Search

Throughout the last decade, the goal of acknowledging and alleviating energy poverty has made its way to the core of energy policies across the world, including the high‐standing SDG7 as a benchmark. While much debate is still devoted to conceptual and empirical clarifications, its measurement through indicators, or the appropriate policies aimed at tackling it, there is widespread acceptance that energy poverty impacts tens of millions of lives across Europe and beyond. More recently, energy poverty has been deepened by a succession of international crises. We argue that the responses currently enacted to address energy poverty, in the context of these overlapping crises, point to a more profound problem that pre‐existed the crises and reflects the current paradigm for household energy access. In this article, we aim to tie some of the loose ends in debates around the right to energy. We address some essential underpinnings of a rights‐based approach to energy, by connecting existing narratives to the broader scope of the social contract, used as a concept which bears implications on the social and economic arrangements emphasized by the fundamental pillars of SDGs. We argue that, because energy markets are highly sensitive to instability and crisis contexts, there is a need to shift the paradigm from energy as a commodity purchased by consumers from markets towards energy as a right of people living in modern political communities, and tailoring energy policies around the right to energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has stressed the importance of universities in developing entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) and their possible social and economic impacts on society. Concerning this commitment, social entrepreneurs (SEs) favor university actions that facilitate the improvement of their individual capital. However, research on this topic has received little attention. This study investigated how universities contribute to the advancement of EEs. It also examines the mechanisms that universities employ to support SEs. Two survey instruments were administered: one to 418 SEs, and the other to 494 people affiliated with universities. The results indicate that universities can be key actors in EEs because they can mobilize resources aligned with their institutional commitments, including training, facilities, and contact with several stakeholders. Additionally, SEs rely on training opportunities and connections with other stakeholders to implement entrepreneurial initiatives. Accordingly, our study highlights the critical role universities play in the development and survival of SEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of leverage is one of the risk factors for China's economy. To explore social credit's impact on corporate leverage's growth rate, we conduct the staggered difference‐in‐difference (DID) approach based on a quasi‐natural experiment of the social credit system reform. Our findings indicate that social credit significantly suppresses the growth rate of corporate leverage, which remains robust after some robustness checks. In addition, this effect can be attributed to alleviating agency costs and information asymmetry. Finally, our analysis reveals that the above effects are significant only for firms with poor corporate governance, high bankruptcy risk, low investment efficiency, and a low proportion of tangible assets. In summary, our study provides micro‐level evidence on the economic consequences of social credit system reform in China and policy insights on how the government can effectively control the growth rate of corporate leverage to prevent risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Regional Science Policy & Practice is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although a growing body of literature studies drought impacts, papers providing a comprehensive review of drought's social and economic impacts are scarce. This paper fills this gap by exploring the consequences of drought on societies based on research findings in Australia—a large country used to experiencing severe droughts. To do this, we propose a framework to categorise drought impacts in three dimensions: individuals/households (including health), productive sectors and system (including economic and ecosystem) impacts. The framework then guides a systematic literature review and discussion of studies looking at diverse drought impacts and their related costs. By analysing and discussing the findings from this literature, we emphasise different policy considerations, empirical challenges and research needs to support robust analysis and estimates of the true cost of droughts. We conclude by proposing an expanded framework to identify drought impacts and a discussion of the implications of the review for policy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike previous studies mainly focused on the economic impact of green innovation, this paper explores its social returns, denoted by the stakeholder engagement, given stakeholders can affect or are affected by the firm's low‐carbon transition. Drawing on the complementary view and the substitute view, our empirical results from China over the sample period of 2012 to 2018 found that more green innovation would crowd in stakeholder‐related activities, especially for the welfare improvement of customers and suppliers. However, better stakeholder relations do not bring positive economic returns given the weak social pressures and uncertain rewards for being socially responsible in emerging countries. By doing so, our study expands the theoretical knowledge about the social impact of green innovation, thus offering a practical guidance for firms to simultaneously manage their environmental performance, social performance and economic performance in China and, potentially, in other emerging countries which also pursue environmental transition and better stakeholder management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ride‐hailing services have the potential to play a major role within future transport systems. While the operation as well as environmental, social and economic consequences are research subjects, the focus in the literature lies on system efficiency and profitability. In this study, vehicle relocation strategies are investigated with respect to service provision equity using an agent‐based simulation approach. The aim is to identify ways of operation that support social fairness while maintaining the profitability and effectiveness of the service. The results show that a typical demand‐anticipatory relocation strategy leads to an imbalance in the spatial distribution of mean wait times for the use case of Berlin. This can be significantly improved by applying different relocation strategies. As a consequence, the overall demand for the system rises while the ratio of empty vehicle kilometres increases slightly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic has incurred a substantial economic and social impact around the world. Many sectors have been drastically affected but the tourism and hospitality industry was one of the hardest hit by the COVID‐19 outbreak globally. The coronavirus pandemic has caused direct losses of half‐billion Omani Rial to the tourism sector. This pandemic has also exacerbated the mental health of business owners of the tourism and hospitality industry in Oman. This research aims to investigate the economic and social impacts of COVID‐19 on the tourism and hospitality