Large-scale Investment Research Articles

Challenges and Opportunities

In this article, the authors consider the future possibility of public administration in South Africa being transformed by artificial intelligence (AI). It discusses the difficulties and advantages of AI/ML in this set up. They can use artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the productivity of the public sector, quality in decision, and contribute to people's participation. The results show that AI can reduce paperwork, anticipate public health trends, make recommendations for people to get the best chance of recovery, and even optimise resource allocation – all with a view towards improving service delivery and governance. Problems with infrastructure, gaps in digital access, as well as scarcity of AI expertise within the public service work against any real integration of artificial intelligence. The study underscores the significance of strategic planning, large-scale infrastructural investments, and robust policy reforms in order to harness the full range of benefits from artificial intelligence (AI) with a fair share accruing to all.

공서비스 공급 관점에서 살펴본 비의료 건강관리서비스 인증 시범사업과 의료민영화 논쟁

In June 2022, the Ministry of Health and Welfare introduced a pilot program for the certification of non-medical health management services. This initiative, however, faced opposition due to concerns about potential healthcare privatization. This study aimed to examine whether the certification pilot program promotes healthcare privatization by utilizing a classification framework for public service provision. Contrary to initial concerns, it appears that the government sought to ensure publicness by acting as an intermediary between service beneficiaries and private providers, thereby incorporating the efficiency and accessibility of the private sector into the system. To address the potential exacerbation of health inequalities through technological monopolies and large-scale capital investment, continuous discussion and consensus among various social stakeholders surrounding this system will be necessary.

Unpacking the complex relationships between agricultural investments and biodiversity in Ghana

The expansion of large-scale agricultural investments (LSAI) in Ghana has substantial implications for biodiversity and rural community well-being. This study explores the complex relationships between LSAI and biodiversity, focusing on species richness, evenness, Enhanced Vegetation Index, and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index to assess ecosystem health. Using a mixed-methods approach, we combine panel datasets, remote sensing, and qualitative data to evaluate both ecological and social impacts of LSAI. While LSAI has potential economic benefits, it also poses risks to biodiversity by reducing species diversity and altering ecosystem services essential for rural communities' livelihoods. Our findings reveal that while LSAI increase vegetation cover and species evenness, they frequently lead to the loss of access to critical resources such as fuelwood, medicinal plants, and wild foods, impacting community resilience and social cohesion. These findings underscore the importance of balancing agricultural investments with policies that preserve biodiversity and maintain social equity, ensuring that long-term societal impacts of LSAI do not compromise ecosystem or local livelihoods. It calls for robust monitoring systems, and the inclusion of local communities in decision-making to ensure sustainable development. The study offers critical insights for policymakers and conservationists aiming to harmonize economic development with environmental conservation in Ghana and beyond.

Carbon Neutral Strategies in the Case of Google Inc: A Case Study of Carbon Offset Mechanisms and Renewable Energy Projects

Abstract: Facing the serious challenge of global climate change, Google Inc. has adopted a series of innovative strategies to reduce its carbon footprint and promote corporate sustainability. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of how Google reduces carbon emissions and promotes sustainable development through a series of innovative measures, including large-scale investment in renewable energy, improving data center efficiency, implementing carbon offset projects, and promoting technological innovation in the field of transportation. These actions demonstrate Google's commitment to environmental protection and provide a model for other companies to follow. The study evaluated the economic feasibility and environmental benefits of Google's strategies through a cost-benefit analysis. The results show that despite technical challenges and market uncertainty, Google's environmental investments can bring significant economic benefits in the long term while having a positive impact on the environment. These strategies help Google achieve its carbon neutrality goals and provide momentum for the global transition to a low-carbon economy. In addition, the study emphasizes the importance of socio-cultural factors in promoting environmental strategies. Google has raised public awareness of climate change and enhanced social support for environmental actions through community involvement and educational programs. These findings reveal the need for companies to adopt environmental protection measures in the context of globalization and provide practical guidance for other organizations to implement sustainable development strategies.

Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach for Optimal Energy Storage System Selection and Applications in Oman

This research aims to support the goals of Oman Vision 2040 by reducing the dependency on non-renewable energy resources and increasing the utilization of the national natural renewable energy resources. Selecting appropriate energy storage systems (ESSs) will play a key role in achieving this vision by enabling a greater integration of solar and other renewable energy. ESSs allow for solar power generated during daylight hours to be stored for use during peak demand periods. Additionally, the proposed framework provides guidance for large-scale ESS infrastructure planning and investments to support Oman’s renewable energy goals. As the global renewable energy market grows rapidly and Oman implements economic reforms, the ESS market is expected to flourish in Oman. In the near future, ESS is expected to contribute to lower electricity costs and enhance stability compared to traditional energy systems. While ESS technologies have been studied broadly, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis for optimal ESS selection tailored to Oman’s unique geographical, technical, and policy context. The main objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of ESS options and identify the type(s) most suitable for integration with Oman’s national grid using a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodology. This study addresses this gap by applying the Hesitate Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (HF-AHP) and Hesitate Fuzzy VIKOR methods to assess alternative ESS technologies based on technical, economic, environmental, and social criteria specifically for Oman’s context. The analysis reveals pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) and compressed air energy storage (CAES) as the most appropriate solutions. The tailored selection framework aims to guide policy and infrastructure planning to determine investments for large-scale ESSs and provide a model for comprehensive ESS assessment in energy transition planning for countries with similar challenges.

Unveiling the role of the state in Istanbul’s urban transformation: Insights from Galataport redevelopment

In recent decades, the redevelopment of waterfronts in global cities has become a focal point for large-scale real estate investments, often driven by neoliberal policies. These projects, characterized by the increasing involvement of state agencies, aim to transform obsolete industrial areas into lucrative spaces for tourism, commerce, and luxury living. This article scrutinizes the intricate dynamics of state-led waterfront re-development, through the lens of Istanbul’s Galataport project. It analyzes the multifaceted dimensions of the transformation process, shedding light on the historical backdrop, socio-political underpinnings, and economic imperatives that have shaped the development of Galataport from 2002 to 2022. Through a comprehensive analysis of primary sources, including governmental reports, policy documents, and scholarly literature, the article accentuates the pivotal role of the state and state actors in orchestrating the transformation of Istanbul’s urban landscape. Furthermore, it examines the implications of the Galataport project on urban governance and socio-cultural and spatial dynamics. It concludes that the central government pursued a speculative entrepreneurial approach in the Galataport project, clearing various legal obstacles while neglecting public interest. This case study takes the first step towards a comprehensive critical re-evaluation of the recent urban development/governance model to contribute to a nuanced understanding of contemporary urban/waterfront development paradigms in Türkiye and similar geographies.

Capital shocks, the great recession, and UK regional divergence

ABSTRACT This paper uses uniquely detailed large-scale commercial real estate investment data to examine how financial markets perceived the attractiveness of investing in UK regions during the last two decades. Our analysis demonstrates that prior to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis all regions of the UK were perceived similarly in terms of risks, whereas the crisis engendered a flight to safety of capital into London. Other UK regions shifted rapidly into junk bond territory, and have remained there ever since. These asymmetric capital shocks led up to a profound and adverse shift in the subsequent productivity growth of the UK regional economies.

Educational spaces: The relation between school infrastructure and learning outcomes

This article examines the relationship between school infrastructure and academic performance in Ecuador. The objective of this research is to identify which types of infrastructure are associated with better student outcomes in elementary schools. The study employs data from the 2019 UNESCO standardized test, ERCE-2019, for Ecuadorian primary schools. The findings indicate a significant positive correlation between various types of school infrastructure and student achievement. Such infrastructure includes art and music installations, on-site nursing facilities, and basic service connections, especially in rural areas. Significant correlations between educational outcomes and large-scale infrastructure investments are either not observed or are inconsistently evidenced. These results challenge the heavy focus on prominent educational infrastructure projects in Ecuador, suggesting an opportunity to reorient educational spending to enhance outcomes cost-effectively. These research findings may apply not only to Ecuador but potentially to the broader Latin American context.

