Global Inequality Research Articles

Distributed Practical Fixed-Time Resource Allocation Algorithm for Disturbed Multiagent Systems: An Integrated Framework.

The practical fixed-time resource allocation problem is investigated for multi-input-multi-output nonlinear uncertain multiagent systems with disturbed dynamics, subject to global equality and local inequality constraints. Due to the coexistence of distributed high-order dynamics system within agents and decision-making constraints, decision variables in resource allocation optimization problems cannot be directly obtained from the system. Existing strategies are insufficient to solve such complex fixed-time optimization control problems with coupled decision-making constraints. To address these challenges, a novel integrated framework is proposed, fusing symbolic-function-based fixed-time control theory with gradient consistency. The proposed algorithm is implemented through an output-feedback backstepping design process, which involves two stages. First, in the output-feedback design stage, a fixed-time high-order extended state observer estimates the uncertain dynamics and disturbances. Second, in the backstepping design stage, a time-switching controller is developed. This controller's virtual control law has two components: the first employs the proportional-integral control method to satisfy the equality constraints, while the second uses gradient information from the ϵ-exact penalty function to address the inequality constraints. Using the Lyapunov stability criterion, the proposed algorithm can ensure that all signals remain practical fixed-time stable, and that the error between the outputs of all agents and the optimal solution is maintained within a neighborhood of the origin. Finally, simulations are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.

Next generation pneumococcal vaccines for children and adults.

Streptococcus pneumoniae remains one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in children and in the elderly worldwide. Pneumococcal conjugated vaccines (PCVs) have reduced invasive and noninvasive pneumococcal disease in children and adults. However, challenges persist due to serotype replacement, epidemiological diversity and global inequalities in vaccine access. The future of PCVs is structured around three major areas of innovation: expanding antigenic coverage, developing serotype-independent formulations and introducing advanced technological platforms such as the Multiple Antigen Presenting System (MAPS). The challenge is double to better improve immunogenicity beyond serotypes and to extend the global impact of vaccines with more equitable and effective global rates of vaccination.

Global healthcare inequalities in cardiac electrophysiology and the role of charitable initiatives

Global healthcare inequalities in cardiac electrophysiology and the role of charitable initiatives

CHALLENGES TO GLOBAL INEQUALITY FROM BIG TECH COMPANIES BUILDING A NEW DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT

The development of ecosystems creates new opportunities for both the economy as a whole and the financial sector. But at the same time, this development also creates new risks associated with the growth of the market power of ecosystems and their deep penetration into the business processes of market participants and the lives of citizens, which confirms the lack of alternative to regulating the activities of digital giants and the digital ecosystems they create. The consumer (user) is the main resource of the ecosystem, providing its competitive advantage. By accumulating market power, digital ecosystems create a profitable business model for suppliers, provide users with new opportunities due to the effect of scale and the introduction of a new customer experience. As a result, the choice of users in the digital space expands, the efficiency and competitiveness of the national economy in the international landscape increases. An important aspect of modern international competition is precisely digital ecosystems and platforms. There are different approaches to reducing the manifestations of digital dominance. The Chinese and American approaches to regulating digital platforms are aimed at reducing the power of digital giants that have already conquered the world markets within the country. In countries where national digital platforms are just being formed, this approach does not promise to be adapted. The traditional market-oriented approach is based on the assumption that the regulation of national ecosystems and digital platforms should not contradict the basic principles of competition and create artificial preferences for individual national players that already occupy a leading position. At the same time, given the conflicts that arise when trying to tax or determine the cost of processed information and/or data as a new generation resource, regulation is a condition for the accelerated implementation of digital technologies in national business models with their subsequent scaling. The development of a new approach to the relationship between regulation and self-regulation of digital ecosystems and platforms will contribute to the aggravation of global inequality. Digital ecosystems formed from several digital platforms and services create additional financial values, and through the use of unified profiles and end-to-end services make the work of users even more convenient. There are different approaches to defining digital platform operators as an information intermediary. The manifestations of digital inequality depend on the models of digital information intermediation: (1) the information intermediation model, which includes all sites that allow third parties to offer and host content (videos, music, photos, documents), services or goods and marketplaces; (2) the information intermediation model, which includes all sites that represent a gateway to access other content (all sites that offer “information content”), such as online search engines, search content aggregators or price comparison services. It has been established that ecosystems that include social networks in their business model usually offer their services to users free of charge, after which the ecosystem itself increases its potential to attract advertisers. The presence of network effects provides an assessment of the impact of a digital ecosystem on the ability of an economic entity to exert a decisive influence on the general conditions of circulation of goods in the relevant goods market.