sector of Oman. The data was collected from business owners of micro, small, medium, and large size‐companies operating in the tourism and hospitality industry. A structured questionnaire was distributed and data collection was done from September 2020 to January 2021. The finding of the study reveals a negative economic and social impact on the tourism and hospitality industry of Oman due to the COVID‐19 outbreak. The economic impact includes financial loss, reduction in customer demand at a national and international level, disruptions in the logistics and distribution channels, ruined the relationship with suppliers, customers, and employees. The social impact included depression, irritation, anxiety, and stress among the business owners about the present and future conditions. This study has given valuable suggestion to mitigate the negative economic and social impact on the tourism and hospitality industry of Oman. The finding of the study will support the government to boost the tourism and hospitality industry in Oman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online marketplaces are growing rapidly globally. They have the potential to significantly benefit women; however, these benefits are not guaranteed. A lack of information on the benefits of or how to participate in online marketplaces could mean womenʼs participation is at an inefficiently low level. Participation could also bring about unintended consequences. We introduce this special issue of Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies on the social and economic benefits of online marketplaces for women in Asia. In this introduction, we set the context for the special issue, then provide an overview of its seven papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The end of free movement of labour from the European Union represents an unprecedented form of re‐regulation of the UK labour market. This study explores how old and new actors engage with the sphere of migration, arguing that not only their economic interests but also different political agendas and meanings of regulation shape dialogue on migration regulation post‐Brexit. Our findings suggest moving away from a unilateral, positive view of regulation in work and employment as well as to overcome any artificial distinction between the economic and the social implications of international migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving global sustainability objectives such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals or Aichi Targets, including remaining within planetary boundaries, necessitates proactively avoiding a proportion of the environmental impacts otherwise expected to result from economic development. Quantifying these "avoided" impacts is important for monitoring progress toward meeting sustainability objectives, but doing so in a consistent way is fraught with difficulty. Using the mitigation of biodiversity impacts by development projects as an example, we explored the challenges of defining and measuring impact avoidance. Avoidance can be defined as either action‐based or outcome‐based, and classified by whether it is achieved through project cancellation, spatial avoidance, design‐based avoidance, or temporal avoidance. We also examined what drives different types of project proponents to implement avoidance measures. To support empirical quantification of the contribution that avoidance makes toward conservation goals, we present a framework for structuring assessments of biodiversity impact avoidance. Our framework has widespread applicability in conservation science, policy, and practice, as well as relevance for broader policies that seek to avoid environmental and social impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although several studies have approached the environmental or economic impacts derived from the adoption of the circular economy's principles by businesses, the social dimension of the circular model at the micro‐level is underexplored in the literature. To fill this gap, this study defines and analyses different categories of social impacts related to a circular business model to assess and report the holistic dimension of the circular economy at the micro‐level. This paper is eminently reflective, and the methodology is mainly based on a desk research method. In addition, the results of 137 brief surveys collected in Spain are summarised to reflect the social metrics of a circular business model proposed in the literature. This study contributes to the existing knowledge on circular economy from a sustainability accounting perspective and invites scholars towards new research topics from the triple bottom line approach of the circular business model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic and social consequences of remittances are attracting greater attention from scholars and policymakers. This study investigates how international remittances affect income inequality in a highly out‐migration and remittance‐dependent country, the Philippines. This study shows that the inequality‐remittances nexus is inverse U‐shaped, suggesting that remittances have an income‐equalising effect only after a threshold level, validating the existence of a remittance Kuznets Curve. The findings are robust to various measures of income inequality. Also, Lind and Mehlum's (2010) test of an inverse U‐pattern between inequality and remittances verifies this non‐linearity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic outbreak has affected the lives of people globally on many different levels. Whilst a few antiviral drugs have been recommended for COVID‐19, there are no dedicated drugs available for this disease, yet. A virus pandemic could potentially induce severe public health threats, as well as economic and social consequences. Therefore, the discovery of effective, safe, and inexpensive antiviral agents is of great importance. Graphene has extraordinary properties. A series of successful biomedical applications involving graphene/graphene‐hybrid nanocomposites (G/GHNs) have been reported in recent years, including graphene‐based biosensor and related drug delivery system. This review is focused on the properties, synthesis routes, and applications of G/GHNs in antiviral therapy aiming to understand and highlight the unique properties of graphene and its derivatives, particularly for antiviral therapy, to evaluate and discuss the quality of graphene prepared via various preparation methods, to present the recent development of G/GHNs and their antiviral activities in prevention, detection and treatment, to offer perspective outlooks on the role of G/GHNs in antiviral therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the frequency and impact of automotive recalls has had broad reaching economic and social consequences. Recent examples of automotive recalls suggest that some are due to deliberate actions of firms to subvert processes designed to ensure quality. Such controls are dependent on partners acting in good faith in the relationship and abiding by relational norms and so do not recognize the risks of firms lying, falsifying data, or intentionally circumventing process‐based controls. Data on automotive recalls shows that recalls exhibit a statistically significant oscillatory pattern with an estimated period of around 3.6 years. We argue that the cyclical pattern in automotive recalls is due, in part, to opportunistic behavior within a network, which is likely to spread and be reciprocated. To test whether opportunism