Economic Consequences Research Articles

Evaluating the economic and climate adaptation benefits of land conservation strategies in urban coastal regions of the U.S. and China

Land conservation has been recognized as a multifunctional adaptive strategy to tackle climate change as it includes the ability to mitigate risk and enhance biodiversity. However, limited empirical studies focus on the climatic adaptive functions of land conservation. Employing various geospatial and statistical techniques, including remote sensing, logistic regression, and landscape metrics, we investigate the effects of land conservation’s spatial characteristics. These characteristics affect the functional efficacy of climate adaptation in urban coastal regions, influencing regional economic vitality in the United States and China. Empirical results indicate that regional economic vitality is positively affected by parks and grassland, patch growth patterns, higher urban density, and closer proximities to coastlines and major roads. In contrast, the core growth form of land conservation has a negative economic effect. Among the estimated variables, we find that the patch growth form of land conservation and closer proximity to higher urban density have the largest positive effects on economic vitality across the study sites. Our findings contribute to both land conservation policy and the climate change literature by uncovering the spatially explicit effects of land conservation related to climate change adaptation.

Is temperature adversely related to economic development? Evidence on the short-run and the long-run links from sub-national data

We examine the effect of rising temperatures on regional economic development, using annual sub-national data for over 1500 regions in 152 countries between 1990 and 2017. In a panel setting with region- and country-year fixed effects, we find no evidence of a homogeneous or heterogeneous effect of rising temperatures on economic development as measured by regional per capita income. Additionally, we find no non-linear relationship between temperature and economic development. We also employ a long-difference approach that is attuned to exploring the long-run relationship between rising temperatures and regional income. Results indicate that rising temperatures have a negative long-run impact on regional per capita income for a minority of regions located in countries with weak economic, legal and political institutions. Furthermore, these vulnerable regions experience a decline in long-term population and human capital development. The use of alternative regional per capita GDP data from 1950 onwards yields similar empirical results. Our findings suggest that negative economic effects of temperature increase with time, only becoming apparent in the long run for regions in already disadvantaged countries. Thus, country-specific conditions may moderate regional economic vulnerability to future temperature increases due to global climate change.

MECHANISED COAL EXPLOITATION IN THE "BREZJE" PIT OF THE "DJURDJEVIK" BROWN COAL MINE

In addition to the coal and electricity market and changing geopolitical circumstances, there are other sufficiently rational reasons for opening new underground mining facilities and modernizing existing mining methods.Significant limiting factors and influences, in complex mining-geological conditions, most significantly affect the possibilities of the mechanized way of mining brown coal. The "Brezje" pit is a part of the deposit where the mining-geological factors are complex and determined by the natural conditions of the deposit's genesis. Excavation methods and technologies in complex deposit conditions must be based on great flexibility and adaptability.The complexity of the tectonic structure in the "Đurđevik" pit justified the application of chamber excavation methods with borehole blasting, in various technical modifications and solutions. In all previous solutions, the degree of mechanization of the method was not significantly improved and all modifications of the chamber method were non-mechanized or semi- mechanized with a large participation of manual work, technology based on drilling and blasting, high risk of injuries, low utilization of deposits, unjustified economic effects of work. The aim of this paper is to give an adequate answer to the hypothesis "in the block structure of the deposit with pronounced tectonics, it is possible to reduce the unfavorable influence of the complex mining-geological factors of the deposit on the excavation method by choosing modern mechanization for underground exploitation". The mechanized chamber method of excavation is a conceptual solution for the possible application in complex conditions of the proposed flexible mechanization for work in the "Brezje" pit. The advantage of modern multifunctional mining machines is a high degree of adaptability to the elements of the coal layer with the use of different working mechanisms (tools) that can be changed in a very short time depending on the working phase of the process. Key words: Pit, complexity, factors, chamber method, flexible, multifunctional machine

Environmental Regulation and Firms' Trans-regional Investment: Evidence From the implementation of the New Environmental Protection Law

Most literary works delve into the environmental consequences of the New Environmental Protection Law, widely regarded as the most stringent ecological protection legislation ever enacted. This study examines the relationship between implementing the New Environmental Protection Law and the cross-regional investment activities of firms. This study utilizes a difference-in-differences methodology to investigate the economic effects and underlying mechanisms from 2011 to 2022. The findings indicate that implementing the New Environmental Protection Law can reduce cross-regional investment by firms, with the cost of compliance playing a crucial role. The findings enhance the current research paradigm about the behavior of small businesses.

