Economic Structure Research Articles

The technology or the child? Moving beyond technological fixes in deaf education in India and elsewhere

ABSTRACT As cochlear implants become the gold standard in intervening on deafness around the world, teachers of deaf children are increasingly expected to have technological expertise and to ensure that cochlear implants, and other hearing technology, are being used and that they are working. Students are only considered “ready to learn” if they are using their technology. Drawing from ethnographic research and semi-structured interviews with educators, families, surgeons, speech and language therapists, and audiologists in Indian cities, this article mobilises two conceptual frameworks from medical anthropology and public health – the “biotechnical embrace” and the “structural competency framework” to argue that teachers of deaf children, both in India and internationally, need to think and work beyond technology. Ultimately, focusing on a child does not mean focusing (only) on technology but rather on seeing a child as enmeshed in social, political, educational, and economic structures and relations. Expanding educators’ focus to consider micro and macro scales is especially urgent now, as countries around the world implement programmes in which technology is the goal.

Spatiotemporal changes and drivers of ecological security based on an improved ecological footprint model: the case of Hubei Province, China

The increasing contradiction between resource supply and demand has brought ecological security (ES) to the forefront. Research on the changes of ES pattern and their driving factors is crucial for coordinating the regional ecological and economic development. Hubei Province in China exhibits uneven distribution of resources and a fragile ecological environment. In this study, an improved ecological footprint (EF) model was employed to analyze the changes in the ES pattern of Hubei Province. And the logarithmic mean Divisia index model was introduced to analyze the corresponding driving factors. The results showed that (1) from 2000 to 2020, the EF per capita (ef), the ecological carrying capacity per capita (ecc), and the ecological deficit (ED) per capita (ed) of Hubei Province increased by 47.11%, 2.71%, and 51.72%, respectively. In 2020, the cities in the province were in a state of ED, and the spatial distribution was ‘high in the central part of the province and low in the east and west’. (2) Each ef type showed an increasing trend. The increase in ef mostly came from the increase in fisheries ef, fossil energy ef and cropland ef, with a contribution of 76.70%. The increase in ecc is mainly due to the increase in freshwater ecc, with a contribution of 274.87%. (3) The ecological pressure in the province continued to rise and has been in a state of being completely unsafe. The efficiency of ecological resource use has increased, and the ecological structure tends to be rationalized, but the ecological-economic coordination has weakened. (4) The overall EF growth in the province is mostly driven by economic, population and footprint structure factors, while footprint intensity suppresses EF growth. Therefore, it is advised to boost investment in eco-friendly tech, foster green economy growth, and prioritize renewable energy development. This study can provide a reference basis for policy formulation on environmental sustainability and ecosystem management.

Workers and Employees of Bashkiria and Udmurtia in 1940-1955: Employment Figures and Wages

This comparative analysis examines data on the workforce in two regional economies (Bashkiria and Udmurtia) during the years 1940-1955. The selected period is unique due to the extreme transition from peacetime to wartime economies and back. Special attention is given to analyzing the indicator of “average monthly wage levels”. Materials from leading federal archives and one regional archive were utilized. A detailed comparison of indicators between the two regions is conducted. It was found that before the war, industry played a significantly larger role in Udmurtia's economic structure compared to Bashkiria, but during the war years, the proportion of industrial workers in Udmurtia only slightly increased, while in Bashkiria it more than doubled (a consequence of evacuees being relocated). The study reveals that during the examined period, sectors such as construction and geological exploration developed at a significantly faster pace in Bashkiria compared to Udmurtia. In 1940, the largest sector by number of workers and employees was the industrial sector, with the educational system coming in second place, playing a key role in preparing the workforce. The conclusion drawn is that by the end of the study period, a positive outcome was achieved with living standards surpassing pre-war levels.

