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When the European Monetary Union became effective in January 1999, the accounting treatment for claims and obligations which the Eurosystem's National Central Banks (NCBs) incur against each other in the 'Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Express Transfer' (TARGET) system remained unspecified. Only later in 1999, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) decided that these claims and obligations should be shifted to the ECB's balance sheet as a central counterparty—a process called 'novation'. This ex-post decision completed monetary unification by uniquely 'stitching together' NCBs' balance sheets while profoundly transforming the role of the ECB's balance sheet. First, novation centralised it at the Eurosystem's apex, which had not been politically feasible ex ante. Secondly, novation repurposed it into a multilateral mechanism to provide automatic, unlimited funding for cross-border payment imbalances. Thirdly, novation allowed monetary technocrats to operationalise it as an autonomous 'firefighting' balance sheet for unconventional monetary policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Payment systems in healthcare organizations are critical, behavioral, and dynamic. Given the existing challenges in payment systems, characterized by imbalances in payment amounts and inequitable ratios within and across job categories, there is a pressing need for a novel model to configure desired payment systems which proposed in this paper. Information sources and selected methods for study: A narrative review was conducted using the PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases with the keywords "payment methods" or "payment system" and "characteristics" or "components" and their Persian equivalents. A total of 16 articles were selected. Additionally, protocols for physician compensation methods and nursing service tariffs from the past five years were obtained and reviewed from the Ministry of Health website. Finally, a novel model was developed based on the research team's expertise and inspired by the Iranian Tar instrument. Results: The Iranian Tar Model is introduced as a guide for configuring desired payment systems. This model incorporates six tuning pegs (sufficiency, savings, desired behavior, ease of calculation, distinction, and equity) paired in twos within three axes for configuring payment systems. The positioning of common payment systems (including salary, capitation, Fee-for-Service, and Pay for Performance methods) within the three axes of the model is examined. Conclusion: Previous studies have addressed payment system parameters in isolation, with limited attention to their interconnectedness. The Iranian Tar Model's six interrelated tuning pegs empower organizations to effectively configure their payment system at individual, intra-group, and inter-group levels.

Copyright of Journal of National University of Defense Technology / Guofang Keji Daxue Xuebao is the property of NUDT Press 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.)

BACKGROUND: The reform of hospital payment systems is a top priority for policymakers in many countries, including Iran. As knowledge of the current situation and experience with previous reforms are gained, the next phase will focus on improvement. Therefore, this study aims to identify the challenges to hospital payments in the Iranian health system. METHODS: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion meetings to collect data from 29 informants, including physicians, hospital administrators, faculty members, supervisors, and executive managers with expertise in hospital payment systems. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. Data were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: The content analysis resulted in five themes and twenty-two sub-themes. Policy and regulation issues, payment methods, fair payment to providers, infrastructure and systems, and behavior of providers were cited as major challenges and drawbacks of Iran's hospital payment systems. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the barriers to hospital payments is essential for reforming or alleviating the problem. This research has shed light on the current state of the hospital payment system in the Iranian health system. Knowledge of the issues with the current system and the needs of healthcare providers is essential for effective reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Countries where the volume of remittances received represents a significant proportion of their gross domestic product usually face short‐term pressures on their exchange rates that are unrelated to their economic fundamentals. In this article, we analyze how a remittance payment system involving the central banks of the source and destination countries of such remittances could mitigate the pressures on the exchange rate in the receiving country. To quantify the possible effect of such a system, we make an estimate for the case of Guatemala. We also consider the other benefits this system might provide for recipient economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Latin American Journal of Economic Developement (LAJED) is the property of Universidad Catolica Boliviana San Pablo 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 banking turmoil in March 2023 and the associated public interventions to prevent or reduce the risk of a systemic fallout underscore the fact that despite banking systems being in a much better shape in many countries relative to the position prior to the global financial crisis, some bank run risk remains. In fact, bank run risk may be increasing. As fintech and new technologies transform banking, uninsured deposits may become near-perfectly mobile, making bank runs all but inevitable if the governance of the financial system is not appropriately adapted. In this article we discuss how digitalization and new technologies can affect bank run risk and we look at approaches to adapting governance to containing related systemic vulnerabilities in the banking system. We also briefly consider how central bank digital currencies could fit into future frameworks. We conclude that there is no silver bullet, but that adjusting frameworks will become necessary if bank deposit mobility increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research makes an attempt at analysing the state of affairs of the electronic payment in Algeria and propose perspectives for future development in that regard. To attain this objective, the bank of Crédit Populaire Algérie (CPA) in Algeria was taken as a case study. The primary reason of choosing this bank was by virtue of its leading market share in the local market and many electronic services and payment cards in use. The bank data from 2016 to 2022 was collected to perform an analysis of the growth rate of electronic payment services and to carry out a forecast of these services using exponential smoothing. Hypotheses tests demonstrate with validity that in the upcoming years, the number of electronic payment services will considerably increase. First, the use of electronic payment in Algeria has increased due to consumers’ changing preferences and due to the necessity of practical and safe payment solutions. Second, the bank used as a case study has invested in the development of electronic payment by proposing e-payment solutions to its consumers. Finally, the future of electronic payment will be marked by an increase in the number of electronic services. The findings of the research highlight consumers’ changing preferences towards electronic payment and consequently all banks should invest in designing and executing strategies of electronic payment services. It is recommended that scholars could use the findings of this research and perform a benchmark with other banks in Algeria or banks in other MENA countries. Moreover, the number of years could be further increased to determine if the growth of these services is to increase, decrease, or stay constant.

