National Market Research Articles

Cigarette butts to estimate the illicit cigarette consumption proportion in a major Brazilian city.

Illicit cigarette consumption (ICC) results in cheaper cigarettes and lost tax revenue. Although several methods estimate the ICC proportion, the one based on cigarette butt (CB), the most littered item worldwide, is less common. This study aimed at estimating the ICC proportion of Guarujá, a major Brazilian city, based on littered CBs. CBs were collected along 23,694 m2 of highly urbanized walkways between March and April 2023. CBs licit status was assessed based on the littered brands presence in the list of approved brands in the national market by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency. Of the 4231 collected CBs, 3521 had identifiable brand markings (81.5 %). In total, 26 brands were identified from seven companies. The ICC percentage ranged between 21.7 and 36.6 %, because three brands (14.9 %) are available as licit and illicit, which cannot be determined solely by examining the CBs. Utilizing CBs to estimate the ICC proportion provides additional insights into understanding the illicit market and helps with the implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco locally. Moreover, quantifying the discarded CBs levels constitutes a pivotal step for integrative evaluations of environmental repercussions, such as the reverse logistics.

Regional administrative monopoly and corporate tax avoidance: evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the effect of implementing anti-monopoly laws on corporate tax avoidance. Based on the data of China’s A-share non-financial listed companies from 2004 to 2015, this research adopts the staggered Difference-in-differences (DID) method to find that implementing the anti-monopoly law provides more incentives for managers to engage in more aggressive tax strategies. Furthermore, this paper finds that the effect of the anti-monopoly law on corporate tax avoidance depends on the scale of firms, state ownership, corporate governance mechanism, and regional economic development. This study provides a new perspective for researching the economic consequences of the anti-monopoly law and offers new empirical evidence for researching the determinants of corporate tax avoidance, providing a theoretical basis and empirical evidence for China to accelerate the construction of a national unified market and the optimization process of the economic system.

Unleashing green technology innovation in agribusiness: traditional environmental regulations, carbon trading, or synergies?

Stimulating green technology innovation in agricultural enterprises through appropriate environmental policies is of great significance for achieving green agricultural development. Based on the data of listed agribusinesses from 2007 to 2020, this paper analyzes the incentive effects of traditional environmental regulatory tools, carbon trading, and policy synergies using the SDM-SDID model. It was found that: (1) Although both traditional environmental regulatory tools and carbon trading provide incentive effects, the former tends to exhibit more pronounced direct effects, making it more suitable for adoption by local governments, while the latter demonstrates stronger spatial spillover effects, making it more appropriate for application in a national market context. (2) Command-and-control environmental regulatory instruments and carbon trading are complementary policy mixes, and other environmental policy mixes are to be used as appropriate in the context of the actual situation. (3) The incentive effects of environmental policies are more significant in eastern regions, non-heavily polluting, and state-owned agribusinesses, but not in the basic agricultural sector. Based on the above research, this paper reveals the differentiated effects of different types of environmental policies and policy combinations on the green technology innovation of agribusinesses. This contributes to the deepening of research on environmental policy selection and provides theoretical support and practical references for precise policy implementation and collaborative governance.

Toward Product Safety and Circularity: Understanding the Information Structure of Global Databases on Chemicals in Products and Articles.

Access to information about chemicals in products and articles is critical for supporting enforcement of chemical regulations, assessing risks from chemicals, allowing informed consumer choices, and enabling product circularity. In this work, we identified and evaluated available databases (DBs) on chemicals in products and articles from the literature using a defined protocol and from European national market surveillance authorities, nongovernmental agencies, and industrial sector groups using questionnaires. This is the first comprehensive review of DBs that provide information about chemicals in products and articles. A majority of these DBs are heterogeneous in terms of scope, ontologies, and data structures. Among the 57 identified DBs, 49 identified specific substances and only 30 reported their concentration in their products. In addition, 35 DBs included hazard information and 27 DBs provided safety information about products or chemicals. The analysis highlights the lack of comprehensive or accessible data on chemicals in products and articles for most categories of products/articles and jurisdictions. The limitations of existing DBs were attributed to scattered regulatory information requirements, a lack of data for unregulated substances, the complexity of supply chain communication, and confidentiality issues. In response to these challenges, we identified opportunities for improving existing information transfer structures and exploring alternative data sources to promote product and article safety and circularity.