Energy Transition and Poverty Alleviation in Light of Environmental and Economic Challenges: A Comparative Study in China and the European Union Region

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of renewable energy and circular economy practices in reducing environmental damage and poverty in China and the European Union (EU) by using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach and the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) technique. Analyzing data from 1995 to 2022, we compared the effectiveness of these approaches in both regions. This study offers several fresh perspectives on the fight against environmental damage and poverty, differentiating itself from existing research in a few key ways. In fact, most studies focus on a single region’s approach to sustainability. However, this research directly compares China and the European Union (EU), highlighting how factors like economic structure and development stages influence the effectiveness of renewable energy and circular economy practices. Also, this study shows how renewable energy and circular practices can simultaneously tackle both environmental damage (emissions) and social issues (poverty). Our findings reveal that factors like poverty, fossil fuel reliance, economic growth, and international trade all contribute to rising carbon emissions in both China and the EU, though their influence varies. Interestingly, China experienced greater success in curbing emissions through solar power, circular economy measures, and wind power compared to the EU. Additionally, the impact of these strategies on poverty reduction differed significantly between the two regions. Based on these results, we recommend that policy makers in both regions develop tailored strategies for tackling carbon emissions and poverty. Prioritizing renewable energy sources and circular practices is key, as they can simultaneously reduce emissions and alleviate poverty. However, it is crucial to focus on approaches that work best in each specific region, considering social, economic, and environmental factors. This study suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work for fighting climate change and poverty. While renewable energy and circular economies are effective, China saw greater success with solar and wind power compared to the EU. Policy makers need to design strategies specific to their region’s economic, social, and environmental context. Further research can refine these approaches, and public education is crucial to promote sustainable behavior and empower policy makers. It is also needed to refine and improve the implementation of these strategies. Finally, public awareness and education are essential to promote sustainable behavior and empower policy makers in their fight against climate change and poverty. This study highlights the importance of a region-specific approach to energy transition and poverty alleviation. By comparing China and the EU, we gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of different strategies in tackling these interconnected challenges. The findings provide valuable guidance for policy makers looking to create a more sustainable and equitable future.

Performance Evaluation of School Enterprise Collaborative Innovation and Practice of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Based on the Improved AHP Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method

Under the influence of the COVID-19, great changes have taken place in China’s economic structure and market subjects and college students are facing difficulties in employment. By carrying out collaborative innovation between schools and enterprises, cultivating high-quality talents to meet social needs has become an important way to solve difficulties. Based on the input-process-output principle, a performance evaluation index system for collaborative innovation is constructed, which includes 3 primary indicators and 22 secondary indicators. The weights of each indicator are determined using improved AHP. A mathematical model for evaluating the performance of school enterprise collaborative innovation is established using the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The evaluation value of the innovation and entrepreneurship education case project is 0.82, indicating that the overall operation is in good condition. The cooperation between schools and enterprises has created a favorable atmosphere and accumulated rich experience for carrying out innovation and entrepreneurship education. Good results have been achieved in talent cultivation and scientific and technological output, but there are also problems such as low conversion rates of scientific and technological achievements. Based on the evaluation results, the article proposes suggestions to improve the performance of collaborative innovation between schools and enterprises. The research results provide theoretical reference for the performance evaluation of school enterprise collaborative innovation and the practice of innovation and entrepreneurship education.

Determinants of the growing material footprints along the Belt and Road

AbstractThe Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has induced immense material consumption and environmental threats while fostering economic development along participating countries. Quantifying recent trends of the material footprint of BRI economies and identifying potential drivers are vital to inform sustainable resource use. However, an assessment on the determinants of BRI material consumption from an economic system viewpoint is lacking in the literature. To fill this gap, this study proposes a multi‐region structural decomposition analysis model to assess the drivers of material footprints in BRI economies. To scrutinize the effects of transitioning economic structures, the effects of domestic and cross‐border production activities are separated. The latter is further characterized by production technology and sourcing structure. Using global multi‐region input–output tables of 2005–2015, this study reveals that shifting international sourcing patterns boosted BRI material footprint, with rising intermediate goods and services sourced from BRI regions substituting those from North America and the European Union. Capital formation in the construction sector took the primary role in driving BRI material footprint growth, followed by manufacturing sectors, especially since 2013. Disparities in the key drivers of material footprints have been identified among developed, emerging, and least developed economies. The results have relevant policy implications regarding alleviating BRI material pressure, including fostering material‐efficient demand patterns, facilitating environmental technology improvements in local countries, and establishing stringent governance on material usage.

