022. The integration of survival and prediction projects into NORDCAN reduced the costs of investment to one-quarter of the those required in earlier years, in real terms. User statistics and scientific output clearly points to NORDCAN bringing added value given resources expended, even with the additional costs imposed to ensure GDPR compliance. Research funding indicates that the databases and interactive tools are critical as both research and education resources. Nonetheless, a sustainable funding model is needed if NORDCAN is to continue to fulfill its utility in cancer control, health care planning and cancer research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurs often use various sources of financing to finalise an entrepreneurial idea. Crowdfunding on specialised internet platforms is an alternative method for collecting funds from several small sources for business investments and projects. The biggest difference between crowdfunding and other forms of financing is that crowdfunding uses smaller amounts of money from many investors interested in a business idea. Crowdfunding has been globally known for over a decade, and in Croatia, the interest has been growing for several years. The paper aims to demonstrate the importance and potential of crowdfunding, which, as a collective micro-investment of citizens, can serve as an alternative funding source for entrepreneurial ventures. The paper presents the research results conducted in Croatia based on the data collected through survey research. The paper investigates the knowledge and familiarity with the term and motives for investing through crowdfunding platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the theme of communications between the province of Mato Grosso and the Atlantic through the territory of the province of Paraná, using as sources, preferably, the reports of the presidents of the two provinces, and having as a background the concerns of the Brazilian national state due to the remote and border condition of Mato Grosso. It is shown that the routes sought were initially terrestrial-fluvial and, later, rail-fluvial, and that the leaders of Paraná had a greater interest in such communications than their counterparts in Mato Grosso. In addition to envisioning the possibility of Paraná becoming the "emporium" of Mato Grosso commerce, those leaders also sought the benefits brought to their province by the central government's investments in roads to Mato Grosso. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both Jago, in his 2020 article 'A short argument for truthmaker maximalism' and his 2021 article 'Which Fitch?', and Loss in his 2021 article 'There are no fundamental facts', employ arguments similar to that familiar from the Church–Fitch Paradox to infer some substantial metaphysical claims from their mere logical possibility. Trueman in his 2022 article 'Truthmaking, grounding and Fitch's paradox' and Nyseth in his 2022 article 'Fitch's paradox and truthmaking' respond by using exactly the same kind of argument to prove contrary theses. Intended as bad company objections, these counterarguments cast doubt on the original arguments, but do not actually identify their flaw. This paper aims to fill this gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates two competitive strategies from two-sides of the e-commerce platform, that is, innovation investment on seller side and product subsidy investment on consumer side. We take competition intensity on seller side into account and analyze how consumer behaviors affect the platform's strategy under three scenarios: (1) single purchase on single platform(S); (2) single purchase on multi-platforms(M); (3) repeat purchase on single platform (R). The results revel that the innovation investment for sellers is better off in S scenario. However, when the transfer cost is low, taking subsidy strategy is more profitable for the platform in R scenario. If the internal price competition is not sufficiently fierce, subsidy strategy is an efficient approach to reduce the price in M scenario. It is surprising that if the seller's innovation capability is sufficiently high, the innovation investment strategy dominates no matter what consumer behaviors are. Moreover, how much the platform invests on the seller's innovation is independent on the consumer's behavior. These findings have practical managerial insights for the manager of platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Initial coin offerings (ICOs) have emerged as a niche source of entrepreneurial financing and a novel investment option that has appealed to investors. The present study aims to identify and prioritise factors that attract investors in the ICO selection process, thus providing valuable insights in improving their decision‐making process. To examine this objective, data were collected from respondents of four continents who had invested in ICO. The fuzzy analytical hierarchy process was applied to prioritise the factors inducing the decision‐making process of the respondents. Ideological factors, white paper, return expectations and behavioural factors emerged as the top four factors, respectively, that influenced the selection process. In contrast, technological factors appeared to be the least significant factor driving the selection process. This is the first kind of research that deals with the identification and prioritisation of factors and sub‐factors regarding the ICO selection decision‐making. The study will be of huge relevance to investors as it will offer them better clarity regarding the spectrum of factors and sub‐factors that impact their ICO selection process and simultaneously extend guidelines that will help them invest more rationally and strategically. The study will also ensure that issuers devise and design their ICO effectively to draw investors eventually leading to its success. Consequently, the study will serve the policymakers to establish a framework to enhance investors' protection from any unscrupulous practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large scale urban development projects, marketed as "new cities," are emerging across the African continent. However, there is a limited empirical insight into how their partnerships, involving foreign investors and the local African landowners, are brokered, and the extent to which local