Complex Global Network Research Articles

Hybrid multi-stage steel footprinting unveils a more interdependent material foundation of the global economy

Steel is foundational to modern society, yet tracking its socio-economic metabolism is challenging due to the complex global trade networks. Traditional indicators, such as domestic material consumption (DMC) and consumption-based material footprints (MF), typically focus on metal ore extraction, overlooking the multiple stages of steel production and consumption. To address this, we integrate multi-national anthropogenic steel cycles and international trade networks of steel-containing products into a global monetary multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model. We construct material efficiency indicators based on footprints of iron ores, crude steel, castings, finished steel, and fabricated steel products, comparing them with conventional economy-wide material flow indicators like domestic material production (DMP) and DMC. Our findings reveal that per capita multi-stage MF indicators exhibit more robust log-linear relationships with per capita GDP with an average R2 value of 0.72 compared to 0.10 and 0.18 for DMP and DMC. Shares of Embodied trade in total global production exceed direct trade by 24 percentage points on average, emphasizing the significance of international embodied metal transfers. Using multi-stage MF indicators also reduces disparities in material efficiency between developed and developing countries. This study unravels the intricacies of global steel supply chains and the true interdependencies of steel-containing products among countries.

Uncovering the multiplex network of global container shipping: Insights from shipping companies

Shipping companies are key drivers of maritime trade and crucial in the development of container shipping networks. Each company's strategy shapes differences in port services and shipping routes, creating a complex and interconnected global container shipping network that is difficult to analyze using single-layer or aggregated models. This paper introduces a novel multiplex network modeling approach that leverages a very large set of AIS data and applies a series of structural indices to reveal the unique characteristics and multiple key roles of various shipping company networks. By applying methods such as overlap ratio analysis, HITS analysis, and community detection, the study identifies differences in overlap between ports and routes, hub and authority properties of individual ports, as well as local and regional patterns within the global network. Furthermore, it examines structural differences between the multiplex network, the aggregated network, and individual layers, highlighting the importance of multiplex container networks in understanding ports' roles on both regional and global scales. The findings clarify how different shipping companies shape shipping network patterns, enhance the multiplex network's functional roles, and provide a better understanding of the complex structure of the Global Container Shipping Network (GCSN). Finally, it provides authorities with valuable insights on how to better understand maritime shipping networks.

Carbon collusion: Cooperation, competition, and climate obstruction in the global oil and gas extraction network

While publicly-available datasets often document how much fossil fuel is extracted within oil-producing countries, they do not generally indicate who is responsible. To address this gap, we constructed the Global Oil and Gas Extraction Network, a dataset containing the extraction sites of the 26 largest oil and gas companies, and the quantities extracted annually from 2014 to 2018, accounting for 67% of total production. Using this dataset, we present a first-of-its-kind network analysis of global oil and gas extraction. We find fifty-eight percent of operations involved joint ownership across companies, demonstrating growing interdependence after industry-wide losses in 2016. Countries in which National Oil Companies (NOCs) were active were less likely to host Hybrid state-investor companies, and even less likely to host Investor-Owned Companies (IOCs), while certain Hybrids and IOCs tended to operate in the same countries; both trends became more pronounced between 2014 and 2018. Reflecting colonial legacies, the seven Big Oil companies, headquartered in either the US or Europe, extracted oil and gas from the most countries. These findings reveal a complex global network of strategically aligned actors, indicative of tacit and explicit transnational industry-state collusion to obstruct climate policies. These findings additionally underscore the need for comprehensive data to support a managed fossil fuel phaseout.

