Economic Perspective Research Articles

On the Influencing Factors of the Development of New Energy Vehicles in China from the Perspective of Low-carbon Economy

On the Influencing Factors of the Development of New Energy Vehicles in China from the Perspective of Low-carbon Economy

Firearm ownership and suicide: Has the time come to discuss uniformity of health and social assessments in aid of regulation? Reflection from a retrospective study on a forensic case series.

Firearm-related deaths are an issue of ongoing public interest, from a health and economic perspective. Worldwide, firearm prevalence in suicides varies widely, depending on multiple factors including the availability of weapons in each country. Although several studies have shown that national laws about gun ownership, reducing legal access to guns, decrease the risk of suicide by firearm, the current situation clashes with widely differing legislations. Retrospective study on a forensic case series. Autopsy reports assessed at the Section of Legal Medicine of Milan (Italy) from January 2014 to December 2023 were retrospectively documented. Only firearm suicides were considered. For each case, a close analysis of the criminal offence reports has been performed to obtain information about the gender and age of the victim, as well as the legal possession of firearms, psychiatric disorders, alcohol, and illicit drug abuse. Among all the 1,164 suicides assessed at the Section of Legal Medicine of Milan over a 10-year-period, 101 cases (8.7%) were firearm-related. The male to female ratio was therefore about 13:1. No seasonal trends were observed. Most of the individuals owned the firearm license. Of the entire dataset, 35.6% suffered from psychiatric disorders, 4% of alcohol abuse and 2% of drug addiction. Among the owners of a firearm license, 42.3% had psychiatric disorders. Knowledge about firearm suicide and its relation to firearm legal possession is limited and current preventive laws should be reconsidered. Present administrative and clinical examinations required to obtain a firearm license in Italy and in some European territories are dealt with. The evaluation of the firearm-related risk of abuse is an essential but complex procedure, which requires not only clinic-anamnestic data but also in-deep psychiatric information. There is a need to develop and reinvigorate a debate that currently presents very heterogeneous solutions, but which would probably benefit from a common vision of the prevention strategies that can be implemented and enacted for the benefit of the entire community.

Energy, exergy, economic, and environmental analyses and optimization of a multigeneration system considering high-temperature island environment

Renewable energy based multigeneration systems help satisfy the diverse demand for marine resources exploration in off-grid island area, where the storage of fluctuating renewable energy for continuous power supply becomes necessary. Therefore, this paper proposes a solar-driven multigeneration system for island environment integrated with energy storage and production of electricity, cooling, heating, and freshwater. The system comprises an ejector power subsystem, a multiple-effect distillation subsystem, and a CO2 binary mixture-based compressed gas energy storage subsystem. The system performance from the perspectives of energy, exergy, economics, and environment, as well as the impact on performance of the working fluid and several key system parameters, are investigated in this paper. According to the results, an increase in the mass fraction of organic in the CO2 mixture leads to an improvement in system energy efficiency and exergy density at the cost of lower system power efficiency. Increasing the high-pressure tank pressure enhances system performance except for system power efficiency. Increased low-pressure tank pressure leads to improved system energy efficiency and exergy density, accompanied by lower system power efficiency and exergy efficiency. When the ambient temperature increases from 298 K to 303 K, the system energy efficiency noticeably decreases, whereas an increase in direct normal irradiance improves various system performance indicators. Among several mixtures, CO2/R32 mixture was chosen for further analysis and optimization for its wider operating range with R32 mass fraction and better system performance. The optimal operating point had system energy efficiency, exergy density, and modified levelized cost of energy of 1.281, 22.216 kWh/m3, and 0.131 $/kWh, respectively. The proposed system in this research is proven to be a novel technical solution to meet the diverse energy demands on unique island environments.

