Global Market Research Articles

Usage-Based Insurance (UBI), also referred to as telematics-based insurance, has been experiencing a growing global diffusion. In addition to being well established in countries such as Italy, the United States, and the United Kingdom, UBI adoption is also accelerating in emerging markets such as Japan, South Africa, and Brazil. In Japan, telematics insurance has shown significant growth in recent years, with a steadily increasing subscription rate. In South Africa, UBI adoption ranks among the highest worldwide, with market penetration placing the country among the top three globally, just after the United States and Italy. In Brazil, UBI adoption is expanding, supported by government initiatives promoting road safety and innovation in the insurance sector. According to a MarketsandMarkets report of February 2025, the global UBI market is expected to grow from USD 43.38 billion in 2023 to USD 70.46 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% over the forecast period. This growth is driven by the increasing adoption of both electric and internal combustion vehicles equipped with integrated telematics systems, which enable insurers to collect data on driving behavior and to tailor insurance premiums accordingly. In this paper, we analyze a large dataset consisting of trips recorded over five years from 100,000 policyholders across the Italian territory through the installation of black-box devices. Using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses, as well as Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) with Zero-Inflated Poisson distribution, we examine claims frequency and assess the relevance of various synthetic indicators of driving behavior, with the aim of identifying those that are most significant for insurance pricing.

In an increasingly competitive global labour market, employability has become a defining benchmark of higher education success, particularly for management graduates entering dynamic business environments. This study examines how structured career planning and development initiatives influence the employability competencies of management students. Drawing on human capital and career construction theories, this research explores the extent to which proactive career guidance, experiential learning, and skill-oriented interventions translate into tangible employability outcomes. Using a mixed-method approach, quantitative data were collected from 312 final-year management graduates across Indian universities, complemented by qualitative insights from academic mentors and industry recruiters. Statistical analysis through multiple regression and mediation testing revealed that career planning significantly enhances employability, mediated by self-efficacy and career adaptability. Qualitative findings further underscored the importance of reflective career workshops, mentoring, and institutional support in shaping graduates’ job readiness. The study contributes to both theory and practice by reaffirming that employability is not merely an institutional output but a co-constructed developmental process between learners, educators, and employers. Practical implications are offered for universities seeking to integrate career development frameworks that foster lifelong learning and professional agility.

The United Nations has set a global vision towards emissions reduction and green growth through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Towards the realisation of SDGS 7, 9, and 13, we focus on green hydrogen production as a potential pathway to achievement. Green hydrogen, produced via water electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources, represents a pivotal solution towards climate change mitigation. Energy access in West Africa remains a challenge, and dependency on fossil fuels persists. So, green hydrogen offers an opportunity to harness abundant solar resources, reduce carbon emissions, and foster economic development. This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of green hydrogen production in five West African countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, and Senegal. The analyses cover the solar energy potential, hydrogen production capacities, and economic viability using the Levelised Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) and Net Present Value (NPV). Results indicate substantial annual hydrogen production potential with LCOH values competitive with global benchmarks amidst the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Despite this potential, several barriers exist, including high initial capital costs, policy and regulatory gaps, limited technical capacity, and water resource constraints. We recommend targeted strategies for strengthening policy frameworks, fostering international partnerships, enhancing regional infrastructure integration, and investing in capacity-building initiatives. By addressing these barriers, West Africa can be a key player in the global green hydrogen market.

Curcuma xanthorrhiza, also known as Java turmeric, is a medicinal plant that has been used for centuries. Because of the growing global market demand for this species, several biotechnology studies involving in vitro propagation and production have been conducted. Unfortunately, high costs are incurred as a result of the high contamination level of shoot bud explants. As a result, it is addressed in this study in order to solve the contamination problem. Surface sterilisation is extremely difficult in most plants, making sterilisation procedures critical for successful cultures. A total of twelve distinct sterilisation methods were assessed on the explants where 70% ethanol and 5% sodium hypochlorite were added with fungicide or mercuric chloride with different time explore for surface sterilisation with the goal of identifying the best method to establish an in vitro culture. The sterilised shoot bud explants were then cultured on Murashige & Skoog (MS) media with no additional vitamin or plant growth regulators under light below 25°C. Based on this study, a combination of 70% ethanol + 5% NaOCl + 0.1% HgCl2 for 10 min was the best to reduce the contamination rate to 25% with a 65% survival rate of C. xanthorrhiza explant.

ABSTRACT Greece’s path toward climate neutrality, aligned with the European Green Deal and REPowerEU strategies, relies on the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources combined with the development of energy storage capacity to ensure system resilience and reduce dependence on natural gas. This study uses the LEAP-NEMO model to assess the role of seasonal hydrogen storage in achieving national energy and climate targets. The results confirm that hydrogen storage allows for a higher penetration of renewable energy sources, thereby reducing curtailments and contributing to the early phasing out of natural gas from the country’s energy mix. However, its low round-trip efficiency and limited short-term response make it unsuitable for short-term balancing, highlighting the need for complementary storage technologies. Furthermore, reduced dependence on gas imports enhances energy security, allowing Greece to meet demand with competitive domestic resources, mitigating exposure to the high volatility of global market. The novelty of this work lies in the updated analysis of the Greek electricity system through an energy model framework, applied for the first time in the country, and in the demonstration of the role of hydrogen as a factor for the future scaling-up of renewable energy sources.

