Country Context Research Articles

Who will board urban air taxis? An analysis of advanced air mobility demand and value of travel time for business, airport access, and regional tourism trips in Iran

Recent advancements in the development of a comprehensive urban air mobility ecosystem promise the opportunity for its implementation in the near future. However, the utility of this emerging mode of transportation in comparison to the existing modes varies for different trip purposes and geographical contexts. It is, therefore, imperative to assess its usage potential for various scenarios before moving forward with implementation efforts. This paper presents the findings of three stated preference surveys aimed at characterizing prospective urban air mobility travel demand for weekly business, airport access, and regional tourism trips in Iran. Hybrid multinomial logit and hybrid nested logit models are estimated for each trip purpose. The results indicate that urban air mobility for weekly business trips represents the most viable market segment. Value-of-time estimates for weekly business trips are more than two and a half times higher than those for airport access trips, and tourism trips are valued even less. There is a trend towards delaying the adoption of air taxis to gain trust, and reducing ticket prices is seen as the most effective incentive for increasing the adoption rate. This study pioneers research on urban air mobility in a developing country context, offering valuable insights into market viability for investors and policymakers.

Agricultural Technological Change, Female Earnings and Fertility: Evidence from Brazil

Abstract I study how agricultural technological change affects labour market opportunities and fertility in a developing country context. Exploiting plausibly exogenous variation in the adoption of genetically engineered soy across municipalities in Brazil, I show that this labour-saving technology reduced female agricultural earnings and employment without inducing any female sectoral reallocation. Furthermore, this technology adoption increased fertility due to increases in overall household earnings and substitution effects driven by the reduction in female labour demand. These results suggest that technological progress in developing countries may not improve female economic opportunities or lower fertility unless substitution effects are negative and sufficiently large.

Greatest Good for the Greatest Number – the Role of Managers’ Ethical Meaning-Making and Subjective Wellbeing Complexity

AbstractDespite the appeal of ‘the greatest good for the greatest number’ as an ethical ideal for businesses to pursue, applying this utilitarian principle in practice proves challenging. This is not least due to fundamental disagreements as to what constitutes the ‘greatest good.’ For example, the concept of ‘wellbeing’ now commonly proposed as a way of apprehending the greatest good is itself subject to widely varying interpretations. Drawing on an in-depth qualitative study of 64 managers in different sectors and country contexts, we explore this variation through the lens of constructivist ethics, asking how and why managers systematically differ in their ethical meaning-making around wellbeing. Our theorizing advances constructivist ethics by relating these differences to developmental stages identified in constructivist psychology, finding that systematic variations in ethical meaning-making are shaped by differences in actors’ capacities to process complexity. Our analysis reveals that managers’ ethical meaning-making about wellbeing is subjective, socially constructed, dynamic, and evolutionary, progressing in stages that we differentiate with a novel concept of ‘subjective wellbeing complexity.’ We contribute to practice by discussing how managers’ ability to work with more complex conceptions of wellbeing can be purposefully enhanced through stage-by-stage capacity-building in the form of ‘vertical development.’

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Talent Acquisition

The present study's aim is to investigate the intention to use and actual use of a artificial intelligence (AI) for talent acquisition in Bangladesh. The authors used deductive reasoning approach in a positive paradigm. The study finally collected 243 responses through self-administered questionnaire and used the PLS-based structural equation modeling to analyze the data. The findings of this study revealed that each of the predictors is significantly associated with the intention to use and actual use of AI for recruiting talents, excepting the influence of facilitation conditions on actual use of AI. The influence of age demonstrated that there is no moderating effect of the influence of users' intention to use on actual use of AI for talent acquisition. This study also advances knowledge in AI adoption for recruiting talents, and enhances literature in the fields of AI adoption for recruiting talents by providing insights for the policy makers in a developing country's context. Furthermore, the study also provides insightful directions for future researchers.

Augmentative and alternative communication for individuals with post-stroke aphasia: perspectives of South African speech-language pathologists

This qualitative study aimed to describe speech-language pathologists’ (SLPs’) perspectives on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) use for people with post-stroke aphasia focusing on: (a) current AAC practice, (b) factors that influence the use of AAC, and (c) the success and relevance of AAC interventions. Semi-structured interviews took place with ten South African SLPs with experience in aphasia intervention. The transcribed interviews were thematically analyzed using a six-phase process of inductive and deductive analysis within a phenomenological framework. All the participants use AAC with their clients, employing a variety of approaches that reflect their diverse settings, experiences, and perspectives on AAC. AAC use is complex, and SLPs make conscious choices considering multiple factors. Barriers to use were often associated with limited resources in the low- and middle-income country (LMIC) context, but most participants retained a positive view of AAC, actively working to circumvent barriers to use. Participants consistently emphasized the vital role of partners in communication interactions, linked to the importance of defining AAC broadly. It is necessary to advance the integration of AAC into rehabilitation plans to improve communication and social participation outcomes for people with post-stroke aphasia, especially in LMICs such as South Africa.

