Economic Crisis Research Articles

Covid-19 pandemic and its economic and psychological impacts on Saudi workers: An empirical study in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial economic and psychological impact on workers in Saudi Arabia. The objective of the study was to assess the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on the financial and mental well-being of Saudi employees in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Purpose: The COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in significant economic and societal ramifications. Current study indicates that the pandemic has not only precipitated an economic crisis but has also given rise to several psychological and emotional crises. This article provides a conceptual examination of how the pandemic impacts the economic and mental health conditions of Saudi workers, based on contemporary Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) models. Method: The current study employed a qualitative methodology and utilized a sample survey strategy. The data was gathered from Saudi workers residing in major cities of Saudi Arabia. The samples were obtained from professionals such as managers, doctors, and engineers, as well as non-professionals like unskilled and low-skilled laborers, who are employed in various public and private sectors. A range of statistical tools, including Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Pearson’s Correlation, Factor analysis, Reliability test, Chi-square test, and regression approach, were employed to analyze and interpret the results. Result: According to the data, the pandemic has caused a wide range of economic problems, including high unemployment and underemployment rates, income instability, and different degrees of pressure on workers to find work. Feelings of insecurity (about food and environmental safety), worry, dread, stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns have been generated by these challenges. The rate of mental health decline differs among demographics. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has universally affected all aspects of our lives worldwide. It resulted in an extended shutdown of educational institutions, factories, offices, and businesses. Without a question, it has profoundly transformed the work environment, professions, and lifestyles of billions of individuals worldwide. There is a high occurrence of poor psychological well-being among Saudi workers. However, it has been demonstrated that both economic health and mental health interventions can effectively alleviate the mental health burden in this population.

Neurosurgery in Pakistan: Past, Present, and Future.

Since its independence from India in 1947, Pakistan has struggled with economic crises such as global debt, corruption, constant regime change, and a decades-long war against terrorism. The resulting socioeconomic barriers have stymied efforts to develop a comprehensive and equitably accessible healthcare system, especially regarding safe, timely, and affordable surgical care. This article evaluates neurosurgery's development, current state, and prospects in Pakistan, a lower-middle-income country. We performed a literature search using PubMed and analyzed relevant articles to better understand the state and landscape of neurosurgery in Pakistan. Moreover, we conducted ecological research by querying the databases of the World Bank and the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation to evaluate the neurological and neurosurgical disease burden in the Pakistani population. The neurosurgical workforce in Pakistan has demonstrated rapid growth over the past two decades, with approximately 450 neurosurgeons and a neurosurgeon-per-100 000 population density of 0.114. Nonetheless, access to essential neurosurgical procedures for the treatment of diseases such as stroke has been difficult to ensure, which likely contributes to Pakistan's stroke burden, ie, stroke was still the third most common cause of death in 2019, causing 21.7% of all deaths. While Pakistan's political and economic instability has adversely affected the development of neurosurgery, the field has still made great strides and demonstrates a promising future in providing equitable neurosurgical care to all Pakistan's people.

Exploring the impact of economic crisis on psychological wellbeing and employee performance

Exploring the impact of economic crisis on psychological wellbeing and employee performance

Analysis of The Impact of Factors Affecting the Recovery of Small and Medium Enterprises in Vietnam with the Goal of Sustainable Development in the Context of Economic Crisis

Objective: The article analyzes the impact of various factors on the profitability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam amidst an economic crisis, using a dataset of Vietnamese SMEs from 2016 to 2018 across different provinces nationwide. Method: Employing panel data regression techniques in two forms: Fixed Effects (FE) and Random Effects (RE) models to estimate the impact of factors on enterprise profitability. Results and Discussion: Through estimating the two models on the article's dataset, the RE model shows that the coefficients of the explanatory variables in the model are statistically significant, whereas the FE model's coefficients are not. The estimation results from the RE model indicate that all variables including equity value, number of foreign workers, number of sectors the enterprise operates in the dummy variable for state support, average labour cost, and the dummy variable for the main operating sector of the enterprise affect the profitability of the enterprise. The RE model results suggest that the most significant factors impacting enterprise profitability are the business sector and state support. We need to have policies that create favorable conditions for businesses to achieve sustainable development goals (SDG). Conclusions: Results from the estimated model show that the most important factors affecting business profits are the business sector and state support. The state and businesses need to take measures to innovate activities to help businesses develop sustainably during the economic crisis.

