Economic Research Research Articles

Are random price generators useful for health policy processes and analysis? effectiveness of random price generators in health policy processes and analysis

This paper discusses why using random price generators in an economic model for medical markets may be useful. It summarizes the different steps for the development of the model and describes an original contribution of the physicians’ choice model with random drug prices applied to Type 2 diabetes in the US. Pharmaceutical markets have been supply-driven to boost life science and medical technologies; however, with the widening inequalities inside national health systems and the global agenda for universal health coverage, more economic research is being done to strengthen the analysis of demand for healthcare services. Research, especially, examines more disaggregated levels of demand systems to understand the heterogeneity of physicians’ choices and better capture patient needs. It can also be an approach to calibrate supply and demand adjustments in medical markets. This paper argues that choice modeling is particularly relevant, using random price generators in a structural model where a demand approach is useful. If validated by additional experimental studies, this first study by Professors Huttin & Hausman (2021) could be used in advanced value assessment frameworks. Random price generators on medical markets could also be tested with additional models that fit oligopolistic market structures (e.g., models for differentiated product markets such as the Berry–Levinsohn–Pakes model). It may also help with a policy analysis process that addresses major disruptive transformations of market dynamics, evolving boundaries in science, fast digitalization, and artificial intelligence-based information systems.

Specialization trends in economics research: A large‐scale study using natural language processing and citation analysis

AbstractThis article conducts a comprehensive analysis of specialization trends within and across fields of economics research. We collect data on 24,273 articles published between 1970 and 2016 in general research economics outlets and employ machine learning techniques to enrich the collected data. Results indicate that theory and econometric methods papers are becoming increasingly specialized, with a narrowing scope and steady or declining citations from outside economics and from other fields of economics research. Conversely, applied papers are covering a broader range of topics, receiving more extramural citations from fields like medicine, and psychology. Trends in applied theory articles are unclear.

A Bibliometric Study of Research Patterns in National Income and Economic Growth, 2015–2024

This study aims to examine the evolution of national economic development and infrastructure research from 2015 to 2024. The research data used are those that have been published in scholarly journals that are indexed by Scopus. Data extraction results are derived from 239 documents. Results of research on the topic of national development and economic stagnation indicate that the number of trains is rather unstable. However, research on the national economy and building boom increased from 2015 to 2016 and experienced a decline in 2017. However, from 2017 to 2019 there was another decline in growth, and from 2019 to 2020 there was another decline in growth. The final year of the trend was 2020 to 2023 there was a slight decline in growth, but from 2023 to 2024 there was a further decline in growth. The results of the study on the Rodriguez-Pose domain show that there are four clusters that have been identified

Strategic Collaborations and Performance of Oil Marketing Firms in Kenya

Purpose: Little attention has been paid to the effect of strategic collaboration on performance of oil marketing firms in Kenya. As a result, it is vital to investigate the effect of strategic collaboration on performance of oil marketing firms in Kenya. The study's particular aim was to investigate the impact of strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, franchising, and joint ventures on performance of oil marketing firms in Kenya. Four theoretical reviews are included in this research paper: Resource Based Theory, Transaction Cost Theory, Trust Theory and Dynamic Capability Theory. Methodology: Using descriptive research approaches, this study evaluated the data and offered findings. Over a certain time period, data was collected from oil marketing firms in Kenya. The research relied on primary data gathered via structured questionnaires as well as secondary data. The study's target population was Kenya's oil marketing firms in Kenya. The study also used stratified random sampling. The study's data was collected using Google forms and sent through email. The questionnaire data was sorted, classified, and analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings: finding demonstrate that savvy partnerships among Kenyan oil marketers improve performance. Businesses appreciate shared storage, cooperative networks, and specialized service sharing for increasing operational efficiency and competitiveness. Statistical analysis reveals that these partnerships influence company performance, accounting for 81.5% of the variance, with a strong correlation coefficient (R = 0.903) and a substantial ANOVA F-value. Unique contribution to theory, Policy and Publication: To obtain additional information and draw meaningful conclusions about the variables of interest, descriptive studies was conducted where survey was used to provide a snapshot of the population. Tables was used to display the data. This study will be useful to academics and researchers in finance and economics.

