Receipt Of Benefits Research Articles

Veteran Affairs disability compensation: Likely the U.S.’s largest disability program, but what do we know about its impacts on service‐disabled veterans?

AbstractThe last few decades have seen rapid growth in the size of the Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation (VADC) program, which provides tax‐free cash benefits to veterans with disabilities connected to military service. Given this recent growth, VADC is on pace to eclipse Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to become the largest U.S. disability program by expenditures. Although there are decades of causal research on the design and impacts of SSDI, there is no comparable body of evidence for VADC. In this Policy Insight, we discuss how causal evidence was produced for Social Security‐administered disability programs and why there is a lack of this evidence for VADC. Chief among the explanations is a lack of VADC data access available to the broader researcher community, access that Social Security facilitates for the programs it administers. However, even with this access, the proliferation of benefits and services targeted to service‐disabled veterans implies that existing earnings loss studies and causal estimates of the impact of VADC benefit receipt on any given outcome of interest likely are mismeasurements of true effects. We conclude with recommendations for restructuring approaches to research design to accurately estimate impacts of VADC benefits as well as the wide array of other programs supporting service‐disabled veterans.

The intergenerational effects of requiring unemployment benefit recipients to engage in non-search activities

We use a quasi-experimental design and national administrative data to analyze the intergenerational effects of introducing non-search activity requirements for long-term unemployment benefit recipients aged 18–34. The young-adult children of these recipients were in early adolescence when the requirements were introduced. Using a regression discontinuity approach, we find that young adults, particularly men, whose fathers were subject to the requirements have a lower incidence of unemployment benefit receipt compared to those whose fathers were not. More detailed investigation suggests completion of the mandated activities, role modeling, changes in attitudes, improved health, and greater support and stability as potential channels.

The changing impacts of social determinants on youth mental health in Australia.

Most lifetime mental health disorders begin by age 25 years, and the prevalence among young people has been increasing over recent years. We sought to understand what impact, if any, social determinants have had on this increase through the analysis of an Australian longitudinal dataset (with data from 2007 to 2021). The analysis focused on five social determinants: loneliness and lack of social support, family relationships, participation in education and employment, receipt of government benefits and relative socio-economic status. We analysed cross-sectional changes in self-reported psychological distress between 2007 and 2021 (using the Kessler-10 item; K10 scores) and examined the effects of these five social determinants on psychological distress using weighted linear regression models. We identified a significant increase in psychological distress among Australians from 2007 to 2021, with the sharpest rise among those aged 15 to 25 years, who saw more than doubling in the percentage of high and very high K10. This period also saw an increase in the prevalence of social determinants such as loneliness and lack of social support, as well as poor family relationships, particularly in 2021 post COVID-19 pandemic. Regression models suggest loneliness and lack of social support had the most pronounced and increasing impact on psychological distress, followed by poor family relationships. The observed significant and steady increases in psychological distress and related social determinant factors, particularly loneliness and lack of social support among young people, highlight the urgent need for comprehensive actions. Coordinated research and community-based initiatives are needed to deliver intrapersonal, interpersonal and socially-focused interventions with a holistic approach to support psychosocial wellbeing. Policymakers must adopt a comprehensive shift in political commitment and a whole-of-government approach to address these challenges.

Genetic variants and social benefit receipt in premenopausal women with breast cancer treated with docetaxel: a Danish population-based cohort study

Genetic variants and social benefit receipt in premenopausal women with breast cancer treated with docetaxel: a Danish population-based cohort study

Disability Benefit Reform and Benefit Outcomes: A Re-examination of the Introduction of the UK Personal Independence Payment Using Linked Population Data

ObjectivesMany countries face the problem of how to provide support for additional costs faced by disabled people while restricting disability benefit program growth given tight public finances. In 2013, the UK reformed its main additional costs disability benefit with this objective, changing both medical screening and payment rates with the introduction of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This study uses newly available linked administrative population data to examine the impact of this major reform on disability benefit receipt. ApproachWe use the newly available 2011CBI dataset, which links Census records to microdata on benefit receipt for the population of England and Wales from 2011-2015. Difference-in-difference and synthetic control methods are used to estimate the reform impact on the probability of flowing onto disability benefits, exploiting the structure of the roll-out of PIP’s introduction across English regions. ResultsIntroducing PIP led to a sharp fall in the probability of disability benefit onflow, with tentative evidence of a partial reversal in the following year. Further analysis is required to quantify the extent to which this reflects well-known administrative delays in processing applications as opposed to a step change in the probability of claims being successful. ConclusionsThis study is the first to present linked administrative population data estimates of the benefit recipiency effects of the introduction of PIP. In doing so it both contributes to the wider international literature on disability benefit reform and provides an early research application of a significant new administrative dataset for England and Wales.