can lead to similar network effects, we develop an agent‐based simulation to model opportunism within a network of connected firms. The simulation is based on an extension of the prisoner's dilemma where the cooperate/defect decision is based on a dyadic relational model driven by trust, knowledge, and dependence levels within each relationship. The results from the simulation suggest that cyclical patterns, similar to those in automotive recalls, emerge as well as "behavioral clustering" within the network, where connected firms exhibit highly similar behaviors that tend to cycle within small clusters. Therefore, opportunistic behavior in supply networks might be an important, relational determinant of product recalls. Our dynamic modeling approach differs from current perspectives on understanding product recalls, contributing to the current literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic, landscape, and host features are critical components in shaping outbreaks of vector‐borne diseases. However, the relationship between the outbreaks of vector‐borne pathogens and their environmental drivers is typically complicated, nonlinear, and may vary by taxonomic units below the species level (e.g., strain or serotype). Here, we aim to untangle how these complex forces shape the risk of outbreaks of Bluetongue virus (BTV); a vector‐borne pathogen that is continuously emerging and re‐emerging across Europe, with severe economic implications. We tested if the ecological predictors of BTV outbreak risk were serotype‐specific by examining the most prevalent serotypes recorded in Europe (1, 4, and 8). We used a robust machine learning (ML) pipeline and 23 relevant environmental features to fit predictive models to 24,245 outbreaks reported in 25 European countries between 2000 and 2019. Our ML models demonstrated high predictive performance for all BTV serotypes (accuracies > 0.87) and revealed strong nonlinear relationships between BTV outbreak risk and environmental and host features. Serotype‐specific analysis suggests, however, that each of the major serotypes (1, 4, and 8) had a unique outbreak risk profile. For example, temperature and midge abundance were as the most important characteristics shaping serotype 1, whereas for serotype 4 goat density and temperature were more important. We were also able to identify strong interactive effects between environmental and host characteristics that were also serotype specific. Our ML pipeline was able to reveal more in‐depth insights into the complex epidemiology of BTVs and can guide policymakers in intervention strategies to help reduce the economic implications and social cost of this important pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The resilience of forests is compromised by human‐induced environmental influences pushing them towards tipping points and resulting in major shifts in ecosystem state that might be difficult to reverse, are difficult to predict and manage, and can have vast ecological, economic and social consequences. The literature on tipping points has grown rapidly, but almost exclusively based on aquatic and aboveground systems. So far little effort has been made to make links to soil systems, where change is not as drastically apparent, timescales may differ and recovery may be slower. Predicting belowground ecosystem state transitions and recovery, and their impacts on aboveground systems, remains a major scientific, practical and policy challenge. Recently observed major changes in aboveground tree condition across European forests are probably causally linked to ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal changes belowground. Based on recent breakthroughs in data collection and analysis, we apply tipping point theory to forests, including their belowground component, focusing on EM fungi; link environmental thresholds for EM fungi with nutrient imbalances in forest trees; explore the role of phenotypic plasticity in EM fungal adaptation to, and recovery from, environmental change; and propose major positive feedback mechanisms to understand, address and predict forest ecosystem tipping points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this piece is to survey the developing and rapidly growing literature on the economic consequences of COVID‐19 and the governmental responses, and to synthetize the insights emerging from a very large number of studies. This survey: (i) provides an overview of the data sets and the techniques employed to measure social distancing and COVID‐19 cases and deaths; (ii) reviews the literature on the determinants of compliance with and the effectiveness of social distancing; (iii) mentions the macroeconomic and financial impacts including the modelling of plausible mechanisms; (iv) summarizes the literature on the socioeconomic consequences of COVID‐19, focusing on those aspects related to labor, health, gender, discrimination, and the environment; and (v) summarizes the literature on public policy responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK is experiencing unprecedented housing demand, with traditional provision in suburbanised clusters now known to have negative environmental, economic and social impacts. An alternative to this is residential densification through vertical extension; generating a more sustainable urban form whilst also serving to increase circularity of material flows within the construction industry and reduce whole‐life carbon and energy requirements. As a result of their relative abundance, inherent durability, and ease of adaptation, multi storey steel framed buildings are particularly pertinent in this context. It is also likely that sufficient reserve structural capacity exists within this typology; resulting from overdesign, the employment of simplified analytic design methods, and the limited number of section sizes available for use. The relative portion of reserve buckling capacity originating from these sources is assessed using a modified version of the effective length method to account for column continuity in multi‐storey steel frames. This reveals the consideration of column continuity to contribute an average of 1.23 kN/m2 of reserve buckling capacity across typical office buildings, with the amount resulting from section size limitations varying with design scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typically, disaster damages are measured separately in four dimensions: fatalities, injuries, dislocations, and the financial damage that they wreak. Noy (2016) developed a lifeyears index of disaster damage which aggregates these disparate measures. Here, we use this lifeyears index to assess the costs of the COVID‐19 pandemic across countries and compare these costs to the average annual costs of all other disasters that have occurred in all countries in the past 20 years. We find that the costs of the pandemic, measured for 2020, far outweigh the annual costs associated with other disasters in the past two decades. It is the economic loss that dominates this impact. The human and social implications of this economic loss are plausibly much greater than the direct toll in mortality and morbidity in almost all countries. Finally, it is small countries like the Maldives and Guyana that have experienced the most dramatic and painful crisis, largely under the radar of the world's attention. Our conclusion from these findings is not that governments' policy reactions were unwarranted. If anything, we find that the loss of lifeyears is correlated positively across the three dimensions we examine. Countries that experienced a deeper health crisis also experienced a deeper economic one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In periods where the national public debt has grown rapidly beyond 'normal' levels, the idea of drawing on the stock of national private wealth in order to pay down that debt, whether in whole or in part, has gained currency. 