Economic Research Research Articles

A unified dataset for pre-processed climate indicators weighted by gridded economic activity

Although high-resolution gridded climate variables are provided by multiple sources, the need for country and region-specific climate data weighted by indicators of economic activity is becoming increasingly common in environmental and economic research. We process available information from different climate data sources to provide spatially aggregated data with global coverage for both countries (GADM0 resolution) and regions (GADM1 resolution) and for a variety of climate indicators (total precipitations, average temperatures, average SPEI). We weigh gridded climate data by population density, night-time light intensity, cropland, and concurrent population count – all proxies of economic activity – before aggregation. Climate variables are measured daily, monthly, and annually, covering (depending on the data source) a time window from 1900 (at the earliest) to 2023. We pipeline all the preprocessing procedures in a unified framework, and we validate our data through a systematic comparison with those employed in leading climate impact studies.

Economic Research on Ethanol Feed-Use Coproducts: A Review, Synthesis, and Path Forward.

During the mid-2000s to the early 2010s, the domestic ethanol industry witnessed substantial growth, with ethanol coproducts emerging as vital elements for plant profitability and livestock feeding. Initially serving as supplementary revenue streams, coproducts from ethanol production have evolved into diverse value-added offerings, bolstering revenue streams, and sustaining profit margins. This study reviews existing economic research on ethanol coproducts, detailing methodologies, product focus, and research locations. Initially gathering 972 articles from 9 databases, 110 articles were synthesized. We find that most studies primarily examined the growth and future of the ethanol industry with a limited focus on specific coproducts. Feed-use distillers' grains, especially dried distillers' grains, were the most widely published while newer coproducts like pelletized, de-oiled, and high-protein distillers' grains were relatively understudied. Non-feed-use products were notably overlooked, highlighting the need for exploration beyond conventional applications. The evolving market landscape for ethanol co-products has surpassed published academic understanding of the economic tradeoffs necessitating further research into product dynamics, pricing, marketing, market structures, and regulatory frameworks. This highlights and underscores the importance of investigating value-added grains across diverse commodities and geographic contexts to inform strategic decision-making and policy formulation.

High-value breast cancer care within resource limitations.

Breast cancer care is a costly global health issue where effective management depends on early detection and treatment. A breast cancer diagnosis can result in financial catastrophe especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Large inequities in breast cancer care are observed and represent a global challenge to caregivers and patients. Strategies to improve early diagnosis include awareness and clinical breast examination in LMIC, and screening in high-income countries (HIC). The use of clinical guidelines for the management of breast cancer is needed. Adapted guidelines from HIC can address disparities in populations with limited resources. Locally developed strategies still provide effective guidance in improving survival. Integrated practice units (IPU) with timely multidisciplinary breast care conferences and patient navigators are required to achieve high-value, personalized breast cancer management in HIC as well as LMIC. Breast cancer patient care should include a quality of life evaluation using ideally patient-reported outcomes (PROM) and experience measurements (PREM). Evaluation of breast cancer outcomes must include the financial cost of delivered care. The resulting value perspective should guide resource allocation and program priorities. The value of care must be improved by translating the findings of social and economic research into practice and resolving systemic inequity in clinical breast cancer research. Cancer survivorship programs must be put in place everywhere. The treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer must require more attention in the future, especially in LMIC.

Comparative genome-wide association study on body weight in Chinese native ducks using four models

The Jinling White duck represents a newly developed breed characterized by a rapid growth rate and a superior meat quality, offering significant economic value and research potential; however, the genetic basis underlying their body weight traits remains less understood. Here, we performed whole-genome resequencing for 201 diverse Jinling White male ducks and conducted population genomic analyses, suggesting a rich genetic diversity within the Jinling White duck population. Equipped with our genomic resources, we applied genome-wide association analysis for body weight on birth (BWB), body weight on 1 wk (BW1), body weight on 3 wk (BW3), body weight on 5 wk (BW5) and body weight on 7 wk (BW7) using 4 statistical models. Comparative studies indicated that factored spectrally transformed linear mixed models (FaST-LMM) demonstrated the most superior efficiency, yielding more results with the minimal false positives. We discovered that PUS7, FBXO11, FOXN2, MSH6, and SLC4A4 were associated with BWB. RAG2, and TMEFF2 were candidate genes for BW1, and STARD13, Klotho, ZAR1L are likely candidates for BW3 and BW5. PLXNC1, ATP1A1, CD58, FRYL, OCIAD1, and OCIAD2 were linked to BW7. These findings provide a genetic reference for the selection and breeding of Jinling White ducks, while also deepened our understanding of Growth and development phenotypic in ducks.

