Inclusive Development Research Articles

Assessing The Effects Of Government Expenditure And Tax Revenue On Economic Growth In Seven ASEAN Countries

Background: This study investigates the Assessing the Effects of Government Expenditure and Tax Revenue on Economic Growth in Seven ASEAN Countries namely Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand over a lengthy temporal prospect from 1980 to 2022. This research aims to deliver a nuanced understanding of how these government expenditure and tax revenue dynamics effects on the economic growth of these regions. Spanning over four decades, the study investigates into the multidimensional extents of government expenditure and tax revenue and its effects on economic growth, presenting a comprehensive exploration of the long-term strategies besides their implications for economic growth. This research covers both short-term and long-term dynamics, thus enhancing the robustness of this investigation. Moreover, the findings contribute to the hypothetical discourse by enriching the understanding for the effects of government expenditure and tax revenue on economic growth within these regions. The outcomes of this study embrace the potential to appraise evidence-based policy decisions, academic explorations, and the broader recreation of sustainable and inclusive economic development contained by these ASEAN regions. The focus of this study has investigated the effectiveness of government expenditure and tax revenue measures in promoting economic growth in seven ASEAN countries. These studies utilize the panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach and find that government expenditure was statistically significant in these ASEAN economies. It is important to note that the effectiveness of fiscal policy in promoting economic growth can vary across countries and over time.

Disseminating our knowledge in an inclusive society: An inaugural editorial statement

Inclusive research is essential at all stages of research, including data collection and dissemination. This essay investigates how current literature and the practical application of inclusive practices in the academic setting illuminate this critical but often overlooked aspect of research. It offers the South African policy of Working Paper 6 (WP6) to clarify how the principle and policy of education for all learners can be implemented in inclusive societies and development, which confront various obstacles due to psychosocial issues. It discourses the purpose of the South African Policy of WP6 and its discourses in multiple contexts by adopting innovative and more inclusive techniques for dissemination, intellectual and developmental disability research, and analysis that can reach far beyond the academic walls. It finally discusses barriers to inclusive dissemination and methods to overcome them. Even though further research needs to be explored in this regard, this article would be beneficial to scholars to champion and implement inclusivity to make research more meaningful and accessible to all who are affected by any form of exclusion and discrimination in our society.

Unbalanced burden is escalating: Urban inequality landscape under sudden shocks?

Sudden and unforeseen events, notably the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored and exacerbated pre-existing urban inequalities. These disruptions have disproportionately affected the most vulnerable sectors of society, thereby further aggravating existing inequalities. Addressing these inequality issues requires systematic research into academic community's response to significant global disturbances. Therefore, we have integrated bibliometric analysis with meta-analysis (quantitatively combines research results from systematic reviews) techniques, culminating in a research framework based on KNIME software (a software for creating data applications and services) and Python programming. Noteworthy for its open-source nature, scalability, and reproducibility, this framework tries to decode the developmental patterns and response characteristics of urban inequality research under sudden shocks. Additionally, it seeks to clarify its causal pathways, predict the emergence of new or strengthened inequalities, and provide effective suggestions to promote inclusive and sustainable urban development. Our findings indicate that the COVID-19 has exacerbated the existing urban inequality, attracting widespread attention in fields such as society and public health. Issues of fairness and justice of human health, resource allocation, urban resilience and vulnerability have become hot topics around COVID-19 related urban inequalities. Simultaneously, the sudden shocks have led to disparities in research areas and themes. Social, economic, and urban planning are the main drivers behind urban inequality, and particularly affecting vulnerable groups, including low-income populations and those living in remote regions. Before and after the COVID-19, the average global urban inequality are 0.57 and 0.61, respectively. Inequality issues are particularly severe in Africa and countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. The pandemic changed the focus of urban inequality to health and social issues, worsening inequality performance in these regions and deepening global gaps. Additionally, countries with high urban inequality are more prone to large-scale outbreaks and higher mortality rates. To this end, we advocate academia for in-depth research and comprehensive evaluation, focusing on vulnerable groups, providing integrated policy recommendations, supporting interdisciplinary exchanges and cooperation, and committing to find long-term sustainable solutions. These efforts aim to propose more comprehensive and reasonable solutions to alleviate and address complex urban inequality issues under sudden shocks.