'Capital levies' or 'one‐off wealth taxes' involve a one‐time charge based upon wealth, normally assessed across a broad range of asset classes (such as savings, investments, property and pensions). The goal of this paper is to outline, and to expand upon, the evidence base available to policymakers contemplating one‐off wealth taxes. It outlines key features of one‐off wealth taxes, relative to somewhat more commonplace recurring wealth taxes. Using a comparative case study methodology, the paper analyses historical examples of one‐off wealth taxation, which have attracted relatively little scholarly attention to date. It explores practical details of tax design and tax administration, as well as aspects of the political and economic context in which these measures were introduced. In so doing, it identifies factors that make one‐off wealth taxes more or less likely to succeed in raising revenue while also minimising any negative social and economic consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I explore the economic activities of the food processing industry during the coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. One of the key lessons from food processing and related industries is that without being designated as an essential service and targeted stimulus packages, the food industry could have fallen victim to the COVID‐19 crisis. Although the social and economic impacts of the interventions are not clear, being designated as an essential service was likely far more important to the food industry than the targeted stimulus packages. The pandemic and shutdown orders had a considerable production reallocation effect. Some processors have seen temporary closure and reduced capacity utilization. On the upside, disruptions in the food processing sector have not been as severe as in non‐essential sectors. The food processing sector has proven to be relatively stable during the pandemic – food was still processed and delivered to consumers and food price increases were minimal in most cases given the scale of the shock. Moving forward, because COVID‐19 is a global crisis, internationally targeted and coordinated efforts to tackle the virus could place the industry on a strong trajectory towards economic recovery and growth. Résumé Dans cet article, j'explore les activités économiques de l'industrie de la transformation des aliments pendant la pandémie COVID‐19. L'une des principales leçons tirées de la transformation des aliments et des industries connexes est que sans être désignée comme un service essentiel et visée par des plans de relance ciblés, l'industrie alimentaire aurait pu être victime de la crise du COVID‐19. Bien que les impacts sociaux et économiques des interventions ne soient pas clairs, être désigné comme un service essentiel était probablement beaucoup plus important pour l'industrie alimentaire que les plans de relance ciblés. La pandémie et les ordres d'arrêt ont eu un effet considérable de réallocation de la production. Certains transformateurs ont connu des fermetures temporaires et une utilisation réduite de leurs capacités. Les perturbations dans le secteur de la transformation des aliments n'ont pas été aussi graves que dans les secteurs non essentiels. Le secteur de la transformation des aliments s'est avéré relativement stable pendant la pandémie ‐ les aliments étaient encore transformés et livrés aux consommateurs et les augmentations des prix des denrées alimentaires ont été minimes dans la plupart des cas compte tenu de l'ampleur du choc. À l'avenir, parce que le COVID‐19 est une crise mondiale, des efforts coordonnés et ciblés au niveau international pour lutter contre le virus pourraient placer l'industrie sur une trajectoire solide vers la reprise économique et la croissance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effects of local and nationwide COVID‐19 disease control measures on the health and economy of China's rural population. We conducted phone surveys with 726 randomly selected village informants across seven rural Chinese provinces in February 2020. Four villages (0.55%) reported infections, and none reported deaths. Disease control measures had been universally implemented in all sample villages. About 74% of informants reported that villagers with wage‐earning jobs outside the village had stopped working due to workplace closures. A higher percentage of rural individuals could not work due to transportation, housing, and other constraints. Local governments had taken measures to reduce the impact of COVID‐19. Although schools in all surveyed villages were closed, 71% of village informants reported that students were attending classes online. Overall, measures to control COVID‐19 appear to have been successful in limiting disease transmission in rural communities outside the main epidemic area. Rural Chinese citizens, however, have experienced significant economic consequences from the disease control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advancements in online education, misperceptions persist that create obstacles to the integration of online classes in higher education. This essay refutes misconceptions about online education and highlights key components of a strong online course. As a result of the pandemic, it became apparent that there is a conflation between "school" and "education" that has prompted contradistinction. This discussion provides insight into some of the social and economic implications of the culture of our education system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The social and economic consequences of COVID‐19 and related public health interventions aimed at slowing the spread of the virus have been proposed to increase suicide risk. However, no research has examined these relations. This study examined the relations of two COVID‐19 consequences (i.e., stay‐at‐home orders and job loss) to suicide risk through thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and loneliness. Method: Online data from a nationwide community sample of 500 adults (mean age = 40) from 45 states were collected between March 27 and April 5, 2020. Participants completed measures assessing thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, loneliness, and suicide risk, as well as whether they (a) were currently under a stay‐at‐home order and (b) had experienced a recent job loss due to the pandemic. Results: Results revealed a significant indirect relation of stay‐at‐home order status to suicide risk through thwarted belongingness. Further, whereas recent job loss was significantly correlated with suicide risk, neither the direct relation of job loss to suicide risk (when accounting for their shared relations to perceived burdensomeness) nor the indirect relation through perceived burdensomeness was significant. Conclusions: Results highlight the potential benefits of interventions targeting thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness to offset suicide risk during this pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across the world, cities are spending billions of dollars to manage urban runoff through decentralized green