Conventional wisdom, meta‐analysis, and research revision in economics

AbstractOver the past several decades, meta‐analysis has emerged as a widely accepted tool to understand economics research. Meta‐analyses often challenge the established conventional wisdom of their respective fields. We systematically review a wide range of influential meta‐analyses in economics and compare them to “conventional wisdom.” After correcting for observable biases, the empirical economic effects are typically much closer to zero and sometimes switch signs. Typically, the relative reduction in effect sizes is 45%–60%.

The path of economics research production: Insights into the seesaw between theory and empirics

AbstractThis paper provides insights into the apparent seesaw between the generation of theoretical and empirical economics research over time. A dynamic model considers the incentives of researchers to focus on empirical versus theoretical papers. It yields the main characteristics of the path‐changing of economics research, from theoretical‐intensive to empirical‐focused. The model has two equilibria, one with a higher proportion of theoretical papers and another with a higher proportion of empirical papers. Curiously, the equilibrium with greater theoretical papers is stable, while the one with more empirical papers is a saddle point. This suggests that the current trend of increasing empirical research is unlikely to last.

Analyzing the spatial organization of the Chechen Republic's economy

Subject. This article discusses the issues of industrial development of the Chechen Republic and efficient use of resources. Objectives. The article aims to comprehensively assess the economic potential of the plains and mountainous areas of the Chechen Republic, and search for ways to optimize the spatial organization of economic activities in the region. Methods. For the study, I used economic and statistical research methods. Results. The article finds certain imbalances of the spatial distribution of economic activities in the Chechen Republic and states that the mining and processing industries are thinly represented in the Chechen Republic's economy. Conclusions. To accelerate the economic advancement of the Chechen Republic, it is necessary to create a modern science-intensive industrial base. The development of industry is closely related to agglomeration processes. To solve the identified problems in the spatial organization of economic activities of the Chechen Republic, it is necessary to disperse production among municipalities in accordance with the potential capabilities of the areas, excluding significant imbalances.

Impact investing: A study of structural transformations of a macroregion's social services

Subject. This article discusses the issues of investment policy and support for the social sphere. Objectives. The article aims to analyze changes in the sectoral and territorial structures of investments in the subjects of the Ural economic region (macroregion) for the period from 2005 to 2021. Methods. For the study, I used the economic and mathematical research methods. Results. The article finds that despite the increase in investment in education and healthcare in the Ural macroregion, in general, there have been no significant structural changes in favor of these sectors. Noticeable changes in the sectoral structure of the economy are recorded in the Orenburg Oblast and the Udmurt Republic. Relevance. The research results can be used to develop regional programmes to support economic sectors.

Europeanisation in the Field of Housing: Its Areas of Influence, Different Approaches, Mechanisms, and Missing Links

Housing has been, and continues to be, a central concern of economic, geographical and political research, as well as of social debates. It is worth noting that the European Union (EU) does not possess exclusive or shared competence in the field of housing. Rather, its influence is the result of policies in other areas. Building on the call in the literature to examine both Europeanisation and housing studies, we present and discuss the areas of the EU’s influence—economic, environmental, legal, political, social, and urban. The literature shows that these influences have resulted from different shifts in the European agenda, with different approaches (top-down, bottom-up) and mechanisms (legislative, economic and fiscal, cognitive), creating conflicting housing narratives. In conclusion, future research should focus on understanding the influences of member states as well as the intersection between housing and other policy areas. Additionally, the distribution and transfer of power in decision-making within the EU should be examined, as well as the strategic interactions between (housing) political actors from different member states and EU institutions, and the consequences of such interactions.

