Rich And Poor Research Articles

Spatiotemporal Accessibility of Rail Transport Systems in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and Its Implications on Economic Equity

Reducing inequality and fostering economic growth is the tenth global goal of the United Nations for sustainable development. Rail transport significantly influences spatial structures, industrial distributions, and is vital for regional economic integration. Despite its importance, the impact of rail transport on economic equity has not been thoroughly explored in current literature. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating the spatiotemporal characteristics of rail transport accessibility and its implications for economic equity in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. We considered high-speed, intercity, and conventional rail transport and employ three distinct indicators—door-to-door travel time, weighted average travel time, and potential accessibility—to provide a nuanced assessment of accessibility in the region. Each indicator provides a unique perspective on how accessibility affects economic equity, collectively broadening the scope of the analysis. From 1998 to 2020, the evolution of rail transport and its consequent impact on regional economic equity is scrutinized. Advanced econometric methods, namely ordinary least squares, and spatial Durbin models, are combined with the Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve for comprehensive quantitative analysis. This approach highlights the dynamic influence of rail transport development on economic equity, contributing to the sustainable urban development discourse. The results reveal that although rail transport advancements bolster connectivity and economic growth, they also exacerbate regional economic inequality. This study provides valuable insights for urban planning and policymaking by elucidating the complex relationship between rail transport accessibility and economic equity. Our findings underscore the importance of implementing balanced and inclusive transport policies that foster growth and efficiency while mitigating socioeconomic disparities.

In search of lost social finance: How do financial instability and inequality interact?

The 2008 crisis and COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the impacts of financial shocks on the vulnerable, emphasizing the challenges posed by financial instability to social finance. However, academic studies on financial instability and income inequality present mixed results. They often focus on specific instances of financial crises rather than evolving effects, examine uni-directional causality rather than interactions, and rely on slowly changing annual data instead of higher-frequency data. This study fills these gaps by examining the time-varying bidirectional relationship between financial instability and income inequality in the US, using a newly developed monthly database from January 1990 to March 2023. We demonstrate the existence of a vicious cycle in which persistent financial instability leads to increased income inequality, which in turn triggers financial crises through the harmful effects of credit deregulation. Based on these findings, we argue that a “Robin Hood strategy” of progressive taxation to improve access to quality education and healthcare could offer a more effective solution to tackle inequality than easing credit access for low-income groups through deregulation.

Do floods widen the economic disparity gap?

Floods exacerbate economic inequality, disproportionately affecting the poor in flood-prone areas while the rich in non-flood-prone regions continue to prosper. While this trend was illustrated conceptually and qualitatively, this study offers the first quantitative evidence that floods widen the economic disparity gap between the rich and poor in flooded and non-flooded areas. Using Household Interview Survey (HIS) data, we analyze the floods of Thailand's Chao Phraya River in 2011 and 2021 to measure the economic impact on households. The economic gap between the non-flooded rich and flooded poor widened from 38,539 Baht in 2011 to 104,897 Baht in 2021, a 2.7-fold increase. Surprisingly, the poor in our study differed from the hypothesis in that there was still improving economic growth, albeit small. Floods decrease the poor's ability to accumulate wealth – 9.2%, as opposed to 60.7% for the rich – although their impact on widening disparity for households of the same economic stratum was far greater for the poor (widened 18×) than for the rich (widened 4.7×). Finally, we propose ‘net total cash’ as a better measure of economic change compared to ‘income’ or ‘expenditure’, minimizing external influences like the COVID-19 pandemic, which in 2021 caused income to plummet and expenditure to rise.

