Economic Incentives Research Articles

Effects of increased availability and economic incentives on preadolescents’ healthier beverages choices: An experimental study

This field experimental study examined how increased availability and economic incentives for healthier beverages affect preadolescents’ actual healthier beverage choices in a real-world setting. In addition, the impact of preadolescents’ descriptive norm towards healthier beverages, price awareness and parental restrictive rules regarding beverage consumption were explored. During the experiment, preadolescents could independently buy two beverages from an assortment with a total of eight beverages. A 2x2 between-subjects design was used, manipulating the presence of increased availability of healthier beverages and economic incentives (taxes for unhealthier beverages and subsidies for healthier beverages). A total of 305 preadolescents between 8 and 14 years old (M = 10.18, SD = 1.74) participated, each accompanied by one of their respective parents. Results showed that preadolescents were more likely to choose healthier beverages and perceived a higher descriptive norm towards healthier beverages when the assortment included increased relative availability of healthier beverages. Economic incentives and price awareness did not impact healthier beverage choices. Preadolescents were less likely to choose healthier beverages when parents reported higher levels of restrictive rules regarding beverage consumption. Results of the study suggest that increasing relative availability of healthier options could be a promising intervention strategy to support preadolescents in making healthier choices.

Assessing The Impact Of Procrastination On Workplace Efficiency And Employee Performance

Background: Procrastination with self-regulation, motivation, and emotional control as its underlying causes is a psychological issue, in addition to being a mere time management problem (Metin et al., 2016). Procrastination at work takes many forms, like employees extending deadlines, postponing their assignments, or instead of their primary responsibilities, focussing on unimportant activities. Procrastination is a serious issue that can hinder organisational success aside from being a personal struggle for employees. Organisations can boost outcomes for performance, promote a more dynamic and productive work setting, and improve employee well-being by employing targeted strategies and interventions to address procrastination. This study's main goal is to assess procrastination and how it affects efficiency at work and the performance of an employee at work, with an emphasis on finding the critical elements that influence this habit and its effects in organisational contexts. Material and Method: This research is based on secondary data. The qualitative research is done using articles which are published in academic journals of repute. The care is taken to refer only latest articles unless the article is seminal or of great importance. Results: The results indicate that procrastination significantly hampers work performance and engagement, driven by psychological factors like anxiety, environmental distractions, and organizational shortcomings such as unclear goals. Addressing these factors through engagement strategies, clear objectives, and economic incentives can reduce procrastination, leading to improved productivity and a more motivated workforce. Conclusion: Procrastination negatively impacts performance, work engagement, and productivity. Addressing it requires understanding psychological, environmental, and organizational factors. Enhancing work engagement and clear goals, reducing distractions, and providing economic incentives can mitigate procrastination. By focusing on these aspects, organizations can boost productivity and foster a more efficient, motivated workforce.

The price of progress: understanding innovation and affordability of prescription drugs.

Economic incentives and patent protections drive development of innovative medications. Drug prices are determined by consumer demand, not production costs. Therefore, governmental regulation risks future investment in research and development.

On the regulatory and economic incentives for renewable hybrid power plants in Brazil

The complementarity between renewable generation profiles has been widely explored in the literature. Notwithstanding, complex interactions between regulatory and economic frameworks add interesting challenges and opportunities for hybrid power plant investors, regulators, and planners. Focusing on the Brazilian power market, we study the alignment of incentives between the economically-optimized strategy of hybrid power plant investors and the efficient utilization of the transmission resources. To do that, we propose a decision model that co-optimizes the risk-adjusted strategy of a hybrid power plant owner comprising (i) the forward-market involvement, (ii) the contracted amount of network access, and (iii) the share of renewable sources composing the hybrid power plant. We also propose adjusting the current regulatory framework to consider a unified calculation for the Firm Energy Certificates of non-controllable renewable power plants, including hybrid units. Based on that, we ensure a non-discriminatory regulatory framework for renewables acknowledging the diversity of generation profiles that hybrid units may have due to their optimal hybridization shares and network-access contracting strategies. A case study using realistic data from the northeastern region of the Brazilian power system showcases strong economic incentives for hybridization with reduced transmission resource utilization.

