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This paper reviews and analyzes the process of the implementation of the circular economy in the European Union (EU) and Spain, and its links to the low-carbon transition. The EU implementation of the circular economy went through several stages. Since the adoption of the first action plan in 1993, the links between the circular economy and carbon transition goals have become intertwined. Recently, the EU approved the framework of new monitoring measures and indicators for the circular economy. The adopted actions have involved the adaptation of European legislation at the national level. Spain has participated in this process since 2017, when the Circular Economy Pact was signed. The subsequent approval of the Spanish Strategy for a Circular Economy in 2020 was developed, considering a close relationship between decarbonization and the circular economy. Lately, the circular economy implementation has been strengthened with the strategic project for economic recovery and transformation, linked to the recovery of COVID-19, and the roadmap for the sustainable management of mineral raw materials, with both documents including actions directly related to transforming the energy system. Data show that Spain has made significant improvements in the circular economy transition. However, Spain's vulnerability to externalities is greater than that of the EU as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on how the environmental assets of old industrial regions were commodified and channelled in new productive processes , along with domesticating and distributing old and new negative externalities and risks unevenly in spatial and social terms. We adopted a political ecological approach to grasp how the emergence and dynamics of agency in such spaces are related to the mobilization of environmental resources, how peripheral industrialization is linked intimately to ecological exploitation jeopardizing the sustainability of old and new trajectories and how such processes are embedded in the ecological 'lock-in' position of OIRs. Our analysis rests on Hungarian case studies which produced empirical results and theoretical lessons beyond this context, for further studies in peripheral industrial regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of reservoir development, the optimization of well placement constitutes a cornerstone challenge with significant implications that directly determine the recovery rate and economic benefits of oil and gas production. This research proposes a novel approach to optimizing well placement in reservoirs by integrating reservoir numerical simulations with intelligent optimization algorithms. The quintessence of this inquiry revolves around the strategic placing of wells amidst the complex geological fabric of reservoirs, where the objective function landscape often manifests with non-smooth, multimodal characteristics. To address those issues, the Weighted Mapping of Productivity Potential (WMPP) technique, fortified by the Simulated Annealing algorithm to judiciously ascertain specific weighting coefficients for the computation of WMPP across reservoirs is introduced in this study. Furthermore, an emblematic carbonate reservoir model serves to corroborate the adaptability and viability of WMPP for well placement optimization, underscoring its efficacy as a swift, economically viable instrument for the delineation of prospective reservoir zones and the guidance of drilling initiatives. The optimization results show that the well placement scheme guided by WMPP, which required 7 fewer wells than the oil initially in place (OOIP)-based scheme, improved 21.74% oil production over the twenty years production period. This comprehensive workflow proffers invaluable insights and benchmarks for the formulation of well placement strategies, with the proposed methodology, in its apparent simplicity, showcasing remarkable efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the characteristics of low permeability, strong heterogeneity, small effective sand scale and poor connectivity of tight gas reservoir, well pattern infilling optimization is the main method to improve gas recovery. Taking Sulige gas field as an example, based on the study of sedimentary facies, effective sand-body distribution, combined with production performance and engineering parameters, the well control drainage was obtained. Meanwhile, the interwell connectivity and interference probability was qualitatively analyzed by interference well test, and the critical well spacing density was determined. In order to quantitatively reveal the gas grabbing degree at different well spacing density and determine whether the final cumulative gas production of gas wells with interference is economical and feasible, the evaluation index of "gas well production interference ratio (GWPIR)" was defined specifically, and the intersection plot of GWPIR relating to gas reserve abundance and well spacing density was draw. Different from the traditional method of well number interference probability, through the combination of GWPIR plot and economic evaluation, well pattern optimization from both two perspectives of pursuing higher economic benefits and recovery degree can be realized, providing technical support for improving gas recovery and long-term stable production of gas field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The end of the Covid-19 pandemic does not immediately change the economic situation of the community. Various efforts have been made by the government, including enhancing economic conditions at the village level. Since 2015, village funds have been directed toward equitable development, and during the pandemic, their use was prioritized for Covid-19 prevention. To support economic recovery, the government established priority policies for utilizing village funds. This study aims to identify the village government’s strategies in using these funds for economic recovery, as well as the obstacles and supporting factors in implementation, and the impacts felt by the community and the village government. The research was conducted in Taro Village, Tegallalang District, Gianyar Regency, using a qualitative descriptive approach through interviews, observations, and documentation. Informants were selected through purposive sampling. The findings indicate that Taro Village Government’s strategies include food security programs, infrastructure development for agriculture, tourism village development, BLT programs, and labor-intensive programs. Challenges faced include limitations in managing village funds according to community needs and inadequate human resources. Supporting factors include community participation, cooperation between village services and customary institutions, and local natural potential. Positive impacts for the community include job creation and business opportunities, while the village government benefits from CSR assistance from companies to support village programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the paper is to analyze data regarding informality in Brazil from the 2016 coup to the present, considering its connection to the economic cycle and the policies implemented by the different governments in power over those years. Altogether, informality is directly associated with economic dynamics, which increase during a crisis and decrease during economic growth periods. However, over the last years, informality has expanded even in situations where unemployment rates are decreasing. Therefore, the analysis will consider two elements to be investigated: informality as a structural aspect in the Brazilian labor market, and new trends that may explain its increase in conditions of economic recovery or growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study accentuates the significant contribution of small-scale mining (SM) to stimulating economic development, providing employment, and developing infrastructure. Nevertheless, the continuing premature shutdown of SM bodes ill for economic recovery. To get an idea of these underlying reasons, a systematic review of all articles published in the scientific literature was calculated using Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The application of Boolean