Cross-country Comparisons Research Articles

Social representations of European history by the European youth: A cross-country comparison

The present manuscript examines the way young Europeans represent Europe’s history. A study conducted in 11 European countries (N = 1406 students in social sciences) shows that the characters considered most important in the history of Europe are mostly men linked either to WW2, authoritarianism, or conquests and empires. Although these appear later in the rankings and despite some imbalance between countries, Europe’s history is also associated with religious figures, artists, scientists, and philosophers. These results show that the representations of the history of Europe currently shared by young Europeans correspond, in part, to historical narratives based on a specific set of experiences, events, and values supposedly common to the peoples of Europe that were promoted by European elites throughout the integration process. Further, these results suggest that beyond the negative narrative of war and the crimes of totalitarianism, the history of Europe is also embodied by positive characters transcending national boundaries and associated with a set of key elements of the EU identity: democracy, tolerance, solidarity, humanism, and the Enlightenment. Finally, we also highlight the near-total absence of characters unambiguously related to colonization and, especially, decolonization, and a strong overall under-representation of women.

Social inequalities and the COVID-19 pandemic

Social inequality has been identified as an important determinant of the outcome of infectious diseases and the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has vividly reminded us that there are no “equal opportunity infectors”. In a recent article, Chakrabarty et al. (2023) reported the finding of a cross-country comparison of COVID-19 cases and social deprivation, using up-to-date statistical modelling. These results add to the extensive evidence showing that vulnerable populations are consistently at higher risk of contracting the infection and to suffer from more severe symptoms, whatever the spatial scale used (from the country to the neighborhood). Spatial clustering of socially deprived groups, preexisting pathologies and hotspots of COVID-19 cases and deaths indicate that the SARS-CoV-2 should be seen as a syndemic, where both the infection dynamics and the outcome of the disease strongly depend on the three-way interaction between the virus, preexisting pathologies, and the socioeconomic environment.

Exploring the Link Between Education Length and Employment Outcomes among Youth in Europe: A Hierarchical Clustering Approach

Abstract Background As the world rapidly evolves, digitalisation continues, and artificial intelligence is used, it is crucial to understand how education systems are preparing future generations to succeed in this very dynamic environment where there is a tremendous demand for skilled workers. Objectives This paper analyses similarities and differences between European Union Member States regarding the educational attainment of young adults and their performance in the labour market. Methods/Approach Ward’s cluster method in hierarchical cluster analysis for output and outcome indicators of young adult education systems is used for two selected years: 2012 and 2021. Results Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands have the highest average percentage of young adults with tertiary education in 2021. On the other hand, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, and Romania have the highest average employment and income benefits of tertiary education for young adults. Conclusions The average share of 25-to 34-year-olds with tertiary education increased significantly in the EU-27 between 2012 and 2021, partly due to higher demand for skilled workers in labour markets. Higher levels of education are generally associated with better employment opportunities and higher wages. However, there are large differences across EU economies. The results can help governments and education policymakers design future policies and provide insights into cross-country comparisons.

How Do Governments’ Policy Priorities Change as the Energy Transition Progresses? A Cross-Country Comparison

Today’s energy transition is marked by two key processes: the maturation of the renewable electricity system, and the declining fit between the new and incumbent electricity systems. Given these processes, how do governments change their policy priorities as the transition progresses? Our comparative analysis of six EU member states shows that governments dynamically adapt their policy priorities based on changes in their socio-technical systems. Our initial findings suggest that governments follow a specific sequence of policy priorities in the energy transition. Results stress how important it is that governments strategically sequence policy instruments for a smooth transition amid changing priorities.

