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The concept of resilience gains prominence as human society faces more frequent and impactful shocks and disturbances. This study seeks to investigate how rural populations build resilience amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A simple theoretical model is presented to illustrate the determinants of knowledge acquisition and precautionary behaviors among rural residents. Based on a High Frequency Phone Survey of 10,583 Latin American adults, this study found that rural residents were less capable of using informal channels (e.g., the internet) to collect COVID-19 information. Younger generations were generally less likely to adopt precautionary behaviors than the elderly. The age disparity, however, was relatively minor for rural populations. Costly preventive measures such as staying at home are less affordable for rural residents. Meanwhile, confidence in government ensures better compliance to ensure public health guidelines. We argue that internet skills, prosociality, and political confidence are necessary to build rural residents' resilience during the pandemic. • Rural residents were less capable of using informal channels to acquire COVID-19 Knowledge. • The age disparity on precautionary behaviors was relatively minor for rural populations. • Costly preventive measures are less affordable for rural residents. • Confidence in government ensures better compliance to ensure public health guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the role of social capital in hazard management in a case area which was overwhelmingly swept by flood in mid-2021. The interplay among social capital, hazard preparedness, response and recovery are explored by using structure equation modeling. Data were gathered from over 413 villages from August 2021 to September 2021, which is one month after the flood occurred. Research findings show that villagers in region with abundant social capital are more likely to contribute to hazard preparedness. We have also confirmed the positive role of social capital in restraining the pursuit of self-interests. Villagers are more willing to help others, and take care of vulnerable population when the hazard strikes. However, it is surprising to note that social capital fails to motivates residents to make preparedness plans for future risks. This retreat effect exists when big loss occurred and failed to meet local people's expectations. Overall, this study implies that the impact of social capital on hazard risk management is extremely complex and such complexity should not be attribute solely to divergent forms of network relationship. The above conclusion enables policy makers to pay attention to the psychological foundation of social capital while cultivating it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Business incubator capacities impact on the regional innovation performance. • Basic service and financial capacities have less impact than incubation capacity. • Regional communication infrastructure is playing an important moderating role. • Policy makers should focus more on creating free knowledge transfer platforms. Recent years have witnessed the fast development of business incubators in many emerging economies, such as China. Business incubators are seen as important facilitators for innovation which provide office space, equipment, mentoring services, as well as financial, legal and administrative supports for technology entrepreneurs and start-up companies. Much investment has been undertaken to facilitate the development of business incubators, for example in financial frameworks, human resource development and communication infrastructure. This paper investigates the effects of business incubator capacities on the regional innovation performance, using a panel representing 31 Chinese provinces. This study finds that three capacities of business incubators have significant impacts on the regional innovation performance, while the incubation capacity appears to have a much greater effect than the basic capacity and the finance capacity. Moreover, this study also identifies that the regional communication infrastructure is an important moderator of the relationship between business incubator capacities and the regional innovation performance. This paper supports the view that emerging economies should encourage the development of business incubators in order to promote the development of technology entrepreneurs and domestic innovation performance, but more focus should be on creating free knowledge transfer platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]