Special section introduction: epistemic politics in international and comparative political economy

ABSTRACT Economic orthodoxy has faced multiple challenges over recent years, ranging from the global financial crisis and economic populism to the Covid-19 pandemic and the spectre of stagflation. This has generated significant policy innovations, like quantitative easing and the furlough schemes, while heterodox economic ideas (briefly) gained notoriety. Yet these shifts have frequently been grafted onto pre-existing institutional and discursive templates, anchored by the assumption that they represent a temporary deviation from ‘normal’ equilibrium conditions. To make sense of these dynamics of crisis, change and continuity, this special section showcases an ‘epistemic politics’ approach that foregrounds the political life of economic knowledge. It is framed around three questions. What has been the role of economic knowledge and expertise in shaping policy and regulation over the past decade? To what extent have dominant economic ideas, theories and models been impacted by political conflicts and emergent issues? How have policy makers navigated economic crises and uncertainty through cognitive and discursive practices? This introductory paper sets out the ambition for the special section by defining our understanding of epistemic politics, before detailing the threefold contribution it makes to wider scholarship in IPE and CPE. It concludes with an overview of the five papers.

How globalisation impacted on small and informal businesses in Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT This paper explores the impacts of globalisation on small and informal businesses in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean economy has over the last two decades been dependent on small and informal businesses after the country went through a shattering economic crisis that witnessed the collapse of its once flourishing industry. In the wake of this failing formal economy, small informal businesses emerged as a strong alternative economy that has created employment and livelihoods for most of the urban populace. However, in a world that is increasingly contracting and fast becoming one, globalisation has had its impact on these businesses. This paper uses data collected in Norton and Harare through in-depth interviews and ethnographic observations as well as secondary sources to explore and understand the finer details of how the phenomenon has affected small informal businesses in Zimbabwe both positively and negatively over time.

Financial insecurity and mental well-being: experiences of parents amid the lebanese economic crisis

BackgroundThis study investigates the impact of financial insecurity on the mental well-being and stress levels of parents in Lebanon amid the country’s severe economic crisis. The context of Lebanon’s economic collapse, coupled with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut port explosion, has exacerbated financial and psychological distress among the population. This research aims to understand the correlation between financial instability and parental stress, identifying key factors contributing to mental health challenges in this demographic.MethodsEmploying a quantitative research approach, data was collected through an online survey from 785 parents from different backgrounds in Lebanon. The survey incorporated sociodemographic questions, the InCharge Financial Distress/Financial Well-Being Scale (IFDFW), and the Arabic version of the Parental Stress Scale (PSS). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25.ResultsFindings showed significant correlations between high levels of parental stress and factors such as age (r = 0.071, p = 0.047) and lower education levels. Notably, refugees residing in Lebanon exhibited higher stress levels compared to Lebanese parents (mean stress score: 51.73 vs. 45.71, p < 0.001). Similarly, employed participants exhibited higher stress levels compared to the nonworking (mean stress score: 46.75 vs. 44.60, p = 0.003). A significant inverse association was found between financial well-being and parental stress (r=-0.216, p < 0.001), emphasizing the profound impact of economic instability on mental health.ConclusionsThis study highlights the adverse effects of financial insecurity on parents’ mental health, primarily during a period of economic instability, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted support interventions. These findings contribute to the literature on economic crises and mental health, providing a basis for future research and policy development in similar contexts.

Zimbabwe’s economic challenges beyond sanctions

This study examines the causes of the Zimbabwean economic crisis beyond the sanctions imposed by the West. The ruling party, ZANU-PF, blames the sanctions for the economic woes, but this research argues that other factors are also responsible. This study is purely qualitative as it synthesises the existing knowledge and uses interviews to gather data. The findings reveal that the economic crisis is rooted in colonial legacies, corruption, institutional failures, maladministration, and regional and international dynamics that have undermined Zimbabwe’s economic potential and performance. The research confirms the negative impact of sanctions on the economy but shows that they are not the main or only cause of the crisis in Zimbabwe. The research concludes with some policy recommendations for addressing economic challenges and restoring growth and stability in Zimbabwe.