Economic structure, export specialization and greenhouse gas emissions in Latin America

Industrial societies have significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in higher average temperatures compared to pre-industrial levels. This has disrupted the socio-environmental balance and led to more frequent extreme climatic events. In response, several organizations have developed strategies that prioritize reducing the environmental impact of human activities. Achieving this goal requires a thorough understanding of the relationship between economic structures and pollutant emissions to elaborate industrial policies that promote a transition to a greener economy. This study focuses on Latin America, a region highly vulnerable to climate change due to its geographical characteristics and reliance on primary sector activities and tourism. Our analysis underscores the necessity of identifying factors that jeopardize socio-environmental sustainability.

The Analysis of Country Insolvency in Sri Lanka

In July 2022, Sri Lanka officially declared national bankruptcy. The bankruptcy seems to result from the outbreak of COVID. In fact, Sri Lanka's economic structure was already very fragile. In March of the same year, the United states opened the most substantial and dense cycle of interest rate hikes since 1981, which quickly led to a global spike in the cost of funds, disrupting the order of global financial markets and directly exacerbating the risk of a debt crisis in Sri Lanka. With the internal and external combined impact, the economic crisis expanded into a food crisis, debt crisis, and went bankruptcy step by step. Nowadays the current global economy is in a recessionary stage. Sri Lanka is the first country to fall, but not the last one. Other emerging market countries are facing the same problem. This paper combs through the process of Sri Lanka's national bankruptcy, deeply analysing the reasons for its bankruptcy and the pulse of its economic operation, and tries to put forward some useful suggestions and insights.

ВЛИЯНИЕ НЕОЛИБЕРАЛЬНОЙ ИДЕОЛОГИИ НА СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЕ РАЗВИТИЕ СЫРЬЕВЫХ РЕГИОНОВ РОССИИ

Neoliberalism, as an ideology, influences various industries and regions in Russia to varying degrees. In industry regions, this influence can be especially pronounced, given the specifics of economic activity and socio-economic conditions. That is why it is important to take into account and measure the positive and negative impact of neoliberal policies in relation to regions with single-industry specialization. This article examines the impact of neoliberal ideology on the socio-economic development of the raw material regions of the Russian Federation. The analysis of the basic principles of neoliberalism and their impact on economic policy, especially in the context of regions dependent on the extraction and export of natural resources, is carried out. To achieve the purpose of the study, qualitative and quantitative methods were used, including the analysis of official statistical data, a literary review and expert assessments. The article examines the changes in the economic structure, standard of living and social sphere of these regions under the influence of neoliberal reforms. Special attention is paid to the growth of social inequalities, the deterioration of working and living conditions of the population. The results of the conducted research can be used for the development and successful implementation of subsequent programs for the development of raw materials regions. The article offers recommendations on adjusting economic policy in order to mitigate the negative effects of neoliberal principles on raw material regions and increase sustainable socio-economic development.

Educate to liberate: agroecological transitions with participatory methodologies in popular and community education

The response to the environmental crisis is a revolution that, in addition to insisting on the transformations of the economic and political structure, must address the social and cultural relations that sustain it. One of the alternatives to face the crisis in conventional agriculture is agroecology. However, this agroecology must be thought of under a pedagogical and educational support that transcends technological and substitution practices; This must be done from a transformation of perceptions and social relationships with nature. In that sense, this article aims to determine the need for agroecological transitions with educational methodologies, taking into account the research carried out in peasant organizations in the states of Morelos and Guerrero, through participatory methodological approaches. Discovering that micro practices in the ecosystem can lead to resolving social conflicts.