THE MODERATING EFFECT OF EDUCATION LEVEL ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADE OPENNESS AND EMPLOYMENT IN NORTH AFRICAN ECONOMIES

Objective: This study explores how education level moderates the relationship between trade openness and employment in North African economies, examining whether higher education levels enhance or mitigate the employment effects of trade openness. Theoretical Framework: The research draws on economic and educational theories to examine the interplay between human capital and economic policies. It uses trade openness theories to assess the impact of economic integration on employment, and human capital theories to analyze the role of education. Method: The study uses a quantitative approach with panel data from North African economies (2000-2020). PLS-SEM models with interaction terms evaluate the moderating effect of education on the trade openness-employment relationship, using data from international trade databases and national educational statistics. Results and Discussion: Findings indicate that trade openness positively influences employment, with the effect amplified by higher education levels. Economies with better education systems benefit more from trade openness in terms of employment. The discussion underscores the importance of educational investment for maximizing these benefits and addresses issues like differing educational quality and labor market conditions across countries. Research Implications: The study suggests that North African policymakers should enhance educational systems to maximize the employment benefits of trade openness, offering practical insights into how education can help address globalization challenges and drive economic growth. Originality/Value: This study uniquely combines education and economic policy perspectives to examine the moderation of trade openness effects on employment in North Africa, providing valuable implications for academic research and policy formulation.

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics in Existing Buildings: A Novel PV Roofing System

Among renewable energy generation technologies, photovoltaics has a pivotal role in reaching the EU’s decarbonization goals. In particular, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems are attracting increasing interest since they are a fundamental element that allows buildings to abate their CO2 emissions while also performing functions typical of traditional building components, such as sealing against water. In such a context, since one of the main challenges to decarbonizing the building sector lies in the retrofitting of existing buildings, the current paper is focused on the design, development, and testing of a novel roofing BIPV system. The entire research was carried out as part of the Horizon 2020 HEART project. In more detail, the research analyzed the requirements of typical pitched tile roofs, which are currently the most common type in Europe, and developed a universal photovoltaic tile that can be easily and quickly integrated into such a type of roof. The research was also aimed at minimizing the embodied energy of the component and promoting disassembly and recycling at the end of life, fully in line with a circular economy perspective. The adopted design and development processes are described in detail in the present paper, along with the results of several tests performed in the field. In addition, further development prospects of the component, aimed at meeting the integration requirements in historic buildings, are finally presented.

Study of flood protection water levels for railway projects in the plains river network area

The Taihu Lake basin is characterised by a developed water system and a longitudinal river network, which is prone to flooding during the flood season. This poses a threat to the construction and operation of river-related railways, bridges, and other infrastructures, and therefore the design value of the water level of the river channel must be provided prior to the construction of roads and bridges in the basin. The Yanyi Railway traverses numerous river systems without the benefit of measured hydrological data. In order to address this deficiency, two methods were constructed using the Taihu Lake basin model: the historical water level frequency analysis method and the typical design storm method of the basin. These methods were employed to calculate the flood protection water level of each river under different design schemes and to analyze the reasons for the differences in the results. The results indicate that the water level results of the historical water level frequency analysis method are also applicable to the construction of the Yanyi Railway, provided that an economic perspective is taken.

Evaluating the performance of spherical, hemispherical, and tubular solar stills with various configurations - A detailed review

Solving global water shortages has become an urgent challenge, hindering sustainable development. Therefore, comparing different solar still designs from application and economic perspectives is necessary. Solar distillation is considered a major innovation in the alternative energy sector for purifying brackish or brine water into clean water. Despite the extensive literature on improved solar stills, determining the most efficient designs for residential and industrial applications remains difficult. This review compares the productivity of spherical, hemispherical, and tubular solar still designs. The aim is to study the factors that influence the efficiency of each type and to analyze recent research and results obtained under different conditions. The results show that innovations in solar distillation design can take many forms to improve efficiency and productivity. For example, adding parabolic mirrors can increase productivity in spherical, hemispherical, and tubular stills by 35 to 70%. Likewise, innovative designs such as rotating spheres and changing bowl shapes significantly increased the productivity of spherical and hemispherical stills. Likewise, retrofitting a still with vacuum generation technology can significantly increase yields by 50 to 70%. In addition, using nanomaterials, especially nanophase change materials (NPCM), has increased the efficiency of the spherical and tubular stills by 116.5%, producing 7.62 kg/m2 per day. Therefore, the NPCM-equipped model was still the most efficient option among the three designs.