Role of innovation culture and post-Soviet mindset as factors determining speed of economic development in a small open economy: Case of Latvia

This research seeks to identify the value of a few common factors determining the speed of economic growth in Baltic states and analyzes their impact in detail on Latvia’s lagging. Latvia’s economic starting point after regaining independence because of the collapse of the Soviet Union was at least comparable to its neighbors. Still, after the implementation of liberal reforms towards a free market’ economy and 20 years of operation as an EU full member, Latvia is lagging in growth, prosperity, and innovation. Within the analysis, this scientific paper pays special attention to the three less discussed factors, namely, the impact of post-Soviet mind-set effects as a part of local innovation culture, lasting since regaining independence in 1991; the importance of the availability of talent pull, its density, diversity, and accessibility; and readiness and capability to capture external knowledge and technology adoption. The overall approach is the systemic assessment of the national innovation system and/or innovation ecosystem, trying to understand the differences between these two models. Research is performed by analysis of the performance of the local innovation ecosystem in connection with export- and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies. The authors present a novel method for visually representing economic growth and its application in analyzing process development within transitional economic nations. The study uses an analytical and synthetical literature review. It offers a new GDP data visualization method useful for monitoring economic development and forecasting potential economic crises—the outcomes from aggregative literature analysis in a consolidated concept are provided for required talent policy proposals. The post-Soviet mindset is seen as a heritage and devious underdog that has left incredibly diverse consequences on today’s society, power structures, economic growth potential, and the emergence of healthy, well-managed, and sustainable innovation ecosystems. The post-Soviet mindset is a seemingly hidden and, at the same time, an intriguing factor that has a significant impact on the desire to make and implement the right decisions related to innovation, education, and other policies promoting business development. The key outcome of the article is that sociocultural aspects and differences in innovation culture led to a slow-down of Latvia’s economic growth compared to Estonia’s and Lithuania’s slightly more successful economic reforms.

Hiring opportunities for new firms and the business cycle

AbstractWhether firms founded during or outside economic crises have greater growth potential is an important question for both prospective entrepreneurs and policy makers. Existing research offers conflicting answers, and mostly either focuses on aggregate cohort-level effects or selectively excludes small new firms from the analyses. Using extensive linked employer-employee data on young German firms around and during the Global Financial Crisis, a period of sharply reduced access to external capital and recession, we show that young firms respond to cyclical conditions in highly heterogeneous ways. Our firm-level results reveal that the average new firm found it easier to hire its first employees when it was founded during the crisis. These firms achieved countercyclical growth by hiring career entrants. More specifically, hiring in very young (&lt;1.5 years) and small to medium-sized (below the 90th percentile) young firms was countercyclical, while this was not the case for older and larger young firms. Thus, the firm-specific effects for young entrepreneurial firms may be very different from those reported in previous research. Our results suggest that market entry during a crisis may facilitate hiring and that policies that promote entrepreneurship may usefully complement policies that encourage labor hoarding by incumbents during recessions.

A 3D index for measuring economic resilience with application to modern financial crises

AbstractThis paper proposes a vector index R composed of monotonous functions capturing three theoretical aspects (3D) of economic resilience (engineering, ecological, evolutionary) and performs an analysis of GDP data of 200 countries worldwide for the period 1960–2020 and 15 economic crises (shocks). The empirical analysis, first, reveals that economic resilience appears positively related to gross value added (GVA), employment, education, sectorial structure and diversification, agricultural production, tax revenue and natural resources, whereas it is negatively associated with urbanization degree, primary sector specialization and trade activity. Also, it shows that the global economy shifted to a less resilient performance through time, and it reveals the pros and cons of the continents' performance in economic resilience, highlighting a relative sensitivity of European countries against the available shocks and relatively higher resilience of Asian and African countries. Finally, the analysis of transition probabilities reveals the 2008 economic crisis as the only shock with significant transitions among different states of resilience, providing insights into the insignificant geographical scale of previous shocks in the global economy. Overall, in the complex conceptualization and measurement framework of economic resilience, the proposed 3D index contributes to a multilevel consideration of diverse theoretical aspects of this concept, provides empirical insights into the global economy's resilience and facilitates better management of economic resilience‘s computational complexity.

