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Warming and drying trends in the Mediterranean Basin exacerbate regional water scarcity and threaten agricultural production, putting global food security at risk. This study aimed to review the most significant research on future water availability for the Mediterranean agricultural sector under climate change (CC) scenarios published during 2009–2024. Two searches were performed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, to which previously identified significant studies from different periods were also added. By applying a methodology duly protocoled in the PRISMA2020-based guideline, a final number of 44 particularly relevant studies was selected for review. A bibliometric analysis has shown that most of the published research was focused on Southwestern European countries (i.e., Spain, Italy, Portugal) and grapevine and olive tree crops. Overall, the reviewed studies state that future Mediterranean water reserves may not meet agricultural water demands, due to reduced reservoir inflows and higher irrigation demands under future CC and socioeconomic scenarios. Regarding adaptation measures to improve water-use management in agriculture, the majority of the reviewed studies indicate that the use of integrated modelling platforms and decision–support systems can significantly contribute to the development and implementation of improved water/land-management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the alignment of research on small island developing states (SIDSs) with sustainable development goals (SDGs), identifying key focus areas, interdisciplinary connections, research gaps, thematic clusters, and insights from case studies. By employing a mixed methods research design that combines quantitative scientometric analysis with qualitative case studies, this unique study examines the nexus between SIDS research and its contribution to SDGs. The findings reveal that SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 14 (life below water) dominate SIDS research, emphasizing the need to address climate challenges and marine biodiversity. Economic aspects are underscored by SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), while urban development and inequality are addressed through SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). Renewable energy and food security are focal points in SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG 2 (zero hunger). Moderate research outputs in SDG 3 (good health and well-being) and SDG 15 (life on land) suggest a holistic approach, while lower activity in SDGs 16 (peace), 6 (clean water), 4 (education), and 5 (gender) presents opportunities for further exploration. SIDS research is highly interdisciplinary, as seen through three distinct SDG networks: foundational social goals, economic and environmental objectives, and environmental preservation. The thematic clusters in SIDS research include environmental challenges and adaptation, public health, and socioeconomic development, and energy policy and environmental economics. Case studies from various SIDSs illustrate the complex interplay between environmental sustainability, economic development, and social well-being, highlighting the importance of tailored approaches, international cooperation, and local community engagement. These findings underscore the need for integrated research strategies to address the complex challenges of SIDSs, emphasizing climate action, sustainable economic practices, and comprehensive development approaches to achieve the SDGs effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the transformative potential of fourth industrial revolution (called Industry 4.0) technologies in the context of poverty elimination, with a particular focus on Africa. Given the multidimensional nature of poverty, which spans economic, social, and environmental aspects, there is a critical need for innovative and sustainable solutions. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review to identify how recent advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, blockchain, big data, and 5G can be harnessed to address various facets of poverty. Drawing on insights from existing research and expert opinions, we propose a conceptual framework that integrates these technologies with strategic policy interventions, infrastructure development, and capacity building. The paper proposes a framework that illustrates the prerequisite requirements before adopting Industry 4.0 technologies in poverty elimination efforts. This framework aims to ensure that the benefits of technological innovations are accessible to the most vulnerable populations, thereby contributing to the broader goals of socioeconomic development and poverty reduction. The work shows that while Industry 4.0 presents a critical opportunity for sustainable development and poverty elimination in Africa, it needs to have essential capacities to optimize the use of observations, visualizations, and mindset management before or when adopting the first stage of Industry 4.0 solutions for poverty elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the coronavirus pandemic has now faded into the background, the global crisis caused by COVID-19 has had the most devastating impacts worldwide. Given the potential relapse of such unexpected and uncertain events, it is vital to specify the patterns thereof and develop proactive measures for the countries to acquire an advanced readiness to deal with the related incidents. The most infected countries faced an increase in business bankruptcies, unemployment and inflation rates, low production volumes, and a decline in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). To withstand such socioeconomic consequences, the countries had to employ a number of measures, with innovation development acceleration being one. This paper aims to assess the dependency of an increase in GDP and a decrease in inflation and unemployment rates on the country-level growth of innovation development according to such Global Innovation Index (GII) pillars as institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication, business sophistication, knowledge and technology outputs, and creative outputs. The conducted research analysis covered the period from 2019 to 2022 based on the data for the GII pillar development level and economic performance indicators for 20 countries from five socioeconomic models. Descriptive and comparative statistics as well as correlation and regression analysis were used to prove the innovation development to be a key driver in increasing GDP and reducing inflation. To increase the GDP value, special attention should be paid to such GII pillars as institutions and human capital and research, while infrastructure and human capital and research are the pillars to reduce the inflation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring universal access to water is a global goal, closely intertwined with the achievement of many other sustainable development goals. The increasing global demand for water, however, poses serious risks to the sustainability of our water supplies. Reduced food security, environmental degradation, economic productivity losses, reduced incomes, poor health, and impeded education, especially for children, are only some of the many consequences of water scarcity. Therefore, to measure water deficiency, the study constructed an improved Water Poverty Index (iWPI) using multivariate Principal Component Analysis (PCA) analysis. The iWPI takes into account dimensions of water resource availability, water access, societal capacity to address water-related issues, water-use patterns, and environmental water needs. The findings indicate that the capacity component holds the greatest significance in the iWPI, followed by resources. Multiple regression analysis to examine the impact of water scarcity on socioeconomic development revealed that access to water and the ability to manage water resources have the greatest impact on the countries' levels of socioeconomic development. The research upholds the correlation between accessibility to water and socioeconomic development and thus can be used for policy prescriptions for improving the socioeconomic growth of nations through addressing the channels contributing to water poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the evolving theoretical divide within the field of International Political Economy (IPE), focusing on the debate between the advocates of new globalization and critics from the anti-globalization perspective. By conducting an integrative review of the contemporary literature, we explore the foundational theories, core components, and primary theorists of both perspectives, aiming to understand their predictions for future global dynamics. The investigation reveals a polarization in theoretical orientation, reflecting divergent views on the implications of globalization. Through a critical analysis, the paper identifies the liberal international order and the respective contemporary neo-Marxist viewpoints as central to the debate, evaluating their critiques and contributions to understanding the new globalization's trajectory. We suggest a synthesis of these perspectives, positing that the future of globalization—or "new globalization"—will be influenced by structural changes in global power dynamics, ongoing crises, and technological progress. This is encapsulated in the "evolutionary structural triptych" (EST) approach, which perceives the world economy as an evolutionary result of political, economic, and technological structures, which correspondingly reposition the objectives of stability, growth, and innovation in the new emerging era. In conclusion, we advocate for a balanced approach to globalization, emphasizing the need for policies that promote fairness, sustainability, and cooperation in the changing global environment. This leads to the re-introduction of an appealing concept for globalization's future: a new, realistic, open, and innovative global liberalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation is an indispensable element in any sphere of social life, offering new vision on the primary challenges in global and Russian development, particularly at the regional level. Numerous studies acknowledge the significant role of the regional innovation system as a crucial point of development of regional potential. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the core role of universities in fostering innovative regional systems and establishing the link between universities and regional innovation. The correlation was identified by building a model, using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The results showed that the regions with the most active universities-driven innovation include the Moscow region, the Arkhangelsk region, St. Petersburg, the Republic of Mordovia, the Republic of Tatarstan, the Perm region, the Amur region, and the Magadan region.