How does energy modelling influence policymaking? Insights from low- and middle-income countries

Energy system models are widely used to explore, analyse and plan energy futures and sustainable transitions. These models, typically developed in high-income countries, have more recently been applied in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As a result, the role that models play in informing decisions in such contexts lacks adequate exploration. Drawing on 35 qualitative interviews with energy system modellers and policymakers, this research examines the experiences of developing and using energy system models that support decision-making in LMICs. The findings suggest that many conventional modelling approaches do not account for the political economy influences and developmental challenges specific to LMICs, with implications for modelling processes and outcomes. The interviews highlighted the need to understand the roles played by diverse stakeholders in shaping modelling processes, as well as the communication, interpretation and use of energy models. This indicates that, particularly in modelling projects which bring in external modellers, a good understanding of the country context is essential to design appropriate model scenarios and for their interpretation in policymaking. Finally, more in-country capacity is needed to foster local ownership of modelling projects.

A two-pronged approach to understanding reciprocity and mental health relationship in developing countries: evidence from young informal construction workers in Nigeria

BackgroundMental health problems disproportionately affect young people in developing countries. However, there is limited research on help-seeking behaviours and the social support systems that improve mental wellbeing among vulnerable youth populations.ObjectiveThis mixed-methods study aimed to examine the relationship between social support reciprocity and mental health among young informal construction workers in Nigeria, a population at high-risk for occupational and socioeconomic stressors.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was administered to 686 informal workers to measure reciprocity, mental health-related quality of life, and covariates. In-depth interviews with 32 participants provided qualitative context.ResultsQuantitative analyses showed 25% of participants reported poor mental health. Reciprocity positively predicted mental health after controlling for covariates. Qualitative findings revealed reciprocity occurs directly between individuals as well as indirectly through trade unions and religious groups. Indirect exchanges through groups helped address limitations of direct support due to limited resources.ConclusionsThis study fills important gaps in understanding how social relationships impact mental health in developing country contexts. Findings emphasize the role of collective action and community-based support systems in promoting mental wellbeing among vulnerable populations. Insights can inform culturally relevant, systems-level mental health interventions.

Integration of digital technologies in anti-corruption initiatives in Botswana: lessons from Georgia, Ukraine and South Africa

Purpose This paper aims to explore the potential role of digitalization in reshaping Botswana's assets and liabilities declaration system. Digitalization presents opportunities to not only improve efficiencies in how services are delivered and citizens are engaged but also to integrate innovative ways to combat wicked problems such as illicit enrichment and conflicts of interest in the public service. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative paper adopts an exploratory research design to investigate how digital technologies can be used to enhance anti-corruption reforms in a developing country context. Primary data, focusing on the shortcomings and successes of Botswana’s asset declaration system, were collected from interviews with key policy actors in Botswana’s anti-corruption landscape, whereas secondary data were drawn from documents such as official reports, news and social media reports and available literature on the topics of digitalization and anti-corruption reforms. A comparative case study approach is used, highlighting successes and challenges in the use of electronic disclosure systems in Georgia, Ukraine and South Africa. Findings The analysis provides insights into the potential benefits and challenges associated with the integration of digital technologies in the asset and liability declaration process. The integration of digital technologies in the anti-corruption efforts of Georgia, Ukraine and South Africa has contributed to the development of robust electronic declaration systems. However, political resistance, costs, technical capacity and verification processes are identified as some of the core challenges confronting agencies tasked with implementing asset declaration systems. Research limitations/implications The political and socio-economic contexts in the country case studies presented are distinct, as are the challenges posed by corruption. Although Botswana can gain insights from the implementation experiences of Georgia, Ukraine and South Africa, policymakers and implementers need to take into account these subtleties and their potential influence on the success or failure of a similar system. The research has implications for policy and practice by proposing an alternative approach to the implementation of Botswana’s asset declaration system. This will be of interest to policymakers, anti-corruption activists and scholars. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, prior research has not studied the relationship between digitalization and anti-corruption reforms in Botswana. This paper contributes to the dearth of knowledge regarding the role of digitalization as a driver of anti-corruption reforms. The paper informs policy decisions related to the implementation of digital transformation initiatives in line with Botswana’s anti-corruption and digital transformation agendas.