Currency power as a medium: Revisiting international cost transfer mechanisms in the U.S. subprime crisis

This paper endeavors to meticulously examine the disparities in developmental trajectories between industrialized and emerging economies, employing the nuanced concept of cost transfer within the theoretical framework of the "core-periphery" paradigm. We propose an intricate conceptual model to delve into the mechanisms through which economic crises are systematically shifted from the developed core to the peripheral developing regions, with particular emphasis on the pivotal roles of monetary hegemony and geopolitical dominance. Utilizing the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis as a seminal case study, we scrutinize the intricate dynamics of cost transfer, elucidating how the developed nations leverage their monetary supremacy and geopolitical prowess, often bolstered by military might and neo-liberal ideologies, to facilitate the offloading of inflationary pressures and commodity price hikes onto developing nations, notably China. Our findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on the entrenched inequalities between the Global North and South, emphasizing the asymmetrical power relations that underpin the process of cost transfer. Furthermore, this study enhances the research framework of cost-transfer theory and offers insights into the development of inequalities between developed and developing countries, aiding in the formulation of response strategies for developing countries facing cost transfer and mitigating the adverse impacts of cost transfers, thereby fostering more equitable and sustainable development trajectories.

Rural areas as winners of COVID-19, digitalization and remote working? Empirical evidence from recent internal migration in Germany

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has caused economic crises and increased inter-regional economic disparities. However, the catalyst effect that the pandemic has had on digitalization may change the traditional pattern of internal migration, in favour of rural areas. Using time-sensitive register data we explain changes in net migration rates of German districts from an economic geography perspective. We show that, since the beginning of the pandemic, rural regions benefited more from migration. In particular, younger and highly skilled individuals increasingly move to rural areas. This confirms that rural regions can benefit from increasing remote work, but these effects differ across region types and individual skill levels.

Isolation of Shewanella algae from blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in Northwestern Adriatic Sea

Abstract Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is one of the last reported invasive species that have colonized the Italian coasts, in particular the lagoons of the northern Adriatic Sea. Their massive presence is compromising shellfish farming, causing a serious economic crisis among the valley populations. To limit the economic damage, blue crabs have been introduced as human food in the Italian markets. This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological contamination of blue crab as potential risk to human health. From July 2023 to April 2024, 72 blue crabs were collected in coastal lagoons and 5-6 nm from the coast of the Emilia Romagna Region. Microbiological analysis revealed Shewanella algae as one of the most commonly identified microorganisms (18/72, 25%). Shewanella was isolated on Chromagar Vibrio™ and TCBS after an enrichment step in Alkaline Saline Peptone Water. Colony morphology, Gram stain, and biochemical tests (oxidase, catalase) sustained Shewanella identification, later confirmed by MALDI-TOF MS (MALDI Biotyper® Sirius, Bruker Daltonics). S. algae is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic microorganism widely distributed in seawater, freshwater, and soil. In humans, it is considered an opportunistic pathogen, especially in people with impaired immune systems. Shewanellosis has been strongly associated with seawater exposure and typically arises in hot months. Clinical manifestations include skin and soft tissue infections, otitis media, keratitis, biliary tract infections, vertebral discitis, and bloodstream infections. Notably, in the last years, S. algae infections have increased globally, even in healthy young people. The present study suggests blue crabs as a potential source of S. algae throughout the year. The increasing identification of S. algae in marine waters worldwide, as well as in marine-derived foods like blue crabs, underscores the growing importance of S. algae as an emerging pathogen and its impact on public health. Key messages • Shewanella algae is an opportunistic pathogen, increasingly isolated in marine water and seafood. • Blue crab is an invasive species that has recently conolonised the Italian coasts.