Natural Embeddedness, Place Attachment, and Local Opposition to Developmental Projects: A Polanyian Analysis of the Origins of Preemptive Environmental Protests in China

This article aims to uncover the underlying social and institutional origins of China’s local preemptive environmental protests against developmental projects with negative externalities, which have not been fully investigated by the extant literature on “NIMBY” (“not-in-my-backyard”) activism in China. Primarily through the perspective of Karl Polanyi’s environmental sociology, this article presents a case study of the 2012 protest in Qidong, Jiangsu province, against an industrial waste disposal pipeline. The case of Qidong shows how local ecology has been deeply embedded in the social context and relations that have historically shaped the economic structures, culinary traditions, and place attachment in the area. Such a nexus between the environment and society in turn significantly impacted the opposition pattern of the local communities, which involved various social strata by triggering their economic and health concerns as well as an emotional response. Moreover, the article finds that the unified cross-class action under the banner of defending public interests was possible in Qidong largely because the actors were all part of the same holistic local ecological system, with shared economic interests, dietary preferences, and cultural identities. This research thus echoes the insights of environmental sociology and argues that it is necessary to take into account the interplay between ecology and locality to understand local environmental politics.

Individual Approaches to the Philosophical Interpretation of Successful Settlements, Their Evaluation

Settlements are complex systems that operate on the basis of many dimensions and aspects and the active participation of local communities, settlement leaders and residents is essential for successful development and ensuring a sustainable futureinfluencing the identity, power relations and community relations of the people living there. The task of local organizations is to help building the community and the support of local initiatives. Public services and infrastructure support the operation ofsettlements and the quality of life of the population, while economic segments such as retail trade, industry and tourism have their highlighted importance in terms of economic development. Settlements are multifaceted entities that are defined not onlyby residences, but also by community life, the economy, the environment and local institutions. Cities are centers of economic activity, where jobs are created, businesses operate and develop. The settlement philosophy can help to create economic structures that are diversified, resistant to crises and support local economic growth. So the importance of the ideas of settlement philosophy and their necessary exmination related to the fact that settlements are the scene of human life, such areas that are environmentally sustainable, socially just and economically prosperous. The leaders of the settlement, residents and local organizations must conduct an open dialogue and strive for cooperation in matters affecting the settlement, thereby ensuring the pursuit of sustainable economic, social and environmental development. The principles of transparency, responsibility, equality and integrity must be respected by all involved participants, but ethical thinking and value-oriented decisions can help the development of settlements and promoting the well-being of the community.

DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL CITIESIN THE ARCTIC ZONE(EVIDENCE FROM THE KARELIAN ARCTICAND ARKHANGELSK REGION)

The economic development of the off-shore territories of the Arctic zone is characterized by certain advantages and risks associated with the geographical location. Territorial formations of the ASRF have unequal economic structure and different levels of economic development, harsh climatic conditions, preferential economic and legal regime, etc. Territories develop unevenly: some territories have steady economic growth, others are characterized by processes of stagnation, still others are characterized by degradation and devastation. The object of the research is the coastal territories of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, and the subject is the process of their economic development. The aim is to study the process of development of coastal cities in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, on the example of the Karelian Arctic and the Arkhangelsk region. The study is based on the use of hardware for comparative analysis and assessment of indicators of coastal territories' development. The novelty of the study is the use of the rank method and the calculation of σ-variance coefficient, which allow to determine the presence of regional heterogeneity in its dynamics in the context of coastal cities of the ASRF, on the example of the Karelian Arctic and the Arkhangelsk region. The results determined the presence of a gap between the urban settlements under consideration. The assessment of the inequality of some indicators demonstrates the trend of coastal cities to convergence, other indicators in the context of coastal cities steadily diverge. Large urban settlements break away from other cities of the European North. Small urban settlements of coastal location - Kem, Kandalaksha, Belomorsk - are characterized by a low level of development. The findings may serve as the basis to form the strategic and program documents, and can be also used as additional material, while analyzing the coastal cities of the AZRF and the dynamics of their development.