Health and socioeconomic well-being of women with endometriosis and provoked vestibulodynia: Longitudinal insights from Swedish registry data.

Endometriosis and provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) are prevalent pain conditions among women of reproductive age, significantly impacting their quality of life and psychological well-being. However, comprehensive evidence regarding the lifelong health and socioeconomic outcomes for these individuals remains scarce. Additionally, many prior studies rely on limited and sometimes unrepresentative samples. This study aims to inform on the long-term consequences of these disorders by examining health, fertility, and employment outcomes in a cohort of women diagnosed with endometriosis and/or PVD, tracing their experiences from childhood to their 40s. Leveraging nationwide administrative data from Sweden and employing a matched case-control design, we investigate both similarities and differences between women with these diagnoses and those without. Our findings indicate that women diagnosed with endometriosis and/or PVD demonstrate elevated healthcare utilization patterns, commencing in their early teenage years and progressively increasing over time. Notably, disparities in labor market outcomes emerge in their 20s, showcasing lower labor earnings and a rise in sickness benefit receipt. Moreover, our results show a higher likelihood among these women to experience mental health disorders and concurrent chronic pain diseases, as well as infertility. While the association between endometriosis and infertility is well-documented, this study offers novel insights into a potential similar link between PVD and infertility. Our study informs healthcare professionals and policymakers about the considerable burden of compromised health, adverse psychosocial well-being, and reduced productivity in the labor market faced by young women with these common pain conditions. These findings underscore the urgency of addressing the multifaceted challenges encountered by individuals diagnosed with endometriosis and PVD across their lifespan.

Distinguishing the acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit by an official from related criminal offenses and fraud

One of the foundations of the current anti-corruption policy and institutional reform in the field of fighting corruption is the establishment of criminal liability for criminal offenses in the field of official activities and professional activities related to the provision of public services. The priority area of law enforcement activities in Ukraine is combating corruption offenses committed by public officials, and one of the types is acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit. The article outlines the conceptual aspect of distinguishing acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an undue benefit from related corpus delicti of criminal offenses which provide for liability for offenses in the field of official activity and professional activity related to the provision of public services, namely, it contains some similar features to those of related criminal offenses such as illicit enrichment (Article 368-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), abuse of influence (Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), and conducting of bribery. In addition, attention is drawn to the distinction between acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit and fraud (Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The article focuses on the common and distinctive features of the elements of a criminal offense under Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine with related elements, namely: bribery of an official of a legal entity of private law regardless of its organizational and legal form (Art. 368-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), bribery of a person providing public services (368-4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), illicit enrichment (Article 368-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), abuse of influence (Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), provocation of bribery (Article 370 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and fraud (Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The author emphasizes the criteria of objective and subjective features which allow for the appropriate distinction.

Peculiarities of forensic characterization in the investigation of criminal offenses committed by judges

The article is devoted to the analysis of the degree of scientific development of the issues of criminalistic characterization. The scientific approaches to determining the essence of the criminalistic characterization of crimes in the structure of the investigation methodology are considered. The importance of this scientific category is emphasized. It is noted that one of the most important components in the structure of the forensic methodology is the forensic characterization of a crime. The author reviews the literature in the field of criminal law, criminal procedure, forensics, and operational and investigative activities related to abuse of power or official position by a judge in the administration of justice, and also their detection and investigation. The author presents different approaches to the concept and structure of forensic characteristics in general and, in particular, to the structure of forensic characteristics of acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit. Based on the results of the analysis of court practice on combating undue advantage in Ukraine in recent years, it is established that a significant share of such encroachments falls on the judiciary. The author analyzes the concept and components of the forensic characterization of criminal offenses committed by judges. It is found that its structure includes the following elements: identity of the offender, identity of the victim, method of commission, object of the offense, setting, time and place of commission, motive and purpose of the criminal offense, typical traces of the crime (“trace pattern”). The existence of interrelations between the elements of forensic characterization makes it possible to use a systematic approach in the study of this issue. It is stated that the subject of criminal encroachment is an unlawful remuneration; the author identifies the ways of committing and concealing a crime; the author proposes to divide the ways of direct receipt of unlawful benefit into certain types; the elements of the “trace picture” are revealed; it is emphasized that the most typical places of giving and receiving unlawful benefit by judges are the office, other premises of a particular institution or organization, and public places; the author also emphasizes the characteristic features of the offender and the victim. The analysis of monographs, dissertations and other scientific works on the outlined issues has shown that the fundamentals of the methodology for investigating criminal offenses committed by judges remain undeveloped.