Exploring knowledge, attitudes and practices towards sustainable food aid programmes across Europe

Abstract Background Food insecurity has increased following the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict. In some EU high-income countries, more than 70% of food aid users experience food insecurity, highlighting the need for food aid programmes to provide good quality and sustainable services and maximise the social inclusion of food aid users. The aim of this study was to identify areas that can promote sustainability in food aid programmes. Methods Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards sustainable food aid were assessed via a quantitative questionnaire. Socio-demographic data were also collected. The survey was translated and disseminated online across 5 EU countries (Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Portugal), targeting staff and volunteers involved in food aid programmes (20 per country, total N = 100). Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results Most participants were female (68%), 18-49 years old (87%) and occupied in a NGO (89%) as employee (55%). The mean total knowledge score was 11.8 out of 19 (SD 3.2) with low knowledge (% of correct answers) on household food waste (18%) and environmental impact of cooking appliances (29%). In all countries (except Austria) more than 70% of participants agreed that they can apply sustainability through their work; however, more than 50% agreed that sustainability is not always feasible in food aid programmes. Food loss/waste, access to local food and the economic crisis were the main parameters reported to impact sustainability in food aid (≥70% of N). The most frequently applied practices were storing food according to expiration date, monitoring quantities in food distribution, considering beneficiaries’ needs and reading food labels. The least frequently applied practices were composting food leftovers and using energy-efficient methods to distribute food. Conclusions Sustainability is considered important; however, more effort is needed to promote and embed sustainability parameters in food aid programmes. Key messages • Sustainability is considered important in food aid programmes; however, more effort is needed to promote and embed sustainability parameters in practice. • Identifying sustainability areas in food aid programmes can lead to successful educational and training initiatives.

Gender and Education Differences in Mental Health in Belgium: a Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort Analysis

Abstract Background Mental illnesses (MI) constitute a growing public health problem, with reports of a higher prevalence among middle-aged adults (age effect), during specific periods such as economic crisis (period effect) and in recent birth cohorts (cohort effect). However, few studies have assessed whether these age-period-cohort (APC) effects were related to general population trends or if they are driven by changes in the mental health status of more vulnerable groups. Therefore, this study aimed to assess gender and educational differences underlying observed APC effects in the prevalence of MI in the Belgian adult population. Methods This study used data from six cross-sectional waves of the Belgian Health Interview Survey (1997-2018, ∼ 10,000 respondents per wave). Mental health was assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Bayesian hierarchical APC models were applied on the prevalence of MI, taking into account gender and educational differences, as well as some potential confounding factors. Results Overall, this study confirmed the higher prevalence of MI in middle-aged adult, in 2013, and in more recent birth cohorts (1980-2000). Accounting for the interaction between gender and education, we found that the MI educational gradient was more pronounced for women than men. Finally, we found that APC trends were different between gender. The odds of having MI tended to be stable across age groups for women, while men showed an increased odds between 50-60 years and a decrease between 60-65 years. Regarding period and cohort effects, the increase odds in 2013 was mainly present in men, while the increase in recent birth cohorts was mainly present in women. Conclusions This study emphasizes that the age-period-cohort effects on mental health are different depending on gender and education, thus enriching our understanding on the underlying mechanisms to better guide future public (mental) health policies. Key messages • This study shows the importance of studying not only the overall trends in mental illness, but also the underlying differences in its distribution. • Insights into gender and educational differences in Age-Period-Cohort effects on mental health is crucial for the development of timely and efficient public health interventions.

Mental health promotion research in co-creation: Lessons from a multisite study in six countries

Abstract Background Mounting public health threats associated with climate change, epidemiological and economic crises, digitalisation, rising migration, and population aging have uncovered at-risk groups’ increased vulnerability to mental ill health. Developing mental health promotion interventions tailored to their specific needs and expectations is essential to protect their wellbeing. However, researchers may find it challenging to identify and implement needed adaptations without engaging with end-users, and other stakeholders, to co-create tailor-made interventions. This study aimed to explore co-creators’ views about opportunities and constraints in participatory mental health promotion research. Methods Between September 2023 and July 2024, a qualitative study drawing on participant observation of bimonthly meetings and semi-structured interviews with six co-creation facilitators was conducted in the scope of Horizon Europe’s project ADVANCE. The multi-methods research approach to co-creation entailed desk reviews and online Delphi surveys co-developed with locally-established Society Advisory Groups, and scenario-based workshops held with stakeholders in the six partner countries: Denmark, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Switzerland. Thematic analysis of the data was carried out. Results Research teams’ epistemic stances impact research planning, resource allocation, partnership nourishing and the unravelling of co-option risks during participatory research implementation. Research co-creation adds pressure onto research teams’ agenda, skillset and performance, but it also encourages power sharing, mutual learning and greater alignment of research design and implementation with end-users’ priorities and aspirations. Conclusions Research co-creation is a partnership-based and resource-intensive endeavour that can provide a valuable pathway to improve the relevance, acceptability and sustainability of public mental health promotion research. Key messages • Research co-creation demands planning, adequate resource allocation, flexibility and continuous investment to sustain academy-society partnerships. • Engaging stakeholders in knowledge co-creation can increase the relevance, acceptability and sustainability of public mental health promotion research.

