Changing Economic Conditions Research Articles

Cultivating sustainable innovation: The role of environmental leadership in improving innovation performance

This study explores the complex connections between green innovation, environmental leadership, innovation climate, and innovation performance in organizations within Saudi Arabia's industrial sectors. The research aims to uncover the detailed interactions among these factors and highlight their importance in a region known for its environmental challenges and industrial significance. A detailed survey involving 251 participants was conducted, and the data was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The study investigates how innovation climate mediates the relationship between green innovation and innovation performance and how environmental leadership modifies this relationship. The findings emphasize the critical role of green innovation and show a positive link between innovation performance and innovation climate. Environmental leadership is identified as crucial in enhancing the positive effects of green innovation on performance. However, an unexpected negative relationship between innovation climate and innovation performance was found, indicating that more research is needed in this area. These results are significant for organizational leaders who are trying to manage sustainability, leadership, and innovation amidst changing environmental and economic conditions.

Precarious Associational Power

This article examines the transformation of employers’ associations in the German metal and electrical industry from the perspective of the power resources approach. It argues that, as a result of changing economic conditions and the decline of trade union countervailing power, the institutional power resources of employers’ associations have been relativised, which in turn has led to a reassessment of employers’ associations by capital. Employers’ associations have responded by extending exclusive services to their members. Using the power resources approach, the article makes a concrete determination of the relationship between companies and employers’ associations. In doing so, the article contributes to a better understanding of the function, role and development of employers’ associations. At the same time, it contributes to the debate on the further development of the power resources approach and its extension to the analysis of employers’ power.

Doświadczenia edukacyjne w świetle historii życia gdańszczan urodzonych w Wolnym Mieście Gdańsku

The article refers to the issue of personal educational experiences of the people born in the Free City of Gdańsk. It describes what and how those people were learning in their homes at the time, what was perceived to be a main focus of learning and what part the parents’ support and presence played in the children’s education. The interlocutors emphasise in the quoted statements that their educational process was strongly influenced by the changing political and economic conditions, as well as by their casual life experience. In the article one can also find some information about the difficulties the people struggled while learning; it also shows the effects of education meant as a lifelong process. The author of the article highlights that learning is not possible in the circumstances of isolation, as it usually requires the support from an accompanying Significant Other.

Determinants of Net Asset Value of Sharia Equity Mutual Funds in Indonesia

This research aims to analyze the influence of the BI 7 days repo rate, inflation, exchange rate, JKSE, mutual fund size, stock selection skill and market timing ability on the net asset value of sharia equity mutual funds in Indonesia. The research was divided into 3 period results, namely overall (2017-2022), before the Covid-19 pandemic (2017-2019), and during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2022). Data processing uses Eviews 12. The method used is the Random Effect Model (REM) with the analysis model using Generalized Least Square (GLS). The results of this research state that over all the BI 7 days repo rate has a significant positive effect, however in the period before the pandemic the effect was significantly negative, whereas during the pandemic there was no effect. Inflation in whole period and when a pandemic has no effect, but in the period before the pandemic it has a significant positive effect. The exchange rate in whole period has a significantly negative effect, but in the period before the pandemic it has a significantly positive effect, whereas during the pandemic it has no effect. The JKSE in whole period has no effect, but in the period before and during the pandemic it had a significant positive influence. Mutual fund size in whole period and during the pandemic has a significant positive effect, but in the period before the pandemic it has no effect, stock selection skill in whole period, in the period before and during the pandemic has a significant positive effect. market timing ability in whole period, in the period before and during the pandemic had a significant positive effect. Differences in results in a period are due to changes in economic conditions in Indonesia.

