Official Government Statistics Research Articles

Mapping sugarcane globally at 10 m resolution using Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) and Sentinel-2

Abstract. Sugarcane is an important source of food, biofuel, and farmer income in many countries. At the same time, sugarcane is implicated in many social and environmental challenges, including water scarcity and nutrient pollution. Currently, few of the top sugar-producing countries generate reliable maps of where sugarcane is cultivated. To fill this gap, we introduce a dataset of detailed sugarcane maps for the top 13 producing countries in the world, comprising nearly 90 % of global production. Maps were generated for the 2019–2022 period by combining data from Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) and Sentinel-2 (S2). GEDI data were used to provide training data on where tall and short crops were growing each month, while S2 features were used to map tall crops for all cropland pixels each month. Sugarcane was then identified by leveraging the fact that, among all non-tree species grown in cropland areas, sugarcane is typically tall for the largest fraction of time. Comparisons with field data, pre-existing maps, and official government statistics all indicated high precision and high recall of our maps. Agreement with field data at the pixel level exceeded 80 % in most countries, and subnational sugarcane areas from our maps were consistent with government statistics. Exceptions appeared mainly due to problems in underlying cropland masks or due to under-reporting of sugarcane area by governments. The final maps should be useful in studying the various impacts of sugarcane cultivation and producing maps of related outcomes such as sugarcane yields. The dataset is available on Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10871164 (Di Tommaso et al., 2024a).

Interregional Migration of Youth in the Russian Federation

The subject of the study is interregional migration of young people in the Russian Federation during the period of obtaining higher education; The topic of the study is the change in the migration attractiveness of regions for higher education; research hypothesis: there has been a change in the centers of gravity of migration flows and the status of regions from 2017 to 2020 and 2023 due to the impact of the pandemic and government measures to increase the attractiveness of universities in the regions. Source data includes official government statistics for the period from 2017 to 2023. The article identifies limitations on the use of this source (migration of 18-year-olds and migration of 21-year-olds is not identical to direct and return educational migration) and formulates a thesis about the need to use aggregated data of «digital traces» of applicants and graduates and federal information systems. An assessment of changes in the status of regions for 2017, 2020 and 2023 was carried out. The study makes assumptions about the possibility of using tools for objective monitoring of interregional educational migration of applicants to improve the work of universities. It is necessary to concentrate the efforts of the regional authorities of the «donor» region and the regional university community on first obtaining «transit» status for the university and the region, followed by transition to the «acceptor» category. For 2017, the author identified 12 «acceptor» territories, 59 «donor territories» (the rest were mixed and intermediate forms). In 2020, there were only 30 «donors», 12 «acceptors», 37– they reached conditional «balance» positions– this is how the COVID-2019 pandemic affected interregional migration. In 2023, there were 12 «acceptors» in the Russian Federation (the list has changed slightly), the number of «donors» was 46, 21 territories reached a «balance» state, the rest still belong to intermediate types.

Marriages and divorces in the Arctic zone of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic in 2000–2022

BACKGROUND: One of the primary concerns for national security in the Russain Arctic today is the declining population. A decrease in population over the last decade has also been observed in the Arctic zone of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic. This trend can be attributed to unfavorable medical and demographic factors, such as low birth rates and relatively high mortality rates in the 13 districts that belong to the Arctic zone. We hypothesize that low marriage rates in most of the Arctic districts may also contribute to population decline. AIM: To describe marriage and divorce rates in the Arctic zone of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic in 2000–2022. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive study. Materials from the official government statistics were used. Initially, marriage- and divorce rates were calculated using the percentile method in all districts of the republic. Then the analysis was performed using the data from 13 Arctic districts. Associations between the variables were studied by correlation analysis RESULTS: Both marriage- and divorce rates were relatively low in the Arctic districts as demonstrated by the data in tables and charts and supported by the results of the correlation analysis. CONCLUSION: The Arctic regions of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic face challenges due to relatively low marriage- and divorce rates, which exacerbate the already unfavorable medical and demographic situation. In order to address these issues and improve the demographic policy in the region, specific recommendations have been developed for the municipal leaders of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic.

