Economic Incentives Research Articles

Exploring support for return-to-work: A comparative analysis of firm and country-level factors

Abstract Background Employers are important stakeholders in efforts to facilitate the return-to-work (RTW) of employees after sick-leave, but the available data reveal large variation in employer support for RTW across European countries and firms. This paper explores in a comparative perspective what factors at the country level and at the firm level can explain these differences. Methods Employer support for RTW is examined using microdata covering 31 countries from the Third European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER), conducted in 2019 (N = 9,775). These data are integrated with country-level indicators to capture national differences in economic incentives and institutional provisions concerning the management of sick-leave. Two-level mixed-effects logit models with random intercepts are used to estimate the impact that different firm characteristics and country-level factors have on the propensity to provide RTW support. Results The empty model has an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.345, indicating that a substantial share of the observed variation across European firms is determined at the country level. Larger establishments and those with workplace health risks are more likely to provide RTW support. Including firm-level indicators does however not reduce the observed between-country variance. Institutional differences in the economic costs of sick leave for employers, on the other hand, explain about 15% of this variance. The ICC drops more strongly after including in the model policy indicators that capture activating elements in the social security system and the existence of national policies targeting RTW. The full model explains almost two thirds (62.8%) of the observed between-country variance. Conclusions The findings highlight that only in few European countries employers are systematically involved in RTW support and strengthen the case for comprehensive policy strategies to engage employers in worker activation. Key messages • Employer characteristics, such as firm size, impact the propensity to provide RTW support, but they do not explain the large between-country variation that we observe across Europe. • Comprehensive national policy strategies and institutional incentives are crucial to engage employers systematically in RTW efforts.

Resources Price Adjustment in Cloud Computing for Load Balancing and Fairness Between Users and Suppliers

Resource price adjustment is a challenging issue when building a cloud computing system. For this purpose, we present an approach that adopts a market-driven price adjustment model as an economic incentive model and ensures the balance between supply and demand. We show how this model may be adapted and applied to an infrastructure as a service (IaaS) in cloud computing. We place ourselves in the context of the virtual machines market. To achieve competitive equilibrium, prices are adjusted according to a tâtonnement-like process. The prices are computed by a third party, the auctioneer. However, this process requires several assumptions to ensure the existence and stability of competitive equilibrium, not all of which are verified by cloud computing systems. The atomicity and convexity of preferences are not guaranteed by cloud computing systems. These questions will be the subject of our empirical study. We find empirically that the change in the sign of excess demand, indicating the existence of equilibrium, occurs between two similar prices. The experimental results show that the proposed dynamic price adjustment approach is more profitable than fixed-price pricing, allowing dynamic suppliers to become important market agents.

Analysis of the Potential Carbon Emission Reduction Through Interaction Between New Energy Vehicles and Smart Grids

Abstract: This paper analyzes the potential for carbon emission reduction through the interaction between new energy vehicles and smart grids, discussing how the optimization of energy efficiency and balancing of grid loads can be achieved through Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology. The interaction between new energy vehicles and smart grids can enhance energy utilization efficiency, optimize grid management, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels by leveraging renewable energy sources, thereby achieving the goal of carbon emission reduction. However, this process faces multiple challenges including technological integration, cost-effectiveness, policy support, and societal acceptance. The paper proposes a series of strategic recommendations, including promoting technological standardization, enhancing policy and economic incentives, and increasing public awareness and participation, to support the effective interaction between new energy vehicles and smart grids, and to achieve long-term carbon emission reduction goals.

Economic instruments for reducing the use of plastic bags in the state of Pará, Brazil

The state of Pará has prohibied the sale and distribution of conventional plastic bags to mitigate their socio-environmental impact. This article aims to suggest economic incentives to assist State Law 8902/2019 in diminishing plastic bag consumption. This study employed the SWOT Matrix analysis to develop two economic instruments based on the externality precepts defined by Arthur Pigou and Ronald Coase. The initial proposal, derived from Pigou, involved of a “tax exemption for plastic recycling enterprises”, whereas the subsequente proposal, based on Coase, stipulated “offering discounts to customers who refrain from utilising plastic bags”. Both instruments demonstrated potential for yielding favorable outcomes when integrated with Law 8902/2019; nevertheless, their efficacy relies on an effective selective collecting system and the advancement of environmental education.