operators guided the collection of key insights utilising the PRISMA protocol. Tools like ggplot2 (for graphs) and word clouds in RStudio helped us recognise patterns. Analysis was facilitated with ggplot2, showing boxplots and bar charts of quantitative variables between quarry types and geographical regions. At the same time, word clouds also gave us insights into the most common expressions and, thus, the main reasons behind quarry closures. Further, the research revealed a lack of subsurface geological data, which is needed to estimate mineral resources in SM accurately. It also identified a relation with under-exploration leading to early abandonment which in turn increases the chance of misclassification of mineral reserves. Consequently, the study advocates for further research to devise practical strategies for managing mineral resources effectively in small-scale mining operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the opportunities and main directions of international cooperation for the activation of startups. To achieve this goal, the authors developed and implemented a comprehensive multi-stage research project based on a quantitative approach. The research used both the results of statistical observations and primary information obtained by online questionnaires. The questionnaires involved economically active people demonstrating an active interest in the organization of startups (408 questionnaires). The results of study may be valuable for public administration specialists in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship, specialists in business incubators and venture funds, as well as academic researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic resilience represents a nation's capacity to withstand external shocks, quicken economic recovery, and attain sustainable development. Can Pilot Free Trade Zones (PFTZs), as testing fields for China's institutional openness, boost the economic resilience of host cities? This study empirically investigates the impact and mechanisms of establishing PFTZs on urban economic resilience. It does so by building overlapping Difference-in-Differences (DID), Propensity Score Matching DID (PSM-DID), and spatial DID models using panel data across 284 cities in China from 2007 to 2021. It is found that establishing PFTZs significantly promotes urban economic resilience, and PFTZs largely achieve this by increasing population density, consumer demand, and economic growth in host cities. Spatial heterogeneity analysis reveals that PFTZs in North, East, Central, and South China notably enhance urban economic resilience, whereas those in Northeast, Southwest, and Northwest China do not. Regarding spatial spillover effects, the establishment of PFTZs has a beneficial impact on the economic resilience of nearby cities within a radius of 100 km to 400 km. The impacts become stronger as the distance grows, peaking at a radius of 400 km. This research offers important policy implications for promoting the establishment of PFTZs, unlocking the benefits of institutional openness, and strengthening urban economic resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries are in a state of post-conflict, a situation where an armed conflict between countries or within a country has just come to an end. Such countries are typically poor and characterized by political instability, economic problems and social unrest. Entrepreneurship is considered crucial for such countries as a driver of economic recovery and peacebuilding. However, the exact role and effect of entrepreneurship in a post-conflict context is not well understood and an integrative perspective is needed. Our study reviews the fragmented knowledge on entrepreneurship in post-conflict countries. We structure the literature into four distinct categories (when and where, who and why, how, and impact) and develop an integrative conceptual model. Our review reveals research gaps and suggests directions for future research on entrepreneurship in post-conflict countries. Our study also helps policy-makers to design an effective entrepreneurship policy considering the specific requirements of post-conflict contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 outbreak was deemed a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the associated travel restrictions led to an unprecedented fall in the UK economic growth including the construction sector. Nevertheless, few quantitative studies assessing the impact of COVID-19 on the UK construction sector have been conducted as of now. So, this research aims to quantitatively assess the COVID-19 pandemic's effects and causally evaluate its influence on the UK construction industry. We utilize panel data comprising financial information from listed UK construction firms spanning from 2015 to 2021. The findings reveal a substantial adverse impact of COVID-19 on business performance, with a notable improvement in performance in 2021 compared to 2020. It also proves that the supply chain disruption, labour shortage, and financial dilemma are the main reasons for the negative effect of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, and increased vaccination rate, domestic policy changes, and potential for construction development are the possible reasons for the 2021 recovery. Despite the gradual easing of the epidemic situation, the construction industry must enhance its resilience to sudden disasters to effectively facilitate a robust economic recovery. It is essential to further examine the economic fluctuations caused by the pandemic emergency and the mechanisms for its recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social fairness and economic recovery stimulation constitute crucial challenges in countries all around the world, and tourism development has enormous potential for balancing efficiency and fairness. Based on the panel data at city level in Yangtze River Delta Region, China, this study uncovered the role that tourism development plays in economic growth and urban–rural income gap by adopting the dynamic SYS‐GMM model. In addition, the moderating effect model was employed to concentrate on the moderating role of urbanization on the relationship between tourism development and economic growth as well as urban–rural income gap. The main conclusions are as follows. First, tourism development does not only promote economic growth, but it also narrows the urban–rural income gap. Second, when it comes to the dynamic effect generated by tourism development, the economic growth‐promotion effect is stronger than the urban–rural income gap‐inhibiting effect. Third, urbanization can enhance the impact of tourism development on economic growth and the reduction of urban–rural income gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient agroecological farms, or chagras, of the Kamëntšá Biyá and Kamëntšá Inga indigenous communities in the Sibundoy Valley of Colombia offer valuable insights into the environmental challenges of intensive agriculture and promote sustainable food production. Sustainability indices have been developed to assess farm-level sustainability and enhance agroecological practices; however, data limitations hinder monitoring and correlation with external factors. This study evaluated sustainability indices in Sibundoy Valley chagras using the holistic evaluation system for farming intensification (HESOFI) interview system with 800 randomly selected chagras, assessing economic, agro-environmental, and sociopolitical–cultural dimensions. The endogenous factors considered included areas managed with diversified agricultural systems, the percentage of transformed products, inputs generated by the chagra, and products intended for sale. Exogenous factors included distance to rivers, roads, cities, and vegetation index ratio. The results showed that all chagras fell below the minimum sustainability threshold (80%), with the economic dimension scoring the lowest. Based on these findings, three strategies were proposed to improve the economic scores and overall sustainability indices of these chagras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of BRAC: Barcelona, Research, Art, Creation is the property of BRAC: Barcelona, Research, Art, Creation 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.)

