Current Economic Status Research Articles

Research on the optimization of investment structure of China's high-tech industries under the new development model of dual circulation

On May 14, 2021, at the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping first proposed the concept of "dual circulation", emphasizing the construction of a new development pattern in which domestic and international dual circulations promote each other. Capital circulation is the primary link in opening up the circulation, and high-tech industries are the key areas in this new development pattern. In this context, it is of great significance and value to study the optimization of the investment structure of high-tech industries. This study takes the new dual circulation model as the starting point and conducts an in-depth analysis of high-tech industries from the perspective of investment structure optimization. By applying theories such as capital circulation, dynamic comparative advantage, and investment portfolio, the relationship between China's current economic development status and dual circulation is explained. At the same time, the development status of China's high-tech industries is compared with that of foreign high-tech industries, and the advantages, gaps, and problems between China's high-tech industries and developed countries are analyzed. The research plan explores the rationality of the investment structure of high-tech industries in the internal circulation, external circulation, and dual circulation from multiple perspectives such as industrial growth, investment efficiency, industrial upgrading, and global value chain. This will provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for optimizing the investment structure of high-tech industries and help China achieve high-quality development under the new development pattern.

INFRASTRUCTURAL SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS PLAY CATALYTIC ROLE FOR GIG WORKERS OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY IN MUMBAI METROPOLITAN REGION

Gig work is increasing across all industries and sectors all over world after pandemic. In Mumbai, the gig workers of food and beverage industry are more as compared to other municipal corporations in Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The Ambernath municipal council has more gig workers as compared to Matheran Municipal Council. Rural parts of Vasai have less gig workers but Ambernath and Kalyan rural has more gig workers. Employment generated by the wholesale and retail trade, restaurant and hotel were more during 1990 ‘s in Mumbai city. But currently, this industry is growing very slow in terms of employment as compared to other industries and employment. The ordinary least square regression shows that gig workers of food and beverage industry are positively correlated to all municipal corporations in Mumbai Metropolitan Region but negatively correlated to Thane and Panvel rural area. Sewage and water supply is positively co-related to gig workers in Vasai Virar municipal corporation. Most of units in food and beverage unis are small and do not provide employment throughout year. The social security is not provided to most of the gig workers. Hygiene, regular pay scales, normal work hours, training is not provided to gig workers. Central and State government must draft rules and regulation for this sector with strict guidelines. It will improve the current economic status of gig workers and work environment in this industry.

A stratified review of COVID-19 infection forecasting and an efficient methodology using multiple domain-based transfer learning

The initial outbreak of COVID-19 was reported in December 2019, China. The pandemic has led to unforeseen challenges, causing unimaginable devastation of the economic and social disruption since its inception. An effective approach for forecasting infections will be beneficial for the health sector and administration in better strategic planning and proficient management of all necessary schemes towards preventive and curative treatments. Most existing studies consider image dataset for COVID-19 prediction, whereas studies involving structural data are very rare. Thus, initially the main focus of this paper is to provide an exhaustive review that discusses about COVID-19 forecasting papers with emphasis on structural data. Then, this paper introduces a pioneering approach to COVID-19 infection forecasting, utilizing structural datasets instead of traditional image datasets. It presents a novel multi-source transfer-learning framework to enhance prediction accuracy, integrating demographic, economic, and COVID-19 data for intra-provincial spread forecasts. The COVID-19 forecasting depends on several parameters such as its current statistics, geographical area, population density and economic status like GDP etc. However, the dataset generated for an individual province of a country is alone inadequate for the precise forecast, as it faces data scarcity. Thus, transfer learning helps in such cases, where the dataset has been collected from multiple provinces. Since, it is a time-series data, thus we also consider lagged features for efficient prediction of COVID cases. Thus, apart from the detailed review, this study also aims to develop robust machine learning models by proposing a novel and efficient multi-source transfer learning technique for accurate forecasting of COVID-19 in a province. The proposed approach has been evaluated over a wide range of datasets involving sixty-two different provinces belonging to a diverse set of countries. We also performed hyperparameter tuning using Bayesian optimisation to optimise the machine learning models used. Later, we performed Friedman and Nemenyi test to compare the results generated from different models. Empirical evidence proved that forecasting using the proposed approach is much more precise with the simpler models such as Decision Trees as compared to complex models. In cases of data scarcity, when target domain data could not be used for training/fine-tuning the models simpler models are far more powerful due to their generalization capabilities than complex models. Hence, the proposed methodology is promising and valuable for governments and organizations to deal with the challenges of any pandemic outbreak for better healthcare planning and management, even when the data is in scarcity.

