Household economic security and medical debt onset: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT The Housing Provident Fund (HPF) was designed as a mandatory savings schemeto facilitate housing asset building among employees in China. However, the HPF has long been criticised for its potential role in exacerbating economic inequality. Women may face significant disadvantages in HPF participation and benefits, further reinforcing existing gender disparities in economic security and housing access.To examine this issue, this study employs three propensity score matching (PSM) methods to ensure comparability between male- and female-headed households and uses logistic regression models to examine gender disparities in HPF participation. The Nearest Neighbour Calliper Matching model (β = −0.346, p < 0.01), the Kernel Matching model (β = −0.419, p < 0.01), and the Radius Matching model (β = −0.311, p < 0.01) all indicate that female-headed households (coded as 1) are significantly less likely to participate in the HPF compared to their male-headed (coded as 0) counterparts. 住房公积金 (HPF) 作为中国实行的强制性住房储蓄制度,旨在促进职工实现住房资产积累。然而,该制度长期以来因可能加剧经济不平等而备受争议。尤其在性别层面,女性在劳动市场地位、就业稳定性及制度可及性方面的弱势,可能进一步转化为住房公积金参与与受益的不平等,进而扩大经济安全与住房获取上的性别差距。为系统检验这一问题,本研究采用三种倾向得分匹配 (PSM) 方法构建男女户主家庭的可比样本,并使用 Logit 回归评估住房公积金参与的性别差异。研究结果一致显示,与男性户主家庭相比,女性户主家庭参与住房公积金的概率显著更低 (最近邻卡尺匹配 β = –0.346, p < 0.01; 核匹配 β = –0.419, p < 0.01; 半径匹配 β = –0.311, p < 0.01)。该发现表明,住房公积金制度在性别维度上存在明显的可及性不平等,对制度公平性改革及女性住房保障政策具有重要启示。

Rental housing markets in Germany and other European countries are experiencing profound transformations, generating new forms of inequality. While existing research often emphasises binary divisions, such as between owners and tenants, or across generations, it rarely captures the layered stratifications within the rental sector itself. This paper uses original household survey data from Leipzig-Connewitz ( n = 427), a neighbourhood marked by post-socialist restructuring and rapid investment influx, to explore how socio-temporal inequalities are shaped by residence duration and landlord type. The analysis develops an empirically grounded typology of rental housing experiences, ordered along a continuum from stability to vulnerability: (i) residents in public and non-profit housing enjoying security and rent affordability; (ii) affluent tenants in high-end private rentals, largely shielded from market pressures; (iii) tenants in corporate housing who face insecurity despite high incomes; and (iv) households in the financially fragile segment of the private rental market, with low rents but limited economic security. These types reflect how tenure structures intersect with socio-economic and temporal dimensions to produce differentiated patterns of housing security and vulnerability. By moving beyond conventional tenure binaries, the research provides a nuanced understanding of contemporary rental markets, particularly in housing systems with high tenant protection and significant non-profit segments. The typology developed here contributes to international housing debates by highlighting how post-reunification legacies, institutional diversity and temporal positioning shape uneven tenant experiences. It provides a conceptual lens for analysing stratification within rental-dominated contexts across East Germany and other regulated housing regimes facing significant investment dynamics.

Security-oriented management of agri-food enterprises is defined as a relevant approach to managing enterprises in difficult conditions of uncertainty and instability, provoked by internal and external factors (the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 and martial law since February 2022). It is proven that Ukrainian agri-food enterprises are sensitive to uncertainty and instability in terms of gross value added and other indicators. The purpose of the study is to develop theoretical and practical provisions for security-oriented management of agri-food enterprises in determining the composition and interests of various stakeholder groups, which are different from enterprises in other types of activity. The study aims to conceptually substantiate the specific role of agri-food enterprises in the system of economic and food security and to identify the stakeholders involved in safety-oriented management. To develop theoretical and practical provisions of safety-oriented management of agri-food enterprises with the determination of the composition and interests of various groups of stakeholders, a set of methods of scientific knowledge, general scientific methods were used: morphological analysis, the method of structural-logical analysis, statistical analysis and the graphical method. The study determined the understanding of stakeholders of safety-oriented management of agri-food enterprises as institutions, individuals and groups of individuals whose interests are directly related to the activities of agri-food enterprises or intersect with its interests. The focus of the study and its novelty are determined by the relevance of the optimal level of economic security of agri-food enterprises of Ukraine for ensuring global food security and macroeconomic, foreign economic, food, financial and other components of the economic security of Ukraine, therefore, stakeholders include international institutions and national institutions. The value of the study lies in the recommendations for the implementation of security-oriented management based on the stakeholder approach, i.e. effective interaction and constant dialogue between all groups of stakeholders to achieve a synergistic effect of a safe state of the agricultural and processing sectors. Prospects for further research in the empirical (correlation-regression) analysis between the level of economic security of agri-food enterprises and indicators of economic security of Ukraine. The study has a theoretical and analytical character and aims to conceptualize the role of stakeholders in safety-oriented management of agri-food enterprises. Statistical data are used illustratively to analyse the dynamics of the agri-food sector’s role in the national economy. The type of article is theoretical.