Assessment of App-Based Versus Conventional Survey Modalities for Reproductive Health Research in India, South Africa, and the United States: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

There is a widely acknowledged global need for more research on reproductive health (including contraception, menstrual health, sexuality, and maternal morbidities) and its impact on overall well-being. However, several factors-notably, high costs, considerable effort, and the sensitivity of these topics-impede the collection of the necessary data, especially in less accessible and lower-income populations. The burgeoning ownership of smartphones and growing use of menstrual tracking apps (MTAs) may present an opportunity to conduct reproductive health research with fewer impediments than those associated with conventional survey methods. The main objective was to ascertain the feasibility, potential usefulness, and limitations of conducting reproductive health research using a mainstream MTA. In each of the 3 countries, we evaluated questionnaire responses from (1) current users of an MTA (Clue) and (2) participants surveyed using conventional survey modalities (in-person interviews, SMS text messaging, and web-based questionnaires). We compared these responses with published data collected from large nationally representative benchmark samples (the United States Census and the Demographic and Health Surveys for South Africa and India). Given a sufficiently large user base, app-distributed surveys were able to quickly capture large samples on par with other methods and at low cost, with the additional advantage of being able to deploy remotely and simultaneously across countries. In each country, neither the app nor the conventional modality sample emerged as a consistently closer match to the distributions of the demographic attributes and the patterns of contraceptive use reported for the respective benchmark sample. Despite efforts to obtain representative samples, the conventional modality samples sometimes over- and other times underrepresented some subgroups (eg, underrepresentation of married persons in the United States and overrepresentation of rural residents in India). In all 3 countries, app users were younger, more educated, more likely to be urban residents, and more likely to use nonhormonal rather than hormonal contraceptive methods compared with the respective national benchmark. App users, compared with the conventional modality samples, consistently reported being more comfortable discussing their menstrual periods with other persons (eg, family, friends, and health care providers), suggesting that MTA users may be more likely to respond truthfully to questions on sensitive or taboo health topics. The app samples' consistency across countries regarding users' demographic profiles, contraceptive choices, and personal attitudes toward menstruation supports the validity of making cross-country comparisons of survey findings for a given app's users. MTAs such as Clue can provide a quick, scalable, and cost-effective method for collecting health data, including on sensitive topics, across a wide variety of settings and countries. With expanding global access to technology and the increasing use of these tools, consumer MTAs can be a viable survey modality to strengthen reproductive health research.

Understanding the behavioral determinants of adolescents' water consumption: A cross-country comparative study.

Substituting the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) with that of water can have a positive effect on adolescents' health. However, despite the attention on this topic in the Global North, it is relatively understudied in other regions of the world, such as the Caribbean. To guide the development of future interventions, understanding the factors determining water consumption among Caribbean adolescents is important. This study examined the behavioral determinants of water consumption among adolescents in Aruba (the Caribbean) and compared them to those in the Netherlands (Western Europe). We used a theoretical model that integrates the dominant theoretical perspectives in the field of public health, including theories of planned behavior, social norms, and intrinsic motivation. This cross-country study included 1,584 adolescents from Aruba and the Netherlands (52% girls; M = 12.34 years; SD = 2.14). The data were analyzed using regression analyses. This study found that in Aruba, adolescents with higher scores of intrinsic motivation, friends' descriptive norms, attitudes, and behavioral control regarding water consumption drank more water. Moreover, the associations between water consumption and both intrinsic motivation as well as friends' descriptive norms for adolescents in Aruba were stronger than those found in the Netherlands. These associations imply that it is even more important for Aruban adolescents than Dutch adolescents to be intrinsically motivated or to perceive their friends often consuming water to drink more water. The cross-country comparison implies that future interventions in Aruba aimed at increasing adolescents' water consumption as an alternative to SSB should focus on enhancing their intrinsic motivation while considering their friends' social norms.

“Mother's milk”: Is there a social reversal in breastfeeding practices along with economic development?

