Effects Of Policy Measures Research Articles

Aging Population in Vietnam: Challenges, Implications, and Policy Recommendations

Objectives: This paper aimed to critically examine challenges of Vietnam in addressing its aging population, highlighting its status as the third fastest aging nation in ASEAN, after Singapore and Thailand. The primary goals are to grasp the impending demographic shift and offer recommendations for policymakers. Design: This study is a comprehensive review providing insights into the aging situation in Vietnam. It focused on short and long-term strategies to tackle challenges posed by the rapidly growing older adult population. It contextualized the aging issue in its socio-economic landscape. The review spanned 2020 to 2050, outlining the expected transformation in the population aged 65 years or above. Setting(s): The study has focused on Vietnam’s aging population by consolidating the secondary data sources. Participants: The study is a secondary data and hence various secondary sources have been used to analyze the data of this study. Interventions: There are no interventions used in this study. Outcome measures: Anticipated changes in the percentage of the population aged 65 years or above serve as outcome measures. This commentary projects an increase from nearly 7% in 2020 to 14% by 2035, tripling to 21% by 2050, indicating the magnitude of the aging challenge in Vietnam. Results: The present review proposes recommendations to address the aging issue, including boosting the skilled workforce, investing in technology and research and development (R&D), enhancing human capital, promoting international migration, creating additional funding opportunities, and introducing social protection measures. The results section encapsulates these suggested strategies as potential solutions to identified challenges. Conclusions: Vietnam faces a significant aging challenge with a rapid increase in the older adult population. This commentary advocates for a proactive approach by policymakers. The recommended strategies, both short and long-term, aim to mitigate economic and social challenges associated with an aging population. The conclusion stresses the importance of timely and effective policy measures to ensure sustainable development amid demographic changes in Vietnam.

THE IMPACT OF DEMOGRAPHIC RESILIENCE ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTRIES (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE VISEGRAD GROUP COUNTRIES)

The population, its physical well-being and development is a defining feature of society, the basis of the state's strength. Taking into account demographic trends is important in shaping strategies for economic development. Understanding the impact of population changes on the labour market, consumer demand, investment climate, and population expenditures is crucial for creating a sustainable and competitive economy.The demographic resilience of a country is determined by its ability to ensure quantitative and qualitative reproduction of demographic structures at various stages of historical development. Demographic resilience is a dynamic category that changes over time, and the level of a country's demographic resilience is defined by the parameters of its functioning.The level of demographic resilience depends on trends in population reproduction and mortality, demographic dependency, migration processes, gender equality, and the development of the healthcare system. Under these conditions, the assessment of the demographic resilience of the Visegrad Group countries was carried out in the context of these specified directions, allowing for the calculation of an indicator of the level of demographic resilience for Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.The analysis of the level of demographic resilience in the Visegrad Group countries indicates an average value. However, the analysis of reproduction and mortality indicators suggests the presence of demographic crises in these countries. Population decline, falling birth rates, and an increase in mortality rates are key characteristics of the demographic crisis. Therefore, the Visegrad Group countries need to implement effective policy measures to ensure the development and efficient use of human capital, as well as social protection for migrants, refugees, and citizens, at a sufficient level through a politically and financially stable system.

Examining the benefits and drawbacks of social media usage on academic performance: a study among university students in Bangladesh

PurposeThis research aims to explore how social media influences the academic performance of university students in Bangladesh and examines the benefits and drawbacks of its usage.Design/methodology/approachWe distributed a well-structured questionnaire among students enrolled in various programs at different universities in Bangladesh to collect data. We analyzed the data using factor analysis and regression models to uncover the impact of social media on academic performance.FindingsOur research findings demonstrate that social media plays a crucial role in facilitating communication, information sharing and content development among university students in Bangladesh. Excessive reliance on social media can lead to dependence and hinder innovation, as students tend to excessively rely on readily available resources.Research limitations/implicationsWe relied on self-reported data from a limited sample size, which may affect the generalizability of our findings.Social implicationsThis study highlights the need to promote responsible use of social media among university students in Bangladesh to enhance their academic performance. We recommend implementing effective policy measures to control and manage undesired usage patterns, foster an intellectually equipped student body and contribute to the development of a knowledgeable and successful Bangladesh.Originality/valueThis research makes a significant contribution by examining the influence of social media on academic performance among university students in Bangladesh. It proposes practical policy measures to address the drawbacks associated with excessive reliance on social media, thereby contributing to decision-making and intervention strategies for promoting responsible usage.