The lifetime risk of maternal near miss morbidity in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America: a cross-country systematic analysis

Life-threatening maternal near miss (MNM) morbidity can have long-term consequences for the physical, psychological, sexual, social, and economic wellbeing of female individuals. The lifetime risk of MNM (LTR-MNM) quantifies the probability that a female individual aged 15 years will have an MNM before age 50 years, given current mortality and fertility rates. We compare the LTR-MNM globally to reveal inequities in the cumulative burden of severe maternal morbidity across the reproductive life course. We estimated the LTR-MNM for 40 countries with multifacility, regional, or national data on the prevalence of MNM morbidity measured using WHO or modified WHO criteria of organ dysfunction from 2010 onwards (Central and Southern Asia=6, Eastern and Southeastern Asia=9, Latin America and the Caribbean=10, Northern Africa and Western Asia=2, sub-Saharan Africa=13). We also calculated the lifetime risk of severe maternal outcome (LTR-SMO) as the lifetime risk of maternal death or MNM. The LTR-MNM ranges from a 1 in 269 risk in Viet Nam (2010) to 1 in 6 in Guatemala (2016), whereas the LTR-SMO ranges from a 1 in 201 risk in Malaysia (2014) to 1 in 5 in Guatemala (2016). The LTR-MNM is a 1 in 20 risk or higher in nine countries, seven of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. The LTR-SMO is a 1 in 20 risk or higher in 11 countries, eight of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. The relative contribution of the LTR-MNM to the LTR-SMO ranges from 42% in Angola to 99% in Japan. There exist substantial global and regional disparities in the cumulative burden of severe maternal morbidity across the reproductive life course. The LTR-MNM is an important indicator to highlight the magnitude of inequalities in MNM morbidity, once accounting for obstetric risk, fertility rates, and mortality rates. The LTR-SMO can be used to highlight variation in the relative importance of morbidity to the overall burden of maternal ill-health across the female reproductive life course, given countries' stage in the obstetric transition. Both the LTR-MNM and LTR-SMO can serve as important indicators to advocate for further global commitment to end preventable maternal morbidity and mortality. UK Economic and Social Research Council, EU Horizon 2020 Marie Curie Fellowship, and Leverhulme Trust Large Centre Grant.

Bi-functional active sites Cu/MgO-La2O3 catalysts the selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol

Selective hydrogenation of biomass with high efficiency to produce fine chemicals has high economic value and research significance. The Cu/MgO-La2O3 catalyst exhibits distinct active sites that facilitate the selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol. Under optimal reaction conditions (90℃, 70 min) with the Cu/MgO-La2O3-6 catalyst, furfural conversion and furfuryl alcohol selectivity exceed 99.9 %. The catalyst’s activity remained approximately 97.6 % after five cycles. The combination of catalytic data, characterization tests, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirms that the addition of La promotes Cu reduction, resulting in a structured arrangement of highly hydrogenated copper sites (activation H2) and strongly adsorbed lanthanum sites (adsorbed furfural). Mechanistic studies indicate that the two active sites can simultaneously activate hydrogen and furfural. The strong adsorption of furfural enhances the hydrogenation reaction, while the weak adsorption of furfuryl alcohol inhibits side reaction pathways, thus achieving excellent catalytic selectivity.

Mental Bandwidth is Associated with HIV and Viral Suppression Among Low-Income Women in Philadelphia.

Behavioral economics research suggests poverty may influence behavior by reducing mental bandwidth, increasing future discounting, and increasing risk aversion. It is plausible these decision-making processes are further impaired in the context of HIV or pregnancy. In this cross-sectional study of 86 low-income women in Philadelphia, HIV was associated with lower mental bandwidth (one of two measures) and lower risk aversion. Pregnancy was not associated with any decision-making factors. In secondary analyses, viral suppression was associated with greater mental bandwidth (one of two measures), and antenatal clinic attendance with lower future discounting. Anti-poverty interventions may be beneficial to improve HIV-related health behaviors.