Previous studies suggest that macro- and micro-level factors jointly influence breastfeeding (BF) practices, but empirical evidence on the dynamics of such interactions along with the process of a country's economic development remains limited. Based on 42 Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in 15 Asian countries with a large time window (1990–2017), we thus test the existence of a reversal in the association between household wealth and BF practices throughout the development process. Four BF indicators (early initiation of BF, exclusive BF, continued BF at one year and two years) are examined, along with a standardized asset-based household wealth index allowing for cross-wave and cross-country comparisons. To highlight the dynamics of the wealth-BF association, we carry out econometric estimations, including interaction terms between household wealth and the country's level of economic development (low, medium, and high) or time. Instrumental variable estimations are also performed to limit suspected endogeneity issues. Our results confirm a transition in the wealth gradient of exclusive BF and continued BF in Asian countries. More precisely, while these practices are pro-poor in the poorest countries of the sample, they progressively spread to wealthier households along with the level of economic development. For exclusive BF, this transition has resulted in a reversal of the wealth gradient at the end of the period (i.e., exclusive BF prevalence among the rich overpassing that of the poor). We fail, however, to observe this kind of transition for early initiation of BF, this practice remaining pro-poor, whatever the level of economic development. To sum up, our results provide robust evidence of a transition in the wealth gradient of some BF practices along with economic development and time, and thus largely echo the literature exploring the social reversal hypothesis in the case of non-communicable diseases.

Genomic analysis of Plasmodium vivax describes patterns of connectivity and putative drivers of adaptation in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has the greatest burden of Plasmodium vivax in Africa, but little is known about the epidemiological landscape of parasites across the country. We analysed the genomic diversity of 137 P. vivax isolates collected nine Ethiopian districts from 2012 to 2016. Signatures of selection were detected by cross-country comparisons with isolates from Thailand (n = 104) and Indonesia (n = 111), representing regions with low and high chloroquine resistance respectively. 26% (35/137) of Ethiopian infections were polyclonal, and 48.5% (17/35) of these comprised highly related clones (within-host identity-by-descent > 25%), indicating frequent co-transmission and superinfection. Parasite gene flow between districts could not be explained entirely by geographic distance, with economic and cultural factors hypothesised to have an impact on connectivity. Amplification of the duffy binding protein gene (pvdbp1) was prevalent across all districts (16–75%). Cross-population haplotype homozygosity revealed positive selection in a region proximal to the putative chloroquine resistance transporter gene (pvcrt-o). An S25P variant in amino acid transporter 1 (pvaat1), whose homologue has recently been implicated in P. falciparum chloroquine resistance evolution, was prevalent in Ethiopia (96%) but not Thailand or Indonesia (35–53%). The genomic architecture in Ethiopia highlights circulating variants of potential public health concern in an endemic setting with evidence of stable transmission.

Opioid agonist treatment in transition: A cross-country comparison between Austria, Germany and Switzerland

Background and AimsOAT is a well developed and successful treatment strategy for opioid dependent patients in Europe. It has significantly contributed to the fight against the HIV and HCV pandemics, leading to an increased life expectancy in this population. Building on the OAT experiences in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland and their models of care, the objective of this study is to analyse experiences and changes in patient structures to identify necessary adaptations for the system of care. MethodsWe analysed national register-based data from patients receiving OAT during the period spanning from 2010 to 2020 in Austria, Germany (cases), and Switzerland. We examined and compared OAT policies and practice at national levels through a review of literature and publicly available policy documents. ResultsAcross these three countries, the life expectancy of OAT patients increased substantially. The mean age increased from 33.0 in 2010 to 39.1 in 2020 in Austria, from 35.6 years to 41.5 years in Germany (cases), and from 39.6 to 47.1 in Switzerland, respectively. In all three countries, the percentage of patients/cases aged 60 years and older increased more than tenfold between 2010 and 2020. ConclusionsIntegrated support models, reliable care structures, internationally comparable high treatment coverage, flexible prescribing practices, and a wide range of available OAT medications are successful strategies. The experiences in these countries indicate that it is possible to address the complex and chronic nature of opioid dependence and its concurrent mental and physical health challenges, resulting in an increasing life expectancy of OAT patients.

How do American and British Nonsmokers Value Secondhand Smoke Health Risks?