Common Media Holding Companies and the Uniqueness of Business Press Content

ABSTRACT We examine how common media holding companies impact the uniqueness of business press content. Consistent with common media holding companies reducing the diversity of perspectives among journalists, we find that media outlets are more likely to cover the same earnings announcement and utilize more similar tone and content when they belong to a common holding company. We provide evidence that these effects are enhanced by outlet reach and economic incentives to share content. Finally, we provide evidence consistent with coverage by common media holding companies impeding price formation. Overall, our findings suggest that content within common media holding companies is less diverse and that this may have negative implications for markets. Data Availability: Data are available from the sources cited in the text. JEL Classifications: M40; M41; M49; G10; G14; L82.

Sweetening the Deal: The Political Economy of Land Redistribution in South Africa’s Sugar Sector

Under what conditions do land transfers occur under land reform? Theories of land redistribution focus on demand-side explanations for land transfers where the state allocates land in exchange for support from voters or rural elites. In this article, I argue that land transfers under market land redistribution are driven by supply-side characteristics of landholders. Using the case of South Africa’s sugar sector, I show that landholders chose to sell their land via redistribution when they had the economic incentive to preserve existing state-support frameworks and had collective capacity from centralized institutions. To understand when and why land redistribution occurs, one must pay attention to the landholders’ relationship to the state and their internal sectoral organization. In some cases, landholders may have an incentive to redistribute their land.

Promoting the use of geopolymer and alkali-activated materials through the identification of critical factors and strategies

Geopolymers (GP) and alkali-activated materials (AAMs) technology are emerging as eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to traditional binders like Ordinary Portland cement (OPC), offering significant environmental benefits. Despite more than four decades of research and development, the commercial exploitation of GP and AAMs remains unrealised. In an attempt from this research paper to identify key success factors and limitations of this technology and propose strategies to exploit the available opportunities and address significant challenges hindering the widespread adoption of GP and AAMs in the global green construction market. The following comprehensive approach was undertaken to achieve the aforementioned objectives, this involved a thorough critical literature review and the formulation of a triple SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) - Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) - TOWS hybrid analysis. The results demonstrate that GP and AAMs are promising materials highlighting strengths derived from their remarkable performance and durability properties, as well as the potential opportunities for GP and AAMs to reduce the environmental impact by using by-products, particularly local ones “zero-kilometre”, aligns with the objectives of sustainability and the circular economy, compared to conventional materials. However, the findings confirm experts’ positive assessments of GP and AAMs technology, several barriers that could critically threaten their development and implementation. These barriers include the absence of standards, design complexity, feasibility and performance of the final product dependent on variation factors, and handling difficulties. Finally, a set of strategies has been established to implement GP and AAMs by encouraging adoption through the implementation of a regulatory framework supported by the government. These strategies include developing local codes and test methods, providing economic incentives, fostering cooperative research globally, and organizing awareness campaigns. This article will help to provide a solid foundation for future research aimed at resolving controversial issues related to the implementation of GP and AAMs technology and promoting a positive perception of GP and AAMs among all stakeholders and decision-makers.

Techno-Economic Optimization of Microgrid Operation with Integration of Renewable Energy, Hydrogen Storage, and Micro Gas Turbine

Microgrids are integral to modern energy systems, yet they face substantial challenges in integrating diverse components, managing complex dynamics, and ensuring stability amid renewable energy variability. This study investigates the integration of wind turbines, an electrolyzer, and a hydrogen-compatible micro gas turbine (MGT), with a focus on enhancing operational efficiency and maintaining dynamic equilibrium within the microgrid. The synergy between the electrolyzer and MGT provides a robust energy storage solution, improving both system stability and performance.Using advanced machine learning and real operational data, this research generates highly accurate, rapid models with greater precision and detail than conventional methods. The intelligent management system developed combines real-time optimization and adaptive fine-tuning, using forecasts of weather, electricity prices, and energy demand to devise optimized operational strategies. The study systematically analyzes various configurations, including grid-connected and island modes, and evaluates the impact of hydrogen storage in each scenario.The results demonstrate that the optimization approach substantially enhances economic returns. However, this can also lead to increased natural gas consumption and emissions, revealing a trade-off between financial gains and environmental sustainability. This highlights the necessity for strategies that reconcile economic incentives with sustainability objectives, offering valuable insights for improved microgrid management.

