Economic Conditions Research Articles

Exploring the causes of the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis

BackgroundBacterial drug resistance represents a significant global concern, with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis posing a particularly grave threat to contemporary healthcare systems. This study aims to reveal the reasons for the prevalence of VRE in China.MethodsThis study collected data from the China Antimicrobial Resistance Detection System, China Statistical Yearbook, and China Meteorological Network. The collected data are meticulously organized and subjected to both single-factor and multi-factor analyses. An accurate multiple linear regression model was developed by utilizing this comprehensive dataset.ResultsSingle-factor analysis revealed significant regional variations in the resistance rate of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (P = 0.003). Specifically, there were noteworthy disparities observed between regions experiencing temperate and monsoon climates (P = 0.029; P = 0.005). Furthermore, multi-factor regression analysis demonstrated a negative correlation between the drug resistance rate and both rainfall and rGDP, while a positive correlation was observed with nPI.ConclusionWe successfully established a prediction model for the VRE and found that the resistance rate was low in areas with high rainfall and high per capita economic income, but high in areas with many specialized public health institutions. This is critical for public health strategies and helps policymakers and healthcare practitioners tailor antibiotic resistance approaches to local geography, meteorology, economic conditions.

Characteristics of Teacher Trainee Students in Malta and Their Readiness for the Labour Market

In view of challenges related to global teacher shortages as well as teacher shortages and attrition in Malta, attracting individuals to the teaching profession and retaining them is crucial. In this regard, students’ personal life has been identified as the strongest predictor of resilience in Maltese teacher trainee students besides self-efficacy, social and emotional competence, and self-efficacy in behaviour management. Therefore, the objective of this research is to investigate the social and economic conditions of teacher trainee students in order to understand their specific needs and evaluate the extent to which these needs are being met through present education programmes in Malta. This research focuses on the profile of teacher trainee students (n=142) based on the overall EUROSTUDENT VII dataset for Malta (n=1,226). Considering the factors that influence teacher trainee students’ resilience, the research investigates teacher trainee students’ satisfaction with their workload related to studies and paid work and difficulties encountered related to studies, work and personal life. It will also explore teacher trainee students’ self-reported readiness for the labour market.

STUDY OF EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL ANALYSIS EXXONMOBIL

This financial analysis of ExxonMobil provides an in-depth examination of the company's financial performance, focusing on key metrics such as revenue, profitability, liquidity, and solvency. The analysis utilizes financial ratios, trend analysis, and benchmarking against industry peers to evaluate ExxonMobil's financial health and identify areas of strength and weakness. Additionally, it explores the impact of external factors such as oil prices, regulatory environment, and global economic conditions on the company's financial performance. The findings of this analysis aim to provide insights for investors, stakeholders, and decisionmakers regarding ExxonMobil's financial position and future prospects.

Current and future development of thermal grids in Switzerland: an organizational perspective

IntroductionThermal grids are key to decarbonizing heating and cooling. However, their development is a complex socio-technical process. This study aims to (1) understand the thermal grid ecosystem’s development under changing political, economic and cultural frame conditions, (2) elicit actors’ perception of options for future development, and (3) identify concrete problem situations for the future development of thermal grids and describe how to address them.MethodsWe draw on 18 semi-structured interviews with decision-makers in utilities, municipal administrations, planning and engineering companies and intermediary organizations.ResultsWith increased strategic importance of thermal grids, the ecosystem has been in a phase of rapid growth and professionalization in the last 10–15 years. This is reflected in a rapid increase in the number of grids, but also in capability and capacity building and greater quality standards. This transformation has been supported by a resource pool (e.g., knowledge base, capacities and capabilities, networks or decision-support tools), built partly through the value network’s activities and partly through purposeful orchestration by associations, authorities, utilities and other actors. While policy developments, energy price fluctuations and changes in customer perceptions spurred demand, thermal grid development is limited by supply-side constraints, especially a skill shortage. Four interrelated problem situations were identified: (1) Municipalities lack the resources to manage the implementation of their energy strategies. (2) The modernization of thermal grids and integration of low-carbon heat sources entails high transaction costs. (3) The implementation of thermal grids is subject to delays and quality risks, with consequences for the timely achievement of decarbonization goals. (4) Customers face uncertainty on available options, as well as on the systemic impacts of their decisions.DiscussionBased on current practices, suggestions by the interviewees, as well as a comparison with the international literature, we identify four development areas to address these problem situations: (1) Empower and support municipalities. (2) Manage the scarcity of qualified workforce. (3) Leverage digital technology for the planning, realization and operation of thermal grids. (4) Pilot technological and organizational innovations together. This complements the set of previously suggested measures to support the development of thermal grids, which focused strongly on technical and regulatory aspects.

