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Libraries play an increasingly significant role in responding to the needs of the local economy. They have the resources to survey the business community to determine what these needs are. Libraries can also form partnerships with government agencies and nonprofits that can help to foster a thriving economy. Programming and events can be targeted to assist segments of the population that have traditionally been underserved or have only limited access to the resources needed for business creation. Richland Library in Columbia, SC, and the Baltimore County Public Library are cited for the community partnerships they have formed and for their innovative programming in support of small business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper derives a theoretical model of the impact of anti-dumping barriers on enterprise exports under the framework of heterogeneous firm trade theory and evaluates the trade-damaging effect of India's anti-dumping against China. The results show that the export volume and the number of export enterprises involved in anti-dumping cases show a downward trend after the anti-dumping is imposed. After controlling for heterogeneity, anti-dumping does not reduce the exports of incumbent enterprises. Anti-dumping mainly affects the exports of Chinese enterprises through the expansion margin, and has a small impact on the intensification margin. This research provides references for improving international trade development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from 27 OCDE countries from 1990 to 2021, the purpose of this article is to study empirically if the Kuznets' curve hypothesis exists on economic development and health, measuring the latter through tobacco consumption. We examine the relationship between tobacco consumption and income, the Gini coefficient, life expectancy, unemployment rate, and the population's age structure to analyse the research question given the relevance to economic development and costs of tobacco use. We hypothesize that tobacco consumption increases as income levels increase until a certain tipping point, after which tobacco consumption would start to fall. We provide evidence for the existence of a Kuznets Curve for tobacco consumption. Our results also verify that inequality, unemployment rates and life expectancy increase tobacco consumption, although increases in the youth and the elderly population reduce tobacco use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a long time, China's economic development has followed a policy-oriented development model and achieved remarkable results. In the North-East, however, things do not seem to be going as smoothly as they should. This study aims to investigate the impact of the new round of Northeast Revitalization Policy (NRP), initiated in 2014, on the industrial economy of the Central and southern Liaoning Urban Agglomeration. By employing Synthetic Difference-in-Differences (SDID) methodology we provide an evaluation of policy's effects on industrial structure, innovation efficiency, and industrial clustering. The results show that: first, in the short term, the policy has significantly promoted the transformation of the industrial structure. However, the long-term effects are less pronounced; second, the policy's impact on the comprehensive technical efficiency of the urban agglomeration is positive but statistically insignificant. Comparing the core cities with other cities in this urban agglomeration, the policy has not brought about a more remarkable increase; third, we reveal that the policy has significantly enhanced the industrial specialization clustering degree and reduced the industrial diversification clustering degree. The findings in this research highlight the importance of continually monitor and evaluate the impact of revitalization policies and adjust strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study employed an epistemological framework of ecological imperialism to highlight the environmental implications of colonial development policies in Southeast Asia. The analysis focused on the environmental justice, equity, and fairness implications of colonial development initiatives in five domains: the built environment, land, agriculture, forestry, and mining. It reveals that the initiatives were tantamount to ecological imperialism in each domain. The study is not only of historical importance as it contains lessons on the environmental implications of economic development initiatives for the region’s contemporary planners and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines policy uncertainty on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in South Africa, emphasising the extensive regulatory review by the Competition Commission under the 'public interest consideration' criterion. It aims to identify the cost implications and uncertainties associated with M&A transactions to propose measures to reduce these uncertainties. Utilising qualitative methodologies, the study gathers empirical evidence through interviews with companies and competition lawyers involved in the M&A processes. The findings reveal significant concerns about economic uncertainty, merger control, and policy and regulation impacting investment decisions. Policy uncertainty, particularly in the context of merger regulation, imposes substantial cost implications and delays on M&A activities, negatively affecting investment, growth, and economic development. It emphasises the necessity for a regulatory framework that minimises disruptions and costs to business participants. The findings suggest that addressing policy uncertainty and streamlining regulatory processes are crucial steps towards enhancing South Africa's attractiveness as an investment destination and fostering economic growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As tourism is increasingly portrayed as a means for peacebuilding, the need to study its impact in conflict-ravaged areas has become more acute. Current debates on peace-through-tourism engage critically in such analyses, focusing further on the connection between tourism and socio-spatial (in)equalities, power (im)balances and everyday (in)securities as central elements in the study of peace. Yet the discussion still reinforces normative assumptions by tending to invariably associate community-based tourism with peace outcomes. Hence, paradox-ridden contexts where structural violence and oppression persist even in the presence of grassroots development receive considerably less attention. This article addresses this gap by discussing the case of Urabá, a Colombian region wracked by the armed