Predicting global educational inequality with a hierarchical belief rule base model

Global educational inequality is influenced by socio-economic development, especially in low-income and conflict-affected regions. Predicting such inequality allows researchers and policymakers to design better education policies and resource allocation strategies. The Belief Rule Base (BRB) is used as an interpretable model that incorporates expert knowledge, making it suitable for these predictions. However, BRBs face challenges, including rule explosion due to excessive feature information and a lack of standardized hierarchical modeling. In addition, parameters in optimization processes are often influenced by randomness, causing them to deviate from expert knowledge, which reduces interpretability. To address these issues, we adopt the interpretable hierarchical confidence rule base (HBRB-I) model, which enables self-organized construction of hierarchical structures through a multilayer tree structure (MTS), and a new optimization scheme to improve accuracy while retaining interpretability. Experimental results show that the HBRB-I model achieves high accuracy and robustness in predicting global educational inequality, which also provides data support for equitable and sustainable distribution of global educational resources. The interpretability of the model allows policymakers to develop forward-looking education policies that are aligned with sustainable development goals.

Global burden of pediatric urolithiasis: A trend and health inequalities analysis from 1990 to 2021

This research seeks to evaluate the worldwide burden, health inequities, and projected trends of pediatric urolithiasis from 1990 through 2021. We calculated age-standardized incidence rates, prevalence rates, and disability-adjusted life years rates from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease database. Joinpoint regression was applied for time-trend analysis. Health disparities were measured by using Spearman correlation analysis, Relative Concentration Index, and Slope Index of Inequality. Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort models predicted future global age-standardized incidence rates trends. Global age-standardized incidence rates declined from 79 (95% confidence interval [CI], 38–132) cases per 100,000 population in 1990 to 75 (95% CI, 37–124) cases per 100,000 in 2021, although the total number of cases rose. Age-standardized incidence rates decrease sharper in high Socio-Demographic Index regions. Geographical differences reveal significant health disparities, with age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rates higher in countries with a low Socio-Demographic Index. Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort models forecast a slight rise in global age-standardized incidence rates.Conclusions: While global age-standardized incidence rates for pediatric urolithiasis have shown a downward trend, the increasing number of cases and persistent age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rates burden in low-SDI regions underscore pressing concerns. Efforts focused on prevention, early detection, and equitable access to healthcare are critical to bridging these gaps and improving global outcomes.What is Known:• Pediatric urolithiasis imposes a significant global burden, with higher recurrence rates and long-term impacts on kidney function.• The incidence of urolithiasis in children varies greatly in different countries or regions around the world.What is New:• This study provides the comprehensive analysis of global trends and health inequalities in pediatric urolithiasis from 1990 to 2021 using GBD 2021 data.• Persistent inequalities remain, with disadvantaged regions bearing heavier burdens despite global improvements.

ISLAMIC ECONOMIC THOUGHT OF THE TIME OF RASULULLAH SAW AND KHULAFAURRASYIDIN: SOLU-TIONS AND CHALLENGES OF THE CONTEMPORARY TIME

This article examines Islamic economic thought during the time of Prophet Muhammad and the Khulafaur Rasyidin, which laid a significant foundation for Islamic economics. The study focuses on the relevance of Islamic economic concepts in addressing modern issues such as social inequality and economic exploitation. The research problem explores how early Islamic economic thought can provide solutions to current economic challenges. The study employs a literature review method, analyzing key Islamic principles such as zakat management, prohibition of usury, land distribution, and fiscal policies. Findings reveal that Islamic economic principles emphasize social justice and wealth distribution, offering viable solutions to contemporary economic problems. The article suggests integrating Islamic social justice principles into modern economic systems to reduce global economic inequality. In conclusion, the economic thought of the Prophet Muhammad and Khulafaur Rasyidin is highly relevant for building a more equitable and inclusive economic system.