Personal independence payments among people who access mental health services: results from a novel data linkage.

Personal independence payment (PIP) is a benefit that covers additional daily living costs people may incur from a long-term health condition or disability. Little is known about PIP receipt and associated factors among people who access mental health services, and trends over time. Individual-level data linking healthcare records with administrative records on benefits receipt have been non-existent in the UK. To explore how PIP receipt varies over time, including PIP type, and its association with sociodemographic and diagnostic patient characteristics among people who access mental health services. A data-set was established by linking electronic mental health records from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust with administrative records from the Department for Work and Pensions. Of 143 714 working-age patients, 37 120 (25.8%) had received PIP between 2013 and 2019, with PIP receipt steadily increasing over time. Two in three patients (63.2%) had received both the daily living and mobility component. PIP receipt increased with age. Those in more deprived areas were more likely to receive PIP. The likelihood of PIP receipt varied by ethnicity. Patients diagnosed with a severe mental illness had 1.48 odds (95% CI 1.42-1.53) of having received PIP, compared with those with a different psychiatric diagnosis. One in four people who accessed mental health services had received PIP, with higher levels seen among those most likely in need, as indicated by a severe mental illness diagnosis. Future research using this data-set could explore the average duration of PIP receipt in people who access mental health services, and re-assessment patterns by psychiatric diagnosis.

The victim and the subject as elements of the object of the «abuse of influence» offense

The paper examines the features of the object of the crime provided for by Art. 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, such as the victim and the subject of the crime. It has been established that in the course of the commission of this offense, the victim is usually excluded. An exception is only the qualified structure of the crime, which is related to the demand of unlawful benefit (Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). A natural person becomes a victim when extortion is committed, provided for in Part 3 of Art. 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, since, as is known, extortion involves the threat of violence against the victim or his close relatives, restriction of the rights, freedoms or legal interests of these persons, damage or destruction of their property or property in their custody or under protection, or disclosure of information that the victim or his close relatives wish to keep secret. The debatable issue regarding illegal gain as a subject or means of committing a crime, provided for in Art. 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, has been researched. It has been argued that unlawful benefit should be recognized as the subject of this criminal offense, since the socially dangerous acts described in this article, which consist in the offer, promise or provision of unlawful benefit, as well as in the acceptance of the offer, promise or receipt of unlawful benefit, are committed for the purpose of unlawful benefit, regarding it, as well as the presence of such a criminal offense as abuse of influence is connected with its properties. At the same time, the unlawful benefit specified in Art. 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine cannot facilitate the commission of this crime, since the actual actions in relation to it constitute criminal influence. This crime is embodied precisely in the actions regarding the wrongful gain. Without illegal benefit, there will be no act, and therefore there is no reason to talk about ensuring its commission or facilitating it. It has been determined that an unlawful benefit could be the means of committing a criminal offense only if the provision of Art. 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine covered the actual criminal influence on decision-making by a person authorized to perform the functions of state or local self-government.

On the practical application of the provisions establishing liability for corruption crimes in official activities committed by officials of legal entities under public law