infrastructure (GI). This research uses an agent‐based model to explore some of the physical, social, and economic consequences of one such urban GI programs. Using the Bronx, NY, as a case study, two alternative approaches to GI application are compared. The first (Model 1) mimics NYC's current GI program by opportunistically selecting sites for GI within the city's priority combined sewer watersheds; the second (Model 2) features a more spatially flexible approach to GI siting, in which the city attempts to maximize opportunities for co‐benefits within the geographic areas considered in Model 1. The effects of both approaches, measured in terms of stormwater captured and co‐benefits (e.g., carbon sequestered) provided, are tracked over 20‐year simulations. While both models suggest it will be difficult to meet the citywide stormwater capture goals (managing the first 2.5 cm of rainfall from 10% of impervious surfaces) in the Bronx solely through public investment in GI, Model 2 shows that by integrating GI with other city initiatives (e.g., sustainability goals and resilience planning), synergistic outcomes are possible. Specifically, Model 2 produces stormwater capture rates comparable to those obtained under Model 1, but these rates are accompanied by elevated co‐benefits for Bronx communities. The results are discussed in the context of future GI policy development in NYC. Key Points: An agent model explores the impacts of NYC's current green infrastructure policy and an alternative that prioritizes socioeconomic goalsNYC can manage more stormwater if GI siting decisions align with broader community preferences and aren't confined by sewershed boundariesMultifunctional GI siting captures more stormwater and provides more socioeconomic value than siting based on stormwater capture rates alone [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development research identifies water and sanitation access as vital indicators of well‐being. Despite recent improvements, billions still lack access. Case studies and cross‐national research reveal that economic and social processes are associated with water and sanitation access. However, prior research does not control for factors associated with access at multiple levels of analysis. This analysis uses hierarchical generalized linear models for 640,506 households nested within 49 nations to fill this gap. The findings suggest that household wealth and education have robust effects on water and sanitation access, while national characteristics have smaller effects. Furthermore, intraclass correlation coefficients demonstrate that cross‐national analyses miss up to 78 percent of variation by not accounting for subnational variation. While the results highlight the importance of subnational factors, cross‐level interactions between household wealth and education and national characteristics reveal how household wealth and education affect access differently depending on national context. This study synthesizes theories of economic growth and societal capabilities at multiple levels of analysis for understanding water and sanitation access within and between countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent scholarship has reported that identification as a liberal or conservative shapes lifestyle orientations and behaviors. Liberal/conservative differences with respect to such arenas as family and religion go beyond ideological identification research's traditional focus on policy attitudes and political processes. But are differences on non‐political issues as large as those relating to political ones? This question has yet to be addressed, and it is critical to putting in firmer perspective the degree to which liberal and conservative identifiers differ in the United States. We take up investigation through analysis of 106 items from the General Social Survey 2006 panel. We compare ideological identification's influence with respect to political versus non‐political orientations and behaviors. Application of Morgan and Winship's model of causal inference builds from past studies' cross‐sectional analysis. Results extend ideological identification scholarship, while cautioning against wide‐ranging claims advanced by several public commentators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevailing studies on the economic implication of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for businesses has mainly stressed on the positive facet of corporate social responsibility (PCSR), failing to comprehend that firms also espouse behaviors and initiatives which can be characterized as negative corporate social responsibility (NCSR). Additionally, limited researches have considered how both PCSR and NCSR influence corporate financial performance (CFP). In consideration of this view, we present a framework that connects both PCSR as well as NCSR to CFP. We also analyzed the moderating role of the firm's market‐based asset. Using 924 observations from 2011 to 2017 and a combined secondary data of 132 global automotive firms from CSRHub and Thomson Reuters Datastream, we examined how increases in either PCSR or NCSR relate to CFP via dynamic panel data system Generalise Moment of Method estimates. Our results demonstrate that PCSR improves CFP while and NCSR is detrimental to a firm's financial performance. Correspondingly, the results indicate that market‐based asset moderates the relationship between PCSR and NCSR. Firms that possess higher market‐based assets tend to enjoy higher profitability with PCSR as they are in a better position. However, it has been observed that market‐based assets tend to weaken the relationship between CFP and NCSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic and public health crisis created by the COVID‐19 pandemic has exposed existing inequalities between ethnic groups in England and Wales, as well as creating new ones. We draw on current mortality and case data, alongside pre‐crisis labour force data, to investigate the relative vulnerability of different ethnic groups to adverse health and economic impacts. After accounting for differences in population structure and regional concentration, we show that most minority groups suffered excess mortality compared with the white British majority group. Differences in underlying health conditions such as diabetes may play a role; so too may occupational exposure to the virus, given the very different labour market profiles of ethnic groups. Distinctive patterns of occupational concentration also highlight the vulnerability of some groups to the economic consequences of social distancing measures, with Bangladeshi and Pakistani men particularly likely to be employed in occupations directly affected by the UK's 'lockdown'. We show that differences in household structures and inequalities in access to savings mean that a number of minority groups are also less able to weather short‐term shocks to their income. Documenting these immediate consequences of the crisis reveals the potential for inequalities to become entrenched in the longer term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To limit warming to well below 2°C, most scenario projections rely on greenhouse gas removal technologies (GGRTs); one such GGRT uses soil carbon sequestration (SCS) in agricultural land. In addition to their role in mitigating climate change, SCS practices play a role in delivering agroecosystem resilience, climate change adaptability and food security. Environmental heterogeneity and differences in agricultural