Diagnosis-related groups (DRG) based hospital payment systems are gradually becoming the main mechanism for reimbursement of acute inpatient care. We reviewed the existing literature to ascertain the global use of DRG-based hospital payment systems, compared the similarities and differences of original DRG versions in ten countries, and used ischemic stroke as an example to ascertain the design and implementation strategies for various DRG systems. The current challenges with and direction for the development of DRG-based hospital payment systems are also analyzed. We found that the DRG systems vary greatly in countries in terms of their purpose, grouping, coding, and payment mechanisms although based on the same classification concept and that they have tended to develop differently in countries with different income classifications. In high-income countries, DRG-based hospital payment systems have gradually begun to weaken as a mainstream payment method, while in middle-income countries DRG-based hospital payment systems have attracted increasing attention and increased use. The example of ischemic stroke provides suggestions for mutual promotion of DRG-based hospital payment systems and disease management. How to determine the level of DRG payment incentives and improve system flexibility, balance payment goals and disease management goals, and integrate development with other payment methods are areas for future research on DRGbased hospital payment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the global changes in financial activities due to FinTech, it impacts the financial behavior of Bangladeshi users as well. Purposes: This study examines the customers' attitude towards the adaptation of fintech payment services in the context of Bangladesh. Method: A quantitative method is used in this study. Respondents were selected through a purposive sampling technique. A survey technique is used to collect data about the variables. The respondents are the users of the fintech payment system. Regression analysis was done to find out the relationship between different variables. Main Findings: The research finds a statistically significant relationship between different variables which supports the theoretical framework. Applications: The findings will allow for targeted interventions in promoting positive attitudes and intentions to facilitate the adoption and sustained use of the systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of information technology development, digital payments and e-payments are becoming a dominant trend, supported by the crucial role of payment gateways such as Midtrans. Midtrans uses APIs to facilitate various online transactions, including debit cards. In this research, two cryptographic algorithms will be combined, namely Advance Encryption Standard (AES) with 256 bits and Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) with 256 bits. The importance of data security in e-payments is recognized, with the application of cryptographic algorithms to protect sensitive transaction information. Yayasan Antero Prosesi Edukasi (YAPE) as an educational marketing consultant faced the challenge of time-consuming and inefficient manual payments. In an effort towards efficiency and security, YAPE plans to develop an online payment application with Midtrans Payment Gateway and the use of AES-256 and SHA-256 cryptographic algorithms. This step is expected to help the foundation keep up with technological developments, provide ease of payment, and achieve computerized efficiency. The results showed that the use of a combination of AES 256 bit and SHA256 encryption significantly increased security, making hacking attempts ineffective because encrypted data could not be accessed, with quite complicated calculation stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article delves into the transformative potential of stablecoins and fractional-reserve banking within the financial sector. It examines Bitcoin's value proposition and the rise of stablecoins as viable alternatives for everyday transactions. It underscores the advantages of blockchain-based payment systems over centralized banking networks and suggests that future stablecoin issuers may innovate and operate as fractional reserve banks, thereby increasing efficiency and stability.