Clinical case of acute hepatitis in a patient with ascariasis

Helminthiases are fairly widespread human parasitic diseases caused by various lower worms - helminths. In the Russian Federation, more than 4.5 million cases of helminthiasis were registered in 2016. According to the WHO Expert Committee, ascariasis affects about 900 million people in the world every year, most of whom are children of preschool and school age. In the Russian Federation, 24,115 cases of ascariasis were registered in 2015. The true prevalence of helminthiasis is much higher. In recent decades, there has been an increase in and manifestation of new helminth infestations as a result of changes in economic and socio-economic conditions, increased migration, and the introduction of helminths, common in countries with tropical and subtropical climates, to Russia. The possibility of a patient having one or another type of helminthiasis is practically not taken into account in clinical practice, which leads to incorrect diagnosis, the development of complications of the disease, and its transition to a chronic form. As a rule, helminthiases are relatively asymptomatic, but in some cases their local manifestations come to the fore clinically and the disease occurs under the guise of infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Labour market flexibility as a factor in economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has largely undermined most economies in the world. To a significant extent the reasons behind this economic nosedive are rooted in the sphere of labour market. The imposed restriction measures made many workers stay at home, and part of them even lost their jobs. The speed of economic recovery in different countries varied depending on how quarantine restrictions were eased. One crucial factor in this process is labour market flexibility and its ability to adapt to changing economic conditions. The purpose of the paper is to explore the relationship between the labour market flexibility and the speed of GDP recovery when the pandemic was waning and the quarantine restrictions were being removed. Methodologically, the study relies on labour economics. The methods are multivariate and logistic regression analysis. The data for the study is sourced from the World Bank and Eurostat and comprises statistics for assessing labour market flexibility and GDP in various countries for 2020–2021. The findings indicate a reverse relationship between the speed of GDP growth recovery during the post-COVID period and the share of part-time employment. Yet taking into account that part-time employment is not only an indicator of the labour market flexibility, but also reflects a general slowdown in production and unemployment, we can attach low speed of recovery to a greater weakness of an economy. The obtained results are insufficient to reject the hypothesis that a more flexible labour market accelerates the recovery of a national economy. At the same time, the study demonstrates that the West European countries generally got over the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis faster than other EU countries. The research contributes to understanding the transformation processes in the labour market under the pandemic as well as provides support for labour market policy development and implementation.

A World by Themselves: Protectionism and the Political Economy of Trade in the Ohio Valley, 1816–1828

This paper explores American tariff politics and the embrace of protectionism within the Ohio Valley in the two decades following the War of 1812. During these years, residents of the western states navigated the emergence of steam transportation, a growing number of state-chartered banks, and intense population growth. This fueled an economic boom that went bust during the Panic of 1819. Western farmers, merchants, and manufacturers blamed harmful patterns of trade for this economic crisis, which bolstered a distinct regional identity that embraced a properly constructed restrictive tariff as a “western” measure. Consequently, the decade of the 1820s featured the most sustained period of conflict over the tariff issue in the antebellum era. This article examines western participation in conflicts over commerce and roots the political economy of trade policy in changing economic conditions that inspired distinct northern, southern, and western perspectives on trade and economic development. I conclude that both protectionist claims to economic nationalism and free trade embrace of international exchange overlook the individual assessments of local and regional markets that set the terms on which participants in the tariff debates of the early republic imagined future development.

Sales in Commercial Alleys and Their Association with Air Pollution: Case Study in South Korea

We investigate the dynamic interplay between air pollution (PM10) and income and their joint association with quarterly sales in commercial alleys, focusing on the pre-COVID-19 (2018–2019) and COVID-19 (2020–2021) periods in Seoul, South Korea. The objective of this study is to identify how air pollution and income collectively influence consumer spending patterns by looking at the increase and decrease in sales in commercial alleys, with a focus on contrasting these effects before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing advanced machine learning techniques for deeper insights. Using machine learning techniques, including random forest, extreme gradient boosting, catboost, and lightGBM, and employing explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), this study identifies shifts in the significance of predictor variables, particularly PM10, before and during the pandemic. The results show that before the pandemic, PM10 played a notable role in shaping sales predictions, highlighting the sensitivity of sales to air quality. However, during the pandemic, the importance of PM10 decreased significantly, highlighting the transformative indirect impact of external events on consumer behavior. This study also examines the joint association of PM10 and income with sales, revealing distinctive patterns in consumer responses to air quality changes during the pandemic. These findings highlight the need for dynamic modeling to capture evolving consumer behavior and provide valuable insights for businesses and policymakers navigating changing economic and environmental conditions. While this study’s focus is on a specific region and time frame, the findings emphasize the importance of adaptability in predictive models and contribute to understanding the complex interplay between environmental and economic factors in shaping consumer spending behavior.