practices challenge the practical implementation of SCS, and our analysis addresses the associated knowledge gap. Previous assessments have focused on global potentials, but there is a need among policymakers to operationalise SCS. Here, we assess a range of practices already proposed to deliver SCS, and distil these into a subset of specific measures. We provide a multidisciplinary summary of the barriers and potential incentives towards practical implementation of these measures. First, we identify specific practices with potential for both a positive impact on SCS at farm level and an uptake rate compatible with global impact. These focus on: (a) optimising crop primary productivity (e.g. nutrient optimisation, pH management, irrigation); (b) reducing soil disturbance and managing soil physical properties (e.g. improved rotations, minimum till); (c) minimising deliberate removal of C or lateral transport via erosion processes (e.g. support measures, bare fallow reduction); (d) addition of C produced outside the system (e.g. organic manure amendments, biochar addition); (e) provision of additional C inputs within the cropping system (e.g. agroforestry, cover cropping). We then consider economic and non‐cost barriers and incentives for land managers implementing these measures, along with the potential externalised impacts of implementation. This offers a framework and reference point for holistic assessment of the impacts of SCS. Finally, we summarise and discuss the ability of extant scientific approaches to quantify the technical potential and externalities of SCS measures, and the barriers and incentives to their implementation in global agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction and adoption of autonomous vehicles (AVs) will likely reshape the transportation system and many economic activities. The economic literature on technology adoption, based on studies in agriculture and other sectors, provides lessons on the diffusion of AVs and its social and economic impacts. We rely on the threshold model of diffusion, where heterogeneous agents make decisions pursuing their self-interests. Applications of the threshold model point to case studies of other technologies where one can gain information and make predictions about the future of AVs. We find that private ownership of AVs may prevail after a transition period, as was the case in other technologies like computers, tractors, and conventional vehicles. With technological progress, the cost of privately owning AVs may decline. Further, there will be an increase in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita, there may be more vehicles on the road, and perhaps the transportation user-base will expand to include those currently facing limited mobility. Congestion is likely to depend on the tradeoff between the expansion of VMT and increased efficiency of AVs to communicate and help regulate traffic. Furthermore, differentiation of vehicles will increase as driving time becomes freed for other activities. These trends may lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions and expansion of the transportation sector. Finally, the technology will evolve and may result in complementary innovations needing to be addressed, including the "last 10 feet" problem. It is evident that the future of the transportation system governed by AVs is most likely not going to be sustainable. This necessitates the importance of developing and enforcing rigorous policies at the metropolitan level and TNC levels to ensure a sustainable evolution of the future of transportation mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social impacts of novel technology can, parallel to environmental and economic consequences, influence its sustainability. By analyzing the case of hydrogen production by advanced alkaline water electrolysis (AEL) from a life cycle perspective, this paper illustrates the social implications of the manufacturing of the electrolyzer and hydrogen production when installed in Germany, Austria, and Spain. This paper complements previous environmental and economic assessments, which selected this set of countries based on their different structures in electricity production. The paper uses a mixed method design to analyze the social impact for the workers along the process chain. Appropriate indicators related to working conditions are selected on the basis of the UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The focus on workers is chosen as a first example to test the relatively new Product Social Impact Life Cycle Assessment (PSILCA) database version 2.0. The results of the quantitative assessment are then complemented and compared through an investigation of the underlying raw data and a qualitative literature analysis. Overall, advanced AEL is found to have least social impact along the German process chain, followed by the Spanish and the Austrian. All three process chains show impacts on global upstream processes. In order to reduce social impact and ultimately contribute to Sustainable Development, policymakers and industry need to work together to further improve certain aspects of working conditions in different locations, particularly within global upstream processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the environmental and economic impacts of drought have been widely studied, few large‐scale studies have examined the broader social impacts of drought. To fill this knowledge gap, the Australian Institute of Family Studies undertook the Regional and Rural Families Survey in 2007, when a significant part of Australia was experiencing a severe drought. This paper analyses that survey to measure the extent to which drought affects a range of economic, health and social outcomes. Drought is found to have a substantial negative economic and health impact on farmers and others employed in the agricultural sector. There is some evidence that groups that are not employed in agriculture are adversely affected, with a widespread loss of services in drought‐affected areas and some marginal labour market groups (e.g. carers) experiencing poor employment outcomes in a drought‐affected local economy. Policymakers need to take these impacts into account in designing effective responses to future droughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neoclassical ideal has defended the idea that markets, in a context of limited regulation, reach an optimal equilibrium automatically. We analyze this assertion in an applied manner with a case study of the emerging online market of intermediation of tourist apartments. The lack of regulation in this market causes many social and economic impacts on local communities, which can jeopardize the survival of the activity. We conclude that an analysis of markets that considers only prices results in a limited view. All externalities and their effects on the population must be taken into account, as well as the interests of the individuals involved, apart from profit‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the economic impact of foreign direct investment between developed nations. The particular example of direct U.S. investments into Canada through multinational corporations is described at length. Primary concerns addressed include whether the benefits of international investments also include high costs, any possible hindrance international finance poses to political or social sovereignty, and challenges facing government agencies to enact regulations to alter such economic activities.