Workforce Participation and Economic Security: Insights from Japan’s Aging Society

Aim . This work aimed to analyze data on migration processes in modern Russia, their manifestations, and their impact on the country’s economic and national security, as well as to identify associated risks and threats and consider existing opportunities for various forms of migration. Objectives . The work seeks to study Russia’s migration policy within the context of global migration trends, as well as to investigate the impact of internal and external migration processes on Russia’s economic and national security, their causes, and types. Methods . The study is based on comparative, systemic-structural, cause-and-effect, factor, functional, and statistical analysis. Expert assessment and observation methods were also used. Results. The Russia’s migration policy is primarily aimed to ensure a balance between the economy’s need for labor resources, the protection of national security, and social stability. The migration strategy serves as a tool designed to fulfill the purposes of Russia’s migration policy and achieve its objectives in the long term. Internal migration in Russia is largely represented by a young, active, and productive segment of the population, driven primarily by economic, geopolitical, and climatic factors. External migration to Russia is caused primarily by economic factors, particularly a steady increase in labor migration. Meanwhile, intellectual migration is experiencing an outflow of people from the country. As a result, migration legislation is being reformed to encourage scientists to return to the country, however no significant effect has been noted to date. Conclusions . Nowadays migration takes various forms and has varying intensities. Internal migration continues to develop as migration from small towns to cities, while external migration fluctuates depending on the political situation and other factors. This determines the origin and intensity of migration processes. Internal and external migration can not only be a source of threats to Russia’s economic and national security but also create opportunities to address demographic, economic, and social problems through properly implemented migration policies. As long as the Russian economy remains inconsistent in its priorities for scientific and technological development and the implementation of support tools at various levels, the outflow of promising population and the influx of unskilled and illegal migrants will remain a huge risk to Russia’s economic and national security. Russia’s migration policy requires fundamental changes and refinements to avoid irreversible consequences due to lost time.

This article presents the results of a multidimensional statistical assessment of population quality of life in the Republic of Armenia within a comparative international context. To examine long-term dynamics across key domains of public life healthcare, housing conditions, education, culture, and crime a time-series analysis was conducted for Armenia over the period 1995–2023. The findings reveal a decline in access to healthcare services alongside a marked improvement in housing conditions. The education sector demonstrated mixed trends, reflecting both positive and negative developments. Cultural indicators exhibited the greatest variability among all quality-of-life components, while crime-related indicators pointed to a deterioration in population safety and security over the study period. In addition, a cross-country comparative analysis of quality of life was performed using data from 52 countries. Multidimensional statistical methods, including factor analysis and correlation and regression analysis, were applied. The factor analysis identified five dominant determinants of quality of life: economic security, education and health levels, social system efficiency, and the institutional environment. To evaluate the quantitative impact of these determinants, a correlation–regression model was estimated. The results indicate that only economic and social factors were statistically significant and were therefore retained in the final model. These factors exerted a stronger influence on quality of life than demographic, environmental, and health-related variables. The findings highlight the critical role of economic stability and effective social policy in enhancing population well-being and provide empirical evidence to inform policy design in Armenia and comparable countries.

The strategic importance of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements has elevated supply chain security to a central issue in international relations and national economic policies. Japan has responded to the emerging geo-economic landscape of the 2020s by advancing a multifaceted strategy to secure access to critical minerals. This article examines Japan’s domestic and diplomatic policies on critical minerals through the theoretical lens of state activism in economic policy, with a particular focus on economic statecraft. It argues that Japan’s approach reflects industrial policy for economic security, aiming to secure essential resources to sustain steady economic growth, while alignment with U.S.-led initiatives highlights elements of economic statecraft driven by geopolitical imperatives. The study offers a comprehensive analysis of Japan’s evolving strategies in response to the global reorganization of supply chains for critical minerals, contributing to broader debates on economic diplomacy and economic security in an era of increasing geopolitical tension.