Large-scale agricultural investments, employment opportunities and communal conflict

Large-scale agricultural investments, employment opportunities and communal conflict

Implementation of Construction Management Approach for Improving the Productivity of RMC Plants

Our has been traditionally labor oriented. The pace of mechanization in the past has been very slow due to the availability of cheap labor in abundance, lack of capital investment and the highly fragmented nature of the construction industry. The degree of mechanization is still around 25%-30% while it is well above 70% in most of the developed countries The liberalization of Indian economy from 1991 onwards paved the way for large scale investments in infrastructure, industrial, housing and agriculture sectors. The new age constructions required speed and superior quality to obtain profitable life cycle cost of the projects. The emerging scenario helped to increase the pace of mechanization and facilitated the establishment of RMC plants on commercial scale to synchronies with the overall development strategy. RMC in India on commercial scale started in 1993 at Pune with only one plant. It has achieved nearly 15% share of the total concrete produced in the country. In some major cities, like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai the share of RMC has reached as high as 50% to 60%. The growth prospects of RMC in India are enormous, provided requisite support is provided by the regulatory authorities, consumers and decision makers during its formative years. In this project the critical factor causing improving productivity will indentify.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension in the general population of Australia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A recent call-to-action highlighted that Australia is lagging behind high-income countries regarding hypertension control rates. We performed a systematic literature search of reports on prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates since 2010. We also undertook an individual participant data meta-analysis of six population-based studies in the general population from 1980 to 2018 to understand the size of the problem and trajectories over time. The aggregated data showed that after 2010, hypertension prevalence was 31% ]95% confidence interval (CI) 27-34%], and awareness, treatment, and control rates among people with hypertension were 56% (41-71%), 54% (46-62%) and 34% (22-47%), respectively. Since 1980, these figures have shown slight improvement. However, we noted a low availability of quality nationwide randomized databases for Australia. We require critical action to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of hypertension, and highlight the need for large-scale investment in tracking population health in order to produce vital health statistics for the nation.

Evaluating the student performance prediction and action framework through a learning analytics intervention study

AbstractLearning analytics intervention (LAI) studies aim to identify at-risk students early during an academic term using predictive models and facilitate educators to provide effective interventions to improve educational outcomes. A major impediment to the uptake of LAI is the lack of access to LAI infrastructure by educators to pilot LAI, which typically requires substantial institution-wide efforts and investment to collect related data sets and develop accurate predictive models that identify at-risk students and also provide tools to facilitate interventions. This paper presents a novel LAI framework, termed Student Performance Prediction and Action (SPPA), that facilitates educators to seamlessly provide LAIs in their courses avoiding the need for large-scale institution-wide efforts and investments. Educators develop course-specific predictive models using historical course assessment data. In learning analytics, providing effective interventions is a challenge. SPPA utilises pedagogy principles in course design and interventions to facilitate effective interventions by providing insights into students’ risk levels, gaps in students’ knowledge, and personalised study/revision plans addressing knowledge gaps. SPPA was evaluated in a large undergraduate course on its ability to predict at-risk students and facilitate effective interventions as well as its ease of use by academics. The results are encouraging with high performance of predictive models, facilitating effective interventions leading to significant improved educational outcomes with positive feedback and uptake by academics. With its advantages, SPPA has the potential to catalyse and influence wide-scale adoption in LAIs.

Defining “success” in large-scale agricultural investment: a typology based on different stakeholder perspectives

In 2007/2008, a triple crisis of food, fuel and finance sparked a global rush for agricultural land; tens of millions of hectares were acquired, primarily by foreign investors, within countries in the Global South. Amidst those transactions, intergovernmental organizations, national governments, investors, and community members envisioned what “success” of such investments entails. Although not explicitly defined, each stakeholder had different conceptualizations and measures of it, based upon the descriptions used and desired outcomes sought. Despite a large amount of literature analyzing the global rush for land, as far as we are aware no one has analyzed the diverse viewpoints about what success entails. This paper compares conceptualizations among four key stakeholder groups, based on ideal types from dominant narratives, and develops a typology of ideal stakeholder framing of success to allow comparisons of uses and thereby provide a foundation for researchers who are assessing the global land rush. This paper provides clarity about widely used, but inconsistently defined, framing providing an important foundation for clarity of meaning and comparative differences between stakeholders. The typology advances the discourse on the land rush by providing nuance to this widely used framing and makes explicit its diverse meanings.