Summary: It is important to have insights into the potential sustainability impacts as early as possible in the development of technology. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies provide significant environmental, economic, and social benefits in comparison to the conventional energy sources. Because most previous studies of multi‐crystalline silicon (Multi‐Si) PV modules discuss the environmental impacts, this study quantitatively assesses the economic and social impacts of China's multi‐crystalline silicon (mc‐Si) PV modules production stages. The economic analysis is uses life cycle cost analysis, and the social impact analysis is carried out by applying the social index evaluation method. The economic analysis results demonstrate that the main cost of mc‐Si PV modules production in China lies in raw materials and labor and the production of Multi‐Si PV cells have the highest cost among the five manufacturing processes involved in Multi‐Si PV. The result of the social impact analysis reveal that the employment contribution index, S11, is 0.72, indicating that Multi‐Si PV modules production in China has a prominent contribution to employment in comparison with other industries; the labor civilization degree, S12 (i.e., the proportion of mental labor involved in a given job), and labor income contribution index, S13, are both approximately 0.6, indicating that Multi‐Si PV modules production has a less‐significant labor level and income contribution in comparison with other industries; the production capacity contribution index, S14, is merely 0.183, indicating that production of Multi‐Si PV modules does not contribute significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP). Based on the results of these evaluations, some recommendations to improve the economic and social impact of Multi‐Si PV modules production in China are presented, including support for research on polycrystalline silicon production for the purpose of reducing the raw material cost, as well as upgrading manufacturing facilities and implementing the corresponding production training in order to promote the labor civilization degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of 'regulated non-quarantine pest' ( RNQP) was introduced in the revised text of the FAO International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) approved in 1997. Measures against quarantine pests (exclusion, eradication, containment) aim to prevent unacceptable economic, environmental and social impacts resulting from the introduction and/or spread of these pests. On the contrary, the concept of RNQPs is intended to prevent an unacceptable economic impact on the intended use of plants for planting by pests that are already present in the area. RNQPs have been introduced in the new EU plant health regulation, in line with available international standards. This regulation entered into force in December 2016 and will be implemented in the following 3 years. In this context, EPPO agreed to undertake a 2-year project on RNQPs: the EU Quality Pest Project. The objective of this project was to develop a methodology and then to apply this methodology to a list of about 1400 pest-host combinations to identify which should be recommended as RNQPs. This methodology is presented in this paper, as well as the main issues discussed during its development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the social aspect of mortgage, debt and structural injustice. Topics discussed include the perspective of indebtedness in capitalist economies such as the U.S. Great Britain and Germany, and notes the implication of personal debt and loans to the social functions and behavior of indebted individuals. Also mentioned is the role of financial markets to a person's indebtedness.

In this paper, we offer a comprehensive and updated review of the impact of fiscal decentralization on the economy, society and politics. Our first target is the examination of two crucial and yet unsolved issues in the empirical literature on decentralization: the proper measurement of decentralization itself and its potential endogeneity in econometric estimates. Then, we discuss the main existing findings on the effects of decentralization on a relevant list of socio-economic issues. The impact of fiscal decentralization reforms on political institutions and public policies is also considered. Complete answers on the impact of fiscal decentralization are not likely to be certain but, overall, there are reasons to be optimistic about the net positive result. Our survey by necessity has to be selective but it presents a balanced view of what is known and what is not yet known opening room for further research and practice on fiscal decentralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessments of the combined ecological impacts of ocean acidification and warming ( OAW) and their social and economic consequences can help develop adaptive and responsive management strategies in the most sensitive regions. Here, available observational and experimental data, theoretical, and modelling approaches are combined to project and quantify potential effects of OAW on the future fisheries catches and resulting revenues and employment in the UK under different CO2 emission scenarios. Across all scenarios, based on the limited available experimental results considered, the bivalve species investigated were more affected by OAW than the fish species considered, compared with ocean warming alone. Projected standing stock biomasses decrease between 10 and 60%. These impacts translate into an overall fish and shellfish catch decrease of between 10 and 30% by 2020 across all areas except for the Scotland >10 m fleet. This latter fleet shows average positive impacts until 2050, declining afterwards. The main driver of the projected decreases is temperature rise (0.5-3.3 °C), which exacerbate the impact of decreases in primary production (10-30%) in UK fishing waters. The inclusion of the effect of ocean acidification on the carbon uptake of primary producers had very little impact on the projections of potential fish and shellfish catches (<1%). The <10 m fleet is likely to be the most impacted by-catch decreases in the short term (2020-50), whereas the effects will be experienced more strongly by the >10 m fleet by the end of the century in all countries. Overall, losses in revenue are estimated to range between 1 and 21% in the short term (2020-50) with England and Scotland being the most negatively impacted in absolute terms, and Wales and North Ireland in relative terms. Losses in total employment (fisheries and associated industries) may reach approximately 3-20% during 2020-50 with the >10 m fleet and associated industries bearing the majority of the losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strengthening digital connectivity in DRC would significantly boost GDP growth and job creation: a 10% higher broadband penetration rate could lead to an additional growth of about 2.5% of GDP and generate close to 700,000 jobs. B Digital development will be critical in effecting poverty reduction and inclusive growth. b The 7th edition of the Economic Update for the Democratic Republic of Congo highlights the country's economic resilience amidst adverse shocks induced by the Covid-19 pandemic and the most recent headwinds from the war in B Ukraine b . Growth was initially estimated at 5.7% then revised upward to 6.2%, mainly driven by the mining sector but also supported by growth in non-mining sectors (with the easing of Covid restrictions). [Extracted from the article]