Вплив прямих іноземних інвестицій на менш розвинені регіони

The article is devoted to the study of the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the activities of TNCs in less developed regions (LDRs), which can lead to a break in value chains and to an increasingly complex division of labor, more complex decisions on location and directions of regional development. The author presents different types and mechanisms of FDI in more developed regions (MDRs) and in LDRs. The main approaches to FDI in the LDRs, developed in economic theory, are evaluated. Attention is drawn to that that international production and FDI will have significant implications for the LDRs in the near future. The development of factory automation is likely to reduce the feasibility of low labor costs, low-cost locations, which, in turn, will lead to increased reuse, attraction of resources in high-tech industries and a decrease in the level of added value of services. Increasing digitalization of supply chains is likely to lead to the emergence of more complex global production networks, the expansion of international production in both low-tech industries and higher value-added services. Increased automation and digitalization, trends in regional integration towards more stable local and regional sources of supply, and a push to become less dependent on imports of strategic goods undertaken by more developed regions (MDRs) are likely to lead to stronger organization of production networks on a macro-regional scale. The article urges experts to continue researching FDI in the face of uneven development.

Unraveling Informality and Precarity: New Labor Law Strategies for the Global Reproduction Network of Cross-Border Surrogacy.

This paper provides an analysis of the complex global reproduction networks driving the rapidly expanding cross-border surrogacy industry in Asia's reproductive bioeconomy. It sheds light on the unique features of informal surrogacy networks, notable for their flexible business ties and non-standardized surrogate mother recruitment. These factors contribute to heightened vulnerability for surrogate mothers operating within these networks. While previous literature has underscored the merits of labor law in regulating the surrogacy industry, its application in informal cross-border surrogacy remains under-examined. To address this gap, this research delves into innovative labor law strategies with potential to better regulate the surrogacy sector. Drawing inspiration from progressive labor regulations and supply chain strategies in Bulgaria and Australia, the proposed model aims to redefine the traditional employment relationship. This shift is aimed at bolstering protection for surrogate mothers and enforcing accountability throughout the surrogacy business network. The model further advocates for a collective framework that fosters collaboration and mandates the documentation and registration of surrogacy contracts. Moreover, it underscores the critical significance of international collaboration in bridging regulatory gaps and distributing accountability across consumer and supply states.

Critical risks in global supply networks: A static structure and dynamic propagation perspective

The global fragmentation of supply networks results from outsourcing and offshoring strategies. Supply networks outsource segments to specialized suppliers, thereby leveraging their enhanced adaptability and reduced costs. These practices have produced intricate interdependence patterns, facilitating the spread of disruption risk. Although risk management provides extensive toolsets for addressing critical risks at the dyadic level, there has been a lack of emphasis on evaluating the efficacy of these tools in the context of complex global supply networks. Research generally concentrates on the topological properties of global supply networks while largely ignoring the underlying risk propagation process in identifying critical risks. This paper develops a comprehensive view of the supply network through detailed subtier mapping and a mathematical formulation that overcomes the limitations of the current approaches. The proposed formulation model incorporates the doing business environment of each country and reproduces the spread of disruption risks under three disruption risk scenarios in global supply networks. This paper illustrates the proposed formulation by analyzing the critical risks of global flat panel display supply networks. The results suggest that these networks are robust to random disruption but susceptible to target disruptions. Additionally, disruptions in European and Asian countries have detrimental effects on the overall operation of supply networks.

Navigating Ethical Supply Chains: The Intersection of Diplomatic Management and Theological Ethics