The advent of online shopping has revolutionized the way consumers make purchases, offering a diverse range of payment options for goods bought online. This study aims to examine the effectiveness and potential issues arising from the implementation of Cash on Delivery (COD), a widely used payment method. Employing a juridical-empirical approach, the research gathers insights through interviews with individuals and businesses that utilize COD in their online stores. Additionally, it examines relevant laws governing business protection (for both sellers and buyers). The study reveals that business owners perceive COD to be detrimental due to the high incidence of unilateral order cancellations by buyers upon package delivery. In response to these concerns, the research emphasizes the need for regulations that safeguard business interests, as outlined in consumer protection laws.

The article deals with some problematic issues identified in the process of reforming the tax system of Georgia. We focused on the risks identified in the direction of writing off tax debts, simplifying the procedures for refunding overpaid amounts, as well as excise policy measures. Forms of the relationship between tax administration bodies and taxpayers are part of the tax system. The results of the functioning of the tax system depend not only on the tax legislation and the quality of tax administration, but also on the mentality of citizens, their obedience to law, their commitment concerning the established tax burden, and public tax culture. It is clear that different societies differ from one another in their specific tax culture. We believe that the level of readiness of taxpayers for the tax burden should be considered when planning for reforming the tax system. In this context, the measures should be planned in such a way that by providing the right positive or negative incentives, the motivation of tax payers and the attitudes of society as a whole proceed in the way that could be desired in the long run. Taking into consideration the above circumstances, we think that the reform of tax legislation and administration system should continue under the following conditions: • A further simplification of procedures of tax administration. The further strengthening of electronic services; • Keeping the existing low tax rates. Under the conditions of the current level of tax culture, high tax rates push taxpayers to shady operations, thereby undermining their loyalty to taxes; • At the current stage, we consider unfounded the recent practice of introducing additional (especially non-tax) regulations for tax payers; • Caution should be exercised when writing off tax debts. Such precedents, especially those of a continuous nature, undermine the motivation of taxpayers; • There is a need to correct some weaknesses in the tax legislation and administration. This applies not only to the procedures for refunding overpaid amounts, but also to the possibilities of illegal use of special taxation regimes and a number of benefits; • It is important to give a sense of the stability of tax practices in society. It is necessary to comply with tax liabilities, regulation by law, uniformity, justice and other principles. Only in this case, the public tax culture will develop in the right direction in the long run.

The aim of the article is to analyze the prospects for the introduction of the central bank’s digital currency in the Ukrainian economy. The e-hryvnia can become an alternative to traditional payment transaction instruments, providing a simpler, more secure, and more reliable ability to make payments for services, goods, and various transactions. The article discusses the introduction of the e-hryvnia as a digital currency of the central bank in Ukraine. The issues related to the economic essence of the e-hryvnia are considered, the evolution of forms of money is studied, the main characteristics of the central bank’s digital currency are highlighted, the state of the payment infrastructure in Ukraine and the possibility of its use for the introduction of the e-hryvnia are evaluated. On the basis of the carried out analysis, the following conclusions are made regarding the prospects for the introduction of the e-hryvnia in Ukraine. The infrastructure for cashless payments in Ukraine is well developed. The country has a large number of means for transactions with payment cards, including payment terminals in retail and service networks. Neighboring Poland and Romania have a larger number of terminals per 100 people, while Ukraine has a larger share of cashless payments compared to these countries. And the volume of these non-cash transactions is constantly growing. This is due to the fact that Ukraine has a well-developed infrastructure for card-to-card payments, which does not require additional equipment for payment card transactions. A comparatively smaller number of funds for payment card transactions may not be considered an indicator of a less developed payment infrastructure. In Ukraine, there is an increase in the number of contactless cards and tokenized cards. Taking into account these factors, it can be concluded that the payment infrastructure is sufficiently developed for the introduction of a central bank’s digital currency, which will be the e-hryvnia. The introduction of the e-hryvnia in Ukraine is realistic and can have a positive impact on the development of the economy and financial system of Ukraine.