The Future of Solar Investments in MOROCCO

The future of solar investments in Morocco looks bright, thanks to the country's significant solar capacity and favorable geographic conditions. This study offers a thorough examination of the potential for solar energy investment in Morocco, with a focus on the country's current state, political landscape, technological advancements, and the socioeconomic and environmental effects. It also explores the future trends in the country including artificial intelligence (AI) for renewable energy prediction and green hydrogen production. The study also delves into the updated solar policy framework in the country, highlighting its goals of achieving 80% renewable energy by 2050 and installing 6000MW of solar capacity by 2030. It also examines the regulatory structures, incentive programs, and strategies aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels and attracting more investments in solar energy projects. The study analyzes the practicality of these policies, taking into account economic sustainability, technological progress, environmental effects, and infrastructure improvements. The findings propose an effective system for improving solar investments and attaining sustainable energy goals in Morocco.

Unveiling the Global Economic Impacts from Demographic Change in East Asia: An Estimation and Web Explores

This paper explores the economic consequences of demographic changes on development in 208 countries through 2100. We employ panel fixed effects models to estimate long-run equilibrium relationships between capital stock, labor force, and economic growth. Cointegration analysis confirms the existence of these long-run relationships. We affirm that there is a steady, long-run relationship between GDP, capital stock, and population. We also present our findings in an interactive web application, allowing users to explore how population shifts might impact economies worldwide. Highlighting key trends, we offer an illustrative case study of East Asia, while emphasizing the tool's universal applicability. Thus, this work does not seek to engage in specific academic discourse, but rather endeavors to contribute a valuable resource for informed public dialogue concerning the global economic implications of anticipated demographic transformations. The results show that the "Comparative Global Weights Forecasts" section showcases economic clout, illustrating Japan's decline and Indonesia's rise in global GDP rankings. Lastly, the "Comparative Regional Forecasts" section contrasts regional dynamics, such as East Asia & the Pacific versus South Asia, highlighting population peaks, economic growth disparities, and shifts in global GDP shares.

Unveiling the Global Economic Impacts from Demographic Change in East Asia: An Estimation and Web Explores

This paper explores the economic consequences of demographic changes on development in 208 countries through 2100. We employ panel fixed effects models to estimate long-run equilibrium relationships between capital stock, labor force, and economic growth. Cointegration analysis confirms the existence of these long-run relationships. We affirm that there is a steady, long-run relationship between GDP, capital stock, and population. We also present our findings in an interactive web application, allowing users to explore how population shifts might impact economies worldwide. Highlighting key trends, we offer an illustrative case study of East Asia, while emphasizing the tool's universal applicability. Thus, this work does not seek to engage in specific academic discourse, but rather endeavors to contribute a valuable resource for informed public dialogue concerning the global economic implications of anticipated demographic transformations. The results show that the "Comparative Global Weights Forecasts" section showcases economic clout, illustrating Japan's decline and Indonesia's rise in global GDP rankings. Lastly, the "Comparative Regional Forecasts" section contrasts regional dynamics, such as East Asia & the Pacific versus South Asia, highlighting population peaks, economic growth disparities, and shifts in global GDP shares.