communities are engaged in such projects. Using the Appolonia City project in Ghana and drawing analytical insights from the DEDA urban governance framework, this paper scrutinizes the partnership between Rendeavour, the foreign investor, and the Appolonia community, the owners of the land used for the project, to interrogate the extent to which the community has been involved, and the benefits that have accrued. We find that the traditional rulers saw the project as an opportunity to secure community lands against ongoing unauthorized encroachments, and to assist the local economy. We argue that the 99-year lease granted to Rendeavour in return for a 10% equity stake does not reflect a partnership where concessions and benefits are equally distributed. The paper concludes by reflecting on the implications of the unequal partnership arrangements and the ensuing entangled urban governance process that set in motion project outcomes that do not necessarily reflect the needs of urban citizens. [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]

This paper discusses race, racialisation and whiteness in relation to Eastern European migrants living in Western Europe. Focusing on Poles in the UK, it examines both Polish migrants' experiences of racism as well as their own investment into racial exclusions of other racialised groups. The paper interrogates how migrants navigate their peripheral whiteness in broader racial hierarchies of Eastern European in-betweenness that are both historically rooted and constantly negotiated. Benefitting from relatively easy access to the UK, Polish migrants occupy at once a racially privileged and racially marginal position that echoes historical tensions around the place of Eastern Europe in wider racial hierarchies of Europeanness. While being white enough to engage in racial exclusions Eastern Europeans are at the same time not white enough to escape racialisation. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with Poles in the UK conducted between 2019–2020 the paper offers insight into complex racialising practices of Polish migrants when they are both racialised and able to benefit from their position as 'paler migrants' to distance themselves from other migrants as well as 'darker citizens'. It contributes to scholarship on racialisation of East–West movers within Europe, in-betweenness and whiteness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The following research paper seeks to explore how post-occupancy evaluations (POEs) are undertaken in the nine health jurisdictions across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and investigate if the process can be strengthened to better inform healthcare design and investment. Background: Healthcare expenditure in both nations is increasing, and the rigorous evaluation of healthcare facilities can provide evidence to improve their return on investment. A POE is a research method used to undertake this analysis, usually 12 months after a facility has been occupied. There is limited information available about how POEs are undertaken in each jurisdiction, and there has never been research conducted to understand these processes across the region. Methods: Focus groups were conducted with participants from the government health organization in each jurisdiction to collect qualitative data regarding various aspects of POE processes and barriers to undertaking POEs. Results: Only five of the nine jurisdictions undertake POEs on healthcare facilities (with varied frequencies), and there is no standardized framework in use. However, every jurisdiction does undertake a "benefits realization" process. There is limited involvement of external consultants in POEs or benefits realization processes. POE benchmarks should be established at project commencement, and POE results should then inform future projects. Top-down support is required for POEs to occur. Conclusions: The primary conclusion is that strengthening any evaluation process requires a nuanced approach in each jurisdiction to account for their unique context and challenges. Regular rigorous evaluations are required to feed results into the Australasian Health Facility Guidelines and encourage innovative facility design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2013, the Indian government mandated all companies to spend a portion of their profits on Corporate Social Responsibility ('CSR') activities but did not require companies to incorporate sustainability into their business, leading the statutory provision mandating CSR to become a box-ticking exercise. This approach of tick-box compliance with the CSR mandate is now being questioned by various investment funds that are actively pushing for the incorporation of Environmental, Social and Governance ('ESG') concerns into the business practices of their portfolio companies. While the Stewardship Codes promulgated by the various Indian regulators expressly mandate investment funds to monitor the ESG risks of their portfolio companies, there are no sanctions for non-compliance. This paper suggests the introduction of a market-based enforcement mechanism for the Stewardship Codes to enhance their effectiveness and practical relevance in the Indian legal framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate a year‐long mentorship program, pairing nurses from different regions across the world to support their global leadership capability, and identifying additional consequences of their participation. Background: Investment in developing nurse leaders continues as a strategic global imperative. Building on the first cohort's recommendations, this second program illustrates continued progress. Program evaluation: Using the logic model of program evaluation, this non‐empirical paper uses data collected from anonymized questionnaires and participants' stories to help improve the program, illustrating innovative practices to develop the confidence and competence of emerging and established nurse leaders globally. Discussion: The value of mentorship was recognized, and there were gains for both mentors and mentees in the development of leadership confidence and competence. Through engagement and collaboration with the whole community, participants were encouraged to understand their own and others' cultures avoiding assumptions and stereotypes. Conclusion: This evaluation