Resource booms and the energy transition: What can we learn from Dutch economists' response to the discovery of natural gas reserves (1959–1977)?

Geopolitical instability and climate change are about to bring about large-scale energy reconfigurations. Recent discoveries of fossil fuel potential echo important historical episodes, starting with the finding of natural gas reserves in the Netherlands in 1959, which gave birth to the notion of Dutch Disease, in reference to the macroeconomic structural readjustments that followed the resource boom. Recently, the economic literature on whether such a boom might be a blessing or a curse for a country has been growing. What has not received attention so far is the attitude of Dutch economists in the 1960s and 1970s and the lessons to be drawn from them in today's economic research. This article explores how they understood the gas boom, how they anticipated its effects, and the role they played in shaping Dutch energy policies. We show that the 1960s were a parenthesis, and that energy optimism has historically been more an exception than a rule. In situ economists correctly anticipated some but not all of the transmission channels of the resource boom. These results are insightful for the 21st century, as they not only allow for historicizing the concept of the resource curse but also provide lessons for macroeconomic policies in the context of the energy transition, especially in countries endowed with fossil fuels and mineral resources.

Using artificial intelligence for economic research: An agricultural odyssey

AbstractGenerative artificial intelligence tools have been shown to substantially increase productivity in a range of different contexts. I discuss the potential and limitations of the current models, and the evidence on how economic researchers can best make use of generative artificial intelligence in their work. To illustrate these points, I show how the data analysis tools of ChatGPT can be used to address a specific question: the accuracy of agricultural forecasts—and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of artificial intelligence in data cleaning, data analysis and producing graphs and illustrations.

Incentivizing Organ Donation Under Different Priority Rules: The Role of Information

This paper examines the incentive to register for deceased organ donation under alternative organ allocation priority rules, which may prioritize registered donors and/or patients with higher valuations for organ transplantation. Specifically, the donor priority rule grants higher priority on the organ waiting list to those who have previously registered as donors. The dual-incentive priority rules allocate organs based on donor status, followed by individual valuations within the same donor status, or vice versa. Both theoretical and experimental results suggest that the efficacy of the donor priority rule and the dual-incentive priority rules critically depends on the information environment. When organ transplantation valuations are unobservable prior to making donation decisions, the hybrid dual-incentive rules generate higher donation rates. In contrast, if valuations are observable, the dual-incentive priority rules create unbalanced incentives between high- and low-value agents, potentially undermining the efficacy of the hybrid dual-incentive rules in increasing overall donation rates. This paper was accepted by Marie Claire Villeval, behavioral economics and decision analysis. Funding: This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 72173103, 72373127, and 71988101], the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) Academic Research Fund Tier 1 [RG57/20], and the Open Foundation of Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research of Computation and Economics (Shanghai University of Finance and Economics), Ministry of Education of China. Supplemental Material: The online appendices and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.01530 .

A Decade of Green Economic Literature: An Analysis-Based Bibliometric

This research significantly contributes to comprehending the body of work surrounding green economics and sustainable economies by methodically reviewing and categorizing papers from the Web of Science (WoS) core collection. It highlights key authors, subjects, publishing sources, and nations relevant to green economic studies by meticulously analyzing 4,157 papers. Additionally, it constructs detailed visual maps based on referenced sources. By conducting a thorough bibliometric analysis, this study underscores the importance of using such tools to gauge research impact and productivity. Leveraging the WoS Core Collection, particularly the Science Citation Index Expanded and the Social Sciences Citation Index, was deliberate to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of green economic research. The data accentuates the changing landscape of this field, indicating its growing significance and the expanding academic discussions around sustainable economic practices. The research delves into emerging research directions that could inform considerations for a sustainable economy. Despite the marked increase in publications in recent years, signaling heightened interest in green economics and sustainable economy studies, this field remains in its infancy, with limited quantitative studies conducted. Consequently, many findings remain inconclusive, and numerous aspects in literature remain unexplored. Finally, this study outlines both practical and theoretical implications gleaned from its findings.