Media Policy, Structural Power, and Political Development at the US State-Corporate Interface

This article illuminates an underappreciated political dimension of capitalism by elaborating media policy as a site for the dynamic interaction of corporate power and the state. Synthesizing Marxian analyses of monopoly capital, American political development (APD) perspectives on public policymaking, and communication studies conceptions of media systems as fields of democratic struggle, I trace the institutional mechanisms that enable corporate media interests to reinforce systemic imperatives and maintain political-economic dominance. I illustrate my argument with examples from the Telecommunications Act of 1996. My analysis sharpens APD’s critical edge by defining path dependency, policy feedback, and policy drift as processes through which capital leverages structural power to fend off political challenges under changing economic, social, and technological conditions. State-sanctioned ownership and control of news outlets, communication platforms, and information networks furnish a unique mechanism for influencing the structural terms of public discourse on all issues, including media policy. This implicates corporate media power in the ongoing US political communication crisis and as a central force in the entrenchment of inegalitarian and undemocratic social relations. Lending greater theoretical coherence and empirical grounding to these material and ideological dynamics historicizes public communication and highlights contingent political openings for radical engagement with media policy.

The Evolution of Patriarchal Structures in Contemporary Families: A Qualitative Inquiry

Objective: The patriarchal family structure has been a dominant societal framework, influencing gender roles and family dynamics across cultures. However, contemporary societal shifts, including changes in economic conditions, cultural norms, and gender expectations, have begun to challenge and reshape these traditional structures. This study aims to explore the evolution of patriarchal structures in contemporary families, focusing on how these changes impact authority dynamics, economic influences, and cultural and social norms within family units. Methods and Materials: A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 25 participants from diverse backgrounds to gather in-depth insights into the shifting patriarchal dynamics within families. Theoretical saturation was achieved, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the themes. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes and subthemes related to the evolution of patriarchal structures. Findings: The analysis revealed three main themes: Changing Dynamics of Authority, Economic Influences on Patriarchy, and Cultural and Social Norms. Under the Changing Dynamics of Authority, findings highlighted a trend towards joint decision-making, redistribution of gender roles, and new conflict resolution strategies. Economic Influences on Patriarchy underscored the role of financial independence in challenging traditional norms, with significant changes observed in household economy management and the impact of economic crises on family roles. Cultural and Social Norms revealed shifts in perceptions of masculinity and femininity, the influence of marriage and family traditions, the role of religion, education, and the impact of media and technology on family structures. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that patriarchal structures in contemporary families are undergoing significant evolution. Economic autonomy, cultural shifts, and changing gender roles play pivotal roles in this transformation. The findings suggest a move towards more egalitarian family structures, where traditional patriarchal authority is being renegotiated in response to contemporary societal changes.

Трансформація комунікаційної політики для забезпечення резильєнтності підприємств роздрібної торгівлі