Burnout and perceived stress among health visitors in Hungary

Abstract Background In Hungary, the health visitors are responsible for the health promotion of families and communities. However, as a consequence of the structural reorganization of the health visitors service and the emotionally situations (e.g. the war in a neighboring country, the economic crisis) that have arisen, there has been an increased prevalence of chronic stress, burnout and career abandonment among health visitors. The objective of the cross-sectional study was to ascertain the prevalence of burnout among health visitors and to examine the relationship between burnout and job stress. Methods The data was collected via an online questionnaire tool. In addition to questions pertaining to sociodemographic data, the questionnaire employed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI Human Services Survey) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Hypotheses were tested using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis test, Dunett test. The source population of the study was health visitors. A total of 178 health visitors constituted the target population. Results The average age of the study participants was 45.2 years. It can be observed that health visitors who perceive less appreciation from their colleagues, employers and caregivers are more likely to experience higher levels of burnout and stress (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The lowest levels of stress were observed in school health visitors, while the highest levels were seen in health visitors covering villages (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Those who remained in the field due to a passion for working with families and children, a sense of vocation, and a desire to help others exhibited lower levels of burnout (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The high number of clients served by health visitors was found to increase burnout and stress levels (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Conclusions The findings of this research will assist in the comprehension of the phenomenon of burnout among health visitors, thereby enabling the development of more efficacious methods for the treatment and prevention. Key messages • Preventing burnout among health visitors is a priority, as it affects their work and their relationship with the families they care for in the short and long term. • Health visitors frequently encounter families in crisis during the course of their work, necessitating regular supervision to maintain their mental health.

Assessing Greece’s social vulnerability patterns in times of perma-crisis (2008–2022)

IntroductionThe study aims to map and analyse the development of social vulnerability patterns in Greece through a perma-crisis context (economic crisis, austerity, covid-19, energy, and inflation crisis) over the period 2008-2022.MethodsThe paper rests on the construction of a composite index of four key pillars of social vulnerability (employment, living conditions, health, and education) consisting of 15 selected variables obtained from the official Eurostat datasets and using PCA analysis.ResultsOur findings show that social vulnerability patterns in Greece demonstrate a considerable shift during the stated period where certain social groups (i.e., NEETs and precarious workers) seem to suffer the most. The first pattern (2008-2016) is largely characterized by the intensity and severity of the economic crisis and austerity measures, which contributed to the exacerbation of social vulnerability. The second pattern (2017-2022) presents a gradual decline mainly due to the recovery of the economy and a decrease in unemployment rates featuring a strong tendency to reach the pre-crisis levels in the years to come.DiscussionThe high levels of social vulnerability leading to social exclusion, poverty, and the widening of inequalities, impede the country’s resilience and recovery efforts and undermine social cohesion.

Accompanying popular organizations through grassroots planning in Argentina: A conversation with El Taller Libre de Proyecto Social (TLPS)

In this conversation, Beatriz Pedro, a professor of El Taller Libre de Proyecto Social (TLPS) shares her insights on grassroots planning accompanying popular organizations in Argentina. Beginning with Argentina’s 2001 economic crisis, Pedro describes how university students and professors mobilized to collaborate with popular organizations to address inadequate housing and urban abandonment. This collaboration evolved into a social approach to designing habitat, integrating various disciplines and respecting community proposals. Beatriz highlights the transformation from traditional architectural practices to a more collaborative, community-focused approach. This shift, which she terms a ‘meeting of knowledges,’ led to the establishment of a Catedra Libre at the University of Buenos Aires, formalizing their grassroots methodology. This conversation addresses the importance of university autonomy, the impact of fluctuating government support, and the role of international networks in sharing knowledge and strategies.