The Conditionality of Political Short‐Termism: A Review of Empirical and Experimental Studies

Political short-termism prioritizes short-term net policy benefits over long-term benefits and thus can hinder policy investments that impose short-term costs to society to address long-term policy challenges. This literature review explores when political short-termism can be driven and mitigated in a democratic system by reviewing empirical and experimental studies and identifying the various factors that can influence policy investments: elections, economic conditions, power-sharing arrangements, partisanship, the presence of compensation schemes, and media coverage among politicians; discounts of future policy benefits, policy trade-offs, political ideology, and socioeconomic and demographic factors among voters; and compliance costs, power-sharing arrangements, compensations, and long-term political signaling from governments among special interest groups. Finally, I discuss the findings and provide suggestions for future research.

Screened realities: a Grounded Theory exploration of gaming disorder dynamics among Iranian male adolescents

IntroductionThe increasing prevalence of gaming Disorder (GD) among adolescents has become a global concern. Despite the rising number of studies investigating GD, the cultural and socio-economic factors influencing GD with a qualitative approach are scarce. This study aims to explore the underlying factors, processes, and consequences of GD among Iranian male adolescents and contextual factors related to GD within Iran's unique socio-cultural and psychological tapestry.MethodsThe study used a qualitative design based on the Grounded Theory Method (GTM). The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 male adolescents aged 15-18 who Dignasoed according to DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the GTM approach, which involves open, axial, and selective coding.ResultsThe study revealed nine main themes and a core category: (1) interaction seeking, (2) encounter and familiarize with games, (3) games attraction, (4) Socialization, (5) game careerism, (6) dexterity, (7) lack and compensation, (8) physical harm, territorial-cultural barrier, (9) second life, and ''life crafting'' as the core category.DiscussionThe study's findings provide valuable insights into the cultural and socio-economic factors influencing GD among Iranian male adolescents. For example, Iran's economic conditions make adolescents choose gaming as their job and try to earn money in this way, which makes them more dependent on gaming. On the other hand, communities related to games play an essential role in the identity development of adolescents with GD.

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The article is devoted to the search for conceptual solutions to the problem of ensuring sustainable economic growth in the new unstable economic conditions. This topic remains extremely relevant in the modern world, where various challenges are faced, such as climate change, resource depletion, population growth, increased social inequality and other problems. The authors explore the evolution of the concept of sustainable development, highlighting various essential aspects of understanding the category of sustainability. In different time periods, climate change and environmental challenges, social justice and efficiency, global cooperation and risk management, digitalization and technological innovation have consistently been at the center of the problem of sustainable development. As a result, strategies to reduce the negative impact on the environment and adapt to climate change have been replaced by strategies of green technologies, which, in turn, have been replaced by strategies of international cooperation and coordination of actions by all members of society to solve global problems of our time. The authors prove the importance of considering not only environmental, but also social aspects when developing sustainable development strategies to ensure social justice and improve the quality of life of all segments of society. In conclusion, the authors conclude that risk management related to economic instability, environmental changes and other factors requires new strategies for sustainable development, which in turn is impossible without effective public management, public involvement, and informed decision-making.

“Broken Home”: (De)constructing the Moral Standards of Mobility for Atlanta’s Early Black Public Housing Families

The public housing program was designed as a stepping-stone into upward socioeconomic mobility when the first developments were constructed for White and Black households in the 1930s. White residents were able to save and move into private housing with greater speed than Black residents, who faced both external and internal constraints on their socioeconomic status. As a result of this decreased mobility, scholars and policymakers soon associated public housing developments with impoverished Black containment, categorizing it as the home of the underclass and those who are stuck in place. This article employs a Du Boisian approach to understand the categorical differences and political economic conditions shaping mobility rates among Atlanta’s early Black public housing families. Using historical documents and approximately 40 years of administrative data collected from the first Black public housing development in Atlanta, Georgia by housing managers, Du Bois, and a group of research assistants from Atlanta University, this article examines how internal and external constraints shaped Black tenant mobility. It demonstrates how housing administrators and their actions shaped eviction rates—and by default, public housing’s ability to advance Black tenant mobility—through elite housing managers’ moral judgments of impoverished Black families.