Robo-advisors (RAs), powered by artificial intelligence and automation, are transforming the landscape of wealth management by offering financial advice that is cost-efficient, widely accessible, and free from human bias. As adoption increases and the global market expands, it becomes crucial to examine how scholarly research on this topic has progressed. This study undertakes a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of 140 articles published in the Scopus database between 2019 and 2024 to evaluate the maturity, thematic trajectories, and collaborative dynamics of research on robo-advisors. The findings indicate that while the field is still in its early stages, it has gained notable momentum in recent years. Research outputs remain concentrated within a limited set of journals and geographic regions, with the United States, Germany, and India standing out as leading contributors. The analysis identifies four major thematic clusters: consumer adoption and behavioral aspects, financial performance and regulatory issues, the integration of emerging technologies, and specialized applications. Nonetheless, the field remains fragmented, with minimal interdisciplinary collaboration and several underexplored dimensions, including long-term client outcomes, ethical considerations, and regulatory frameworks. By charting the intellectual landscape and highlighting research gaps, this study provides valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, while laying the groundwork for more comprehensive exploration of robo-advisors in the context of wealth management.

Currently, there is a growing need for wine authenticity tools to face the global wine market and deal with adulteration cases. Stable isotope analyses, recognized by the Organization of Vine and Wine as a tool for detecting authenticity fraud, form the basis of the European Wine Databank, which faces limitations concerning the geographical origin of wines. Several studies were developed on applying the 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratio to evaluate wine geographical origin, involving wine-producing regions worldwide. The most important feature of Sr, evidencing its reliability as a provenance tracer, is its assimilation by the vine plant roots in the same isotopic proportions in which they occur. Although important aspects such as 87Sr/86Sr in relation to the vineyard substratum, analytical methodologies and the effect of technological processes have been addressed, relevant issues remain, such as the interpretation of soil data and the need for a better understanding of the impacts of anthropogenic factors. In this context, the strontium isotope ratio of Arinto (Vitis vinifera L.) wine samples from the same vineyard located in the Lisbon wine region, across 13 vintages, was assessed. Before 87Sr/86Sr determination by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, the samples underwent a pretreatment procedure: (i) sample digestion by high-pressure microwave digestion for the elimination of organic substances to prevent any interference during chromatographic separation, and (ii) chromatographic separation of 87Sr and 87Rb to avoid isobaric overlapping 87Rb and 87Sr. The values of 87Sr/86Sr found in the studied wines, ranging between 0.706 and 0.709, are consistent with those reported for soils developed on different basaltic rocks. No significant differences were observed between the isotopic ratio values of the wines from different vintages, thus confirming the reliability of this isotopic ratio for traceability purposes. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Most studies exploring the global market of association football (soccer) transfers have relied on the hedonic pricing approach, where the characteristics of the player are the key features. While this has largely been useful, there are some potential challenges since it does not represent the global market and is susceptible to selection bias. In this exploratory study, we aimed to address these two key issues by proposing a different modelling approach that relies on an original solution (i.e., video gaming data). First, we built a random global sample by starting from an existing player universe, and appended video gaming data, transfer and salary data. Second, we developed new measures of transfer prices (without selectivity). This design is superior as it addresses the challenges of non-representativeness and selection bias. Indeed, the results are homoscedastic across different segments (regions and player positions) and provide results that are robust and representative of the global market than previous studies.

This review explores the potential of microneedles (MNs) in enhancing the delivery of biologics vital for treating conditions, including infectious diseases, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the demand for biologics, prompting research and development. The global biologics market is expected to grow substantially due to the rise of personalized medicine. Large, complex molecules, including proteins, peptides, and vaccines, are known as biologics, and a potential technique for their delivery is microneedles. MNs come in various forms: solid, hollow, coated, dissolvable, and hydrogel MNs. Traditional drug delivery methods have limitations, while transdermal drug delivery via Microneedles offers a promising alternative. Microneedles painlessly penetrate the skin's barrier, forming temporary microchannels for effective medication administration. This minimally invasive, self-administered technique increases patient comfort and compliance and eliminates the complications of oral medications and injections, indicating a bright future for biologic drug administration. Microneedles hold the promise to reshape healthcare delivery by facilitating broader access to vaccines, insulin, and other crucial biologics.

Lanthanide luminescent markers in hollow-point projectiles to facilitate post-mortem ballistic analysis.

A comprehensive analysis of the scrapping and abandonment of fiber-reinforced polymer vessels at sea.