A Cooperative Framework Incorporating the Concerns of Both Migrant-Destination and Migrant-Origin Countries into Migration Policymaking

Abstract Normative theories about the justice of policies to control international migration tend to come from either the standpoint of the migrant-destination country or the migrant-origin country. I show how three influential normative theorists of migration—Abizadeh, Carens, and Walzer—in formulating their respectively democratic, liberal, and communitarian visions of a just migration policy never incorporate the concerns of different groups within migrant-origin countries. Since empirical research shows migration can have both heterogeneous positive and negative impacts on migrant-origin and migrant-destination countries, normative theories about just migration policy would benefit from shifting away from either focusing on the impacts of migration only on migrant-destination countries or only on migrant-origin countries toward assessing their impact on both. I then formulate a theoretical framework-institution that could better incorporate the concerns of different groups with different positionalities within migrant-origin countries and migrant-destination countries toward the impact of international migration. This framework would allow mini-publics to elect representatives of groups with distinct interests within migrant-origin and migrant-destination countries. Such representatives would then engage in an intersubjective deliberative dialogue to develop a more just migration policy with a more international orientation, with each group’s level of influence moderated by the amount of international inequality between countries and the amount of harm caused by one country toward another.

Economic Causes of Global Poverty and Inequality: Ecological, Policy, and Structural Perspectives

Global poverty and inequality are deeply rooted in historical legacies and current policies. This article examines the economic causes, including colonial practices and unfair trade, and discusses income and wealth disparities. It evaluates the current poverty landscape and social mobility, proposing solutions like institutional reforms and international cooperation. The goal is to develop strategies for reducing poverty and promoting equitable growth. The article emphasizes the importance of economic development, resource allocation, and policy reform to address poverty and inequality, aiming for inclusive growth and social equity. It provides insights for formulating effective poverty reduction policies and sustainable development.

The will to speak out: Medical anthropologist and patient in times of COVID‐19 in Peru

AbstractUsing autoethnographic research, I analyze the experience of being an oncology patient during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Lima, Peru, the country with the highest number of COVID‐19 deaths per million people worldwide. I reflect on my own fears and decisions related to medical treatment and work, since they organized most of my daily life and were significantly impacted by the public health emergency. These experiences were shaped by global and local inequalities in labor conditions as well as access to healthcare facilities and systemic therapies. I speak out as a “vulnerable participant‐observer” from my social position as a lower‐middle‐class working woman, contract university professor, and medical anthropologist facing a still stigmatized disease in her country.

Analysis of National Financial Policy in the 2020-2024 RPJMN

The 2020-2024 RPJMN is a strategic planning document that guides national development policies, including state financial management, to support economic growth and societal well-being. The state financial policy within the RPJMN encompasses revenue, expenditure, and financing aspects that must be optimally managed to achieve sustainable and inclusive development targets. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of state financial policies in the 2020-2024, identify challenges in fiscal management, and provide policy recommendations to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of state financial management in the future. The research employs a descriptive method with a qualitative approach. Data were obtained from official government documents, academic journals, and financial institution publications, which were then analyzed using data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion-drawing techniques. The findings indicate that the analysis of state financial policies in the 2020-2024 RPJMN emphasizes its strategic role in optimizing resources to support national development priorities. Although various strategies have been implemented, their execution faces challenges such as global economic uncertainty, climate change, and social inequality, necessitating policy adjustments. Therefore, more adaptive and sustainable financial policies are required to maintain economic stability and ensure the achievement of national development targets. This study provides empirical insights that can inform policymakers in designing more resilient and forward-looking fiscal policies. The findings contribute to the academic discourse on public financial management by highlighting the importance of policy adaptability in response to dynamic socio-economic and environmental factors.