Changes in U.S. Grand Strategy in the Indo-Pacific and China's Countermeasures

Cheng Enfu and Li Jing survey the current economic, diplomatic, and security status quo between China and the United States, with an eye toward future policy decisions that could help strengthen China's position as a bulwark against the imperial hegemon.

Accounting for Organizational and Economic Mechanisms in Greenhouse Activities

The article considers a specific area of greenhouse vegetable production, which is an important area of greenhouse farming that significantly affects the availability of plant products and canned vegetables yearly in the Republic of Uzbekistan. In adopting greenhouse vegetable cultivation, certain factors are considered, such as the location of the farm, natural and climatic conditions, and types of farming, that as open field or protected farming. Agriculture is the main pillar of the country’s economy. This work aims to study greenhouse vegetable farming adopted in the country. It also aims to study the technological innovation applied in its operation, its structural and functional organization, and the economic benefits derived from it. The study data were obtained from the statistical database of the World Bank. The data were analyzed based on the descriptive statistics of the factors characterizing the organizational and economic mechanisms of agriculture in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The study results show that the main technology adopted in the country for the proper running of greenhouse farming is greenhouse vegetable clusters, and there is a strong correlation between the organizational and economic indicators of the greenhouse vegetable clusters. It is found that the economic yield of the greenhouse vegetable clusters depends on the patterns in which the clusters are organized, such as the availability of labor, as well as transport routes for transporting products. Adopting the appropriate policies for organizing the clusters could lead to sustainable food security for the population of the country, including the development of agricultural infrastructures, such as road networks, crop storage facilities, access to electricity, foreign investments, domestic loans, etc. The work analyzes the production efficiency and current economic status of farms. It also gives recommendations for improving the production of vegetable crops in the greenhouse.

A Comprehensive exploration of jatropha curcas biodiesel production as a viable alternative feedstock in the fuel industry – Performance evaluation and feasibility analysis

Jatropha Curcas stands out as a promising plant-based feedstock, offering a non-edible oil that holds great potential as an alternative fuel to traditional diesel. Notably, Jatropha oil boasts favourable fuel properties, including a higher oil content compared to other alternatives. This attribute makes it an attractive candidate for biodiesel production. Importantly, as a non-edible oilseed feedstock, Jatropha Curcas helps mitigate concerns related to food prices and the ongoing food versus fuel debate, offering a sustainable solution to the growing energy demands. Furthermore, the plant exhibits impressive yields, with the potential to produce up to 40% oil weight per seed. This high yield not only enhances the economic viability of Jatropha-based biodiesel but also underscores its efficiency as a feedstock. The discussion extends beyond mere fuel properties, encompassing a comprehensive comparative review that delves into engine performance and emission characteristics associated with Jatropha Curcas. The novelty of this paper lies in its exploration of the crude oil aspects of Jatropha curcas, shedding light on an essential facet often overlooked. By presenting a thorough analysis of fuel properties, engine performance, and emission characteristics, the paper contributes valuable insights to the discourse on sustainable energy solutions. Moreover, it goes beyond technical aspects and provides perspectives on the current economic status, offering a holistic view of the potential impact of Jatropha Curcas in the broader context of renewable energy and economic development.

Money or health? The effect of pathogen avoidance motives and life history strategies on health‐economic trade‐offs during the COVID‐19 pandemic

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic has caused governments and individuals to face important but difficult trade‐offs between health and the economy. How do individuals choose between health and economic outcomes during the pandemic? Based on the behavioural immune system (BIS) theory and the life history (LH) theory, the present study examined the effects of individual differences in pathogen disgust sensitivity and life history strategy on people's health‐economic trade‐offs during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Results of an online study (N = 300) showed that people with higher pathogen disgust sensitivity felt less sense of control during the pandemic, and therefore chose health‐related options over economic‐related options. In addition, the association between pathogen disgust sensitivity and health outcome preference only existed in people with relatively faster life history strategies. Further, people's health‐economic trade‐offs were not influenced by their current economic status. Findings have important implications for policymakers and the public to understand people's health‐economic choices during the pandemic.