In recent years, the imperative to communicate organisational impacts to a variety of stakeholders has gained increasing importance within all sectors. Despite growing external demands for evaluation and social impact measurement, there has been limited critically informed analysis about the presumed importance of these activities to organisational success and the practical challenges faced by organisations in undertaking such assessment. In this paper, we present the findings from an action research study of five Australian small to medium social enterprises' practices and use of evaluation and social impact analysis. Our findings have implications for social enterprise operators, policy makers and social investors regarding when, why and at what level these activities contribute to organisational performance and the fulfilment of mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B UAE Business Council: b Mauritania and the UAE have agreed to form a joint business council of their private sector companies and establishments, I Sahara Media (23/11) i reported. The Mauritanian Fisheries Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on November 22nd with the Al Fattan Holding Investment, a UAE shipbuilding group, on "strategic partnership" in various maritime-related fields. According to a report on by Mauritania's state news agency (AMI) on November 25th, an agreement for the temporary suspension of the servicing of Mauritanian debt, to the amount of €3,233,504 was announced. [Extracted from the article]

The way in which strategy and management control combine has been the subject of much research attention, but rarely, within a nonprofit context. This is surprising, not only because of the considerable social and economic impact of this sector, but also in view of the apparent trend toward sectoral convergence in many structural and processual respects, including strategic behaviors and approaches to control. In this article, we explore the extent to which the relationship between management control and strategy, as found in for-profit organizations, may prevail within a nonprofit context. Based on questionnaire responses from 182 Australian nonprofit organizations, we find that this relationship in nonprofit organizations is similar to that in for-profit organizations, thereby lending support to the 'convergence' argument. We reflect on the reasons for these similarities and advance an agenda for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Dive tourism impacts were examined in three Malaysian islands: Perhentian (backpackers), Redang (package tourism) and Mabul (upmarket dive tourism). Qualitative local participation approaches were applied to investigate whether host communities were merely reactive to dive tourism's impacts. Dive tourism affected many aspects of community life. Besides physical/ environmental impacts (new infrastructure), research found varied economic impacts including employment/business opportunities and differing economic linkages. Participation varied between locations, and obstacles to increased participation were revealed. Mainly negative socio-cultural impacts were observed with minimal participation in cultural productions (handicrafts, performances). However, positive educational impacts emerged, especially environmental awareness and English language acquisition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in daily extreme temperatures have been identified in many studies conducted at local, regional or global scales. For Romanian territory, only little research on this issue was done. In this article, the extra-Carpathians regions of Romania located southward and eastward from the Carpathians Chain were considered. This study is focused on analyzing daily extreme temperature trends at a regional scale (eastern, southern and southeastern regions of Romania) across 50 years (1961-2010). Data sets of daily minimum and maximum temperature recorded in 14 weather stations were analyzed. The main goal was to find changes in extreme daily temperatures using a set of 20 indices adopted from the core indices developed by ETCCDMI with appropriate modifications to suit to the analyzed territory. The main results suggest that regional temperature trends at the scale of extra-Carpathians areas of Romania are similar to those calculated for global and European continental scales; the climate has become warmer during the last decades. It has been identified that both extreme daily maximum and minimum temperatures have increased in the analyzed areas. For all the indices related to hot temperature most trends are significantly positive. The strongest increase was detected for hot related extremes such as summer days and tropical nights as well as for maximum values of maximum and minimum daily temperatures. For indices related to cold there are different sign slopes, but negative slopes prevail, especially for number of days under a defined threshold. This is also an evidence of the important warming in the area. Generally, it was found that the daily maximum temperature is getting more extreme, whereas the minimum is getting less extreme. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severe economic crisis affecting Greece is widely thought to be having a significant social impact in terms of greater inequality and increased poverty. We provide an early assessment of whether (and to what extent) this was the case in 2010, the first year of the Greek crisis. We distinguish between two interrelated factors: on the one hand, the austerity policies taken to reduce fiscal deficits; on the other hand, the wider recession. Using a tax-benefit model, we attempt to quantify the distributional implications of both. With respect to the austerity policies, we focus on the changes affecting taxation, pension benefits and public sector pay. With respect to the wider recession, we model the effects of rising unemployment and inflation, as well as of lower earnings for self-employed workers and for employees of private firms. In simulating the impact of these changes on the distribution of incomes (and in estimating how the total burden of the crisis is shared across income groups), we take into account tax evasion and benefit non-take-up. We conclude by discussing the main findings, methodological pitfalls and policy implications of our research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows how oil has been central to the mobile civilisation that developed around the world during the twentieth century. Various aspects of this oil civilisation are examined, including the development of centres of high carbon living such as Dubai. This paper explores the probable peaking of oil and its problematic consequences. It is shown how this has already had major economic and social consequences. New forms of indebtedness were directed to new kinds of property purchaser and the parcelling up of these debts into new financial packages. From the 1980s onwards many new American suburbs were built distant from city centres but rising oil prices led to the collapse of the mortgages of those living in oil-dependent suburbs and finance during 2007-8 onwards. Some writers consider whether a more generalised 'peaking' is now occurring at least in the global north, of oil, gas, food and water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]