Mapping Organizational Theory With SCRIPTS

ABSTRACTOrganizational theory has developed in numerous directions that have been difficult to integrate. This review synthesizes them into seven perspectives, with theories focused within and beyond the organization (i.e., intra‐ and extra‐organizational dynamics). It proposes the acronym SCRIPTS: structure, culture, relations, institutions, professions, transformation, and social conflict. Within organizations, structure focuses on theories of bureaucracy, management, routines, and decision‐making while culture focuses on shared values, identity, climate, and sensemaking. Relations involve studies of interpersonal and interorganizational networks. Institutions focus on the macro‐dynamics of fields and isomorphism, and micro‐dynamics of entrepreneurship and inhabited institutions. Professions refer to psychological factors shaping individual performance and sociological factors shaping work and occupations. Transformation involves episodic and gradual changes within organizations and across society. Social conflict involves power and competition, with key theories focused on gendered, racialized, and global inequalities. This paper introduces theories and concepts in the study of organizations by grouping similar perspectives, highlighting their domains within or beyond the organization, and underscoring their utility for researchers and leaders.

The Dialectics of Ecology and Ecological Civilization

What is ecological civilization? In this article, Chen Yiwen presents a dialectical analysis that illuminates the theoretical and practical elements of ecological civilization, particularly as it develops in the context of China. In China, she notes, significant progress has been made, but there remain outstanding questions that must be resolved during the transition to an ecologically harmonious society that promotes global equality and human flourishing.

Chasing promises of progress: control, consent and the proliferation of counting and accounting in a sustainable cocoa supply chain

In the Global North, attention for the sustainability of globally-sourced goods is rising on the agendas of both lawmakers and consumers. Worries over the environmental and human cost of commodities go hand in hand with the concern to quantify, measure and certify sustainability, efforts that do not take place spontaneously but require extensive governance. As a consequence, mechanisms of control driven and coordinated by lead firm management reverberate throughout global value chains, in a bid to create both the sustainable goods, and the data, markets and governments require. Our study aims to explore what this means for the workers implicated in these sustainable supply chains. The present article is based on a three-year case study of a cocoa supply chain. By following the idea of sustainability and transparency from the European chocolate manufacturer and its importing supplier, through a cocoa cooperative, to the very farmers harvesting the cocoa beans, we elaborate a multi-sited ethnography of quantification in sustainable supply chains. Using a labour process theory approach, we show how workers throughout different countries and across organizations are impacted by their implication in sustainable supply chain governance. We highlight the production of new forms of workers’ consent as a crucial factor in the generation of sustainability stories and data, vital to current notions of sustainable trade. As sustainability regulations proliferate, our article responds to an urgent need for deeper reflection on what these will mean for workers, and how they will feed into broader global inequalities.

ANALYSIS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITY THROUGH THE PRISM OF MIGRATION

One of the most pressing global economic problems is growing socio-economic inequality. It is deepening, acquiring new forms and meanings and reigns in various spheres of human existence, reigns both within countries and between countries. Experts define inequality as a modern threat of a global scale and are extremely concerned that it has a tendency to grow. The phenomenon of inequality affects all components of social life, therefore, understanding the essence, causes and consequences of inequality begins with the emergence of science itself. Hundreds of generations have changed since those times, but discussions around the nature and consequences of inequality do not cease. Today, the problem of the relationship between socio-economic inequality and migration trends remains insufficiently studied. The aim of the article is to reveal the relationship between the complex phenomena of today - socio-economic inequality and migration shifts in the globalized world. Today, inequality in income distribution has gone beyond acceptable limits and has become a serious obstacle to economic development, a source of serious tension in society, a factor that reduces the quality of life of the population. Unfair inequality of incomes of the population has a detrimental effect on the quality of life due to the stratification of society into groups that differ in the level and structure of consumption, a certain subculture. Inequality serves to tear apart the social fabric of society and becomes the main source of numerous social conflicts.. Inequality is that destructive mechanism that is better than external threats able to cope with the destruction of the integrity of the socio-economic system. The growth of inequality is associated with the concentration of income and wealth in the upper classes, the tendency to monopolization, tax evasion by the wealthy part of the population, a decrease in the progressivity of taxation, the weakening of the influence of trade unions, the outstripping of the pace of wage increases by inflation. High levels of inequality reduce the ability of people, social groups and even countries to develop, deepening economic and social barriers and depriving societies of the potential for long-term development. Global inequality is cyclical, passing through wars, epidemics, technological revolutions, changes in access to education and redistribution of income. Inequality creates a vicious circle - a self-sustaining environment in which the children of the rich inherit wealth, and the children of the poor, respectively, poverty. Inequality is the basis that generates migration. The relationship between migration and inequality is complex and contradictory. The motives for migration are based on the difference in wages and employment opportunities, the gender profiles of countries, demographic factors. The correlation between the level of wage differences and the intensity of migration is not linear. Small-scale migration is often a positive global phenomenon, but such a positive impact is sharply reduced when its scale increases. International migration, on the one hand, is a factor in global inequality, and on the other hand, if properly managed, can become an important tool for its reduction, but for this it is necessary to properly use its potential.