Clinical and Economic Effectiveness of CT Angiography Methods in the Emergency Department for Intermediate-Risk Patients With Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Clinical and Economic Effectiveness of CT Angiography Methods in the Emergency Department for Intermediate-Risk Patients With Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Comparative analysis of the economic effects of special economic zones in China and Korea: evidence from a PSM difference-in-difference method

ABSTRACT This paper examines the economic effects of the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) on the export of industrial complexes in China and Korea, focusing on the synergistic economic effects between different types of SEZs, using the Propensity Score Matching difference-in-difference method. We use panel data of 284 Chinese cities and 162 Korean cities between 2000 and 2019, focusing on 93 industrial complexes in China, and 569 industrial complexes in Korea. We compare the effects of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) with other special economic zones, including Bonded Areas (BA) in China and Free Economic Zones (FEZ) and Foreign Investment Regions (FIZ) in Korea. The establishment of SEZs has a significant positive impact on the export growth of industrial complexes in both China and Korea. In Korea, a significant synergy effect on export is found between the FTZ and the FIZs. There is no synergy effect found between FEZs and other economic zones. After the implementation of the FTZ policy in China, the export of BA’s industrial complexes with ports and airports significantly increased, indicating that the FTZs have a positive synergy effect on the BAs with convenient transportation.

Dignity of Work and at Work: The Relationship between Workplace Dignity and Health among Latino Immigrants during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Latino immigrants living in the United States were highly vulnerable to the health and economic consequences brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. We use the conceptual framing of workplace dignity, worth that is acknowledged based on performance of job responsibilities, to explore Latino immigrants’ experiences during the early months of the pandemic. A qualitative study was conducted with La Clínica del Pueblo (La Clínica), a community health center serving low-income Latino immigrants. From June to December 2020, we conducted in-depth video interviews with 29 Latino immigrant clients to explore pandemic-related challenges, including workplace changes, discriminatory experiences, and effects on health. We conducted thematic analysis using Dedoose software. Nearly half of participants were undocumented immigrants. Most participants were unemployed or underemployed due to the pandemic and 26–49 years of age; one-third were still working, and one-quarter were 50 years or older. About half were cisgender women and two were transgender women. Employed participants experienced a lack of dignity through being socially isolated and stigmatized at work; receiving no compensation for their extra labor or for sick leave; and experiencing discriminatory labor practices. Unemployed participants experienced a lack of dignity in being the first to lose their jobs without government support; losing self-esteem; and not being rehired. Participants associated denial of dignity with worsening health conditions and increased anxiety and depression. Our study suggests that denial of workplace dignity—through job loss, underemployment, and poor working conditions—is linked to adverse health outcomes for Latino immigrants. More research should recognize workplace dignity as an important social determinant of health.

Economic Consequences of the Right to be Forgotten

The right to privacy and control over one’s own information entails the legal right to request the removal of search results relating to one’s personality if all of those results do not serve the originality of the information or the processing purposes. This paper’s objective is to examine the case for a right to be forgotten from an economic standpoint and the implications of satisfying millions of requests, as well as how the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has changed the way that this right is justified in society. This paper examines the economic consequences of reformulating requirements for realization and the right to remove previously classified material. The consequences are directly related to: the losses caused by a reduction in the amount of data accessible via search engines and the expected reduction in the operators’ commercial interest; the way the right to be forgotten is reflected in the costs associated with processing requests; and the negative effects of violations and sanctions. The conclusions will also evaluate the effects of each search engine’s obligations under the new territorial extension, as well as whether the benefits of upholding this human right outweigh all costs and efforts.

INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY OF PAVLODAR REGION: FORECASTING AND PRIORITIES

At the present stage, the country as a whole and in the regions have created the necessary basic conditions for building an innovation-oriented management system for the industrial sector, including corporate foundations, personnel training, and the implementation of state programs in the field of industrial and innovative development. At the meso-levels, work has been carried out on the formation of an infrastructure for the innovative development of the industrial sector. At the micro-levels, as part of the transition of industrial enterprises to innovative management systems, projects are being implemented to introduce international management systems, digitalize production processes, and create innovative organizational and management structures. The practical application of the model of innovative management of the industrial sector of the Pavlodar region in the conditions of digitalization should ensure, along with the economic effect, qualitative trends in transformational changes in the results of the activities of industrial enterprises in the region. To directly determine qualitative trends in transformational changes in the results of industrial enterprises, appropriate criteria must be identified. The article discusses innovative management, which is an essential element of the entire management system of any organization and is based on human potential. The main target of innovative management is focused on the effective achievement of the goals of the organization’s activities through qualitative changes in all elements and subsystems of management using innovations and innovations. The main result of innovative management is the growth of competitiveness of organizations, both in domestic and foreign markets. Keywords: forecast, innovation management, industry, management, digitalization.

