Global Development Research Articles

SUSTAINABLE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: THE NEXUS BETWEEN ICT AND GLOBAL GREEN ECONOMIC GROWTH

As a new engine to promote global economic and social development, information and communication technology (ICT) plays a key role in the field of modern economy. The aim of this paper is to investigate the nexus between ICT and green total factor productivity (GTFP) on a global scale. An extended data envelopment analysis model (DEA), named WINDOWS-US-SBM, was constructed for calculating the GTFP of 65 countries from 2007 to 2019. This paper empirically analyzes the spatial effect and the transmission mechanism of ICT development on GTFP in countries from different income groups. The results show a prominent imbalance between ICT development and GTFP in various countries. ICT can effectively improve GTFP and play a crucial role in lower middle-income countries. The development of ICT can improve GTFP through technological progress, energy intensity, and trade openness. This paper is helpful to provide policy guidance for the development of ICT and give a new perspective of global green development.

Towards a Communication Ecology in the Life of Rural Senior Citizens: How Rural Public Spaces Influence Community Engagement

The dilemma of weak participation and non-participation of rural communities is a universal topic of global development. The rural public space is an important field for local residents to interact, communicate, and engage with each other, and is an important place for the sustainable development of rural areas. However, previous studies have neglected to understand the intrinsic connection between rural public space and community participation from the perspective of community communication ecology. Based on the concept of age-friendly communities, this study’s fieldwork in rural Shanghai, China, using the methodology of grounded theory, found that physical, social, and psychological factors all have an impact on community engagement among rural residents. Specifically, environmental quality, facility support, community networks, social participation, call to action, place attachment, spatial perception, and self-transformation are identified as the core elements that significantly influence community engagement among rural residents. This study further reveals that the multiple factors influencing community engagement among rural residents are complex and interdependent rather than operating independently. Spatial support, communicative triggers, and symbolic identification, respectively, operate at the technological level (physical–social factors), social level (social–psychological factors), and discursive level (psychological–physical factors) to promote community engagement among older adults in Chinese rural areas. Through this research, we hope to further the realization of rural civic engagement and the sustainability of local communities and to provide scholarly insights into the promotion of more equitable community life.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence and Automation in Enhancing Connectivity in Developing Nations

This research paper explores the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to reduce the digital divide in developing countries. The study investigates how these technologies can enhance accessibility and efficiency in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and economic development, thereby contributing to social and economic progress. Key findings indicate that AI and automation can significantly improve educational outcomes by providing personalized learning experiences, enhancing healthcare delivery through better diagnostics and patient care, increasing agricultural productivity with precision farming, and stimulating economic growth by creating new job opportunities and improving market access. However, deploying these technologies faces substantial challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, significant skills gaps, cultural resistance, and policy constraints. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative case studies to comprehensively understand the impacts and challenges associated with implementing AI and automation in less developed regions. The scope of the study spans several developing countries, offering insights relevant to policymakers, NGOs, and the private sector engaged in technology deployment for development. The paper underscores the necessity for a collaborative approach to overcome the identified barriers and suggests strategic recommendations for stakeholders to leverage AI and automation as practical tools for closing the digital divide. This study contributes to the broader discourse on technology’s role in global development, highlighting both the transformative potential of AI and automation and the critical need for inclusive and context-sensitive technology governance.

Empowering children as active and responsible citizens: A dramatic journey towards global citizenship

AbstractThis article investigates three key moments from a sequence of learning facilitated within a Singapore preschool. Delivered as part of a wider study aimed at identifying the value of dramatic pedagogies for developing young children's global competence, the learning sequence was facilitated by the researcher—an experienced early childhood drama educator. The learning experiences were designed to be responsive to the children's interests and ideas, with an emphasis on ensuring their active participation and agency. Analysis of the data was supported using the 2018 Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development Global Competence Framework and the Elements of Drama model. Despite limitations such as the small sample size, the findings suggest that for these children, dramatic pedagogies were effective in providing opportunities for engagement with the complex ideas associated with global competence and sustainable development. However, analysis also reveals that in order to be effective, careful management of the elements of drama is required. The article concludes by outlining implications for educators and public policy‐makers interested in identifying pedagogies suitable for developing young children's global competence and supporting their awareness of the importance of sustainable development.