Adapting to Climate Change: From Capitalism to Democratic Eco-Socialism

ABSTRACT The climate crisis is growing worse. Efforts to mitigate climate change have failed to stem the growing production of the greenhouse gas pollution that has created and exacerbated it. This failure is largely attributable to capitalism, including its current neoliberal form, and its continued addiction to fossil fuels. Consequently, there have been growing calls to ramp up efforts to help communities and countries, especially the world’s poorest, adapt to the inevitably worsening impacts of climate change. It is unlikely that adaptation policies premised on capitalism will be any more effective than capitalist-oriented mitigation policies. Instead, what is required is “transformational change” premised on alternative socio-economic assumptions that put environmental sustainability, social justice and economic equity before material growth and profit-seeking. Mainstream analyses of transformation rarely move beyond recommendations for changing prevailing ideas regarding nature, coupled with upscaling renewable energy, while slow-rolling the transition away from fossil fuels. This leaves untouched the prevailing institutions of national and global societies that are blocking a rapid path to sustainability and an effective response to climate change. In contrast, democratic eco-socialism offers a transformative alternative with much greater potential to enable fair and effective adaptation to the future impacts of climate change.

Global Warming in Interaction with Domestic and Foreign Investment: The Indian Case Study

Human actions have a substantial impact on the global environment. The depletion of the ozone layer due to the use of chlorofluorocarbons and the threat of global warming due to the accumulation of "greenhouse gases," carbon dioxide and methane that is released in agriculture, energy production, and transportation are few prominent illustrations of damages to the environment. The advent of these unprecedented repercussions of human activities on a global scale eventually directs to a complex economic policy in the world. Hence, the policies to promote economic growth, equity, trade, and technological change to have a significant impact on the global environmental scenario. Purpose: In this respect, the current study concentrates on the financial activities by a country, specifically, India, in relation to the global warming. The major financial activities in a country are based on domestic as well as foreign investment. The source of the domestic financial investment activities, known as Domestic Investment (DI), considered here are investment in plant, machinery, and equipment purchase. While the source of foreign investment is specified as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Methodology: The study applies Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to find the co-integration between the three variables. Further, the long run impact of domestic investment and short run impact of FDI on carbon dioxide emission are found to be present. Finding: The study finds significant environmental impact of domestic and foreign investment in India. Implication: Further, the study provides important policy implication by suggesting reducing the usage of carbon emission through fossil fuel to improve long run sustainable development in India.

Civil Implications of Monopoly Practices in Business Competition Law in Indonesia

Monopoly practices present substantial challenges to both civil rights and economic equity in Indonesia. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the civil implications of monopolistic behavior within the context of Indonesian business competition law. The study delves into the multifaceted impacts of monopolies on market dynamics, consumer rights, and overall economic health. It is evident that monopolistic practices distort market fairness by limiting consumer choices, inflating prices, and diminishing the quality of goods and services. These adverse outcomes highlight significant violations of civil rights, particularly in restricting individuals' freedom to make informed and free choices in the marketplace. The legal framework in Indonesia, while foundational, often lacks the robustness required to effectively address the sophisticated nature of modern monopolistic strategies. The effectiveness of these laws is crucial in curbing monopolistic behavior and ensuring fair market conditions. Through a detailed examination of existing regulations and their enforcement, this article identifies key areas where legal improvements are necessary. It advocates for a more comprehensive policy approach and enhanced regulatory mechanisms to safeguard against the civil and economic repercussions of monopoly practices. Furthermore, the economic implications of monopolistic practices are discussed, emphasizing how they contribute to market inefficiencies and economic disparities. By concentrating market power, monopolies not only stifle competition but also create barriers to entry for smaller businesses, thereby hindering innovation and economic growth. The article concludes with recommendations aimed at strengthening Indonesia's legal and regulatory framework to better protect consumer rights and promote a more equitable economic environment.

Self-Employment Transitions and Health Outcomes in Later Life: Evidence From China.