Presidential Discourses on Regionalism in Azerbaijan: Turkic Solidarity and the Silk Road

Abstract Drawing on theories of comparative regionalism, this article examines the construction of regionalist frames in Azerbaijan covering the period from 1993 to mid-2023. By examining more than 60 text passages from presidential speeches and statements, the study identifies two framings of regionalism that have dominated presidential discourses in Azerbaijan: the discourse of Turkic solidarity or unity (in the political-security domain) and the narrative of an East-West corridor or the revival of the Silk Road for transport of cargo and hydrocarbon resources (in the economic domain). By constructing these discursive frames, Azerbaijani state leaders crafted an alternative regional order reconstituting the geographic category of “South Caucasus” into a new, spatially broader area. In this formulation, “South Caucasus” is viewed as a central pillar of the Silk Road, and Azerbaijan as one of its focal points or nodes. While the study underscores a key role that actors and ideas play in the formation of regions and regional institutions, it also highlights how social construction of regional identities is embedded in and shaped by historical experiences and country-specific political-economic conditions such as historical memories, experiences of war, collective identities and cultural affinities, geographic location, domestic political economic structures, and international linkages.

The intervention of local public authorities and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania: a subnational analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic had a strong territorial dimension, with a highly asymmetric impact among Romanian counties, depending on pre-existing vulnerabilities, regions’ economic structure, exposure to global value chains, specialization, and overall ability to shift a large share of employees to remote working. The aim of this paper is to assess the role of Romanian local authorities during this unprecedented global medical emergency by capturing the changes of public spending at the local level between 2010 and 2021 and amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify clusters of Romanian counties that shared similar characteristics in this period, using a panel data quantitative model and hierarchical cluster analysis. Our empirical analysis shows that between 2010-2021, the impact of social assistance expenditures was higher than public investment (capital spending and EU funds) on the GDP per capita at county level. Additionally, based on various macroeconomic and structural indicators (health, labour market performance, economic development, entrepreneurship, and both local public revenues and several types of expenditures), we determined seven clusters of counties. The research contributes to the discussion regarding the increase of economic resilience but also to the evidence-based public policies implementation at local level.

Dilihat Dari Perubahan Struktur Ekonomi Indonesia Dari Masa Ke Masa

In the history of the Indonesian economy. Indonesia often experiences changes in its economic structure. Starting from the beginning of independence, namely the era of the first President of Indonesia, namely Soekarno, until now the Jokowi era. These changes often occur because the economic structure has not boosted the Indonesian economy and is considered unable to improve the welfare of the people. The economic structure is used to shows the composition or arrangement of economic sectors in an economy. Economic structure is also the implementation of existing economic systems with the aim of increasing the welfare of a country through economic development and growth of national income. The economic structure can be seen from four viewpoints, namely macro-sectoral review, financial review, state administration review, and bureaucratic decision-making review. The macro sectoral review and financial review are purely economic reviews, while the state review and decision-making bureaucratic review are political reviews. Dominant or reliable economic sectors can also mean sectors that make the largest contribution to the national product with high growth rates, which are characteristic of an economy.

The Effect of the Fed Interest Rate Hikes on the Financial Crisis Evidence from Emerging Market Economices

The purpose of this paper is to systematically study the economic consequences of this policy adjustment by analysing in depth the five interest rate hike actions of the Federal Reserve and their chain reactions in emerging market economies, applying economic principles and methods. In particular, the central question of concern is whether the Fed's interest rate hiking policy constitutes an important trigger of the financial crisis in emerging markets. In order to shed light on this complex phenomenon in a comprehensive manner, this paper not only analyses in depth the macroeconomic logic behind the Fed's interest rate hike, but also explores its transmission mechanism in emerging market economies, as well as the economic vulnerability of these countries in the face of external shocks. The results of the study show that the collapse of emerging countries as a result of the Fed's interest rate hikes seems to be inevitable, but we can draw insights from it: actively promoting the reform of the international monetary system and supporting the inclusion of more types of currencies in the international trade and investment settlement system has become a common choice, including for some Western countries, as well as the need to continue to optimise the economic structure of the domestic economy and to strengthen the ability to manage and control the comprehensive risks.