The purpose of this study is to examine ethnic variations in population fertility in the 1950–1960s, formed in the context of socio-economic development of Kazakhstan. The 1959, 1970, 1989 population censuses, and statistical almanacks “National Economy of Kazakhstan” became the source base of this research. The theory of modernization, interpreted as the transition from traditional to modern society and reflecting the details of ethnically differentiated process of demographic development of Kazakhstan in the mid-20th century provided the methodological basis of the research. Ethnic differentiation within the settlement system and socio-economic activities that developed in Kazakhstan in the 1950–1960s led to ethnically distinct birth rates among Kazakhs and Russians. The demographic potential acquired by Kazakhs in the middle of the 20th century became the demographic basis of sovereign Kazakhstan.

Abstract Internationalisation is a way for companies' growth and economic development in transition economies with the potential to contribute to a more sustainable world. Social and solidarity economy cooperatives (SSECs) have a lower internationalisation trend than developed economy companies due to their aversion to possible economic losses and lack of knowledge of the global market. This study aims to propose an internationalisation model for non-financial SSECs through factor analysis and evolutionary genetic computing to improve structural competitiveness within the framework of sustainable development in an emerging country. The study methodology includes: (1) information analysis related to internationalisation indicators; (2) statistical analysis of variables from the national survey of popular and solidarity economy organisations; (3) internationalisation model through a genetic algorithm; and (4) strategies related to sustainability. The results show internationalisation models with significant indicators such as number of partners, social capital, social benefit, access to international markets and employment. These models have goodness of fit with a high degree of precision (> 80%) and are a novel proposal to estimate the internationalisation of social capital cooperatives.

The continuation of the war and the resulting significant losses in the functional capacity of the country’s territories, its human, economic, infrastructural, environmental, and other potentials have long-term negative consequences and limitations on the future development of both individual regions and the country as a whole. The objective reality of the existing problems requires the development and implementation of certain measures in order to minimize the negative consequences of these challenges on the existence and development of any territories in Ukraine. Of relevance are the development of the security space and infrastructure for the functioning of the country and its regions; the need for planning the development and recovery of the affected areas; creating conditions for the return of Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced persons; formation of safe living conditions; full access to all public services; restoration of functioning and competitiveness of local, regional and national economies, etc. In the face of the challenges caused by the war, these issues have become more specific, aimed at finding ways to rebuild the affected territories of the country, in particular in the post-war period. Analysis and generalization of approaches to the introduction of the components of the recovery mechanism into regional development, determination of its functional orientedness and principles of organization allow us to propose components of the mechanism for recovering the socioeconomic development of the regions of Ukraine in the post-war period, taking into account the security capabilities of both the State and the region. The peculiarity of the study is the formation of components of the mechanism for recovering the socioeconomic development of the regions of Ukraine in the post-war period on the basis of allocation of two kinds of groups: the main groups that correspond to the problem situations of the region and determine the directions of recovery; the auxiliary, or supportive groups, which help in the implementation of the main ones, thereby increasing the impact on solving problem situations. This allows, on the one hand, to generalize the structural elements of the mechanism, and on the other hand, to specify their use depending on functional feasibility. The stage-by-stage distribution of the components of the mechanism for recovering the socioeconomic development of the regions of Ukraine in the post-war period allows them to be grouped taking into account functional capabilities, which makes the mechanism more effective and purposeful in the process of practical implementation.