Self-employment is a vital alternative to waged employment for older workers. Recent research has shown that employment transitions frequently occur when individuals approach retirement. However, evidence of how older people's health changes when they switch between self and waged employment is lacking, particularly outside Western contexts. To address this research gap, we explored the health impact of employment transitions for the older working population in China by hukou (urban or rural household registration status), region, and education. We employed fixed effect models to examine the impact of employment transitions on cognitive, mental, and physical health and life satisfaction drawing on data from four waves (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (N = 4,606). Given China's unique context, we analyzed the results of agricultural and nonagricultural work separately. Individuals transitioning into or remaining in self-employment had lower self-rated health and life satisfaction than those remaining in waged employment. There was no significant difference in cognitive functioning or depressive symptoms. Additionally, those who transitioned from self-employment into waged employment rated their health worse than those who remained in waged employment. The health impacts were more apparent for agricultural than nonagricultural self-employment, particularly for older workers living in urban regions with rural hukou and lower education levels. Most older Chinese transitioning into or staying self-employed are or were pushed into self-employment due to their low human capital and socioeconomic status, which affects their subsequent health. Pension reform and policies supporting older adults to stay in the workforce could help close the economic and health gaps between rural and urban older adults.

Augmented reality technology in tourism and hospitality research: a review from 2010 to 2024

Purpose Augmented reality (AR) is revolutionizing the tourism and hospitality industry by offering immersive experiences as well as creating more engaging, informative and accessible travel experiences that attract tourists from around the globe. From virtual tours and immersive historical site recreations to navigation assistance and cultural education, AR technology is transforming the way we explore and interact with the destinations. This study aims to identify benefits, risks, tools and techniques of AR in the tourism and hospitality literature. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a systematic literature review to answer six research questions. The authors also identified 33 primary studies, dated from January 2010 to February 2024 and coded them via a thematic analysis. Related studies were obtained through searching in Web of Science and Scopus. Findings The results identified nine themes for benefits, eight themes for risks/disadvantages and four tools and applications-related themes. Through the thematic analysis, the major benefits of AR in the tourism and hospitality were found to be differentiated travel experiences, improved performance of tourism value chain, more effective marketing efforts of tourism businesses, enhanced tourists’ engagement, enhanced performance of tourism destinations, stimulated behavioral intentions, tourist empowerment and providing more value, interactivity and integrity. Furthermore, eight risks were identified: physical, privacy and security, social, service failure, technical, psychological, managerial, information and knowledge gaps. The authors also recognized four tools and applications-related themes, namely, AR-enabled tools, AR applications, AR-enabled apps and AR-based techniques. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this review provides the first systematic exploration of the existing literature on usage of AR in the context of tourism and hospitality value chain.

Evaluation of the impact of the educational revolution in Peru and the gender wage gap, 2017-2021

Background Women’s educational attainment and their generation of value through education has increased the prospects for achieving economic equality between men and women. However, women continue to earn lower wages than men, reflecting growing inequality in several countries. Therefore, the objective of the study is to estimate the impact of education on the gender wage gap in Peru over the period 2017-2021. Methods Quantitative, explanatory study aimed at identifying the impact of education on the gender wage gap in Peru during the period 2017-2021. The research design is non-experimental and uses a time series that analyses the influence of the latent variable of education on the gender wage gap. This is a continuous variable to estimate the Tobit model. Results The results show that the gender gap in Peru exhibited a decreasing trend between men and women during the period 2017-2020, with an average reduction of 10% until 2020 due to the health crisis. The highest average salary was achieved by men in 2019, reaching S/2289.97 soles, while women reached an average salary of S/1368.85 soles. In the post-pandemic scenario for 2021, the gender gap increased by 3%, with men earning an average salary of S/1999.63 soles and women earning an average salary of S/1281.16 soles. The analysis from 2017-2021 shows that years of education had a positive impact on the gender wage gap in Peru based on the Tobit model estimation. Conclusions During the analysis period of 2017-2021, years of education had a positive impact on the gender wage gap in Peru, with the greatest impact occurring during the health crisis. The probability of women’s incomes improving with an increase in years of education was 2.35%, while for men, the highest impact was in 2018, with a probability of income improvement of 2.16% in terms of marginal effect.

