Inclusive Development Research Articles

Economic infrastructure and its impact on economic growth: a case study of 7 sister states

Purpose This study aims to analyse the impact of economic infrastructure on economic growth in seven sister states in North Eastern India, covering the period 2005–2019. Design/methodology/approach The authors analysed the data using fixed, random and feasible generalised least squares (FGLS) methods to assess the impact of economic infrastructure, which includes roads, per capita availability of power, electricity transmission losses, commercial banking and gross irrigation, on economic growth. Findings Based on the results derived from FGLS estimates, the increase in road length, per capita availability of power, commercial banks and gross irrigation affected economic growth positively. In addition, economic growth decreased with the rise in electricity transmission losses, population and infant mortality rate. Research limitations/implications The future scope of this study can be extended by the inclusion of social infrastructure, which includes the education and health sectors in these states. In addition, the causality between economic infrastructure and economic growth can be assessed in the long run. Finally, the channels through which a relationship exists can be taken into account. This study underlines the need for substantial investment in infrastructure such as roads, power, irrigation, banking and transport in North Eastern India to drive economic growth. It highlights the importance of targeted policies to address infrastructure gaps and enhance regional connectivity with Southeast Asia. Emphasising cross-border collaboration and leveraging local resources can stimulate economic development and innovation. These efforts are crucial for overcoming regional disparities and integrating the North East into broader economic frameworks. Social implications This study highlights significant socioeconomic benefits by showing how improved infrastructure, such as roads, power availability, irrigation and banking can drive economic growth in North Eastern India. It suggests that better infrastructure leads to increased productivity, job creation and improved living standards. In addition, this study emphasises that reducing infrastructure gaps can help reduce regional disparities, integrate the region into larger economic networks and foster inclusive development. These benefits have far-reaching impacts, contributing to overall socioeconomic advancement in the area. Originality/value This study offers a unique contribution by empirically analysing the role of infrastructure in promoting economic growth at the sub-national level, i.e. North East India. Using advanced econometric techniques of fixed/random effects and FGLS panel models, it mitigates issues of measurement errors and omitted variables to some extent. In addition, this research introduces previously unexplored variables, including roads, power, electricity transmission losses, irrigation and banking, providing new insights into the infrastructure landscape. These findings offer crucial guidance for policymakers to improve and invest in infrastructure, fostering sustainable economic development.

Advancing Sustainable Governance: Integrating GreenPolicies for Inclusive Development in a Global Context

Advancing Sustainable Governance: Integrating GreenPolicies for Inclusive Development in a Global Context

Women leading the charge in the social and solidarity economy: A snapshot of gender perceptions of entrepreneurship

AbstractThis study examines the influence of gender on the selection of business models within the social and solidarity economy (SSE), focusing on women's preference for collaborative and socially oriented business models that can promote inclusive and sustainable economic development. Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey in Galicia, Spain, the research highlights that women entrepreneurs are more attracted to the SSE because of its emphasis on generating social value rather than direct economic benefit. Gender differences are significant, with women showing greater alignment with SSE principles than men. These results underscore the importance of public policies designed to support female entrepreneurship in the SSE, recognizing women's potential to contribute to economic growth through sustainable practices. The study enhances the understanding of gender dynamics in entrepreneurship, offering valuable insights into how a gender perspective can enrich the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the SSE and inform the development of targeted support strategies that promote economic development, job creation and social well‐being.

Peran Komunikasi Pembangunan dalam Pembangunan Infrastruktur di Kabupaten Konawe Kepulauan

This study aims to analyze the implementation of development communication in village infrastructure development by the Lamongupa Village Government, Wawonii Tengah District, Konawe Kepulauan Regency. The main focus of this research is to understand how development communication is used to enhance community participation and support sustainable village development. The research method employed is a case study with a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through observations, in-depth interviews, and document analysis conducted from November 2024 to January 2025. The analysis was carried out based on the concept of development communication, particularly the aspects of the right to communicate, democratization of communication, and the traditional knowledge system. The findings indicate that the Lamongupa Village Government has effectively implemented development communication in infrastructure development. The village government has provided opportunities for the community to participate in the planning and monitoring of development projects, including the improvement of a 580-meter village road, which has positively impacted accessibility and the local economy. Additionally, integrating cultural values and traditions into development communication has enhanced community acceptance of development policies. This study concludes that the application of inclusive development communication, grounded in local wisdom, can improve the effectiveness of infrastructure development and stimulate village economic growth. These findings highlight the importance of participatory communication in fostering sustainable village development.