Shaping the Future of Environmental Economics: A Bibliometric Review of Current Trends and Future Directions

Environmental economics is increasingly pivotal in addressing global environmental challenges. This study aims to elucidate the research landscape in this field, focusing on prevalent themes such as climate change, carbon emissions, sustainable development, and environmental policy. Employing a bibliometric analysis, we analyzed a substantial corpus of literature from Scopus. We applied Lotka's Law to assess author productivity and distribution and conducted institutional and country-level analyses to map the geographical spread and institutional affiliations in environmental economics research. Our analysis highlights a significant growth in the environmental economics literature, with a notable focus on climate change and sustainability. A concentration of publications among a few authors was observed, indicating influential researchers and potential for increased collaboration. The rise in publications, particularly in China and leading journals like 'The Journal of Cleaner Production,' reflects a global upsurge in environmental economics research. Distinct clusters were identified, covering diverse topics from climate change economics to environmental policy. The study acknowledges limitations due to exclusive reliance on Scopus data, suggesting future research to include other databases like the Web of Science for a more comprehensive analysis. Considering the evolving nature of environmental challenges, we advocate for interdisciplinary approaches and continual updates in research to address emergent trends in this critical field.

The Effect of Unemployment on Health in Russia: a Systematic Literature Review (2015‑2023)

The influence of unemployment on health is widely discussed in the economic literature. However, the question about the negative direct effect or the deterioration of health of the unemployed population remains open in the context of the existence of a reverse effect — the influence of health on employment. This study aims to assess the statistical associations between unemployment and health status, as well as to identify direct and reverse effects in this relationship in the Russian studies. The authors use a systematic literature review as the main research method. The search is conducted in Elibrary, Cyberleninka and Google Scholar databases to find published works on the research topic in 2015-2023 for men and women of working age. The full-text search identified fifteen publications that were included in the systematic review. The selected papers used self-rated health, mental health, cardiovascular health, and general well-being as health indicators. All studies confirmed the presence of statistically significant negative associations between the “unemployed” status and health. At the same time, employed respondents of both sexes reported good health one and a half times more often than unemployed individuals. Nine studies presented econometric models linking the labor market status variables to health. Of these, only one paper estimated direct and reverse effects for a mental health variable. There was no direct effect estimate for the self-rated health. This gap in the literature will be addressed by the authors in their next article using the matching method. If the assessment of the direct effect is negative, the authors plan to develop a series of policy recommendations to improve the health of unemployed and economically inactive individuals at the regional and federal levels. Due to the innovative approach, this study is of a great value to the research in health economics.

Swedish translation and cultural adaptation of the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA©)-A validated tool for screening and assessing malnutrition in clinical practice and research.

The scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA©) is a validated tool for the screening, assessment and monitoring of malnutrition, and triaging of interventions. It contains a patient-generated component and a healthcare professional (HCP)-generated component. To translate the PG-SGA into Swedish, assess the linguistic and content validity of the Swedish version, and ensure conceptional, semantic and operational equivalence to the original English PG-SGA. In line with the methodology used in previously translated and culturally adapted versions, the standardised 10-step process suggested by the International Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) was followed. In step 7, a cross-sectional study targeting patients n = 51 and HCPs n = 52 was performed at a university hospital in Sweden. Using separate questionnaires, patients assessed the patient component and HCPs, the professional component regarding perceived comprehensibility and difficulty (linguistic validity). The HCPs also assessed perceived relevance (content validity) of all items on the PG-SGA. Item indices for comprehensibility (I-CI), difficulty (I-DI) and content validity (I-CVI) were calculated and averaged into scale indices (S-CI, S-DI and S-CVI). Cut-off standards for item and scale indices were used as reference. The Swedish version of the PG-SGA rated excellent for comprehensibility (S-CI 0.96) and difficulty (S-DI 0.93) for the patient component. The professional component rated acceptable for comprehensibility (S-CI 0.89) and below acceptable for difficulty (S-DI 0.70), with the physical examination rated most difficult (I-DI 0.39 to 0.69). Content validity for the full Swedish PG-SGA was rated excellent (S-CVI 0.94). The patient component was considered clear and easy to complete. The full Swedish PG-SGA was considered relevant by HCPs for screening and assessment of malnutrition. Due to perceived difficulty with the physical examination, training of Swedish HCPs in using the PG-SGA is essential before implementing the professional component into clinical practice or research.