ABSTRACT This paper examines the intersection of green microfinance and gendered economic insecurity among women borrowers in post-conflict Sri Lanka. Using a feminist political economy approach, it analyses how global climate action, implemented through microfinance, shapes the everyday financial realities and its impact on social reproductive roles that rural women perform, particularly in post-conflict contexts. Findings from fieldwork reveal that green microfinance often amplifies structural vulnerabilities, requiring women to adopt eco-friendly practices without adequate resources or support. These climate financing models, while aimed at empowerment coupled with achieving climate action goals, risk reinforcing cycles of debt and dependency, complicating women’s economic security in the Global South. The study highlights the need to re-evaluate existing green finance frameworks to ensure they address socio-economic inequalities (while championing climate action goals) rather than perpetuate them.

China's special needs trust system provides important support for strengthening the economic life security of people with disabilities, but it has also exposed three major dilemmas in practice: “slow service implementation,” “difficulty in business development,” and “imperfect support mechanisms.” In essence, these institutional dilemmas conceal obstacles in the financial system, and these obstacles are common in most developing countries. Within the framework of a social model, this paper reveals the generation logic of the three major obstacles in China's current financial system, specifically including financial system inaccessibility and economic exclusion, institutional capacity-based approach and legal exclusion, and the absence of public responsibility and fragmented governance. Combining the “capacity-oriented” theory, this paper provides ideas for institutional reconstruction from three aspects: capacity expansion for financial accessibility, institutional transformation of legal capacity, and capacity guarantee for the public bearing layer. The contribution lies in constructing an analytical framework combining social models and competency orientations, using special needs trusts as a starting point, thereby revealing the deep institutional logic of financial exclusion and highlighting its universality and international reference value in the context of the Global South.

This research explores about one’s experience in the boarding gate terminal of an airport as it’s architecture plays a pivotal role in shaping the travel experience, requiring a comprehensive understanding of its multifaceted functionality. Each terminal design is a product of meticulous planning and analysis, considering both practical and emotional dimensions. Airports often serve as the first point of contact for visitors, acting as gateways that set the tone for the entirety of their journey. Consequently, the design of these spaces must ensure seamless operational flow while fostering a welcoming atmosphere. Moreover, airport designs must accommodate future growth and technological advancements, ensuring scalability and adaptability. The strategic integration of architectural principles is vital for enhancing operational efficiency, optimizing economic outcomes, improving safety and security measures, and addressing the diverse needs of passengers. By prioritizing these considerations, architects and planners can create airports that not only meet current demands but are also prepared for future challenges, thus ensuring their long-term sustainability and success. The study will be done using a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys to collect quantitative data from diverse age groups and case studies to gain qualitative insights into how lighting, amenities, aesthetics, and seating impact travelers' experiences.

The expansion of the gig economy has significantly reshaped global labor markets by creating flexible forms of employment. Despite these opportunities, many gig workers experience persistent financial insecurity arising from unstable earnings, restricted access to formal financial systems, and limited social protection mechanisms. Consequently, financial empowerment through inclusion has become an important focus of both policy discourse and academic inquiry aimed at ensuring sustainable livelihoods for this workforce segment. This conceptual study analyzes the relationship between barriers to financial inclusion, the emergence of financial technology (FinTech), and existing policy structures in advancing financial empowerment among gig workers. Based on a critical review of literature in economics, finance, and public policy, the paper develops an integrated conceptual framework that connects financial service accessibility, digital financial tools, and regulatory support with outcomes related to financial stability and empowerment. The study identifies key structural challenges, including income instability, insufficient credit histories, and marginalization from conventional banking institutions. At the same time, it highlights the potential of FinTech innovations—such as mobile-based payment systems, digital credit facilities, and data-driven credit assessment models—to mitigate these constraints. In addition, the paper examines the contribution of governmental initiatives and labor regulations in shaping inclusive financial environments. By consolidating diverse strands of existing research into a coherent analytical framework, this study offers a foundation for future empirical research and policy development. The findings emphasize the importance of collaborative action among financial institutions, technology developers, and policymakers to strengthen financial resilience and promote economic security among gig workers.