Do Water Transfer Projects Promote Water Use Efficiency? Case Study of South-to-North Water Transfer Project in Yellow River Basin of China

With a huge capital and labor input influx, inter-basin water transfer (IBWT) projects have been shown to effectively mitigate water stress and ensure the water demand for social and economic development in the receiving area. Whether they have promoted the improvement of regional water use efficiency (WUE) is crucial for sustainable management of regional water resources. Targeting the South-to-North Water Transfer Project (SNWTP), the largest and most ambitious inter-basin water transfer project in China, this study establishes quantitatively econometric models to analyze the impact of different water diversion projects, specifically the eastern route of the SNWTP (ER-SNWTP), middle route of the SNWTP (MR-SNWTP), and diversion from the main stream of the Yellow River (DYR), on the regional water consumption per unit of GDP; regional water stress, water use structure, economic structure, and urbanization level are used as control variables in different types of cities in the Yellow River Basin, and some intriguing results are found. While the overall water transfer project demonstrates a positive impact on water use efficiency, the effects of the three water transfer measures vary significantly. The ER-SNWTP does not exhibit a notable positive effect on regional water use efficiency, whereas the MR-SNWTP demonstrates a significant positive impact. Interestingly, the DYR has a notable negative influence on water use efficiency in developed cities. The water use structure, shaped by the pricing, scale, and policies of different projects, emerges as a pivotal factor in explaining these differences. Finally, this paper suggests that the impact of water transfer projects on the improvement of regional water use efficiency be viewed from a more comprehensive and developmental perspective.

Unlocking European biogas and biomethane: Policy insights from comparative analysis

The scaling up of renewable gases is now being presented as a critical and effective component of the EU's long-term decarbonization strategy. Yet, the support schemes implemented for biogas and biomethane are far less studied than the ones dedicated to renewable power generation (e.g., solar or wind). This work bridges this gap by reviewing the supporting policies implemented in the EU and conducting a retrospective comparative analysis of the mechanisms implemented in Germany, Denmark, and Italy. The analysis is based on primary data extracted from policy statements that have been harmonized. Results show that incentivizing the supply side lowers the risk associated with early investments and market development. Conversely, they highlight inhomogeneity among countries in accounting for demand and end-use in their policies. Finally, they point at the availability of feedstock and the geographic and economic structure of a country as factors influencing the development of a market for renewable gases. The analysis stresses the value of policy mix in promoting biogas and biomethane in the EU's energy mix, and it hinges on the importance of scrutinizing sectoral massification, novel business models, infrastructure integration, and enhanced financial accessibility to improve their competitiveness and market advancement within the energy landscape.

Local economic development strategies in a medium-sized city on the European periphery: a path to become an economic center of Eastern Central Europe importance

Large cities are becoming increasingly valuable in the spatial structure of globalized economies. Although these centers vary significantly regarding population, economic structure, and income conditions, they—compared to their surroundings—generally show a higher productivity level, a higher rate of employment, higher education, and higher innovation performance. However, this metropolization and concentration of the economy in large cities made the development of cities regarded as medium-sized on an international scale an issue of competitiveness in Europe, characterized by dense town networks, a small number of metropolises, and a significant weight of medium- and small-sized towns. However, one of the main preconditions for achieving success in this competition is to form a comprehensive and complex concept with a significant emphasis on economic development. Therefore, the aim of our study is to analyze the local economic development strategies for the last three decades, as elaborated in Debrecen. In the framework of our empirical analysis, we examined how different mainstream concepts appear in local development strategies and which development objectives are determined by the local strategies. Furthermore, we also aimed to identify possible changes in ideas about city roles by referring to the organization of economic space.