Stakeholders’ perceptions of and willingness to pay for circular economy in the construction sector

Adopting Circular Economy practices in the construction industry can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, many barriers exist to adoption, and current perceptions of and willingness to pay for circularity have yet to be quantified. This study seeks to understand the various perceptions of circularity in the construction industry, characterize uncertainties and risks, and identify economic incentives and opportunities that could accelerate circular adoption via an industry survey of three stakeholder groups. 58 stakeholders filled out part of the survey, and 42 stakeholders completed the majority of questions. Real estate developers are willing to pay an average premium of 10% for construction costs if there’s a minimum embodied carbon reduction of 53%. Design and construction professionals and material suppliers were also surveyed. Reasons for adopting circular practices were primarily driven by client, design team, and net zero goals. The results of this survey begin to characterize the economic landscape of what is needed for a circular transition in the built environment.

Steering via algorithmic recommendations

AbstractThis article studies self‐preferencing in algorithmic recommendations on dominant platforms, focusing on Amazon's dual role as platform owner and retailer. We find that products sold by Amazon receive substantially more “Frequently Bought Together” recommendations across popularity deciles. To establish causality, we exploit within‐product variation generated by Amazon stockouts. We find that when Amazon is out of stock, identical products sold by third‐party sellers face an eight‐percentage‐point decrease in the probability of receiving a recommendation. The pattern can be explained by the economic incentives of steering but not explained by consumer preference. Furthermore, the steering lowers recommendation efficiency.

The Economic Incentive, Quality and Scientific Production of The Higher Education in Mexico

The research presented is a descriptive and comparative study of the Academic Profession In The Knowledge-Basic Society (APIKS) survey database, with emphasis only on the national base, which analyzes the perception of both male and female academics in Mexican universities and their opinion regarding the incentive programs for scientific productivity in Mexico, such as the Teacher Performance Incentives Program (PEDPD, for its acronym in Spanish), Teacher Professional Development Program (PRODEP, for its acronym in Spanish), Academic Groups (CA, for its acronym in Spanish) and National Researchers System (SNI, for its acronym in Spanish), from the perspectives of gender, teaching and research quality, for which a sample of 3776 participating academics located in the different higher education subsystems of the Mexican educational system was analyzed.

Evaluating the Impact of Government Policies on Circular Economy Adoption in the Construction Sector

The construction sector is both essential for global economic progress and one of the largest contributors to pollution, resource depletion, and energy consumption. Given the urgent need to adopt more sustainable practices, governments in developed countries have introduced policies aimed at fostering a circular economy in this sector. These policies emphasize the use of green materials to reduce resource consumption, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with global sustainability goals. The waste hierarchy further governs these policies, prioritizing waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. This study analyzes the effectiveness of these government policies in promoting circular economy principles, particularly the adoption of green materials in the construction industry. Our findings reveal that while these policies have led to measurable reductions in energy consumption and emissions, the extent of green material adoption varies significantly across countries. Key factors influencing this variation include economic incentives, regulatory enforcement, and the level of industry acceptance of green technologies. One of the most important results of this study is the identification of significant gaps between policy intent and actual industry practices. In many cases, green materials, despite their favorable characteristics, have not been widely implemented due to economic, technical, and market barriers. These findings underscore the need for stronger government incentives and more consistent policy enforcement to drive broader adoption of sustainable practices. Future studies should focus on overcoming these barriers, exploring the long-term economic impacts of green material adoption, and evaluating how policy frameworks can be optimized to ensure more widespread.

How policy satisfaction affects residents’ low-carbon behavior: the mediating role of place attachment

ABSTRACT Policy interventions can effectively promote the public’s low-carbon behaviors (LCBs), provided the public already understands and perceives the policy. The extent to which the public gets to know the policy is easily overlooked in relevant studies. Based on a survey conducted in Hangzhou, China, this paper compares the residents’ satisfaction with the policies promoting LCBs. Furthermore, the impact of different levels of policy satisfaction on the willingness to engage in LCBs with place attachment as a mediator is also investigated. The results show that respondents’ policy satisfaction is moderately high, with female respondents (3.479) slightly higher than males (3.430). The policy satisfaction, from high to low, is administrative regulations (3.515), technical interventions (3.463), information tools (3.457), and economic incentives (3.384). Policy satisfaction has a significant effect on willingness to engage in LCBs and place attachment, and place attachment has a positive effect on willingness to engage in LCBs. Place attachment plays a partial mediating role in the influence path of policy satisfaction on the willingness of LCBs. The study provides insights for policymakers on enhancing policy dissemination and engagement, particularly in the context of gender differences, and offers a comprehensive view of the dynamics driving sustainable behavior change in urban China.