Towards more sustainable and inclusive development corridors in Africa

Abstract Development corridors are linear programmes of infrastructure and agriculture aiming to facilitate rapid socio-economic development. In Africa, they are a major development activity, with 88 underway or planned corridors. Drawing from extensive literature and insights gleaned from a 4 year research programme, this review scrutinizes the impacts of development corridors on people, wildlife and ecosystems in Kenya and Tanzania, proposing solutions to achieve better outcomes. The overarching goal was to discern the principle challenges emerging from the practical execution of the prevailing corridor model. The holistic approach taken, assessing the development corridors paradigm through an integrated ecological, social, and economic lens, provides novel insights that have not been possible using more traditional—siloed—research approaches. Eight key challenge areas are identified: impact assessments processes; coherence across international, national and local planning; governance; inclusivity; equality; impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services; incorporation of future climate risks; and integrated water resource management. Poorly planned and implemented corridors detrimentally impact livelihoods and ecosystems. They lack a sustainable development vision, detailed social, environmental or climate risk assessments, and develop incrementally in policy and corporate spaces. There is also often a disconnect between investors and recipient governments, with some investors funding what governments request without applying internationally-recognised safeguards, and governments lacking capacity and resources to enforce regulations. We make recommendations for addressing these challenge areas. These aim to enhance impact assessment efficacy; integrate local perspectives into effective and inclusive corridor planning; overcome siloed project development and implementation; anticipate future development projections; and prioritise landscape preservation for enhanced ecosystem services and climate resilience.

Foreign Investment in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations: Opportunities, Challenges and Prospects

African countries remain stubbornly plagued by fragility and conflict-affected conditions. Out of thirty-seven countries categorized as fragile and conflict-affected states, African countries are nineteen in number representing about 51% of the total states. The remaining African countries that are excluded in this list do not fare better in institutional and social fragility index, nor are they delivering enduring peace and sustainable development to their populace. The African Union (AU)’s approval of the Phase II of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) constitutes a pragmatic approach to use investment framework to change the climate of fragility and conflict. Foreign investment presents a veritable opportunity to turn the fragile and conflict-affected African states into a hub of peace and development. The increase in international investment brings with it the spillover of skills, know-how and technology into the host state. Additionally, foreign investment increases employment and revenue generation, diversification and improvement in the quality of products and services, and overall improvement in the standard of living. Equitable and inclusive sharing of revenues from natural resources similarly promotes societal cohesion and limits the triggers of institutional fragility. Consequently, this paper seeks to explore the modalities for the use of foreign investment as a pathway to inclusive development in African countries plagued by fragility and conflict.

S11-4: Reaching people with a disability in a small town–a practice perspective

Abstract Purpose It is well documented that people living with a disability often have restricted opportunities to participate in physical activity and may face significant barriers. This presentation provides a practice perspective on reaching, and providing inclusive, meaningful physical activity opportunities for children and adults living with disability in Ireland. Project or policy description While significant efforts have been made in Ireland and elsewhere to facilitate access, this presentation will provide insights from a Sports Inclusion Development Officer, working in a town in Ireland, on how providing facilitators (funding streams and a varied programme of activities) does not necessarily remove barriers for people with disability to access physical activity and participate. Conclusions There are problems in areas with low population density – small numbers of people with specific disabilities leading to no specific activities for specific disabilities. Clubs are providing options, in some instances, but they are often not easy to implement as the volunteer base has declined and many sports clubs focus on performance rather than participation. Sometimes they are difficult for those with disabilities to access and participate. Often, the policy and willingness for change is there at organisational level but at intervention level there are difficulties in implementation.