In an increasingly interconnected and ethically conscious world, the integration of diplomatic management and theological ethics into supply chains emerges as a transformative framework that redefines business practices. This paper explores the intricate intersections of these disciplines and their profound implications for ethical supply chain management. The convergence of diplomatic negotiation strategies with theological principles results in a visionary approach that addresses the moral complexities of supply chains while fostering collaborative relationships, responsible practices, and lasting positive impacts. The paper first delves into the fundamentals of diplomatic management and its relevance to ethical supply chains. It examines how negotiation techniques grounded in mutual respect, compromise, and dialogue can transcend traditional transactional models, paving the way for equitable collaborations that encompass cultural diversity and shared value creation. The integration of theological ethics further enriches this approach, embedding moral imperatives into negotiations and emphasizing values such as justice, compassion, and stewardship. Building upon this foundation, the paper explores the practical applications of diplomatic management and theological ethics in supply chain management. It delves into case studies that exemplify how these principles can guide decision-making, strengthen partnerships, and navigate ethical challenges in complex global supply networks. Moreover, the paper underscores the potential benefits of this integrated framework, such as enhanced reputation, increased consumer loyalty, and the promotion of international cooperation. The paper also envisions the future landscape shaped by ethical supply chains guided by diplomatic management and theological ethics. It underscores the significance of this approach in reshaping industries, influencing consumer behavior, and cultivating a global culture that values responsible practices. Additionally, the paper emphasizes the role of education, advocacy, and leadership in driving the adoption of this framework, as well as the challenges and strategies associated with measuring its impact and fostering a culture of ethical resilience. Illuminates the transformative potential of integrating diplomatic management and theological ethics in ethical supply chains. By merging the principles of diplomacy, theology, and ethics, organizations can forge a path toward sustainable business practices that prioritize human dignity, environmental stewardship, and societal well-being. As industries, leaders, and consumers align their values with this visionary approach, they contribute to a future where ethical considerations are woven into the fabric of global supply chain practices, shaping a more harmonious and responsible world.

Who influences policy labs in the European Union? A social network approach

Abstract The growing importance of public innovation has been manifested through the creation of policy labs: spaces for policy experimentation and innovation that work for or within a government entity. The rise of this phenomenon in Europe was evidenced by the creation of a policy lab by the European Commission (EC) in 2016 and the publication by the EC of a report identifying policy labs and their influencers in Europe. Public innovation is increasingly based on national and international networks, giving rise to complex ecosystems involving participation by multiple actors from countries with different administrative approaches. Our study uses social network analysis of these labs’ Twitter profile data to map the European Union’s (EU) public innovation ecosystem and identify the major influencers. Policy labs and their influencers are analyzed by administration style by using a large geographical database. The results reveal a complex global network of influencers and a strong predominance of the Anglo-Saxon administration style. From an EU perspective, our systematic analysis of influence is particularly important in the post-Brexit context, helping to foster a genuine public innovation ecosystem that is both autonomous and interconnected with the aim of facing challenges such as the Sustainable Development Agenda and COVID-19 crisis recovery.

How can Chinese metropolises drive global carbon emissions? Based on a nested multi-regional input-output model for China

Given metropolises' participation in complex regional and global trade networks, they have huge demands for vast carbon-embodied intermediate and final goods. To clarify embodied carbon transfers of metropolises in regional and international trade, a metropolis-centered model was constructed by nesting the World's multi-regional input-output table and China's multi-regional input-output (CMRIO) table. Based on this model, we analyzed the multi-scale impact of two typical Chinese metropolises, namely Beijing and Shanghai, on global carbon emissions. Structural decomposition analysis and social network analysis (SNA) were used to explore the driving factors of consumption-based carbon (CBC) and the roles of metropolises in the carbon networks. Results showed that both Beijing and Shanghai are net embodied carbon consumers, which respectively drove 231.19 and 219.52 Mt global carbon emissions in 2017. These figures were underestimated by 12.54 % and 15.41 % when using the CMRIO. After China's economy entered a new normal, instead of technological progress, structural adjustment became the prominent factor driving the CBC reduction of metropolises. During 2012–2017, the consumption structure optimization reduced 18.87 and 32.48 Mt CBC in Beijing and Shanghai, respectively. Compared with other domestic regions, the CBC of Beijing has continued to increase, whereas that of Shanghai has declined. At the international scale, the combined net carbon emission imported by the two metropolises was 88.43 Mt in 2017, equivalent to 18.09 % of China's total carbon deficit. This indicates that metropolises have become pioneering regions for China to alleviate the carbon deficit in international trade. By using SNA, we further found that both metropolises are crucial carbon consumers in the global carbon network, with strong stability and obvious hub roles. Furthermore, various urban functions and geographical locations form the heterogeneous structural characteristics of CBC in the two metropolises, highlighting the need for different strategies for embodied carbon mitigation in these metropolises.