The article explores the major criminological indicators that illustrate the practical application of criminal law provisions establishing liability for corruption crimes in official activities that are committed by officials of legal entities under public law. By analyzing the provisions of the notes to Articles 45 and 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, along with the features characterizing the perpetrators of crimes in the sphere of official activities, the author outlines the range of criminal offenses in the area under study. These offenses include, in particular, abuse of power or official position (Article 364 of the CC of Ukraine); acceptance of an offer or promise, or receipt of an undue benefit by an official (Article 368 of the CC of Ukraine), and unlawful enrichment (Articles 3681, 3682, 3685 of the CC of Ukraine). Based on official statistical sources (the Office of the Prosecutor General and the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine), the author conducted a long-term criminological analysis of the situation with the crimes under study and determined the absolute, average, and relative values in the period from 2016 to 2023, as well as the indicators reflecting the correlation between the number of recorded criminal offenses and the number of detected and convicted persons for each type of crime in this category. The calculated indicators revealed a dramatic gap between the number of recorded criminal offenses and the number of detected persons, as well as the number of detected and convicted persons. This discrepancy suggests that the criminal justice system has low efficiency in combating crimes of the studied category, with the real scale of these offenses, given their significant latency, far exceeding the officially recorded indicators. The study conducted by the author holds an independent value both for scientific purposes and for law enforcement activities and provides the relevant basis for information support in combating corruption crimes in official activities that are committed by officials of legal entities under public law; most importantly, it provides a clear understanding and assessment of the efficiency of the relevant criminal law provisions and serves as a prerequisite for developing the measures to improve the efficiency of criminal justice authorities in this area.

Features of display in account of compensation of losses from written-off stocks during the period of martial state

The paper is devoted to the issues of reflecting in the accounts compensation for losses from written-off stocks during the period of martial law. The relevance of this direction of research is due to the fact that, unfortunately, at enterprises in places where assets are stored, processes of theft, improper storage and deterioration of stocks sometimes occur, as a result of which business entities suffer losses. Therefore, the use of compensation mechanisms by the guilty parties (employees of the enterprise, the aggressor country) and their reflection in accounting lead to a decrease in costs during the write-off of stocks from the enterprise's balance sheet. Every enterprise in Ukraine, during its activity, necessarily records stocks that can be used in production, trade, administration or in other areas of work. Special attention is paid to the places of their storage during the receipt of these assets. We believe that the data of warehouse accounting of stocks should coincide with the data of accounting. But, unfortunately, there are situations in which, after an inventory or military aggression, it is necessary to write off undetected (stolen), damaged or destroyed stocks. In today's conditions, Ukrainian enterprises suffer significant losses as a result of martial law. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles by Russia, the occupation of a large part of Ukrainian territories, the location of enterprises in war zones or close to them leads to the loss of enterprise assets. We have researched that these losses can occur as a result of direct ammunition hits, fires, and breakdown of equipment used to preserve stocks. Unfortunately, the loss and deterioration of stocks leads to the mismatch of their recognition as assets and the subsequent receipt of economic benefits.

Проблема статуса контролирующего лица как квалифицирующего признака применительно к составу неправомерных действий при банкротстве

Abstract. The article examines the issue of recognizing a person as a controlling debtor through the lens of the prejudicial nature of facts established in arbitration proceedings in bankruptcy cases, with regard to the criminal offense of illegal actions in bankruptcy (Article 195 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). A doctrinal analysis of the provisions of current judicial practice has revealed a discrepancy between bankruptcy law and criminal law approaches to the same legal category – the status of a controlling person of the debtor. Since, in the context of criminal law, the status of a controlling person may lead to more severe liability, bankruptcy presumptions, such as the presumption of the status of a controlling person due to the receipt of benefits, cannot be applied in criminal law regulation. This is due to the fact that, according to the systematic interpretation of the provisions of the Criminal Code, the strengthening of the responsibility of the controlling person is conditioned by the hypothetical possibility of real disposal of the debtor’s property, which is not always the case with bankruptcy presumptions.

The expanded Child Tax Credit and low-income families’ food insecurity: Associations across and within months of receipt

In response to the pandemic-induced economic crisis for U.S. families, the federal government expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC) via the distribution of monthly payments in the second half of 2021. Studies have found that these monthly payments corresponded with reductions in food insecurity, but what is not yet clear is whether these declines were stable across and within the months of receipt. Using novel, daily survey data among a sample of low-income families at high risk of food insecurity (N = 146), we tested whether the CTC payments were associated with stable rates of day-to-day food security. We found consistent declines in food insecurity across CTC months, though smaller declines for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who experienced lower food insecurity rates, on average. Within a CTC month, we found that food insecurity was stable for non-SNAP families for the first few weeks, but spiked in the week prior to the next payment. SNAP families’ within-month patterns of food insecurity, however, appeared to be tied more to their SNAP benefit timing than CTC payment timing. Both groups saw end-of-the-month spikes in food insecurity among those who received higher CTC amounts, suggesting the money may have been more difficult to stretch across families with a greater number of children. These results suggest that the effectiveness of cash payments like the CTC in reducing economic hardships may depend on family characteristics like receipt of other federal benefits and household size. Accordingly, future provisions of cash assistance may benefit from going beyond income alone and tailoring the amount to a family’s benefits package.

