Economic Methodology Research Articles

Evaluative criteria for least-cost economic analysis of citywide inclusive sanitation: a scoping review

ABSTRACT Compared to health interventions, where evaluative criteria have been established, uncertainty about how comparative economic analysis methodologies should be applied to heterogeneous urban sanitation interventions in cities of low- and middle-income countries persists. Gaps between least-cost principles and current approaches constrain emerging citywide inclusive sanitation (CWIS) planning frameworks. Furthermore, a lack of comparable evidence about the economic efficiency of service provision interventions impacts the delivery of urban sanitation as an inclusive public service. This review scopes how least-cost principles may be applied to methodologies for urban sanitation interventions in two iterations. We devise and discuss evaluative criteria, embodying CWIS principles, that will improve the quality of these methodologies. They include how (i) the inclusion of diverse cost perspectives, particularly populations with marginal access to sanitation, are accommodated within an analysis; (ii) a context-specific without-project case may be used as an appropriate basis for comparison; (iii) tangible and intangible costs and outcomes may influence decisions; and (iv) diverse mixtures of interventions at different scales may be compared with integrity. The resulting evaluative criteria define principles that may inform future systematic reviews on practices that enhance CWIS planning frameworks.

Local economic development for peacebuilding. The reincorporation of FARC’s former combatants in Agua Bonita, Colombia

ABSTRACT It is not possible to think about sustainable peace without tackling the situations of inequality and exclusion that perpetuate a large part of the conflicts. While there have been important advances in the theoretical field on how to develop more horizontal and territory-sensitive peacebuilding initiatives, studies on the type of methodologies that allow for their operationalisation are more limited. In this context, this study investigates the reincorporation of former combatants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in Agua Bonita, exploring the practical application of local economic development methodologies at community level and evaluating how these strategies can foster reconciliation, inclusion, and sustainable development in violence-affected settings. The findings provide actionable insights for replicating such strategies in other contexts, enhancing the design of future disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) initiatives and making visible the role that international cooperation can play in promoting more inclusive and “localised” peacebuilding schemes.

Variation in white‐tailed and mule deer dental metrics is associated with precipitation gradients in the Americas

AbstractInvestigating the relationship between the physical environment and organismal adaptation is crucial to understanding the selective pressures that drive mammalian evolution. Of the varied approaches to exploring this relationship, macroscopic tooth wear analyses have become widely used due to their economic and simple methodologies. However, more work is needed to understand how assessments of wear patterns operate within finer levels of dietary and environmental contexts. It is specifically unclear if and how tooth wear differs inter‐ and intraspecifically between geographically widespread, large‐bodied mammalian populations. This project characterizes molar hypsodonty indices and mesowear scores of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations across North and Central America, investigating if and how molar wear and morphology vary over the deer's large and ecologically variable geographic distribution. While mesowear scores generally do not strongly track environmental signals within and between Odocoileus species, hypsodonty indices reveal a strong correlation between crown height and aridity, which likely represents an adaptive response to abrasive diets in areas with low precipitation.

Intra-cisterna-magna bevacizumab injection (ICM-BI) reproduces pathological alterations of cerebral small vessel diseases.

General modeling strategies for sporadic cerebral small blood vessel diseases (CSVDs) include limiting blood stream in large blood vessels and inducing systemic hypertension, in which small blood vessel deficit is either a secondary or concomitant pathology. In the current study, we introduce that intra-cisterna-magna Bevacizumab injection (ICM-BI) directly causes cerebral small blood vessel injury by neutralizing VEGF-A, the indispensable growth factor for angiogenesis. ICM-BI reproduces neuro-functional impairment, tight junction loss, cerebral micro-bleeds (CMBs), amyloid peptide accumulation, neuronal injury, white matter loss, and glial cell activation, which are common manifestations of sporadic CSVDs. Compared with existing CSVD models, small blood vessel injury is more prominent in the ICM-BI brain. Moreover, no significant alteration in large blood vessels or peripheral organs after ICM-BI is recorded. We thus propose that ICM-BI is a neat, economic and applicable methodology to establish murine sporadic CSVD model.