The role of Islamic FinTech in digital financial inclusion and sustainable development post covid-19: cross-country analysis

The role of Islamic FinTech in digital financial inclusion and sustainable development post covid-19: cross-country analysis

Impact of Technical and Vocational Education and Training on ABCD Approach in Nepal

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) aims to equip individuals with skills that are in demand and likely to remain relevant in the long term, promoting economic sustainability. Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) seeks to build on local assets and capacities, creating solutions that are sustainable because they are rooted in the community itself. TEVT and ABCD both support holistic development connecting effective framework, paying particular attention to social cohesion, economic resilience, and community empowerment. The findings underscore the pivotal role of TVET courses in equipping individuals with employable skills and talents, enabling them to actively drive transformative changes within their communities. By fostering entrepreneurship, expanding livelihood opportunities, and strengthening social networks, TVET programs significantly contribute to inclusive development outcomes, spur economic growth, and facilitate poverty reduction. However, the integration of TVET into the ABCD framework faces substantial challenges, including limited funding, socioeconomic disparities, and legal restrictions, which hinder its effective implementation. Despite these obstacles, there remains significant potential for innovation, collaboration, and legislative enhancement to address these issues and optimize the benefits of TVET for community development. In essence, this article examines into the intricate ways in which Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is woven into Nepal's Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) paradigm. This includes integration of TVET within the ABCD paradigm holding the considerable promise for fostering community.

Investigating challenges in achieving sustainable urban infrastructure development in informal settlements

PurposeThe informal settlement issues represent significant social, economic and environmental challenges across the globe. The need to upgrade the informal areas is stimulated by the rapid population growth, inadequate infrastructure and poor living conditions. Therefore, in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11, this study aims to identify and assess the key infrastructure challenges and explore the underlying relationships among them impacting the community members in the informal settlements (IS) in Tanzania.Design/methodology/approachA literature review identified and evaluated 19 infrastructure challenges in the IS. Using a quantitative approach, a questionnaire survey was administered to community members to collect data. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed to analyse the quantitative data.FindingsThrough EFA, the 19 infrastructure challenges were grouped into four distinct categories based on their underlying patterns and relationships. These categories are: (1) economic and environment infrastructure-related challenge; (2) housing and health infrastructure-related challenge; (3) social infrastructure-related challenge and (4) infrastructural cost and quality-related challenge.Practical implicationsThe classification of the challenges into a taxonomy offers pertinent information that can be utilized as a basis for implementing integrated measures. The findings would assist governments, policymakers and other stakeholders in making informed decisions about resource allocation and urban planning strategies. This guarantees that resources and funding are allocated to the most essential areas.Originality/valueThis study is among the first that identifies the challenges and highlights the relationships among them impacting the IS. The insights drawn from this study would inform government and policymakers in the formulation of inclusive urban policies in collaboration with the built environment professionals to improve access to urban infrastructure services in the unplanned settlements in Tanzania to foster inclusive development and ensure sustainable urban growth.

The Impact of Smart Cities On Sustainability: A Bibliometric Analysis

Objectives: This study examines the relationship between smart cities and sustainability through bibliometric analysis, focusing on literature from 2010 to 2023 in the Web of Science database. Theoretical Framework: Smart cities leverage information and communication technologies (ICT) to enhance environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The analysis evaluates key terms, influential authors, and geographical trends to uncover how smart cities address sustainability goals. Method: In this study, the bibliometric analysis method was used to examine the impacts of smart cities on sustainability. Bibliometric analysis is a method for quantitatively analyzing scientific literature in a specific field, aiming to identify trends, keywords, authors, citation relationships, and geographical distributions within the literature. Results and Discussion: The findings highlight positive impacts in areas such as energy efficiency, carbon emission reduction, and improved urban mobility systems. However, the study also identifies significant challenges, including barriers to social sustainability, concerns over data security, and high implementation costs, which hinder the broader adoption of smart city projects. By emphasizing the role of ICT in tackling global sustainability issues, the study provides a novel framework for understanding the benefits and limitations of smart cities. It uniquely identifies gaps in the integration of social sustainability and the challenges faced in developing countries, suggesting areas for further exploration. Research Implications: This comprehensive analysis offers fresh insights into how smart cities contribute to global sustainability goals while urging future research to address identified challenges and opportunities for improvement. Originality/Value: This study provides a unique bibliometric analysis of smart cities and sustainability, examining key trends, authors, and geographical patterns from 2010 to 2023. It highlights the critical role of ICT in achieving global sustainability goals while addressing underexplored challenges like social sustainability gaps and barriers in developing countries. By identifying both the benefits and limitations of smart city initiatives, this research offers valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners, paving the way for more inclusive and sustainable urban development.