Quality of Life Based Health Economics Research on Pharmaceutical Intervention in Cancer Chemotherapy

The adverse chapter of cancer chemotherapy negatively impact QOL, and pharmacists play a key role in improving QOL by providing optimal drug therapy through pharmaceutical interventions. Although outpatient cancer chemotherapy is now common, the impact of pharmaceutical interventions from a QOL perspective has not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, this study investigated the impact and cost-effectiveness of pharmaceutical interventions on QOL using the EuroQol 5 Dimension (EQ-5D) and Quality of Life Questionnaire for Cancer Patients Treated with Anticancer Drugs (QOL-ACD). The study was conducted between 2013 and 2015 on 39 patients who underwent their first outpatient chemotherapy for breast cancer at Gifu Municipal Hospital. The results showed that pharmaceutical interventions improved social relationship QOL in patients experiencing fatigue during the first cycle and enhanced psychological QOL in patients with adverse events of nausea during the second cycle. Furthermore, the maximum incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was found to be 1.3 million yen per quality-adjusted life years (QALY) according to cost utility analysis. The pharmaceutical interventions by pharmacists in outpatient cancer chemotherapy improve QOL, and the ICER remains well below the Japanese threshold, signifying clear medical and economic benefits.

Retrospectives: Friedman and Schwartz, Disaggregated

What was the contribution of Anna Schwartz to the landmark book she co-authored with Milton Friedman, A Monetary History of the United States, 1867-1960? A close examination of archival evidence suggests three primary contributions Schwartz made to the work, and to Friedman’s career more generally. The first was meeting the classic challenge of quantitative economic history: going into the field to locate and collect archival data that had been assembled for purposes unrelated to economic research, and deciding how best to use that data. Second, Schwartz had a decades-long role as technical sounding board and shaper of the statistical approach taken in the book. Schwartz’s third and arguably greatest contribution was to transform A Monetary History of the United States into a compelling narrative argument that made an impact far beyond the economics profession. Together, these findings show Schwartz to be a scholar who made significant and lasting contributions to monetary economics, economic history, and the broader field of economics.

An Early Career Perspective on the Value of Interdisciplinary Training Networks

As a global society, we face various challenges that threaten economic, social, and ecological stability and security. Tackling complex global challenges, such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and climate change, requires collaboration and the integration of diverse perspectives from across the full spectrum of disciplinary approaches. This requires an increasing number of effective interdisciplinary researchers. In this reflective article, I present a case study narrative based on my own experience to examine how my interactions with an interdisciplinary training scheme (the Medical Research Foundation’s National PhD Training Programme in Antimicrobial Resistance Research (MRF-PhD-AMR Programme)) helped me develop as an interdisciplinary early career researcher. I describe three key interactions I had with the MRF-PhD-AMR Programme during and after my doctoral studies, and how these interactions offered me different opportunities to develop the capacity to effectively navigate interdisciplinary spaces. My reflections help highlight the importance of supporting doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in engaging in training opportunities that cross disciplinary boundaries, to enable them to become more effective interdisciplinary researchers. Funding Acknowledgment My doctoral research exploring antimicrobial usage in UK livestock farming was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council [grant number ES/J500148/1]. My attendance at MRF-PhD-AMR Programme events was funded by the Medical Research Foundation [grant number MRF-145-0004-TPG-AVISO]. At the time of writing, I am employed as a Knowledge Exchange Fellow on the ACCESS (Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Science) project, which is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council [grant number ES/W00805X/1].

India’s Economy to Hit and to Become USD 10 Trillion by 2030

India is currently a $ 3.1 trillion economy. It took India 60 years since Independence to become one trillion-dollar economy, but the next trillion dollars was added only in 7 years. The 3rd trillion was added in just 5 years in 2019. The growing momentum could see India add on average 1 trillion dollar to its economy every two years for the next 14-15 years. According to the report of the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), India will become a $ ten trillion economy by 2035. India's aim to grow into a $10-trillion economy over the next decade will be fuelled by manufacturing in sunrise sectors such as semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, electric vehicles ecosystem, renewable energy and defence, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group and Matrix Partners.