Improving education for incarcerated children and young people: policy recommendations from three transnational projects in Europe

Purpose The purpose of this policy piece is to present headline evidence from the equivalent of a decade of research across three projects focused on improving the educational experiences of incarcerated or justice-involved children and young people across 14 countries. The projects demonstrated a positive impact when using the specially designed innovative methods even with disengaged justice-involved children and young people. Each project had a different focus based on the needs of the children and young people, including (re)engaging them with education and learning opportunities re-engaging young offenders with education and learning (RENYO), developing identified social and emotional competencies through sport active games 4 change (AG4C) and developing skills for when transitioning into communities (S4L). Design/methodology/approach Each of the three projects designed bespoke interventions and materials based on the focus of the project. Combined, these were piloted across a total of 14 countries with 548 children and young people, 225 educators and 21 youth justice settings (custodial and non-custodial). Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered from educators, children and young people to better understand the effectiveness and limitations of the pedagogical approaches, the materials and experiences of the users. Findings The findings from across the three projects demonstrated that when custodial settings or youth justice settings have greater access to specifically designed tools and resources, with appropriate training to use them, it is possible to re-engage even the most disengaged children and young people with education and learning (RENYO). It was also possible to show a statistically significant increase in social and emotional competencies (social awareness, responsible decision-making, self-awareness, self-management, relationship skills) in participating country settings (AG4C) and to engage children and young people with a Skills4Life Curriculum in preparation for moving back into the community. Research limitations/implications Custodial and other youth justice settings vary widely in different jurisdictions with varying levels of resource. Whilst all programmes had success in implementation, this was to different degrees and extents in each of the country contexts. Much of this success will depend on the skills of educators and the willingness of the leadership. Practical implications The programmes and interventions in this policy piece can be used in a range of contexts and settings as shown by the wide range of sites they were piloted in. From a practical perspective, these programmes and interventions have been designed to fit into existing structures and timetables with custodial and youth justice settings, making them easily integrated into business as usual. Originality/value Planned and strategically delivered interventions by expert educators in a holistic way means there is real opportunity to better support justice involved children and young people to successful transitioning back into communities, thereby potentially reducing reoffending. This is done by (re)engaging them with education and learning on entry, using the authentic inquiry methodology, developing social and emotional competencies through the active games and sport programme, followed by a tailored Skils4Life Curriculum preparing them for transition back into communities.

Measuring Wellbeing Across Culture and Context – are we Getting it Right? Evaluating the Variation in Wellbeing Conceptualisations Throughout the World

Researchers, practitioners, and policy makers have been increasingly interested in measuring wellbeing over the last two decades. However, with many measurement tools and frameworks being replicated in contexts distinct from where they were developed, it raises the question as to whether we are measuring the right things. This study draws on data collected through a systematic review of participatory wellbeing frameworks to better understand how wellbeing conceptualisations differ based on country context throughout the world. This analysis is one of the first of its kind, enabling a deeper and more comprehensive insight into cross-cultural understandings of wellbeing. The findings indicate that while there is some degree of universality in how wellbeing is conceptualised in different country contexts, cross-cultural variation is also evident. These findings have important implications for wellbeing measurement throughout the world, indicating that researchers, practitioners, and policymakers should exercise some caution when utilising wellbeing measurement tools and frameworks that were developed in contexts distinct from the population of interest. Furthermore, this study highlights the value of participatory approaches in better understanding these nuanced conceptualisations of wellbeing within different population groups throughout the world. Having greater awareness of cross-cultural differences in wellbeing conceptualisations will help ensure that we are more closely measuring what matters to people.

Individual Wealth Inequality: Measurement and Evidence from Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries

Wealth accumulation is critical for advancing women's and men's economic opportunities, and yet is understudied in developing countries. Leveraging new, nationally‐representative, cross‐country comparable surveys where men and women self‐reported on their personal asset ownership, we show that individual‐level wealth inequality is significantly higher vis‐à‐vis comparators based on per capita household consumption expenditure, and per capita household wealth. Intra‐household wealth inequality explains about 12–30 percent of overall wealth inequality, depending on the country context. The analysis further demonstrates how survey design choices, in particular respondent selection, matter for individual wealth inequality estimates.