Catastrophic events like COVID-19 cause substantial material losses and significant harm to the public. However, such events may also accelerate socioeconomic developments such as increased digitalization of economic and societal activities, including e-government services. These services become especially critical in crisis situations , providing a vehicle for administrative responses and ensuring social and economic functioning. This paper reports on a pilot study on the impact of COVID-19 on the demand for and the provision of e-government services in a municipality in Poland. Interviews with city administrators and technical staff involved in providing e-government services during COVID-19 are the primary data sources. Issues identified relate to changes in work regulations, adjustments to operations, shifts in volume and types of services, and changes in employee attitudes and behaviors. Employing focusing event theory in interpreting the results, this paper contributes to the literature on information and communication technologies, especially e-government in local administrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan's economy since its creation has remained heavily dependent on foreign aid, especially to manage the ever‐widening gap between the available financial resources, development expenditure, fiscal deficit, and current account deficit. This article critically evaluates the effectiveness of foreign aid in Pakistan from 2000 to 2022 via an in‐depth literature review and the rational actor model (RAM). Furthermore, a mixed‐method approach based on descriptive quantitative and in‐depth qualitative research methods was adopted for this study. The article demonstrates that RAM can assist policy makers, enabling them to make decisions vis‐à‐vis foreign aid while safeguarding national interests, particularly economic interests. However, this study finds that for Pakistan to achieve sustainable economic growth, increasing exports and attracting more foreign direct investment hold greater potential than continued reliance on foreign aid. In conclusion, the article prescribes policy measures to restructure Pakistan's political system to foster socioeconomic development through trade liberalization and good governance. Related Articles: Asongu, Simplice A., and Joseph Nnanna. 2019. "Foreign Aid, Instability, and Governance in Africa." Politics & Policy 47(4): 807–48. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12320. Dobransky, Steve. 2014. "Violators amongst Us: International Regimes and the Role of Compliance, a Case Study on Official Development Assistance." Politics & Policy 42(4): 593–634. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12082. Scarlato, Margherita, and Giorgio d'Agostino. 2019. "The Political Dimension of Cash Transfers in Latin America and Sub‐Saharan Africa: A Comparative Perspective." Politics & Policy 47(6): 1125–55. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12332. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a qualitative investigation examining the changing role of culture in Thailand’s development policies of the last sixty years. This investigation aimed to be the first to study and analyze the cultural policies that appear under the National Economic and Social Development Plans of Thailand in order to show the connection between the cultural content, related strategies, and consequences of cultural policy. Primary and secondary documents were studied to analyze the focus on cultural initiatives within government policy and identify patterns of development over time. The research team used content and discourse analysis methods to examine the social context and construction of identity through cultural policies by the Thai national government. The results found that initial excursions into cultural policy were purely on the terms of the early state-builders, as they sought to unify and harmonize the nation. From these early examples of statism, the government then became more actively involved in cultural homogenization as they included multiculturalism as a particular focus during the 1980s. Most recently, culture has been used to boost the economy and react to globalizing influences within Thai society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the implementation and use of blockchain technology in diverse sectors throughout Africa. The blockchain technology has garnered international recognition owing to its capacity to revolutionize business operations, improve transparency, and foster socioeconomic progress. Nevertheless, the application of this technology in Africa presents distinct challenges and possibilities. By employing both firsthand observations and a review of the existing literature, this study seeks to present a thorough understanding of the present status, obstacles, and potential linked to the integration of blockchain technology in Africa. This paper draws upon perspectives from various reputable sources within the realm of blockchain technology integration. The objective of this paper is to provide a nuanced understanding of the hurdles, possibilities, and factors that impact the adoption of blockchain technology in Africa. This study adds to the current body of literature by illuminating the unique circumstances surrounding blockchain adoption on the African continent, thereby enhancing the global conversation on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article gives a comparative assessment of the features and trends in the development of urban agglomerations of the Russian Federation in 2015–2021 based on a set of key socioeconomic indicators. A special feature of the study is the testing of a method for assessing the level of economic development of urban agglomerations using data from the Russian Federal Tax Service on the volume of tax revenues. The analysis confirms that urban agglomerations make an extremely high contribution to the economic development of the country and continue to form the basis for growth of the tax economy. The largest contribution to country development indicators is still made by the largest Moscow urban agglomeration; the concentration of resources within its borders has only increased in recent years. The differentiation of the remaining urban agglomerations among themselves is great, and their total contribution in a number of indicators is comparable to that of the Moscow urban agglomeration. Urban agglomerations with pronounced industrial specialization show the best economic results, but development of the economic complex in them does not have an incentivizing effect on the growth of labor market indicators, household incomes and, as a consequence, service sectors. The least developed urban agglomerations remain those with a high role of shadow sectors in the economy and those that were administratively appointed rather than allocated as a result of natural development (Ulan-Ude, Penza, and Ryazan urban agglomerations). Such urban agglomerations are located in regions of the country with a depressed economic situation. Reduced values are also typical of many urban agglomerations of the Volga region. Within individual urban agglomerations, there is a clear manifestation of center–periphery differences in most indicators; however, the study showed that the level of development of urban agglomeration cores and suburbs is not always high, and the positive influence of the urban