The effect of political factors on agricultural land ownership and grain crops in Erbil Governorate 1975-1991

This research is entitled the impact of political factors on the ownership of agricultural land and cereal crops in Erbil province in 1975-1991. During the research, the agricultural situation in Erbil province was of special importance for economic development. These include the industrial and commercial sectors, as agricultural products have become an important resource used as raw materials in the industrial sector, in addition to agricultural activities and products have affected the movement and trade processes and exchange. Whether in domestic or foreign trade. Ownership of agricultural land in Erbil province has been under the influence of the Agricultural Reform Law to regulate and improve agricultural land. Based on several official government data and statistics obtained, the impact of political events in Iraq and Kurdistan on the ownership of agricultural land and grain crops in Erbil province between 1975-1991 is presented.

PENGARUH STATUS KEPEGAWAIAN DAN TUNTUTAN PROFESIONALISME TERHADAP PENGUPAHAN TENAGA KESEHATAN

In many cases, the wages of health workers are still below the average regional/provincial minimum wage (UMR/UMP). This can have an impact on the motivation and fulfilment of health workers' performance standards. In addition, the high level of risk in the work environment requires physical and spiritual fitness which costs money. Based on these problems, this research tries to examine the influence of employment status and demands for professionalism on the wages of health workers for nursing health workers, who have the largest number in both government and private institutions. This type of research is normative-empirical, the data used is secondary data. Secondary data was obtained from library research sourced from Institute reports, official government statistics, regulations as primary, secondary, and tertiary legal sources. From the results of the study, information was obtained that employment status and professional responsibilities have a significant influence on wage standards in the form of salaries and allowances for ASN/PPPK which are regulated in applicable laws and regulations. Meanwhile, in private institutions, the amount is regulated in the non-employee agreement for state civil servants (private sector), given in accordance with the work agreement or collective work agreement.

Features of the demand for specialists in the labor market in the sphere of physical education and sports of the Russian Federation

The present investigation aims to evaluate the labor market indicators and qualitative characteristics of the need for specialists in the physical culture and sports industry of the Russian Federation. This study based on the analyze of official government statistics about staff persons in the physical culture and sports and data gathered from a questionnaire survey of organizations operating in the physical culture and sports in 59 regions of the Russian Federation. “Saint-Petersburg scientific-research institute for physical culture” (SPbNIIFK) carried out the survey in 2023 with the participation of 674 state and municipal organizations. The survey conducted using specialized software and a survey web service created by SPbNIIFK’s employees to collect, process, and analyze the data. The research revealed regional differences and indicators of the labor market with the identification of trends in demand for specific qualifications. The collected data may be used to support government and municipal management on personnel policy issues, to create suggestions for employers on attracting skilled personnel, inform job seekers and employees in the physical education and sports about trends in demand for various specialties, and to improve their market labor competitiveness.

Prevalence of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in Colombia: Analysis of the official Ministry of Health administrative registry.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare entity with severe inflammatory demyelinating events of the central nervous system with debilitating sequelae. Its global prevalence ranges between 0.5 and 4/100,000 individuals, with variations by region and ethnicity. Latin America lacks epidemiological data on the disease, and Colombian prevalence is unknown. Prevalence of NMOSD in Colombia was estimated between 2017 and 2021 using the official Ministry of Health administrative database (SISPRO). This is an observational, cross-sectional retrospective study, using data between January 2017 and December 2021 in the SISPRO database using the International Classification of Disease code for NMOSD G36.0. Prevalence by gender, age and geographic distribution was estimated using official government statistics for 2019. World Health Organization (WHO) standard population was used to adjust using the direct method. 2,650 patients were diagnosed with NMOSD; the average age was 44.9 years with an overall unadjusted prevalence of 5.3/100,000 individuals, higher for females (7.8) than for males (2.8). No significant changes (from 5.3 to 5.4) were seen after adjusting to the WHO standard. According to this study Colombia has one of the highest prevalence rates of NMOSD in Latin America, further studies are needed to elucidate the contributing factors.

Approaches to cyber security in small and medium-sized enterprises: Why it needs to change

Over the last decade, the growth in technology has created numerous opportunities for businesses to improve efficiency, develop new products and services and reach new customers. But it has also provided an opportunity for the criminal fraternity to find new, and incredibly lucrative, ways of targeting victims from anywhere in the world. This has led to cybercrime becoming one of the fastest-growing types of crime affecting individuals, businesses and third-sector organisations alike. For example, in England and Wales, official government statistics show the number of cybercrime incidents has risen by 89 per cent in the past year alone. This paper describes the effect cybercrime has on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular those at the smaller end of the spectrum. The paper explains why SMEs are among the most vulnerable to a breach or an attack and what challenges they face against this growing threat. The paper also describes what the UK government is doing to support SMEs specifically.