Correlation between Administration and Business

The article notes that one of the main strategic directions of the economic policy of the state is the full support of entrepreneurial activity, the creation of the necessary legal framework for administration to ensure economic independence and equality of entrepreneurs. It indicates the leading role of administration in providing these tasks. It is argued that the administration and the state of business in the country are interconnected phenomena. The article analyzes the state of legal regulation of relations between the state and business from the theoretical and practical side. The reader’s attention is drawn to the ways of state influence on business entities in order to protect the interests of business in the country. It is noted about the special role of administrative law in achieving a balance of public (state) and private interests (business). The authors reveal in detail the permission as a method of administrative and legal regulation of entrepreneurship in the country and give legal examples, statistics, judicial practice and public opinion on this matter, as well as reveal the licensing system of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the field of entrepreneurship. It is noted that the merit of the legislation on administrative procedures in the legal regulation of relations between the state and business. The topic under study is consolidated by the analysis of leading scientists in the field of administrative law, the experience of leading foreign countries, as well as the results of a survey of entrepreneurs regarding the implementation of the Law on Administrative Procedures. The topic under study is consolidated by the analysis of leading scientists in the field of administrative law, the experience of leading foreign countries, as well as the results of a survey of entrepreneurs regarding the implementation of the Law on Administrative Procedures.

Inequality in financial risk protection in health among displaced populations: The case of Venezuelan women in Brazil

ObjectiveWorsening economic and social conditions in Venezuela have forced many to migrate. Women and girls are particularly at risk of health vulnerability in this context. This study examines healthcare expenditure and financial risk protection inequalities among Venezuelan migrant women in Brazil. MethodsWe conducted a survey of 2012 Venezuelan women aged 15–49 who migrated to Brazil between 2018 and 2021. We estimated and decomposed concentration indices to analyse inequalities in out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures (OOPHE) and catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) across the entire socioeconomic distribution. We applied Blinder-Oaxaca decompositions to explain differences in healthcare spending between migrant and Brazilian women. ResultsVenezuelan migrant women displayed noticeable disparities in OOPHE and incidence of CHE. Approximately half of our sample of migrants reported no income, no expenditures, and hence no CHE. OOPHE and CHE incidence were concentrated among less poor migrant women, whilst for Brazilian women, CHE was concentrated among the poorer. Location, time since arrival to Brazil, higher education, and income were key contributors to socioeconomic inequality in OOPHE and CHE for migrants. The main explanatory factor for differences in OOPHE between migrants and non-migrants was differences in income profiles. ConclusionsAddressing financial risk protection in health is crucial for displaced populations, especially women and girls. While the public health system in Brazil offers universal healthcare coverage in principle, our results suggest that there is still a significant risk of lack of access to healthcare for Venezuelan migrant women, which may be driven by insufficient financial means.

Using public perceptions to inform urban protected area buffer zone planning.

The buffer zones between urban protected areas (UPAs) and their cities play a significant role in managing and protecting UPAs. However, they are also the frontier of conflicts due to complex functionality and a large number of stakeholders. Besides ensuring the buffer zone's function of protecting the UPA, it is also vital to understand how it can fulfill the diverse needs of multiple interest groups residing in or utilizing this area. To address the significant social science research gap in UPA buffer zone management, we establish a conceptual framework and explore how the public's overall satisfaction with the buffer depends on five essential buffer zone qualities, namely environmental quality, connectivity, infrastructure, cultural, and visual quality. We focus on China's Urban Scenic and Historic Areas (USHA), a major type of UPA with high cultural, social, and esthetic values. Using the buffer of Shugang-Slender West Lake Scenic and Historic Area in Yangzhou City as the case study, we conducted intercept and online surveys (n = 499), investigating the perceptions of three user groups-residents, businesses, and tourists. The results indicate high overall satisfaction for all three groups. Environmental, visual, and cultural qualities were rated higher than connectivity and infrastructure quality. Residents generally showed the highest satisfaction and tourists the lowest. For all three groups, environmental quality, connectivity, and infrastructure quality significantly influenced overall satisfaction, while cultural and visual quality did not. This suggests that the public expects the buffer zone to serve as high-quality multi-functional open spaces that enhance the quality of life while providing recreation, service, and transportation functions. Besides direct planning and management advice to China's UPAs and other countries with similar contexts, our study offers a transferable framework for incorporating social perceptions and highlights their significance in informing the functional planning of UPA buffer zones for public welfare.