agglomeration core rarely extends beyond the near belt. The results of the study give grounds to propose a narrower approach when delimiting the boundaries of urban agglomerations, and also prove that current government measures for the development of urban agglomerations in the country (except for Moscow urban agglomeration) have not yet had a significant impact on accelerating economic growth and expanding the geography of influence of agglomeration factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of crude oil in a number of Sub‐Saharan African countries resulted in resource expansion that tends to have great implications for the socioeconomic development of the region. Deep poverty and low standards of living are still prevalent, in spite of the oil boom. On this premises, a panel study of six Sub‐Saharan African countries is undertaken for the period between 1983 and 2020. The goal is to identify the best ways to reduce overdependency on resource (crude oil) and enhance the socioeconomic situation of the selected countries. The linear (augmented mean group) approach and nonlinear (nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag) with relevant variables (Agricultural sector, crude oil price, government expenditure, official exchange rate, foreign direct investment, inflow, GDP, and trade openness) are employed in this study for the selected countries. The findings from both Augmented Mean Group and Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag and Granger causality attest to the resources curse on the socioeconomic development of the six countries through the contraction of their respective agricultural sectors. Crude oil price (proxy for the oil sector), trade openness, and real exchange rate are in particular found to have a negative influence on the agricultural sector. However, direct foreign investment in the agricultural sector in oil‐rich economies in Sub‐Saharan Africa is having a positive impact. This can be linked to over‐dependence on rising oil exports, which tends to crowd out non‐oil (agricultural) exports. Hence, a resource‐based policy targeted at diversification of the economies through revenue generated from crude oil is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internationalisation is a way for companies' growth and economic development in transition economies with the potential to contribute to a more sustainable world. Social and solidarity economy cooperatives (SSECs) have a lower internationalisation trend than developed economy companies due to their aversion to possible economic losses and lack of knowledge of the global market. This study aims to propose an internationalisation model for non-financial SSECs through factor analysis and evolutionary genetic computing to improve structural competitiveness within the framework of sustainable development in an emerging country. The study methodology includes: (1) information analysis related to internationalisation indicators; (2) statistical analysis of variables from the national survey of popular and solidarity economy organisations; (3) internationalisation model through a genetic algorithm; and (4) strategies related to sustainability. The results show internationalisation models with significant indicators such as number of partners, social capital, social benefit, access to international markets and employment. These models have goodness of fit with a high degree of precision (> 80%) and are a novel proposal to estimate the internationalisation of social capital cooperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the problems of determining the methodological bases for the development of the country’s tax policy. The institutional powers of the main regulators of tax policy are defined. These regulators, when interacting, must comply with the criteria of Nash equilibrium in order to ensure sustainable socioeconomic development. The principles of formation and implementation of tax policy are characterized, in particular, fiscal sufficiency, social justice, efficiency, effectiveness, stability, adaptability and neutrality in relation to the level of competitiveness of the payer. A two-stage algorithm for determining the efficiency and effectiveness of tax policy has been proposed. The specifics of planning and forecasting activities in the system of tax regulation of socioeconomic development are disclosed, the need for permanent improvement of the methodology of medium-term planning of tax revenues and introduction of scenario modeling is substantiated. The need to assess the financial solvency of taxpayers in order to build realistic forecasts and plans is emphasized. The reasons for the occurrence of transaction costs associated with the administration of taxes are disclosed, a methodical approach to their distribution into ex ante and ex post expenses is substantiated. The features of the formation of tax policy under the conditions of further implementation of the reform of fiscal decentralization and taking into account Samuelson’s «randomness theorem» are determined. The need to find optimal parameters for the distribution of revenues from the payment of national taxes between the State and local budgets is emphasized. The role of the information component in the environment of development and implementation of tax policy is defined. The basic characteristics of the architecture of effective tax administration are determined. Promising directions of digitalization of tax administration have been identified, taking into account the peculiarities of the architectonics of fiscal space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans and elephants inevitably encounter competition over resources in the elephant habitat. Due to different social development conditions, there may be differences in how humans and elephants coexist in different regions, mainly reflected in the attitude toward elephant conservation and the ability to cope with conflicts. By comparing human-elephant conflicts in different regions, it helps to explore the long-term coexistence path between humans and elephants. This paper selects the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in China, the habitat of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), and the Nyerere-Selous-Mikumi region in Tanzania, the habitat of African steppe elephants (Loxodonta africana), as the study area, and assesses the current situation of human-elephant conflict in the study area through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, to understand the residents' perception of the conflict and the willingness of residents to protect elephants, and empirically analyze the factors affecting the residents' willingness to protect. The results showed that the types of human-elephant conflicts in the Xishuangbanna (China) and the surrounding areas of the Nyerere-Selous-Mikumi ecosystem in Tanzania were similar, and the respondents in the Xishuangbanna region (China) suffered more losses but had a stronger willingness to protect elephants. Besides, residents that are less impacted by conflict, have higher household incomes and more diversified livelihood sources are likely to have a stronger willingness to protect the elephant. This study emphasizes the role of socioeconomic development and governance capacity enhancement in mitigating human-elephant conflict, providing a richer perspective on the governance of human-elephant conflict.