conflict that has seen a rise in bottom-up tourism initiatives in recent years. Our findings suggest that, despite their perceived peacefulness, tourism spaces have become 'pockets of security' where the conditions enabling grassroots tourism are maintained as long as the legal and illegal power structures that are furthering dispossession in the region remain unchallenged. Drawing on insights from peace studies and human geography, we aim at contributing to the burgeoning body of research on peace tourism by proposing a more nuanced understanding of the linkages between tourism, violence, and the spatial reconfigurations that underlie the so-called post-conflict period. Ultimately, we want to encourage more critical analyses of the use of heart-winning discourses that could conceal violent geographies surrounding tourism spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2015, the Government of India launched Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), a flagship gender-based awareness campaign program, to promote girls' survival and education in India. The existing literature has a dearth of rigorous empirical evidence on the impact of this program on girls' well-being. This study fills this gap in the literature. We examine the impact of the BBBP program on girls' educational and learning outcomes. Using data from multiple large nationally representative surveys, we estimate the impact of the BBBP program by employing difference-in-differences framework. We do not find any statistically significant impact of the program on girls' enrollment, their grade completion, and girl-specific educational expenditure. Our empirical results also suggest limited impact of the BBBP program on girls' learning outcomes. These results are robust to alternative empirical specifications. We also examine heterogeneity of our results across different age-cohorts in rural and urban India as well as states with disparate levels of economic development. Furthermore, we triangulate some of our quantitative results using qualitative data collected from school teachers and parents of girl children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the determinants of corruption in Russia based on an original survey of 1,376 businesspeople in 39 regions. Regression analysis reveals economically and statistically significant correlations between bribes, development, and state intervention in the economy. Using the instrumental variable of geographical location, this paper provides supportive evidence for a causal (negative) relationship between prosperity and bribes. It finds a positive correlation between regional corruption and state ownership and a negative one between corruption and the size of the bureaucracy. These results hold for both perceived and experiential corruption. This paper contributes to the investigation of corruption in Russia and post-communist countries. It illustrates the importance of economic development, effective bureaucracy, and the reduction of state property for mitigating corruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective evaluation of the factors affecting technological innovation efficiency (TIE) at the system level is an important focus in promoting high-quality economic development. Previous studies are extensively concerned with the relationship between fiscal decentralisation and TIE in recent years, but little attention has been paid to whether and how fiscal decentralisation affects TIE systematically from the perspective of efficiency decomposition. Using China's panel data at the province level from 1998 to 2018, we explore this question by decomposing the TIE into scale efficiency and pure technical efficiency. Findings demonstrate that fiscal decentralisation has a positive and significant influence on TIE and scale efficiency, but has no significant influence on pure technical efficiency. The influences of fiscal decentralisation on TIE and its decomposition efficiency have evident regional heterogeneity. Fiscal decentralisation can improve TIE and scale efficiency by increasing fiscal expenditure on science and technology. These findings may aid policymakers in reasonably designing future innovation policies and the next-stage reform package. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive utilisation of solid waste is a critical tool for environmental governance. As a major driver of economic development, industrial structure upgrading and technological innovation are also conducive to environmental governance. As a result, using statistical data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2009 to 2019, this article constructed a spatial econometric model and explored the links between industrial structure upgrading, technological innovation and comprehensive utilisation of solid waste. The results showed that: Industrial structure upgrading has a 'U'-shaped curve relationship that first inhibits and then promotes the comprehensive utilisation of solid waste. In the long run, upgrading industrial structures promotes the comprehensive utilisation of solid waste as a whole. Technological innovation has a significant moderating influence on the impact of industrial structure upgrading on the comprehensive utilisation of solid waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following green revolution ideologies, smallholder commercialization is promoted as a pathway to African economic transformation. Nonetheless, polices that incentivize commercial production in Ghana affect migrant groups negatively with respect to land tenure. While some migrants are displaced from rented lands, others offer their labour services in exchange for the right to "freely" intercrop on native's cashew farms. The tenurial aspects of the new land–labour exchange relations cluster around labour tenancy without farmland or tree crop benefit sharing. A reversal to pre-historic non-capitalist tenure modes is favoured in land-abundant areas while market-based tenure is increasingly combined with food crop gifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community empowerment movements challenge local government administrators and planners to emphasize people instead of development profits in the planning process. Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) are popular tools to advance this objective. Executed by and between local governments, communities, and project developers, CBAs detail how economic benefits from new development are shared with residents. One question understudied in the literature is how does a community know if it received an equitable distribution in a CBA? In this case study of a new $1.6 billion satellite campus for the University of California, documents in and out of the public domain are analyzed to determine what economic benefits could be shared with the community, what portion was disclosed to the community, and what portion of the benefits were included in the CBA. A key recommendation from the findings is to build a CBA metric that local governments and communities can use to establish an early target value for benefits before negotiations with project proponents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As economic inequality among racial and ethnic groups persists, debate continues about the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as guiding values to promote equitable economic growth and development. This project uses diversity ideology as a framework to examine how proposals for Amazon's second headquarters (HQ2) reflect applicants' beliefs and value systems around racial and ethnic diversity, equity, and inclusion. In our sample of 70 proposals, respondents layered four primary tactics: disregard, limited engagement, acknowledgment without culpability, and value claiming. Prominent approaches included avoidance of any discussion of diversity, objectification of racial and ethnic minority populations as an economic or cultural input, and the assertion a racially and ethnically diversity workforce is an attainable goal while utilizing stereotypes. Each of these approaches reflects different ways racial and ethnic minority populations remain marginalized within economic development proposals, even when firms actively solicit information on their presence and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is in the midst of a critical transition to a carbon-neutral economy, with various policies and regulations being introduced to facilitate this shift. This study focuses on the open-end funds market in China, a significant component of the country's capital market, to explore how it is adapting during this period of economic transformation. Specifically, we investigate the influence of carbon and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risks on the flow of open-end funds. Our findings indicate that sustainability factors are considered in the investment decision-making process by investors. Notably, there exists a negative relationship between sustainable risk factors and fund flows. This observation is particularly pronounced for funds that are designated as low carbon, have a high sustainability rating, or are primarily held by retail investors, underscoring the growing importance of sustainability considerations in the investment landscape of China's capital market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana is recognized as one of the countries undergoing rapid economic transformation. Drawing on an agricultural transformation framework, this study sheds light on the current farm and nonfarm developments in the cassava subsector in five communities across four districts in Ghana. Using a qualitative exploratory research design based on field-work surveys, the study identifies several factors that together showcase manifestations of a transformation process in the studied areas. These include a combination of growing farm sizes, use of new technologies, higher productivity, expanding market opportunities, increased profitability, improved lives and livelihoods, and changing labour structures. These micro-level findings allow the study to offer a richer understanding of dynamics of change underway that could complement macro-oriented analyses of agricultural transformation in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing intensification of market competition, companies need to implement innovative strategies to gain market advantages. As an effective measure for companies to reduce agency costs between management and shareholders and alleviate the conflict of interest between the two, equity incentive can directly affect the behaviour of company executives. Investment decision is the foundation of a company's healthy growth and cash flow growth in the future. This paper selects the panel data of Chinese listed companies from 2011 to 2021 as a sample, uses the quality of internal control as an intermediary variable in the process of measuring the implementation of equity incentives, and empirically studies the relationship between equity incentives and corporate investment decisions. The results show that there is a positive correlation between equity incentives and investment decisions, and the quality of internal control plays an intermediary role between the two. Equity incentive can optimize the internal control, improve the quality of internal control, so as to effectively promote the investment decision of companies. The implementation of equity incentives gives companies a competitive advantage while also adding momentum to economic development, thereby enhancing national competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to demonstrate that the indenture system contributed to the development of a work ethic that facilitated the development of the Mauritian economy. The indentured labor system in Mauritius, though crucial for the island’s economic boom in the 19th century, involved harsh realities for laborers. Long contracts, limited freedoms, and debt bondage masked the ‘free’ labor narrative. Despite the exploitation, some former laborers achieved land ownership and entrepreneurship, showcasing resilience. Recognizing the vulnerability of a sugar-dependent economy, Mauritius embarked on diversification efforts, fostering tourism, manufacturing, and financial services. By examining the indentured labor system, we gain insights into the human cost of economic growth, the complexities of ‘free’ labor, and the long-term consequences of migration. This historical exploration sheds light on Mauritius’ social and economic transformation, highlighting its journey from a sugar-reliant nation to a more diversified and resilient economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperatives have long been recognized as a collaborative effort by a group of individuals to address their social and economic needs. In South Africa, cooperatives have been adopted to address the triple challenge of poverty, inequality, and unemployment. Drawing on 15 face-to-face interviews with members of agricultural cooperatives in a township in South Africa, this study interrogates the extent to which agricultural cooperative can enhance local economic development and sustain livelihoods. Agricultural cooperatives have been widely supported and promoted as a vehicle for smallholder farmers to directly participate in the mainstream economy of South Africa. The interviews suggest that