This study ascertained the public relations and image building as pathways for Independent National Electoral Commission inclusiveness and image recovery in Nigeria. The theoretical framework of the study was drawn from the image restoration theory and agenda setting theory. This study adopted the qualitative research approach and the in-depth (intensive) interview method was employed. The research population consisted of 17 (seventeen) public relations officers and professional experts in the unit of public relations in INEC in Rivers State and public relations experts in the Department of Public Relations and Advertising in University of Port Harcourt. Purposive and snowballing sampling techniques were used to arrive at the study sample. The study adopted thematic method of data analysis to analyse the data gathered from the in-depth interviews. Findings from the study revealed that, the current Public Relations strategies employed by the INEC have been partially effective in addressing negative public perceptions and rebuilding its image, as they have managed to increase transparency and engagement through targeted communication campaigns and stakeholder interactions; however, persistent challenges such as allegations of electoral malpractice and inconsistent messaging. The study concluded that while INEC's current Public Relations strategies have made some progress in mitigating negative public perceptions and enhancing its image, the presence of on-going challenges, such as perceived electoral malpractices and inconsistent messaging, suggests that these strategies have not yet fully achieved their desired impact. The study recommended that, INEC should adopt a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to its Public Relations efforts, focusing on consistent messaging, greater transparency, and expanded outreach to all demographics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a reflection on Anne Gray Fischer's The Streets Belong to Us, this article considers how her scholarship on sexual policing in 20th century America situates sexual policing and the state's criminalization of women as central rather than supplemental to our broader understanding of policing. Fischer's analysis demonstrates how police used sexual policing to bolster their authority amid threats to their legitimacy and to defend and protect a racially segregated patriarchal social order. Her research also uncovers the centrality of anti-Black and gendered policing to gentrification and urban economic revival. Finally, Fischer historicizes white dominance feminists' partnership with law enforcement by demonstrating law enforcement's historical (and racialized) decriminalization of white women's public sexual lives. Fischer's pathbreaking analysis suggests the need for historians of policing and the carceral state to view gender and sexuality as foundational to the construction of modern policing and the broader development of the racialized carceral state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock fragment movement during blasting operations is a major cause of ore and profit losses in hard rock open-pit mines having a complex-orebody. To address this issue, a novel multilayer dig-limit approach, which well considers blast movement in dig-limit optimization, was proposed in this study by combining machine learning techniques and practical heuristic algorithms. First, horizontal and vertical blast-induced rock movement distances were predicted using a supervised learning model. Then, the movement direction of rock fragments was computed based on the initiation sequence. After meshing the blast block into rock units, the blasted muckpile and post-blast ore boundary were determined, providing a good basis for dig-limit determination. Finally, the optimized dig-limit with maximum profit can be calculated using a practical heuristic algorithm. By applying this method in a case study, the ore recovery and economic profit were improved, compared with manually drawn dig-limit method. Additionally, the impact of equipment size, number of layers and powder factor on the application of this method was discussed. The obtained results indicated that ore and profit losses can be reduced with a decreased equipment size, increased number of layers and decreased powder factor. Highlights: A multilayer dig-limit approach considering blast-induced rock movement and dig-limit optimization was proposed. The multilayer dig-limit approach yields higher ore recovery and economic profit compared to manually drawn dig-limit. Ore losses can be reduced by decreasing the equipment size, increasing the number of layers and decreasing the powder factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keir Starmer has been gifted a six-month head start as Britain's prime minister by his out-going predecessor, Rishi Sunak, calling the 4 July general election. Labour's landslide victory, while not unexpected, ended the discredited Conservatives' fourteen years in office. Starmer, Britain's oldest incoming leader in six decades, is well prepared for his new role. He attended the NATO Summit in Washington five days after being sworn in. Soon after, he hosted 45 European leaders at Blenheim Palace. International diplomacy is expected to be Starmer's major priority; even so, his government is about to embark on a major economic and societal recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assess the economic resilience of British subregions before, during and after the 2008 financial crisis. We apply our economic resilience scorecard to employment, output and productivity to assess the resilience dimensions of resistance, recovery and renewal. Our resulting scorecard ranks the South Eastern subregions and the Bristol/Bath region as having the highest economic resilience following the 2008 crisis, with Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire having the lowest. Further policy measures are discussed to build regional resilience in recovery from multiple crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Reset is a concept proposed by the World Economic Forum to rebuild the global economy sustainably following the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasising stakeholder capitalism, greener practices, and more equitable social contracts. However, most of the literature focuses on the role of business and government actors in the Great Reset. At the same time, research that considers the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) is lacking. However, HEIs have the significant capacity to support various aspects of the Great Reset. In this work, we examine different mechanisms by which HEIs could bring change, such as fostering the growth of workforce skills, promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, participating in community development and others. A survey on