BEYOND BORDERS: UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIETAL AND POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF MIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION IN INDIA

India has been a significant source of human resources for many countries. However, it has also emerged as a destination for migrants from the African continent and neighboring Asian countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, seeking education and work opportunities. However, this influx of migrants and immigrants has led to various social problems and political challenges that require urgent policy attention. Within the host country, immigrants often face unfavorable conditions, uncertainty, and instability. The social problems resulting from migration and immigration in India encompass poverty, acculturation, education, housing, employment, social adjustment, and family difficulties. These challenges demand a comprehensive understanding and effective policy measures. In addition to the social issues, immigration and migration have significant political consequences. Questions arise regarding political inclusion, political liberties, effects on political stability, and potential implications for conflicts and wars. It is essential to address these political aspects to ensure a harmonious and sustainable social and political environment. This paper delves into a thorough analysis of the social problems and political challenges arising from immigration and migration within India. It takes into account both international immigration and internal migration, providing a holistic perspective on the issue. To tackle the identified social problems and political challenges, this paper proposes policy statements that prioritize the interests of all stakeholders involved, including the host country, the country of origin, local communities, and the immigrants and migrants themselves. The aim is to foster an inclusive and cooperative approach towards addressing these issues effectively.

COVID-19 Pandemic – Battle of Narratives: Social Constructivism as a Defence Mechanism

The article analyses the development of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Slovakia, Czechia and Slovenia in the frame of expert, political and administrative narratives. The argumentative part mainly focuses on the development of the narrative in Slovenia and uses the examples from the Czech Republic and Slovakia as the reference frame. Information was collected from the various national media outlets and organized into the comparative time frames and compared with the epidemiological data. Slovenian inconsistencies in communication patterns developed into the complete disintegration of the pandemic crisis management and into the struggle for the supremacy of personal political agenda. As a case study, the article shows the constructivist relativism through the comparison of data and government-media narrative. Thus, the article addresses the issues of relativism on the one hand and of narrative absolutism on the other. The main aim is a critical presentation of “a crisis event” in connection to the government authorities spin on an event according to their political goals. The given case, due to a rather short period, strong media coverage and high data availability, shows inconsistencies of epidemiological data interpretation, resulting in multiple realities, causing multiple responses that paralysed effective decision-making as well as effective policy measures.

Association of cigarette excise taxes and clean indoor air laws with change in smoking behavior in the United States: a Markov modeling analysis.

The rates of cigarette smoking in the United States have declined over the past few decades in parallel with increases in cigarette taxes and introduction of more stringent clean indoor air laws. Few longitudinal studies have examined association of taxes and clean indoor air policies with change in smoking nationally. This study examined the association of state and local cigarette taxes and clean indoor laws with change in smoking status of 18,499 adult participants of the longitudinal 2010-2011 Tobacco Use Supplement of the Current Population Survey over a period of 1 year. Every $1 increase in cigarette excise taxes was associated with 36% higher likelihood of stopping smoking among regular smokers. We found no association between clean indoor air laws and smoking cessation nor between taxes and clean indoor air laws with lower risk of smoking initiation. Cigarette taxes appear to be effective anti-smoking policies. Some state and local governments do not take full advantage of this effective policy measure.