The nutritional turn towards crisis: a critical perspective

ABSTRACT With concerns about food systems growing due to environmental change and the abrupt disruption of trade relations following the dual crises of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, it has become increasingly common for global development agendas to include discussions, programmes, initiatives, and policy proscriptions about the risks of malnutrition. Yet, there remains limited insight into how securitising nutrition in particular influences the politics of food insecurity more broadly. Therefore, we aim to develop a critical perspective of ‘nutritional crisis’. In doing so, we draw from critical security studies to advance an interpretation of the nutritional turn that takes into account three key dynamics: (1) the performativity of nutritional crisis discourses (2) the political-economic context in which they are embedded (3) alternative notions of nutrition, security, and crisis among resistance movements. We apply this perspective to a case in point concerning food insecurity in Guatemala – a country that remains the intense focus of nutritional policies at the global level and simultaneously a site of struggle and resistance for local and transnational food justice.

Integration of Financial and ESG Performance Indicators to Measure and Evaluate Egyptian Insurance Companies Performance

This study aims to evaluate the performance of Egyptian insurance companies through the integration of financial and non-financial performance indicators through the dimensions of sustainable development as a mediator variable. The study relied on Allianz Egypt property and liability insurance company data from 2012 to 2021, and the Monte Carlo simulation method was used based on the Mathcad program. This study used structural Equations Modeling via AMOS program to extract the direct and indirect effect through path analysis. The results showed that each environmental dimension, social dimension, and governance dimension plays a mediator role in the relationship between solvency, liquidity, credit, activity, underwriting profitability, and both market share and investment profitability. Our research contributes to the literature of achieving sustainable development in the insurance sector, to keep pace with global developments. This paper presents evidence of the relationship between integrating ESG indicators into insurance companies’ performance and achieving an additional competitive advantage.

EBRD financing in Kosovo (2013-2020): Impact and strategies

Purpose: This paper analyzes the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's (EBRD) strategic financing roles in Kosovo from 2013 to 2020, focusing on economic impacts and developmental progress. Methodology: Employing a quantitative and comparative approach, this study utilizes secondary data analysis, supported by statistical tools in Microsoft Excel, to evaluate the effectiveness of EBRD investments in various sectors within Kosovo. Results: The findings reveal significant EBRD investments, primarily in SMEs and infrastructure, contributing to competitive gains and sustainable development. The study details the volume of investments and their distribution across different sectors, highlighting substantial impacts on employment and green energy initiatives. Theoretical Contribution: This research enriches the literature on international financial institutions' roles in post-conflict economic development, providing a nuanced understanding of the EBRD's strategic priorities and operational outcomes in transitional economies. Practical Implications: The study offers policymakers and development agencies insights into practical strategies for leveraging international finance for economic growth and sustainability. Recommendations are provided to enhance the focus on renewable energy and infrastructure, aligning with global sustainable development goals.

The genesis of human rights

The article examines the influence of different generations on the formation and development of human rights in contemporary society. The author systematically analyzes the evolution of the concept of human rights in the context of changing needs and values of different epochs. Through the prism of historical events and cultural changes, the article explores the impact of generations on the formation of legal norms and their interpretation. The author explores how contemporary technological and social changes affect the understanding and protection of human rights. Specifically, the article analyzes the influence of the digital revolution, globalization, and internet development on the concept of human rights. It also considers the importance of intergenerational role shifting in shaping legal norms and their impact on societal development. The study in the article reveals a wide range of aspects related to the perception and protection of human rights in various cultural, political, and historical contexts. The author meticulously analyzes different epochs in the history of human rights and their influence on the modern world, demonstrating how these values transform and adapt from generation to generation. Overall, the article provides a deep understanding of the process of formation and development of human rights, taking into account the diverse factors that influence this process in the modern world. It opens a discussion on the necessity of considering the specificity of different generations in formulating legal norms and strategies for protecting human rights in the future.

Metaphoric visual expressions in African art: an iconographical analysis of selected artworks by contemporary visual artists

Contemporary African artworks in their diversity are rich carriers of cultural meaning and values. In African art, there is an evolution in the context of visual metaphors as artists create narratives that are cognisant of global aesthetic developments. This study examines the creation and interpretation of indigenous visual metaphors by four selected contemporary Zimbabwean visual artists. An interpretive research design was used and this informed the use of in-depth interviews with purposively selected artists, studio observations, and artwork analysis to generate data. The diversity of art genres, media, and the creation of metaphoric artworks determined the sampling of artists. Findings revealed that visual metaphoric creations were inspired by community experiences and other artists. Visual metaphors were pronounced as vehicles for transmitting community messages. This study recommends extending the creation and interpretation of indigenous visual metaphors to the art education curriculum to inform culturally relevant and diverse practices.