Target2 is the Eurozone's cross-border payment system, which is mandatory for the settlement of euro transactions involving Eurozone central banks. It is being used to save the Eurozone from imploding. A key underlying problem is that the Eurozone does not satisfy the economic conditions for being an Optimal Currency Area, i.e., a geographical area over which a single currency and monetary policy can operate on a sustainable, long-term basis. The different business cycles in the Eurozone, combined with poor labour and capital market flexibility, mean that systematic trade surpluses and deficits will build up because inter-regional exchange rates can no longer be changed. Surplus regions need to recycle the surpluses back into deficit regions via transfers to keep the Eurozone economies in balance. But the largest surplus country—Germany—refuses to formally accept that the European Union is a 'transfer union'. However, deficit countries, including the largest of these—Italy—are using Target2 for this purpose. Target2 has become a giant credit card for Eurozone members that import more than they export to other members, but with two differences compared with normal credit card debt: neither the debt nor the interest that accrues on the debt ever needs to be repaid. Furthermore, the size of the deficits being built up is causing citizens in deficit countries to lose confidence in their banking systems, leading them to transfer their funds to banks in surplus countries. Target2 is also being used to facilitate this capital flight. However, these are not viable long-term solutions to systemic Eurozone trade imbalances and weakening national banking systems. There are only two realistic outcomes. The first is a full fiscal and political union, with Brussels determining the levels of tax and public expenditure in each member state—which has long been the objective of Europe's political establishment. The second outcome is that the Eurozone breaks up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the agglomeration of China's OFDI across 35 industries in 43 countries from 2014 to 2019 to provide a characterization of China's international production system and its dynamic changes. It examines how digital service trade barriers and regulatory heterogeneity impact China's OFDI agglomeration. The paper finds that China's OFDI distribution shows a trend of agglomerating at the host country-industry level year by year, especially in capital-intensive and technology-intensive industries. Empirical results indicate that digital services trade barriers significantly hinder the agglomeration of China's OFDI. Digital service trade barriers negatively affect OFDI agglomeration in technology-intensive industries and positively affect it in labor-intensive industries. Deconstructing digital service trade barriers in different policy areas, the paper finds that the negative impact of infrastructure and connectivity and intellectual property rights is greater than that in electronic transactions, while the impact of barriers in the payment system is not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Strategic Universe Journal / Univers Strategic is the property of Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University, Institute for Security Studies 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.)