Towards a Robust and Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Insights from the Himalayas

The inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem needs several new strategies to leverage community knowledge and grassroots innovations, particularly by women. In low population density regions such as mountains, the transaction costs of engagement and delivery of services are high and one needs more imaginative approaches for inclusive development. This article is divided into three parts. Part one deals with scouting strategies for identifying entrepreneurial talent, particularly leveraging individual women members of self-help groups and converting traditional knowledge into innovation-based enterprises. In part two, the challenges to the innovation-based bioenterprises-based ecosystem are discussed. While traditional enterprises help in generating jobs, it is desirable to focus on novelty. The methods of prior art search are discussed, and four case studies are shared. It is highlighted that giving names of the innovators/knowledge providers on the label of the products acts as not only an incentive for the knowledge providers but also generates trust among the consumers. Finally, in part three, recommendations are made to make the ecosystem more robust and move from microfinance to microventure finance. The recommendations in this article may help other enterprises also. It is worthwhile to focus on the circular economy, in situ value addition, publicly funded validation and value addition and flexible financing and market support systems.

An Analysis of Migration during Covid-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been negatively impacting the entire world economy. The plight of migrants and their struggle to return home in the period of lockdown has been highlighted during lockdown. The migrants see no future in returning to cities; they want to go back to their homeland and are prepared to make the very minimum of money that is possible there. The COVID-19 pandemic has generally resulted in reverse migration, which has highlighted the importance of addressing migrant workers' socioeconomic needs and promoting inclusive and sustainable development in both urban and rural areas. This paper analyses the scenario of migration in India during the pandemic period and the evaluation of current policy responses by the central government and state governments. These initiatives supported the reintegration of returning migrant workers into the local economy, promoted sustainable livelihoods through employment and entrepreneurship, and helped offer immediate assistance to them. The welfare of millions of migrant workers and the management of the migration crisis depended heavily on cooperation between the central and state governments. The purpose of this article is to discuss the crises of reverse migration amid Covid 19 and the initiatives taken by the Government of India. The article uses PLFS 2020-21 data to analyze the issue. It observes that the female migration rates have been steadily increasing during the period 2020-21. The majority of migrants in intra-state movement are women, and the majority of migrants in inter-state migration are men. The primary causes of migration brought on by COVID-19 include health issues, the departure of a parent or other family member who earns money, job loss or a lack of work opportunities.

A survey of obstetric ultrasound uses and priorities for artificial intelligence-assisted obstetric ultrasound in low- and middle-income countries.

Obstetric ultrasound (OBUS) is recommended as part of antenatal care for pregnant individuals worldwide. To better understand current uses of OBUS in low- and middle-income countries and perceptions regarding potential use of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted OBUS, we conducted an anonymous online global survey. A total of 176 respondents representing 34 countries participated, including 41% physicians, 49% nurses or midwives, and 6% ultrasound technicians. Most had received OBUS training (72%), reported expertise (60%) and confidence (77%) in OBUS use, and had access to ultrasound (85%). Assessment of gestational age, fetal viability, fetal presentation, and multiple gestation were both the most common OBUS uses and among the most highly prioritized for AI-assisted OBUS development. Most respondents noted ultrasound access was important (84%) and agreed that OBUS improves quality of care (98%) and patient outcomes (97%). Of the 34% expressing reservations associated with using AI-assisted OBUS, healthcare providers not understanding the technology (71%), misdiagnosis (62%), and cost (59%) were the most common. Better understanding the OBUS user, the pregnant individual, and the context, and taking care to ensure responsible, sustainable, and inclusive development and use of AI-assisted OBUS will be critical to successful integration and implementation and to increasing access to OBUS.