This study investigates how digital technologies can strengthen Ukraine’s system of economic security management under conditions of war, reconstruction, and escalating cyber threats. The research applies systems analysis, strengths–weaknesses–opportunities–threats analysis, comparative benchmarking with Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland, and an evidence-informed modeling framework. An Economic Security Digitalization Index is constructed from the United Nations E-Government Development Index and the Network Readiness Index, and seven candidate technologies are evaluated: a Government Security Operations Center with Security Information and Event Management and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response; Zero-Trust architecture; endpoint detection and response with extended detection and response; threat-intelligence sharing via a Malware Information Sharing Platform; expansion of public key infrastructure and electronic identification; secure data-exchange layers; and artificial intelligence–assisted phishing defense. The results show a near-doubling of cyber incidents between 2023 and 2024, place Ukraine below Baltic peers in digital trust readiness, and identify a top three technology bundle: artificial intelligence phishing defense, threat-intelligence federation, and endpoint detection and response capable of avoiding 305 to 685 million United States dollars in cumulative losses by 2029. The study concludes with a phased roadmap recommending a national Government Security Operations Center, adoption of Zero-Trust standards, and development of sectoral incident response teams to align with European Union requirements.

This article examines the phenomenon of sexual exploitation among young Japanese women through the analytical lens of structural vulnerability, situating it at the intersection of economic precarity, social fragmentation, and institutional insufficiency. The erosion of stable employment and the decline of familial and communal support systems have created a social environment in which vulnerability is systematically produced and exploited. Within this landscape, coercive sub-societal formations—particularly those embedded in the nightlife and entertainment industries—perpetuate exploitation through debt dependency, psychological manipulation, and emotional labor extraction. Digital platforms further amplify these dynamics by facilitating grooming and control. Existing legal and welfare mechanisms remain inadequate, as they often criminalize victims while failing to disrupt the structural conditions and intermediaries that sustain exploitation. To address these deficiencies, this study advances a three-part reform orientation: reinforcing economic security, strengthening institutional capacity to respond to coercion, and adopting a public health and rights-based regulatory approach centered on harm reduction. It concludes that addressing the systemic roots of exploitation requires a shift from punitive regulation toward integrated social protection grounded in structural equity and human rights.

This paper explores how Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) can enhance the privacy and security of decentralized supply chains. Although blockchain technology enhances supply chain transparency, it also reveals sensitive information, including supplier identities, pricing strategies, and transaction volumes. ZKPs offer a feasible approach in that subjects can authenticate data without revealing the underlying data, whilst keeping the information confidential and maintaining trust. In this study, the main performance indicators, including the time to verify a transaction (0.48 seconds), communication overhead (1.3 KB proof size), and privacy (95) in the ZKP-based system, are examined. ZKPs can enhance economic security by eliminating risks, such as industrial espionage and counterparty fraud, that can arise from publicly accessible data in historical blockchain systems. The performance of ZKP-enabled networks is also compared with that of traditional transparent blockchain systems. The major benefits are data privacy (95 % in ZKPs and 40 % in traditional systems) and scalability (80 % high and 60 % moderate). The paper also discusses how AI-based ZKP generation can speed up proof generation and automated compliance auditing to uphold regulatory compliance, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML). By incorporating AI into the ZKP procedure, proof generation can be sped up, yielding significant improvements in efficiency. This study finds that ZKPs can provide an effective approach to decentralized supply chain security, privacy, efficiency, and regulatory compliance, thereby making global trade activities more secure, transparent, and efficient.