The communication policy of a trade enterprise always depends on the general goals of the enterprise, but it is impossible to consider the communications of a trade enterprise as a permanent component. Communication policy is a moving thing, it is constantly influenced by internal and external factors, which gives impetus to the company’s marketers to constantly adjust it to modern market requirements. The aim of the article is to determine the resilience of marketing strategies of trade enterprises in relation to communication and advertising activities under the influence of macro factors. We include the following macro factors: the COVID-19 pandemic and the full-scale military aggression of the russian federation from 24.02.2022 onward. We analyzed the relevant literature and found that the impact of general macro factors on the marketing strategy of trade enterprises is mostly incomprehensible and unpredictable, which requires new approaches to marketing activities. In particular, modern open sources and scientific literature do not sufficiently examine the methods and technologies of retailers in the communication strategy under the influence of stress and crisis. The study of contemporary behavior in the communication policy of trade enterprises in the market, including the growth of online commerce, has led to a shift in emphasis to digital advertising, which promotes sales via the Internet. Advertisers are actively working to promote products and services that can be purchased online. The pandemic has created many uncertainties, and advertisers have proven to be more flexible and ready to adapt quickly to changes in economic and social conditions. Particular attention should be paid to the advertising activities of trade enterprises during the wartime, that can become a significant challenge and require a careful approach. The warime creates its own unique challenges for businesses and marketers, and it is important to consider ethical and social aspects in advertising campaigns. We have summarized the aspects of the influence of external factors on the advertising activities of trade enterprises during the wartime. Since most retail sales still take place offline, trade marketers are reviewing the in-store experience, trying to combine the reach of physical retail with the involvement of digital channels, actively implementing in-store media communication. An effective in-store retail media strategy isn’t as simple as adding advertising around the store. This strategy requires technology to collect and analyze customer data, including where the customer went to in the store (particular departments), how much time they spent and what they did in there. It is necessary to thoroughly work out a map of buyer behavior. In the course of the study, the key components of advertising technologies in stores were identified, which should be considered in order to collect high-quality marketing information on consumer behavior, and subsequently – to convey advertising information to them at a specific point of sale. It is concluded that in the future, it will be extremely important for stores to apply a seamless omnichannel customer experience at the point of sale. Numerous studies demonstrate the positive impact of technology in retail on the customer journey to the store, as well as the customer journey in the store, from product selection to payment for purchase. Further development of communication strategies of retail trade enterprises envisages the use of modern technologies, the involvement of artificial intelligence and the improvement of customer service methods in trading floors.

Enhancing the Value of Library through Facilities Management Understanding

Leading libraries been impacted by a number of significant technological developments and trends, as well as by the difficulties presented by outside forces like the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia has received less money from the government since 2016. Fund allocation for libraries has also decreased concurrently. The reduction on government’s funding allocation has made it difficult for the libraries in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia particularly to manage its operations and facilities, placing restrictions on book purchases and reducing its online database. In managing every facility in the libraries such Perpustakaan Sultanah Zanariah (PSZ), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Perpustakaan Raja Zarith Sofea (PRZS), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, the facility manager must use the available financial resources wisely. The goal of this study is to identify libraries facilities management expenses that the library’s management team can reduce. Content analysis and thematic analysis applied in this study in analysing the data gathered from interviews with 5 library staff. According to the findings of this study, both libraries provide a variety of facilities, including a lobby, room, discussion room, showroom, seminar room, meeting room, foyer, 24-hour study room, information search laboratory, database reference room, exhibition space, and audio visual room. Both libraries management expenses, which include library system maintenance, book repair, reference book purchases, database subscriptions, and expenses for purchasing and repairing computers and printers, have been identified and can be reduced accordingly by the management team. Overall, both libraries have to adapt to changing technological, social, and economic conditions while remaining committed to their mission of providing access to information, promoting lifelong learning, and fostering a sense of community.

The impact of COVID-19 on corporate investment behaviours

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the investment strategies of corporations worldwide. This has led to many companies reevaluating and adjusting their investment approaches in response to the changing business landscape. To understand these shifts, this article used a paired t-test methodology to analyse changes in various financial components, including accounts receivables, inventory, fixed assets, and intangible assets, from 2019 to 2021. The study also examined the proportion of each of these components in the total assets of the companies under investigation. The findings revealed a consistent upward trajectory in the aforementioned asset categories, even during the pandemic outbreak. This implied that companies continued to invest in these areas, which may have been less affected by the pandemic. However, apart from intangible assets, the proportion of the remaining asset categories in the total assets of these companies experienced a decline. The article suggested that companies may change their investment priorities or reallocate resources in response to changing economic conditions brought on by the epidemic. Therefore, it is beneficial to improve the overall performance of the company through efficient use of resources.