Theoretical framework for attribution-related copyright trolling in creative commons licenses

This paper proposes a theoretical framework for understanding attribution-related copyright trolling in Creative Commons (CC) licenses. Attribution clauses, while essential for ensuring creators receive proper credit, have become a tool for exploitation, as some creators misuse these clauses to initiate bad-faith legal claims for financial gain. This review analyzes the legal, economic, and ethical factors enabling such trolling, focusing on gaps in copyright law, the economic incentives for creators, and the moral dilemmas this behavior poses. The paper also suggests reforming attribution clauses, improving the CC licensing system, and developing predictive models to prevent misuse. Future research is highlighted to better understand copyright trolling trends and mitigate exploitation, ensuring that CC licenses continue to support open access and collaboration. Keywords: Attribution Clauses, Copyright Trolling, Creative Commons Licenses, License Misuse, Legal Reform, Predictive Models.

Recent developments in building sustainable marine fisheries in China: Reflections on the 2023 Revision of the Marine Environmental Protection Law

As the ocean provides an environmental carrier for fisheries development, sustainable marine fisheries and marine environmental protection are highly synergistic and consistent. Facing traditional and emerging crises such as marine pollution, overfishing and climate change, China revised the Marine Environmental Protection Law in 2023. This article aims to evaluate whether the newly revised Marine Environmental Protection Law effectively responds to crises of sustainable development in marine fisheries and how it contributes to sustainable marine fisheries. The study has found that the 2023 revision enriches and improves China’s legal regimes on marine fisheries from multiple aspects, covering marine environmental supervision, marine ecological protection and the prevention and control of land-based pollution, engineering construction projects pollution, waste dumping pollution, vessel pollution and legal responsibility. The newly revised Marine Environmental Protection Law not only refines the institutional norms and intensifies the legal responsibilities of violations but also improves the systemic nature of the legislation, thus providing stronger legal guarantees for sustainable marine fisheries. However, there are also legislative shortcomings such as unclear connotations of the newly established legal regimes and insufficient response to overfishing and climate change. Nevertheless, China’s newly revised Marine Environmental Protection Law applies the methodology of integrated ecosystem management and comprehensively utilized regulatory measures such as command-and-control tools, honor encouragement and economic incentives to enhance its regulatory effect, also providing implications and insights for addressing the challenges of sustainable marine fisheries on a global scale.

Research on the Driving Factors and Policy Guidance for a Reduction in Electricity Consumption by Urban Residents

The urgency of mitigating climate change and the challenges it poses to ecosystems and human systems are highlighted in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). In order to achieve sustainable development, it is imperative to adopt a series of adaptive measures to enhance the resilience of various sectors to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This article analyzes the driving mechanism behind the reduction in electricity consumption by urban residents based on 302 valid questionnaires from 18 communities in nine districts in B City. Using a method that combines qualitative and empirical research, the study proposes policy recommendations aimed at guiding urban residents toward reducing their electricity consumption. These recommendations serve as a policy reference for cities striving to achieve sustainability and low-carbon targets. The primary innovations and conclusions of the study are as follows: (1) this study summarizes the primary factors and processes influencing the reduction in electricity consumption among urban residents, examined from the following three perspectives: residents’ characteristics, psychological understanding, and external environment. (2) On the basis of the research data, empirical analysis and hypothesis testing are conducted using a variety of mathematical and statistical methods. The results indicate significant differences in the electricity consumption reduction behavior of heterogeneous urban residents in both public and private areas. Subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and knowledge of electricity conservation have significant direct influences on residents’ willingness to reduce their electricity consumption. Among these factors, subjective norms have the most significant impact, while the impact of attitude is negligible. Economic incentive policies have a significant positive regulatory effect on the relationship between “willingness (intention)” and “private area electricity consumption reduction behavior”.

Green ammonia adoption in shipping: Opportunities and challenges across the fuel supply chain

The IMO’s 2023 revised targets increase pressure on shipping and trading organisations to urgently cut energy consumption and transition away from fossil fuels. Although there are several alternative fuel options for shipping, ammonia is a prominent contender. Green ammonia is produced from renewable hydrogen with no direct CO2 emissions when combusted, making it an important option to interrogate. This research uses a mixed methods approach, including analysing shipping stakeholders’ perspectives, to consider the full range of factors relating to its deployment and use. Challenges to its adoption include low fleet renewal as a result of uncertainties around being first movers, managing NOx and N2O emissions if used in a combustion engine and lack of economic incentives. Nevertheless, green ammonia's storage advantages over hydrogen, established experience of ammonia handling for the fertiliser industry and its direct emission free application in fuel cells, underpin interest in its development. The study emphasizes though that the on-ground realities of transitioning away from fossil fuels require significant developments across the entire fuel supply chain. This extends beyond considerations around ammonia’s technological viability and encompass changes needed to onboard and portside infrastructure, incentives to accelerate retrofit and fleet renewal, and recognition of risks posed by first-movers in the sector. Furthermore, with short timeliness associated with Paris targets, and anticipated rising costs of new fuel infrastructure, there is an imperative to implement mitigation policy that focuses on urgently reducing reliance on liquid fuels, while alternative fuel deployment is established at scale.