Geographical and economic influences on neuroimaging modality choice.

The current neuroimaging literature is unrepresentative of the world's population due to bias towards particular types of people living in a subset of geographical locations. This is true of both the people running the research and those participating in it. These biases mean we may be missing insights into how the brain works. As neuroimaging research expands out to more of the world, the reality of global economic disparities becomes salient. With economic conditions having an effect on many background conditions for research, we can ask whether they also influence the neuroimaging research being done. To investigate this, the number of neuroimaging publications originating from a country was used as a proxy for the type of research being done there in terms of imaging modalities employed. This was then related to local economic conditions, as represented by national gross domestic product and research and development spending. National financial metrics were positively associated with neuroimaging output. The imaging modalities used were also found to be associated with local economic conditions, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research positively and electroencephalography (EEG) negatively associated with national research spending. These results suggest that economic conditions may be relevant when planning how neuroimaging research can be expanded globally.

Analysis of IDBI Federal Life Insurance's Financial Performance and Statements in NCR: An In-Depth Review

The research paper delves into the financial statement analysis of IDBI Federal Life Insurance, aiming to conduct a thorough examination of its financial standing. It will encompass an extensive review of the company's financial statements, key ratios, capital structure, profitability, liquidity, and solvency. Moreover, the study will compare the company's financial performance with that of its peers in the life insurance sector to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses. Recommendations for improvement will be proposed based on these findings. Additionally, the research will evaluate the influence of external factors like economic conditions, regulatory changes, and market trends on the company's financial performance. The methodology involves collecting and analyzing financial data, performing ratio analysis, and drawing conclusions to provide actionable insights. Ultimately, the research aims to offer valuable insights into IDBI Federal Life Insurance's financial health and performance, guiding strategies for sustainable growth and success.

Trespassing Limits

This article examines the links between a political rebellion that occurred in Coahuila in 1893 and the activism that was carried out by some members of the Partido Liberal Mexicano (PLM) in the early 1900s in Southern California. It builds upon connected and transnational history to study continuities between the conflicts in the early 1890s in the Mexican countryside and the growth of discontent against the government of Porfirio Díaz. It argues that the support gained by the PLM in parts of the U.S. Southwest cannot be separated from the political experience that many of its sympathizers had in Mexico. Furthermore, it argues that to better understand the PLM’s mobilization north of the border, it is necessary to study the social and economic conditions in which they lived and moved in both countries.

The association between economic uncertainty and suicide in Japan by age, sex, employment status, and population density: an observational study

Suicide is one of the ten leading causes of death globally, and previous research has revealed a link between economic conditions and mental health. However, the literature has focused primarily on recessions and unemployment, i.e. actual economic developments, as opposed to uncertainty, which relates to economic developments that have not (yet) materialised. This study examines the differential association between economic uncertainty and suicide in Japan, depending on age, sex, employment status, and population density, in order to identify the groups that are affected the most. Using monthly prefectural suicide mortality data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and a monthly economic uncertainty index for the period 2009 to 2019, we employed a fixed effects panel data approach to examine the association between uncertainty and suicide by population group. We found that a 1% increase in economic uncertainty is associated with a 0.061 increase in the monthly number of suicides per 100,000 people per prefecture, on average (coefficient: 6.08; 95% CI: 5.07-7.08), which constitutes a 3.62% increase. Self-employed people, as well as men in their 50s and unemployed men, experience the highest additional risk of suicide when uncertainty increases. The association was approximately three times stronger for males than for females, and a strong association was observed for self-employed males living in more densely-populated areas. Uncertainty appears to relate to suicides for most groups, but self-employed people, males, and those living in more densely populated areas appear to be more at risk of suicide in periods of increased economic uncertainty. Our results provide an indication of which groups mental health services and prevention strategies can focus on in times of economic uncertainty. None.