Linked Employer–Employee Data from XING and the Mannheim Enterprise Panel

Abstract The availability of social media data is growing and represents a new data source for economic research. This paper presents a detailed study on the use of data from a career-oriented social networking platform. The employment data are exported from user profiles and linked to the Mannheim Enterprise Panel (MUP). The linked employer–employee (LEE) data consist of 14 million employments for 1.5 million employers and describes around 9 million employee flows. Plausibility checks confirm that career-oriented social networking data contain valuable information about employments and employee flows. Using such platform data provides opportunities for research on employee mobility, networks, and local ecosystems’ role in economic performance at the employer and the regional level.

The role of mathematics in economics: From theoretical deepening to empirical analysis

This paper discusses the application of mathematics in economics and its importance to the subject’s progress. With the increasing application of simplified mathematical methods in economic research and the rising trend of empirical research, the degree of dependence of economics on mathematical analysis has decreased. However, relying on advanced mathematical tools to comprehensively understand and accurately model complex economic phenomena. This tendency to “de-mathematize” can lead to incomplete or misleading conclusions that undermine the credibility and effectiveness of the field. The article points out that the relationship between mathematics and economic theory is complementary rather than antagonistic. Complex theories must be translated into practical insights to bridge the gap between academic discussion and policy practice. Therefore, economists should devote themselves to using mathematical tools to promote the development of economic thought. By improving their mathematical skills, economists can gain a deeper understanding of economic theory, enhance its explanatory and predictive power, and make economics a more robust scientific system. In the future, the application of mathematics in economics will not only be a tool for academic research but also an important force to promote the development of economic theory and practical policy making. This paper further explores the future application prospects of mathematics in economics and its challenges in providing new ideas and directions for economic researchers.

Open Science in Agricultural Economics

Abstract We provide a ‘big picture’ of what Open Science is and what benefits, limitations, and risks it entails for agricultural economists. We show that Open Science comprises various aspects, such as, the accessibility of science, transparency of scientific processes, open and FAIR research data and code, and openness in teaching and education. We identify potential benefits of Open Science for individual researchers and the public, as well as adoption barriers. We highlight that public benefits of a wide-spread uptake of Open Science practices still remain unexplored. We share best practice examples for key aspects of agricultural economic research, i.e., primary data collection and analysis, optimization and simulation models, use of replication packages and an Open Science Community. Assessing the author guidelines of twelve Agricultural Economics journals for their Open Science practices, we find that data citation and transparency are considered important in many journals already, whereas replication, pre-registration or results-blind review are encouraged but rarely enforced. It also becomes evident that the journals differ in terms of how strictly they enforce their open-science guidelines. We close by providing recommendations for researchers, journal editors, policy makers, universities, research institutes and funding agencies to better align public benefits with private incentives.

Health economics and services research in symbiosis: STREAMLINEing mental health services in Austria

Abstract Objectives The cost of mental diseases exceeds 4% of GDP in Europe. In Austria, every 5th person lives with mental ill-health (MIH). Ongoing epidemiological, demographic and societal changes increase the need for easily accessible, better integrated and good value services. In STREAMLINE, we combine, harmonize and implement the latest methods in human service mapping and economic costing to optimize future service provision and financing for MIH in Austria. Methods We comprehensively assess the availability, activity and affordability of human services targeting MIH in Vienna within the health and social care, education, labour and justice sectors based on a conceptual mind map. We identify services through extensive literature, document and web searches plus expert consultations. Services are mapped and costed according to the European PECUNIA methods: classification of the main service types using the international DESDE taxonomy of human services; development of Reference Unit Costs using the PECUNIA RUC templates with primary data; validation of the results with secondary data; compilation of a comprehensive multi-sectoral service catalogue; and synthesis for spatial and policy analyses. Results We identified 756 sources, 75% individual organisations, 5% multi-organisations and 20% existing provider lists. 84% relate to health and social care, 10% labour, and 3% education and justice sectors each. 58% deliver care to adults, 37% to children & adolescents, and 5% support carers. Further service mapping and RUCs will be presented. Discussion STREAMLINE pioneers in coordinated public mental health services and economics research at scale. Assessed levels of fragmentation call for better integration, improved transition, reduced spatial inequity and increased support for carers. Results increase the feasibility of service evaluations from a societal perspective. Planned public service atlas facilitates information and access for service users and carers. Funding: WWTF Key messages • New methods for harmonized health services and economics research allow comprehensive information for optimized future mental health service planning and financing. • Assessed levels of fragmentation highlight the need for better integration, improved transition, reduced spatial inequity and increased support for carers.

