Economic Methodology Research Articles

Landfarming as a sustainable management strategy for fresh and phytoremediated sediment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a landfarming process (LP) in recovering sediments at different biodegradation phases: phytoremediated dredged sediments (PDS) and fresh dredged sediments (FDS). The PDS landfarming was applied to (1) reduce residual contamination and (2) improve the biological activities in order to obtain a decontaminated matrix rich in organic matter and enzymatic activity to be reused as agronomic substrate. In 3 months of LP, a microbial activity stimulation (from 7 to 48%) and a decrease in organic contamination (about 15%) were recorded. In addition, no phytotoxicity and the content in total organic carbon and nitrogen make the sediments suitable to be reused in agriculture. The FDS landfarming was carried out to (1) reduce water content, (2) transform the organic matter into a more stable form, and (3) decrease organic contaminant level. Five months of LP led to a considerable reduction in water content (40%) and to the activation of microbial biomass metabolism (from 4 to 50 times higher), which achieved proper mineralization of organic matter and contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons near to zero and a total petroleum hydrocarbon reduction of about 60%). The LP also enhanced the stoichiometric ratios of nutrients and enzymes. In conclusion, the LP was a promising and economical methodology to improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of polluted sediments at different biodegradation phases, creating a substrate ready for several environmental applications. Notably, the PDS resulted appropriate for agricultural use and FDS for civil applications.

Change and Continuity in Economic Methodology and Philosophy of Economics

Cet article présente mes réflexions en leur état au début de l’année 2020 quant à la situation de la méthodologie économique et de la philosophie de l’économie (ou philosophie économique), après quinze années passées à la co-direction (avec Wade Hands) du Journal of Economic Methodology . J’y constate les changements des méta-champs de recherche que sont la méthodologie et la philosophie de l’économie, depuis leur surgissement comme sous-domaines au sein des sciences économiques durant les années 1980. En usant d’une analyse qui prend en considération l’évolution technologique, j’y distingue deux scenarii envisageables pour l’avenir du champ, en rapport aux facteurs de l’environnement l’impactant, et quant à l’influence de la spécialisation croissante de la recherche, à la fois sur ce champ même et sur les sciences économiques ; j’élabore enfin une argumentation transdisciplinaire touchant son évolution future vers la diversité et la pluralité dans la recherche académique.

Green micellar solvent-free HPLC and spectrofluorimetric determination of favipiravir as one of COVID-19 antiviral regimens

Quality control (QC) of pharmaceutical products requires fast, sensitive as well as economic methodologies in order to provide high through output at low cost which are the main aspects considered by such economic facilities. Meanwhile, the ecological impacts must be considered by researchers to minimize the hazardous effects of research laboratories. Favipiravir (FAV) is an antiviral agent recently approved for treatment of COVID-19 infections during 2020 pandemic crisis, so the size of its production by international pharmaceutical corporations evolved dramatically within the past few months. Two novel simple, sensitive, and green methods were developed and validated for FAV determination based on solvent-free micellar LC and spectrofluorimetry techniques. To improve FAV native fluorescence, several factors were studied including solvent type, buffering, pH and added surfactants. The best sensitivity for FAV fluorescence was obtained in Britton-Robinson buffer (pH 4) at 436 nm after excitation at 323 nm within concentration range of 20–350 ng mL−1. Another HPLC method was validated using C18-RP (5 µm, 250 × 4.6 mm) stationary phase and solvent-free mobile phase consisting of (0.02 M Brij-35, 0.15 M SDS, and 0.02 M disodium hydrogen phosphate, pH 5.0) isocratically eluted at a flow rate of 1 mL min−1 and detection wavelength of 323 nm. LC method was validated across concentration range of 10–100 µg mL−1 and FAV eluted in 3.8 min. The methods were validated according to the FDA guidelines and were applied successfully for determination of FAV in its marketed tablet dosage forms and in spiked human plasma samples. The proposed methods are eco-friendly since they are typically based on biodegradable reagents in aqueous solvent-free phases, which was proven by their assessment on two recent greenness metrics (GAPI and AGREE) to prove their eco-friendly properties.