Assessing the economic-statistical performance of an attribute SVSSI-np control chart based on genetic algorithms

The SVSSI scheme, featuring three variable sample sizes and two variable sampling intervals, considerably enhances the performance of control charts in detecting shifts. As a novel contribution, this study proposes an optimized design of the SVSSI-np control chart using genetic algorithms, illustrating its superior performance over other sampling schemes by considering economic and statistical perspectives in a unified model. The outcomes of implementing the SVSSI alongside other sampling schemes are assessed via a numerical example, demonstrating the influence of varying parameters such as process failure rate, shift value, and proportion of nonconforming items. Based on the obtained results, the SVSSI scheme outperforms other schemes by achieving over a 10% reduction in costs and over a 30% improvement in reducing time to signal and false alarm rates in most runs. The impact of inaccurately estimating the shift size is also investigated, revealing that incorrect estimates can lead to ineffective adjustments and improvements. Finally, optimal SVSSI designs are explored through comprehensive sensitivity analysis and robust optimization to address uncertainty, and the results of applying fractional factorial design are statistically analyzed. In summary, the SVSSI-np control chart demonstrates potential for enhanced cost reduction, process monitoring, and efficiency gains.

Blockchain-BIM: reducing cost in green retrofitting for sustainable construction development

During the implementation process, the construction sector significantly affects the environment, leading to environmental pollution and the overconsumption of natural resources. This jeopardizes the sustainability of a healthy living environment, requiring a solid system to control development. A sustainable and environmentally friendly development system is crucial from architectural, construction, and economic perspectives. However, when applying the concept of Green Building to existing buildings, the cost of green retrofits has increased by about 10.77%. A case study was carried out on the existing BRIN (National Research and Innovation Agency) building to provide alternative solutions to reduce these green retrofitting costs, making sustainable construction the primary option in developing the construction sector. One way to address this cost increase is using the Blockchain-Building Information Modeling (BIM) application, an alternative method to determine the most economical cost based on input or a given model. BIM models contain non-geometric information, including materials for building components, quantities, prices, procedures, scales, and sizes. This allows for real-time data exchange and collaborative decision-making between stakeholders, improving visualization and modeling and lowering costs due to better construction outcomes and higher productivity probability. The implementation of Blockchain-BIM is expected to result in green retrofit cost savings of at least 3% on each green level according to the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) of the Republic of Indonesia Technical Guidelines No. 01/SE/M/2022, namely Primary, Intermediate, and Main.

Peran Industri Rumah Pada Usaha Catering Kurnia Jaya Terhadap Pendapatan Karyawan Menurut Presfektif Ekonomi Islam di Kecamatan Medang Kampai Kota Dumai

The research aims to analyze the role of the home industry Catering Kurnia Jaya on employee income and welfare from the perspective of Islamic economics. The research method used is qualitative, involving a population of 10 employees. The subject of the study is the owner of Catering Kurnia Jaya, located in Medang Kampai District, Dumai City. The analysis used in this study includes reduction analysis and triangulation analysis. Data collection techniques include observation and interviews. The results show that Catering Kurnia Jaya significantly contributes to increasing the income and economic well-being of employees' families. This business operates according to Islamic economic principles, emphasizing justice, sustainability, and fair redistribution. Employee income fluctuations occur due to seasonal factors and market competition. This study highlights the importance of household industries in alleviating poverty and enhancing the local economy, with Catering Kurnia Jaya serving as an example of significant contribution to employee income and welfare.

Analysis of Social and Economic Aspects of MSMEs Kepang Geger in The Perspective of Sharia SKB

MSMEs play an important role in reducing unemployment, alleviating poverty, and promoting economic growth. This study aims to assess the socioeconomic conditions of kue kepang business owners in Busela, Dabung, Geger, Bangkalan, Madura, and evaluate the feasibility of the business from a social and economic perspective. This qualitative research used in-depth interviews and observation to collect primary and secondary data directly from the business location. The data were analyzed descriptively to understand the socioeconomic phenomena related to the Kue Kepang business. The findings show that the Kue Kepang business significantly empowers the local community by providing jobs for 10-15 people. The business not only maintains and promotes local cultural heritage but also contributes to regional economic stability. The average monthly income of business owners ranges between IDR 5,587,714 and IDR 5,915,000, depending on whether they rent or own their business premises. However, the business faces risks such as fluctuating raw material prices and competition from similar products that need to be managed for sustainable growth. The study concludes that the Kue Kepang business is viable and beneficial from an economic and social perspective, contributing significantly to local community development and cultural preservation.