a sample of university professors, postdoctoral researchers, and research assistants has been conducted with the goal of evaluating the degree to which HEIs have played a role in influencing economic recovery after COVID-19, leveraging the industry 4.0, enhancing regional development, revitalising global cooperation, formulating sustainable business models, restoring environmental well-being, and restructuring social contracts, skills, and employment opportunities. A two-step cluster analysis has been conducted, indicating that HEIs played different roles in the Great Reset process, being the Leaders, Followers and Laggers. We found a significant difference between the various groups of respondents according to their scientific field, position, and region regarding the perception of the role played by their HEIs in influencing economic recovery after COVID-19. The position of the respondents contributed to their perception of the role that their HEIs participated in the process of the Great Reset, with the assistant professors perceiving the most often that their HEIs are Leaders. Additionally, the scientific field and region of the HEI also impacted their role in the Great Reset, with the HEIs from technology and countries outside of Europe being the Leaders most often. On the other hand, Followers and Laggers were equally from social sciences and other fields and European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper presents a review of literature, aimed at analyzing and understanding the nexus of knowledge on the topic of government budgetary responses to COVID-19 and identifying gaps for future research directions on crisis budgeting. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review approach was conducted by considering scientific journal articles written in English and published through 2020–2022. The databases used for the literature search in this paper were Scopus and Web of Science, resulting in 41 articles for final review. Findings: This review found that in a crisis, budgetary responses were greatly determined by perceived uncertainties. In the case of the COVID-19 crisis, governments seemed to prioritize economic recovery. While many studies have documented budgetary responses to the crisis, most were written in the beginning of the crisis through documentary content analysis, leaving significant research gaps. Thus, this review offers directions for future research concerning governmental response to perceived uncertainty, logic behind governments' budgeting strategies, sustainable development principles within crisis budgeting and the prioritization of economic considerations in a health crisis. Originality/value: This paper is one of the first to present insights into the state of research regarding the topic of government budgeting during the COVID-19 crisis. In addition, it provides insights from the literature for anticipating future shocks and crises, along with directions for future researchers in developing their research agenda. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-01-2023-0057 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a crucial role in Indonesia's economy, contributing to job creation, income growth, and wealth distribution (Koeswahyono et al., 2022). This research aims to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lease agreements (leasing) in the non-banking financial sector, particularly in financing companies. The research is conducted through a normative juridical research method. The main findings of this study show that credit restructuring is a government solution to address instalment payment difficulties, especially for MSME debtors. The article also addresses legal certainty issues in lease agreements, mainly due to regulatory gaps in the Civil Code. With specific conditions, credit restructuring is provided with a maximum limit of IDR 10 billion (Siregar et al., 2021). This research concludes that, despite being considered an optimal solution, credit restructuring also has negative impacts, and legal certainty is critical in this context. Using data from the Financial Services Authority in 2021, the article explains that credit restructuring has positively stimulated Indonesia's economic growth. MSME debtors are the main focus, comprising 39.73 percent of the total credit restructuring. This policy is seen as a strategic step to support economic recovery, especially considering the central role of MSMEs in the national economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration and development of conventional oil and gas resources are becoming more difficult, and the proportion of low-permeability reservoirs in newly discovered reservoir resources has expanded to 45%. As the main focus of the oil industry, the global average recovery rate of low-permeability reservoir resources is only 20%, and most crude oil is still unavailable, so our understanding of such reservoirs needs to be deepened. The microscopic pore structure of low-permeability reservoir rocks exhibits significant complexity and variability; reservoir evaluation is more difficult. For elucidating the internal distribution of storage space and the mechanisms influencing seepage, we focus on the low-permeability sandstone reservoir of the Shahejie Formation, located on the northern slope of the Chenjiazhuang uplift, Bohai Bay. Employing a suite of advanced analytical techniques, including helium expansion, pressure pulse, high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI), and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning, we examined the main pore–throat size affecting reservoir storage and seepage in the reservoir at both the micrometer and nanometer scales. The results reveal that pores with diameters exceeding 40 μm are sparsely developed within the low-permeability reservoir rocks of the study area. However, pores ranging from 0 to 20 μm predominate, exhibiting an uneven distribution and a clustered structure in the three-dimensional pore structure model. The pore volume showed a unimodal and bimodal distribution, thus significantly contributing to the storage space. The main sizes of the reservoir in this study area are 40–80 μm and 200–400 μm. Micron-sized pores, while present, are not the primary determinants of the reservoir's seepage capacity. Instead, coarser submicron and nano-pores exert a more substantial influence on the permeability of the rock. Additionally, the presence of micro-fractures is found to enhance the reservoir's seepage capacity markedly. The critical pore–throat size range impacting the permeability of the reservoir in the study area is identified to be between 0.025 and 0.4 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Investigaciones Regionales is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Ciencia Regional 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.)