illustrates that in addition to helping improve future programs, mentorship has enabled the growth of individuals' skill sets and the confidence to reach out to peers across the world to understand the meaning of global health and to make a meaningful contribution to the challenges they face. Implications for nursing practice: Nurse managers should be encouraged to develop and formalize a mentoring culture to benefit the leadership competence and well‐being of their workforce. Implications for nursing policy: Every nurse has a responsibility to invest in nursing leadership for themselves and others. Mentorship can assist nurse leaders to build workforce capability to lead and contribute to the policy agenda locally, nationally, and internationally. Starting early and at the individual level, global mentorship programs can develop leadership expertise to help nurses find their voice and strengthen their confidence and competence to lead and therefore build the strategic leaders of the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the potential impact of the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s recommendations and guidelines on the assessment of the State's right to regulate by investment tribunals, and on the assessment of the State's decision to limit and/or suspend certain human rights for reasons of public interest and in cases of emergency by human rights Courts. [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]

The topic of firms' internationalization has been intensively studied over the years, representing an engaging subject for business enthusiasts from both the business environments as well as the academia. The process of internationalization is the method usually used by firms to expand their economic activity outside their country of origin, as they try to expand their market share and gain a bigger customer base. The purpose of this paper is to gain a better understanding of the evolution of firm internationalization in Romania and Moldova after the fall of communism as both countries have gone through drastic changes in order to become a market economy. This paper discusses the main business internationalization trends after the fall of the communist system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid technological change – the digitalization and automation of work – is challenging contemporary welfare states. Most of the existing research, however, focuses on its effect on labor market outcomes, such as employment or wage levels. In contrast, this paper studies the implications of technological change for welfare state attitudes and preferences. Compared to previous work on this topic, this paper adopts a much broader perspective regarding different kinds of social policy. Using data from the European Social Survey, we find that individual automation risk is positively associated with support for redistribution, but negatively with support for social investment policies (partly depending on the specific measure of automation risk that is used), while there is no statistically significant association with support for basic income. We also find a moderating effect of the overall size of the welfare state on the micro-level association between risk and preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canada's airports are unique in the world as a system of private, no-share capital, not-for-profit organizations. This paper reviews the evolution Canada's airport system and airport policy over the last 30 years and provides an overview of airport performance including an assessment of the likely proceeds should the Canadian government decide to sell its eight largest airports to private investors. The review reveals an airport system with a heavy "user pay" orientation that has become reliant on "airport improvement fees" charged to passengers, over and above regular aeronautical charges, in order to finance the substantial investments in infrastructure made by airport authorities. The paper highlights criticisms of the current airport system that have endured for over 20 years and shows how recent recommendations to sell our airports to private investors reveals an underlying tension regarding whether airports should be regarded as "spark plugs" that create wider economic benefits or "toll booths" that generate government revenues. The paper argues that a viable alternative to selling off airports to private investors is to reintroduce legislation first introduced in 2003 and again in 2006, which, despite broad political support, never became law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence-based acquisition (EBA) programmes have been gaining momentum in academic libraries over the past 5–10 years. This paper examines our experience implementing one of these programmes at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. In 2019, The Alma Jordan Library of the St. Augustine Campus partnered with Wiley Publishers to administer the Usage Based Collection Management (UBCM) programme. The results at the end of this first year were very encouraging and therefore, the decision was taken to extend the programme for a second year, and it has been continued for a third year. This paper describes the process of selecting a provider of a user-driven eBook acquisition model, implementing the programme, and gathering usage statistics. An analysis of the data was conducted at the end of the programme, and then criteria developed and used for identifying titles for purchase. In the analysis, the authors explore the following: usage based on titles not owned, usage based on subject areas; return on investment to the library; continued use of UBCM- purchased titles. Also included are the benefits of implementing such a programme, challenges experienced, and recommendations for libraries wishing to embark on such a project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In shrinking cities, commercial district decline has mirrored other patterns of depopulation and deindustrialization. Uneven development has emerged as the prevailing spatial pattern for shrinking cities in recent decades. Cleveland's Storefront Renovation Program (SRP) is a local historic preservation-based strategy focused on improving commercial corridors. In this paper, we investigate whether the urban geography of the SRP aligns with theories of uneven