Group-based trajectory analysis of longitudinal employment patterns and predictors for adults with visual impairments

BACKGROUND: A substantial gap in employment rates has been documented between people with and without visual impairments, but most employment-related research for people with visual impairments has focused on employment at one time point. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal employment trajectories by visual impairment and investigate factors associated with trajectories for people with visual impairments. METHODS: The data source was the 2014 Panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Participants were 816 adults with visual impairments and a matched comparison group of 816 adults without visual impairments. We used group-based trajectory modeling to estimate employment trajectories, identify predictors of trajectory group membership, and explore the impact of health on employment trajectories. RESULTS: Visual impairment was associated with a lower probability of membership in the Rising, Declining, and High employment trajectory groups compared to the Low group. Predictors of trajectory group membership included disability benefit receipt, non-visual disabilities, gender, race, age, and education. Fair or poor health was associated with decreases in all four trajectories over time. CONCLUSION: Visual impairment is a risk factor for not working across multiple years. Disability benefit receipt was the strongest predictor of trajectory group membership for this population.

Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana: receipt and utilization among persons with TB notified under the National TB Elimination Program in India, 2022

ABSTRACT Background Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY), a direct benefit transfer scheme under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in India, provides a monthly benefit of INR500 for nutritional support of persons with TB (PwTB). Objectives To determine the proportion of PwTB receiving at least one NPY instalment and pattern of utilisation; to ascertain factors associated with NPY non-receipt and association of NPY receipt with TB treatment outcome. Methods In our cross-sectional study, we used multi-stage sampling to select PwTB whose treatment outcome was declared between May 2022 and February 2023. A cluster-adjusted, generalized linear model was used to identify factors associated with the non-receipt of NPY and determine association between NPY receipt and TB treatment outcome. Results Among 3201 PwTB, 2888 (92.7%; 95% CI 89.8%, 94.8%) had received at least one NPY instalment, and 1903 (64.2%; 95% CI 58.9%, 69.2%) self-reported receipt of benefit. The median (IQR) time to receipt of first instalment was 105 (60,174) days. Non-receipt was significantly higher among PwTB from states with low TB score (aPR = 2.34; 95%CI 1.51, 3.62), who do not have bank account (aPR = 2.48; 95%CI 1.93, 3.19) and with unknown/missing diabetic status (aPR = 1.69; 95%CI 1.11, 2.55). Unfavorable treatment outcomes were associated with non-receipt of NPY (aPR 4.93; 95%CI 3.61,6.75) after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusion Majority of the PwTB received at least one NPY instalment, but they experience significant delays. Most of the recipients utilised NPY for nutrition. Longitudinal follow-up studies are required to study the impact of NPY on treatment outcomes.

Evaluating the long-term effects of income assistance for material hardship among families with children

BackgroundAs a key aspect of poverty, material hardship describes day-to-day struggles in affording necessities. In explorations of policy initiatives that mitigate material hardship, evidence suggests direct income support can be effective in alleviating hardship. However, research investigating the long-term effects of income supports is limited, and it remains uncertain as to how benefit receipt may mitigate material hardship for families with children across time. MethodsTo explore the associations between income assistance and material hardship longitudinally, we utilised data from four waves of the Growing Up in New Zealand birth-cohort study (n = 5964), where family experiences were tracked between birth and adolescence. The variables of interest included mother-reported receipt of income benefits and material hardship from when the children were aged 9-months, 54-months, 8-years, and 12-years. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the associations between benefit receipt and material hardship in the short- and long-term. Interaction terms between benefit receipt and time were incorporated in the modelling to determine whether receiving benefits corresponded with significant changes in the likelihood of experiencing material hardship at specific time points. ResultsThe key results suggest that benefit receipt in early childhood reduced the likelihood of experiencing material hardship at subsequent time points at least until adolescence, when controlling for key sociodemographic characteristics. ConclusionThese findings provide insight into the associations between early childhood income supports and reductions in the likelihood of experiencing material hardship in the long-term, to emphasise the potential for such interventions to have longstanding effects. By elucidating the associations between benefit receipt and subsequent material hardship, this research gives direction for policy interventions and timely support for families.