Multiplex Visualized Closed-Tube PCR with Hamming Distance 2 Code for 15 HPV Subtype Typing.

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in women, especially in developing countries. Specific and economic methodologies for HPV typing are crucial in cancer diagnosis and further disease control. However, routine assays based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) or DNA-chip hybridization are either incapable of offering detailed subtype information or involve tedious open-tube operations with the risk of cross-contamination from PCR amplicons. Herein, we proposed a multiplex visualized closed-tube PCR (Multi-Vision) for HPV typing. Using gold nanoparticle probes (AuNPs) as a color change indicator combined with a Hamming distance 2 coding scheme, 13 high-risk HPVs and two subtypes associated with high-incidence benign lesions were successfully typed by performing six closed-tube PCRs. The assay demonstrates high specificity with no cross-reaction among different subtypes under several artificial sample concentrations (from 100 to 103 copies per reaction) and enables highly sensitive detection of as low as 0.5 copies/μL. Further, 105 clinical samples were successfully analyzed using our method with a high concordance rate of 99.05% (104/105) compared to a HPV typing kit. The inconsistent sample was confirmed by sequencing to be consistent with the typing results determined by our method, indicating that Multi-Vision could be a useful tool for HPV detection, especially in resource-limited regions.

Еволюція удосконалення нормативної грошової оцінки земель сільськогосподарського призначення

Мета. Мета статті – поглиблення концептуальних положень нормативної грошової оцінки земель сільськогосподарського призначення на основі аналізу методології економіки землекористування, закладеної в основу Методик нормативної грошової оцінки земель сільськогосподарського призначення (1995 р., 2016 р.), для більшої відповідності сучасному етапу агрогосподарювання в умовах формування ринкового обігу земель сільськогосподарського призначення.
 Методологія / методика / підхід. У статті на основі діалектичного методу пізнання використано методи: абстрактно-логічний – при систематизації публікацій, присвячених питанню використання та оцінки земель сільськогосподарського призначення; аналізу, синтезу, порівняння – при аналізі та порівнянні теоретико-методичних положень, покладених в основу офіційних Методик нормативної грошової оцінки земель сільськогосподарського призначення 1995 та 2016 років; метод узагальнення – при формуванні висновків; графічний метод – для візуалізації характеристик землі як триєдиного засобу виробництва; розрахунково-конструктивний – при розробці методичних підходів до визначення диференційного рентного доходу та нормативної грошової оцінки землі та розрахунку значення нормативної грошової оцінки орних земель кращої та гіршої якості для природно-кліматичної зони Лісостеп Сумської області. При написанні статті використовували наукові праці вітчизняних і закордонних вчених за період 1995–2020 рр., а також дані офіційних сайтів Державної служби України з питань геодезії, картографії та кадастру та Державної служби статистики України.
 Результати. Обґрунтовано концептуальні положення удосконалення методичних основ нормативної грошової оцінки земель сільськогосподарського призначення, що дають можливість системно та комплексно врахувати у вартісній оцінці землі її характеристики як засобу праці, предмету праці та просторового базису, зокрема запропоновано методичні підходи до визначення диференційного рентного доходу та нормативної грошової оцінки землі, які базуються на використанні набору культур і терміну ротації сівозміни. Розрахована в статті грошова оцінка земель орних земель кращої та гіршої якості для природно-кліматичної зони Лісостеп Сумської області з урахуванням запропонованих положень, значення якої більш повною мірою відповідає сучасному етапу агрогосподарювання в умовах формування ринкового обігу земель сільськогосподарського призначення.
 Оригінальність / наукова новизна. Запропоновано концептуальні положення удосконалення методичних основ нормативної грошової оцінки земель сільськогосподарського призначення, зокрема: використовувати набір культур науково обґрунтованої сівозміни для оцінки земель; здійснювати повторні оцінки земель після закінчення терміну ротації сівозміни й на підставі результатів оцінки застосовувати компенсаційні виплати за підвищення родючості або штрафи за погіршення родючості; запропоновано методичний підхід до визначення диференційного рентного доходу на основі порівняння нормативної урожайності та доходу від виробництва культур сівозміни на кращих і гірших за родючістю землях; запропоновано при визначенні абсолютної ренти враховувати не лише дані про витрати на орендну плату та підтримку державою сільського господарства, а й дані про потребу в коштах на фінансування землевпорядкувальних і землеохоронних робіт; окремою статтею виокремити кошти на підтримку галузі тваринництва, що сприятиме дотриманню сівозмін і збереженню родючості ґрунту.
 Практична цінність / значущість. На основі пропозицій щодо удосконалення нормативної грошової оцінки землі розраховано нормативну грошову оцінку орних земель для природно-кліматичної зони Лісостеп Сумської області, яка більш точно відповідає цінам на землю в західних країнах і може бути застосована в умовах функціонування ринкового обігу земель сільськогосподарського призначення.