The prevalence and underlying factors of mental health disorders in Malaysian youth

This study aims to identify the current state of mental health among youth aged between 15 and 30 years old in Malaysia, using nationally representative data for the year 2020. This data consists of 21,126 respondents from all states in Malaysia. Apart from using inferential analysis to understand the distribution, we used the logit model to identify the factors that affect the likelihood of having three kinds of mental health symptoms, namely depression, stress, and anxiety. Among young people who reported having mental health symptoms, 17 percent have one, 20 percent have two, and 20 percent have all three mental health symptoms. These symptoms and suicide ideation show a significantly different distribution by gender, with females showing a higher incidence than males. Age, gender, ethnicity, income, marital status, social interaction, and physical illness significantly affect the likelihood of exhibiting mental health problems. These findings may be helpful for policymakers and respective agencies in designing appropriate and effective policy measures to address the issue of mental health among youth, particularly in Malaysia.

Measuring child vulnerability to poverty: Material and psychosocial deprivation

The analysis and measurement of what makes children vulnerable to falling into or remaining in poverty is key to ensure equality of opportunities across children, as well as fostering the sustainability of the societal well-being for future generations. This study aims at analysing the child vulnerability to poverty as a broader concept than child poverty because, besides the material deprivation, it also considers the psychosocial deprivation as a result of the relationships of children with their closest environments. We propose to address this issue by means of a multidimensional fuzzy approach. Following the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, we measure the propensity to be deprived in six dimensions of material deprivation and four of psychosocial deprivation in 32 countries. We use the International Survey of Children's Well-Being (wave 2016–2019), in which 10-years-old children are the respondents. Our study finds that whereas children in developed countries experience more psychosocial than material deprivation, in developing countries there is no clear pattern. Based on the above evidence, we would argue that material and psychosocial deprivation do not go hand in hand and their joint analysis represents a promising tool for a better understanding of children well-being to plan more effective policy measures.

Real estate investment trusts during market shocks: Impact and resilience

The market value of a stock is a function of firm performance and market sentiment. Specific events can alter returns and present several challenges to market performances. Through an event study design, this study examines five real estate investment trusts (REITs) market indices’ responses to market shock from the initial COVID-19 outbreak. The results revealed negative cumulative abnormal returns for lodging, health care, and retail REITs over the 20-day trading window. Considering their lower drawdown losses, the remaining REIT sectors showed greater resilience than their counterparts. Block bootstrapping confirmed the returns were significantly worse for all sectors, with retail and lodging sectors having the poorest returns. This study advances the literature on pandemic-related market crashes along with how COVID-19 affected cross-sector REIT equities compared to other market indices. REIT firms can use the findings to develop more effective policy measures as responses to pandemic market conditions.

The fair and acceptable implementation of carbon market in Indonesia

In the 27th Conference of the Parties (CoP), many countries committed to net zero pledges to reduce carbon emissions, including Indonesia’s pledge to achieve net zero by 2060 through raise target of Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (E-NDC) by 2030. These ambitious goals require significant financing and technical support. However, as a developing country, Indonesia must balance its sustainability efforts with its need for affordable and sufficient energy sources to support economic growth. This paper examines the effectiveness of policy measures in reducing carbon emissions and promoting climate change mitigation. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature, this paper assesses the implementation of carbon economic value in Indonesia in terms of their potential economic impacts, political feasibility and legal and institutional challenges. The paper analyses the interactions between these policy instruments and evaluates the benefits and challenges of combining different policy measures in promoting climate change mitigation. This paper highlights the importance of a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing climate change and provides valuable insights for policymakers in designing effective policy measures that facilitate the transition to a low carbon economy.