Examining the Detrimental Consequences of Delaying Romania’s Full Accession to the Schengen Area: A Security-Centric Approach Aligned with Sustainable Development and Quality of Life

PURPOSE: To highlight the degree of perception among the young population in Romania (ages 18–35) regarding the impact of the decisions by some European Union (EU) countries to delay the full acceptance (air, maritime, and land) of Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area on various indicators characterizing the country’s sustainable development, national security interests, and the quality of life of the population. This study was deemed timely in light of the EU’s decision regarding the removal of air and maritime border controls with Romania starting on 31 March 2024 (“Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area, air and maritime”), while maintaining controls at land borders (non-acceptance of “land accession”), under the conditions of Romania fully meeting all the requirements imposed by European legislation, a situation considered by national authorities and the Romanian public as discrimination compared to European states, and causing significant disadvantages in terms of sustainable development and the country’s security interests. METHODS: The study was based on a questionnaire administered to 785 Romanian citizens aged 18–35 years. Data were collected during the period from 15 March 2024 to 15 April 2024, centered around the date of 31 March 2024, which marks “Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area, air and maritime”, through the elimination of EU air and maritime border controls with Romania. The main method used was statistical analysis (descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate), focused on detecting and assessing the degree of respondents’ awareness regarding the efforts of authorities for the full accession of Romania to the Schengen Area and the EU’s response to this effort; the negative impact of delaying the elimination of controls at the EU’s land borders with Romania (“land accession”) on national security interests, on the sustainable development of the country by relating to the objectives of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda developed at the United Nations Summit in September 2015, and on the quality of life of people in Romania. Additionally, the study was based on empirical research of the analyzed issues, in accordance with the available literature. RESULTS: The study reveals that, in the context of a very high level of awareness among respondents regarding the efforts of national authorities for Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area (75.26–91.30%) and access to credible information resources and materials about these efforts (65.10–73.05%), Romania’s status as a full-fledged EU member is a determining factor for motivating Romania’s full accession to the Schengen Area (83.33–93.48%). Furthermore, the decisions of some European states to delay full accession are perceived as subjective/unfair actions that are likely to limit/violate the access/facilities of Romanian citizens, as full-fledged EU citizens, to the values of the European democratic space (59.12–76.69%). Additionally, respondents believe that these decisions are likely to affect Romania’s security interests (43.61–56.52%), exacerbate the discrepancies between the living standards of Romania’s population and those of Western European countries (47.59–71.73%), and negatively impact the national implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda objectives, as these objectives mostly target significant national infrastructures. Moreover, the WHOQOL-BREF measurement tool shows that these decisions negatively affect, to a large and very large extent, the quality of life of people in Romania (32.07–41.31%), with specific characteristics of the investigated domains (“Physical”, “Psychological”, “Environmental”, and “Social”), depending on the considered socio-demographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that the study conducted provides a scientifically documented information base regarding respondents’ awareness of Romania’s efforts to join the Schengen Area, their perception of the direct consequences on national security, sustainable development of Romania, and quality of life, as a result of the decisions by some EU countries to delay Romania’s full accession to the Schengen Area. Lastly, the study reveals the correlation between the dissatisfaction/frustration of the population caused by the decision to delay Romania’s full accession to the Schengen Area and the questioning of the social, economic, political, and security consequences induced by this decision.