Learning-aided client association control for high-density WLANs

As wireless local area network (WLAN) continues to become popular, there is an increasing number of clients with huge data traffic demands. Especially, some high client-density environments are emerging, such as industrial plants, stadiums, and event centers, which poses significant challenges in terms of client association control. Under such environments, conventional client-side solutions that select access points (APs) according to simple indicators such as signal strength may result in poor network performance, and although some centralized association control mechanisms are proposed, it is still difficult that a large amount of complex global network status information needs to be effectively and efficiently utilized. To meet these challenges, we investigate the online centralized association control problem that aims to improve user quality of experience (QoE), and propose a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) aided solution, called Wi-OAC, where an image-like state pattern is designed to achieve state reformulation for deep Q-network (DQN), and the double DQN and dueling DQN strategies are combined to improve convergence speed. On the basis of offline training, Wi-OAC can determine the proper AP-client associations for the arriving clients. Both simulation experiments and real-world experiments have been conducted to validate the effectiveness of Wi-OAC. In real-world experiments, we build a Wi-OAC testbed including 3 APs and 54 clients in less than 10.5 m2 area, and the results show that Wi-OAC can significantly improve the performance on the client throughput, AP load balancing and user QoE.

On The Biophysical Complexity of Brain Dynamics: An Outlook

The human brain is a complex network whose ensemble time evolution is directed by the cumulative interactions of its cellular components, such as neurons and glia cells. Coupled through chemical neurotransmission and receptor activation, these individuals interact with one another to varying degrees by triggering a variety of cellular activity from internal biological reconfigurations to external interactions with other network agents. Consequently, such local dynamic connections mediating the magnitude and direction of influence cells have on one another are highly nonlinear and facilitate, respectively, nonlinear and potentially chaotic multicellular higher-order collaborations. Thus, as a statistical physical system, the nonlinear culmination of local interactions produces complex global emergent network behaviors, enabling the highly dynamical, adaptive, and efficient response of a macroscopic brain network. Microstate reconfigurations are typically facilitated through synaptic and structural plasticity mechanisms that alter the degree of coupling (magnitude of influence) neurons have upon each other, dictating the type of coordinated macrostate emergence in populations of neural cells. These can emerge in the form of local regions of synchronized clusters about a center frequency composed of individual neural cell collaborations as a fundamental form of collective organization. A single mode of synchronization is insufficient for the computational needs of the brain. Thus, as neural components influence one another (cellular components, multiple clusters of synchronous populations, brain nuclei, and even brain regions), different patterns of neural behavior interact with one another to produce an emergent spatiotemporal spectral bandwidth of neural activity corresponding to the dynamical state of the brain network. Furthermore, hierarchical and self-similar structures support these network properties to operate effectively and efficiently. Neuroscience has come a long way since its inception; however, a comprehensive and intuitive understanding of how the brain works is still amiss. It is becoming evident that any singular perspective upon the grandiose biophysical complexity within the brain is inadequate. It is the purpose of this paper to provide an outlook through a multitude of perspectives, including the fundamental biological mechanisms and how these operate within the physical constraints of nature. Upon assessing the state of prior research efforts, in this paper, we identify the path future research effort should pursue to inspire progress in neuroscience.