Innovations and Challenges in Economic Census Methodology: A Study by the Bureau of Statistics

The Bureau of Statistics has demonstrated a forward-looking strategic approach in its economic census. By leveraging dual innovations in technology and management, and incorporating modern technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things, it has deepened the reform of the census methodology. Additionally, the Bureau has built a multi-dimensional collaborative network that enhances international cooperation, departmental coordination, and public participation. This approach not only addresses the limitations of traditional statistical methods in a complex economic environment but also improves data quality and census efficiency, providing an accurate and reliable foundation for national economic decision-making.

Eco-friendly solvents in liquid-liquid microextraction techniques for biological and environmental analysis: a critical review.

In recent years, green solvents have emerged as promising alternatives in the field of analytical chemistry, replacing conventional organic solvents known for their toxicity, volatility, and flammability. The combination of these solvents with liquid-liquid microextraction techniques has facilitated the development of simpler, faster, more economical, and environment-friendly methodologies for the analysis of samples of varying complexity. This review discusses the fundamental physicochemical properties and advantages of using deep eutectic solvents, ionic liquids, switchable-hydrophilicity solvents, supramolecular solvents, and surfactants as extractants. Furthermore, analytical methods based on liquid-liquid microextraction techniques developed in the last 5years for the determination of organic compounds and metals in biological and environmental samples are presented and discussed, highlighting their applications and benefits to improve analytical performance and sustainability.

Quality of life modeling in Saint Petersburg and the Northwest regions

Subject: application of the quality economics methodology to obtain scientifically based assessments of the quality of life in the regions of the Northwestern Federal District. The purpose of the study: research development related to the search for possible areas of impact on the socio-economic system that contribute to improving the population’s quality of life in the context of digitalization (according to the data from St. Petersburg and the regions of the Northwestern Federal District). In the course of the study, a quality of life model was created for the regions of the Northwestern Federal District. A basic and comprehensive assessment of the quality of life was carried out, so now we can trace the more than ten-year dynamics of the indicator, group the regions, identify and justify their common and accusatory features in the context of the study. An analysis of individual characteristics of the quality of life in the Northwestern Federal District regions has shown that it is possible to measure the contribution that medical and demographic conditions, socio-economic well-being, comfort and safety of the living environment make to the quality of life indicator. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that it is important to assess the contribution of these components to determine the direction of regional development policy. In the interests of revealing promising opportunities for obtaining algorithmic solutions in the field of standardization of quality of life management in the region, a new format of a multi-level quality management system is proposed. The use of a digitalized format for managerial decision-making in a multi-level quality management system will greatly increase their effectiveness by expanding the capabilities of analyzing complex data without clear relationships, including for forecasting and optimizing processes occurring at the local, regional, and national levels.

A minor masterpiece? Reconsidering De ponderibus et mensuris by Juan de Mariana

AbstractThe article investigates a little‐known work titled De ponderibus et mensuris [On Weights and Measures] written by Juan de Mariana in 1599. It contains the embryo of his future monetary theories, and has other interesting aspects, not only juridical and historical but also epistemological. Significant points of convergence with the early modern mathematics and abacus tradition make it unique. Apart from its stylistic, pedagogical and technical originality, this work also appears as a watershed for the evolution of economic science, its language and methodology.

ТЕХНОЛОГИЯ АНАЛИЗА, ОЦЕНКИ И ПРОГНОЗИРОВАНИЯ КАЧЕСТВА ЖИЗНИ В КОНЦЕПЦИИ ЭКОНОМИКИ КАЧЕСТВА В УСЛОВИЯХ ЦИФРОВИЗАЦИИ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО РАЗВИТИЯ

The quality of life contains and reflects all levels of quality, is considered as a comprehensive, integral indicator of social well-being and is the most important result of socio-economic development. In the course of achieving the goal set in the work to study the conceptual foundations of the formation of the terminological and methodological apparatus of the concept of “quality of life”, it was revealed that a fairly wide range of methods are in demand, which have found application in both the quality sciences and the life sciences. The quality economics methodology has played a special role in the devel- opment of modern research on the quality of life and the strengthening of its applied importance. The results obtained in a compact form reflect the development of scientific research on the quality of life in connection with related concepts and indicate a rapid expansion of the range of areas of research on the quality of life. The article notes the influence of digitaliza- tion and information technology on the chosen subject of research. A new view is proposed on the application of the method- ology of quality economics in conditions of dominance of branches of the knowledge economy. The prospects of modeling the quality of life based on the joint application of the quality economics methodology and an extensive group of mathemat- ical modeling methods are considered.