Did F.A. Hayek Embrace Popperian Falsificationism ? A Critical Comment About Certain Theses of Popper, Duhem and Austrian Methodology

The author of this article argues that Hayek´s methodological outlook at the time he engaged in business cycle research was actually closer to praxeological apriorism than to Popperian falsificationism. A consideration of the Duhem thesis highlights the fact that even from a mainstream methodological perspective falsificationism is more problematic than is often realized. Even if the praxeological and mainstream lines of argumentation reject the Popperian emphasis on falsification for different reasons and from a different background, the prospects for falsificationism in economic methodology seem rather bleak.
 Key words: General methodology; Austrian methodology; falsificationism; Popper; Hayek; Duhem; Duhemian Argument; testing of Theories; meaning and Interpretation of econometric results; correlation and causality.
 JEL Classification: B20, C10, B23, A12, E32, B53, B40
 Resumen: La perspectiva metodológica de Hayek a la hora de investigar el ciclo comercial se acercaba más al apriorismo praxeológico que al falsacionismo popperiano. Una consideración de la tesis de Duhem destaca el hecho de que, incluso desde una perspectiva metodológica común, el falsacionismo es más problemático de lo que se suele pensar. A pesar de que las líneas de argumentación praxeológicas rechazan el énfasis popperiano en la falsación por distintos motivos y desde un fondo distinto, las perspectivas del falsacionismo en la metodología económica no parecen ser nada prometedoras.
 Palabras clave: metodología general; metodología austriaca; falsacionismo; Popper; Hayek; Duhem; argumento duhemiano; prueba de teorías; significado e interpretación de resultados econométricos; correlación y causalidad.

Model diversity and the embarrassment of riches

ABSTRACT In a recent special issue dedicated to the work of Dani Rodrik, Grüne-Yanoff and Marchionni [(2018). Modeling model selection in model pluralism. Journal of Economic Methodology, 25(3), 265–275. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350178X.2018.1488572] raise a potentially damning problem for Rodrik's suggestion that progress in economics should be understood and measured laterally, by a continuous expansion of new models. They argue that this could lead to an ‘embarrassment of riches’, i.e. the rapid expansion of our model library to such an extent that we become unable to choose between the available models, and thus needs to be solved to make ‘model pluralism’ viable. Drawing on Veit’s [(2019a). Model pluralism. Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 50(2), 91–114. https://doi.org/10.1177/0048393119894897] ‘model pluralism’ account, this paper argues that model pluralism as a thesis about the relationship between science and nature undermines the very idea of a general model selection framework for policy making.

A deletion in SARS-CoV-2 ORF7 identified in COVID-19 outbreak in Uruguay.