ObjectivesHealth policy attention (HPA) refers to the extent of attention given by governments to health issues in public policy and is generally influenced by socioeconomic development. This study aimed to examine the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and clustering of the associations between socioeconomic factors and HPA.Study designLongitudinal study.MethodsThis study examined the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the association between public and provincial government attention, economic development, and demographic transition and HPA by using geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR). Word2Vec machine learning technology was utilized to calculate HPA data in 323 cities and independent variable data was collected in each city in China over the period of 2018–2021.ResultsThe results showed that there is a substantial overall rise in HPA levels throughout China following the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the GTWR results revealed significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the associations between HPA and public and provincial government attention, economic development, and demographic transition, particularly in the context of COVID-19. The impact of provincial government attention on HPA decreased from the capital of the political center outward, while the impact of public financial investment decreased in less developed cities during the pandemic. It was only cities with high levels of aging are more likely to receive greater HPA.ConclusionThe finding highlighted the remarkable spatial and temporal variations in the associations between the variables and HPA across different regions in China, emphasizing the need for region-specific policies to strengthen the focus on health by municipal governments.

This study explores the transformative potential of fourth industrial revolution (called Industry 4.0) technologies in the context of poverty elimination, with a particular focus on Africa. Given the multidimensional nature of poverty, which spans economic, social, and environmental aspects, there is a critical need for innovative and sustainable solutions. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review to identify how recent advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, blockchain, big data, and 5G can be harnessed to address various facets of poverty. Drawing on insights from existing research and expert opinions, we propose a conceptual framework that integrates these technologies with strategic policy interventions, infrastructure development, and capacity building. The paper proposes a framework that illustrates the prerequisite requirements before adopting Industry 4.0 technologies in poverty elimination efforts. This framework aims to ensure that the benefits of technological innovations are accessible to the most vulnerable populations, thereby contributing to the broader goals of socioeconomic development and poverty reduction. The work shows that while Industry 4.0 presents a critical opportunity for sustainable development and poverty elimination in Africa, it needs to have essential capacities to optimize the use of observations, visualizations, and mindset management before or when adopting the first stage of Industry 4.0 solutions for poverty elimination.

This study explored the prospects of millet farming as a sustainable livelihood option for tribal farmers in Kerala, India. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research was conducted among 600 tribal framers in the Idukki district, assessing their socioeconomic profiles, the extent of millet cultivation, engagement with government schemes, and the challenges they face. The findings indicated that millet farming is deeply rooted in the cultural practices of these communities but is primarily pursued for subsistence due to limited market access, financial constraints, and inadequate knowledge of value addition and processing techniques, The study suggested that targeted policy interventions, including enhanced education and training, financial support, imp roved market linkages, and promotion of sustainable farming practices, are essential to unlock the full potential of millet framing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focused on the quality assessment of national project management in the Russian Federation as one of the most significant tools aimed at implementing an effective policy for socioeconomic development. The hypothesis was that increased investment in national programmes and their prioritisation in the framework of public administration could improve socioeconomic development in Russia. The human development index (HDI), which directly assesses the level of human development in different countries based on indicators such as life expectancy, education, and well-being, shows this level. This research aimed to assess the efficiency of Russian socioeconomic programmes based on an independent analysis of the HDI. The authors highlight the urgent need for improvement and articulate the range of potential challenges and solutions through a statistical analysis of the correlation between the HDI and indicators of project management costs in Russia and a regression evaluation of project implementation indicators. When implemented, these recommendations can improve the spending efficiency of federal funds, estimated at 8.5 trillion rubles, as well as regional and local funds allocated for executing national projects.

As young people are a vulnerable group, the prevalence of mental disorders in the population has been rapidly increasing in recent years. Not only are young people more at risk from mental disorders, but their lifelong burden accumulates for an extended period. Currently, the scale of the problem is enormous. Thus, various organisations and interest groups sound the alarm about the ongoing mental health crisis. This study aims to investigate the scale of youth mental health crisis in the context of socioeconomic development. The focus is on the burden on society, the economy, and progress as the underlying problems. The assessment is performed by literature studies and exploratory data analysis that allow for highlighting the ongoing tendencies and new phenomena concerning risk factors and mental disorders of young people, both globally and focusing on the Polish perspective, as well as evaluating the availability of mental healthcare in Poland, Europe, and the world. The results indicate that mental health and well-being have not been considered healthcare priorities for a long time. In particular, three issues deserve special attention in the youth mental health crisis context. Firstly, addictions, especially Internet- and smartphone-related behavioural dependences, are becoming a global pandemic among young people. Secondly, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be catastrophic for the mental health of children and adolescents. Finally, the available mental healthcare and its quality are inadequate to meet the growing needs of young people in the modern world.