[Purpose] To analyse the existing trends in the turnover of electronic money, and their relationship with the conventional cash turnover on the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), in particular, in the legal system of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK). [Methodology/Approach/Design] Deduction, content analysis, comparative analysis, and other general and special research methods were used. [Findings] As a result, the existing problems in the functioning of the type of money considered in this study were analysed. The study includes recommended measures to introduce amendments to legislation aimed at removing barriers to the functioning and circulation of electronic money, which will benefit the economic system of the given state. [Practical Implications] The information presented in this article can be useful material for representatives of public authorities in the implementation of reforms to modernise the economic system, for a wide range of readers interested in the development of digital technologies and their impact on the commercial activities of subjects of the economic life of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the conditions of digitization of the globalized world economy, Ukrainian enterprises have an informational request for methodical recommendations regarding the technique of conducting and computerized accounting of electronic money payments, which are an innovative form of settlement transactions. The purpose of the study was to form actual methodological recommendations regarding the organization of automated accounting of payments in electronic money at the enterprise, as well as to justify the choice of the necessary software product for this purpose. To achieve the goal, the method of morphological analysis, comparative and critical analysis, system-structural approach, bibliographic method was used. Ukrainian enterprises are suggested to implement accounting work with electronic money in two successive steps. The transformations that will take place in the accounting work for settlement transactions of the enterprise in the case of the introduction of national digital currencies are substantiated. The technological possibilities of using neural networks for processing arrays of data regarding electronic money calculations carried out in payment systems are explained. It has been proven that, according to the forecasted trends, it is expedient for Ukrainian enterprises to switch from local accounting software products to the use of cloud services. Functional capabilities of 12 cloud-based software solutions popular in Ukraine for automating accounting and analytical work were analysed, from the point of view of the possibility of computerized accounting of settlement operations in electronic money. The advantages and disadvantages of individual SaaS services are explained, and the expedient ones are recommended for use. Recommendations were made to adjust the Order on accounting policy, following the scheme of organizational and procedural measures developed in the work. It is proposed to assess the compliance of the existing accounting software product with management information requests that arise when using electronic money to make payments. The recommendations were developed on the basis of a detailed study of the prospects for the further popularization of electronic money. The study is of practical interest for Ukrainian enterprises that involve in their business innovative payment solutions in the conditions of rapid digitalization of the economy

Copyright of Amazonia Investiga is the property of PRIMMATE 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.)

Copyright of International Economics / Economia Internazionale is the property of Camera di Commercio di Genova 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 subject of the research is theoretical approaches to the formation and development of the cryptocurrency market and its integration into the national financial system. The purpose of the article is to determine the theoretical foundations of the functioning of the cryptocurrency market based on a systemic approach and to explore the possibilities of its integration into the financial system of Ukraine. Method or methodology of research. The article uses the methods of scientific abstraction, analysis and synthesis, generalization, systematic approach. Results of the article. The article examines the theoretical aspects of the economic category "cryptocurrency". A retrospective analysis of cryptographic money research was carried out. The largest cryptocurrencies by capitalization were studied and it was concluded that Bitcoin remains the leader in terms of price and level of capitalization among existing cryptocurrencies. The state of introduction and development of the cryptocurrency market in Ukraine is considered. In particular, the article presents Ukrainian companies that offer the purchase of their goods and services for cryptocurrency. The prospects for the use of cryptocurrencies in the financial system of Ukraine are outlined. Field of application of results. The results of the research can be used in the process of streamlining the legal framework regulating the circulation of virtual assets and electronic money. Conclusions. A significant potential for the development of the cryptocurrency market is seen in Ukraine. Currently, the issue of implementation, full legal and institutional support for the circulation of cryptocurrencies is open and relevant, but has certain inhibitions, which are caused by an objective factor – the war in the country.

Abstract Background Telemedicine is already in use in daily practice, but appropriate reimbursement and physician payment is falling behind in many countries. One reason is the limited availability of research on the matter. This research therefore examined physicians’ views on the optimal use and payment modalities for telemedicine. Methods Sixty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with physicians from 19 medical disciplines. Interviews were encoded using thematic analysis. Results Telephone and video televisits tend not to be used as a first patient contact, except for triage of patients in urgency situations. Several minimum required modalities for the payment system of televisits and telemonitoring were identified. For televisits these were: (i) remuneration of both telephone- and videovisits to increase healthcare equity, (ii) little or no differentiation between videovisit and in-person visit fee to make videovisits financially attractive and sustainable for physicians, (iii) differentiation of televisit fee per medical discipline, and (iv) quality requirements such as mandatory reporting in the patient’s medical file. The identified minimum required modalities for telemonitoring were: (i) an alternative payment scheme than fee-for-service, (ii) remunerating not only physicians but also other involved health professionals, (iii) designating and remunerating a coordinator, and (iv) distinguishing sporadic vs. continuously follow-up. Conclusions This research investigated the telemedicine usage behavior of physicians. Moreover, several minimum required modalities were identified for a physician-supported payment system of telemedicine, as these innovations necessitate challenging and innovation of the healthcare payment systems as well.