development in shrinking cities. Using address-level data of projects and investments from 1983 to 2016, we analyze the spatial distribution using hot spot analysis, the Herfindahl-Hirschman index, and a neighborhood typology. Overall, we find the SRP program moderately contributed to uneven development, and increasingly so in recent decades, with clear clusters of investment in gentrifying neighborhoods and downtown Cleveland, while also supporting reinvestment in White, working-class areas early in its history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India and the Republic of Korea (RoK) are, respectively, the second and sixth largest economies of Asia with significant trade ties since the historic past. India is currently negotiating to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the RoK, which was operationalized on January 1, 2010. A key area of concern for India has been its increasing trade deficit with the RoK which has more than doubled since 2009–10. This paper aims to analyze the flow of goods, services and investment between the two sides in major sectors of interest in the last decade. Further, it aims to identify barriers to trade and investment for the Indian exporters and areas of improvement in the CEPA and beyond to enhance economic gains for both sides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the behavior of investors in times of economic crises when investing in the S&P 500 Index, gold and the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. The results of the descriptive analysis show that the decision-making of investors in times of economic crises is reflected in the development of the S&P 500 Index by a decrease in average annual prices, the opposite is the case with gold, where there is a significant increase in the market price in times of crisis. This means that investors in crisis situations consider gold to protect their capital. An analysis of the tightness of the relationship between the S&P 500 Index and the price of gold based on monthly data by Pearson correlation confirmed a moderate inverse relationship. The cryptocurrency Bitcoin has seen a massive increase in market value during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the shift of business to the online world. As in the case of gold, from the perspective of investors, this cryptocurrency was seen as a way of protecting their investments and, in addition, the possibility of maintaining solvency even in a period of restrictions. Bitcoin and other virtual financial instruments seem to be a suitable alternative to gold investments in the 21st century during the crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although macroeconomic conditions are recognized as factors that influences country’s performance, little is known about how companies from different sectors absorb such impacts. Using the myopic marketing theory, the paper goal is to analyze the relationship between macroeconomic conditions and marketing investments in Brazilian companies. The sample consists of 183 Brazilian companies with quarterly financial data, obtained from Economatica, and macroeconomic data, obtained from IpeaData (2010 to 2020). First, the results indicate that GDP, interest rates and consumer confidence are positively related, and the exchange rate and unemployment showed a negative relationship with marketing investments. Second, the impact of these relationships differs across sectors. Third, the results demonstrate that the level of investments and expansion of marketing investments depend on macroeconomic conditions, indicating which contexts influence the discretionary treatment of the marketing budget. [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]

Investing in nursing and its leadership has been a key global priority in achieving world health. This paper aims to explore what it means to invest in nursing and its leadership and whether we are progressing in its endeavour. Consideration is given to whose responsibility it is to invest, the importance of education to support strategic nurse leaders and enable them to have a voice to lead as well as create a culture in which their staff wish to stay. Further, the paper explores the importance of each country accepting responsibility for developing and funding its strategic workforce plan and paying nurse professionals fairly and taking steps to reduce workforce shortages. Finally, the paper examines the progress the United Kingdom is making and concludes that investment in nursing is everyone's business, the government, healthcare organisations, society and above all nurses themselves. Collectively, we must step up to influence change and have nursing voices heard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How people detach from financial relations is a critical but overlooked dimension of economic life. This paper offers a response by exploring how financial loss is reckoned with in the wake of disruptive digital technological change. It examines the experiences of people who have lost significant financial investments owing to the rise of gig economy rideshare platforms to evaluate how a loss of investment is reckoned with as both a financial and existential challenge. Through fieldwork with owners of taxi licences in Melbourne, Australia, the paper contributes to debates on affective investments within geography and beyond to argue that financial and affective investments are inextricably linked. For these investors, their financial loss precipitates the loss of affective investments expressed in terms of a loss of faith in institutions; a loss of face in terms of public respect; and a loss of conviction in terms of an inability to move forward with their lives. The paper argues that reckoning with these losses involves working on one's active and passive affections—capacities to act and sense. The paper concludes that this work of divestment is difficult and acceptance is not guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Screening for lung cancer in a high-risk population has been shown to be beneficial, with reduced mortality in large randomised trials. However, the general implementation of screening is not evident and many factors have to be considered. In this paper, we will review the current status of screening for lung cancer in Europe and the many hurdles that have to be