The Covid-19 outbreak has created a situation in which most businesses now think of survival as a return. With the end of this crisis, they will not necessarily return to the pre-crisis period. The present study designs a strategy model to cope with industrial crises caused by the outbreak of common viruses. The meta-synthesis method was used to obtain a comprehensive combination of the factors of the strategy model to cope with the industrial crises caused by the outbreak of common viruses. To use this research method, Sandelowski, and Barroso’s seven-step method was used. The primary question of the present study is ”What are the criteria of the strategy model to cope with the industrial crises caused by the outbreak of common viruses?” Also, based on the previous studies, the present study performs an in-depth analysis of these factors in the international and national spaces and presents a classification of them. The research process is implemented as follows. The tests were categorized and coded using MAXQDA software. According to the literature and the background of the study and the results obtained, the factors of the strategy model to cope with the industrial crises caused by the outbreak of common viruses include organizational environmental factors, organizational crisis management, organizational resource management, organizational marketing, and customer-related strategies, organizational business model, organizational capabilities, organization human resource management, and organizational information management. In this regard, the category of environmental factors was ranked first, the category of organizational crisis management was ranked second, and the category of marketing was ranked third. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper addresses the forecasting of Ukraine’s macroeconomic dynamics amidst a full-scale war, which has profoundly impacted its economy, causing disruptions in key sectors like agriculture and energy. The significance of this research lies in its focus on an economy facing severe wartime disruptions and providing crucial forecasts for recovery and policy planning. The study uses the ARIMA (Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average) model to analyse various economic indicators, including GDP, inflation, unemployment, public debt, foreign direct investment, and currency devaluation. ARIMA models are chosen for their effectiveness in handling time series data that exhibit autocorrelation, making them suitable for analysing macroeconomic trends in volatile environments. Data was collected from a wide range of national and international sources, and the ARIMA model was applied to identify correlations, trends, and potential scenarios for Ukraine’s economy. The research finds that Ukraine’s economy has suffered significantly due to the war, with indicators like GDP and the unemployment rate experiencing extreme fluctuations. The destruction of infrastructure, displacement of millions, and blockades of key sectors have led to a sharp contraction in GDP. Furthermore, inflation and currency devaluation have persisted due to supply chain disruptions and energy shortages. The analysis reveals strong positive autocorrelations in economically active population figures and the unemployment rate, indicating consistent trends over short lags. In contrast, weak but statistically significant autocorrelations are found in foreign exchange reserves and public debt. The study also observes that foreign direct investment in Ukraine demonstrates cyclical behaviour, with downturns during crises like the war and the global financial crisis. The monetary policy responses by the National Bank of Ukraine, particularly interest rate hikes, have played a key role in stabilizing inflation, but inflationary pressures remain high. The war's impact on critical sectors such as agriculture, energy, and industrial production suggests that reconstruction and recovery will be contingent on external financial support and strategic economic policies. The paper discusses the challenges and complexities of forecasting economic dynamics in conflict zones, where traditional economic models are insufficient to account for the uncertainties and shocks caused by conflict. The use of ARIMA models has proven effective for short-term forecasting, but the paper emphasizes the need for dynamic models that incorporate war-related variables like military expenditures, sanctions, and international aid inflows. The research underscores the crucial role of international institutions, such as the IMF and the World Bank, in aiding Ukraine's recovery through accurate macroeconomic forecasts. These forecasts guide the disbursement of international aid and shape policies for the country's reconstruction. Moreover, the paper notes the potential for Ukraine’s economy to undergo structural transformations toward energy independence, export diversification, and industrial reconstruction. This research is highly relevant for policymakers and international stakeholders involved in Ukraine's post-war economic planning, offering insights into the country's macroeconomic dynamics and potential paths for stabilization and recovery. Accurate forecasts are pivotal for guiding resource allocation, managing inflation, and ensuring long-term economic stability.