Joining forces to fight wildfires: Science and management in a protected area of Pantanal, Brazil

In 2020, the world’s largest continuous stretch of wetlands, the Pantanal in South America, recorded its most catastrophic fire season of the last two decades, resulting in severe economic, ecological and health consequences. Regional environmental institutions and communities are taking measures to protect their unique ecosystem, as is the case of the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Sesc Pantanal, a national protected area. The reserve was severely affected by the 2020 wildfires and is now en route to recover and intensify prevention strategies. Here, we employ a state-of-the-art satellite-derived burned area dataset and a global climate reanalysis product to map and assess the incidence and vulnerability of this reserve to its most concerning disturbance: wildfires. We validated the remote-sensed burned area product and found that the product successfully maps the years with higher fire activity. Then, we studied historical occurrences of burned areas within the reserve. The results show large burned areas are uncommon, and highlight the year 2020 as an outlier, when around 65 % of the reserve was burned. Climate trends over the last four decades show increasing temperatures and wind speed, and decreasing relative humidity and precipitation. Fire weather is thus steadily rising, bearing favourable conditions for fire activity over the most critical months of the year. This study provides useful information for fire management decisions within the largest privately held natural reserve in Brazil, and further allows the assessment of the applicability and limitations of large-scale and state-of-the-art products to inform decision-making within protected areas.

The TransIRIO model: Capturing the economic ripple effect of different economic behaviours in post-disaster emergency - Recovery - Reconstruction

Existing models for assessing the indirect economic impact of disasters typically focus on the economic impact of post-disaster reconstruction and ignore the repercussions of the periodic characteristics of disaster management; thus, these models rarely capture the full indirect economic impact of disasters. In response, this study develops the TransIRIO model, which captures the amplified impacts of emergency rescue, transportation interruption and reconstruction on demand during the emergency - recovery - reconstruction. The balancing of adaptive behaviours, such as creating an inventory buffer, price elasticity, import/export control strategies, and distribution optimization is explored, and the intelligent response behaviour of interregional industrial entities in post-disaster management is assessed. We apply the TransIRIO model to simulate the propagation of impacts across 31 provinces in mainland China following the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake. Our results found that previous assessment models that did not consider specific social activities during emergency rescue underestimated the indirect economic impact of disasters to some extent, and that underscored the importance of incorporating the spatially distributed and networked characteristics of transportation systems into supply-demand chain-based economic models. This study not only presents a novel approach to economic modelling but also provides valuable insights for policymakers and researchers engaged in post-disaster recovery planning.

High-throughput virtual screening of Streptomyces spp. metabolites as antiviral inhibitors against the Nipah virus matrix protein

Nipah virus (NiV) remains a significant global concern due to its impact on both the agricultural industry and human health, resulting in substantial economic and health consequences. Currently, there is no cure or commercially available vaccine for the virus. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize the discovery of new and effective treatment options to prevent its continued spread. Streptomyces spp. are rich sources of metabolites known for their bioactivity against certain diseases; however, their potential as antiviral drugs against the Nipah virus remain unexplored. In this study, 6524 Streptomyces spp. metabolites were screened through in silico methods for their inhibitory effects against the Nipah virus matrix (NiV-M) protein, which assists in virion assembly of Nipah virus. Different computer-aided tools were utilized to carry out the virtual screening process: ADMET profiling revealed 913 compounds with excellent safety and efficacy profiles, molecular docking predicted the binding poses and associated docking scores of the ligands in their respective targets, MD simulations confirmed the binding stability of the top ten highest-scoring ligands in a 100 ns all-atom simulation, PCA elucidated simulation convergence, and MMPB(GB)SA calculations estimated the binding energies of the final candidate compounds and determined the key residues crucial for complex formation. Using in silico methods, we identified six metabolites targeting the main substrate-binding site and five targeting the dimerization site that exhibited excellent stability and strong binding affinity. We recommend testing these compounds in the next stages of drug development to confirm their effectiveness as therapeutic agents against Nipah virus.