Heterogeneous Firms in International Markets and Gender Inequalities: New Evidence from Vietnam

Recent contributions in international economics have highlighted structural differences between firms actively participating in global markets and firms mostly operating in the domestic economy. Using firm-level data from Vietnam, this study found that foreign and domestic firms with global ties – exporters, multinational enterprises (MNEs), and domestic firms belonging to global value chains (GVCs) – play an important role in reducing gendered differences in employment opportunities in the formal sector, in particular for low-skilled women workers. Women workers are more likely than men workers to be employed in low-wage firms, but this gender gap is lower in MNEs, in particular those belonging to GVCs. This study provides evidence of important within-sector heterogeneity not only based on firms’ ownership but also on the intensity of participation in GVCs. HIGHLIGHTS Global economic interactions can shape gender inequalities in the labor markets of developing countries. In Vietnam, firms with complex global networks promote a more gender-balanced development trajectory. Foreign and domestic firms participating in global value chains boost employment opportunities but mostly for low-skilled women. Firms’ participation in international markets has limited effects on the reduction of gender inequality in wages.

A complex network perspective on embodiment of air pollutants from global oil refining industry

The air pollutants emitted from oil refining industry could be transferred across borders through the increasingly complex global trade network. However, the specific structural features of the network remain unclear. Based on the Multi-regional Input-output method and complex network theory, we make a first attempt to trace six oil refining air pollutants embodied in the international trade. The results show that the overall character of the global oil refining air pollutants flow network exhibits small-world behavior, and each node of the network is strongly connected. Therefore, the refining emissions mitigation measures of one node could efficiently radiate to the other nodes connected to it, which provides essential opportunities for collaborative emissions reduction among countries. Besides, the individual characteristics of each node are distinguished, several key nodes dominate the embodied emissions throughout the global oil refining air-pollutants flow network. For specific countries, the United States, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom are the hub economics in importing embodied pollutants in the network, while Russia and Canada are the key exporters. Similarly, the critical paths with large flow still come from the trade between these key nodes. Our estimated results have great policy implications for reducing air pollutants emitted from oil refining industry and also have profound implications for environmental regulation and protection in the world.

Disrupted and Unsettled: An Introduction to Monuments, Memorials, and Italian Migrations

Disrupted and Unsettled: An Introduction to Monuments, Memorials, and Italian Migrations

Global trade network and CH4 emission outsourcing

The intensifying globalization contributes to the anthropogenic methane (CH4) emissions outsourcing, a strong greenhouse gas and harmful air pollutant, through the increasingly complex global trade network. However, the CH4 flow patterns embodied in global traded goods and services have not been interpreted from the perspective of a complex network. In this paper, we integrate global CH4 emission inventory from the EDGAR (the Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research) databases, global multi-regional input-output model from the GTAP database, and complex network analysis to reveal the structural characteristics of the global CH4 flow network (GCFN). In the GCFN, more than one quarter of the global anthropogenic CH4 emissions in 2014 are associated with international trade. The top 20 economies contribute to about 70% of the total embodied CH4 emission flows. The GCFNs mainly consist of tripartite patterns centered on China, the USA and Russia. Some emerging countries, such as Thailand and Brazil, also exhibit dominated positions in different kinds of GCFNs. Moreover, the core-periphery structure of the GCFN confirms the existence of a few hub economies associated with a large amount of CH4 emissions. The results emphasize the multinational cooperation on global CH4 emission mitigation, and well-focused mitigation policies should be implemented on some key economies.

The Jesuit Global networks of exchange of Asian goods: A “conflictive” musk load around the middle of the seventeenth century

ABSTRACT In 1648, a Portuguese ship that left Macau sank off the coast of the Philippines. The local authorities in Manila confiscated and sold all of its goods. This led to a dispute with the Jesuits, who claimed a certain amount of musk belonging to the Vice Province of China, the sale of which would support their religious mission. This article offers an analysis of this event, focusing on the dispute between the mentioned parties, but also as an example of the complex global networks of goods exchanges and economic interests in these regions of Southeast Asia in the middle of the seventeenth century.