Агломераційні процеси та інклюзивний розвиток: стратегування і смарт-підхід

The purpose of this article is to delineate the principal approaches to forming strategies for rural-urban agglomerations, which serve as tools for the inclusive development of territories through innovative approaches, practical synergistic impact, and as a form of multi-purpose cooperation among territorial communities within the agglomeration’s sphere of influence. The article outlines the main approaches to agglomeration formation within the context of state regional policy, including the principles of agglomeration formation exemplified by the Lviv region, considering the approved Strategy for the Lviv Agglomeration until 2027. It identifies the elements of the agglomeration process and analyzes the problems and conditions that underlie the formulation of the Strategy for the Lviv Agglomeration for the period up to 2027. It defines territorial community, agglomeration, urbanization, inclusive development, smart specialization, and intelligent economy as a single comprehensive organizational-institutional and functional approach to territorial development. It determines the main directions for the inclusive development of territorial communities. It formulates a schema for the interconnection of strategic objectives defined in the Strategy for the Lviv Agglomeration with the directions for the inclusive development of territorial communities, including the specifics of rural communities within the context of rural-urban agglomerations. The article characterizes the normative-legal regulation of agglomerations, the peculiarities of infrastructure provision, and the socio-economic benefits arising from the creation of inter-territorial linkages. It considers the key elements of inclusive development and urbanization within regional policy, emphasizing the importance of integrating rural and urban zones. It proposes reviewing strategic goals and measures to ensure sustainable development in various aspects of agglomeration life, from infrastructure initiatives to social investments. Keywords: agglomeration, agglomeration process, territorial community, strategy, inclusive development, smart specialization, regional policy, strategic objectives.

Mapping the intellectual landscape of financial inclusion and sustainable development: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose This research mirrors a 360° probe into bibliometric review of various studies aimed to examine the relationship between financial inclusion and sustainable development (FI and SD). It also offers a conspectus of apex contributors, influential articles, key journals and potential avenues for further research in this crucial area of global progress. Design/methodology/approach The study is the abstract of a total 233 papers on the subject representing a period between 2012 and 2023 in the Scopus database in the domain. This investigation probes into publication trends, the most inexhaustible contributors by national journals, publications and authors. The study conducts keyword co-occurrence analysis and examines thematic evolution using Vosviewer and Biblioshiny. Findings The findings reveal four prominent clusters: (a) Financial growth with FI, (b) Economic Empowerment with Sustainable Goals, (c) Environmental Sustainability and (d) Microfinance and Digital Era. Furthermore, the study paves way for the future research agenda with the help of these research themes. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first of its kind in deeply probing the literature on FI and SD from a bibliometric perspective. Hence the findings of this study is a powerful weapon for researchers and practitioners coupled with future research inquiries, offering valuable insights and establishing robust quantitative foundations for advancing knowledge in the realms of FI and SD.

An Investigation into the Relationship Between Financial Inclusion and Economic Development of Indian States

The issue of inclusive growth is placed on the agenda of policy-makers across the globe. Though the governments of various countries have been considering financial inclusion as a weapon to combat poverty and to foster growth and development in the economy, there is an incongruency in the inclusion-growth nexus. This empirical study explores the relationship between these two variables in the Indian context. The researchers collect state-level data on parameters of economic development and financial inclusion over the period 2015 to 2020 to achieve the objective. The investigators compute a weighted composite index for economic development and financial inclusion of different states of India with the application of data reduction technique. The study finds a strong positive relationship between financial inclusion and economicdevelopment .

A Collaborative Approach to Understanding the Intersections of Practice and Policy for Peers in the Alcohol and Other Drugs Sector.