Enhanced ligand exchange for ultrasensitive neonicotinoid detection in soil water via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Globalization and stock market efficiency

In recent years the global market of nanomedicine has experienced incredible growth owing to the advances in the field. This translation of the technique to the biomedical industry requires the development of production methods that deliver nanomedicines with a high degree of reproducibility between batches, combined with cost and time efficiency. The use of nanoparticles in medicine usually requires their surface functionalization to improve biocompatibility in addition to providing targeting capacities and/or stimuli-responsive behavior, among other interesting skills. Microfluidic technology has revolutionized the field both in nanomedicine synthesis and in preclinical evaluation. However, microfluidic-assisted synthetic procedures commonly require high-cost methods and equipment to fabricate the microreactors. The aim of this work is to present an ultra-low-cost microfluidic platform that permits the versatile modification of nanomaterials. To prove this approach, two different model nanoparticles with different natures: soft nanoparticles (liposomes) and rigid nanoparticles (mesoporous silica) have been decorated both with small molecules and with other nanoparticles, respectively, in order to evaluate the scope of this approach. The anchoring of the covalently attached elements has been performed using click chemistry, in compliance with the principles for further transfer to the drug industry.

Fractal insights into overnight and intraday returns: Unraveling global market heterogeneity

In traditional corporate governance, agency costs have long been influenced by information asymmetry, making it difficult to establish an efficient and transparent trust mechanism between shareholders, investors, and management. While conventional methods such as internal controls, enhanced information disclosure, and incentive alignment help mitigate this issue, they often fail to provide a fundamental solution. Blockchain technology, with its decentralized, immutable, and smart contract features, offers a more transparent, efficient, and democratic governance model. However, challenges remain in privacy protection, data security, and legal compliance, necessitating regulatory frameworks to ensure its safe and effective implementation. Additionally, in a globalized business environment, Business English plays a crucial role in the adoption of blockchain governance models, particularly in smart contract drafting, cross-border information disclosure, and international corporate communication. By integrating blockchain technology with Business English, companies can enhance governance efficiency and strengthen their competitive edge in the global market. This study explores how blockchain improves corporate governance and examines the role of Business English in this transformation, providing theoretical insights and practical references for the modernization, transparency, and legal development of corporate governance.

This study examines the impressions of 174 visitors to the Wonderful Indonesia booth at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Dubai 2024 regarding the 7P marketing mix (Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, Process, and Physical Evidence) with a Likert scale questionnaire ranging from 1 to 5. The k-means analysis technique categorizes respondents into three clusters according on perceptual similarities,with Cluster 2 (62.64%) representing the most favourable group and Cluster 3 (20.11%) the most critical. ANOVA results indicate significant differences (p<0.001) among clusters, particularly in Price (F=116.144) and Process (F=96.267), which are the primary distinguishing factors. The examination of Euclidean distance indicates that the greatest gap between Clusters 2 and 3 is 4.592 signifying significant polarization of perceptions. The results demonstrate that Product achieved the greatest score (Mean=4.45) whereas Process and Price represented the primary deficiencies in Cluster 3. The strategic implications underscore the necessity for marketing distinction through segmentation particularly by enhancing service protocols and modifying pricing structures. This study offers an empirical foundation for formulating Indonesian tourism strategies in the global market.

BackgroundThe fast-food industry has transformed substantially in recent decades – from diverse, locally rooted providers into a globalised, and increasingly corporate-led industry. Corporate fast-food retailers (FFRs) represent a key retail channel through which both ultra-processed foods and intensively produced animal source foods are consumed and normalised within corporate-industrial food systems. These dietary patterns are strongly associated with increased risks of diet-related diseases and contribute significantly to environmental degradation, including greenhouse gas emissions, land use change, and biodiversity loss. Despite the growing significance of FFRs, there has been limited analysis of their financial strategies and implications for global food system transformation.ResultsWe conducted a global analysis of market data from 54 countries and financial data of publicly listed FFRs, examining trends in FFR sales (2009–2023), market dominance, and the financial performance of leading publicly listed firms (1980–2023). We found that while sales in high-income countries were stagnating, leading firms maintained stable net profit margins and delivered relatively high shareholder returns, facilitated by financial strategies such as franchising and private equity ownership. U.S.-based corporations dominated the global market, with substantial expansion into countries outside the global North. These trends reflect the consolidation of power within the corporate food regime.ConclusionsThe global expansion of corporate FFRs underscore their growing influence over diets and food systems, with critical implications for public health, ecological sustainability, and social justice. Policies targeting structural leverage points, for example, democratising corporate governance, reducing the influence of private equity, and re-orienting agri-food subsidies, are essential to countering the entrenchment of this model and supporting more democratic and sustainable food systems.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12992-025-01158-9.

This Community Service activity aims to provide education, build motivation, and enhance the understanding of agricultural vocational high school (SMK Pertanian) students and teachers in Pekanbaru regarding employment opportunities in Japan through the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program. This initiative was undertaken in response to the Japanese government's decision to open up job opportunities for foreign workers. This policy remains relatively unknown among prospective graduates of agricultural vocational schools in Indonesia. The methods used in this activity included seminars, material presentations, interactive discussions, and questionnaires to assess participants' understanding and responses. The results showed that most participants lacked sufficient knowledge about job opportunities in Japan but demonstrated high enthusiasm to learn more. Based on the evaluation, the activity was considered successful in broadening participants' insight into career prospects in Japan and encouraging them to better prepare for the global job market.

Trends in the Global Labor Market and High-Skilled Migration