Message framing's limited efficacy in counteracting parental hesitancy towards human papillomavirus vaccination for female adolescents: Insights from a randomized trial.

Parental acceptance of HPV vaccination remains low. This study investigates the influence of different message framing on Chinese parental intentions to vaccinate their daughters against HPV. A 2 (appeal framing: gain vs. loss) × 2 (cultural value: individualism vs. collectivism) × 2 (evidence type: narrative vs. non-narrative) factorial design was used in an online experiment. Parents of unvaccinated junior high school girls were recruited and included in the experiment. The primary outcome assessed was the reduction in HPV vaccine hesitancy (VH). The analysis of variance tests (ANOVAs) and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses. Of 4012 participants, the majority were women with low VH. Only loss-framing exerted a direct effect on advocacy (p = .036). Initial VH negatively moderated this effect (p = .027). Except for narrative evidence (p = .068), message framings showed significant small effects in low-hesitant participants (p = .032). An incentive policy negatively moderated the initial VH's effect on advocacy (p = .042). Persuasion was evident only among low-hesitant participants not receiving incentives (p = .002). In contrast, for highly hesitant individuals without incentive policies, loss-framing (p = .024) and collectivism perspective (p = .033) produced counterintuitive effects. Message framing is effective among low-hesitant parents of female adolescents in improving HPV vaccination decisions without economic incentives. Non-narrative evidence and loss-framing messages should be prioritized over narrative evidence and gain-framing messages. Nonetheless, caution is warranted when engaging with highly hesitant parents.

Noise pollution from Arctic expedition cruise vessels: understanding causes, consequences and governance options

Significant increase in shipping in the Arctic has caught international and national attention. The rising presence of touristic expedition cruise vessels might describe a special case for noise as a marine pollutant while they seek exclusive opportunities to experience the Arctic first-hand. This interdisciplinary study develops a conceptual framework to investigate context-specific vessel noise cause-effect dynamics and how this knowledge can assist policymakers and industry in increasing environmental safety. The study comprehensively reviews noise-emitting activities from Arctic cruise expeditions and potential adverse consequences for Arctic endemic marine mammals. It further discusses governance options for mitigating these consequences. Internationally, legal adaptations in the shipping conventions MARPOL and SOLAS should recognise noise as harmful energy. This could facilitate the uptake of noise-level-based certification schemes in the Polar Code. These legal actions can be strengthened by extended collective self-governance and through introducing economic incentives at the port level.

Ease of Recycling in Glendale, Salt Lake City, Utah: Dissecting Recycling Efforts by Household Size, Age, Income and Gender

This study investigates the perceived ease of recycling in Glendale, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, by household size, age, income, and gender. While existing research has broadly explored how sociodemographic factors impact recycling, there is a lack of comprehensive studies analyzing these factors within specific local contexts. This study aims to identify specific barriers and motivators across different demographics to enhance local recycling efforts using Glendale as a case study. Data were collected through an online survey of 111 respondents and analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The survey included questions about the demographic information, perceptions of recycling ease, and barriers to recycling. The analysis revealed that one-person households and young adults (18–35) face constraints such as limited space for recyclables, a lack of access to recycling bins in rental units, or high costs. Older adults (56 years or older) are highly committed but may face physical challenges. Higher-income households report higher participation due to better access and awareness, whereas lower-income households encounter significant barriers such as limited facility access and insufficient information. Gender differences indicate that women are slightly more proactive and committed to recycling compared to men. Recommendations include expanding recycling facilities, targeted educational campaigns, and economic incentives to encourage lower-income households, males, younger, and older adults. Addressing these demographic-specific barriers can improve recycling rates and contribute to more sustainable communities. Future studies should include in-person surveys as one of the limitations of this study is that an online survey format may introduce biases and the exclusion of residents without internet access.

Unlocking Potential for Low-Carbon Hydrogen Production from U.S. Natural Gas Resources.