some cooperatives were found to efficiently sustain livelihoods, and create limited job opportunities in the community. However, challenges like lack of resources, inadequate training, unregulated management, as well as other underlying internal and external shocks are hindering the contribution of the cooperatives to the local economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether there is a difference in the hidden economy's set of determinants across developed and developing countries. Applying extreme bounds analysis (EBA) to a cross-sectional dataset of 33 developed and 97 developing countries, we find a considerable variation in the determinants of the hidden economy across developed and developing countries. The results show that internet usage, inflation, financial development, poverty, and monetary freedom are robust determinants of the hidden economy exclusively in developing countries. Whereas the time required to start a business and GDP per capita growth play a crucial role exclusively in developed countries. Remarkably, the property rights index is the only determinant that is robust in both types of countries. These findings offer important insights for policymakers seeking to address the challenges posed by the hidden economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the impact of prehistoric geographic isolation on technology adoption in both the historical period and contemporary period. The regression results show that geographic isolation tends to have a persistent positive effect on technology adoption, therefore, providing empirical support for the theory that geographic isolation is beneficial for economic development by stimulating innovations and improving technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the evolution of nineteenth-century French economist Michel Chevalier’s reputation and self-understanding as a Saint-Simonian. Despite only having served two years as chief editor of the famous Saint-Simonian Globe, Chevalier’s attempt to re-integrate himself into liberal intellectual circles following his split from the Saint-Simonian movement was consistently hindered by his perceived adherence to its illiberal principles. This article mobilizes Chevalier’s reputation as a means to explore the porous boundary between Saint-Simonianism and French liberalism at a time when the contours between the two traditions were still not clearly defined. I also argue that the economist’s continued prioritization of economic development over political liberty grounded a variety of liberalism that many political liberals found intolerable, notably in its willingness to endure Bonapartist authoritarianism for the sake of economic growth. Mobilizing new archival material from the Second Empire, this article illuminates how Chevalier and others understood his relation to Saint-Simonianism and liberalism in the moment when he was at the apogee of his power and influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In marginalized communities where traditional political channels are often inaccessible, social movements and protests have emerged as vital platforms for voices seeking to challenge established power structures. This study reveals a compelling shift in recent decades as these neighborhoods undergo economic transformation and gentrification. It uncovers a distinct pattern of activism characterized by the emergence of middle-class ethnic entrepreneurs and business owners who engage in activism from within the urban economy and political systems. This qualitative case study, conducted within a Latino community in the U.S. delves into the activism of this actor, providing a deeper understanding of how this pattern, which both challenges and engages with the system, gives rise to local political conflicts and accusations of ‘class betrayal’, and cooptation. By utilizing a ‘place-based’ mobilization model and examining the interplay between ethnic and class affiliations, this study enriches our understanding of political protests and activism in ethnic/racial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural change has played an important role in the overall process of economic development. Africa seems to have faced greater difficulty than Asia in terms of achieving structural change. A number of hypotheses have been proposed to explain the structural change process in these two regions. The objective of this paper is to test several of these hypotheses utilizing data from a sample of Sub-Saharan African countries as well as a sample of Asian countries. Fixed effects and fully modified ordinary least squares techniques were used to test the hypotheses. The results indicate that there are many similarities between the two regions in terms of what factors are important in the process of structural change, and a few differences. Agricultural productivity, a reduction in dependence on natural resources, openness to trade all seem to be important, but for Sub-Saharan Africa efforts must also be made to aid domestic manufacturing firms so as to be able to compete. In addition, it seems that being relatively labour abundant was important for the structural change process in Asia. Policies aimed at promoting more rapid structural change in Sub-Saharan Africa include promoting agricultural productivity, improving the extent of trade openness, and additional efforts to coordinate the expansion of manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper seeks to address precarious lives and the politics of urban repair in the city of Mumbai, in Ram V and Anand Radhakrishnan's graphic novel Grafity's Wall (2020), a coming-of-age story about four youths in the city. Through waves of urban restructuring, this paper argues, precarity has emerged as a typical mode of Mumbai's urban life and living. The work investigates the urban underworld of crime, violence, and movements of urban solidarity in the form of care for fellow human beings as well as the city, to form a 'good city'. Since comics can record events that cannot be photographed, this paper aims to use insights from comics studies to understand the concept of precarity and care. Through the characters of four marginal urban youths, the comics show the regeneration of a dilapidated city through practising urban care in the form of youth subculture and urban solidarity movement. Drawing upon theoretical insights from the 'maximum city' and 'static/kinetic city', the paper shows how Grafity's Wall transcends the walled infrastructure of 21st-century urbanism, to advance a call for the right to the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 32 images, this photo essay tells the story of the rediscovery and rehabilitation