Bridging the Gulf Between Development Theory and Innovation Theory: The Imperative of Relational Justice

Phenomena of global development and technological innovation have been theorised and debated from an evolutionary common ground of social, economic, and technical change. However, apart from this common ground, there is a gulf that needs to be bridged. In several respects, development theory is preoccupied with social values such as inclusion and equality whereas innovation theory is preoccupied with economic values of economic growth and maximisation of aggregate utility. This gulf of competing values underpins public policies which are unable to deal with modern day crises such as poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, and unsustainable development. I argue that the gulf between development and innovation theories can be critically re-thought and permanently bridged using a relational notion of social justice that can allow inclusion/equality to be affirmed without disincentivising growth/utility. Such a notion of social justice should be only concerned with equalising resources in as long as this mitigates or eliminates relational inequalities such as hierarchies, oppression, and domination in globalised societies.

Pengaruh intensitas penggunaan aplikasi shopee terhadap perilaku konsumtif ditinjau dari persfektif Pancasila

The development of globalization in the previously traditional economic sector has shifted towards digitalization, affecting the high use of the Shopee application by Jambi University PPKn students. This phenomenon has resulted in consumptive behavior that is not in harmony with the values of Pancasila. This study aims to determine the impact of the intensity of using the Shopee application on student consumptive behavior, by considering the Pancasila perspective. A quantitative approach was used in this study through survey methods, involving 39 respondents. Data analysis using SPSS Version 26 shows that the intensity of using the Shopee application significantly affects the consumptive behavior of Jambi University PPKn students, with a p-value of < alpha (0.000 < 0.05). The effect reached 54.3%, while other influencing factors were not studied in this study.

Global status and trends of metabolomics in diabetes: A literature visualization knowledge graph study.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, which has increased the global medical burden and is also the main cause of death in most countries. To understand the knowledge structure of global development status, research focus, and future trend of the relationship between diabetes and metabolomics in the past 20 years. The articles about the relationship between diabetes and metabolomics in the Web of Science Core Collection were retrieved from 2002 to October 23, 2023, and the relevant information was analyzed using CiteSpace6.2.2R (CiteSpace), VOSviewer6.1.18 (VOSviewer), and Bibliometrix software under R language. A total of 3123 publications were included from 2002 to 2022. In the past two decades, the number of publications and citations in this field has continued to increase. The United States, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other relevant funds, institutions, and authors have significantly contributed to this field. Scientific Reports and PLoS One are the journals with the most publications and the most citations. Through keyword co-occurrence and cluster analysis, the closely related keywords are "insulin resistance", "risk", "obesity", "oxidative stress", "metabolomics", "metabolites" and "biomarkers". Keyword clustering included cardiovascular disease, gut microbiota, metabonomics, diabetic nephropathy, molecular docking, gestational diabetes mellitus, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance. Burst detection analysis of keyword depicted that "Gene", "microbiota", "validation", "kidney disease", "antioxidant activity", "untargeted metabolomics", "management", and "accumulation" are knowledge frontiers in recent years. The relationship between metabolomics and diabetes is receiving extensive attention. Diabetic nephropathy, diabetic cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease are key diseases for future research in this field. Gut microbiota, molecular docking, and untargeted metabolomics are key research directions in the future. Antioxidant activity, gene, validation, mass spectrometry, management, and accumulation are at the forefront of knowledge frontiers in this field.

PRODIGE - Planet-forming disks in Taurus with NOEMA. II. Modeling the CO (2-1) isotopologue emission of the Class II T Tauri disks in Taurus