Without mandated demand for greenhouse gas removal – High integrity GtCO2-scale global deployment will be jeopardized: Insight from US economic policy 2020–23

Greenhouse gas removals (GGRs) will be essential at GtCO2-scale to offset residual emissions and achieve global net zero by 2050. Engineered GGRs have the greatest long-term, large-scale CO2 storage potential and, therefore, offer opportunities to realize high-integrity removals. However, the most prominent engineered solutions are capital-intensive, generate expensive offset credits, and have achieved minimal market penetration. The United States has established policies subsidizing GGR deployment value chains which generate high-integrity removals to bring down engineered GGR costs. The US regime has the potential to result in substantial GGR cost reductions which will likely have implications on the policy frameworks for global GGR technology deployment. To date, research addressing the impact of US policies on the commercial imperatives and investment uncertainties for the global GGR sector is limited. Using a mixed methods approach, this contribution unpacked the motivations of early private sector actors. It did this by identifying characteristics of the most investable GGR business models and policy implementation requirements to establish the nascent sector, which will be critical to the GGR sector becoming a global multi-trillion-dollar, self-sustaining market. The analysis reveals that cost reduction alone will be insufficient to establish a high-integrity global GtCO2-scale sector. Systemic market risks, especially certainty of offtake through demand-side incentives, need to be `addressed. Therefore, the development of a stable and sustainable GGR sector, both in the US and globally, will remain problematic due to the inability to attract large-scale private capital investment.

ЭТАПЫ ПРЕДИНВЕСТИЦИОННОЙ ФАЗЫ МЕГАПРОЕКТНОГО ФИНАНСИРОВАНИЯ ЭКОНОМИКИ

The article offers the author's description of the stages of the pre-investment phase of mega-project financing of the economy. The launch of this process was preceded by a thirty-year transformation of the socio-economic system of the Russian Federation. During these transformations, the previously functioning organizational and economic mechanism was deactivated. Its viability until the start of the special military operation was due to the ongoing policy of Reaganomics, closely related to the principles of the Washington Consensus. Determining a new vector of economic development, the Government of the Russian Federation selected 11 technological sovereignty projects for the first time in December 2023. Among them are port infrastructure projects, shipbuilding, energy, mechanical engineering, infrastructure projects, and instrument engineering. By designating banks as subjects of financing megaprojects, the state thereby promotes the development of economic relations using such a financial instrument as a state guarantee. To make a decision on their participation in large-scale investment projects, authorized government bodies organize the calculation of all performance indicators, incl. budgetary, financial, economic, social. If we are talking about projects that have passed the examination and are significant for the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, its initiators determine the structure of financing. When participating in projects of commercial banks, according to established practice, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation may offer a state guarantee of the federal budget as security. In this case, issues of the effectiveness of a particular project fade into the background. Reason: if negative results are obtained from the implementation of the investment project, the commercial bank will write off from the treasury account all existing debt on loans issued to the megaproject operator. But in this case, the amount of debt on the loan will be lost from the federal budget. To prevent this from happening, it is important to maintain a balance of interests of all participants in the megaproject. The role of the state remains two-pronged. When identifying “positive” and “negative” aspects of state activity, the gradation assumes the presence of the following structure: a) the “negative” aspect was determined by the acceleration of economic growth and was the basis of structural transformation; b) the “positive” aspect was that set of socio-political circumstances that determine growth from the fundamentally possible potential to the real.

‘Risk on steroids’: Investing in the hydrogen economy

A global energy transition requires alternatives to fossil fuels in energy-intensive industries and transport sectors, which are particularly reliant on the unique material properties of fossil fuels as fuel and as feedstock. Renewable energy transitions, therefore, demand large-scale investments in green hydrogen to produce substitutes as a means of indirect electrification. In the context of European climate governance, a political consensus has emerged to support the establishment of such production networks to lower emissions and create renewable-based fuels and feedstock. Yet, despite seemingly strong momentum, investment decisions are far behind global net zero scenarios. Through interviews with key actors, participant observation and document analysis, we explore investments in this type of production capacity, focusing on the challenges associated with financing such investments. We argue that risk expectations and uncertainties around profitability are holding back energy companies and institutional investors from investing in hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives. While investors and creditors await public derisking, fossil fuel incumbents maintain favourable financing conditions vis-à-vis renewable energy developers. These findings suggest clear limits to derisking and highlight the relevance of disciplinary measures to compel incumbents to scale up alternatives to fossil fuels.