This article aims to analyse the world experience of retraining war veterans in order to restore the economy and consider possible ways of implementing the acquired knowledge and practices in the context of Ukraine. A study was conducted to identify the basic needs and challenges faced by veterans and examine the key aspects of the challenges that war veterans experience when entering the civilian labour market. The authors analyse effective approaches and programmes already applied in various countries, including the United States, in order to overcome these difficulties and promote veterans' integration into society and the economy. These include at the local level, or with the patronage of non-governmental organisations, educational programmes for retraining veterans in Ukraine. The authors offer specific recommendations for the development and implementation of specialised educational programmes for retraining veterans in Ukraine at the state level, mainly based on advanced world practice and existing local experience. Finally, particular attention is paid to the aspects of adaptation and implementation of these programmes in Ukrainian realities at the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study searches for the presence of a tourism-led growth path after a negative shock. Both the presence of a tourism role in the recovery process and the existence of a spatial interdependence across regions are investigated. The purpose of the study is to look at insights, provided in particular by the experience of the 2007–2008 crisis in European regions, that can be useful to build a recovery after any future shocks, as for example the COVID-19 pandemic resulted to be. The findings show the presence of a strong spatial dependence in the recovery process and, furthermore, the positive potential that tourism activities exert on the ability to recover favouring positive spillovers across regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While recessions have many adverse consequences for individuals and organizations, we propose that they have positive implications for job satisfaction. We argue that during bad economic times, people will be less attuned to other possible jobs, and more likely to see their own jobs favorably. We find support for these predictions across three studies. Study 1 (n = 23,335) utilizes a large cross-sectional survey of American adults collected over four decades and finds that job satisfaction increases during recessions and declines during booms. Study 2 (n = 12,859) replicates this result using a large longitudinal survey of British adults and finds that job satisfaction rises and falls with the unemployment rate even within the same people. Finally, Study 3 (n = 512) uses an experimental design and finds that the relationship between economic conditions and job satisfaction is mediated by the reduced salience of alternative jobs. While scholars have long recognized that job satisfaction is affected by situational features inside organizations, our findings suggest that conditions outside the workplace can also influence how people think about and evaluate their jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to examine the economic cycles in Colombia and to empirically corroborate the fulfillment of nine stylized facts documented in the specialized international literature. For this purpose, the retropolated series 1975-2013 and the series 2005:1-2022:4 of the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) were analyzed using the Hodrick-Prescott filter. Thus, the occurrence of four economic cycles is recorded between 1975 and 2013 with an average duration of 9.3 years with an expansionary phase of 5.0 years and a contractionary phase of 5.3 years. Similarly, between 2005:1 and 2022:4 there were three cycles with an average duration of 21.7 quarters, with an expansionary phase of 14.7 quarters and a contractionary phase of 7.0 quarters. It should also be said that the cyclical fluctuations of employment and unemployment are closely related to effective demand and domestic demand in accordance with Keynesian theory; for example, the positive correlation between the real GDP cycle and the implicit GDP deflator cycle suggests that the cycles were not due to shifts in the aggregate production function as the dominant theory stresses, but to shifts in the aggregate demand function.

The study aims to analyze the current challenges of human social security at the enterprise, which acquire new aspects and relevance in the conditions of war and post-war recovery. In the context of innovation and technological progress, this problem takes on a new meaning, requiring effective tools and systems to support citizens. In recent years, societal crises such as the coronavirus epidemic and Russia’s military aggression have transformed social security, increasingly emphasizing military protection and physical security of citizens. Traditionally, social security of a person determines the level of protection of citizens’ interests, rights, and freedoms, as well as the provision of psychological support. Special attention is paid to the formation of a dedicated system of social security at the enterprise, ensuring the protection of employees and their well-being. Under normal conditions, the social security system at enterprises is a stable working structure that is continually improved through the introduction of new tools and functions. Ensuring the social security of a person at the enterprise amidst geostrategic threats requires analysis and effective efforts to maintain peace and stability. The study analyzes and evaluates the factors influencing the level of social security among enterprise personnel, with a focus on the role of creativity as a new tool for shaping and transforming the human social security system. It is determined that creativity can be realized through the existing intellectual potential of the enterprise. The application of these transformation processes is especially relevant for relocated enterprises which have faced the challenges of wartime most acutely and can adequately assess the social needs of their staff. The outcome of the article is the provision of recommendations on establishing an effective system of social security of a person at the level of economic entities. These recommendations consider the incorporation of creativity and innovative approaches in crafting the social infrastructure of the enterprise to ensure its stable development and well-being.

Innovation and investment development a key factor that will influence the recovery and development of enterprises in the post-war period. Investments in innovations can become a source of economic growth after the war, which will stimulate the creation of new jobs, and increase the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, which will contribute to the development of all sectors of the economy. Thus, the study aimed to identify the main problems and opportunities for investment and innovative business development in the country in the post-war period. Theoretical research methods such as generalisation, statistical analysis, in particular, data aggregation and sample grouping, and analysis of development indices were used to achieve this goal. The study, based on the analysis of key factors, substantiated the relationship between investment and innovation, as well as between investment opportunities and financial results of business entities. Several key issues that hinder the innovation and investment development of enterprises in Ukraine and will have an impact in the future were identified and analysed in detail using statistical data, including the lack of financial resources, lack of proper infrastructure, problems with human resources, and corruption, which significantly affects Ukraine’s position in certain international investment ratings, resulting in difficulties in attracting foreign capital. It was established that all the above problems were significantly escalated as a result of the war. The features of innovative activity of enterprises in the conditions of war were studied and the main directions of support required by business in this area were formed. The necessity of comprehensive state support to stimulate the innovation and investment development of enterprises in the post-war period was substantiated. The results of the study can be used by public authorities, business entities and the scientific community dealing with the issues of innovation and investment activities of enterprises

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly led to a severe deterioration of the global economic environment and a sharp worsening in the international financial market sentiment. Hence, the European governments adopted extraordinary monetary and state aid policies to mitigate the economic collapse and stabilise the financial markets. Romania was no exception, being significantly affected by the pandemic. Against this background, the paper aims to analyse the peculiarities of the monetary support and state aid adopted by Romania and by other EU Member States in the context of the pandemic crisis to increase the resilience of their national economies. Our main findings reveal that the monetary support provided in Romania consisted in significant liquidity injections into the financial system, and in the purchase of state securities from the secondary market. In Romania, the largest part of the total state aid was directed to SMEs from the processing industry, constructions, wholesale and retail trade, transport, and the storage sector, especially through guarantees and direct grants.