Peers in the alcohol and other drug sectors possess lived-living experience (LLE) crucial for shaping community care. However, genuine consumer collaboration is often confounded by stigma. This study examined peers' perceptions, exploring their experiences regarding workforce dynamics, policy implications, and impacts on health equity. In presenting the research, we sought to synthesise the research methods and illustrate the methodological innovation and knowledge production in substance use research through authentic collaboration. We purposively sampled peer networks and community organisations, involving peer-researchers in planning, design, and analysis. We conducted semi-structured digital interviews with 18 peers and applied iterative coding to analyse the data. This collaborative process provided nuanced insights into sectoral challenges. Peers expressed emotional strain revisiting personal substance use experiences, blurring personal and professional boundaries. Tokenistic peer involvement critiques underscored the need for genuine leadership and organisational support. We advocate for a shift towards equitable and inclusive policy development through both organisational and systemic restructuring. However, these changes are hamstrung by broader policy frameworks, which require a shift to peer-led principles, ensuring the expertise of peers is genuinely valued. Policymakers should invest in expanding peer frameworks, acknowledging the diversity within communities of people who use drugs to improve health equity and public health outcomes. This innovative approach to substance use research emphasises the transformative impact of integrating LLE into research.

The impact of smart city construction on resident well-being: the mediating role of technology acceptance

This study investigates the relationships between smart city construction, technology acceptance, and resident well-being, integrating the Technology Acceptance Model with smart city research. Using structural equation modeling and data from 2,187 residents across five smart cities, we examine how smart city initiatives influence technology acceptance and, consequently, resident well-being. Results indicate that smart city construction positively affects perceived usefulness and ease of use of smart technologies, which in turn drive technology acceptance. Technology acceptance significantly mediates the relationship between smart city initiatives and resident well-being, highlighting its crucial role in translating urban innovations into quality of life improvements. The indirect effect of smart city construction on resident well-being through technology acceptance was significant (β = 0.183, p < 0.001), accounting for 37.1% of the total effect. Additionally, a direct positive effect of smart city construction on well-being was observed (β = 0.31, p < 0.001), suggesting benefits beyond active technology engagement. The study contributes to smart city literature by providing empirical evidence for the often-assumed link between smart city development and resident well-being, while also extending the application of the Technology Acceptance Model to urban contexts. These findings have important implications for urban planners and policymakers, emphasizing the need for user-centered design and inclusive development strategies in smart city projects to maximize positive impacts on urban populations.

BEYOND READING AND NUMERACY: EXAMINING HOLISTIC EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF PAKISTAN’S FOUNDATIONAL LEARNING POLICY

This paper analyses Pakistan Federal Foundational Learning Policy (FFLP) 2024 in light of holistic education. While enhancing the literacy abilities of children is a notable objective of this policy, this study examines policy in terms of its potential for the student’s education as a whole. In this paper, critical discourse analysis was employed by Mullet, focusing on language, the text structure, and the suggested measures of implementation of policy. This study shows that though FFLP 2024 ensures that gaps in foundational learning are filled, it might downplay other elements necessary for early childhood, namely socio-emotional development, creativity, and cultural competence. This policy gap may impose limitations on school’s curriculum and teaching strategies as it centers on quantifiable results & standardized tests. The findings drawn from the analysis of the policy have questioned its suitability for different regions and its effect on the teachers’ professionals’ autonomy. The study proposed that a balanced approach that incorporates basic skills and general goals is needed for inclusive student development. The study provides valuable suggestions for a broader strategy towards the foundational learning.

Breaking barriers, building resilience: Leveraging knowledge to mitigate energy vulnerability in Africa

Addressing energy vulnerability can unlock economic potential and create pathways for inclusive and sustainable development. Knowledge creation and use are essential components of efforts to promote sustainable energy access and support development goals. This paper scrutinizes the effect of knowledge on energy vulnerability in Africa. Using data from 27 countries from 2000 to 2019, findings from feasible generalized least squares, panel-corrected standard errors, and fixed-effects with Driscoll and Kraay (1998) standard errors demonstrate that the three components of knowledge creation and use (education quality, ICT penetration, and innovation) mitigate energy vulnerability in Africa. Moreover, findings from the quantile regression confirm that the effect of knowledge is negative but heterogeneous across the conditional distribution of energy vulnerability. Finally, economic globalization incurs energy vulnerability, while urbanization has a negative and statistically significant effect. Thus, policymakers and governments should actively invest in education and training programs and provide incentives for ICT development and energy innovation to alleviate energy vulnerability in Africa.