In-Depth Financial Statement Review of IDBI Federal Life Insurance in New Delhi: A Comprehensive Analysis

The research paper delves into the financial statement analysis of IDBI Federal Life Insurance, aiming to conduct a thorough examination of its financial standing. It will encompass an extensive review of the company's financial statements, key ratios, capital structure, profitability, liquidity, and solvency. Moreover, the study will compare the company's financial performance with that of its peers in the life insurance sector to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses. Recommendations for improvement will be proposed based on these findings. Additionally, the research will evaluate the influence of external factors like economic conditions, regulatory changes, and market trends on the company's financial performance. The methodology involves collecting and analyzing financial data, performing ratio analysis, and drawing conclusions to provide actionable insights. Ultimately, the research aims to offer valuable insights into IDBI Federal Life Insurance's financial health and performance, guiding strategies for sustainable growth and success.

Legal regulation of the cost of legislation

In lawmaking, there are situations when draft normative legal acts do not reach the entry into force stage. In some cases, the reason is non-compliance with formal requirements, poor elaboration of the act, and in some cases, incorrect calculations or inexpediency of expenses. A large number of changes are often made to already adopted regulations in order to correct previously incorrect decisions, as well as adjust the financial security of their implementation. These situations are aggravated by various circumstances, including, for example, difficult economic conditions and the international situation, calling for a compromise between costs and regulatory effectiveness. Such problems and circumstances show the importance of studying the cost of legal regulation, one of the aspects of which is the study of the normative consolidation of rules regarding the determination of the cost of law-making and the implementation of accepted norms. Based on this, the subject of this study is normative legal acts that establish the need to study and fix the costs of law-making and the costs associated with planning the implementation of norms, as well as the requirements for the content of the financial and economic justification as an accompanying document of the draft normative legal act. The author comes to the conclusion that despite the significant importance and the real need for regulatory legal consolidation, the assessment of the costs of lawmaking is not regulated anywhere. On the contrary, the requirements for estimating the planned costs of legal realization are regulated in a variety of subordinate regulatory legal acts and in most cases these provisions are duplicated. Regulatory impact assessment and actual impact assessment are currently carried out in relation to business entities and other economic activities and only in relation to costs arising in connection with the fulfillment of regulatory requirements.

Healthcare Executive Highlights for First Quarter 2024

It was a great start for 2024, with all major economic indicators appearing to be in good shape with macroeconomic indicators stabilizing. The first quarter included the largest disruption in U.S. healthcare since COVID-19 with a cyberattack as well as fears of another banking crisis. Among the good economic conditions, the 2024 presidential pre-election politics, and the precarious global geopolitics consider maintaining a reserved view of the economy during the second quarter.

An Assessment on the Prospect of Gig Economy to Create Employment Opportunity

The study describes a gig economy as a free market system in which enterprises regularly use independent contractors for temporary assignments and where temporary positions are prevalent. The so-called "gig economy" considerably impacts the workplace, seen in every sector of the economy. It has had a profound impact on how people interact with one another at work and has brought about a fundamental change in the way our economic study operates as a whole. Due to the unrivaled advantages of working as a gig economy worker, the number of people who do so will continue to increase. This is because many of the most skilled people opt to work as gig economy workers full-time. Moreover, because employment opportunities in Bangladesh are pretty uncommon, and many educated individuals with degrees still need help finding work, the gig economy will be an excellent option for all people still looking for work. Even while it provides workers with several benefits, such as flexibility, employment, independence, and many more, the gig economy also has a detrimental impact on the working environment inside the firm. The research uses 104 respondents' data, which gathers information on model variables and user demographics. For the research, the study has taken five variables: employment opportunity, labor market conditions, education and skill development, economic conditions, and government regulations. The study treated the employment opportunity as a dependent variable, while the other four were treated as independent variables. The purpose of this research is to find out the current developments in the gig economy and its advantages and downsides, both internationally and in Bangladesh, which have been discussed in this article. Moreover, how it can help create employment opportunities and help the country reduce unemployment.