The analysis of genetic diversity in SARS‐CoV‐2 is the focus of several studies, providing insights into how the virus emerged and evolves. Most common changes in SARS‐CoV‐2 are single or point nucleotide substitutions; meanwhile, insertions and deletions (indels) have been identified as a less frequent source of viral genetic variability. Here, we report the emergence of a 12‐nucleotide deletion in ORF7a, resulting in a 4‐amino acid in‐frame deletion. The Δ12 variant was identified in viruses from patients of a single outbreak and represents the first report of this deletion in South American isolates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Δ12 strains belong to the lineage B.1.1 and clustered separated from the remaining Uruguayan strains. The ∆12 variant was detected in 14 patients of this outbreak by NGS sequencing and/or two rapid and economic methodologies: Sanger amplicon sequencing and capillary electrophoresis. The presence of strong molecular markers as the deletion described here are useful for tracking outbreaks and reveal a significant aspect of the SARS‐CoV‐2 evolution on the robustness of the virus to keep its functionality regardless loss of genetic material.

The Role of Soils in Land Degradation Assessment: A Review

Within the framework of the existing concepts of land degradation assessment, the main ideas about its causes and consequences are formulated, methodological provisions for studying the intensity of degradation processes are defined, and specific methods for assessing the economic component of degradation are developed. The problem of economic assessment of land degradation is complicated by differences in understanding of the nature of degradation processes and the role of soils in them. Soil indicators play the most significant role in the economic assessment of damage from land degradation. However, this methodology does not actually involve the use of modern concepts of ecosystem services. On the contrary, the methodology of land degradation economics, which uses a wide range of ecosystem services, largely ignores the need to take into account the dynamics of soil properties. The development of a unified methodology will solve many problems, among which an important place is occupied by the need to avoid legally regulated formulaic assessments of degradation.

Sustainable Strategy Based on Induced Precipitation for the Purification of Phycobiliproteins

Phycobiliproteins are fluorescent proteins mainly produced by red macroalgae and cyanobacteria. These proteins, essential to the survival of these organisms, find application in many fields of interest, from medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic to food and textile industries. The biggest obstacle to their use is the lack of simple environmental and economical sustainable methodologies to obtain these proteins with high purity. In this work, a new purification process is proposed based on the induced precipitation of the target proteins followed by ultrafiltration. Purities of 89.5% of both phycobiliproteins and 87.3% of R-phycoerythrin were achieved using ammonium sulfate and poly(acrylic acid) sodium salts as precipitation agents (followed by an ultrafiltration step), while maintaining high recovery yields and protein structure stability. Environmental analysis performed to evaluate the proposed process shows that the carbon footprint for the proposed process is much lower than that reported for alternative methodology, and the economic analysis reveals the cost-effective character associated to its high performance. This work is a step toward more sustainable and effective methodologies/processes with high industrial potential.

Learning and teaching of Islamic economics: conventional approach or Tawhidi methodology

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the methodology of mainstream Islamic economics and also gives an alternative approach which is yet not very much taught in the different academic institutions, i.e. Tawhidi methodology. From the curriculum of the different academic institutions and also from the literature, it is observed that mainstream Islamic economics is the imitation of the conventional economics and mainly neoclassical economics. Maqasid-i-Shari’ah is not matching with the Tawhidi one. Design/methodology/approach It is based on the self-observations of the authors where they taught during their academic career. Findings This study found that the mainstream Islamic economics could not be able to solve the local and global issues because it is the replica of the conventional economics only there are some injunctions of Shari’ah. Research limitations/implications This study gives the guideline to the student of Islamic economics that how they will be able to understand the methodology of Islamic economics and finance. Practical implications It provides the guidance to the academicians and policymakers, especially those belonging to the Muslim countries. Social implications It also provides the glimpses to the social scientist about the solutions of the social and economic issues at the local and global levels. Originality/value It is an original effort.

Models as ‘analytical similes’: on Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen's contribution to economic methodology

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the methodology of Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen and his conception of economic models as analytical similes. His approach has received little attention from mathematical economists and economic methodologists. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to characterize his perspective and situate it in the broader spectrum of economic methodologies. It shows that Georgescu-Roegen criticized the lack of significance of certain economic models and attempted to give philosophical foundations to this criticism. He also provided a set of methodological principles that are illustrated by his practice of economic modeling. This perspective placed Georgescu-Roegen in opposition to the axiomatic approach that dominated postwar economics, and in line with economists such as Marshall, Wicksell, and Keynes, on the limited and subordinate role of mathematics in the discipline. Overall, the paper shows that Georgescu-Roegen's methodological contribution is still relevant to contemporary debates on the status of economic models.