A ROAD MAP FOR THE TRANSITION TO A CARBON-FREE ECONOMY BASED ON THE ENERGY INNOVATIONS TRANSFER

This study aims to analyze existing scientific approaches to developing roadmaps in energy and innovation, identify key challenges hindering the transition to a carbon-neutral economy, and develop practical recommendations for Ukraine. Particular emphasis is placed on identifying and integrating legislative, economic, technological, and social aspects into energy innovation transfer to ensure an effective and sustainable transition. A literature review was conducted using key terms such as "roadmap," "energy," and "innovation," which allowed for the identification of the most relevant trends and approaches in this field.The article outlines the main challenges Ukraine faces in transitioning to a carbon-neutral economic model based on the transfer of energy innovations. These challenges include legislative barriers, insufficient economic incentives, technological difficulties, and social factors that slow down the implementation of innovations.Based on the identified problems and existing trends, a roadmap for Ukraine's transition to a carbon-neutral economy was developed, covering four key areas: legislative, economic, technological, and social. The sequence of steps and actions necessary to implement the transition scenario is detailed and presented visually.The article offers specific practical recommendations for Ukraine regarding the implementation of the roadmap, including necessary legislative changes, economic incentives, investments in technology, and measures to increase social awareness and support. Thus, this article makes an essential contribution to the scientific and practical discourse on the transition to a carbon-neutral economy, particularly in the context of Ukraine, and can serve as a foundation for further research and policy development in this area.

Heat in the news: Geothermal energy in Chilean newspaper coverage

Although Chile has abundant geothermal resources and is home to the first geothermal power plant in South America, the country faces uncertainties regarding the future development of geothermal energy. Lack of economic incentives, insufficient regulatory framework, and social opposition to geothermal power plant projects are some of the main challenges faced in the last years. To reflect on the pitfalls of the geothermal energy public debate and promote the integration of social aspects in the geothermal energy discussion, this study examines how geothermal energy has been portrayed in two influential Chilean newspapers from 2008 to 2021. Based on the idea that the mass media plays a critical role in public perception, this paper presents a framing analysis of 259 newspaper press to reflect on the public discourse of geothermal energy. The study shows that the media focused mainly on deep, high-enthalpy geothermal projects and the energy concession market. Geothermal energy has been mostly part of the finance discussion, and the coverage has been primarily event-driven, with limited visibility beyond specific events. Two events, the controversial exploration project in El Tatio (2009) and the successful commissioning of the first geothermal plant Cerro Pabellón (2017) attracted significant attention and presented geothermal energy from contrasting perspectives. Geothermal energy is mainly portrayed as an abundant, clean, and renewable energy source. However, geothermal development is described as a “business” or a “resource to be exploited”. There is a notable absence of discussion regarding the success of Latin American geothermal initiatives. Instead, European cases are the most prevalent in the discourse, serving as exemplars for potential future action. This result calls for the promotion of a new geothermal narrative and relationship with geothermal energy that acknowledges the experience from Latin American countries such as Costa Rica or El Salvador, the importance that geothermal energy has had for Indigenous peoples and promotes its use in the light of social demands for a more sustainable relationship with the environment, instead the main geothermal frame reproduces the commodification of natural resources in Chile.