Reducing Social Class Gaps in Political Engagement by Reframing Voting as a Duty to Others

Reducing Social Class Gaps in Political Engagement by Reframing Voting as a Duty to Others

Extractive Politics, Redistribution, and War: On the Rationality of Kleptocratic Mismanagement

ABSTRACT We study a model on the impact of vertical inequality on autocrats’ exploitation of societal wealth and their intended risk of war. Using a general equilibrium model, we demonstrate that autocrats are willing to use the military for redistribution when it increases their share of the rents. They are also willing to harm the economy to deter external threats and are most powerful for extreme un-/equal distributions. These findings offer interesting interpretations. Firstly, even in the absence of external military threats, some autocrats maintain large armies for redistribution, depending on the level of inequality. Secondly, not too low inequality can benefit ordinary citizens. Thirdly, kleptocratic mismanagement is not necessarily an unintended side effect of shameless self-enrichment, but rather a rationally chosen governance to deter too large military threats. This policy could prevent hostilities, but ruins the economy, destroying a society’s wealth. The latter causes ordinary citizens to favor war since the autocrat would then lose their grip at home. These results help to explain why some autocrats maintain excessively large armies, while others stifle their economies, and yet others are drawn into wars.

The Role of Housing Policy and Access to Health Services in Reducing Economic Inequality and Improving Welfare in Indonesia

This study investigates the role of housing policy and access to health services in reducing economic inequality and improving welfare in Indonesia. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from respondents through a structured questionnaire employing a Likert scale. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS 3). The findings reveal that all hypothesized relationships are positive and significant. Specifically, access to health services significantly enhances welfare and reduces economic inequality. Similarly, housing policy significantly improves welfare and reduces economic inequality. These results underscore the critical impact of robust housing policies and accessible health services on achieving greater economic equity and enhanced overall welfare. The study provides essential insights for policymakers to design effective interventions aimed at fostering a more equitable and prosperous society in Indonesia.

GANDHI AMBEDKAR DEBATE

The present paper intends to explore the divergent perspectives and paths of Mohandas Karamachand Gandhi and Dr B R Ambedkar on different socio-political issues of Indian Society. Before Independence, Outsiders (Aliens, British People) ruled India. Gandhi was afraid of our own people ruling like outsiders (alienation of administration) after Independence. However, in the light of the present context Gandhi's fear has come true. On the other side Dr. B R Ambedkar strongly believed in State power and a strong legal system. Catastrophically the dreams of Dr B R Ambedkar on social economic equality remains a myth. To understand the dynamics of two variant discourses of Gandhi and Dr B R Ambedkar and to follow both Gandhi and Ambedkar Principles are essential. Both ideas of Gandhi Ambedkar together bring a better order in India. People not only from the East but also from western world are inspired by Gandhian Principles of Truth and Non-Violence. The people of the world consider Ambedkar as an icon for Equality. Ideas of both Gandhi and Ambedkar could generate political consciousness among socially marginalized groups. Though both Gandhi and Ambedkar had different ideas and Concepts, and followed different paths both wanted to reform Indian society in general and Hindu Society in particular. Gandhi was influenced by Dr B R Ambedkar. At one point of time Gandhi wanted to fight for the cause of untouchables.

Role of Digital Literacy in Shaping the Socialization of University Students

The objectives of the study were to explore the current landscape of digital literacy among university students; to identify the role of digital literacy on socialization dynamics within university students. This study collected quantitative data from 300 students through a questionnaire. The analysis found that majority of the respondents agreed that digital literacy assists students in developing social skills and etiquette, digital literacy positively impacts their social interaction manners, digital literacy has significant impact on communication skills, digital tools influence their social interactions. They had also agreed that digital literacy influences their perception of social norms, digital literacy facilitates and integrates different cultures, norms, and practices, access to digital technology can bridge up social interaction gaps among students, digital literacy can empower students to participate more actively in civic engagement, digital literacy promotes critical thinking among students. They had also agreed that digital literacy has made people more connected, digital literacy platforms influenced their values or attitudes toward social issues, digital literacy education emphasizes ethical considerations during socialization, empathy can be cultivated and practiced in online interactions, similar to face-to-face interactions, digital literacy tools can help to convey empathy and emotional nuances effectively. They had also agreed that digital literacy promotes understanding and respect among university students and digital literacy skills enhance students’ adaptability in social settings.