This article presents the newly introduced model for EU policy-making, based on combined ‘bottom-up’ and ‘place-based’ approaches by establishing rural science-society-policy interfaces – Multi-Actor Platforms (MAPs). MAPs are open forums for exchanging relevant ideas in solving region’s most urgent place-based challenges, performing co-learning, and acting as knowledge co-creation platforms for the contribution of creating reflective research and policy agendas for the future of Europe’s rural areas. The main aim of this paper is to explore the challenges and prospects for the determinants of socioeconomic development (i.e., entrepreneurship, social economy, and sustainable and resilient value chains) in rural areas, based on SHERPA science-society-policy interface co-learning and co-creation results in Lithuanian MAP. Research results show that the combined bottom-up and place-based approaches with the help of regional MAPs as science-society-policy rural interfaces hold high potential to be applied to develop reflective research and policy agendas for the regions in the EU.

The aim of this article is to analyze and model the factors of socioeconomic development of the regions of Ukraine, taking into account the peculiarities of the influence of information and communication technologies (ICT). The article is directed towards identifying the relationship between various aspects of regional development and the introduction of ICT, as well as determining the role of these technologies in increasing the competitiveness and sustainable development of regional economies. One of the tasks is to reveal the importance of information technology for the effective management of regional development and to develop recommendations on strategies for improving the efficiency of the use of ICT in order to promote sustainable development of the regions of Ukraine. In order to determine the generalized factors of socioeconomic development of regions and to establish the impact of ICT on this development, a model of the main components has been built, which has allowed to transform the 16-dimensional feature space into a four-dimensional space of generalized factors that explain 88.7% of the variation of the features selected for analysis. This indicates a high level of factorization of the built model of principal components. The following generalized factors have been identified and ranked according to the degree of importance: 1) development of ICT and labor potential (impact: 39.9%); 2) the state of finance and investment (impact: 14.4%); 3) development of production (impact: 24.7%); 4) the results of the functioning of enterprises (impact: 9.6%). The computations were carried out using the «Statistica» application package, in particular the «Factor analysis» module. The use of the developed model made it possible to prevent subjectivism in determining the main factors of socioeconomic development of the regions of Ukraine. The carried out research allowed to substantiate the theoretical and methodological foundations of statistical modeling of factors of socioeconomic development of regions and to determine the role (impact) of ICT. The allocated factors can be taken as a basis for the formation of key directions and strategies for the development of regions, as well as for making effective managerial decisions in the field of ICT.

The article formulates the priorities of the tax policy of socioeconomic development of territorial communities under the influence of endo- and exogenous factors of its implementation. In the course of the study, general scientific and special research methods were used: analysis and synthesis, the method of causal analysis, methods of systematization and logical generalization, as well as the method of SWOT analysis. Their application made it possible to identify and systematize the problems of implementation of tax policy in the context of ensuring the socioeconomic development of territorial communities in Ukraine, taking into account the regulatory, organizational, economic, managerial and regulatory aspects. The method of SWOT analysis identifies obstacles and opportunities, weaknesses and strengths of the implementation of tax policy aimed at the development of individual territories of the country. According to its results, the priorities of the tax policy of socioeconomic development of territorial communities are determined. It is proposed that the implementation of these priorities of the tax policy of socioeconomic development of territorial communities of Ukraine, taking into account its administrative-territorial structure and differences in the natural-resource, production-sectoral and socioeconomic provision of individual territories, should take place primarily at the local level, which will help to form «development centers», the economic growth of which, according to the principle of diffusion, will spread to the regional and national levels. It is expected that the identified priorities will help to improve the existing tax policy, contributing to increasing the tax potential of budgets of cities, the formation of a business environment, and improving the tax culture both at the level of the population and at the level of competent local authorities, as well as the growth of social awareness and participation in the economic development of territorial communities.

Since the new century, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has managed to sustain stable economic growth, drawing global attention due to its robust performance. Nighttime light (NTL) observations have been recognized as a useful tool for monitoring the long-term socioeconomic development trends over large areas. Therefore, this study focused on analyzing the spatial and temporal distribution of NTL data in ASEAN countries from 2000 to 2022. The results reveal that NTL data are closely correlated with four key socioeconomic factors, including population, gross domestic product, industrial output, and service industry output. This demonstrates the viability of using NTL data as a proxy for assessing socioeconomic development levels in ASEAN countries. The study also observes significant variations in the spatial distribution of NTL within the ASEAN. Since 2000, there has been a continuous increase in NTL data across ASEAN countries, with a particularly rapid growth phase commencing post-2010. Notably, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam exhibited the fastest growth rates, with annual averages of 15.79%, 14.95%, and 14.81%, respectively. Furthermore, the relative changes in NTL values in ASEAN countries significantly surpassed those observed in South Korea, Japan, and the United States. The main reasons may be the implementation of open policies, optimized industrial structure, enhanced infrastructure development, and abundant labor resources in ASEAN countries. The insights from this study provide local governments and policymakers with a scientific basis to inform regional sustainable development planning in ASEAN countries, highlighting the importance of integrating NTL data analysis in socioeconomic development strategies.