of the Clydesdale horse. Some of the very best things languish, hidden in plain sight, waiting to be noticed, brought into the light and put to work – which is why they emerged in the first place. Serendipity led the author to rekindle an association with a horse from childhood, the Clydesdale. It turned out to be a Trojan horse, with considerable previously untapped potential. This horse from the past has a very bright future. It represents a showcase for its own kind, for other rare and endangered breeds, and for the humans who maintain them. Clydesdale horses provide us with a widened perspective on how to 'do' economic development, encompassing place-making, heritage, skills, education, wellbeing, and horsemanship. Saving Clydesdale saves many other elements, including our own continuing human relationships with the environment and past heritages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 2018 and 2022, 23 foreign higher education institutions established a campus in Uzbekistan, resulting in it becoming the nation with the third largest number of international branch campuses globally, behind China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The purpose of this research is to understand the Uzbek government's and foreign institutions' rationales for engaging with transnational education (TNE) in Uzbekistan, as well as the founding and operational challenges, and the early outcomes. The data used in this study were obtained primarily from a range of expert stakeholders, who have expert and up-to-date knowledge on the development and operation of TNE institutions in Uzbekistan. Guided by our participants' views and the secondary data examined, an optimistic outlook is anticipated for higher education development in Uzbekistan. The paper concludes with sets of recommendations for local policy makers, TNE institutions, and host countries aspiring to elevate their higher education through TNE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a fresh and nuanced perspective by re-examining the concept of authoritarian neoliberalism in the context of the first decade of the AKP's rule in Turkey. The study addresses two main research questions: Firstly, it explores the factors that transformed the 2000s, often seen as a period of democratization, into an era of authoritarianism. Secondly, it investigates how the AKP effectively established an authoritarian neoliberal state during this time. To tackle these questions, the paper argues that the AKP's authoritarian neoliberal project rests on two key pillars. The first pillar involves creating a depoliticized technocratic state structure that allows for the implementation of policies aligning with the interests of the dominant capital faction. The second element involves weakening labor opposition, which plays a crucial role in shaping the authoritarian neoliberal state. The paper suggests that the waning influence of the labor movement played a central role in driving the shift toward authoritarianism in the 2000s, granting the government more flexibility in shaping policies. This paper enhances our understanding of the political and economic transformation in Turkey during this significant period, shedding light on the development of the authoritarian neoliberal state and its crisis after 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the process of reordering and intensification associated with the Spanish cereal sector, which began in 1937 under Franco's regime. Considering the process as a practice of design and spatial re-planning of the territory, the first stage focuses on the reordering of the sector through an intense state interventionism in the processes of production, distribution, and consumption of cereals. The second stage, framed in a context of significant economic development in the country encouraged by the international context, focuses on the adoption of multiple measures for the intensification of production. Approached from an anthropic perspective of instrumentalisation of the natural environment, this process would lead to the reconfiguration of the structure of operations and to the alteration of part of the biophysical and sociocultural components of the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores Taiwanese junior high school social studies teachers' definitions of sustainability, using a qualitative semi-structured interview approach. Three themes explaining these teachers' definitions are cycling, cultural sustainability, and balancing, harmony, and coexisting. These definitions unveil an alternative worldview that is non-Eurocentric-based and multifaceted dimensions of sustainability. Findings suggest that instead of claiming that we should have a consistent definition to guide teachers to implement environmental and sustainability education across different subjects, it is important to acknowledge the fact that teachers trained in different disciplines and of different cultural backgrounds need a whole range of support to incorporate sustainability goals successfully in their teaching. Supported by results of this study, social studies teachers can reasonably support the teaching of controversial issues about tensions between cultural sustainability and economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the Mincerian approach in an experimental way to examine the impact of education on household incomes (not labor earnings) of all workers (not just employees) across 162 countries. Our results are broadly similar to the conventionally estimated rates of return to education after allowing for the fact that earnings are only a part of total household incomes. We then apply the results to the case of Arab countries and find that our experimental approach can promisingly be used for the study of the impact of education not just on individual earnings of employees but also on total household incomes of all workers and more broadly on the economy and the labor market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research evaluates and compares the status and trends of regional innovation efficiency (RIE) in 27 EU countries from 2004 to 2017. Regional analysis is further compared to investigate the performance differentials within the EU innovation system. In addition, the factors which influence the innovation efficiency in EU countries by performing the Tobit regression analysis are investigated. The results indicate that the innovation efficiency of EU changes slightly with high-efficiency values. Seven countries are the innovation leaders during the research period, whereas Northern and southern regions have relatively higher innovation efficiencies than other regions. Also, the regression