Non-Aristotelian Elements in Carl Menger's Methodology

Abstract According to the dominant interpretation, Carl Menger, the founder of the Austrian school, was an Aristotelian methodologist of social science. As this article attempts to demonstrate, this influence was not decisive in shaping Menger's methodology. In fact, Menger shared several core positions with modern thinkers. Such non-Aristotelian threads in Menger tackled in the article encompass his views on essentialism and realism, a priori knowledge, the classification of sciences, and scientific value-freedom, as well as methods of historical inquiry. As is shown, while unattachable to any specific philosophical school, those five elements constitute a fairly consistent, non-Aristotelian account of economic methodology.

Indonesian governance: Reflections and how to reduce disparity between regencies/cities in Indonesia

Nawacita work program of Indonesian Governance aims to actualize a golden Indonesia by 2045 by accelerating development and human resources. However, the Indonesian people face several difficult problems of their own. Several strategic policies have been put into place in Indonesia to promote fair development and lessen regional differences. These policies include macroeconomic management, economic deregulation, the development of new resources economically, the maritime economy, and productivity enhancement. The Nawacita program’s reflection in addressing regional imbalances in Indonesian regencies and cities is covered in this report. This study employs quantitative and bibliographic techniques along with political economic analysis methodologies to investigate in-depth and information. The study’s findings indicate that although differences between Indonesia’s districts and cities are gradually narrowing, the country’s GDP per capita is still below the global average. Most of the strategic measures put in place by the Indonesian Governance have not resulted in the anticipated expansion of the economy. Nonetheless, in current period of government, connectivity in enhancing productivity across regions through Indonesia centric development is a primary objective to ease accessibility between areas, which has frequently been disregarded. particularly in the Papua region, which has not exactly developed and been left behind. According to the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis’s findings, increasing productivity is a task that needs to be finished right now to lessen regional differences in Indonesia.

About "economic imperialism" and some of its manifestations in the humanities and in practice

This article discusses the problem of «economic imperialism» as the desire of representatives of economic science to apply economic methodology to other socio-humanitarian sciences. A number of curious cases resulting from this have been analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the expansion of the economy into psychology. It has been established that such expansion, along with the enrichment of methodological tools, entails a number of negative consequences both in science and in psychological practice. It is proposed to neutralize the consequences of this expansion, including by reforming the current legislation.

An Insight into México Art's Symbolic Value through their Economic Behavior: One Case of Valuation Comparison Between the Emergent Physical and Digital Abstract Art Market, 2021

This work analyzes the phenomenon of the symbolic value in digital art over the circuit NFT in México, considering the economic behavior as a factor to identify their dynamics and characteristics, but at the same time, to recognize their influence and capacity of change from the interaction of the hybrid spaces that have this new kind of artist and pieces of work; to rethink from there, the traditional considerations for the symbolic value to looking at how to be modified in their relation with the circuit of NFT art. This makes it possible to propose an experimental aesthetic economic methodology to compare their different behaviors positions and structures, this time, in the particular case of two artists, who have different stays of symbolic value and activities in the traditional formats and digital art. Access and review of the hybrid quantitative (financial) and qualitative (trajectories and aesthetic) information, allowed the identification of meeting points, disagreement zones, and new spaces of analysis of these phenomena, to bring to the broad new considerations in the symbolic value, that is to say, new variables to consider in the dynamic values in the different kind of productions of our times.

N/O Co-doped Porous Carbon with Controllable Porosity Synthesized via an All-in-One Step Method for a High-Rate-Performance Supercapacitor.