Synthesis of 2‐(3‐methyl‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl) quinazolin‐4(3H)‐one derivatives

AbstractA simple, synthesis of 2‐(3‐methyl‐5‐oxo‐4, 5‐dihydro‐1h‐pyrazol‐1‐yl) quinazolin‐4(3H)‐one 6(a‐d) derivatives, an easy, clean, and economical methodology has been defined. The development of a new pathway for the preparation of substituted derivatives of Quinazoline Pyrazole is highlighted in this report. The mild, inexpensive polyphosphoric acid has proven to be an effective catalyst for excellent yields in the above multi‐component reaction. Widely available and mostly benign catalyst and easy purification are among the several attractive features.

Formation of the Ecosystem of the Digital Economy of the Russian Federation: Institutional Aspect

Based on the methodology of evolutionary economics and economic genetics in the development of foreign and Russian theoretical approaches to the study of the essence and content of ecosystems in modern economic science and their identification in economic practice, the article substantiates the objective necessity and significance of creating an institutional ecosystem of digital economy that is relevant to the priorities of the neo-industrialization of Russia as a part of the transition to the 6th technological mode. It is substantiated that the institutional ecosystem is an integral and obligatory component of the socio-economic ecosystem of digital economy. Main components of the institutional ecosystem of the digital economy of the Russian Federation are highlighted in the logical accordance with its structural elements (institutions, organizations and institutes that contribute to ensuring effective economic activity in the digital environment). The institutional barriers that impede technological modernization and digital transformation of modern Russian economy (non-systematic formation of the institutional environment of digital economy, discreteness of its institutional space in territorial, administrative and demographic aspects; underestimation of the role of the state institutions and state control mechanisms for the implementation of the digital scenario of economic development, etc. were identified. The author proposes the system of measures to overcome them, including: increasing the level of homogeneity and continuity of the institutional space of digital economy to ensure uniform “rules of the game” for participants in digital economic interactions; systematic formation of the institutional matrix, reflecting the structure of relations between the main institutional actors (government, business, consumers); activation of informal institutions of digital economy based on increasing the digital culture of entrepreneurs and citizens, developing their competencies in the digital consumption field, ensuring information security; overcoming institutional traps that reproduce opportunistic behavior in the digital environment and reduce the transactional effects of using digital technologies in the economic turnover.

Improving Fishery Management Models and Methods

In a dynamic, environment, the decision makers make use of many different resources where two or more can act as substitutes. At each decision moment in time, the market prices will be constant, and the relative prices of accessible resources will determine the economic rationale of the process. Ignoring or downplaying the effects of substitutability of resources in dynamic economic processes may lead to mismanagement of the fish stocks and result in serious economic consequences for the respective fishing industries. For nearly five decades’ fishery managers and policy makers have used bio-economic models and methods as foundation for their management schemes. These models and methods are for the most based on the deductive methodology of economics where central assumptions are the metaphors of “equilibrium“ and “bio-economic equilibrium“. Models based on equilibrium theories are usually deterministic where dynamics of the markets are a meager part of the problem.Less attention has been offered to inductive reasoning and modeling within the field of fishery management. The inductive method of reasoning is often based on facts and actual observations within the industries, a methodology widely used by engineers and the field of business administration.In this paper, we introduce and integrate the concept of substitutability of economic resources into a traditional bio-economic model. The results show that fishery management, which bases decisions solely on traditional bio-economic models where the dynamics and consequences of the operational decision processes of the industry are ignored, may reach decisions that work opposite of their intention.