Cultural heritage tourism and urban regeneration: The case of Fez Medina in Morocco

After Morocco gained independence in 1956, the country's historic cities, including Fez, Marrakesh, and Meknes, experienced rapid urban growth, decay, and the destruction of their rich cultural and architectural heritage. The rise in urbanisation, redevelopment projects, and tourism has raised concerns related to the urban gentrification and social sustainability of local communities. In addition, the influx of large-scale foreign investments and the conversion of traditional Moroccan houses into riad hotels have sparked tensions over land use, economic shifts, and the ongoing exploitation of historic cities. This research presents a case study of the world heritage city of Fez in Morocco, where these dynamics are particularly significant, as efforts are made to balance conservation and modern needs. The main question to be addressed is how can the surviving historic centres be regenerated while ensuring social sustainability for their inhabitants? The primary objective of this study is to explore the multifaceted urban regeneration strategies in Fez, focusing on urban planning, conservation efforts, economic revitalisation, and social development. Employing a mixed-method approach, this study draws on desk research, content analysis, fieldwork, observations, and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders. The findings suggest that the previous strategies focused on physical development and riad hotels to boost cultural tourism and tourist accommodation, exacerbating the gentrification and socioeconomic stratification of the local community. This study emphasises the “Ziyarates Fez” project, which provides an innovative approach to rehabilitating and reusing traditional houses for tourism accommodation without displacing local occupants. Furthermore, this project represents a holistic strategy for balancing economic and social sustainability in urban regeneration. This paper contributes to the expanding body of research on sustainable urban regeneration in historic cities. These results are anticipated to benefit academic research and the implementation of regeneration strategies in historic cities in Morocco and worldwide.

Study on the Legal Regime of Energy Corridor Governance under the "Belt and Road" Initiative

The "Belt and Road" is closely linked to the concept of a community of shared destiny, and involves political, economic, cultural, energy and other aspects of cooperation between China and the countries and regions along the route, of which energy cooperation is an important part of the "Belt and Road", and energy corridors are the focus of sustainable cooperation in the energy sector. Energy cooperation is an important part of the "Belt and Road", and energy corridors are the focus of sustainable energy cooperation. The energy corridors of the "Belt and Road" are cross-border energy transport corridors, which face greater risks due to their long mileage, large-scale investment and long cycle. However, there is no unified international energy organisation, and international energy laws and regulations are scattered in various international treaties, which makes the system confusing and fragmented, and fails to meet the needs of energy corridor governance in the context of the "Belt and Road" initiative. This paper gives relevant suggestions on the improvement of the legal system for the governance of international energy cooperation corridors in the context of the "Belt and Road" Initiative from four aspects: improving the legal basis, clarifying the main body of responsibilities, clarifying the jurisdiction, and improving the dispute settlement mechanism. It provides theoretical support for the improvement of the legal system of energy corridor governance in the context of the "Belt and Road" initiative, and promotes the construction of the "Belt and Road" regional energy community of destiny.

A Very British industrial policy: Green finance and the City-Bank-Treasury control of Net Zero

In 2017, the UK’s Industrial Strategy was thought to have marked an unconventional moment in British politics, as the state began to explicitly ‘pick the winners’ necessary to both grow and decarbonise the economy. This article demonstrates that a more conventional view of this moment can be found in the pages of the Green Finance Strategies where, contrary to the assumption that a green transformation requires developing domestic capacity in emergent technologies, the UK has instead chosen to be the financier of them. It draws on a novel dataset to find another instance of ‘Treasury Control’, in which large scale investments in low carbon sectors was eschewed to instead 'green' the financial expertise located in the City of London, thereby making green finance British industrial policy. Instead of any industrial transformation of the UK political economy, the pursuit of green finance belies the fact that any such transition, and by extension Net Zero, is shaped by the City-Bank-Treasury nexus' desire to preserve the prevailing economic model with as few adjustments as possible.

Bringing in the asset economy

This commentary on the ‘urban state venturism’, highlighting the state's pivotal role in driving large-scale urban investments, offers a nuanced reading with areas for a sympathetic critique. I advocate for a redefined starting point of analysis that centres on the emerging asset economy model. This prompts a consequential distinction between asset-based and commodity-based value/wealth creation, particularly in the context of public venture capital investments, which necessitates further empirical scrutiny. However, there is a risk that current and proposed future research falls into the ‘endogeneity trap’, underscoring the need to reinvigorate practice-oriented research to capture the evolving new modes of urban entrepreneurialism.