results indicate that economic development, human capital investment and regional openness could enhance innovation efficiency in most EU regions, while industrial structure, urbanisation level and infrastructure level hinder the improvement of EU's innovation efficiency. Based on these results, recommendations are provided for policymakers aiming at stimulating innovation among the EU innovation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Officially branding local heritage through recognised labels is a strategy that regions can use to promote economic development. Regions increasingly seek more sustainable tourism development, which can be captured by the quality of local tourist service development. This paper examines whether the UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) label is associated with local tourism development of a higher quality and offers the first comparative study across European regions. Using TripAdvisor reviews of over 38,000 European locations, our results reveal a positive correlation between WHS labelling and measures of perceived quality and breadth of local tourist services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whereas previous research has acknowledged the significance of capacity building for development, there is little research on the capacity building typologies for local economic development (LED) actors at the local level. Adopting the community capitals framework, this study attempts to fill this gap by examining the LED capacity-building typologies and challenges in Ghana. Data for the study was collected through in-depth interviews with local government officials and LED experts in Ghana. The findings revealed six capacity building typologies and three LED capacity building challenges. This study argued that LED capacity building is an indispensable element in the development of local economies. It is recommended that these LED capacity typologies be used to develop a comprehensive LED capacity building framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018, the Thai Government proposed industrial investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). This research aimed to identify ways for a community to safely voice their concerns about the perceived impacts of rapid economic policy under an authoritarian regime. Practice-theories of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and Participatory Development Practice (PDP) guided community facilitators. Research methods included in-depth interviews, observation, and a consensus conference with key stakeholders. The results suggest that ABCD assisted the community in identifying physical and social capacity and cultural values as assets. PDP helped stakeholders to 1) raise awareness about inconsistency with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); 2) engage young people in voicing their concerns; and 3) achieve greater collaboration. The research showed that community development approaches can aid government policy implementation processes, to enable consistent achievement across the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutional transaction costs profoundly reflect the relationship between the government and the market, and play an important role in the economic development of a country or region. This study uses grounded theory to explore its theoretical connotation and essential reasons, confirms the core elements from the three dimensions of subject, behaviour and environment, and then builds its theoretical framework. The results show that, under the influence of bounded rationality and opportunism, institutional transaction cost is a kind of cost generated by market players in the process of complying with government economic policies. Therefore, this study attempts to provide a reference path for institutional transaction cost reforms in other countries or regions from three aspects: improving the efficiency of government agencies, regulating government regulatory behaviour, and improving the institutional environment of the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) integration process of transition economies from Southeast Europe has faced significant political and economic challenges. Two decades in, these challenges persist, leading to slower-than-expected economic development and fostering local frustration, nationalism, populism, and migration flows. This article aims to disentangle the institutional complexities in these regions. Using an exploratory, inductive approach based on 30 qualitative interviews across three Southeast European countries, the research conducts a multi-level analysis. The findings reveal that complex institutional settings are characterised by institutional voids and asymmetries stemming from the transition process and EU integration. The perception of the overall institutional setup is central, negatively influenced by institutional voids and asymmetries but positively impacted by participatory law-making approaches. Additionally, competing institutional logics on the micro-level influence companies' perspective. This article provides insights into the institutional challenges faced by companies in transition economies, crucial for policy formulation and development projects in the context of EU integration. The key takeaway emphasises the importance of well-designed participatory policymaking, highlighting the need for careful preparation and a foundation of trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the impact of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) on Russian industrial firms' productivity, using propensity score matching to address heterogeneity issue. Our investigation contributes to the existing literature in several ways. First, our study fills a gap in the literature that evaluates the effectiveness of Russian SEZs. Besides, we attempt to solve the problem of self-selection and minimise the impact of unobservable effects by matching similar firms. Moreover, we reveal the role of SEZs in increasing productivity and competitiveness of Russian enterprises considering regional economic development and corruption. We take into account the factors that affect the firms' performance both at the municipal and regional levels. An ambiguous effect of SEZs on productivity was found, but a positive significant influence of SEZs on productivity was revealed in regions with relatively higher corruption and with relatively lower GRP per capita. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public demand is an important factor influencing government decisions, and research on theoretical modelling of the impact of public demand for environmental quality on environmental regulation has been limited. In this paper, by constructing a dynamic optimization model, we derive the dynamic change mechanism of the impact of public demand for environmental quality on environmental regulation, and solve the optimal decision of environmental regulation. Further numerical simulation results show that public demand for environmental quality positively influences environmental regulation, and the influence coefficient curve between the two tends to be upwardly convex as the level of economic development increases, i.e. public demand for environmental quality influences environmental regulation to a greater extent. The research results provide theoretical model support for related studies, and the government should smooth the feedback channel of public demand for environmental quality and further optimize environmental regulations with the development of economic development level to achieve sustainable economic and environmental development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, new master-planned cities have been increasingly adopted worldwide as a strategy for economic growth. This paper reflects on new cities built from scratch as a field of study, and the particular methodological considerations associated with conducting research in and on new cities, structured around four key themes. First, we discuss the inherently global and transnational character of new cities as a specific challenge that shapes our approach to studying them. Second, we examine challenges of accessing people and information in rapidly developing private and high-profile ventures. Third, we address power dynamics and positionality in new city projects that are globally concentrated in "closed," non-democratic contexts. Fourth, we draw attention to the unique logistical constraints and challenges of doing field research in new cities under construction and outline the disparate experiences of site visits, where varying degrees of control and surveillance impact research activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how the protection boundary of intellectual property rights and the implementation boundary of environmental regulation affect technological innovation from the perspective of boundary effects. We find that intellectual property rights, environmental regulation and technological innovation have an inverted U-shaped relationship, and there is a single optimal boundary value for each variable, forming a strong protection boundary and a weak protection boundary. We also find that choosing the appropriate boundary of intellectual property rights and environmental regulation can enhance technological innovation; intellectual property rights within the optimal boundary can extend its positive incentive effect on technological innovation. Environmental regulation uses intellectual property rights as the internal driving force, and with the help of intellectual property rights, continues to promote technological innovation. And the shielding effect of boundaries is greater than the intermediary effect. Our analysis of regional heterogeneity in intellectual property protection reveals that the integration of dual policy types is more effective in the eastern and central regions. Furthermore, the boundary of intellectual property protection in the eastern region surpasses that in the central region. It has important policy implications for promoting innovation system reform and coordinating high-quality economic development and high-level ecological environment protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, the American Library Association (ALA) announced the Libraries Build Business (LBB) grant initiative. Thirteen public library systems were selected to receive a total of $1.3 million to bolster their library’s entrepreneurial outreach. ALA and Google.org supported efforts to build capacity in libraries and library districts. Libraries in turn offered innovative programming, access to e-resources and developed services for local entrepreneurs and the business community. Libraries Build Business (LBB) objective was to identify library-led entrepreneurship models that would help lower-income and/or under-represented entrepreneurs, i.e. women and minorities to start and grow new businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the transnational role of the most influential ʿAjam mercantile families (Maʿrafi, Bin Ghalib, and Behbehani) in the economic development of the state of Kuwait from the reign of Mubarak al-Sabah to that of Ahmad al-Jabir. Relying on private collections of individual ʿAjam merchants, British records, and oral tradition, this study shows how these merchants succeeded in building a cordial relationship with Kuwait's sheikhs based on mutual economic benefit. This was based on their exclusive privileged access to trade networks centred on ports and towns in southwestern Iran, due to their linguistic abilities, family backgrounds and knowledge of their ancestral homes. This important economic role led them to win the confidence of Kuwait's rulers, such that they came to occupy sensitive positions as representatives of the sheikhs, both inside Kuwait and abroad. The article then goes on to explore the most notable examples in this regard, the merchants Najaf Bin Ghalib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has identified several factors that impact the sustainability of post-conflict territorial autonomy arrangements (TAA), including previous levels of violence, economic development in a given territory, or the strategic importance thereof. We argue that a hitherto neglected variable lies in the legal form of the autonomy agreement—that is, the degree to which it has been 'legalized' by the language and processes prescribed in the agreement. Based on a qualitative evaluation, we assess the legalization degree of 236 TAA signed between 1990 and 2019. Survival analyses and Cox regression models show that a higher degree of legalization has a positive and significant effect on peace durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the changes in policy orientations in China since the 2000s. It explores whether these changes are influenced by China's shifting relative power or by leadership transitions. The analysis focuses on the agenda of the Politburo Collective Study Session (PCSS) during the Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping eras. This article reveals a shift from outward-looking pragmatism in Hu's era to ambitious nationalistic Leninism in Xi's era. These distinct policy orientations persisted throughout their 10-year rule, despite changing international environments and China's economic growth. This underscores