Change and Continuity in Economic Methodology and Philosophy of Economics

This paper provides my reflections on the state of economic methodology and philosophy of economics as of the beginning of 2020 following the end a fifteen year co-editorship of the Journal of Economic Methodology with Wade Hands. It looks at how economic methodology and philosophy of economics, as a meta-field type of research, has changed since it emerged as a distinct subfield in economics in the 1980s. Using an evolution of technology analysis, it distinguishes two different possible scenarios for the field’s future according to environmental factors operating upon it and how specialization in research may affect both it and economics, and then makes a crossdisciplinarity argument for its further development as a diverse, pluralistic domain of research.

Biophysical and monetary quantification of ecosystem services in a mountain region: the case of avoided soil erosion

Even though ecosystem services have a significant contribution to human well-being, their value is not always recognized. Despite difficulties, the application of economic valuation methodologies to ecosystem services has grown significantly in the literature, in order to contemplate ecosystem services’ values in the decision-making processes at different levels. Soil erosion and the associated loss of nutrients has been a major concern worldwide and is expected to increase. The present study proposes the biophysical and monetary quantification of avoided soil erosion, in an area ranging from Serra de Arga to the Âncora river mouth, in Northern Portugal. The biophysical and monetary values were estimated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation and an indirect market valuation method—the avoided costs of erosion. The results indicate that 1,075,236.8 tons of soil erosion is avoided each year, which, according to the model used, has a value of 5,247,155.70 €/year or, on average, of 1144.00 €/ha/year. Although these values may represent an underestimate of the real value, this paper hopes to contribute to the recognition of the value of ecosystem services to human well-being, in order to promote a more sustainable use of natural resources, the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity, and a sustainable economy.

Islamization in the Discourse of Islamic Economics Integration

The model of science integration is conducted with different approaches. One model of integration in Islamic economics is the Islamization approach. This study aims to describe Islamization as an integrated approach in the field of Islamic economics. This study is a literature review supported by data and analysis with main sources from books, articles and websites. The research findings show that the Islamization has an impact on the development of scientific disciplines. In the midst of the strong offer of various integration paradigms, the Islamization as the mainstream approach is relevant to development of Islamic scientific integration, including Islamic economics. To realize the integration of Islamic economics, activists of Islamization must continue formulating theories and develop methodologies of Islamic economics with an integrative paradigm. The implication of this study is that the efforts are still needed so that Islam is not only a tool of justification for economic theory in the process of the movement of science Islamization.

Thorstein\xa0Veblen on economic man: toward a new method of describing human nature, society, and history

The fact that Veblen was a keen critic of the neo-classical concept of “economic man” is well known. However, the following issues have not been discussed in enough depth: how he rebuilt the traditional theory of human nature through his new methodology of economics, how much his methodological revision broadened the scope of economics, and what kind of phenomena Veblen’s economic theory elucidates. This article examines these issues and aims to show the logical connection between Veblen’s controversial proposal on the methodology of economics and his analysis of economic phenomena. Specifically, it reconsiders Veblen’s analysis of economic action using a unique concept of instincts, his logic of explaining the relation between society and human nature, his way of drawing history from the relativistic worldview, and his characteristic method of grasping the cause and effect of economic phenomena. Finally, it highlights the importance of modifying the concept of “economic man” by focusing on the qualitative aspect. Particular reference is made to the economic concepts of utility, efficiency, and intangibility.

The development of nations conditions the disease space.

Using the economic complexity methodology on data for disease prevalence in 195 countries during the period of 1990-2016, we propose two new metrics for quantifying the disease space of countries. With these metrics, we analyze the geography of diseases and empirically investigate the effect of economic development on the health complexity of countries. We show that a higher income per capita increases the complexity of countries’ diseases. We also show that complex diseases tend to be non-ubiquitous diseases that are prevalent in disease-diversified (complex) countries, while non-complex diseases tend to be non-ubiquitous diseases that are prevalent in non-diversified (non-complex) countries. Furthermore, we build a disease-level index that links a disease to the average level of GDP per capita of the countries in which the disease is prevalent. With this index, we highlight the link between economic development and the complexity of diseases and illustrate how increases in income per capita are associated with more complex diseases.