Despite concerted efforts to enforce smoke-free laws in various countries, nonsmokers, particularly women and children, continue to be exposed to daily secondhand smoke (SHS), resulting in significant health risks. While existing studies have assessed the health effects of numerous diseases, the quantification of SHS spillovers remains understudied. This research employs choice experiments and contingent valuation techniques to rigorously quantify the attributes of SHS health risks, with a specific emphasis on facilitating cross-country comparisons. Our investigation reveals that nonsmoking individuals in the United Kingdom exhibit an attitude of indifference towards a proposed policy offering increased disposable income as compensation for SHS exposure. Conversely, nonsmoking Americans express a contrary perspective. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that nonsmoking Americans attribute a higher value to SHS health risks compared to their British counterparts. Consequently, this research uncovers a hitherto unexplored dimension of health risk-related behaviors. These findings hold the potential to significantly contribute to the development of future smoke-free policies, offering valuable insights that can inform policy decisions and address the persistent challenges associated with SHS exposure, particularly among vulnerable populations.

A cross-country comparison of Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia golf tourism experience: a perceptual experience of Malaysian golfers

PurposeThis scholarly investigation explores the Malaysian golfers' experience in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia golf courses. The study sheds light on the unique attributes of golf tourism in each country, including the courses, facilities, services and overall golfing experiences offered to golf tourists.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data were procured through in-depth semi-structured interviews with a cohort of 13 Malaysian golfers.FindingsThe findings indicate that golfers' experiences are affected by the quality of service, facilities, price and course condition, ultimately contributing to their satisfaction level. The evidence suggests that Malaysian golfers are comparatively more satisfied with golf courses in Thailand and Indonesia than in Malaysia.Originality/valueThe study underscores the importance of golf course attributes in retaining existing golfers and enticing new ones. Besides, as comparative research on golf course attributes and destination preferences is scant, this study has far-reaching implications, empowering Malaysian golf course managers to augment the appeal and quality of their golf course destination to optimise the behavioural intentions of golf tourists.

Exploring Transformational Leadership and Employee Performance: The Mediation Role of Psychological Empowerment Millennial Generation

This study investigates the influence of transformational leadership on the performance of millennial employees working in SMEs in Banjarmasin City in South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. Furthermore, it postulates that psychological empowerment is a mediator in explicating the relationship between transformational leadership and employee performance. The research methodology employs a quantitative approach and purposive sampling to select a sample of 400 SME employees in Banjarmasin who were born between 1981 and 1996, thus belonging to the millennial generation. Data analysis involves the utilization of PLS-SEM, with the testing of constructs following a reflective-reflective model. The findings indicate that transformational leadership does not directly influence employee performance but instead exerts its influence through the mediating factor of psychological empowerment. Psychological empowerment, therefore, assumes a crucial role in mediating the relationship between these two constructs. Considering the limited existing literature concerning millennial generation workers, our model serves as a valuable tool for uncovering the distinctive traits of millennial employees within the SME context. Furthermore, this research lays the foundation for future cross-country comparisons of millennial leadership approaches across diverse Asian nations, contributing to a deeper understanding of the varying characteristics of the millennial generation within distinct cultural settings.

Validity of16 AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators to identify in-hospital complications: a medical record review across nine Swiss hospitals.

The validity of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) has been established in the USA and Canada. However, these indicators are also used for hospital benchmarking and cross-country comparisons in other nations with different health-care settings and coding systems as well as missing present on admission (POA) flags in the administrative data. This study sought to comprehensively assess and compare the validity of 16 PSIs in Switzerland, where they have not been previously applied. We performed a medical record review using administrative and electronic medical record data from nine Swiss hospitals. Seven independent reviewers evaluated 1245 cases at various hospitals using retrospective data from the years 2014-18. True positives, false positives, positive predictive values (PPVs), and reasons for misclassification were compared across all investigated PSIs, and the documentation quality of the PSIs was examined. PSIs 6 (iatrogenic pneumothorax), 10 (postoperative acute kidney injury), 11 (postoperative respiratory failure), 13 (postoperative sepsis), 14 (wound dehiscence), 17 (birth trauma), and 18 and 19 (obstetric trauma with or without instrument) showed high PPVs (range: 90-99%) and were not strongly influenced by missing POA information. In contrast, PSIs 3 (pressure ulcer), 5 (retained surgical item), 7 (central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection), 8 (fall with hip fracture), and 15 (accidental puncture/laceration) showed low PPVs (range: 18-49%). In the case of PSIs 3, 8, and 12 (perioperative embolism/thrombosis), the low PPVs were largely due to the lack of POA information. Additionally, it was found that the documentation of PSI 3 in discharge letters could be improved. We found large differences in validity across the 16 PSIs in Switzerland. These results can guide policymakers in Switzerland and comparable health-care systems in selecting and prioritizing suitablePSIs for quality initiatives. Furthermore, the national introduction of a POA flag would allow for the inclusion of additional PSIs in quality monitoring.