The pandemic and wartime in Ukraine confirmed the importance of cashless payments for financial stability. The purpose of the paper is to examine the effect of technological infrastructure and financial access factors on cashless economy development. The impact of the infrastructure factor is assessed in case of Ukraine, using NBU’s data on payment infrastructure during 2001–2022. The hypothesis of the boosting effect of financial access towards a cashless economy has been tested using the method of correlation between M0/M3 and different indicators of financial access (usage of essential technologies, financial services) based on data of World Bank, IMF, and Triple-A in 2021. The study’s results show that globally there is an almost linear relationship between the number of open financial accounts and the increase in the level of cashless (0.954). It is also revealed that the rise of the share of the population making electronic payments decreases the share of cash in the economy. It is determined that the spread of the crypto-assets has a significant impact on the reduction of cash in the economy (an increase in the share of the population operating with cryptocurrencies by 1% reduces the share of cash by 0.5%). Regarding regulatory policies, it is proposed to stimulate the coverage of the population with open financial accounts, making mandatory payments with electronic payment systems and developing their infrastructure.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is considering introducing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). According to studies, India's financial system plays a significant role in the execution of the CBDC. India is at the forefront of technological advancements in digital payment methods. The central banks that support CBDC's design concept are susceptible to adaptations to the evolution of economic and financial systems. This study will highlight the potential of CBDC to boost financial inclusion. Quantitative regression analysis is being used to quantify the potential drivers of financial sector efficiency and stability to measure the impact of CBDC implementation on financial inclusion. The central bank should build the CBDC utilizing the Structural Vector Auto-Regression model while considering payment system visibility. The proposed study can help to identify the lags in attaining financial inclusion in India and to design CBDC. The proposed study can also establish the policymakers' role in maximizing benefits to the consumers. The study establishes the potential role of RBI in the smooth functionality of implementing CBDC. The study brings out the trend of the payment system in India that opens up the possibility of positive implementation of CBDC and its welfare to percolate among consumers.

Abstract Background End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a major health concern and a large drain on healthcare resources. A wide range of payment methods are used for management of ESRD. The main aim of this study is to identify current payment methods for dialysis and their effects. Method In this scoping review Pubmed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched from 2000 until 2021 using appropriate search strategies. Retrieved articles were screened according to predefined inclusion criteria. Data about the study characteristics and study results were extracted by a pre-structured data extraction form; and were analyzed by a thematic analysis approach. Results Fifty-nine articles were included, the majority of them were published after 2011 (66%); all of them were from high and upper middle-income countries, especially USA (64% of papers). Fee for services, global budget, capitation (bundled) payments, and pay for performance (P4P) were the main reimbursement methods for dialysis centers; and FFS, salary, and capitation were the main methods to reimburse the nephrologists. Countries have usually used a combination of methods depending on their situations; and their methods have been further developed over time specially from the retrospective payment systems (RPS) towards the prospective payment systems (PPS) and pay for performance methods. The main effects of the RPS were undertreatment of unpaid and inexpensive services, and over treatment of payable services. The main effects of the PPS were cost saving, shifting the service cost outside the bundle, change in quality of care, risk of provider, and modality choice. Conclusion This study provides useful insights about the current payment systems for dialysis and the effects of each payment system; that might be helpful for improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare.

The article reveals the features of the payment infrastructure of cross-border trade between China and Russia on the background of geopolitical risks. The authors emphasize the importance of organization and mechanisms of mutual payments between the two states. The risks of using international payment and clearing systems for Russia and China are noted. The development of national payment systems and national systems of financial information transmission in these countries are analyzed. The role and the transformation of traditional forms of payment mechanisms in Russian-Chinese cross-border settlements are defined. The purpose of the article is to perform system analysis and evaluate existing payment schemes today in trade between Russia and China. Methods. In this research methods of logistical and statistical analysis were used, which helped identify key trends, individual problems and prospects from this perspective. Results. Due to the global economy fragmentation and increased international competition, a fundamental reorientation of approaches to the organization of international trade settlements takes place as a factor of reducing the vulnerabilities of foreign economic activity. Novelty. The authors have systematized in details various ways of Russian-Chinese cross-border settlements, using elements of national payment systems that influence intercountry trade turnover, reducing global threats to national economies.