At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Asia Pacific region experienced a decline in tourist arrivals by 82% from January-October 2020. This problem caused event promotion space to decrease in various parts of the world. The Covid-19 pandemic in Banyuwangi was first confirmed on March 29, 2020. Banyuwangi was one of the areas that felt the impact of this crisis. This research aims to reveal the B-fest promotion model by the Banyuwangi District government during the recovery period from the Covid-19 pandemic. This research uses a case study method with a qualitative approach. Data collection uses in-depth interviews and market surveys. The market survey used 284 respondents from tourists and non-tourists who had seen promotions from B-Fest 2022. This research shows that local government policies in carrying out promotions for B-fest events support the economic recovery process. The interactional communication model is the promotion concept carried out by the local government. However, this promotion model shows the supporting and inhibiting aspects of the promotion model itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the carbon-neutral target has been set, it is of great importance to investigate and attribute dry-wet climate response for which CO2 emission is increasing, decreasing, and remaining stable over time. Therefore, our study utilize data from five models of the CMIP6 to analyze the spatiotemporal variations and attribution of global drought as presented by the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) during periods of CO2 increasing by 1% per year, decreasing by 1% per year, and remaining stable. During the CO2 ramp-up period, potential evapotranspiration (PET) increases faster than precipitation (P), causing a decrease in SPEI. Conversely, a faster PET decrease than P leads to increased SPEI during the CO2 ramp-down period. Spatially, low and mid-latitudes exhibit opposite trends to high latitudes, with the most pronounced responses observed in the Amazon, southern Africa, and Australia. After CO2 returns to pre-industrial (PI) concentration, global P and PET do not recover, remaining ~2% higher compared to PI levels. However, SPEI shows a recovery in the global average, yet fails to reach PI levels in specific regions. Furthermore, extreme drought and wetness events persist with increased frequency and severity compared to PI levels despite the recovery of CO2 concentration. Finally, based on the attribution analysis, the contribution of precipitation (~35%) to drought changes is secondary to that of PET (~65%), which is primarily promoted by air temperature (~50%), followed by net radiation (~10%) and relative humidity (~6%) with negligible effect of wind speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐quality, low‐cost, and rapid detection is essential for the society to reopen the economy during the critical period of transition from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic response to pandemic control. In addition to performing sustainable and target‐driven tracking of SARS‐CoV‐2, conducting comprehensive surveillance of variants and multiple respiratory pathogens is also critical due to the frequency of reinfections, mutation immune escape, and the growing prevalence of the cocirculation of multiple viruses. By utilizing a 0.05 cents wax interface, a Stable Interface assisted Multiplex Pathogenesis Locating Estimation in Onepot (SIMPLEone) using nested RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a enzymatic reporting system is successfully developed. This smartphone‐based SIMPLEone system achieves highly sensitive one‐pot detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 and its variants, or multiple respiratory viruses, in 40 min. A total of 89 clinical samples, 14 environmental samples, and 20 cat swab samples are analyzed by SIMPLEone, demonstrating its excellent sensitivity (3–6 copies/reaction for non‐extraction detection of swab and 100–150 copies/mL for RNA extraction‐based assay), accuracy (>97.7%), and specificity (100%). Furthermore, a high percentage (44.2%) of co‐infection cases are detected in SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected patients using SIMPLEone's multiplex detection capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak, a vast majority of research predicted its potential economic impacts based on various possible scenarios, believing that looking forward earlier and recovering better. In contrast, through contrarian thinking from an economic recovery perspective, this study empirically investigates the direct impact of COVID-19 on China's economy. This reveals that China's economy experiences a V-shaped recovery; it is in the recovery process and will achieve the pre-pandemic level in the coming years. Consumption, international trade, and investment indicators are synchronously recovering, which may be attributed to the fact that the pandemic has had little impact on China's economy, although it remarkably hits national consumption, international trade, and investment that are less interrupted. Empirical evidence shows that the pandemic is unlikely to alter China's industrial structure, as it has primarily affected the service and manufacturing sectors while leaving agriculture relatively unaffected. In light of these findings, China's economy is facing challenges beyond the pandemic. By adopting a recovery-oriented contrarian approach, we can better identify the dynamic consequences and optimize economic strategies to mitigate potential long-term impacts on sustainable economic growth. These insights may also help guide economic recovery efforts in other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paraguay mobilised sizeable fiscal resources, utilising its fiscal buffers, and put in place several credit support mechanisms. In the recovery period, it has increased capital expenditure above its historic average. Going forward, the country will need to rebuild fiscal buffers while building on the progress made in recent years in simplifying the tax system and setting a framework to mobilise sustainable development finance flows. This chapter examines lessons from the pandemic and recovery periods that can help Paraguay establish a comprehensive fiscal strategy and mobilise public and private resources towards a green and sustainable development path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was muted in Paraguay compared to other countries in the region. However, the pandemic was bookended by two severe droughts that have challenged the economic recovery. Diversifying the economy is critical to enhance growth and resilience to climate change. It is also a major challenge in a context of high informality in a landlocked country. This chapter examines how measures established during the crisis and recovery period can support the country in tackling structural challenges. Credit support measures can support a formalisation effort that will have to be