Colonial State and the Transformation of Inter-Ethnic Conflicts in Uasin Gishu County Up to 1963

Inter-ethnic hostilities have persisted over a considerable duration on a worldwide scale, originating from socio-economic and political issues. Ethnic conflict has been extensively documented in several African countries throughout the continent, spanning from the pre-colonial era to the colonial period. The occurrence of this ethnic conflict can be attributed to the policies implemented by the colonial state. Hence, the principal aim of this research was to document and examine the extent of the colonial state's engagement in the endeavor of mitigating inter-ethnic conflicts in Uasin Gishu County, particularly during the era preceding 1963. The primary objective of this study was to examine the impact of the colonial state on the development of inter-ethnic conflicts in Uasin Gishu County, specifically focusing on the period leading up to 1963. The research employed a historical methodology, incorporating primary and secondary data sources. The study incorporated a diverse range of primary data sources, such as annual reports, conclusions derived from appointed commissions, interviews conducted with key stakeholders, court judgments, and official government statistics. In addition, the study incorporated secondary materials. The sources encompassed a heterogeneous array of materials, including printed books, scholarly papers, and unpublished archival documents. The study was positioned within the existing body of literature by incorporating these sources. Land alienation and the subsequent establishment of settler farms coupled with setting up squiredom labour served to inadvertently lay the foundation for inter-ethnic friction. The study posits that the implementation of a holistic strategy that encompasses various actors from both the public and private domains is necessary to effectively tackle the root causes of disputes and avert their recurrence in subsequent instances. Simultaneously, it is imperative to enhance regulations to dissuade the political class from employing land issues as a tactic to incite ethnic differences and escalate tribal wars within the designated region. The output of this research is expected to have a positive impact on various stakeholders, such as historians, policymakers, political bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and religious institutions. The aforementioned findings have the potential to make a significant contribution to the promotion of peace and justice in Uasin Gishu and similar contexts.

African Vernacular Symbols of Black Intersex Children in Sinethemba Ngubane's Installations (2007-2016)

African Vernacular Symbols of Black Intersex Children in Sinethemba Ngubane's Installations (2007-2016)

Assessing the state of the institutional environment for the innovative development of meso-economic entities

Aim. The presented study aims to develop a methodological approach to assessing the institutional environment for innovation processes in meso-economic entities using a composite index.Tasks. The author comparatively analyzes methodological approaches to assessing the institutional environment for economic and innovation processes in Russia and other countries, identifies their advantages and limitations; determines institutional factors affecting the state of innovation processes in meso-economic entities; develops the structure of the index for assessing the institutional environment for the innovative development of meso-economic entities; substantiates the composition of sub-indices, the integration of which would make it possible to objectively assess the effectiveness of institutions regulating innovation processes.Methods. The author uses the index method of factor analysis, which makes it possible to incorporate the indicators of the state of institutions regulating innovative processes in mesoentities into the composite index. These indicators reflect the effectiveness of national institutions, the institutional impact of social reforms, and the institutional effectiveness of human capital development. The peculiarity of the proposed methodology is that, when calculating the index, indicative indicators of the effectiveness of the institutional environment are brought to a comparable form through percentage normalization relative to the threshold value of the indicator, leading to their further integration with allowance for the equal value of the weighting coefficients of all indicators.Results. The proposed methodology for calculating the composite indicator of the state of the institutional environment for innovation processes is based on the use of official government statistics, which ensures the verifiability and reliability of the obtained results and the possibility of using them in the compilation of ratings of Russian regions by the level of socio-economic and innovative development.Conclusions. The proposed methodology is an elaboration of theoretical ideas about the institutional environment. This methodology complements the analytical tools for its assessment, which can serve as a basis for the development of new and adjustment of the existing measures for regulating innovation processes in the Russian regions.