Traditional beliefs and willingness to pay for improving a mining-polluted river in Ghana

Pollution of water resources is a widespread challenge across the globe which requires effective policy measures. However, in many instances, state institutions are weak in addressing these problems. One then wonders what alternative management regimes can be used in place of public policies. This study examined the willingness to pay (WTP) for the improvement of the Ankobra River, a mining-polluted river in the Western Region of Ghana, using the contingent valuation method. Primary data was collected from 611 respondents from 8 communities in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality and were analysed using probit and interval regression models. The findings suggest that respondents were concerned about the current polluted state of the Ankobra River and traditional beliefs regarding the spiritual value of the river were still very relevant to them. Consequently, respondents with the belief that the river is an abode of gods as well as natives who believe that Ankobra River is a god were more likely to pay for the improvement of its water quality. Surprisingly, respondents who believed that the river is a god had a lower WTP. Income, natives, existence value, secondary and tertiary education also had positive significant association with WTP, older respondents were less likely to pay while respondents with bigger household sizes, and the divorced had lower WTP. The estimated mean WTP for water quality improvement of the Ankobra River is GHC 51.52 ($6.62) per annum. Local community involvement in policy decision-making regarding water resources is key.

Strategies and Actions for Achieving Carbon Neutrality in Portuguese Residential Buildings by 2050

As a crucial step in addressing the climate emergency and enhancing energy security, the European Union has set ambitious targets to decarbonise its economy by 2050. While the building sector plays a pivotal role in this transition, being accountable for 36% of the EU’s total carbon emissions, it shows a renovation rate below 1% per year, which is clearly insufficient. To address this challenge, this study uses the cost-optimal methodology from private and social perspectives to assess the cost-effectiveness and environmental impact of five renovation packages with passive and active solutions currently available on the Portuguese market. The results demonstrated that from both perspectives, optimal combinations of market solutions were generally cost-effective and could lead to a 90–99% reduction in energy needs and even to zero carbon levels. Nevertheless, beyond cost-effectiveness, consideration of co-benefits, e.g., social and health improvements, is also crucial, requiring government action. To drive these essential changes, effective policy measures are imperative. Recommendations encompass robust regulatory frameworks, financial support mechanisms, knowledge dissemination, and a shift towards broader-scale renovation. For carbon reduction to be economically attractive, fostering innovative business models and leveraging legal instruments to tackle complex scenarios are needed.

Integrated energy planning approach for accelerating energy transition of households

The success of energy transition planning depends on several influential and variable factors that need to be considered and tracked in modeling to support policymakers. Expert-based energy models are mainly developed following the assumptions of experts and, in most cases, a limited number of stakeholders. This top-down modeling approach will provide satisfactory results in centrally managed energy sectors (electricity generation and distribution, district heating, etc.), where further decisions could be projected relatively precisely. However, the same approach will not provide such certain outcomes in energy sectors where numerous heterogeneous individuals make decisions about the energy future. Households are a typical example of such a sector. The future structure of energy consumption in this sector, selection of energy source, or application of specific technology, especially in households with individual heating systems, introduce significant uncertainty in expert-based energy modeling and the creation of policy. Besides prices, the decisions of households are influenced by their attitudes, social environment, and incentive measures, etc. The influence of these factors on the adoption of sustainable heating by households can be examined using a bottom-up modeling approach, like the agent-based simulation model. The output of the agent-based simulation model provides useful data that can be further incorporated as one of the main assumptions in scenario development in an expert-based energy model. This paper offers an integration of these two approaches (bottom-up and top-down) for the early assessment of supporting measures and mechanisms for accelerating the energy transition in the household sector. The integrated approach is applied and tested for exploring pathways and effects of policy measures on the transition of individual heating in the household sector in Serbia.

Analysis of Financial Inclusion in India: A Comparative Study of Selected Countries

The importance of financial inclusion in economic and financial discourse has piqued the interest of academics and practitioners alike.  Financial inclusion is viewed as a tool for poverty reduction around the world, and it is now on the agenda of all policymakers in both rich and developing nations. The current study explores the amount of financial inclusion in various nations across the world to highlight the importance of financial inclusion and give insight into the level of financial inclusion globally. Using four metrics from the World Bank Global Findex database 2021, this study assesses the extent of financial inclusion in India, the G20, and SAARC nations. The findings show that India performed better than the global average in terms of account ownership, but it was in the bottom half of G20 nations in terms of account ownership, citizen borrowings, and savings. When compared to the G20 and SAARC countries, India had a very tiny average proportion of borrowings. Government payments in the case of G20 nations were the highest and this statistic was relatively lower in the case of India. A similar pattern was also observed in the case of savings by the citizens. Outcome of the study will go a long way in improving the quality of financial inclusion initiatives so that desirable ground level benefits are realized. Findings of the study will not only provide an assessment of the present situation but also provide vital clues for steering relevant and effective policy measures.