Analysis of Carbon Emission Driving Factors and Study of Peak Paths under the Perspective of Spatio-Temporal Heterogeneity

Firstly, we compute the emissions of carbon in the Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei of China, construct LMDI model, and decompose the CO2 drivers based on the perspective of spatio-temporal heterogeneity. Following the LMDI analysis results, three scenario models are suggested: a baseline scenario, a low-carbon model, and a high-carbon model. By integrating the current economic and social development status in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and relevant policies, specific model variables are defined to establish the STIRPAT model. Different carbon emission scenarios are then forecasted and evaluated using the STIRPAT model to determine the peak year and the maximum carbon emission level in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The research indicates that (1) the highest carbon emission level will reach 377,712,600 tons in 2022 within the study period, with notable variations among different cities. (2) Economic development has the most significant impact on carbon emissions. (3) Under the low-carbon scenario, the 13 cities can attain the carbon emission peak target by 2030. These findings offer quantitative insights to support the transition towards low-carbon development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

The dynamic economic landscape of Bengkulu: A comprehensive analysis and its implications for sustainable growth across sectors

This research presents a comprehensive examination of the economic climate of Bengkulu, a province on the southwest coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this study combined qualitative and quantitative data collected from a purposive sample of 135 participants, including local business owners, government officials, economic analysts, and residents. This study investigates various economic indicators such as income levels, employment statistics, and sectoral contributions to the regional economy. Employing a hypothetical regression analysis, this study explores the connections between sectoral contributions, employment rates, growth rates, and consumer spending in key sectors such as agriculture, services, mining, and retail and their impact on regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. The findings reveal a dynamic economic landscape with significant growth observed in certain sectors while also highlighting challenges such as economic inequality and the need for diversified economic strategies. This study not only offers insights into the current economic status and trends in Bengkulu, but also provides critical information for policy-making and strategic planning aimed at promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the region.

The Impact of the Sino-US Trade War on Manufacturing Industry in Both Countries

The Sino-U.S. trade war created multiple impacts on different fields for both states. Most people would agree with the statement that people's lives became worse, many firms had to close down, the conflict between states increased, and the trend of globalization was reversed. In this research, the paper mainly discusses the impact of the Sino-US trade war, and it is hypothesized that the trade war has negative consequences on both sides. Specifically, both the manufacturing industry in the U.S. and China decreased in size, and China tried to be more innovative to compensate for it; new policies and tariffs that put on the trade between China and the U.S. decreased the exchange of consuming product; the introduction of foreign investment also declined in the manufacturing industries of both sides. The research could enable people to understand the current economic status clearly and allow related companies and the consumers to make plans for future policy.

Sustainable Performance Assessment towards Sustainable Consumption and Production: Evidence from the Indian Dairy Industry

The current global economic status quo is widely seen as unsustainable in the food sector. The field of sustainability science is still rather fragmented, covering a wide range of techniques and issues, despite the large number of publications in this area. Due to population growth, the food supply chain (FSC) and farmers have to produce more food. The UN estimates that one-third of edible food is wasted, producing greenhouse gases. A balance must be struck between company operations and social, environmental, and economic activities for sustainable development of the FSC. To assist FSC organizations in managing sustainable advancement, this study created a methodology for the assessment of sustainable performance. We provide a sustainable assessment system using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, fuzzy VIKOR, and fuzzy TOPSIS. Our research framework evaluated the sustainability of three cooperative-society-run Indian dairy firms. Our study gives environmental criteria the highest weight (0.33) and social criteria the lowest (0.16), with economic reasons (0.306) and business operations (0.204) falling in the middle. Supply chain costs, on average, are given the highest weight, and capacity utilization, the lowest weight. Three dairy industries are ranked (DPI3, DPI1, and DPI2) based on sustainable performance. By modifying the maximum set utility value and validating VIKOR results with TOPSIS, we have checked the robustness of this performance assessment tool. This research aids dairy businesses in achieving several Sustainable Development Goals, including sustainable production and consumption, through the regular assessment of their sustainable performance.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict and the Breaking of Hyperinflation in Venezuela

The purpose of this paper is to analysis the influence of Russia-Ukraine conflict to the hyperinflation of Venezuela. With the implementation of economic theoretical approaches, this paper aims to present a comprehensive overview of the current economic development status of the nation and the causes of the hyperinflation situation during different governmental governances. More importantly, this paper will analysis whether the influence of Russia-Ukraine conflict in terms of oil market fluctuations and geo-political changes can serve as a turning point to the current Venezuela’s stagnated economy. Particularly, the impact of the conflict itself to the relations of the United States and Venezuela, and how will it influence the internal economic developments of the nation. To this end, this paper notes that although the conflict can be a turning point to the nation’s hyperinflation, Venezuela still requires a long-term economic strategy. This paper is attempting to contribute to the current geo-political environment of Russia-Ukraine conflict while providing potential solutions to Venezuela’s economy from a economic perspective.