Frequency-domain approach to the causal nexus between domestic and international economic policy uncertainties and equity returns of G20 countries

Frequency-domain approach to the causal nexus between domestic and international economic policy uncertainties and equity returns of G20 countries

Quantity and Quality: Equity Considerations for the Funding of Categorical Programs in Community Colleges

ABSTRACT Categorical funding is often intended to support our most historically underserved students, while also addressing financial inequities. Extant research suggests, however, that these funding streams may be equitable in intention but not in practice. Situated in a multidimensional equity framework, this study leverages descriptive budget data, funding and regulation documentation, and interviews with categorical-affiliated staff across multiple institutions within the US’s largest community college system to examine funding (in)equities of categorical funding and their potential to address persistent inequities in student access and success within higher education. Our findings suggest that in addition to trade-offs in the funding formulas themselves, contextual factors via program regulations and institutional characteristics also ultimately influence the “equitable” resourcing of these potentially high-impact programs. This study contributes to literature on higher education finance and policy, including the often-overlooked mechanism of categorical funding, and offers implications for future policy and practice, as well as opportunities for future research.

Potential Conflicts in The Nusantara IKN and Its Prevention

The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia was founded and its independence was fought for none other than to protect the entire Indonesian nation and all of Indonesia's blood, promote general welfare, educate the life of the nation, implement world order based on independence, eternal peace and social justice." This is as stated in the Preamble to the Law. -The 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia (1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia) paragraph 4 (four). This means that it is the duty of the President as head of state and head of government to improve the welfare of all Indonesian people both living on the island of Java and outside Java In fact, after all these decades it turns out that there is still inequality in various fields, especially the economy between the island of Java and other regions outside Java, one of which is due to the position of the country's capital in the Jakarta area which is located on the island of Java, so that development is uneven. The high inequality in economic, social and cultural development between Java and non-Java is getting higher day by day. So President Joko Widodo, on April 29 2019, announced his policy to move the National Capital (IKN) from the DKI Jakarta area to other areas in East Kalimantan, namely North Penajam Paser Regency and Kutai Kertangerara Regency which were chosen as the potential IKN locations. President Jokowi's decision received support from the DPR RI with the issuance of Law (UU) No. 3 of 2022 concerning the Move of the National Capital. In 2023, this law has been revised or amended with the approval of the DPR RI, to become Law No. 21 of 2023. In this context, a fairly comprehensive basis and review of the study of the movement of IKN from the DKI Jakarta area to the North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kertanegara Regency areas is needed. East Kalimantan so that there is no potential for conflict to arise in IKN. For this reason, it is necessary to prepare programs and activities as well as policies to prevent or at least minimize the potential for social conflict and the impacts arising from social conflict between immigrant communities and the indigenous people of East Kalimantan. This type of research uses qualitative research methods, namely methods that focus on in-depth observation. Therefore, the use of qualitative methods in research can produce a more comprehensive study of a phenomenon. Data and information collection techniques are carried out through observation and literature study The results of the study concluded that IKN was prone to the emergence of social conflict due to the long-standing and hereditary problem of land ownership belonging to indigenous communities in North Penajam Paser. Apart from that, it is also caused by the social gap between immigrant communities, who on average have a bachelor's degree, have special skills, a high work ethic and a better level of welfare compared to the majority of native communities. Another factor is the factor of injustice between individuals in society, whether due to differences in opinions and feelings, cultural differences, politics. economic and welfare differences that can have an impact on the birth of clashes both between individuals and between community groups. It turns out that there have been many social conflicts in this area for a long time, which if allowed to continue will create disharmony between the immigrant community and the native communities of North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kertanegara.