The impacts of high-speed railway on environmental sustainability: quasi-experimental evidence from China

With growing concerns over resource depletion and environmental degradation, the role of high-speed railways in fostering a transition towards sustainable energy sources has gained prominence. Against this background, we treat the opening of high-speed railways as a quasi-natural study, analyze data from Chinese industrial enterprises and 285 prefecture-level cities to investigate the impact of high-speed railways on environmental sustainability, specifically focusing on fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Our results unequivocally demonstrate that the introduction of high-speed railways has been instrumental in promoting eco-friendly development, as evidenced by a notable reduction in traditional resource consumption and carbon emissions along the railway routes. This inhibitory effect has strengthened over time and with increasing distance from the railway. Additionally, we identify significant spatial spillover and spatial conduction effects resulting from high-speed railway operations. Heterogeneity tests reveal that third-tier cities, non-megacities, and mature resource-based cities are particularly receptive to these sustainable impacts. Besides, Mechanism analysis suggests that accelerated elements flow, enhanced technological innovation, improved labor productivity, and upgrading of industrial structure serve as potential pathways leading to eco-sustainability. These findings highlight the environmentally friendly attributes of high-speed railways and underscore the pressing need for effective policy measures to facilitate a global transition towards renewable energy, both in China and worldwide.

CITIZENS' ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION TOWARD ROOFTOP GARDENING IN CITY AREA

Bangladesh, well known for its abundant green resources, has experienced rapid population growth and uncontrolled infrastructural development in cities, resulting in a loss of urban green spaces and environmental problem. Rooftop gardening has been proposed as a sustainable and affordable solution to mitigate these problems and create green spaces of cities in Bangladesh. This study assesses the social acceptance of rooftop gardens among city dwellers in Bangladesh. A descriptive quantitative study was conducted using convenient sampling methods. A total of 475 participants, including half of them male and another half female, were surveyed through an online Google form questionnaire in eight divisional cities and district areas across Bangladesh. Data were analyzed using SPSS and MS Excel, including descriptive statistics such as percentage distribution and chi-square test and inferential statistics such as correlation coefficient. The study found that approximately three quarter of respondents had positive attitude scores towards rooftop gardening, while almost a third had negative attitude scores indicating unwillingness. In terms of behavioral perceptions, nearly three quarter of respondents had positive scores, while almost a third had negative scores. The study also found associations between attitude, behavior, and socio-demographic factors such as sex (p<0.05). Furthermore, a positive linear association was observed between respondents' attitudes and behavioral perceptions towards rooftop gardening, as determined by the correlation coefficient. However, the study revealed that one third of respondents still had negative attitudes and just over a third had negative behavioral perceptions towards rooftop gardening. Therefore, effective policy measures and joint initiatives from the government and city municipalities are necessary to enhance the acceptance of rooftop gardens among the respondents.