Monetary Policy and Its Impact on Income Distribution in Iraq for the Period 2003-2022

The problem of inequality in the distribution of income is one of the important economic variables that have been focused on in economic studies and research, and the study and analysis of the impact of economic variables in the redistribution of income is of great importance, whether in developed or developing economies, as justice in income redistribution can have important economic effects. This study goes to estimate the impact of some monetary indicators on income distribution in Iraq for the period 2003-2022, where this impact was estimated using the Joint integration according to the self-regression model of distributed slowdown (ARDL) and bound test the results of the test confirmed the existence of a significant impact of the monetary policy indicators represented by the exchange rate, the broad money supply and the interest rate in the redistribution of income in Iraq.

LE GRAND BASCULEMENT DE LA VIOLENCE

The article is based on original maps produced using data from the Atlas of Violence published by the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea) and the Brazilian Public Security Forum, showing huge spatial differences in the distribution of homicides. They associate the number of homicides recorded in each of the country's municipalities (represented by the size of the proportional circles) and the proportion of these homicides in relation to the municipal population (represented by a color gradation), while the background map is colored according to the municipal development index calculated by Firjan. The map drawn for the year 2021 confirms a clear evolution in relation to previous situations (1989, 1999, 2009 and 201), a shift in crime towards the Northeast and North regions, while the number and proportion of homicides in the population fell rapidly in the main capitals of the Southeast. Keywords: Violence, Movement, Crime.

Manipulative Mechanisms in German Economic Discourse: A Study of Publications on Foreign Economic Relations between Germany and China in 2020-2023

This study explores the mechanisms of manipulative influence within German-language economic discourse. The empirical material consists of articles from the Köln Institute for Economic Research, detailing external trade cooperation between Germany and China during the years 2020 to 2023. It has been found that metaphors, borrowings, idiomatic expressions, expressive language, and emotives — comprising combinations of evaluative connotations — exert a covert manipulative effect on communication participants. At the grammatical level, the use of adverbs in the superlative degree and modal verbs in the preterite subjunctive form enables the construction of narratives that downplay the significance of China’s successes as an economic competitor. The analysis reveals that manipulation within economic discourse is intentionally obscured, possessing an implicit nature. It has been determined that portraying the Chinese economy in an unequivocally negative light is impractical; however, there are noticeable trends towards diminishing the significance of its successes, negatively evaluating business activity, and exaggerating the perceived threats posed by China to its business partners. The novelty and relevance of this research lie in addressing the techniques of manipulative influence in shaping the linguistic worldview within economic discourse — a perspective that has not yet been explored, as such texts are often considered objective documents grounded in scientific statistical data.

Changes and Solutions in the Education Market -- Economic Research Based on Era of Negative Population Growth in China

Abstract: Faced with the current negative population growth in China, the education market will face new challenges and changes. The top priority of the economic downturn in the education market is, first and foremost, to solve the problem of a decrease in the number of students. Based on the reduction of student sources, the supply-demand imbalance in the education market can be analyzed first, followed by several direct reasons, such as social pressure and government fiscal deficits. After identifying the problem, the root cause of the school's student population can be solved based on the problem, or corresponding measures can be taken to alleviate the surplus of teaching staff caused by negative population growth, such as providing no age-limitation or establishing international enrollment, adjusting regional development imbalance in the education field, adjusting teacher resources and the nature of work, and reallocating learning resources. These measures can promote the reform of the Chinese education market, alleviate the financial crisis caused by the decrease in enrollment in Chinese schools, and make the Chinese education market constantly full of vitality and vigor.

The Understanding America Study (UAS)

PurposeThe Understanding America Study (UAS) is a probability-based Internet panel housed at the Center for Economic and Social Research at the University of Southern California (USC). The UAS serves as...