CGE Analysis of the Impact of the 2024 Minimum Wage Increase on the National Economy in Indonesia

One of the minimum wage problems is caused by workers/laborers' needing to agree with the wage increase set. The minimum wage increase is still minimal compared to the high worker need. The Labor Organization president called the government to raise the provincial minimum wage (UMP) and district/city minimum wage (UMK) 2024 by 15%. This figure is obtained from the Decent Living Needs (KHL) survey results and other indicators such as inflation and economic growth. On the other hand, the minimum wage increase of 15% is considered by employers to be unrealistic, considering the condition of the national economy is hit by uncertainty. The government said that determining the minimum wage based on PP 36/2021 and considering the welfare of workers/laborers’ also looks at the Company's capabilities. This paper aims to see new macroeconomic and welfare conditions due to the increase in the minimum wage by 15%. Using the general equilibrium model of static computing (CGE), the analysis results show that an increase in the minimum wage leads to a decrease in demand for labor, especially in labor-intensive sectors. The increase in wages impacts increasing household income, thus indicating an increase in household welfare. However, inflationary pressures brought about by the minimum wage increase mask the increase in revenue, resulting in a decrease in household consumption budgets. This translates into a loss of net well-being, with a more significant impact on urban households than rural households. The output of most sectors, especially labor-intensive sectors, declined, but nominal GDP increased. The increase in nominal GDP is due to rising prices, not actual economic output.

LIVABILITY AND FUTURES STUDIES OF WORN-OUT URBAN TEXTURES: SCENARIO ANALYSIS FOR EVALUATING THE LIVABILITY SYSTEM AND ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY

Urban worn-out textures, due to their ancient and historically valuable physical structures, exhibit low adaptability to urban developments and advancements. Tehran, as a city with a rich historical background, also boasts considerable worn-out textures. Due to economic, geographical, and political conditions, a large population resides in these textures. In this regard, the present research aims to investigate the livability status of residents, identify key indicators, and design scenarios in the worn-out textures of Tehran city. This paper proposes a new approach to MicMac that promotes driving forces to scenarios. The results indicate that the livability of residents in worn-out textures of Tehran city, particularly in central regions, is in undesirable conditions. Furthermore, the analysis of the MicMac matrix showed that housing prices, residents’ income, investment, and an increase in economic activities, as well as the role of urban management, are driving forces that have a vital impact on the livability of residents in worn-out textures. These driving forces have depicted three scenarios for the livability of worn-out textures in Tehran city until the year 2032.

An Overview of the Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques Application to Detect Changes in the Surface Area of Water Bodies in Iraq

The use of Remote Sensing data in monitoring water bodies and reservoirs is a new and advanced approach that helps to study large areas covered by water in a short time and at a reasonable amount compared to traditional methods. Accordingly, the Remote Sensing technique integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has been used in several studies to monitor changes in water surface body area locally and regionally. In this study, several studies in Iraq were reviewed, using Remote Sensing techniques with the help of GIS to detect changes in the areas covered by the water bodies using satellite images captured in different periods. Natural and artificial lakes represent a large proportion of the water bodies in Iraq, including eight (8) lakes distributed in different regions of Iraq. An evaluation of the hydrological system of the studied water bodies showed that the changes in the area and size of natural and artificial lakes are affected by political, economic, and climatic conditions as the areas increase and decrease over years.

State Support for Commercialization of Intellectual Activity Results in Socially Significant Industries

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the leaders in terms of the intensity of commercialization of the intellectual activity results (IAR). Its development as a socially significant industry is a priority in the state policy of countries with developing economies, in particular, the countries of the Latin American region (LA). A number of economic conditions for the development of commercialization of the IAR in these countries are similar to the Russian economy. Common barriers to development include dependence on imported substances, inefficient interaction between science and business, lack of public and private investment in R&D, and insufficient development of the intellectual property (IP) institution. At the same time, it is possible to identify common growth drivers: the growth potential of the consumer market, unique natural resources, relatively high scientific potential, and the concentration of R&D in research institutes and universities. The similarity of the conditions helps to suggest that it is possible to adapt the best practices of IAR commercialization formed in the LA, to the Russian economy. The research method used in this article include analyzing published legislative and statistical materials on financial institutions of the LA countries in order to identify problems and experience in overcoming them in the field of commercialization of intellectual property. The analysis of state support for imitation, closed and open models of commercialization of IAR used by pharmaceutical companies in developing economies made it possible to identify successful support mechanisms, as well as positive and negative results of the application of each model. On this basis, as the results of the research recommendations for state support for the commercialization in socially significant industries of the Russian economy are suggested.