Ecological compensation mechanism under the double control of water quality and quantity in the Bai River Basin

Watershed ecological compensation is an effective economic policy measure for water ecology conservation and water environment management. This study constructed an eco-compensation mechanism under the double control of water quality and quantity, which consisted of the water quality control module, the water quantity control module, and the double control compensation value module. The pollution loss water quantity and the river habitat compensation water quantity were calculated, and the water quality achievement or excess and water quantity surplus or deficit were identified to divide the multi-scenario compensation mode and obtain the double control compensation value. The Bai River Basin in Nanyang, China, was selected as the case study, and the double control compensation value of the three counties in the basin was calculated from 2015 to 2018. The results showed that the water quantity compensation value of all counties was higher than the water quality compensation value, indicating that the water quantity has a greater impact on the water environment compared with water quality, and the ecological water demand of rivers needs to be guaranteed while strengthening water pollution treatment. The compensation mode all belonged to the double control mode. The double-control compensation mechanism had a distinct advantage over the single-control compensation, indicating that water quality and quantity should be considered in the compensation programs to maintain healthy ecological conditions in the water supply. The research results provide ideas for the quantification of eco-compensation and the formulation of long-term ecological protection mechanisms.

Does subway mileage affect urban housing prices? An economic growth perspective

ABSTRACT Studying the mechanism by which urban subway construction in China increases housing prices can help deepen the understanding of the factors that rises in housing prices and may assist the government to conduct reasonable macro-control of the real estate market. This article takes unbalanced panel data from 31 major cities in China as research samples and studies the mechanism by which urban subway construction increases housing prices by influencing urban economic growth. Our findings are as follows: (1) Subway construction promotes urban economic growth, and urban economic growth, from both the demand and supply sides, increases housing prices by increasing the disposable income of urban residents and the purchase price of residential land. (2) Urban subway construction increases city land purchase prices by affecting investors’ expectations of urban land development through the regulating effects of urban economic growth, which in turn increases housing prices. (3) Effective policy measures aimed at managing the speculative impact of metro construction on housing prices need to be viewed for the expectation management of housing and land speculative demand from both the demand side and the supply side.

Do car drivers respond differently to fuel price changes? Evidence from German household data

AbstractFor cutting down greenhouse gas emissions in road transport, core economic measures are relying on the response to increasing fuel prices—i.e., the fuel price elasticity. A focal point of the effectiveness of these measures is the heterogeneity in fuel price elasticities of different vehicle users. These effects were often neglected in the transport-related literature and were only incorporated recently. The results show, however, sometimes contradicting conclusions on influencing parameters such as income, region-type or household size. In this paper, we used a pooled OLS model estimated on a German refuelling diary data set and analysed the impact of various household level characteristics on fuel price elasticities through an analysis of interaction terms and their marginal effects. This analysis provides a cornerstone in this discussion on fuel price elasticities. We found out that the overall results contrast the existing literature by identifying heterogeneity in fuel price elasticities among German households for different socio-economic and regional characteristics. The results are highly relevant for policy modellers and for introducing effective policy measures for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in road transport.

Instrumental variable approach on analyzing risk factors associated with noncommunicable disease prevalence in Tanzania: A nonexperimental design.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have emerged as a substantial burden in developing countries, representing the leading cause of mortality. Addressing this critical issue necessitates effective interventions and policy measures. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the risk factors associated with NCD prevalence in Tanzania. This study employed a nonexperimental research design due to its ability to analyze secondary data without altering variables. The used data set of the study was sourced from National Panel Survey2020/21 and Household Budget Survey2017/18. The econometrics analysis applied in the study include two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI) and control function approachdue to their ability to suppress endogeneity and enhance the clarity of results. The findings indicate a significant positive correlation between alcohol consumption (0.4110382, p = 0.02), cigarette smoking (0.3354297, p < 0.001), and NCDs, emphasizing the urgency of targeted interventions to mitigate these behaviors. Conversely, a negative correlation is observed between fruit and vegetable intake (-0.1063375, p < 0.001), physical exercises (-0.3744925, p < 0.001), and NCDs, underscoring the importance of promoting healthy dietary habits and frequent exercises. These results accentuate the immediate need for targeted interventions and policy measures to address these risk factors and effectively combat the escalating burden of NCDs in Tanzania and similar contexts. Moreover, the need for improved public awareness campaigns and the promotion of healthy life campaigns are vital in the fight to lower the prevalence of NCDs across communities.