broader and combine ongoing administrative simplification efforts with support to increase the productivity of MSMEs and foster integration in regional and global value chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraguay responded to the social challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic and crisis by buttressing existing social programmes and implementing several ad hoc emergency social transfer programmes targeting food security and workers excluded from the social protection system. Paraguay is facing up to the challenge of building a comprehensive social protection system. This chapter examines how the implementation of emergency programmes during the pandemic hold valuable lessons for the future of social protection in the country. They can pave the way to expanding the coverage of income support measures, to improving targeting and delivery through digitalisation, and to expanding active labour market policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraguay has faced multiple shocks in the past five years, with severe droughts bookending the COVID-19 pandemic, and has responded with a determined effort to keep development on track. The public policy responses to the pandemic and the recovery offer valuable lessons for responding to structural challenges in the country's development. This chapter summarises the findings of this report and presents policy priorities for an inclusive, strong and resilient future development trajectory in Paraguay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic downturns represent an inevitable challenge that nations and businesses must confront, presenting considerable risks. As a result, it becomes imperative for them to formulate strategies to secure their survival. The world has recently experienced an economic downturn due to a pandemic. COVID-19 has caused a significant economic crisis, leading to job losses and disruptions across various sectors worldwide, including the Philippines. The study utilizes economic indicators to determine patterns, meanings, and subsequent opportunities. Specifically, the study sought to identify relevant economic indicators, find patterns and meaning within each indicator and among indicators, and determine implications from findings. Content analysis was used in the study. It is a qualitative research method to identify and interpret themes, meanings, and patterns. The materials used include eleven Philippine economic indicators, namely, the Philippine Stock Exchange Composite Index, Balance of Trade, Core Inflation Rate, Consumer Spending, Tourist Arrivals, Consumer Confidence, Consumer Credit, Gold Reserves, Foreign Exchange Reserves, and Money Supply M2, and Interest Rate. In conclusion, the study determined that the collective surge in economic activities is positively related to the rise of inflation; increased interest rates potentially mitigated the rise in inflation, and other factors negated the trade deficits and gold reserve fluctuations. The Philippine economy is on the path to recovery, and the unique interrelations of economic indicators imply a more stable environment in the Philippine economy. This signals a green light for investors and an opportunity for policymakers to fine-tune existing initiatives to sustain economic recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to analyze the current challenges of human social security at the enterprise, which acquire new aspects and relevance in the conditions of war and post-war recovery. In the context of innovation and technological progress, this problem takes on a new meaning, requiring effective tools and systems to support citizens. In recent years, societal crises such as the coronavirus epidemic and Russia’s military aggression have transformed social security, increasingly emphasizing military protection and physical security of citizens. Traditionally, social security of a person determines the level of protection of citizens’ interests, rights, and freedoms, as well as the provision of psychological support. Special attention is paid to the formation of a dedicated system of social security at the enterprise, ensuring the protection of employees and their well-being. Under normal conditions, the social security system at enterprises is a stable working structure that is continually improved through the introduction of new tools and functions. Ensuring the social security of a person at the enterprise amidst geostrategic threats requires analysis and effective efforts to maintain peace and stability. The study analyzes and evaluates the factors influencing the level of social security among enterprise personnel, with a focus on the role of creativity as a new tool for shaping and transforming the human social security system. It is determined that creativity can be realized through the existing intellectual potential of the enterprise. The application of these transformation processes is especially relevant for relocated enterprises which have faced the challenges of wartime most acutely and can adequately assess the social needs of their staff. The outcome of the article is the provision of recommendations on establishing an effective system of social security of a person at the level of economic entities. These recommendations consider the incorporation of creativity and innovative approaches in crafting the social infrastructure of the enterprise to ensure its stable development and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cities were at the center of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the concentration of affected populations and economic activities that needed to be revived to support global recovery. While cities offer strong economic and social benefits due to density, proximity, and global connectivity, the pandemic had a tremendous impact on their vital functions. It resulted in lost lives and livelihoods and deepened economic and social divides. Furthermore, the pandemic exacerbated many existing environmental challenges in cities. This presented an opportunity to tackle these interlinked challenges in an integrated manner. Evidence suggests that many city leaders integrated environmental sustainability as an important element to complement their emergency responses. Drawing from experiences in cities around the world, particularly those participating in the Sustainable Cities Program supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), this paper describes how integrated solutions were applied to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Consistent with a Healthy Planet Healthy People concept, a framework is proposed for sustainable urban transformation and to build cities that are resilient to shocks and stresses. With global environmental benefits at the core, the framework highlights the importance of integration, inclusion, and innovation as key approaches in steering the future green growth and prosperity of cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]