Тенденции цифровизации российского рынка финансовых услуг

The subject of the study is the interaction of business entities in the use of financial services in the context of the digital transformation of the economy. The objectives of the work are to identify trends in the development of the financial services market and the impact of technology on its formation, to establish the features of digitalization of the financial services market through the use of systematic, economic and statistical analysis methods to adapt business entities to changing economic conditions, to make informed decisions on the use of services that will meet the needs of customers. The sectors of financial services provided have been identified and their classification according to technological, organizational and consumer characteristics has been developed. The trends of Internet banking in Russia have been established and the prospects for financing companies in the context of digitalization have been predicted. Information security measures have been defined. The concept of a business ecosystem is formulated. Conclusions are drawn that when choosing multivariate sources of financing, business entities should take into account the trends of changes in each market segment based on an integrated approach to the rational use of modern financial services in the context of the digital transformation of the economy.

Development of the beet sugar subcomplex of the regional agro-industrial complex

In the present research, we have studied the beet sugar sub-complex at the regional level. Using the scenario method, the cultivated areas indicators of the beet-growing districts of the sugar plant Raevsakhar LLC in the short term have been predicted, that allows us to take into account and adjust the planned indicators due to changing economic conditions and the likelihood of risks. The gross yield of cultivated and harvested areas of sugar beet in raw material areas has been calculated. We have identified the reserve for increasing the gross yield of sugar beet by reducing the area of crop death in the raw material areas of the plant to 117 000 c. Directions for activating the work of the beet-sugar sub-complex of the region with the further development of agricultural firms, the use of intensive cultivation technologies and the involvement of additional farms in the cultivation of sugar beet have been proposed.

Formation of competitiveness of agricultural enterprises of the Kyrgyz Republic

The article presents a comprehensive study aimed at analyzing key trends and factors affecting the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises in the Kyrgyz Republic, with an emphasis on their adaptation to changing economic conditions. The purpose of the study is to identify and analyze internal and external factors that determine the efficiency and strategic development of the agricultural sector, as well as to formulate recommendations for the formation of supportive public policies. Research methods include an analytical review of statistical data, comparative analysis and synthesis, which made it possible to comprehensively consider the current state of the agricultural sector. Key findings identified significant challenges and problems facing the agricultural sector, including the need to adapt to economic changes and improve international competitiveness. Particular attention is paid to the importance of monitoring and analyzing both internal and external factors to ensure strategic planning and effective decision making. The findings highlight the need to develop and implement comprehensive public policies to support and stimulate sustainable development of the agricultural sector, suggesting specific directions for improving its economic stability and growth.

Monetary Policy, Institutional Quality and Banking System Fragility in Nigeria

The banking sector is dependent on the economy and environment in which it operates for survival and stability. Lack of effective and efficient institutions and bad monetary policies may spell doom for a country’s banking system. In Nigeria, over the years, many banks did not become distressed, they have folded up as a result of problems relating to institutional quality and unfriendly monetary policies. This study, therefore, examined the effect of both institutional quality indicators and monetary policies on the fragility of the Nigerian banking system from 2000 to 2022. We used a dataset comprising six institutional quality and three monetary policy variables as well as the banking system fragility indices for the period 2000 – 2022. Having examined the statistical properties and conducted some pre-estimation tests, we employed the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique to determine the short and long run effects of the institutional quality and monetary policy variables on the banking system fragility index for the period. We found that, in the short run, in terms of institutional quality, only voice and accountability index had a declining effect on banks’ stability (worsening fragility) while with respect to monetary policy, loan-deposit ratio had a positive effect on the fragility index (reducing fragility). In the long run, neither the institutional quality nor the monetary policy variables have significant effect on the fragility index of the Nigerian banking system during the period. We conclude that institutional quality and monetary policy affect the Nigerian banking system fragility significantly in the short run and that the former have no significant effect on the latter on the long run. We recommend a focused approach on institutional reforms and periodic assessments and adjustments of the reforms, capacity building, improvement of institutional coordination, and ensuring that policies are not only well-designed but also effectively implemented and a continuous fine-tuning of monetary policies to adapt to changing economic conditions.