Assessing the socioeconomic development of rural areas is important for the targeted implementation of rural revitalization in China, especially after three years of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. However, the influence of COVID-19 on socioeconomic development in rural areas remains unclear. Therefore, this paper constructed a comprehensive socioeconomic development index (SEDI) by considering county-level statistics on natural environment, social resources, and economy as proxies for assessing local socioeconomic development, and analyzed the influence of COVID-19 from the changing pattern of SEDI before and after COVID-19, with Wumeng Mountain (WM) area as the study case. In response to the absence and untimeliness of statistics, we employed both nighttime light (NTL) and land use/land cover (LULC) features to fill in these missing SEDIs from 2013 to 2022, using random forest regression. With the assistance of LULC, the overall R2 increased from 0.7763 to 0.9056, and the estimation accuracy improved in 36 out of 38 counties. All counties in WM experienced an increase in SEDI, and the growth rate did not slow down, proving the effective implementation of rural revitalization strategy. Also, the spatial clustering pattern remained relatively stable. These findings provide scientific foundations for the local government to assess comprehensive development and formulate policies.

Currently, the main strategic drivers of regional development often include innovation and diversification. Activities that lie at the intersection of these directions or combine them, i.e., in essence, innovation-based diversification, appear promising. For the resource sector of the economy and raw materials regions, such diversification means the development of knowledge-intensive suppliers and high-tech services, including within specialized clusters. In the context of the increasing complexity of the resource base of the oil and gas sector and pressure from sanctions, these problems are becoming increasingly urgent for Russia. A useful example is the formation of a competitive oil industry cluster in southern Tyumen oblast. The article shows that a cluster can become an important factor in the socioeconomic development of the region. At the same time, the long-term contribution of R&D to the economic growth of the region can only be ensured with a significant share of innovative projects (knowledge-intensive, with high added value) that respond to all new challenges associated with changes in the main assets of the Western Siberian oil and gas sector—the resource base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The United Nations has adopted a set of 17 interlocking Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2015–2030. This commentary discusses how alcohol and other drugs have been dealt with and discussed in the context of the Goals, and issues raised by the relationship and history of how alcohol and other drug use and problems relate to development. Material and methods: A cross-section of discussions of alcohol and drugs in the context of the SDGs is considered, and evidence considered on the relationship and history of alcohol and drug use and problems to development. Results: While alcohol and narcotic drugs are mentioned in the SDG Targets, there has been little consideration of what effects attaining the goals may have on levels of alcohol and other drug consumption and problems. In cross-sectional comparisons, there are higher average levels of consumption of alcohol and controlled drugs in richer societies, and among richer than poorer individuals. But the harm per unit of use tends to be lower for richer individuals, and in richer societies. We consider how these two contrary trends may apply with socioeconomic development, given that development has often brought increases in substance use, and societal responses to limit the harms are often delayed by a generation or more, often resulting in 'long waves' of consumption and associated harms. Conclusions: To take alcohol and other drugs coherently into account in the Sustainable Development Goals, along with recognising that they are marketable and sometimes useful products, and thus involved to some extent in economic development, there needs to be action at national and international levels which recognises their double-sided nature—including market controls on commercial products to channel and limit availability and minimise harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use change and water supply–demand assessment are critical to achieving regional sustainable development and improving human wellbeing. In the context of complex climate change and socioeconomic development, there is an urgent need for systematic assessment and forecasting studies on how to combine physical, geographical, and socioeconomic factors to clarify patterns of change in the land use change and water supply–demand, as well as to respond appropriately to different climate and socioeconomic development scenarios in the future. Based on the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways-Representative Concentration Pathway (SSP-RCP) scenarios, a framework for simulating future land use change and assessing water supply–demand in the coupled SD-PLUS-InVEST model was constructed. The land use change in Guizhou Province from 2020 to 2050 was simulated using the SD-PLUS model, and the water supply–demand conditions were projected for 2030, 2040, and 2050 under multiple scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585). The research results indicated that (1) The land use change in the study area has significant spatial heterogeneity. It showed similar trends in the land use change in the SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios, with both artificial surfaces and forest showing an expansion trend, but the expansion of forest was most typical in the southwestern region in the SSP126 scenario, and there is a significant increase in the northeastern region in the SSP245 scenario. Additionally, there is a rapid expansion of artificial surfaces in the central region in the SSP585 scenario, and a more rapid expansion of cultivated land in the southeastern region, with a significant increase in the area of water bodies. (2) The changes in water supply from 2020 to 2050 under the three scenarios show a smaller increase (5.22–11.88%), a significant increase in water demand (29.45–58.84%), and an increase in the area of water shortage by about 2708.94–9084.40 km2, with the extent of the shortage increasing by about 23.71–79.50%. (3) According to the results of the SSP-RCP scenario projections, socioeconomic development has a significant impact on the growth of water demand, and climate and land use change may exacerbate the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of water supply–demand in the karst region. The systematic study of land use change and water supply–demand in Guizhou can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable management of regional ecosystems and the rational allocation of land and water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Driven by rapid socioeconomic development over recent decades, there are widening income inequalities and subjective health disparities among older adults in China. This study explored the relationship between income inequalities and self‐rated healthy life expectancy (HLE) considering potential sex‐specific differences. Methods: From a cohort of 1760 individuals aged ≥60 years from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1997–2006), we calculated age‐specific life expectancy (LE), HLE and the proportion of HLE to LE (HLE/LE) by sex using the IMaCh software, incorporated time‐varying income levels of older adults. Results: Although longevity has significantly improved, the well‐being of Chinese older adults could be further enhanced by assessing HLE, as the results showed that at age 60 years, ~20% of their LE was characterized by unhealthiness. Discriminated by economic status, lower‐income individuals experienced worse self‐rated health compared with the general population and affluent counterparts. For instance, at age 60 years, the LE, HLE and HLE/LE of low‐income men were 19.8 (95% CI 18.4–21.1), 16.2 years (95% CI 15.0–17.5) and 81.8%, respectively, lower than their general (21.7, 95% CI: 20.4–23.0; 18.0, 95% CI 16.8–19.2; and 82.9%) and high‐income counterparts (25.1, 95% CI 23.1–27.2; 21.4, 95% CI 19.5–23.3; and 85.3%). Sex disparities were noticeable among low‐income individuals in HLE/LE, with low‐income women showing the most significant disadvantage. Conclusions: Income inequalities exacerbated subjective health disparities among older adults, particularly among lower‐income individuals and women. Our findings carry significant implications for formulating public health and social welfare strategies, especially in nations grappling with an aging population and undergoing parallel socioeconomic development. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 109–115. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present result is directly associated with the Infrastructure Strengthening Project in Sancán, Jipijapa, and is derived from the degree work "Diagnosis of the physical and mechanical properties of artisanal bricks produced in the Sancán Commune", adopted an approach beyond what technical, highlighting how, through a thesis oriented towards teaching and research, it was possible to impact society to contribute to local socioeconomic development. The study focused on evaluating the properties of artisanal bricks, essential in the constructions of the region, both as enclosures and structural elements. Laboratory tests, following regulations such as ASTM and INEN, revealed poor quality due to errors in the choice of raw materials and the production process. The research, using theoretical, empirical and statistical-mathematical methods, not only diagnosed the problems, but also proposed solutions to improve product quality. This comprehensive approach benefited the quality of infrastructure and had a positive impact on the socioeconomic development of the local population, highlighting the importance of the connection between academic research and the concrete needs of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Didasc@lia: Didáctica y Educación is the property of Universitaria de Las Tunas, Centro de Estudios de Didactica 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 Revista de Economia da UEG is the property of Universidade Estadual de Goias 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.)