Cross country comparisons of environmental efficiency under institutional quality. Evidence from European economies

PurposeThe paper aims at addressing the following research questions: does institutional quality improve countries' environmental efficiency? And which pillars of institutional quality improve countries' environmental efficiency?Design/methodology/approachBy specifying a directional distance function in the context of stochastic frontier method where GHG emissions are considered as the bad output and the GDP is referred as the desirable one, the work computes the environmental efficiency into the appraisal of a production function for the European countries over three decades.FindingsAccording to the countries' performance, the findings confirm that high and upper middle-income countries have higher environmental efficiency compared to low middle-income countries. In this environmental context, the role of institutional quality turns out to be really important in improving the environmental efficiency for high income countries.Originality/valueThis article attempts to analyze the role of different dimensions of institutional quality in different European countries' performance – in terms of mitigating GHGs (undesirable output) – while trying to raise their economic performance through their GDP (desirable output).HighlightsThe paper aims at addressing the following research question: does institutional quality improve countries' environmental efficiency?We adopt a directional distance function in the context of stochastic frontier method, considering 40 European economies over a 30-year time interval.The findings confirm that high and upper middle-income countries have higher environmental efficiency compared to low middle-income countries.The role of institutional quality turns out to be really important in improving the environmental efficiency for high income countries, while the performance decreases for the low middle-income countries.

Cross-country comparison of operant resources in logistics outsourcing relationships

PurposeThis study aims to explore the gaps concerning the organizational operant resources (OORs) of logistics service providers (LSPs) expected in outsourcing relationships. The study considers the views of both manufacturing firms (M-firms) and LSPs in India and DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) seeking gaps within and across regions.Design/methodology/approachThis research employed a survey targeting executives from large M-firms and LSPs in both India and DACH. The perceptions about the importance and improvement expectations of 17 OORs are analyzed. A modified version of importance-improvement analysis (A-B), a novel comparative A-B analysis (CABA) method, has been proposed to identify the importance and improvement gaps in OORs between M-firms and LSPs within and across India and the DACH region.FindingsThere are more gaps between M-firms and LSPs in India compared to DACH. Cross-country comparisons reveal that LSPs in India and DACH have similar perceptions concerning the OORs, but M-firms in India have significantly higher improvement expectations than those in DACH.Research limitations/implicationsThis study proposes an analytical approach that enables managers to identify improvement areas and better align with their outsourcing relationship partners. It also highlights aspects that need to be considered while entering emerging markets such as India.Originality/valueThe analysis approach using CABA is novel. Also, among the cross-country studies, this is the first to compare outsourcing relationships in India with the DACH region while involving both users' and service providers' perspectives.

52 Demographic influences on test performance may not be universal: considerations from a cross-country comparison of South Africa and Zimbabwe