Hydrogen will potentially play a key role while transitioning to a net-zero economy. This study addresses resource, environmental, economic, policy, and societal issues related to low-carbon hydrogen production by steam methane reforming with carbon capture and storage in Wyoming and other natural-gas-rich states. For low-carbon hydrogen produced from natural gas and electricity supplies and which stores CO2 in saline reservoirs in Wyoming, the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) ranges from $1.62-2.00/kg H2, and the life cycle emissions range from 3.85-5.74 kg CO2-eq/kg H2. If claimed, the 45Q tax credit decreases the LCOH by 19%. Although the supplies of renewable natural gas feedstock and zero- or low-carbon electricity can lower the carbon footprint to make hydrogen projects qualified for the 45V tax credit, the 45Q tax credit is still a stronger economic incentive. To reduce the supply cost, a hydrogen cluster can be developed in the state by leveraging the colocation and coavailability of multiple natural resources and transport infrastructure. Developing a hydrogen cluster can directly create several thousand construction jobs and several hundred permanent jobs in Wyoming. Low-carbon hydrogen production can also be scaled up in other states across the nation.

Beyond hedging: China’s strategic ‘outbidding’ strategy in the semi-hierarchical Gulf region

The prevailing analytical approach within international relations scholarship has primarily framed China’s growing involvement in the Gulf region through a hedging strategy. Although this framework offers explanatory value, it misses the impact of China’s search for international hierarchy and Sino-US rivalry for subordinates in shaping China’s strategic policy choices in the Gulf. This article, anchored in hierarchy studies in international relations, posits that the intensifying global competition between the United States and China for influence over subordinate states has driven China to pursue an ‘outbidding’ strategy. In applying this approach, China provides Gulf states with more appealing economic, military, and technological incentives than the United States. Since Xi Jinping’s ascension to power in 2013, China has considerably expanded its regional influence by investing heavily in this strategy. However, the long-term effectiveness of this strategy hinges on overcoming two key constraints inherent to the semi-hierarchical order of the Gulf: the distinct strategic considerations of US allies and non-allies and the balancing dilemma that China confronts. This article substantiates its claims by analyzing official statements, policy documents, and academic literature on China’s Gulf policy.

Breaking the board: the rise of female Go players in Korea

In the historically male-dominated world of Go—a game with a rich history and a current global player base of 46 million—recent years have marked a significant shift in gender dynamics, highlighted by Choi Jeong’s historic achievement as the first female to reach the open major world tournament finals. This study investigates the rise of female Go players in Korea through multiple lenses: descriptive analyses cover demographic data, Elo ratings, and competition statistics, while social representation analyses employ in-depth interviews and core-periphery analysis. A core finding is the profound transformation within the Korean Go community, where female players are not just witnessing increased representation but also significant enhancements in performance, opportunities, and financial rewards. Narratives from the players unravel the intricate web of performance disparities, community engagement, and evolving infrastructures. Economic incentives, societal and cultural shifts, and institutional support are identified as key contributors to their success. Beyond its application to professional Go, this research underscores a paradigmatic shift, illuminating strategies for fostering gender inclusivity in fields traditionally overshadowed by male dominance.

Tradeoffs between economy wide future net zero and net negative economy systems: The case of Chile

Given the possible economic consequences, poorer countries have more challenges in delivering their Nationally Determined Contributions. As a developing country, Chile has pledged to attain carbon neutrality by 2050. While Chile has implemented several mitigation measures, it still relies heavily on carbon sequestration, intending to sequester around 65 MtCO2e by 2050. However, heavy reliance on sequestration poses several risks as the literature shows that natural sinks, particularly forest and land, are exposed to severe impacts from global warming and climate change. Fortunately, Chile has significant renewable energy potential, which, if fully utilized, may move the country towards a net negative emissions context. To assess if such a net-negative system is feasible in the context of Chile, a new regional version of the Global Change Analysis Model for Chile is developed. The model is used to investigate the effects and required levels of investment in renewable energy and decarbonization of end-use sectors to achieve economy-wide net negative emissions scenarios. The design of net negative pathways follows a statistical approach based on the expected sequestration capacity in 2050 and its corresponding confidence interval. The results are compared to scenarios that are aligned with the objective of carbon neutrality by 2050. The findings show that obtaining net-zero emissions by 2050 is possible, however achieving net negative systems will be dependent on existing sequestration capacity and the application of economic incentives to boost green energy deployment in Chile as well as to push such green energy, in the form of electricity or e-fuels, into hard to decarbonize final demand sectors, such as transport, mining, and industry demand sectors. The results also indicate that after significantly reducing CO2 emissions from the energy sector (primarily the power sector), the agricultural sector and other urban and industrial sectors still contribute to non-significant levels of CH4 and N2O emissions.