In many rural communities in South Africa, including Umzumbe Local Municipality (ULM) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the delivery of high-quality infrastructure for sustainable rural livelihoods has not yet been fully realised. Despite legislative changes on infrastructure improvement, rural residents are still overwhelmed with daunting challenges that have dire consequences for human and socio-economic development. This study sought to explore the existing infrastructure at ULM for the attainment of sustainable livelihoods. It examines the prominent contributing factors that obstruct infrastructural development for the attainment of optimal sustainable development. Data drawn from interviews were gathered for this explanatory qualitative case study from a targeted sample of 12 participants while 30 participants participated in the focus group. Secondary data was, however, collected from relevant literature and official documents and analysed thematically. Findings revealed that rural areas, such as the ULM are still enduring unsatisfactory infrastructural access, quality and reliability. The existing efforts to advance infrastructure improvement are seemingly unproductive as a result of several shortcomings including inept public management. From a policy perspective, this study recommends an extensive and ideal infrastructural investment agenda with specifically formulated objectives to combat inequality and underdevelopment, poverty and infrastructural deficiency, particularly in rural areas. This is necessary to contribute to the ideals of South Africa’s NDP and the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's generations live in uncertain times. The inflation of violent and unpredictable events over the last two decades, such as the economic crisis or COVID-19 pandemic, has affected the functioning of regions and the daily lives of their residents. Therefore, the socioeconomic level has to be monitored. This article fills the research gap regarding the identification of the impact of recent turbulent events on the development of municipalities in southern Poland. The specific goal is to identify trends in socioeconomic changes in times of change and uncertainty from 2006 to 2021 in 450 municipalities in Małopolskie, Śląskie, and Świętokrzyskie Voivodeships. The research defined model and problem areas among the municipalities regarding the level of development. The analyses employ an original synthetic Level of SocioEconomic Development index (LSED) consisting of 18 diagnostic variables. The study mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches and considered the spatial dimension in statistical analyses. We identified general trends related to the ageing population and housing shortage. Moreover, in municipalities dominated by industry, socioeconomic development was generally constant. The opposite is true for municipalities focusing on tourism or agriculture. The conclusions demonstrate that Poland's European Union membership was the key driver of the socioeconomic development of the regions and the country at large. The rule of law crisis in Poland and ensuing cuts in EU spending could slow the development down. The crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic might be consequential as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Estudos Politicos is the property of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Revista Brasileira de Estudos Politicos) 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 explores the potential of developing agritourism through orchard management in the Ilaro Yewa Land region of southwestern Nigeria. Utilizing site-to-site observations and semi-structured questionnaires, the research investigates ten selected orchard plantations, focusing on five to ten prevalent fruit tree species within each plantation. Data was collected from 45 staff members involved in various aspects of the orchards. The findings indicate significant potential for orchards to stimulate agritourism, contributing positively to the local economy. Among the respondents, 97.8% agreed that orchards positively impact tourism, while only 2.2% disagreed. The study suggests that integrating agritourism with orchard management can provide additional income for local farmers, create educational opportunities for visitors, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. This approach supports cultural, economic, and environmental sustainability in the Ilaro Yewa Land region. The research concludes that agritourism, centered around orchard management, is viable and beneficial for enhancing the economic welfare of the local community and maintaining the ecological health of the region.