Estimation of potential social support requirement for tuberculosis patients in India.

Providing social support to tuberculosis (TB) patients is a recommended strategy as households having TB patients find themselves in a spiral of poverty because of high cost, huge income loss and several other economic consequences associated with TB treatment. However, there are few examples of social support globally. The Indian government introduced the 'Nikshay Poshan Yojana' scheme in 2018 to provide nutritional support for all registered TB patients. A financial incentive of 500 Indian Rupee (6 United States Dollars) per month was proposed to be transferred directly to the registered beneficiaries' validated bank accounts. We examined the reach, timing, amount of benefit receipt and the extent to which the benefit alleviated catastrophic costs (used as a proxy to measure the impact on permanent economic welfare as catastrophic cost is the level of cost that is likely to result in a permanent negative economic impact on households) by interviewing 1482 adult drug-susceptible TB patients from 16 districts of four states during 2019 to 2023, using the methods recommended by the World Health Organization for estimating household costs of TB nationally. We also estimated the potential amount of social support required to achieve a zero catastrophic cost target. At the end of treatment, 31-54% of study participants received the benefit. In all, 34-60% of TB patients experienced catastrophic costs using different estimation methods and the benefit helped 2% of study participants to remain below the catastrophic cost threshold. A uniform benefit amount of Indian Rupee 10 000 (127 United States Dollars) for 6 months of treatment could reduce the incidence of catastrophic costs by 43%. To improve the economic welfare of TB patients, levels of benefit need to be substantially increased, which will have considerable budgetary impact on the TB programme. Hence, a targeted rather than universal approach may be considered. To maximize impact, at least half of the revised amount should be given immediately after treatment registration.

Inequalities in disability

Abstract Prevalence of disability and receipt of disability benefits have steadily increased among the UK’s working-age population in recent years. We examine inequalities in disability and its prevalence between educational groups, year of birth cohorts, regions and genders in the UK. Our analysis reveals significant disparities in disability rates across groups. In particular, disability is strongly related to education: those with lower levels of education have similar disability rates to those with degrees who are decades older than them. These gaps in disability rates open up early on in the life cycle, and while the prevalence of poor physical health increases steadily with age, we see the prevalence of poor mental health rising particularly fast among younger cohorts. These patterns in early life may have profound future implications for physical health and longevity. These results suggest that disability may be a key driver of inequalities across the life cycle.

A Fair Investment Environment: The Impact of the Shadow Economy, the Harshness of the Courts Against Corrupt Officials, Tax Pressure and Restrictions on Business

Creating a fair investment environment is crucial for economic growth and attracting domestic and foreign investors. The purpose of this study is to find out how the shadow economy, harshness of courts against corrupt officials, tax pressure, and restrictions on business affect the fair investment environment. Therefore, two economic-mathematical models are built using multiple least squares regression analysis, in which the outcome variables are: in model 1 ‒ control over corruption, which is a component of the Global Governance Index; in model 2 ‒ the European Business Association’s Investment Attractiveness Index. The composition of the factor attributes in both models is the same: Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International; level of shadow economy according to the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine; the number of criminal cases in courts under the article “Acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an undue benefit by an official” using open data from the Unified State Register of Court Decisions; total tax and fee rate, which reflects taxes and mandatory payments as a percentage of commercial profit, determined by the World Bank Group methodology; assessment of “Starting Business” by Doing Business, according to the methodology of the World Bank Group. The modeling is based on the example of Ukraine for 2012‒2022. Calculations based on Model 1 show that restrictions on business have the greatest impact on the corruption control indicator (a 10% reduction in restrictions leads to a 3-point reduction in the need to control corruption), the shadow economy and tax pressure have an average impact (a one-point increase in them will increase the level of corruption by 0.4 points). The harshness of the courts against corrupt officials has the least impact (most corruption cases in Ukraine do not reach the courts). Calculations based on Model 2 show that the complexity of starting a business exerts the greatest impact on investment attractiveness (if it decreases by 15%, investment attractiveness will increase by almost 1 unit). The average impact is exerted by the increase in the shadow economy (a 10% increase in the shadow economy leads to a rise in investment attractiveness by 0.4 units). The insignificant impact is exerted by the tax burden and judicial punishment of corrupt officials.