Rising tide: the growing global burden and inequalities of early-onset type 2 diabetes among youths aged 15–34 years (1990–2021)

BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasingly affecting people aged 15–34, posing a serious public health challenge due to its faster progression and higher complication risks. This study examines the global, regional, and national burden of early-onset T2DM from 1990 to 2021, emphasizing trends and disparities across different sociodemographic contexts.MethodsUsing data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, we analyzed incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and years of life lost (YLLs) in people aged 15–34. Stratifications included age, sex, and the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI). Joinpoint regression significant temporal shifts, and decomposition analysis attributed changes in T2DM burden to factors such as prevalence, population growth, aging, and case fatality rates. Inequality was assessed with the Slope Index of Inequality and Concentration Index.ResultsFrom 1990 to 2021, early-onset T2DM incidence and prevalence rose significantly worldwide, especially in high-SDI regions. Although global mortality and DALYs appeared relatively stable, low-SDI regions showed worrisome increases. Rising T2DM prevalence was the principal driver of mortality and DALYs, notably in low- and middle-SDI regions. Inequality analyses indicated widening disparities, with higher incidence and prevalence in high-SDI countries and more severe outcomes in low-SDI countries.ConclusionsThe global burden of early-onset T2DM among youths is escalating, with significant disparities across different sociodemographic levels. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted public health interventions. Future research should focus on the underlying factors driving these trends and explore strategies for effective prevention and management of early-onset T2DM.

Books about books, readers and collectors: the effect of simultaneous reading

The synergetic effect of simultaneous reading is examined using the example of a recent book by Oxford professor of English literature Emma Smith, “Portable Magic: A History of Books and Their Readers”, and the half-century-old “History of Soviet Bibliophilia” by Leningrad professor of Russian literature Pavel Berkov. Simultaneous or joint reading is likened to conjoint analysis, where the reader finds himself in the role of a test subject. By confronting two traditions of book perception: the domestic one of the 1960s and the current British one, such reading helps to evaluate the current turn to materiality, which tunes attention to the agency of things. Modulations of the personal mode of writing, difficult memory, bookhood, and anthropomorphism are analyzed. The differently resolved inclusion of the author’s “I” is relevant in the context of current discussions about the transformation of the norms of academic writing. To what extent can a scientist’s text be personal and biographically colored, raising special questions and permeated with fundamental ethical issues? Joint reading shows in what cases and for what purpose the authors resort to personal accents. In Berkov's work, the personal mode is involved in the work of difficult memory, in the story about repressed scientists, bibliophiles (N.N. Orlov, N.P. Likhachev), in Smith's work it is somewhat different. She also solves the theme of difficult memory differently, in the context of global inequalities, but it is also there. Smith's concept of bookhood differs from that accepted in the Russian tradition and describes the multisensory materiality of a book, uniting form with content. Moving away from the romanticization of bookhood, Smith considers the participation of books in social macroprocesses: the confrontation of ideologies, the spread of marketing strategies, etc. Both authors insist on the agency of the book, but in Berkov's work it is an elevating force for a person, while in Smith's work it is ambivalent. For Smith, the refusal to equate books with people is fundamental.