Ultrasound pretreatment of third-generation biomass (invasive macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae) to obtain platform biocommodities

Volatile fatty acids (VFA) and reducing sugars (RS) are widely used as platform molecules in biorefineries, facilitating the production of valuable biofuels and chemicals. From an environmental, economic and social perspective, third generation biomass, including macroalgae beach-cast, represents an innovative and optimal solution for the production of these commodities. This study explores the impact of ultrasound pretreatment on the invasive macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae, aiming to produce RS and VFA through enzymatic hydrolysis and dark fermentation. Several ultrasound conditions were tested: amplitudes (0, 70-100 %), suspension volumes (300, 600 mL), and algal concentrations (4-8 %). Optimal results emerged with 100 % amplitude, 300 mL volume, and 4 % (w/v) algal concentration, leading to the maximum COD solubilization of 61.5 mg COD g-biomass-1. For enzymatic hydrolysis, the pretreated sample achieved maximum RS concentrations (0.124 g-RS g-biomass-1) with half the enzyme dosage required by the non-pretreated alga (25 vs 50 FPU g-biomass-1), implying significant economic benefits for large-scale processes. The kinetic model proposed by Romero-Vargas et al. aligned perfectly with the experimental data, obtaining higher values of all the kinetic parameters for the pretreated sample. Dark fermentation showed substantial increases in organic matter solubilization and VFA production (10.36 mg-HAc g-biomass-1) post ultrasound pretreatment: 21.1 % higher solubilization and 9.4 % increased VFA compared to non-pretreated biomass. The resulting VFA composition comprised 73 % acetic acid, 13 % propionic acid, and 8 % butyric acid. Utilization of chemical agents during sonication may further enhance overall processing yields.

Book Review of Michael Heumann, Contemporary Criticism of Growth from a Philosophy of Economics Perspective

Book Review of Michael Heumann, Contemporary Criticism of Growth from a Philosophy of Economics Perspective

Repurposing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen: Limits and options from a case study in Germany

We investigate the challenges and options for repurposing existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transportation. Challenges of re-purposing are mainly related to safety and due to the risk of hydrogen embrittlement of pipeline steels and the smaller molecular size of the gas. From an economic perspective, the lower volumetric energy density of hydrogen compared to natural gas is a challenge. We investigate three pipeline repurposing options in depth: a) no modification to the pipeline but enhanced maintenance, b) use of gaseous inhibitors, and c) the pipe-in-pipe approach. The levelized costs of transportation of these options are compared for the case of the German Norddeutsche Erdgasleitung (NEL) pipeline. We find a similar cost range for all three options. This indicates that other criteria such as the sunk costs, public acceptance, and consumer requirements are likely to shape the decision making for gas pipeline repurposing.

Renewable Hydrogen from Biomass: Technological Pathways and Economic Perspectives

Renewable Hydrogen from Biomass: Technological Pathways and Economic Perspectives

Research on the Current Situation and Development of Chinese Market and Brand Marketing of Sports Events under the Perspective of Fan Economy: Taking NBA as an Example

Research on the Current Situation and Development of Chinese Market and Brand Marketing of Sports Events under the Perspective of Fan Economy: Taking NBA as an Example

Theoretical basis and path choice of current industrial structure transformation--Analysis in the perspective of Marxist political economy

The transformation of industrial structure is a key task for realizing high-quality economic development. Different from western economics, which locates the industrial structure and its transformation in the ratio of the three industries of the national economy and their changes, this paper logically analyzes the theoretical content of Marxist political economy, takes into account the "qualities" of the organic composition of capital of the industry, and summarizes the transformation of the industrial structure as the process of optimizing the ratio between the two categories of social reproduction and their intersectoral relations to realize the upgrading of the industry in the contradictory movement of the productive forces and the relations of production. The transformation of industrial structure is summarized as the process of industrial upgrading, in which scientific and technological innovation promotes the adjustment of the organic composition of capital, optimizes the proportion between the two major categories of social reproduction and their respective sectors. This process has different manifestations at micro, meso and macro levels, and is constrained by the objectives of total social reproduction balance, structural balance and productive labor-based. Accordingly, the article proposes that we should base ourselves on the level of development of productive forces, strengthen the real economy, adjust the relations of production, improve the form of ownership, strengthen macroeconomic regulation and control, and promote scientific and technological innovation in order to realize the transformation of China's industrial structure.