Access to higher education during COVID-19: First-generation students in Austria

In Austria, educational upward mobility remains particularly low compared to other European countries, partly due to the prevalence of early tracking. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe economic crisis, and numerous measures were applied on the national labour market and in the higher education sector to counteract the negative consequences. In this paper we analyse how existing inequalities in access to higher education for first-generation students (i.e. students with parents without a tertiary degree) have developed in course of the pandemic, drawing on the unique pool of longitudinal register data collected for all Austrian students. We find that in the first year of the pandemic (2020/21), there is a clear peak in the number of students entering higher education in Austria. However, as this increase is mainly due to students with a tertiary family background, the share of first-generation students continued to decrease during this period. It shows that despite the disruptive effects of the pandemic and new labour market and higher education policies, the enduring downward trend in both the total number and the proportion of first-generation students has not been reversed.

Research on the Innovation Path of Cultural and Creative Products Based on Digital Technology

This study aims to explore the application of digital technology in the design of cultural and creative products in Jingdezhen red venues, analyze the design status of cultural and creative products in Jingdezhen red venues, reveal the types and characteristics of existing products, and identify the existing problems and challenges. For Jingdezhen red venues and product market positioning and marketing strategy to provide theoretical support and practical guidance, in order to the red culture resources inheritance and innovation provide new ideas and methods, at the same time for Jingdezhen and even the national product market inject new vitality, to promote the dual goal of cultural inheritance and economic benefits.

Fusarium Head Blight in Argentina, a Profile of Produced Mycotoxins and a Biocontrol Strategy in Barley During Micro-Malting Process.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the second winter crop in Argentina. In the national market, grains are mainly destined to produce malt for beer manufacture. Fusarium species are common, causing Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) in barley, which generates yield and quality losses, as well as mycotoxin occurrence. The aims of this study were to determine (a) the incidence of the main species causing FHB in different locations of the barley-growing region of Argentina, (b) their ability to produce mycotoxins, and (c) the levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) natural occurrence in grains at the harvest stage. Additionally, a strain of Bacillus velezensis was studied as a biocontrol agent in order to control F. graminearum sensu stricto and mycotoxin accumulation during the malting process, with the final objective being to reduce DON contamination in the beer manufacture chain. Fusarium graminearum ss was the most prevalent species causing FHB, with Fusarium poae being less distributed. Both species produced several mycotoxins, including NX-2 and NX-3, which is the first report of their production by strains isolated from barley in Argentina. Deoxynivalenol contamination was found in 95% of barley grains during the 2016 harvest season (mean: 0.4 mg/kg), while NIV contamination was present in 29% of samples (mean: 0.49 mg/kg). In the 2017 harvest season, 53.6% of grains were contaminated with DON (mean: 0.42 mg/kg), and 21% with NIV (mean: 0.8 mg/kg). Quantification of F. graminearum ss by real-time PCR during the micro-malting process showed that application of the biocontrol agent before the germination stage was the most effective treatment, with a 45% reduction in fungal DNA levels. Reduction in DON contamination (69.3-100%) in artificially infected grains with F. graminearum ss, was also observed. The present work contributes to the knowledge of FHB in Argentina and to the development of a strategy to control this disease and mycotoxin contamination in barley, promoting at the same time food security.

The activities of Chinese private security companies as a tool for expanding China’s geopolitical influence

Relevance. The collapse of the bipolar world and the building of international relations in conditions of increasing turbulence have led to the intensification of the use of private paramilitary forces by both states and economic entities to protect their business interests and follow geopolitical priorities. China, being one of the key actors in global economic relations, has been increasing its presence abroad since 2010 by expanding the geography of private security companies.The purpose of the paper is to study the development of the activities of private security companies in China as a tool for expanding geopolitical influence.The objectives are to systematize the features and activities of PSCs; review Chinese national legislation regarding private security companies; study the market for private security services in China; analyze the activities of Chinese PSCs abroad.Methodology. The study has used applied and general scientific research methods, including systemic and comparative analysis, as well as synthesis of information on the topic of the work.Results. The study has examined the reasons for the development of the market for private military and security services, highlighted the main advantages and disadvantages of PSCs, investigated the dynamics of the formation of Chinese PSCs, analyzed the geography of the activities of Chinese PSCs in foreign markets.Conclusion. Given the transformation of the system for ensuring international stability, the states’ demand for private security services has increased significantly. China is armed with a national market for private security companies, some of which operate in foreign markets. The geography of the activities of Chinese PSCs coincides with the geopolitical interests of the PRC and the regions where major investment projects are being implemented.