The article examines the process of adapting Ukraine’s customs legislation to the standards of the European Union in the context of the country’s European integration course. It provides an analysis of the legal and regulatory framework in the customs sphere, including the provisions of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, the Customs Code of Ukraine, and other legal acts aimed at implementing the EU Customs Code norms. Particular attention is paid to the theoretical approaches of domestic legal and economic scholars regarding the harmonization of customs legislation, as well as the assessment of the practical implementation of European customs standards. The article identifies the key problems of adapting Ukrainian customs legislation, including insufficient institutional and personnel capacity of customs authorities, fragmented legal regulation, incomplete digitalization of customs procedures, limited integration of national information systems with EU customs systems, and the presence of corruption risks. It emphasizes that the formal transfer of EU customs law norms without proper organizational and technical support does not ensure their effective practical implementation. The impact of the martial law situation on the functioning of Ukraine’s customs system is also analyzed, particularly the increased workload of customs authorities due to the movement of humanitarian and critical goods, destruction of infrastructure, and limited financial resources. The need to balance the simplification of customs procedures with an adequate level of customs and national security under conditions of war and post-war recovery is substantiated. Based on the analysis of scientific sources and current legislation, proposals are formulated for improving the adaptation of Ukraine’s customs legislation to EU standards, including adopting a new Customs Code of Ukraine based on EU law, strengthening the institutional capacity of customs authorities, accelerating the digitalization of customs procedures, and enhancing anti-corruption mechanisms. It is argued that the implementation of these measures will contribute to increasing the efficiency of the customs system, strengthening the country’s economic security, and successfully integrating Ukraine into the European Union’s customs space.

The present study examines the domestic challenges and explores support measures for the economic securi-ty of companies in the non-resource sector. Regulators of foreign economic activity and economic entities op-erate in the framework of specific economic security issues, which necessitate resolution. The information sys-tem of state support in the mechanism of enterprise economic security, in terms of its theoretical foundation and practical application, exemplified by a specific non-resource sector enterprise, remains under-investigated. This circumstance spurred the selection of the research topic and facilitated the analysis of contemporary prac-tices in presenting a company’s project for obtaining state support on co-financing terms. The aim of the study is to evaluate the project’s effectiveness after receiving a subsidy from the federal budget and to justify the need for an information system as a digital service provided by the state for the enterprise. It is emphasized that particular attention is paid to the challenges faced by non-resource sector companies in accessing and utilizing state support mechanisms to enhance their economic security in the current geopolitical landscape.

ABSTRACT To explore the impact of the pension insurance system on the labor supply behavior, this paper uses microdata from the China Family Panel Studies to analyze the effect of pension insurance participation on overwork. We find that participation in the social pension insurance system can significantly reduce both the likelihood of overwork and excessive working hours. The future economic security provided by pensions substantially enhances workers' sense of occupational safety, and this psychological security net serves as a key mechanism for mitigating overwork. Moreover, pension insurance has a limited impact on work intensity, whereas high work intensity remains a crucial driver of overwork, highlighting the limits of social security policies in improving labor quality. This study provides new evidence on the effects of China's social pension insurance system on labor patterns and offers policy insights for improving workers' quality of life and well‐being in developing countries. JEL Classification: I31, J22

ABSTRACT The petroleum industry is a vital contributor to India’s economic growth and energy security. This study presents a comparative analysis of the financial performance of selected Indian petroleum companies, namely Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Nayara Energy Limited and Reliance BP Mobility Limited. The objective is to evaluate their financial efficiency, profitability, liquidity, and solvency over a five-year period. The study is based on secondary data obtained from published annual reports and financial statements. Analytical tools such as ratio analysis, and comparative financial statements are employed to assess key indicators including Net Profit Margin, Current Ratio, and Debt–Equity Ratio. The findings reveal notable differences in profitability, capital structure, and operational efficiency among the selected companies, influenced by ownership patterns, scale of operations, and strategic management practices. The study concludes that effective financial management and strategic planning are essential for sustaining competitiveness in India’s dynamic petroleum sector. Keywords: Financial Performance, Indian Petroleum Industry, Comparative Analysis, Liquidity Ratios, Solvency, IOCL, ONGC, Reliance, Nayara Energy.

This article analyses the emergence, development, and transformation of the political sphere in Van from a historical perspective. It analyses how the political structure in Van was shaped after the foundation of the Turkish Republic and how local dynamics were reflected in political processes. his study was conducted within the framework of a qualitative research approach. It employs historical analysis and the documentary analysis method, based on the examination of archival records and existing literature. Official documents, press archives, and scholarly works were systematically reviewed to analyze the historical development of the political sphere in Van from a sociological perspective. During the Ottoman period, the interaction between the governance approach of the central authority and local elements changed with the proclamation of the Republic, and the transition from the single-party era to multi-party life increased political competition in the city. In the post-1980 period, political transformations across Turkey directly affected Van, and the rise of the Kurdish political movement and waves of migration, especially since the 1990s, have been important factors that have changed the political preferences of the city. The transformation of the economic structure, demographic changes, and security