KOLABORASI SDM, TEKNOLOGI, DAN KESADARAN LINGKUNGAN: STRATEGI PEMBANGUNAN EKONOMI DI ERA REVOLUSI INDUSTRI 5.0

The Fifth Industrial Revolution (Industry 5.0) presents both challenges and opportunities for global economic development, where advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are transforming industries and societies. The main challenges include the lack of human capital preparedness to quickly adapt to technological advancements and the low level of environmental awareness in many industrial sectors. Economic growth that focuses excessively on natural resource exploitation exacerbates environmental degradation and climate change. Therefore, collaboration between human resources, technology, and environmental consciousness is essential to achieving sustainable and inclusive development. This study aims to identify gaps in human resource readiness, technological utilization, and environmental awareness and to propose economic development strategies for the industry 5.0 era that address these challenges. The research method employed is a literature review, analyzing various academic papers, reports, and secondary data from scientific journals, government reports, and industry-related articles. The findings show that technology serves as a primary driver of innovation, but human-technology collaboration is crucial for creating sustainable value. Additionally, the rising environmental awareness offers opportunities for industries to shift towards more eco-friendly business models, such as the circular economy and renewable energy. Collaboration between governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society is needed to realize inclusive and sustainable development in this era.

Free trade agreements and their effect on the Nigerian agricultural sector: An empirical review

The Nigerian agricultural sector, pivotal to the nation’s economy, faces challenges such as low productivity, limited market access, and structural inefficiencies that hinder its full potential. This empirical review examines the role of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in shaping the sector’s growth and competitiveness. FTAs, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), offer expanded market access, increased agricultural exports, technology transfer, and economic integration opportunities. However, these agreements also present challenges, including competition from cheaper imports, dependency on external supply chains, and loss of government revenue. Empirical evidence highlights mixed outcomes of FTAs on Nigeria’s agriculture. While trade liberalisation has driven increased exports and productivity, domestic farmers face risks of market displacement and unequal benefits due to poor infrastructure, limited access to finance, and inadequate support policies. Insights from other nations reveal that the impacts of FTAs depend on country-specific economic conditions and policy frameworks. To maximise the benefits of FTAs, policy recommendations include implementing protection mechanisms for vulnerable sectors, promoting fair trade standards, enhancing infrastructure, facilitating access to finance, and fostering agricultural industrialisation. Effective FTA implementation and targeted interventions can unlock the sector’s potential, driving sustainable growth and inclusive development.

Performance and Equity in the 100-Meter Sprint: Contributions to Healthy and Inclusive Athletic Development

Performance and Equity in the 100-Meter Sprint: Contributions to Healthy and Inclusive Athletic Development

Constrained opportunities for path development: how misaligned agencies and structures shape Southern regional value chains

ABSTRACT This paper examines the emergence and growth potential of Southern regional value chains (RVCs) through the Trinity of Change Agency framework, focusing on the horticulture RVC in Namibia’s Zambezi region. The findings highlight that regional actors are crucial yet constrained by system-level structures, such as centralised governance and limited resources, impeding industry growth. This underscores the need for decentralised governance to empower regional actors to explore opportunity spaces and drive place-based development. This study contributes to understanding agency in shaping RVCs beyond dominant Global North case studies, offering insights into its potentials and challenges for inclusive development in the South.

In medias res: Sobre la omisión de la cultura como Objetivo de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) y su repercusión en El Salvador

The challenge of defining culture, in its various dimensions, complicates the formulation of public policies, as the lack of consensus around this issue makes it difficult to define indicators to measure its impact on sustainable development. Although it is a source of creativity and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), culture is dynamic and diverse, which makes its quantitative measurement problematic. Prior to this, the very lack of a cultural policy and of tools to visualize the composition and dimension of the cultural sector hinders the measurement and valorization of cultural assets. On the other hand, from the point of view of state governance, public policies should ideally be aligned with the SDGs. However, in the Salvadoran context, efforts to promote culture, creative industries or the creative economy often lack continuity and systematization, thus limiting sustainable and inclusive development.

Concentration of traffic air pollutants and influencing metrological factors in Hawassa City roadways, Ethiopia