the significance of leadership in shaping policy orientations in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Frankfurt School Critical Theory, we examine the political outcomes of how Asian populist authoritarian regimes seized the COVID-19 pandemic context for regime maintenance and power consolidation. The pandemic revealed interesting India-Philippines parallels highlighting three inter-connected political-economic development patterns contextualising analogous state responses to COVID-19. First, how neo-liberal economic policies pursued through old and new technologies of domination accompanied phenomenal economic growth rates without addressing structural socio-economic inequalities. Second, how parallel predisposing conditions of failed political promises, increased rent-seeking opportunities, and corruption under constricted neo-liberal democracies, gave rise to populist authoritarian leaders. Third, how combined neo-liberalism and populist authoritarianism conditioned conflictual and contested government responses to the pandemic, bolstering power consolidation and regime maintenance, on the one hand, and ensuing political contestations on the other. Populist authoritarianism persists during pandemics through three significant connected elements of ideological domination propagated through mass media, the hetero-patriarchal family, and educational system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently revised NAEYC position papers and the fourth edition of NAEYC's Developmentally Appropriate Guidelines (NAEYC. 2022. Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs: ServingChildren from Birth Through Age 8, edited by S. Friedman, 4th ed. Washington: National Association for the Education of Young Children) focus on children's strengths and diversity, and the need for equitable opportunities in early childhood programmes. We applaud these recent shifts. Yet previous ideas of risk, abnormality and inappropriateness are still embedded in the document, with still hidden, and negative, consequences for children, their families and communities, and for the educators and programmes that serve them. Drawing on critiques of developmentalism, the ideas of postdevelopmentalism and the framework of governmentality, we engage in a dialogue between an early career teacher educator and long-time advocate for DAP change and explore the control DAP has over early childhood education programmes. Despite claims that the fourth edition is too 'woke', we challenge educators and organisations in the USA (and elsewhere) to move away from the past and current approaches that still focus on children as innocent and in need of protection, as well as normal (and therefore, abnormal) childhood(s) – and to open up towards an education that is more fluid, one that focuses on children's diverse strengths, unimagined interests and as-yet-unknown possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates international research collaboration (IRC) dynamics between the United States and the United Kingdom, examining co-publication and co-patent indicators. While IRC is crucial for enhancing research competitiveness and economic development, the choice of indicators remains a challenge. The paper addresses this gap by examining the association between co-publications and co-patents on the measurement of IRC. Findings indicate a robust positive correlation between co-publications and co-patents, reflecting increased collaboration in academic and industrial domains. Despite distinct growth rates, their aligned trends suggest potential redundancy in using both indicators. Notably, co-patents have a lasting positive effect on co-publications, emphasising the role of industrial innovations in forecasting scientific collaboration. Acknowledging study limitations, particularly its focus on core countries, prompts future research avenues to broaden insights into IRC dynamics. This study connects theoretical understanding with practical implications, offering nuanced perspectives for policymakers to formulate strategic plans for global scientific collaboration. Researchers are encouraged to consider these insights when selecting indicators, aligning choices with data availability and analytical ease to enhance the relevance and impact of their studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) can communicate with their consumers and provide them with relevant information on cost-effective goods or services with the help of social media technologies. Thus, this study investigated the factors influencing social media technologies on SMEs' performance. In addition, this study also tests the capability of social media networks and customer involvement to enhance the positive effect of social media usage. The data was collected from 253 SMEs. Our results show that cost-effectiveness, compatibility, and interactivity, were positively related to social media usage. However, trust was not significantly related to the use of social media. Notably, the positive effect of social media usage and SMEs' performance was positively moderated by the capability of the social media networks and customer involvement. The relationship was more robust when social media capability and customer involvement were high than low. Therefore, this study has highlighted the role of social media usage, customer involvement, and social media capability and their effect on SMEs' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of frequent international trade frictions, reducing external risks in export trade through industrial policies has become crucial for China's high-quality and steady foreign trade development. This paper examines the impact of development zone upgrading policies on the diversification of firm product exports by using a time-varying difference-in-differences model. We find that after the upgrading of development zones, the diversification of firm product exports increases by 2.13%, and concentration decreases by 1.33%. Moreover, this policy has a stronger impact on the diversification level of product exports for firms upgraded to customs special supervision areas, located inland, and engaged in general trade. These conclusions remain robust even after conducting additional robustness tests using alternative measures of the dependent variable, different identification methods for development zone upgrading, and controlling for other industrial policy effects. Furthermore, the upgrading of development zones improves export diversification through three main channels: enhancing firm innovation capabilities, optimizing management efficiency, and providing financial support to firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]