A green and economical methodology to fabricate carbon-based materials with suitable pore size distributions is needed to achieve rapid electrolyte diffusion and improve the performance of supercapacitors. Here, a method combining in situ templates with self-activation and self-doping is proposed. By variation of the molar ratio of magnesium folate and potassium folate, the pore size distribution was effectively adjusted. The optimal carbon materials (Kx) have a high specific surface area (1021-1676 m2 g-1) and hierarchical pore structure, which significantly promotes its excellent capacitive properties. Notably, K2 shows an excellent mass specific capacitance of 233 F g-1 at 0.1 A g-1. It still retained 113 F g-1 at 55 A g-1. The assembled symmetric supercapacitor exhibited an outstanding cyclic stability. It maintains 100% capacitance after 100 000 cycles at 10 A g-1. The symmetric supercapacitor demonstrated a maximum power density of 99.8 kW kg-1. This study focuses on the preparation of layered pore structures to provide insights into the sustainable design of carbon materials.

Somc methodological aspects of researches on informatization

In the article, an attempt is made to attract attention to the variety of methodological principles in the analysis of some factors of informatization of society. Most of the questions of informatization—such as the information crisis, information industry, information resources, etc.—are bound to technological deterministic explanations, and the aspects of the new electronic technology are amplified, with all problems being reduced to computerization. Using economic methodologies, the question of information value is considered. Economic research on informatization is correlated with attempts to analyze the quantity of information. The conclusion is drawn that most of the principles of analyzing informatization problems are conditioned by already known scientific paradigms.

Is more rural digitization always better for tourism? An innovative multiscale spatial perspective

Addressing the global challenge of promoting digital transformation in rural areas and reducing the urban–rural digital divide is crucial. This study explores rural digitization within the framework of tourism literature, an area that has received limited scholarly attention. Utilizing economic geography methodologies, this research examines the multiscale relationship between rural digitization and tourism development efficiency at the county level. Our empirical findings reveal significant spatial heterogeneity in both rural digitization and tourism development, diverging from the existing consensus by uncovering the negative impact of rural digitization on tourism development at the county level. The study also identifies a moderating effect of tourism’s contribution to GDP and per capita GDP, which negatively moderates this impact. This research emphasizes the critical need for a geographic perspective to comprehensively understand the complex relationship between digital technology and tourism development. It provides recommendations for tourism policymakers and developers regarding digitalization in rural areas.

Metamodern economy: Between war and peace

Man's economic activity and his worldview are closely interrelated, and this relationship has attracted the attention of philosophers and scientists for centuries. When making economic decisions, a person entered into relations of cooperation, collaboration and/or competition and even war. Since ancient times, war was used by man as a tool for resolving economic conflicts and achieving economic interests and evolved along with the development of socio-economic systems and the worldview of man himself. The economic worldview and socio-economic systems, in turn, evolve under the influence of the development of economic activity, philosophical knowledge, science and technology. In the development of mankind, we can distinguish eras of dominance of a certain philosophical paradigm (classicism, modernity, postmodernity, metamodernity), which determined the worldview of people, the “spirit of the times”, as well as their economic activities, the choice of tools for resolving economic conflicts and achieving economic interests, including characteristics and distinctive features of wars. Since in the modern global world of the metamodern era, military conflicts have a significant impact on the economic decisions of economic entities, identifying the distinctive features of modern wars in conjunction with the philosophy of metamodernism is relevant. The purpose of the study is to identify the distinctive characteristics of war as an economic instrument in each of the above-mentioned eras in conjunction with the dominant philosophical paradigm and the characteristics of the socio-economic systems of the parties to military conflicts, as well as to substantiate the key features of war in the modern metamodern era. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were solved: a comparative historical and economic analysis of the wars of the eras of classicism, modernity, postmodernity, and metamodernity was be carried out; differences between them were identified according to a number of criteria. The relationship between the characteristics of wars and the dominant philosophical paradigm were identified. The role of war in the economy of metamodernity was determined. The research methodology was based on a synthesis of historical and economic methodology, a systemic economic approach, and comparative analysis, which determined the novelty of the research results: the rationale for the relationship of war as a tool for solving economic conflicts and/or realizing economic interests with the dominant philosophical paradigm.