Towards a New Arab Moment

Towards a New Arab Moment

Association of childhood threat and deprivation with depressive symptoms and the moderating role of current economic status among middle-aged and older adults in China.

To investigate the independent impact of threat-related and deprivation-related adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults, and to evaluate the moderating role of current economic status in these associations. This cross-sectional study included 11,048 participants aged ≥ 45years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. We captured five threat-related ACEs and five deprivation-related ACEs by questionnaires. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Current economic status was reflected by annual per capita household consumption expenditure. We performed logistic regression analyses to evaluate the independent association of childhood threat and deprivation with depressive symptoms, and conducted stratified analyses and tests for interaction to explore the moderation effect of current economic status in such associations. Compared with the nonexposed group, the experience of both childhood threat and deprivation were independently associated with greater risks of depressive symptoms later in life (odds ratio [OR] 1.75, 95% CI 1.49-2.05 for ≥ 2 threat-related ACEs; OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.67-2.43 for ≥ 2 deprivation-related ACEs). High current economic status significantly ameliorated the impact of childhood deprivation, but not threat, on depressive symptoms (P value for interaction 0.038). Both threat-related and deprivation-related ACEs were associated with the risk of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults, while current economic status was a significant moderator in such risks only for childhood deprivation. The findings implied that prioritising targeted interventions for individuals with ACEs, especially for childhood deprivation victims who were economically disadvantaged in adulthood, may help mitigate depressive symptoms in later life.

State and Problems of the Machine-Building Complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The challenge of supporting a competitive position in the global market is acute for many countries, including Kazakhstan. In the current environment, the factors that could ensure greater competitiveness in the future are absent. The purpose of this study is to take an in-depth look at the state and issues of mechanical engineering in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The study employs the practices of advanced Western economies on resource, industry, and national economic competitiveness, and statistical data on Kazakhstan’s mechanical engineering sector. The methods used included special theoretical approaches, such as comparing the mechanical engineering sector in Kazakhstan and other countries, analysing their current economic status, and naming the characteristics and shortcomings of the mechanical engineering sector of the countries in question. Factors that contribute to the rate of growth of mechanical engineering products were considered. Distinctive features and shortcomings of machine-building products of Kazakhstan were found. The influence of machine-building enterprises on the macroeconomic indicators of the region was studied. The main limitations for the further successful development of the mechanical engineering industries were also defined. The progressivity of structural transformations in the machine-building industry was assessed based on data on the production of the main types of equipment and machines for industry. The resulting conclusions are drawn as suggested measures to resuscitate Kazakhstan’s present competitive capability in mechanical engineering. The findings include an assessment of the current economic situation and a forecast of potential future developments

Psychological Factors That Suppress Help-Seeking among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Living Alone.

Help-seeking among destitute adults has not been adequately investigated. Therefore, this study clarifies the mechanisms that suppress help-seeking in middle-aged and older adults living alone. Data were collected from 1274 individuals (aged 50–79 years) who were living alone, using a survey that measured future time perspective, barriers to help-seeking, help-seeking intentions, and current and childhood economic statuses. Men living alone experienced lower help-seeking intention than women, were more likely to try to solve problems by themselves, and experienced greater distrust in others. No sex differences were observed in “future anxiety” and “resignation to the future.” Poor economic status was associated with high “resignation to the future,” “future anxiety,” and “distrust of others” for both sexes. “Resignation to the future” was particularly higher among men with a poorer current economic status, which suppressed help-seeking. Abandoning hope for the future, which is characteristic of middle-aged and older men living alone, may inhibit help-seeking behavior.

The Analysis of Chinese Monetary Policies in Asian Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 Period and the Policy Forecast

In July 1997, the Asian Financial Crisis significantly impacted regional and global economies, particularly in Asia. Similarly, two decades later, the COVID-19 has had a great influence on the Chinese economy as an exogenous element of the demand shock. Bothe the two issues were linked to the contagion effect and asset bubbles. This article discusses the monetary policies used during the two periods and compares and forecasts the monetary strategy based on the current economic status. The Chinese government is suggested to continuously carry out expansionary monetary policy for enterprises and household consumption and helps establish a wider range of digital economy, and helps establish a wider range of digital economy including rural areas.