To understand how planets form in protoplanetary disks, it is necessary to characterize their gas and dust distribution and masses. This requires a combination of high-resolution dust continuum and molecular line interferometric observations, coupled with advanced theoretical models of protoplanetary disk physics, chemical composition, and radiative transfer. We aim to constrain the gas density and temperature distributions as well as gas masses in several T Tauri protoplanetary disks located in Taurus. We use the 12CO, 13CO, and C18O (2-1) isotopologue emission observed at $0.9 with the IRAM NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) as part of the MPG-IRAM Observatory Program PRODIGE (PROtostars and DIsks: Global Evolution \, PIs: P. Caselli Th. Henning). Our sample consists of Class II disks with no evidence of strong radial substructures. We use these data to constrain the thermal and chemical structure of these disks through theoretical models for gas emission. To fit the combined optically thick and thin CO line data in Fourier space, we developed the DiskCheF code, which includes the parameterized disk physical structure, machine-learning (ML) accelerated chemistry, and the RADMC-3D line radiative transfer module. A key novelty of DiskCheF is the fast and feasible ML-based chemistry trained on the extended grid of the disk physical-chemical models precomputed with the ANDES2 code. This ML approach allows complex chemical kinetics models to be included in a time-consuming disk fitting without the need to run a chemical code. We present a novel approach to incorporate chemistry into disk modeling without the need to explicitly calculate a chemical network every time. Using this new disk modeling tool, we successfully fit the 12CO, 13CO, and C$ $O (2-1) data from the CI, CY, DL, DM, DN, and IQ Tau disks. The combination of optically thin and optically thick CO lines allows us to simultaneously constrain the disk temperature and mass distribution, and derive the CO-based gas masses. The best-fit disk gas masses range between 0.005 and $0.04 M_ sun $. These values are in reasonable agreement with the disk dust masses rescaled by a factor of 100 as well as with other indirect gas measurements via, for example, modeling of the wavelength dependence of the dust continuum emission radii, and HD and CO isotopologue emission.

Global mapping and evolution of persistent fronts in Large Marine Ecosystems over the past 40 years

Ocean fronts, characterized by narrow zones with sharp changes in water properties, are vital hotspots for ecosystem services and key regulators of regional and global climates. Global change is reshaping the distribution of material and energy in the ocean; however, it remains unclear how fronts have varied in the last few decades. Here, we present a global, fine-scale digital atlas of persistent fronts around Large Marine Ecosystems and demonstrate significant global increases in both their occurrence and intensity. In subtropical regions (around boundary currents and upwelling systems) and polar regions, persistent frontal occurrence and intensity are rapidly increasing, while in tropical regions, they remain stable or slightly decrease. These enhancements may be respectively related to changes in boundary currents, upwelling, and sea ice retreat. This spatially heterogeneous trend holds important implications for the redistribution of front-related ecosystem services and air-sea interactions but has not been captured by representative high-resolution climate projections models or observation-assimilated ocean models.

Strategic implications of carbon pricing on global environmental sustainability and economic development: A conceptual framework

This study critically evaluates the strategic implications of carbon pricing mechanisms on global environmental sustainability and economic development. Employing a systematic literature review and content analysis, the research synthesizes recent findings from peer-reviewed articles, reports, and policy documents published between 2010 and 2024. The study's objectives include analyzing the effectiveness of carbon pricing in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, assessing its economic impacts, exploring environmental benefits, and understanding the role of international cooperation in enhancing the efficacy of carbon pricing policies. The methodology hinges on a structured search strategy, applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the relevance and quality of the literature reviewed. The analysis reveals that carbon pricing, encompassing both carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems, serves as a pivotal tool for mitigating climate change while fostering economic growth and structural transformation. Key findings highlight the potential of carbon pricing to drive innovation in green technologies, the importance of addressing social equity concerns, and the critical role of international policy coordination in mitigating cross-border carbon leakage and competitiveness issues. The study concludes that carbon pricing mechanisms, when effectively designed and equitably implemented, can align environmental sustainability with economic development goals. Recommendations for policymakers emphasize the need for comprehensive strategies that integrate carbon pricing with broader economic and environmental policies, underscore the importance of international cooperation, and advocate for continued research to refine carbon pricing models and strategies. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on carbon pricing, offering insights into its potential as a cornerstone of global climate governance and sustainable economic policy. Keywords: Carbon Pricing Mechanisms, Environmental Sustainability, Economic Development, International Cooperation.

FBXO11 variants are associated with intellectual disability and variable clinical manifestation in Chinese affected individuals.

F-box protein 11 (FBXO11) is a member of F-Box protein family, which has recently been proved to be associated with intellectual developmental disorder with dysmorphic facies and behavioral abnormalities (IDDFBA, OMIM: 618089). In this study, 12 intellectual disability individuals from 5 Chinese ID families were collected, and whole exome sequencing (WES), sanger sequencing, and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were conducted. Almost all the affected individuals presented with mild to severe intellectual disability (12/12), global developmental delay (10/12), speech and language development delay (8/12) associated with a range of alternate features including increased body weight (7/12), short stature (6/12), seizures (3/12), reduced visual acuity (4/12), hypotonia (1/12), and auditory hallucinations and hallucinations (1/12). Distinguishingly, malformation was not observed in all the affected individuals. WES analysis showed 5 novel FBXO11 variants, which include an inframe deletion variant, a missense variant, two frameshift variants, and a partial deletion of FBXO11 (exon 22-23). RNA-seq indicated that exon 22-23 deletion of FBXO11 results in a new mRNA structure. Conservation and protein structure prediction demonstrated deleterious effect of these variants. The DEGs analysis revealed 148 differentially expressed genes shared among 6 affected individuals, which were mainly associated with genes of muscle and immune system. Our research is the first report of FBXO11-associated IDDFBA in Chinese individuals, which expands the genetic and clinical spectrum of this newly identified NDD/ID syndrome.