overcome. Multidisciplinary cooperation between all specialists dealing with lung cancer is required to obtain the best outcome. Hopefully, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan will incorporate screening for lung cancer to allow general implementation by similar programmes in every European Member State. This will also provide an opportunity for further, large-scale studies to refine the inclusion of specific risk populations, diagnosis and management of screen-detected nodules. Randomized-controlled trials have shown clear evidence that lung cancer screening with low-dose CT in a high-risk population of current or former smokers can significantly reduce lung-cancer-specific mortality by an inversion of stage distribution at diagnosis. This paper will review areas in which there is good or emerging evidence and areas which still require investment, research or represent implementation challenges. The implementation of population-based lung cancer screening in Europe is variable and fragmented. A number of European countries seem be on the verge of implementing lung cancer screening, mainly through the implementation of studies or trials. The cost and capacity of CT scanners and radiologists are considered to be the main hurdles for future implementation. Actions by the European Commission, related to its published Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and the proposal to update recommendations on cancer screening, could be an incentive to help speed up its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented to a series of papers focused on the scientific dialogue between sectors on health and economics, with topics including constitutional right to health, advancements in mental health as part of a well-being economy, and health taxonomy development to guide sustainable investment decisions.

This paper aims to investigate the impact of the exchange rate on stock market indices of four main sectors in Turkey. For this purpose, the paper uses monthly data spanning the period between 06/2008-11/2020 and employs the panel GMM estimation method. This method instrumentalizes the past observation values of the dependent variable to control the endogeneity and provides efficient results. Considering that firms operating in many sectors in Turkey are affected by the volatility of the exchange rate, the paper takes initiative in understanding how stock market indices of four sectors react to the fluctuation in USD and Euro prices. This study contributes to the current literature, performing the panel GMM estimation method, unlike studies that only examine the causality relationship on the link between exchange rate and the stock market. The results show that there is unidirectional causality from the exchange rate to stock market indices. According to our findings, the USD/TRY exchange rate negatively affects stock market indices, and the Euro/TRY exchange rate positively affects stock market indices. The findings obtained from the analysis results confirm prior knowledge acquired from Turkey's foreign trade structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This manuscript aims to provide a discursive description of how one academic health care centre is enculturating, embedding and investing in the fundamental care framework and lessons learned that can serve as a blueprint for other organizations. Background: A call to action to focus on fundamental care is not new as the initial Fundamentals of Care (FoC) Framework has been evolving over the last decade through efforts lead by the International Learning Collaborative (ILC). Now more than ever, there is a pressing need for leaders to influence a humane, compassionate evidence‐informed approach to the COVID‐19 pandemic and beyond by embedding an FoC framework and focusing on fundamental care as part of their academic mandate and daily care practices. Design: This discursive paper delineates an evolving and ongoing enculturation, embeddedness and investment in advancing fundamental care as part of a larger academic practice strategy and quality improvement plan that is evidence‐informed and collaborative in nature. Method: The action framework (value, talk, do, own and research fundamental care) developed by ILC guides efforts to how the FoC framework was embedded into one academic health science centre's strategic directions, academic practice strategy, professional practice model, quality plan and research and innovation platform. Conclusion: An overview of how we leveraged the FoC and ILC Leadership frameworks in our efforts to enculturate, embed and invest in advancing fundamental care and lessons learned that may inform other healthcare organizations in their efforts. Impact on nursing science, practice or disciplinary knowledge: Underpinning all of our efforts is the integral value we place on fundamental care to guide how we practice, educate and learn, discover and innovate and lead at x. We shared how we value, talk, do, own and research fundamental care by having it embedded into our strategic directions, academic practice strategy, professional practice model, quality aims and research and innovation platform. Patient or Public Contribution: No Patient or Public Contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the choice of parameters of the pension plan design and investment strategies in the context of the regulatory environment and their institutional organization. Our objective is to infer whether these choices are driven by preferences of the pension plan members or by opportunities for unfair risk transfers that are possible thanks to perverse regulatory incentives. Empirical findings indicate that discount rates chosen by both the Canadian public and private pension plans are a reflection of risk preferences rather than of regulatory structure or political incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Innovation, which is the result of the joint work of university and industry, is an initiative that improves the efficiency of innovation. This type of cooperation, i.e. collaborative innovation between university and industry, is called collaborative innovation. Collaborative innovation brings dynamism and vitality to companies and causes economic growth and expansion. (1). In fact, one of the important factors in innovation, and one of the important factors in economic