Objective:Appropriate adjustments to normative data for neuropsychological (NP) tests are imperative for their equitable use in brain health practices. Age and education are known to be strong predictors of test performance. In settings where validated tests are not available, common practice has been to adapt and apply them in similar fashion as settings where they were developed. However, demographic adjustments cannot be assumed de facto to be universal in their strength and domain associations. For example, South Africa (SA) and Zimbabwe are neighboring countries with some similarities in their demographic makeup, but with vastly different sociopolitical trajectories- Zimbabwe was colonially occupied until 1980 and SA was oppressed under Apartheid until 1994- which have impacted access to and quality of education by severely limiting educational opportunities for native citizens. The present study explored whether the direction and strength of relationships between age and education on NP test performance were similar or not between SA and Zimbabwe adults living with and without HIV.Participants and Methods:Data was extracted from two IRB-approved studies in SA and Zimbabwe with similar inclusion and exclusion criteria. The SA sample (n=214) was comprised of 56% females, 48% HIV-positive adults, mean age of 34 years, and a nine-year range in education (3-14 years). The Zimbabwe sample (n=212) was comprised of 68% females, 67% HIV-positive adults, mean age of 36 years, and a thirteen-year range in education (7-20 years). Participants completed NeuroScreen, a tablet-based battery of 12 brief NP tests adapted for indigenous SA and Zimbabwe languages. The two study samples were analyzed separately. Zero order correlations between each of the tests and age and gender were conducted to determine the influence of the demographic variables. Relationships with moderate correlations (r>0.3) in both samples were further analyzed using univariate ANOVA to examine the main effects and interactions of age and educationResults:Overall, there was a similar pattern of results across samples, with nine tests showing no-to-low associative relationships with age and education respectively. Moderate, significant relationships were found between age, education and three tests of processing speed (Visual Discrimination A, Visual discrimination B, and Number Speed) in both samples. Age and education had different effects on Visual discrimination A across samples with a significant main effect for age but not education in SA [F(40,83)=3.060, p<0.01], whilst Zimbabwe had a significant main effect for education but not age [F(10,87)=4.541, p<0.01]. Visual Discrimination B and Number Speed showed significant main effects for both variables in both samples. However, there was a significant interaction for both tests in Zimbabwe only.Conclusions:The current study is novel in its exploration of country-specific relationships between NP test performance and demographic factors in settings where assessment science is emergent. Results demonstrate the presence of differential relationships between demographic variables on test performance which raises questions about the source of these differences. One important potential source is the socio-cultural context of each country and the intersection of demographic factors in these contexts. Further research is required to explore these considerations.

DETERMINANTS OF GDP PER CAPITA IN BANGLADESH: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

When making cross-country comparisons regarding the well-being and economic conditions of a population, GDP per capita is the most commonly used indicator. Hence, various economic indicators can affect GDP per capita. This study investigates the impact of inflation, exchange rate, and total reserves (including gold and USD) on GDP per capita in Bangladesh. The study employs a quantitative approach and follows a longitudinal research design. Time series data from 2012 to 2021 is collected using a stratified random sampling technique from the World Development Indicators provided by the World Bank. A range of statistical tests, such as Normality Test, Multivariate Outlier Analysis (Mahalanobis Distance), Multicollinearity Assessment (Tolerance and VIF), Goodness-of-Fit (GoF) Test, ANOVA Test, and Multiple Regression Analysis, were performed using SPSS v.22. The results reveal that exchange rate has a significant influence on GDP per capita, making it crucial factor for economic development, resilience, and export competitiveness. Total reserves were found to have minimal relation with GDP per capita. In contrast, inflation rate, although adversely impacting GDP per capita, remains important for maintaining overall economic stability. Thus, the findings of this study suggest that effective currency management is paramount for economic development.

Variations of science-related populism in comparative perspective: A multilevel segmentation analysis of supporters and opponents of populist demands toward science

Many countries worldwide have seen populist resentment against scientists, which can manifest as “science-related populist attitudes” among the population. These attitudes can be assumed to divide populations into multiple segments—each endorsing or rejecting different facets of science-related populism, with segment sizes and characteristics varying between countries and cultural contexts. This study tests this with a secondary analysis of four public opinion surveys from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Taiwan (total N = 4598), combining a Most Similar Systems Design (MSSD) and a Most Different Systems Design (MDSD). It uses fixed-effects latent class analysis to demonstrate that Austrian, German, Swiss, and Taiwanese publics can be grouped into three segments: Full-Fledged Populists, People-Centric Non-Populists, and Deferent Anti-Populists. A large majority in all countries can be classified as Non-Populist or Anti-Populists, whereas Populists, who support the entire spectrum of science-related populism, make up the smallest segment. Bayesian regression shows that Populists are older and more likely to support right-leaning political views. Cross-country and cross-cultural comparisons reveal differences in segment sizes and characteristics: For example, Populists are more prevalent in Austria, while Germany has a large proportion of Anti-Populists. These are less widespread in Taiwan, where Non-Populists form a particularly big segment. The findings can be explained with national political, cultural, and historical contexts to some degree. Eventually, they are discussed against the backdrop implications for science communication and future scholarship on public science skepticism.