Balancing pH and yield: exploring itaconic acid production in Ustilago cynodontis from an economic perspective

BackgroundItaconic acid is a promising bio-based building block for the synthesis of polymers, plastics, fibers and other materials. In recent years, Ustilago cynodontis has emerged as an additional itaconate producing non-conventional yeast, mainly due to its high acid tolerance, which significantly reduces saline waste coproduction during fermentation and downstream processing. As a result, this could likely improve the economic viability of the itaconic acid production process with Ustilaginaceae.ResultsIn this study, we characterized a previously engineered itaconate hyper-producing Ustilago cynodontis strain in controlled fed-batch fermentations to determine the minimal and optimal pH for itaconate production. Under optimal fermentation conditions, the hyper-producing strain can achieve the theoretical maximal itaconate yield during the production phase in a fermentation at pH 3.6, but at the expense of considerable base addition. Base consumption is strongly reduced at the pH of 2.8, but at cost of production yield, titer, and rate. A techno-economic analysis based on the entire process demonstrated that savings due to an additional decrease in pH control reagents and saline waste costs cannot compensate the yield loss observed at the highly acidic pH value 2.8.ConclusionsOverall, this work provides novel data regarding the balancing of yield, titer, and rate in the context of pH, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the itaconic acid production process with Ustilago cynodontis, especially from an economic perspective.

The Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 13 in “BRICS” Countries” a Scoping Review

The essence of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ratified by all member states of the United Nations in 2015, is encapsulated in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The present study examines the progress made in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 within the context of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS), employing a business and economic perspective. The research methodology employed encompassing a comprehensive review of pertinent literature as well as a meticulous analysis of relevant documentary content. Findings from the study revealed that though businesses in BRICS countries are trying to adopt the United Nations sustainable development goal 13, But there is limited effort in Brazil in the implementation of sustainable development goal 13. In Russia most companies are committed to the implementation of united nations sustainable development goal 13, but this has been constrained by sanction and the war in Ukraine. In addition, Indian companies are fulfilling their corporate social responsibilities viewed through the United Nations sustainable development goal 13. The effort on the part of Chinese companies and the government of China in implementing the United Nations sustainable development goal 13 is commendable as various corporate social responsibility programs and public education have been implemented. In the same vein South African companies have also been seen as very active in the implementation the United Nations sustainable development goal (SDG) 13 by having very important policies built around the goal. Recommendation state that it is imperative that climate change be duly addressed within the overarching vision and objectives of the BRICS businesses as well and there should be a multi-tiered collaboration among BRICS countries to expedite the realisation of the sustainable development goals 13. Equally important harmonisation between governmental bodies, non-governmental organisations, and conscientious corporate entities can be instrumental in attaining superior outcomes regarding the sustainable development goal (SDG) 13. Future studies should include and examine more companies and additional countries in terms of overall plans for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13.

“What Do They Say in Mosques? Islamic Discourse on Limiting Ritual Expenses”

This article examines the changes in religious policy, Islamic beliefs, religious life, national values, and family rituals in Uzbekistan during the years of independence. Particularly, it analyzes a series of fatwas, guidelines, and theses on Friday prayer topics published by the Office of Muslims of Uzbekistan in recent years. The author substantiates the amalgamation of religious and national perspectives in Uzbek family rituals, encompassing childbirth, marriage, and mourning ceremonies, drawing on ethnographic materials. Furthermore, it delves into the views of Islamic scholars and imams concerning the reduction of specific expenses and extravagances in these rituals, citing examples from Friday prayers and various social networks. Through anthropological observations of modern Uzbek society, including Muslims' public activities, Friday prayers, neighborhoods, and community events, as well as through various TV talk shows and radio broadcasts, the article explores "Aqiqa" ceremonies, circumcision weddings, marriages, and mourning rituals conducted by Uzbek imams in matters of family and marriage. The author highlights the discussions of "Amru Ma'ruf" topics during ceremonies, widely debated on mosque websites, imams' pages, and social media platforms (Telegram, Facebook, Instagram). The article underscores the impact of Islamic scholars' and imams' ongoing efforts, noting changes in the balance of expenses in the ceremonial life of the Uzbek people, particularly evident in marriage ceremonies. Moreover, it analyzes changes and transformative processes in Uzbek family rituals from the perspective of ritual economy.