State-level regulation of disinfection byproducts in the United States

ABSTRACT Disinfection byproducts (DBPs), residual compounds formed from the chemical disinfection of drinking water, can cause a host of damaging public health and environmental impacts. This study evaluates the landscape of regulations designed to reduce the occurrence and/or impact of DBPs, focusing on regulations issued by the US states. Drawing on a systematic search of state administrative codes and agency websites, we first identify the presence, absence, and layering of DBP-related regulations. We then evaluate the number and types of policy tools – the specific approaches required by each regulation, such as monitoring requirements, economic incentives, and required treatment technologies – to identify how DBPs are being managed and how states cluster with relatively more and less robust regulatory frameworks. Finally, we evaluate the relationship between the regulatory approach and the frequency of drinking water quality violations for DBP compounds. While most states have at least one DBP-specific regulation, these vary substantially in their comprehensiveness. The most-used policy tools (monitoring, compliance schedules, and reporting) directly reflect federal regulations; few states have adopted innovative tools such as collaboration or financial incentives. We observe no relationship between regulatory efforts and water quality violations, suggesting that current policy implementation may not adequately address the complex risk of DBPs.

Theoretical study on demand-side management to reduce imbalance between electricity supply and demand

The gap between electricity supply and demand, which is the electricity imbalance, can have negative economic impacts on retail electricity suppliers. This paper presents a methodology for designing demand response (DR) programs while mitigating the negative impacts. The DR programs require the retailers to set target electricity consumption and prices of economic incentives for customers who cooperate with the DR programs. First, the target electricity consumption is determined by solving a problem of social welfare maximization in which the objective function is the sum of economic surplus of the retailers and their customers and impacts of electricity imbalance. The optimal electricity prices or the optimal rebate levels are then calculated under the principle that rational customers act to maximize their economic surplus. Through numerical simulations, the authors confirmed that the proposed methodology mitigated the impacts of electricity imbalance. Meanwhile, results of the numerical simulations showed that in practical situations, there were cases where the retailers unable to reduce the electricity imbalance profitably. Therefore, the authors additionally discuss ways to assess the electricity imbalance, which motivates the retailers to reduce the imbalance, in such cases.

Digitalization and Automation and AI: A Theoretical Framework of rethinking the Pollution Haven Hypothesis

This theoretical paper investigates the impact of digitalization, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) on environmental regulations, specifically through the lens of the Pollution Haven Hypothesis (PHH). It explores how these advancements influence pollution intensity and environmental compliance costs, challenging the traditional understanding of the PHH. Methodology. The study employs a Cobb-Douglas production function to model the relationship between technological innovations and environmental regulations. By integrating digitalization, automation, and AI into the model, the paper examines how these factors affect the economic incentives for firms to relocate to regions with lenient environmental standards. Findings. The analysis reveals that advancements in digitalization and automation reduce pollution intensity and lower the costs of complying with strict environmental standards. As a result, the economic incentive to relocate to pollution havens diminishes. In an open economy, the combination of stringent environmental policies and technological innovations leads to reduced pollution levels and a shift toward cleaner production processes. Practical Implication. The findings suggest that integrating technological innovations into environmental policy can make adherence to stricter regulations more economically viable, thereby weakening the appeal of pollution havens. This has significant implications for global sustainability efforts, as it highlights the potential for technology to support more effective and equitable environmental regulations. Originality. This study introduces a novel perspective by directly linking technological innovations to shifts in capital allocation and the efficacy of environmental policies. It offers a fresh understanding of the PHH in the context of modern advancements, providing new understanding into the relationship between innovation and environmental regulation.

Decent deepfakes? Professional deepfake developers’ ethical considerations and their governance potential

AbstractPolicymakers and societies are grappling with the question of how to respond to deepfakes, i.e., synthetic audio-visual media which is proliferating in all areas of digital life– from politics to pornography. However, debates and research on deepfakes’ impact and governance largely neglect the technology’s sources, namely the developers of the underlying artificial intelligence (AI), and those who provide code or deepfake creation services to others, making the technology widely accessible. These actors include open-source developers, professionals working in large technology companies and specialized start-ups, and for deepfake apps. They can profoundly impact which underlying AI technologies are developed, whether and how they are made public, and what kind of deepfakes can be created. Therefore, this paper explores which values guide professional deepfake development, how economic and academic pressures and incentives influence developers’ (perception of) agency and ethical views, and how these views do and could impact deepfake design, creation, and dissemination. Thereby, the paper focuses on values derived from debates on AI ethics and on deepfakes’ impact. It is based on ten qualitative in-depth expert interviews with academic and commercial deepfake developers and ethics representatives of synthetic media companies. The paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of AI ethics in relation to audio-visual generative AI. Besides, it empirically informs and enriches the deepfake governance debate by incorporating developers’ voices and highlighting governance measures which directly address deepfake developers and providers and emphasize the potential of ethics to curb the dangers of deepfakes.