The present research paper comes to shed light on the way the Bank of Algeria deals with liquidity problems in the Algerian system for immediate settlement, since its entry into execution in 2006 until 2020, and the extent to which it keeps pace with the mechanisms adopted by the rest of the other central banks in this field. Results show that the Bank of Algeria uses the waiting queue mechanism without having to activate it with resorting to the cash market and finally the daily facilities of the Bank of Algeria as a last lender.

Supermarket customers often encounter significant delays during checkout due to manual verification processes, wherein items are removed from the cart, handed over to the cashier, and individually scanned. To address this inefficiency, this paper introduces the design and development of an automatic payment system as part of a smart trolley solution aimed at expediting the verification process. Our goal is to develop an automatic moving trolley with smart payment devices to solve the problem. This system features a web-based payment application, which allows customers to scan their items using a barcode reader while shopping. After shopping, customers can review and confirm their items in the trolley and proceed to an exit room. Here, each item is individually verified using a camera and purchase finalization occurs. Our item verification method leverages object recognition using deep learning and similarity measurement with the structural similarity index (SSIM), which compares detected items to images stored in the supermarket's database. Our findings suggest the successful implementation of the proposed method and demonstrate that verification using the SSIM is a better alternative to traditional procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to the history of money and banking, the history of central banking is fairly brief and has been influenced by the development of modern nation states, by the economic environment and by technological advances. Accordingly, on-going innovations in digital technologies and the globalization of the economy are expected to have significant impacts on central banking in the future. Since all the core activities of central banking, such as the issuance of money, the operation of settlement systems, its function as lender of last resort and its monetary policy, are based upon "trust", its history has been, and its future will also be, closely linked to the most efficient framework in terms of building trust and reflecting changing technological and institutional conditions. Even though digital innovation may influence the styles of central banks in the future, the relevance and effectiveness of their payment and settlement infrastructures, their function as lenders of last resort and their monetary policies will be maintained. Besides, the need for risk-free central bank money will remain strong on account of its capacity to reduce risks in economic transactions, and central banks will have to continue making efforts to meet these demands through the enhancement of the utility of their infrastructure, including real-time gross settlement systems. Regarding central bank digital currencies, many issues require further examination. The future of central banking will be closely interlinked with that of nation states and depends on its capacity to identify the ideal mode of utilizing information and data in the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify the financing and policy challenges for Medicare and universal health care in Australia, as well as opportunities for whole‐of‐system strengthening. Study design: Review of publications on Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and the universal health care system in Australia published 1 January 2000 – 14 August 2021 that reported quantitative or qualitative research or data analyses, and of opinion articles, debates, commentaries, editorials, perspectives, and news reports on the Australian health care system published 1 January 2015 – 14 August 2021. Program‐, intervention‐ or provider‐specific articles, and publications regarding groups not fully covered by Medicare (eg, asylum seekers, prisoners) were excluded. Data sources MEDLINE Complete, the Health Policy Reference Centre, and Global Health databases (all via EBSCO); the Analysis & Policy Observatory, the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, the Australian Public Affairs Information Service, Google, Google Scholar, and the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) websites. Results: The problems covered by the 76 articles included in our review could be grouped under seven major themes: fragmentation of health care and lack of integrated health financing, access of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to health services and essential medications, reform proposals for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the burden of out‐of‐pocket costs, inequity, public subsidies for private health insurance, and other challenges for the Australian universal health care system. Conclusions: A number of challenges threaten the sustainability and equity of the universal health care system in Australia. As the piecemeal reforms of the past twenty years have been inadequate for meeting these challenges, more effective, coordinated approaches are needed to improve and secure the universality of public health care in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]