FEATURES OF MANAGEMENT OF INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES: FACTORS, TRENDS AND EXPERIENCE OF CHINA

In modern conditions, the practical issues of implementing effective management of inclusive development of agricultural enterprises are extremely relevant to ensuring the country's food security. The aim of the article is to study the theoretical and practical aspects of managing the inclusive development of agricultural enterprises, factors, trends, and world practices in modern conditions. Among the trends, special attention is paid to ensuring sustainable development, supporting small farmers, engaging in innovative activity and technologization, ensuring social and economic equality, and adapting to global challenges. In this context, the features of agricultural enterprises are studied. It is determined that at the world level, food security is a global problem that requires joint efforts of countries and international organizations. The features of the world experience (in the example of China) of managing the inclusive development of agricultural enterprises are analyzed. The main challenges facing the agricultural sector of Ukraine and hindering the full development of biological agriculture in these countries are highlighted, namely: climate change, limited water resources, pests, and disease outbreaks, limited access to organic materials, the presence of fierce competition in the world market, lack of qualified personnel in the agricultural sector, population growth, military conflicts. However, despite the challenges and obstacles, the experience of inclusive development of agricultural enterprises in the above-mentioned countries demonstrates the importance of an integrated approach, including government programs and other initiatives, financial support, training, innovation, and market access. This comprehensive approach is crucial for the success of the agricultural sector and its significant impact on the world economy and the environment.

Bridging the green gap: How digital financial inclusion affects corporate ESG greenwashing

We examine whether and how the development of digital financial inclusion (DFI) affects firm environmental, social, and governance (ESG) greenwashing. Our findings indicate that local DFI prohibits firms' greenwashing behaviors. These conclusions are supported through robust analysis using a multidimensional fixed-effects model, alternative measures, and an instrumental variable approach. Our research provides compelling evidence that DFI dampens corporate greenwashing by easing financial constraints and reducing information asymmetry. Additionally, DFI promotes genuine corporate engagement in ESG activities, though it does not influence ESG disclosure practices. Notably, the effects are more pronounced in firms with limited analyst coverage and increased government supervision.

Responsible development of digital livestock technologies for agricultural challenges: Purpose, practicality and effects are key considerations

AbstractDigital livestock technologies (DLTs) are presented as solutions to grand challenges in post‐Brexit British agricultural policy, such as climate change and food security. Evidence suggests technological solutions to agricultural challenges will be more effective with stakeholder and public engagement, yet there is little known about stakeholder views on these emerging technologies. We drew on responsible research and innovation, to analyse stakeholder perspectives on three case studies of DLT development through anticipatory focus groups with expert stakeholders in British animal agriculture. We found that stakeholders from broadly agroecological approaches to farming are at risk of exclusion from DLT development and policy, with negative implications for the ability of DLTs to resolve grand challenges in animal agriculture. We propose a heuristic framework of purpose, practicality and effects as key considerations for inclusive and responsible DLT development that contributes to ensuring effective solutions to grand challenges while avoiding wasted investments.

Digital Economy and Business Transformation in Indonesia: An Exploration of Opportunities and Challenges

This research explores the impact of the digital economy on key sectors such as e-commerce and fintech and identifies the challenges companies face in the adoption of digital technologies. In the context of e-commerce, this research assesses how digitalization has changed the way businesses operate, including changes in business models, payment methods, and customer experience, as well as how technology has enabled market expansion and improved operational efficiency. Using a qualitative approach and literature review, the research leveraged data from annual reports of government agencies, international organizations, industry reports of market research firms, and academic journal articles on digital transformation. The results reveal that, while digitalization offers significant opportunities for market expansion, innovation, and increased financial inclusion, there are serious challenges that include infrastructure limitations, digital skills gaps, and regulatory uncertainty. The implications of these findings point to the need for inclusive infrastructure development strategies, comprehensive skills training programs, and adaptive regulatory policies. Such measures are expected to address existing gaps and maximize the benefits of the digital economy for business growth as well as the national economy.