The social contract theory meets cybersecurity: systematic literature review

Purpose This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of social contract theory (SCT) utilization in cybersecurity literature, elucidating the current state of research, identifying major applications and themes and highlighting gaps, particularly in empirical studies, and the integration of emerging technologies. The study also maps the contractual parties and governance tools discussed in SCT and cyberspace interactions. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a systematic literature review to investigate the application of SCT within the cybersecurity domain. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative and qualitative content analysis with the Grounded Theory strategy, over 30,000 documents were initially screened. The final data set comprised 873 peer-reviewed papers from multiple databases. MAXQDA software facilitated coding and thematic analysis to identify key SCT applications, governance tools and research gaps. Findings The review revealed the following: emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain are sparsely researched within the SCT-cyberspace intersection, yet they offer solutions to various SCT-related issues; empirical studies are underrepresented, with theoretical explorations dominating the discourse; there is a notable gap in integrating emerging technologies such as AI within SCT frameworks; governance tools discussed are varied, including economic incentives, regulatory measures and informational strategies. Originality/value This study synthesizes SCT applications in cybersecurity, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature and potential for richer theoretical integration. By systematically mapping the literature, it identifies crucial gaps and offers a foundation for future empirical and theoretical research. The findings emphasize the importance of considering traditional SCT themes and contemporary technological contexts, contributing to the development of more robust frameworks for cyberspace governance.

The Impact of Economic Incentives on the Purchase Behavior of Recycled Fashion and Footwear

This study investigates the impact of economic incentives on the purchase behavior of recycled fashion and footwear in Vietnam, addressing a critical gap in sustainable consumption research within emerging markets. Employing a mixed-methods approach, including a large-scale survey (n=1,023) and field experiments across 120 stores, we examine the effectiveness of various incentive types: discounts, loyalty programs, and government subsidies. Our findings reveal that while price discounts drive immediate sales increases (28.3% volume increase), loyalty programs foster superior long-term engagement (23.5% increase in repeat purchases) and higher average order values (31.7% increase). Government subsidies, particularly when combined with educational initiatives, also prove effective (27.3% sales volume increase). The study identifies key moderating factors, including environmental consciousness, age, and urban-rural location, which significantly influence the impact of these incentives. By providing empirical evidence on the nuanced effectiveness of economic incentives in promoting sustainable fashion choices, this research offers valuable insights for retailers, policymakers, and sustainability advocates. The findings contribute to bridging the intention-action gap in sustainable consumption and provide a foundation for developing targeted strategies to promote recycled fashion in emerging markets.

Transitioning from gridlock to sustainability: advancing transport strategies for eco-friendly solutions in high-income countries.

The study aims to comprehend sustainable behaviors in high-income nations, where human-environment interactions are crucial. Increased transportation needs in industrialized countries highlight the importance of environmental challenges affecting human well-being. Railway passenger carrier, automobile energy efficiency, technology breakthroughs, financial incentives, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) affect congestion and sustainability, which the study analyses for sound policy inferences in a panel of 28 high-income nations from 2000 to 2022. The panel ARDL estimates reveal that railway passenger carrier increases carbon emissions in the short run while it improves them over time, highlighting the importance of urban planning. Environmental pollution, energy use, transportation behavior (including PPPs), and technical innovation have an inverse connection, demonstrating the efficacy of energy-efficient transport methods, research and development, and renewable energy sources. However, economic incentives highly correspond with carbon-intensive habits, emphasizing the need for high-income countries to phase them out.