Do European regulatory measures accelerate national market access in Belgium? A retrospective analysis of medicines centrally authorised between 2015 and 2020

BackgroundAt the European level, several regulatory measures (ie, priority medicines (PRIME) scheme, accelerated assessment, conditional marketing authorisation and authorisation under exceptional circumstances) are in place with the aim to expedite...

Impacts of Climate Change Risk and Economic Policy Uncertainty on Carbon Prices: Configuration Analysis from a Complex System Perspective

Despite a vast amount of research examining the antecedent variables of carbon prices, the impact of climate change risk on carbon prices has been rarely explored. This study adopted a complex system perspective and applied NCA and fsQCA models to analyze regional climate physical risk (CPR) and climate transition risk (CTR) from a complex system perspective. The results suggested that the primary factors affecting the Hubei carbon price included coal prices, market regulation, and national carbon market prices, and carbon prices could be higher in response to higher levels of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) combined with other factors. By comparing the changes of independent variables before and after the opening of the national carbon market, it was found that lower CPR and CTR were conducive to higher carbon prices; the former has received early attention but the latter has been neglected. The findings from this study provided theoretical and practical insight to inform government regulation of carbon prices and decision-making for carbon market stakeholders. The government should pay attention to the impacts of climate change risks and EPU on carbon prices because these factors could significantly undermine the incentive and economic effectiveness of the carbon market.

Pregled nacionalnoga građevinskog tržišta u Republici Hrvatskoj

A trend of strong construction works prices’ growth has been noticed from 2018. This is particularly challenging from a strategic perspective for the Republic of Croatia in the context of complex infrastructure projects co-financed by the European Union, given the rules for implementing EU co-financed projects - primarily the implementation period, eligibility of costs, and achievement of performance indicators. Increasing costs on these projects generally requires an increase in the amount of national co-financing, with implementation difficulties arising from the necessary approval procedures for such increases. To analyse this trend in detail and elaborate its possible antecedents, an overview of national construction market up to 2020 is given in this paper. Results of construction industry indicators’ analysis are shown, as well as their synthesis in accordance to the relationship between supply and demand. By exploring this market trend from technical and economical side, an unique overview for understanding it from perspective of historical trends is given; and possible factors that may contribute to a significant increase in the average offered prices of construction work in the Republic of Croatia are listed.

Forecasting the carbon price of China's national carbon market: A novel dynamic interval-valued framework

Forecasting the carbon price of China's national carbon market: A novel dynamic interval-valued framework

Trends and Prospects of Financial System Development in the Context of Digitalization

Due to the intensive development of technologies worldwide in the previous years, the issue of the digitalization of the financial and banking sectors is an interesting area for research, as these industries see almost immediate implementation of modern technologies. The purpose of this study is to find out the current trends in the development of the national digital market and identify its priority areas in the future. Using a combined application of multiple scientific methods, the existing financial technology toolkit was examined. As a result of the work, the positive dynamics of the share of electronic sales exceeding 20% of global volumes in 2022 was revealed, the structure of foreign direct investment in the budget of the Kyrgyz Republic was determined, where 20% is occupied by foreign investments in fintech, as well as the constant growth in the period from 2017 to 2023 of such indicators of digital economy development as the number of Internet users and social media users was noted. The Digital Code of the Kyrgyz Republic with its concept of universal codification was considered as a legislative basis for regulating digital processes. Such system-forming phenomena of the modern virtual financial system as cryptographically protected blockchain, cryptocurrencies and non-mutually exchangeable tokens were also studied. Based on the obtained data, the concept of regional leadership of the Kyrgyz Republic in creating an educational cluster was formulated, which may be of interest to the relevant ministries of the country.