growth and development, is the transfer of knowledge that takes place between universities and industry because this cooperation makes commercialization in companies easier (2). On the other hand, one of the things that has always been very important in knowledgebased companies is the commercialization process. This process has three separate phases, the ideation phase, the technology/product development phase, and the commercialization phase. First, an idea that has a demand in the market is created and cultivated. In the development stage, this idea becomes a product or technology, and commercialization is technological knowledge that has entered the market (9). In our beloved country of Iran, knowledge-based companies active in the field of medical products have succeeded in reaching self-sufficiency in the field of medical products to almost 40% in the past few years, but they have been very unsuccessful in the discussion of commercializing medical products for export to other countries. . Now, according to the capacity of our country, we can earn up to two billion dollars a year from the commercialization of these types of goods, which has a positive impact on the national economy. Therefore, the researcher seeks to solve these problems by presenting a model for commercialization. Therefore, the main research question is, what is the commercialization model of medical products for knowledge-based companies? Methods: The current research is of an exploratory and expansion type, which was conducted using a qualitative method. The statistical population of this research is experts with practical experience in the field of commercialization of products of knowledgebased companies in the science and technology park of Mazandaran province, and professors of the University of Medical Sciences and management professors of management faculties of universities of Mazandaran province, who are aware of the subject of the research. 12 people were selected as samples from among them by snowball method until full saturation. Then a semi-structured interview was conducted to collect data from them. Interviews were held one by one with each expert. After conducting the interviews (audio recording), the texts of the interviews recorded from the experts, on the same day of the interview, were transcribed word by word on paper and typed as research data., was used. The research data are analyzed on two levels, the textual level and the conceptual level The textual level includes the coding of the data, the conceptual level emphasizes the construction of the research model including establishing a relationship between the codes based on the Strauss and Corbin model. Also, in order to ensure the validity of the model, the strategy of analysis and review by knowledgeable people (multi-view) has been used. Results: To design the model using the foundation data method in the first step; Initial coding was done using the text of the interviews. In this step, one hundred and nine primary codes were extracted. In the second step; Axial coding was done. In this step, thirty-two axial codings were obtained from a total of one hundred and nine initial codes. In the third step; Selective coding Selective coding was done based on the results of open coding and axial coding in this step, which is the main step of theorizing. Thirteen codes were obtained. Also, the validity of the research model was done by using the analysis and review method by knowledgeable people, in this method, to check the validity of the research model, all the data and primary extracted codes were sent to other experts who are familiar with the issue of commercialization of medical products in knowledge-based companies. They were informed and experts were given and they were asked to modify and approve the designed codes, and all the codes were approved, thus the validity of this research was proved. Also, the reliability of the research was checked with Kreppendorf's alpha method, and the agreement of five experts on the codes was equal to 89%. Considering that this amount is more than 60%, the reliability of the codings of this research is confirmed. Conclusion: In this research, the causal conditions for the commercialization of medical products, four factors of human capital, technology, digital transformability of the company and environmental factors have been stated. (Shirvani, Tulai and Delavi, 2019 limited the causal conditions to digital technology. Considering these factors by the companies residing in the science and technology park, they can take into account all the effective factors in creating a successful business for their products and Don't just focus on technology. The strategies of this research have been identified in three dimensions; Financial strategies, market orientation and attracting cooperation of the University of Medical Sciences. Every business unit needs capital in order to set up and start its activity, and in order to develop and continue its activity, it needs new investment, which must be provided through financial resources (24). Access to financial resources is one of the important factors in the success of companies and one of the important concerns of companies at different stages of their life (25). Market orientation can be defined as a stage of organizational growth or as a level that reflects organizational maturity (26). Kotler has looked at market orientation as the final stage of the development of a business organization and believes that the market orientation is created along the development of different business orientations. Market orientation is based on marketing thinking and marketing thinking forms its philosophical foundation. (26). However, marketing thinking as a foundation and philosophical foundation is not enough. Because market orientation focuses not only on customers, but also on competitors, different organizational issues and many external factors that affect the needs and preferences of customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy technologies play a crucial role in solving global energy and environmental issues, and the pace of the energy transition directly depends on improving their efficiency. Presently, the development and implementation of renewable energy systems are ensured mainly through state funding, the possibilities of which are limited. The