Distributed Ledger Technologies in Supply Chain Security Management: A Comprehensive Survey

Supply chains (SC) present performance bottlenecks that contribute to a high level of costs, infiltration of product quality, and impact productivity. Examples of such inhibitors include the bullwhip effect, new product lines, high inventory, and restrictive data flows. These bottlenecks can force manufacturers to source more raw materials and increase production significantly. Also, restrictive data flow in a complex global SC network generally slows down the movement of goods and services. The use of distributed ledger technologies (DLT) in SC management (SCM) demonstrates the potentials to reduce these bottlenecks through transparency, decentralization, and optimizations in data management. These technologies promise to enhance the trustworthiness of entities within the SC, ensure the accuracy of data-driven operations, and enable existing SCM processes to migrate from a linear to a fully circular economy. This article presents a comprehensive review of 111 articles published in the public domain in the use and efficacy of DLT in SC. It acts as a roadmap for current and future researchers who focus on SC security management to better understand the integration of digital technologies such as DLT. We clustered these articles using standard descriptors linked to trustworthiness, namely, immutability, transparency, traceability, and integrity.

Mechanistic Framework of Global Value Chains

Indeed, the global production (as a system of creating values) is eventually forming like a gigantic and complex network/web of value chains that explains the transitional structures of global trade and development of the global economy. It's truly a new wave of globalisation, and we term it as the global value chains (GVCs), creating the nexus among firms, workers and consumers around the globe. The emergence of this new scenario asks: how an economy's firms, producers and workers connect in the global economy. And how are they capturing the gains out of it in terms of different dimensions of economic development? This GVC approach is very crucial for understanding the organisation of the global industries and firms. It requires the statics and dynamics of diverse players involved in this complex global production network. Its broad notion deals with different global issues (including regional value chains also) from the top down to the bottom up, founding a scope for policy analysis (Gereffi & Fernandez-Stark 2011). But it is true that, as Feenstra (1998) points out, any single computational framework is not sufficient to quantification this whole range of economic activities. We should adopt an integrative framework for accurate projection of this dynamic multidimensional phenomenon.

Research Methods of Assessing Global Value Chains

The global production (as a system of creating values) is eventually forming a vast web of value chains that explains the transitional structures of global trade and development of the world economy. It is truly a new wave of globalisation, and we can term it as the global value chains (GVCs), creating the nexus among firms, workers and consumers around the globe. The emergence of this new scenario is asking how an economy's businesses, producers and employees are connecting to the global economy and capturing the gains out of it regarding different dimensions of economic development. Indeed, this GVC approach is very crucial for understanding the organisation of the global industries (including firms) through analysing the statics and dynamics of different economic players involved in this complex global production network. Its widespread notion deals with various global issues (including regional value chains also) from the top down to the bottom up, founding a scope for policy analysis.

Важливі аспекти забезпечення політики у сфері інноваційного підприємництва в контексті соціально-економічного розвитку регіонів України

The content of the article actualizes a number of important issues as to provision of policy in the sphere of supporting innovative entrepreneurship. In the course of their study, the authors note that the socio-economic development of countries is influenced by the degree of innovativeness of the economy. This encourages to consider innovative entrepreneurship as an important resource for the development of innovative processes in the country, and the support of innovative entrepreneurship is considered a key factor in solving the main problems of sustainable socio-economic development of the regions of Ukraine. The country has a fairly strong base for scientific and technical developments, a powerful innovation potential, but there are problems with implementation of the latter due to insufficient focus on the formation of an effective innovative policy and the policy of development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are the main suppliers of innovations in the national innovation system. The results of the study draw attention to the feasibility of integrating innovative policies with the corporate social responsibility development policies and the SME development policies. An integration will allow achieving greater economic return and social benefits through the implementation of a more efficient relationship between the providers of socio-economic development of region on the organization and provision of opportunities for the development of complex regional, interregional and global value-creating networks. This approach also involves taking into account the factors influencing the innovation dynamics with the constant improvement of the system of formation and implementation of the State and regional priorities in the field of regulation of science, investment, innovation, entrepreneurial and socially responsible activities, in accordance with the implementation of the principles of sustainable development.