IntroductionThe traffic air pollution caused by transportation is a growing global problem that contributes to millions of deaths each year. Despite its importance, information on pollutant concentration is limited in many developing cities, especially in Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the concentration levels and spatial and temporal variations of traffic air pollutants in Hawassa and to investigate the influence of metrological parameters on the concentration of traffic air pollutants.MethodsA real-time monitoring system of Aero-Qual Series 300/500 was used to monitor pollutants, and 24 monitoring sites were included on both heavy and low-traffic volume roads. The study monitored morning and afternoon times over 24 days to comprehensively characterize the temporal variations.ResultsThe results showed that the mean PM2.5 concentration on heavy- and low-traffic volume roads was 161.6 ± 26.1 μg/m3 and 95 ± 14.2 μg/m3, respectively, whereas the PM10 concentration was 178.7 ± 20.3 μg/ m3 and 102.3 ± 17.6 μg/m3, respectively. Similarly, the mean NO2 concentrations on roads with heavy and low traffic volumes were 86.4 ± 14.4 μg/m3 and 61.7 ± 14.2 μg/m3, respectively. Significantly higher, concentrations were recorded on traffic light roads, followed by main asphalt roads, for both types of traffic air pollutants. The ratio of PM2.5/PM10 was higher (0.924), in which the pollution sources attributed to anthropogenic sources. Kendall’s tau-b correlation analysis suggested that Meteorological parameters (temperature and relative humidity) were positively correlated with traffic air pollutants. Likewise, stepwise multiple linear regression analysis confirms that the concentrations of traffic air pollutants had a positive relationship with metrological parameters.ImplicationsThe findings of this study therefore showed the need for regular air quality monitoring of the urban areas to copping out the adverse public health impacts. And, it highlighted an urgent need for long-term monitoring of traffic air pollution and the development of emission control programs that can be readily implemented to decrease the emissions from anthropogenic sources. Also, it brings a sense of collaboration among stakeholders to tackle the effects of air pollution by providing an inclusive and sustainable development agenda for Hawassa.

Analyzing India’s public distribution network: a triple-bottom-line approach

PurposeThis study integrates economic, environmental, and social dimensions into the distribution network for India’s Public Distribution System (PDS). It aims to identify multi-modal strategies that balance cost efficiency, lower emissions, and community well-being.Design/methodology/approachA model is proposed to allocate grains from base to field silos via road, rail, and inland waterways considering Triple Bottom Line (TBL). The costs, emissions, and social factors (e.g. employment) were quantified and combined to generate a composite score, enabling rigorous trade-off evaluation.FindingsResults from a representative case study show that integrating rail and waterways reduces total costs and emissions while boosting employment and community welfare. Intermodal configurations improve the PDS’s sustainability, demonstrating the feasibility of aligning economic objectives with environmental and social outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsFuture work could incorporate stochastic demand or disruptions, and extend beyond a single commodity or region, enhancing the model’s robustness and generalizability.Practical implicationsInsights guide planners in selecting routes, modes, and facility investments aligned with cost reduction, emissions control, and social uplift.Social implicationsThe approach promotes inclusive development by increasing employment opportunities and ensuring a more equitable distribution of benefits in vulnerable communities.Originality/valueThis research extends conventional cost-centric frameworks by incorporating TBL metrics in a large-scale, government-run distribution setting. It provides a practical blueprint, informing infrastructural investments and policy interventions for holistic, enduring improvements in food security and resource utilization.

Opportunities and Challenges For Developing Cross-Border Tourism On The Indonesia - Malaysia Border In Sambas District, West Kalimantan Province

This study analyzes the development of Cross-Border Tourism in the Indonesia-Malaysia border region in Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan, in the perspective of Islamic Economics. The study focuses on the development patterns, opportunities, and challenges faced in the management of cross-border tourism. This research is descriptive qualitative with normative, conceptual, and comparative approaches, involving an analysis of the provisions of the Qur'an, Hadith, tourism theory, as well as a comparison of Cross-Border Tourism models. The results show that the development of cross-border tourism in Sambas Regency has significant potential in increasing tourist attraction and strengthening cross-border economic relations. The implementation of sharia principles, such as the provision of a Muslim-friendly environment, adequate access to worship, halal products, and sharia-based services, is an important factor in optimizing this potential. Despite the great opportunities, the main challenges include sub-optimal infrastructure, cross-border regulations, and synergy between stakeholders. Therefore, a sharia-based development strategy is needed to create sustainable and competitive tourism, while supporting inclusive regional economic development.

The Intertwined Threads of Blue Economy, Inclusive Growth, and Environmental Sustainability in Transition Economies

This research creates the critical relationship between the blue economy, inclusive growth, and environmental sustainability in 17 transitional economies from 2000 to 2022. Using panel-corrected standard errors (PCSEs) and the Driscoll–Kraay standard error regression approach, we examine how inclusive growth significantly decreases the ecological footprint while the blue economy increases these effects through sustainable marine resource utilization and clean technologies. Focusing on countries such as Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka, this study advances the understanding of how the blue economy fosters sustainability amidst rising consumption pressures. The findings underscore the potential of technology transfer, capacity building, regional collaboration and green finance mechanisms to unlock the blue economy’s full potential for inclusive and sustainable development, offering actionable insights for policymakers and future research directions in developing and transitional economies.