potential of attracting private investments depends directly on their impact on companies' profitability indicators, and the uncertainty regarding the return on investments is one of the main barriers affecting investors' decision-making. Based on a vector autoregressive model for analysing the stationary time series, the paper explores the impact of long-term investments and research and development costs in renewable energy technologies on the financial performance of ten of the largest companies operating in this field. The study's results showed that investments and spending on research and development positively affect such companies' profitability indicators as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, earnings before interest and tax, net income, and return on investment. The obtained results can be used to substantiate the economic effectiveness of investments in developing and improving renewable energy technologies when forming the companies' financial policies to support them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines international temporary migration as an intermediary step among aspiring entrepreneurs to accumulate the needed capital when they face credit constraints at home. The analysis is based on a representative dataset of lifetime employment histories of return migrants from Bangladesh. After establishing the credit constraints that potential entrepreneurs face, the paper shows that non-agricultural self-employment rates are significantly higher among returning migrants — over half versus around 20% of non-migrants. Most migrants transition into self-employment by using their savings from abroad as the main source of financing. The paper then offers, for the first time, a detailed account of the financial costs and benefits of international migration. Our findings suggest that temporary migration can contribute to structural transformation of lower-income countries by enabling credit-constrained workers to enter into non-agricultural entrepreneurship. • Many aspiring entrepreneurs in lower income countries face tight credit constraints. • Temporary international migration allows faster accumulation of the necessary capital. • Cost benefit analysis shows that it shares many features with classical investments. • Novel data from Bangladesh show frequent transitions into self-employment upon return. • Self-employment to a large extent is financed by savings acquired abroad. • Self-employment after return strongly increases the gains from temporary migration. [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]

This paper explores the knowledge production practices and mobilizations in public and popular discourse that have discursively shaped the most recent initiative to revitalize Moss Park and the community center located within it—More Moss Park, a US$100 million public-private partnership between the municipal government, The 519, an LGBTQ-focused community center, and an anonymous private donor. We examine the production of territorial stigma vis-a-vis crisis place-frames that characterize Moss Park as a neighborhood in crisis and how this framing shapes the interventions planned for the park and community center. While the planning process has adopted social justice rhetoric within its public participation activities, we argue that this is actually an indication of the neoliberalization of social justice that works to buttress interventions that will exacerbate the already existing inequalities within the neighborhood while simultaneously undermining more socially just approaches. Through historical and contemporary media analysis and qualitative interviews with community stakeholders, we argue these interventions trivially improve the stigmatized elements of the park, including aging public infrastructures and those that seek refuge in the park, while obscuring, and consequently not addressing, the underlying structures that have created the conditions of uneven life experience in Toronto. We believe that analyzing the More Moss Park initiative through a focus on crisis-framing and territorial stigma exposes key barriers to the types of interventions that may enact meaningful change in the well-being of the neighborhood's stigmatized individuals and families—and in many cases, actually work to reproduce deepening inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the relationship between gender and second language (L2) learning through a narrative case study. Drawing on the construct of investment in understanding language learning, the present study investigates the role of gender ideologies and gendered identities in a female L2 learner's English learning experiences in an English-medium university in Hong Kong. Findings reveal that multiple gender ideologies mediated the learner's access to L2 use opportunities and her participation in in-class and out-of-class contexts in complex yet contradictory ways. In particular, gendered expectations influenced the learner's agency in investing in L2 practices in specific contexts and accumulating particular forms of (gendered) capital. Her L2 investments were also shaped by her negotiation of gendered identities and her pursuit of imagined identities related to her professional aspirations. Based on the findings, a gendered model of L2 investment is proposed. It illustrates the complex interplay between gendered capital, gender ideologies and gendered identities in shaping L2 investments and foregrounds the role of gendered agency in mediating the impact of gender ideologies and gendered identities on L2 investments. The study also suggests the need for contextualized and personalized approaches in understanding the gendered nature of L2 learning in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroeconomics is crucial to understand each country's development indicators and predict the short-term and long-term their consequences on the performance of economies. The research has been divided into key sections: economic growth, employment, productivity, investments, depts, and business dynamism. In the paper is concluded that is needed the new approach to regional cooperation and new strategy creation related to political and macroeconomic stability in the Western Balkans countries. All this must be accompanied by structural reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]