Evaluating The Influence of World Systems Theory on Pritzker Prize Outcomes in Architecture (1979-2024)

Elitism in architecture manifests in multiple forms: architects are positioned as arbiters of built environment quality, recruitment predominantly favors individuals from elite backgrounds, commissions are largely sourced from elite patrons, and architectural practice often reflects the values and aesthetic preferences of privileged groups. This elitism is further reinforced by prestigious global architecture awards, which contribute to the emergence of starchitects—a select group of architects whose careers are propelled by such recognition. Among various evaluative frameworks, the Pritzker Prize (PP) stands as one of the most esteemed. Within this context, it is hypothesized that the PP disproportionately favors architects from nations classified as the ‘Core’ of the capitalist world economy (CWE) over those from the ‘Semi-Periphery’ or ‘Periphery’, as defined by the World Systems Theory (WST). WST provides a structural framework for analyzing global economic inequalities by incorporating perspectives on colonialism and imperialism, emphasizing their long-term impact on economic underdevelopment in certain world regions. This theory underscores the importance of historical structural analysis in understanding global disparities. Although WST has faced criticism for its Eurocentric bias—which often overgeneralizes economic structures and diminishes the agency of peripheral nations—it remains a valuable analytical tool for examining architectural prestige distribution. While its economic determinism has been challenged for neglecting cultural and ideological factors, WST offers a more nuanced alternative to the simplistic binaries of ‘West vs. Non-West’ or ‘Global North vs. Global South’. By applying this framework, a more comprehensive understanding of how architectural elitism intersects with global economic divisions can be achieved. Employing a qualitative research methodology with case studies as its primary strategy, this research utilizes data from the PP’s official website (pritzkerprize.com) to identify trends and cycles of PP-winning starchitects across various nationalities worldwide. By tabulating these findings and triangulating data with other extant sources, the study applies the aforementioned theory to analyze these nationalities, situating each within its corresponding country, and thus, C/SP/P division. Conducted in February 2025, this research analyzes 46 PP award cycles and identifies that starchitects from 21 different nationalities have received the prize over the years. Among these, ones representing the Core have overwhelmingly secured the prize 36 times, followed by counterparts from the Semi-Periphery with 9 wins, and Periphery with a single win. Consequently, the hypothesis is affirmed, demonstrating that the PP exhibits a preferential bias towards the Core.

The Proposed Pandemic Agreement: A Pivotal Moment for Global Health Law.

This article discusses the prospects and pitfalls of a legally binding pandemic agreement under the auspices of the World Health Organization, currently under negotiation in Geneva. Such an agreement could foster a rules-based pandemic prevention, preparedness and response as a reaction to the failures by states during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a lack of effective coordination for sharing all kinds of data and the global inequity in the distribution of medical goods fueled by vaccine nationalism. Achieving these goals, however, will depend upon a meaningful engagement by delegations negotiating the agreement, a legally sound formulation of its provisions, and overcoming the currently pervasive emergency-bias in this field of global health law. Thus, as advocated by Lawrence Gostin in his seminal treatise on Global Health Law ten years ago, the pandemic agreement could help realize the transformative potential of law for facing one of the greatest health threats to humanity.

Political masculinities: crisis, governance, and leadership in Imran Khan’s UNGA speeches

ABSTRACT This study examines how Imran Khan constructs his political masculinity in his 2019 and 2021 UNGA speeches, employing a rhetoric that intertwines Islamic morality, nationalist pride, and transnational justice. Using Hearn’s framework of political masculinities, the study highlights how Khan’s discourse negotiates Pakistan’s volatile socio-political hierarchies while positioning himself as a moral leader of the Global South. The study argues that while Khan’s rhetoric critiques global inequities and imperialist structures, it simultaneously perpetuates patriarchal frameworks, relegating women and subaltern groups to symbolic roles. This work contributes to understanding political masculinities as adaptive mechanisms navigating crises while reinforcing exclusionary power dynamics in postcolonial governance.