Environmental Impact of Diets in 10 European countries

Abstract Background A growing consensus suggests that dietary changes have the potential to lessen the environmental impacts of food production. We performed a cross-country comparison of dietary patterns and their associated environmental impact in Europe, including by socio-demographic factors. Methods We analyzed pooled cross-sectional 24/48/72-hour dietary records collected during 2010-2018 from 10 European countries using the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Comprehensive European Food Database (16,508 adults; age 18-79 years). Each food consumed was mapped to the corresponding environmental impact data using the SHARP Indicators Database, which provides greenhouse gas emission (GHGE kgCO2-eq/day) and land use (LU m2*year/day) values for approximately 900 foods. Multivariable linear regression models were used to compare diet-associated GHGE and LU between population subgroups (gender, age, education, and diet type) with country-level fixed effects. We also analyzed the contributions of major food groups to the mean daily total of GHGE and LU for each country. Results The mean dietary GHGE and LU per capita ranged from 4.0 kgCO2eq and 5.0 m2*year in Spain to 6.5 kgCO2eq and 8.2 m2*year in France. Diet-related GHGE and LU (per Kg/food) were lower amongst females (2.6kgCO2eq, B=−0.08, P < 0.01; 3.2m2*year, B=−0.11, P < 0.01), people aged 66-79 (2.6kgCO2eq, B=−0.03, P < 0.01; 3.4m2*year, B=−0.4, P < 0.01), people following vegetarian diets (1.7kgCO2eq, B=−0.07, P < 0.01; 2.0m2*year, B=−0.07, P < 0.01), and higher amongst individuals with secondary education (2.7kgCO2eq, B = 0.04, P < 0.01; 3.6m2*year, B = 0.05, P < 0.01). Conclusions The impact of specific food groups on environmental footprints varies across countries and between different socio-demographic groups, signaling that cultural, literacy and generational factors possibly contribute to determine consumers’ environmental footprints. Key messages • The environmental impact varies across nations and socio-economic groups, highlighting the significant role played by cultural and generational factors in shaping consumers’ environmental footprints. • The study findings are crucial for the development of country-specific food policies aimed at promoting environmentally friendly diets.

Exploring the contributors to the digital economy: Insights from Vietnam with comparisons to Thailand

This paper introduces a practical framework to quantify the digital economy and evaluates its growth in Vietnam, utilizing available Input-Output (I–O) tables from the OECD statistics database. Additionally, it conducts a direct comparison between Vietnam and Thailand, shedding light on their relative standings.The primary contribution of this paper lies in its devised approach for measuring the digital economy. This methodology generates meaningful estimations of the digital economy's size and drivers within a specific country. Moreover, these estimated results are suitable for cross-country comparisons. Concurrently, applying this approach to analyze Vietnam and comparing it with Thailand reveals valuable insights.Firstly, Vietnam's digital economy, amounting to US$17,458 and comprising 7.9% of GDP in 2018, exhibited consistent expansion during the 2012–2018 period. Secondly, the ICT sector, particularly foreign-invested ICT hardware manufacturing, contributes roughly 50% to Vietnam's digital economy, while contributions from backward linkages and digital transformation each account for 20–30%. Thirdly, the non-ICT sectors' contribution to the digital economy is quantifiable through three avenues: purchasing digital products and services, supplying the ICT sector, and generating value-added from within-sector digital transformation. Lastly, compared to Thailand, Vietnam lags in key digital economy metrics. Notably, the Thailand/Vietnam ratio for value-added in 2018 was 3.9 for the total digital economy, 3.2 for the ICT sector, 3.1 for contributions from backward linkages, and 6.4 for non-ICT sector digital transformation, while the ratio for GDP stood at 2.1. This insight underscores that while investing in digital infrastructure, promoting internet adoption, and attracting FDI to ICT hardware manufacturing are essential, they alone are insufficient for the rapid progress needed in advancing Vietnam's digital economy.