The evolution of digitalization capabilities during strategic renewal: A case study based on the ecological restoration enterprise practice

While existing literature acknowledges the development of digital capabilities as essential for enterprises to achieve digital transformation, it falls short in offering comprehensive theoretical insights into the dynamic evolution of these capabilities, especially in the field of environmental and sustainability issues. This paper addresses this gap by employing an exploratory single-case study methodology to investigate the intricate process through which an ecological restoration enterprise in China updates its digital strategy, facilitating the dynamic evolution of its digital capabilities from a resource orchestration theory perspective. Our findings reveal a sequential evolution from digital strategy renewal to resource orchestration and, ultimately, the advancement of digital capabilities. Specifically, the enterprise engages in a co-adjustment and co-creation process, aligning its resources with a digital strategy refresh and fostering the emergence of digital integration and innovation capabilities through effective resource management. This includes the accumulation and divesting of resources as part of the construction process, alongside the enrichment and bundling of resources. This research bridges the gap in the current literature by providing a nuanced understanding of the mechanisms that drive the evolution of digital capabilities, and it offers a theoretical framework that integrates strategic renewal with resource orchestration for environmental and socio-economic sustainable development. Furthermore, the insights gained provide vital managerial implications for the governance, corporate social responsibility and policy of industrial digitalization towards global environmental practice and sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Simultaneous Global Drug Development and Multiregional Clinical Trials (MRCT): 5 Years After Implementation of ICH E17 Guidelines.

The ICH E17 guidelines (2014-2017) on Multiregional Clinical Trials (MRCT) was a joint effort by the regulators and industry to facilitate simultaneous global drug development and registration through taking a strategic approach for clinical trials. In other words, the objective was to reduce the time it takes to bringing medications to patients around the world through minimizing unnecessary duplication of local or regional studies, which may add the regulatory burden to cost and time of bringing new therapies to patients. Under the auspices of ICH, training materials were created and provided to various stakeholders. Despite the successful promotion of the benefits of ICH E17 MRCT guidelines across the different regions, the uptake of some concepts (e.g., pooling strategy) in the ICH E17 guidelines has been slow. This paper describes various factors which could affect the conduct of MRCT at a global level, including ambiguity in definition of "region" (in MRCT), new regulatory requirements to enroll a diverse patient population, the use of decentralized clinical trials, use of data sources other than randomized clinical trials (e.g., use of Real Word Data), and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the conduct of MRCT.

Recycled Excavation Soils as Sustainable Supplementary Cementitious Materials: Kaolinite Content and Performance Implications

In response to the environmental implications of the massive quantities of excavation soil generated by global urbanization and infrastructure development, recent research efforts have explored the repurposing of calcined excavation soils as sustainable supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). As it is still at an early stage, current research lacks systematic analysis across diverse soil deposits regarding their reactivity and mechanical properties within cementitious binders, despite recognized geographical variability in kaolinite content. Through comprehensive experimentation with soils sourced from four major southern Chinese cities, this study presents a pioneering assessment of the compressive strength, pozzolanic reactivity (X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance), and microstructural development (mercury intrusion porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy) of mortars modified by various calcined excavation soils (up to 28 days curing). The experimental data suggest that soils with a kaolinite content above 53.39% produce mortars of equal or superior quality to plain cement mixes, primarily due to their refined pore structures, microstructural densification, and enhanced hydration reactions. The findings highlight kaolinite—specifically, aluminum content—as the principal indicator of excavation soil viability for SCM application, suggesting a promising avenue for sustainable construction practices.

Gender Role Dynamics in Economic Development: Challenges and Opportunities for Women's Empowerment

The role of gender in economic development has become a major concern in the context of women's empowerment. This article investigates those dynamics with a focus on the challenges and opportunities faced in women's economic empowerment efforts. Through a comprehensive review of the literature, we explore the role of gender in economic development, explain the various challenges women face in access and control of economic resources, and identify opportunities to increase their empowerment. We also discuss the impact of gender roles in the context of global and regional economic development.