The Impact of Macroeconomic Factors on Foreign Direct Investment in Indonesia from 2007 To 2022: A Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) Approach

This study will examine the impact of macroeconomic factors on FDI. The gap in this study lies in the significant changes in economic conditions and investment policies in Indonesia since 2007, which previous studies have not fully explained. The possibility of new factors affecting FDI flows requires more sophisticated analyses. In addition, the relevance of internalized investment theory in the current context of economic globalization has not been widely explored in FDI research in Indonesia. This study uses Secondary time series data and quantitative research techniques. Quarterly data from 2007 to 2022 is the data set used. The research employs the Vector Error Correction Model data analysis technique, with a significance level of 5%. The findings indicate that the exchange rate has an insignificantly negative short-term impact on FDI and a significant negative long-term impact. Then, inflation has a short-term positive and insignificant impact on FDI but a significant negative in the long term. Meanwhile, the interest rate has a significant positive effect on FDI in the long term, but in the short term, it has a negative and insignificant effect.

Evaluating the role of credit facilities as drivers to small scale rice farmers’ productivity in Wukari local government area, Taraba state, Nigeria

The role played by credit for sustainable agricultural activities cannot be overemphasized. The study evaluated the role of credit facilities as drivers to small scale rice farmers’ productivity in Wukari Local Government Area Taraba State, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling procedure was used to sample 250 respondents from the study area. The study found that seed (p = 0.03), fertilizer (p = 0.01), and farm size (p = 0.01) were the key determinants of productivity for the rice farmers who had access to credit facilities while labour (p = 0.056) and seed (p = 0.01) were the determinants of productivity for the non-access to credit facilities counterparts. The finding show that years in school, farm size and age are the factors that influenced access to credit facilities. Finally, interest rate (92.8%), lack of collateral security (89.6%), lending criteria (72%) and government regulations (70.8%) are the major problem associated with access to credit facilities. It was therefore recommended that Public and private partnerships should be encouraged to develop innovative financial products and services tailored farmer’s activities with a goal of offering competitive interest rates. Continuous review and policies adaptation related to interest rates in agricultural lending to ensure they remain effective and responsive to changing economic conditions and the needs of farmers.

Vocational and Pedagogical Training of Future Bachelors in the Field of Transport at the Pedagogical Institutions of Higher Education under Modern Social and Economic Conditions

Intensive changes in social and economic conditions related to the development of labor markets and labor force require changes in the quality of training of specialists who possess not only special knowledge, but also certain qualities that ensure their competitiveness and professional mobility. This actualized the issue of modernizing the modern vocational and pedagogical education as a system of training teachers of vocational training, in particular, bachelors in the field of transport. The purpose of article is to analyse the theoretical and practical aspects of vocational and pedagogical training of future bachelors in the field of transport at the pedagogical institutions of higher education. Methods of research are analysis, systematization, observation and generalization. Results. It has been established that the vocational and pedagogical education of future bachelors in the field of transport is a special type of higher education, which is significantly different from the sectoral (engineering and technical, agricultural, economic) and actually pedagogical and is carried out in the system of vocational and pedagogical education. The specificity of vocational and pedagogical education consists in the training of staff for the implementation of educational programs of a professional orientation in the vocational education institutions of the I – II levels of accreditation. Conclusions. The key idea of integration and psychological and pedagogical training for the vocational and pedagogical education gives a possibility to prepare a professionally mobile specialist with the necessary qualifications. It is extremely important not to allow the priority of sectoral or pedagogical components in the content of vocational and pedagogical education, since both components are equivalents. In the near perspective of key tasks of vocational and pedagogical training are the implementation of integrated training of future bachelors in the field of transport; additional psychological and pedagogical training of graduates of specialized institutions of higher education or additional specialized training of graduates who have completed their studies in pedagogical institutions of higher education. We see further scientific studies in forecasting and projecting the development of the system of vocational and pedagogical education.