The Ethical and Privacy Implications of Datafication and Digitalization in Developing Country Contexts

The Ethical and Privacy Implications of Datafication and Digitalization in Developing Country Contexts

Different countries, but the same? The polarisation of communication on migratory flows in Columbia and Italy

The overall objective of the article is to demonstrate how the polarisation of communication observed in today’s fragmented society on certain issues is not due to the similarity of the sociocultural and historical contexts of different countries but rather to the social problem being communicated. To do so, the subject of this article is communication referring to migration flows—a universal phenomenon and hot topic in international public debate—that generates, more often than not, polarisation oriented toward hostility toward migrants. To achieve this objective, with the support of the analysis of multiple cases of media communication (analysis of language and forms of communication), we will observe what happens in two countries (Italy and Colombia) is entirely different. Despite its limitations due to the impossibility of generalising the findings to all social phenomena, the article highlights how the two diametrically different countries can polarise communication towards migrants with similar hate speech within social networks and digital platforms. This leads to the specific objective: to open a critical debate around the dynamics that polarise communication, mainly if it takes on negative valences.

Reverse logistics and financial performance in a developing country context: the moderating role of analytics capability

Purpose This paper aims to examine the financial outcome of reverse logistics among firms in a developing country. The authors draw on the organizational information processing theory to propose that analytics capability moderates the relationship between reverse logistics and financial performance. Design/methodology/approach The authors collected firm-level survey data from 200 manufacturing firms in Ghana, a developing country in sub-Saharan Africa. Partial least squares structural equations modeling is used to examine the proposed relationships, and the moderating effects are further probed using Hayes PROCESS. Findings The empirical results show that reverse logistics is negatively related to financial performance. However, analytics capability attenuates this negative relationship, such that firms with high analytics capability obtain a positive relationship between reverse logistics and financial performance. Practical implications Firms in developing countries should combine their reverse logistics strategies with developing analytics capabilities that help minimize uncertainties and increase the efficient collection and use of information to reduce the cost of reverse logistics. Originality/value This paper examines how reverse logistics relates to financial performance in low-resource contexts. Beyond the novelty of the context, it explores the information processing needs of reverse logistics systems and provides empirical data to support analytics capability. This has yet to be considered in prior studies.

Formative qualitative research on the potential for digital solutions to address diabetes care gaps in Tanzania and Sri Lanka

ObjectivesDiabetes care remains unavailable and unaffordable for many people. Adapting models of care to low-income and middle-income country contexts is a priority. Digital technology offers substantial potential yet must surmount...

Determinants of housing prices: Serbian Cities’ perspective

This study investigates the spatial and temporal dynamics of housing prices in Serbia, addressing the critical need to understand the drivers of real estate prices and their implications for economic and social welfare. Employing a panel data analysis approach on a unique dataset covering 24 distinct urban areas in Serbia from 2011 to 2021, we examine the relevance of diverse economic, demographic, and infrastructural indicators, providing novel insights within a developing country context. Our findings reveal that the housing market stock-flow model effectively predicts housing price appreciation trends, explaining over 60 percent of variation in property prices. Notably, disparities in labour income, captured by average wages and registered employment rates, emerge as significant determinants of real estate prices, underlining socio-economic disparities within Serbian cities. Housing prices exhibit a positive response to the population/housing stock ratio, suggesting higher prices in cities experiencing faster population growth relative to housing supply. Intensified construction is associated with elevated housing prices. Additionally, we find positive association between the inflation variable and housing prices, underlining real estate’s potential as an inflation hedge. Public service provision and infrastructural amenities also emerge as contributors to higher housing prices in urban areas, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive urban planning strategies. Our study contributes to the literature by providing specific quantitative evidence, advancing the understanding of urban housing market dynamics in developing countries. By offering nuanced insights into determinants of housing prices, our research informs policymakers and urban planners seeking to foster equitable and sustainable urban development strategies.

Investigating the interplay of organizational social capital, university image and perceived employability on career satisfaction of information technology professionals

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationship between organizational social capital, university image, perceived employability and career satisfaction of information technology (IT) professionals. It also aims to investigate the moderating effects of diverse age groups of IT professionals on the antecedents and consequences of career satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachVariance-based partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was used to analyze a dataset of 412 responses from IT professionals. The predictive relevance of career satisfaction was estimated through PLS predict, and the relative importance of determinants was analyzed through importance-performance map analysis (IPMA). PLS Multi-group analysis (PLS-MGA) and measurement invariance of composites (MICOM) were used to estimate the moderating effects of age groups.FindingsThe findings of this study indicate that university image is perceived as the crucial factor for career satisfaction by IT professionals followed by perceived employability and organizational social capital. Gender was found to be a positive predictor of career satisfaction. PLS-MGA results indicate that organizational social capital is a prominent predictor of career satisfaction for middle-aged professionals as compared to young professionals as the latter consider university image to be more important.Originality/valueThis is the first study to examine the relationship between organizational social capital, university image, perceived employability, and career satisfaction of IT professionals in a developing country context.