The Making of Social Democracy: The Economic and Electoral Consequences of Norway’s 1936 Folk School Reform

Abstract Upon assuming power for the first time in 1935, the Norwegian Labour Party delivered on its promise for a major schooling reform. The reform raised minimum instruction time in less developed rural areas and boosted the resources available to rural schools, reducing class size and raising teacher salaries. We show that cohorts more intensively affected by the reform increased their education and experienced higher labor income. Our main result is that the schooling reform also boosted support for the Norwegian Labour Party in subsequent elections. This additional support persisted for several decades and was pivotal in maintaining support for the social democratic coalition in Norway. These results are not driven by the direct impact of education and are not explained by higher turnout, or greater attention or resources from the Labour Party targeted towards the municipalities most affected by the reform. Rather, our evidence suggests that cohorts that benefited from the schooling reform, and their parents, rewarded the party for delivering a major reform that was beneficial to them.

Economic Effects of Introduction of Modern Technologies in Beekeeping

The article discusses the economic impact of integrating modern technologies in beekeeping, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and the Internet of Things (IoT). The balance between initial investment and Return on Investment (ROI), operational scalability, market competitiveness, and government policy influences is studied. The importance of Comprehensive Economic Analysis in optimizing benefits and overcoming the challenges beekeeping faces is emphasized. Introducing new technologies in the field leads to the scaling effect, which allows beekeepers to manage more processes and operations faster and with fewer costs and to enter wider markets, leading to increased revenue and high profitability. In addition, challenges related to the scale of activity and market conditions are noted, mainly faced by small apiaries in conditions of insufficient financial support (subsidies) from the state. In addition, the need to develop special training programs for the effective use of technologies is emphasized, which will make it easier for beekeepers to gain a competitive advantage, in particular, improving the quality of products, developing an appropriate marketing strategy and making effective decisions based on databases. The final part of the article presents the macroeconomic benefits that integrating modern technologies in beekeeping can bring - creating new jobs, increasing the incomes of the rural population, expanding the market, and increasing exports. The need for a comprehensive economic analysis of the field to achieve sustainable and useful technological progress in beekeeping is noted.

Economic Efficiency and Effectiveness of Salix acmophylla in Reducing Wastewater Characteristics : A Case study in Varzaneh Wastewater Treatment Plant, Isfahan, Iran.

Introduction: Phytoremediation is a sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly process that utilizes plants and microorganisms for purification of the polluted land. In this study, the fast-growing species Salix acmophylla from the Salicaceae family was selected for phytoremediation purposes. Materials and methods: With the aim of exploring the potential of Salix acmophylla in wastewater purification, a research initiative was launched in 2020, Following initial land preparation on a 5-hectare site next to a wastewater treatment plant, 60,000 Salix acmophylla cuttings were planted. By 2022, the trees had matured to a height of 3-4 meters. Wastewater samples were then collected and analyzed for pollutant levels both before entering the planted area and after passing through drainage channels built among the trees. This allowed researchers to calculate the average efficiency of Salix acmophylla in reducing wastewater pollutants. Results: The results regarding the impact of Salix acmophylla trees on the reduction of wastewater Characteristics in the cultivation area were the following: COD, BOD5, TSS, TDS, EC, and turbidity exhibited reductions of 38%, 42%, 17.5%, 79%, 52.2%, and 45.6%, respectively. Additionally, the estimated income from the cultivation of these trees was approximately $49,000. Conclusion: Planting Salix acmophylla trees significantly contributes to the reduction of wastewater pollutant parameters, suggesting the recommendation of this species for similar climates.

Supply-Chain Antitrust and Being Too Big in the Context of AT&T’s 1984 Breakup

In 1984, due to a US Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit, AT&T, the U.S. telecommunications monopoly, split into eight entities, including long-distance and local service providers known as Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs). Vertical integration of suppliers typically benefits consumers by avoiding the issues associated with successive monopolies, where prices may be excessively high. The separation of long-distance and local services by the Department of Justice may seem counterintuitive, potentially driven by concerns over AT&T's size rather than economic rationale. This paper suggests that integrated monopolies have more willingness to build demand rigidity due to an absence of the free-riding problem, leading to higher prices. The implications extend to regulated firms and social media, highlighting the complexity of antitrust actions and their economic consequences on market dynamics and consumer welfare.