Studi Komparasi Regulasi Sertifikasi Halal oleh Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) dan Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal (BPJPH)

Halal products are increasingly in demand by many people, not only in the national market but also in the international market. Indonesia has experienced an increase in the consumption rank of halal products from year to year. One of the indicators is the implementation of halal certificates. Halal certificates cannot be issued just like that without procedures and checks from the authorities. However, looking at the dynamics, halal certificates have experienced developments from time to time. These changes can be seen after the existence of Law No. 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Guarantee. The formulation of this problem is how is the comparison between the regulation of halal certificates by MUI and BPJPH? The purpose of this study is to determine the comparison of halal certificate regulations by MUI and BPJPH, namely before and after the issuance of the JPH Law. This research uses the Library study method with various sources that support the object of research. The primary data source of this research is Law No.33 of 2014, MUI Fatwa, and its official website. Secondary data sources are from journals, theses, and related theses. The result of this research is that there are similarities and differences between the regulation of halal certificates by MUI and BPJPH. The difference is not only in the content of the regulation, but also in the halal logo issued. This logo is not just a picture, but more than that, it has a deep philosophy. Keywords: BPJPH, Halal, Certificate, MUI Halal products are increasingly in demand by many people, not only in the national market but also in the international market. Indonesia has experienced an increase in the consumption rank of halal products from year to year. One of the indicators is the implementation of halal certificates. Halal certificates cannot be issued just like that without procedures and checks from the authorities. However, looking at the dynamics, halal certificates have experienced developments from time to time. These changes can be seen after the existence of Law No. 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Guarantee. The formulation of this problem is how is the comparison between the regulation of halal certificates by MUI and BPJPH? The purpose of this study is to determine the comparison of halal certificate regulations by MUI and BPJPH, namely before and after the issuance of the JPH Law. This research uses the Library study method with various sources that support the object of research. The primary data source of this research is Law No.33 of 2014, MUI Fatwa, and its official website. Secondary data sources are from journals, theses, and related theses. The result of this research is that there are similarities and differences between the regulation of halal certificates by MUI and BPJPH. The difference is not only in the content of the regulation, but also in the halal logo issued. This logo is not just a picture, but more than that, it has a deep philosophy.

Reconfiguring the Kazakhstan Pension System: How Can Canadian and OECD Experience Be Helpful?

This study examines the current state of Kazakhstan’s public pension system, comparing its performance and asset structure to OECD countries. It highlights structural and regulatory issues within the national pension market that hinder adequate retirement savings for the population. A key concern is the low real rate of return by the national pension fund, potentially jeopardizing its ability to meet future retirement needs amidst rising inflation. The study analyzes the Canadian pension system as a model, showcasing a three-layer structure that fosters diverse sources of pension benefits, ensuring sustainable income for retirees. It recommends considering group (employer-based) and private (individual) registered pension programs, common in developed countries, to generate additional pension income. Supportive legal and tax frameworks are crucial to encourage participation in these programs. Drawing on Canadian and OECD experiences, the study offers suggestions for reconfiguring Kazakhstan’s pension system to enhance its performance and sustainability, ultimately leading to higher pension payouts for future retirees.

The Impact of Global Economic Fluctuation on the Game Accessories Market

With the fluctuations and changes in the global economic environment, the game accessories market, as an independent and dynamic economic sector, faces multiple challenges and opportunities. The gaming industry has become an important support for the development of the national cultural market. Game accessories, including virtual weapons, skins, and decorations, are not only a part of video games but also an important component of players' personalized expression and gaming experience. This paper explores the impact of global economic changes on the game accessories market, focusing on three aspects. First, economic growth or recession directly affects players' disposable income and willingness to spend. Second, currency exchange rate fluctuations significantly impact the international market. Finally, the consumption habits and preferences of modern male consumers show distinct trends. In summary, the global economic situation has a broad and profound impact on the game accessories market, involving multiple aspects such as market demand, currency exchange rates, technological trends, socio-cultural factors, and market competition.

СТАЛИЙ РОЗВИТОК ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ ОСВІТИ НА ОСНОВІ ДЕРЖАВНО-ПРИВАТНОГО ПАРТНЕРСТВА

The importance of sustainable development as one of the key concepts of modern society aimed at achieving a balance between economic, environmental and social aspects is described. It is determined that Ukraine is an active participant in international initiatives, such as Agenda 2030, integrating them into national policy. The need to develop professional education to ensure the training of specialists capable of meeting the current challenges of sustainable development is substantiated. It is revealed that the sustainable development of vocational education is based on a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills and is realized through cooperation between the state and business. The impact of public-private partnerships on reforming the vocational education system, in particular through the creation of new educational and training programs and infrastructure modernization, is considered. The participation of the private sector in financing vocational education is outlined, taking into account the current needs of the labor market. The author emphasizes the importance of integrating innovative technologies into the educational process, which contributes to the formation of the necessary competencies of future professionals, and adapting educational programs to new challenges facing the national economy and labor market.