Analysis of the Economic Situation of Energy Companies in Central and Eastern Europe

Nowadays our everyday life is unimaginable without energy, because all the sectors are using different forms of energy. In our article we decided to analyse the following question: what is the current economic status and situation of the energy companies in Central and Eastern Europe? We prepared our primary research by the use of a standard fixed-effect panel regression model to analyse the capital structure of the energy industry companies. The capital structure regression gave similar results in terms of parameter sign, while the firm size, profitability (ROA) and liquidity ratio have significant coefficients in all cases from Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, and Hungary. Asset structure denoted the fixed assets over total assets. According to the estimates, larger companies have higher share of leverage and may have easier access to external financing sources. The profitability of the firms (captured by ROA) and leverage had a negative relationship, thus profitable firms were less likely to rely on external finance.

Violeta by Isabel Allende

Reviewed by: Violeta by Isabel Allende Alexandra McManus Isabel Allende Violeta Trans. Frances Riddle. New York. Ballantine Books. 2022. 319 pages. ISABEL ALLENDE OPENS her novel Violeta with a quote from Mary Oliver: "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Our protagonist, Violeta's, life certainly is wild, as she lives through major historical events such as the Cuban revolution, the Great Depression, the Chilean dictatorship, and the women's suffrage movement. Told in the form of a memoir written for her beloved grandson, Camilo, Violeta recounts her one hundred years of life, bookended by two pandemics. Born during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1920 and passing away from old age during the start of Covid-19 in 2020, Violeta Del Valle could not have possibly planned for what fate had in store. Although she was born into a well-known, wealthy family, the 1929 Wall Street crash led to her family's exile from their home in the capital. Violeta quickly learns her time as a spoiled child is over and begins her new rural life in Nahuel, located in southern Chile, where she thrives. This early juxtaposition of lifestyles dependent on her family's current economic status establishes Violeta's pragmatic, although hardly cynical, outlook on life. In Nahuel, her mentors repeat the saying, "It's much easier to be generous with a full belly than an empty one." Violeta assures Camilo, "I've never believed that, though, because I've seen that both kindness and cruelty exist everywhere." Life goes on, and Violeta's story includes a marriage to a German man during World War II, an affair with a famous pilot, which leads to her two children, the running of a business despite the limitations placed on a woman's right to do so, and surviving the military dictatorship in Chile. Allende manages to make readers feel as though they're right next to Violeta on her journey; it's easy to forget it is a work of fiction and not an intimate memoir. Violeta's travels range from rural to urban with in-depth looks at Cuba, Miami, Los Angeles, Norway, and, above all, her cherished home country of Chile. Each location is described so vividly they almost feel familiar, thanks to Violeta's bright recountings and personal relationship with each locale. For every incredible experience Violeta has, there are just as many tragic ones. Allende tackles topics such as sexual assault, grief, poverty, domestic abuse, natural disaster, addiction, homophobia, and political unrest in her heartfelt prose, to name a few. The closeness we feel with Violeta makes these subjects feel all the more real and painful. Reading about her grief and struggle is like hearing from a close friend. By the end, we know Violeta's no-nonsense attitude isn't cynical but rather the worldview of a passionate and driven woman who has seen it all and knows there is no time to waste. Amidst the turmoil Violeta faces both internally and externally, her story urges us to seek out the precious amongst the wild. If she can do it, we certainly have a shot. Alexandra McManus University of Oklahoma Copyright © 2022 World Literature Today and the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma

Willingness to Accept Green Practices by Manufacturing SMEs in India

Continuous industrialization and increasing consumerism have led to the negative environmental impact of global human activities which could prove self-destructive. Historically, developing countries have shown little regard for environmental concerns for industrial development and advancement toward current economic status. This research presents the willingness to adopt green practices by Indian manufacturing SMEs and attempts to establish a predictive model for the same. Data were collected through a survey from 383 SMEs in north India.Finding of this research emerged as predictive modeling between willingness and unwillingness and green manufacturing constructs. In addition, there is no significant difference between various green constructs in willingness and unwillingness group. In conclusion, all the SMEs have a positive attitude toward green manufacturing but many are not ready to adopt these practices. The study also provides important insights for policymakers and other regulating bodies a predictive model of explaining the willingness of SMEs toward green manufacturing.