Charting sustainable urban development through a systematic review of SDG11 research

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 underscores the imperative of creating inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities by 2030. Here we employ bibliometric techniques to assess the evolving landscape of SDG11 research. Using a comprehensive dataset of over 21,000 scholarly publications, we investigate publication trends, thematic focus areas, authorship patterns, keyword co-occurrences and citation networks related to SDG11 research. The results reveal a consistent increase in research output, reflecting the growing global interest in urban sustainability studies. We identify influential authors, organizations and countries shaping the research landscape, highlighting existing global collaborative networks and emerging research hubs. Core thematic areas emphasize critical topics and interdisciplinary connections. Citation networks underscore the impacts of disseminating research outputs, including seminal works. This study offers insights for policymakers, academics and practitioners to align their collective efforts toward sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient urban development. Moreover, it advances SDG11 by noting opportunities for further research, knowledge dissemination and international collaboration.

Government strategy to revive SMEs from post-COVID-19 collapse: Analysis of economic improvement for lower class communities in Jakarta, Indonesia

This research aims to determine the strategy of the Jakarta Provincial Government in increasing the resilience and growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within a collaborative governance framework post-COVID-19. This study explores the effectiveness of SMEs and facilities in accessing financing and fostering collaborative partnerships between SMEs, government agencies, and financial institutions by utilizing USAID’s Theory of Change (TOC). This research uses a qualitative approach supported by in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions to enrich the insights of SME stakeholders, large companies, and SME actors and assess the impact of their roles. The results of this research highlight the critical role of SME Cooperative Banks (SCB) in improving SMEs’ access to credit and financial services, including collaborative governance frameworks and partnerships between SMEs, government agencies, and banks, which were identified as necessary to improve policy coherence and encourage conducive SME business environment conditions. The main findings of this research underscore the importance of the SCB model, demonstrating its potential to improve SME resilience and economic sustainability. This SCB model enriches the TOC indicators introduced by USAID. The study identifies gaps in digital infrastructure and market access that hinder SME growth and recommends targeted interventions to address these challenges. This study shows that SCB offers a promising pathway to increase the resilience and growth of SMEs in Indonesia, especially if accompanied by effective collaborative governance strategies. These initiatives can encourage inclusive economic development and strengthen the role of SMEs as drivers of the local economy. Recommendations include expanding the SCB model to other regions, encouraging digitalization, facilitating market access, advocating for a supportive policy framework, and integrating these strategies to advance the principles of USAID’s Theory of Change, fostering sustainable SME development and economic resilience.

Տնտեսական աճի ներառականությանը միտված հարկաբյուջետային քաղաքականության միջազգային փորձ / International experience with fiscal policies for inclusive economic growth

The challenge for macroeconomic policy is to integrate policies that support economic growth and create and expand equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from the economy. This includes policies to improve the functioning of labour markets, reduce discrimination, support equal access to education and skills, and increase economic and financial inclusion in all parts of society. The idea of inclusive economic development has been introduced into academic discourse in recent decades and has become one of the main guidelines for economic policy makers and implementers in many countries around the world. The policy of formation and redistribution of public revenues through the state budget is important from the point of view of overcoming the existing inequalities in society and solving the problems of inclusiveness. Therefore, it is important to activate public policy with fiscal policy instruments, to increase its effectiveness in the context of ensuring inclusiveness of economic growth, mitigating inequality in the distribution of income and national wealth. This article studies and interprets the international experience and specific features of the application of fiscal policy oriented to the inclusiveness of economic growth, which is especially important from the point of view of identifying opportunities for its localisation in the Republic of Armenia. The conclusions drawn can be useful in the development of solutions aimed at increasing the inclusiveness of fiscal policy in the Republic of Armenia.