‘Europe was a dream for me. This dream came true but remains unfulfilled at the same time’: Navigating life aspirations among forced migrants in Austria and Italy

Abstract In this article, we analyse the interplay between forced migrants’ retrospective expectations and their current experiences in the host country, and how this interaction informs their aspirations in relation to their potential life trajectories. By zooming in on the Austrian and Italian cases derived from qualitative data, this article investigates forced migrants’ retrospective perspectives on the ‘good life’ in (imagined) Europe and their experienced-informed perspectives of the host country context—reception policies—after migration by tracing individuals’ self-reported perceptions of life aspirations over the course of their migration journey. By applying the aspirations-capability framework, our analysis traces what ‘happens’ after people have submitted their asylum applications. In this way, this research sheds light on the process of adapting to a new context with gravely restricted capabilities and how this affects people’s life aspirations. By doing so, we demonstrate that aspirations are not only dynamic and flexible, but capabilities also change due to the structural confines of national asylum procedures. This study therefore brings an innovative perspective to study life aspirations and capabilities by showing the importance of reflecting not only aspirations but also the (in)capability of acting in the present which informs the process of revisiting original life aspirations for individuals seeking asylum. This process begins after the arrival, based on changes in their capabilities, specifically the national asylum structures that confine them.

Development of a Population-Level Dichotomous Indicator of Minimum Dietary Diversity as a Proxy for Micronutrient Adequacy in Adolescents Aged 10–19 Y in the United States

BackgroundDiversity is a key component of diet quality and health, but no indicator exists for adolescents under the age of 15 y. ObjectivesTo establish a dichotomous indicator for population-level assessment of adolescent dietary diversity as a proxy for micronutrient adequacy. MethodsWe used the probability approach to construct mean probability of adequacy (MPA) of 11 micronutrients from 2 d of 24-h dietary recall data from NHANES, 2007–2018. For each micronutrient, probability of adequacy (PA) was calculated using the best linear unbiased predictor of usual intake. Adolescent dietary diversity score (ADDS) was derived with a maximum score of 10 food groups. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine associations between ADDS and MPA. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to establish a cutoff for minimum dietary diversity for adolescents (MDD-A) using an energy-adjusted logistic model with ADDS predicting MPA > 0.6. ResultsPA was >80% for all nutrients except vitamin C (42.1%), folate (65.7%), and calcium (23.8%). Population MPA was 79.4%, and nearly 92% of adolescents had an MPA > 0.6. ADDS was positively associated with MPA, and energy was a significant confounder. The area under the curve was >0.8 on both days with sensitivity and specificity ranging from 0.71 to 0.80. The MDD-A cutoff was calculated as 5.12 and 5.10 food groups on days 1 and 2, respectively. ConclusionsIn U.S. adolescents, the best cutoff for a dichotomous indicator of dietary diversity as a proxy for micronutrient adequacy is 6 food groups in a given day. Future research could validate MDD-A and its associated cutoff for use across country contexts.

Prenatal exposure to particulate matter and infant birth outcomes: Evidence from a population-wide database.

There are growing concerns about the impact of pollution on maternal and infant health. Despite an extensive correlational literature, observational studies which adopt methods that seek to address potential biases due to unmeasured confounders draw mixed conclusions. Using a population database of births in Northern Ireland (NI) linked to localized geographic information on pollution in mothers' postcodes (zipcodes) of residence during pregnancy, we examine whether prenatal exposure to PM2.5 is associated with a comprehensive range of birth outcomes, including placental health. Overall, we find little evidence that particulate matter is related to infant outcomes at the pollution levels experienced in NI, once we implement a mother fixed effects approach that accounts for time-invariant factors. This contrasts with strong associations in models that adjust for observed confounders but without fixed effects. While reducing ambient air pollution remains an urgent public health priority globally, our results imply that further improvements in short-run levels of prenatal PM2.5 exposure in a relatively low-pollution, higher-income country context, are unlikely to impact on birth outcomes at the population level.