Path dependence in environment-related innovation: evidence from listed firms in China

ABSTRACT This paper studies the path dependence effect in corporate innovation based on the patent data of Chinese listed firms. The results provide robust evidence of the path dependence in technology innovation. The accumulated stock of brown patents reduces the ratio of green patents to total patents newly granted, thus inhibiting green structural changes in innovation. The accumulated stock of green patents increases the ratio of green patents in total patents granted, promoting structural change towards green innovation. The path dependence effect exists in both green inventions and green utility model patents. The heterogeneity analysis shows that both brown and green patent stocks of heavy polluting firms have a weaker effect on the ratio of green inventions than non-heavy polluting firms. The negative path dependence effect of brown patents on green innovation is stronger in firms with large scale, state ownership, and a high level of environmental regulation. However, the negative path dependence effects on green innovation can be alleviated for firms with superior environmental and financial performance. This suggests that the government has to create economic incentives to break the path dependence and encourage firms to engage in green innovation.

The impact of latent policy synergy between cities on air pollution: An empirical analysis from China's 12,764 air policies

Policy synergy plays a crucial role in managing regional air pollution. However, the current process of formulating collaborative policies often focuses too heavily on achieving optimal emission reduction outcomes, while neglecting the execution costs at the local level. This not only leads to a lack of coordination between existing governance measures and new policies but may also result in inefficient policy implementation and the wastage of administrative resources. To address this issue, we have conducted a thorough analysis of the latent interconnections in local governance and explored the possibility of formulating collaborative policies based on latent policy synergies. Utilizing a dataset of 12,764 policy documents from China spanning from 2000 to 2023, we employed unsupervised learning techniques and panel regression models to investigate the impacts of latent policy synergies among local governments. Our findings reveal that local governments initially relied on rigid command-and-control strategies to address air pollution, which were later enhanced with economic incentives like emissions trading and subsidies, thus broadening the scope of policy tools and improving compliance flexibility. Subsequently, as comprehensive monitoring networks were established, enabling real-time data acquisition and more accurate pollution assessments, the focus of policy efforts shifted towards a more integrated approach to regional air pollution management. This similar evolution facilitated latent policy synergy among local governments, leading to significant reductions in air pollution emissions. Notably, regions such as the Central Plains and coastal cities, characterized by their dense industrial activity and high energy consumption, have shown remarkable potential for collaborative efforts, achieving greater pollution control efficiencies. This study provides a valuable reference for the coordinated governance of air pollution policies.

Forest carbon payments: A multidisciplinary review of policy options for promoting carbon storage in EU member states

Forest carbon sinks can play an important role in mitigating climate change, but currently only a few policies exist globally where economic incentives are created for forest owners to maintain and strengthen sinks. This article aims to facilitate the design and implementation of governmental payment schemes for forest carbon uptake services by presenting a multidisciplinary analysis of the many challenges involved in such schemes and by proposing potential solutions. We assess the consequences, opportunities, and risks of carbon payment schemes from economic, ecological, social, and legal points of view based on existing literature. Our analysis is set in the context of the European Union (EU), but many of the central findings have relevance for a broader geographical area. The main economic challenges of implementing carbon payment schemes relate to potential leakage, the question of additionality, and uncertain forest-owner behavior. The most important ecological considerations include effects on soil carbon dynamics and biodiversity as well as issues of non-permanence and forest resilience. Our exploration of the social acceptance of carbon payments among the general public, key market actors such as forest owners and forest industry, and other stakeholders suggest that both the process of developing the scheme and its details are significant. Further, our legal analysis indicates that central challenges for carbon payment schemes within the EU rise from the requirement to comply with competition and state aid regulations. Finally, we synthesize our findings and suggest a two-step approach for introducing public carbon payments in an EU member state. Initially, the scheme could be launched via De minimis aid or the new aid scheme (GAFSRA). A low carbon price could be applied to moderate market effects, and the payments could be limited to additional carbon storage only. Peatlands, where tradeoffs exist between tree biomass carbon and soil carbon, should initially be excluded from the standard payment scheme, and regulated with command-and-control instruments and measure-based payments instead. In the future, an improved knowledge base and institutional changes may enable schemes that encompass all ecosystem carbon pools on all relevant soil types and create optimal incentives for both forest management and land-use choices by pricing all land-based sinks and emissions. Such schemes could utilize, e.g., cap-and-trade instruments and be complemented by import tariffs to control carbon leakage.