Medicare Advantage: National Carriers Expand Market Share While Regional Carriers Without Affiliation Decline, 2012-23.

This study examined the evolving landscape of insurer competition in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program from both national and local perspectives. Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services revealed that the MA market has become more concentrated. National carriers expanded their national market share significantly from 2012 to 2023, whereas the collective market share of regional carriers without affiliation to Blue Cross and Blue Shield organizations declined because of acquisitions. For example, the combined national market share of national carriers increased from 46percent in 2012 to 66percent in 2023, while the combined national market share of non-Blue regional carriers decreased from 25percent to 6percent. Conversely, concentration in local markets has declined but remains highly concentrated, and evidence suggests that further declines may be unlikely. Specifically, declines in local market concentration have been limited to markets with low MA penetration. Once MA penetration exceeds 20percent, further MA growth is not associated with further drops in concentration, on average. Thus, policy makers should be aware that MA program reforms that assume MA markets are competitive are unlikely to achieve program goals without ensuring the competitiveness of those markets.

Research on the impact of carbon trading on enterprises' green technology innovation

By treating the implementation of China's carbon trading policy as a quasi-natural experiment, the study analyzes data from A-share listed companies on China's Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges between 2010 and 2023. Utilizing a multi-temporal Difference-in-Differences (DID) model, multiple intermediary effect model, moderation effect model and threshold effect model, we probe to verifies whether carbon trading policy can generate innovation incentive effects and investigate the transmission mechanisms. Empirical results show that carbon trading policy are beneficial for the green technology upgrading of enterprises and that this incentivizing effect is persistent. Mechanism analysis reveals that the mediating variables of financing constraints and R&D investment exhibit a chain mediation effect and nonlinear characteristics. Once the thresholds of financing constraints and R&D investment are surpassed, the green innovation effect of carbon trading policy is significantly enhanced. Digital finance has a moderating effect on the chain-multiple mediation transmission mechanism. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the chain mediation effect is mainly observed in large-scale enterprises and enterprises in central regions. This paper offers theoretical support for evaluating carbon trading policy based on the micro-enterprise level and provides a scientific basis for how to efficiently play the function of carbon trading policy in practice, which helps to enhance the carbon trading policy and is of great practical significance for improving the operational efficiency of the national carbon trading market.

FOREIGN EXPERIENCE OF SOFTWARE TESTING ENGINEERS’ TRAINING: ANALYSIS OF EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND PROGRAMS OF ASIAN UNIVERSITIES

This paper studies educational practices in software testing and quality assurance across three major East Asian countries – China, Japan, and South Korea, which are globally recognized for their leadership in IT and technological innovation. The study examines the key strategies employed by these nations to cultivate highly skilled IT professionals by integrating national educational standards, curricula, and industry practices into their academic frameworks. China emphasizes embedding software testing as a key component within broader software engineering programs, aligning education with its national focus on technological self-reliance and innovation. Japan prioritizes innovative methodologies and quality management strategies, providing a precise and structured approach to IT education, while South Korea integrates hands-on training and industry collaboration to ensure that graduates possess both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The findings underscore the important role of software testing and quality assurance as foundational elements of IT education. These practices not only enhance the technical competencies of graduates but also ensure their readiness to address real-world challenges in a rapidly evolving global IT landscape. By examining the experiences of China, Japan, and South Korea, the study identifies key lessons for Ukraine, which will benefit from adopting and adapting these approaches to enhance its own IT education system. Integrating software testing into the curricula, focusing on interdisciplinary integration, and aligning educational programs with industry needs could enable Ukraine to meet international standards and produce innovation in software engineering. Future research directions include exploring the nuances of program composition, the integration of software testing with other disciplines, and the adaptation of global best practices to local educational and industrial contexts. These areas of study hold significant potential to optimize educational outcomes and ensure that IT professionals are well-prepared to contribute effectively to both national and global IT market.