СЪЩНОСТ И ОЦЕНКА НА АГРОХРАНИТЕЛНИЯ ГАВЪРНАНС

There are intense ongoing debates about the importance and quality of agri-food governance, and these have not gone unnoticed in Bulgaria. There is no suitable Bulgarian translation for the word governance, and many inaccurate terms are used such as managing, management, leadership, directing, regulating, regime, etc. In order to accurately reveal the essence of this category and avoid misunderstandings with researchers in other fields, this article uses the term governance. It adapts the methodology of New Institutional Economics and offers a holistic framework for an adequate understanding of agri-food governance and for assessing its quality. Agri-food governance is defined as a complex system with five main components: (1) agrarian and related agents, (2) the means (rules, forms, and mechanisms) that govern agents' behavior, activities, and relationships, (3) processes and activities associated with decision-making, (4) a specific social order resulting from the governance process, and (5) the system’s performance results in relation to the realization of sustainable development goals. To assess the quality of agri-food governance, a multidimensional hierarchical system of principles, criteria, indicators, and reference values for good governance is suggested. The initial assessment of the quality of agri-food governance in Bulgaria, based on expert and statistical data, shows that it is at an average (European) level. In terms of sustainability, the quality is at a good level, while it is at a satisfactory level in terms of processes, means, and order. The Bulgarian agri-food governance strengths are in terms of equity and solidarity, in addition to a well-functioning public sector; its weaknesses are in stakeholder engagement and private sector efficiency.

History’s view on the principal–agent relationship: including history, context and change. Evidence from three historical cases in the Southern Netherlands

Purpose The principal–agent literature often draws criticism for its ahistorical, acontextual and static nature, particularly when theories such as the agency or the stewardship theory are being used. This is because the field of economics tends to develop universalistic models and theories, excluding history, context and change, which renders them unusable for practitioners whose behavior is (partially) guided by the complex and differing environments in which they find themselves. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to this criticism by investigating how (and if) history, context and change influence the principal–agent relationship. Design/methodology/approach Instead of using the typical economic methodologies to study the principal–agent relationship, this paper makes use of the methodologies of the field of history to investigate how history, context and change affect principal–agent relationships in three cases in the early modern Southern Netherlands (the Dukes of Arenberg, the Roosewalle farm and Abbot De Loose of the Abbey of Ename). This methodology is especially suited, as it results in historical narratives that incorporate all of these three elements. Findings The main finding is that the cases show how history, context and change clearly affect the principal–agent relationship. These aspects are intricately intertwined, as earlier choices and context can cause a change in the principal–agent relationship, this creates a new presence (with an altered history) and sometimes even a new context. This results in a highly dynamic relationship that can evolve in very short periods, mostly in a path-dependent manner. Research limitations/implications The paper advocates by example for a shift in principal–agent research, emphasizing the necessity of considering history, context and change. This study demonstrates that these factors greatly affect the nature of the principal–agent relationship. In doing so, it may provide practitioners with better insights, as real-world principal–agent relationships are indeed impacted by these three factors. Originality/value By using historical methods, this study shows for the first time how context, change and history indeed influence principal–agent relationships. The findings of this paper encourage the development of theories and theoretical frameworks that more closely resemble reality, rather than being universalistic.

Sustainable carbon-negative mineral extraction from desalination brine

Effective brine management requires an economical and sustainable methodology to treat multiple pollutants in a single reaction and recover valuable resources like fresh water and minerals. Herein, we propose a novel one-pot solution that employs electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)-generated hydroxide (OH-) to recover valuable minerals from seawater reverse osmosis brine and capture CO2. The process efficiently extracts and recovers magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+) ions in the form of marketable compounds such as CaCO3, Mg(OH)2, or MgCO3, using commercially available catalysts. Our results indicate that the proposed system achieves efficient mineral recovery, reaching up to 27.7 % for Mg2+ and 63.7 % for Ca2+ at a cell current of 60 mA within 8 h. Notably, approximately 40 % of the obtained minerals exist in carbonate form, highlighting the successful mineralization and carbonization of the waste stream into valuable compounds. Moreover, it reduced energy consumption by up to 30 % compared to traditional methods. Initial technology economic analysis confirms that the proposed novel process is carbon-negative and profitable. This cutting-edge and economically competitive ORR-based system technology combines minerals recovery, carbon abatement, and wastewater stream treatment, advancing decarbonization efforts and delivering global environmental benefits, providing an alternative approach for sustainable carbon-negative mineral extraction.