School Performance, Score Inflation, and Neighborhood Development

Next article No AccessSchool Performance, Score Inflation and Neighborhood DevelopmentErich Battistin and Lorenzo NeriErich Battistin Search for more articles by this author and Lorenzo Neri Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Journal of Labor Economics Just Accepted Published for the Society of Labor Economists, Economics Research Center/ NORC Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/725001 HistoryAccepted March 08, 2023 © 2023 The University of Chicago. All Rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Review of Musharakah Islamic Finance Articles in Indonesia-Malaysia Database and Scopus Bibliometrics

Musharakah is an Islamic financing contract. This study analyzed articles on musharakah using bibliometrics and a literature review on articles from Indonesia and Malaysia. While bibliometric analysis of Islamic economics and finance has been previously conducted, it has not been carried out on musharakah in particular. The analysis began by using musharakah as the initial keyword and analyzing other keywords which are part of Islamic economics research from the specified databases. This study found that Indonesian and Malaysian scholars authored many articles on musharakah. Relatively less research on musharakah has been published in Scopus-indexed journals. The earliest articles on musharakah in Scopus-indexed journals were published in 1999. In the past 10 years, musharakah articles in Scopus-indexed journals were authored mainly by Malaysian and Indonesian academics. Keywords: musharakah, bibliography, financing

Cost identification in health professions education: A scoping review.

Resource scarcity in health professions education (HPE) demands rigorous consideration of costs. Yet, thus far, we have been unable to completely and consistently identify the costs of HPE. To address this knowledge gap and enable use of economic evidence in decision making, a detailed overview of all existing costs and approaches to cost identification in HPE is needed. This review summarises the diversity of costs, cost perspectives and cost identification methods used in economic research of HPE to answer the following questions: which educational topics, costs, cost perspectives and cost identification methods are being investigated in HPE literature? This investigation followed the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping reviews. PubMed, ERIC, CINAHL and PsycINFO were iteratively searched for English language publications between 2012 and 2022 that reported costs of HPE. Data was extracted for study characteristics, educational context and economic methodology. A total of 136 articles of original research on the costs of educating all major licence healthcare professionals were included. A diffuse interest in costs is reflected in publications from 93 distinct journals and by the diversity of educational topics and cost types explored. However, the majority of investigations failed to define the cost perspective (86, 63%) and cost identification methods (117, 86%) and did not demonstrate common reporting structure or cost terminology, all of which contribute to persistent inconsistencies in cost identification. The source of disharmonious cost identification in HPE is fuelled by diverse interests and divergent concepts of costs and costing methodology. Left in its current state, disharmonious cost identification will continue to limit transparency, comparison and synthesis of evidence, hamper objectivity in implementation and policy decisions and impede the efficient and sustainable allocation of resources. A research agenda must be developed, prioritised, and validated by the broader community to develop a theoretical framework for HPE cost research, define stakeholders, elicit values and preferences and chart a path toward harmonised costing.

INNOVATION WITHOUT R&D: HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? KNOWLEDGE SPILLOVERS AND DUI MODE OF INNOVATION ON THE EXAMPLE OF GERMAN ENTERPRISES

Economically and technically advanced nations differ from developing countries by having numerous competitive, innovative and active enterprises. High-tech innovations are particularly important for the global economy, for this reason, many economists and politicians tend to underestimate the importance of innovations introduced by small and medium-sized firms from low- and medium-tech sectors of the economy. In their innovation activities, SMEs acquire ready–made technological solutions on the market, or introduce innovations in a special way – in the DUI mode. The theoretical concept of DUI (learning by doing, using and interacting) explains why many small and medium-sized enterprises succeed in innovation without research and development (R&D) efforts. This article examines the theoretical issues of introducing innovations without R&D, and also provides data from empirical studies of innovation activity obtained during the surveys Mannheim Innovation Panel of the Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research and German Manufacturing Survey of the Frauenhofer ISI Research Institute for the period 2002–2020.