Overview of Walking Rates, Walking Safety, and Government Policies to Encourage More and Safer Walking in Europe and North America

Walking is the most sustainable means of daily travel for short trip distances and is a key component of the overall transport system. This paper documents variation in walking rates among countries, cities in the same country, and in different parts of the same city. Our international analysis of official government statistics shows that walking rates are highest for short trips, higher for women than for men, decline with increasing income, and remain constant as age increases. Walking fatality rates are much higher in the USA compared with the other countries we examined, both per capita and per km walked. Government policies that would increase walking rates while improving pedestrian safety include: integrated networks of safe and convenient walking infrastructure; roadways and intersections designed for the needs of pedestrians; land-use regulations that encourage mixed uses and short trip distances; lower city-wide speed limits and traffic calming in residential neighborhoods; reduced supply and increased price of parking; traffic laws that give priority to pedestrians; improved traffic education for motorists and non-motorists; tax surcharges on large personal vehicles; and strict enforcement of laws against drink and distracted driving. Five decades of success with these policies in many European cities provide practical examples for car-oriented cities to follow, especially in North America.

A rural revitalization model based on regional livelihood capital: A case study of Diqing, China

Improving livelihood capital is beneficial for implementing China’s rural revitalization strategy (RRS); however, researchers have not focused on the regional attributes of livelihood capital. Thus, this study proposes a new concept of regional livelihood capital to guide RRS implementation. A comprehensive measurement method and official government statistics were used to analyze regional livelihood capital characteristics in Diqing. The results demonstrate that, from 1993 to 2020, Diqing’s regional livelihood capital index increased steadily from 0.058 to 0.356, and its structure continued to diversify; however, its level remains low. The natural capital index fluctuated between 2.044 and 2.284 and always had absolute advantages. The financial capital index increased rapidly from 0.024 to 1.396 and is the core driving force for the growth of regional livelihood capital. The physical capital index increased steadily from 0.056 to 0.456. The growth of the social and human capital index was slow and weak, with an average annual growth rate of only 4.42% and 1.07%, respectively, which represents a weakness in regional livelihood capital. Based on regional livelihood capital characteristics and Diqing’s economic circumstances, a targeted rural revitalization model was developed according to the dynamics of the organic system of regional livelihood capital, in which natural capital is considered the foundation, financial capital is the power, physical capital is the medium, and social capital and human capital are the ultimate goals. The main direction of energy is “natural capital → financial capital → physical, social, and human capital.” Simultaneously, reverse energy feedback should also be emphasized to promote the sustainable operation of this system. This study provides a new theoretical perspective of regional livelihood capital for the implementation of RRS and guidance for the practice of RRS in Diqing and other similar areas.

The Transformation of Inter-Ethnic Conflicts in Uasin Gishu in the Post-Independence Era, 1963-2020

This study investigates the historical context of inter-ethnic conflicts in Uasin Gishu County during the post-colonial period right from 1963 when Kenya attained her independence. This study argues that European colonial land policy laid the groundwork for inter-ethnic strife. The land became heavily politicized during this period, as political elites strategically used it to mobilize their various ethnic groupings, thus stoking ethnic tensions and occasionally culminating in conflicts. The goal of this study was to examine the evolution of inter-ethnic disputes in Uasin Gishu from independence through 2020. The historical approach was used in the study, which drew on both primary and secondary data sources. Annual reports, reports from appointed commissions, interviews, court judgments, and official government statistics were the key sources of data. Furthermore, secondary sources were used in the study. It was shown that tensions in the post-independence era were created by how land distribution was carried out after independence, as well as the politicization of the issue. The immediate post-colonial government failed to properly transfer land to people and instead, the political class took advantage to incite ethnic tensions. Successive governments also failed to resolve historical land concerns, worsening ethnic tensions and resulting in violent clashes in 1992, 1997, and 2007. These conflicts generated far-reaching consequences, affecting individuals not only politically but also socially and economically; as shown in clashes between Kalenjin, the Kikuyu, Luo, Abaluhya, and Abagusii, particularly in 1992 and 2007/2008. The study concludes that all parties, both public and private, should take a holistic approach to addressing historical causes and preventing future disputes.

On the Issue of the Spanish Flu in the First Czechoslovak Republic

The aim of this paper is to summarize the impact of Spanish influenza on the Czechoslovak Republic, examine the spread of Spanish influenza, and analyze its impact on the mortality of the population. The work is based on an analysis of mostly secondary historical sources containing information on the Spanish flu during the Czechoslovak Republic. Although the new Czechoslovak state paid significant attention to the healthcare system from its beginning, official government statistics do not offer enough relevant data to reconstruct the struggle of the healthcare system with the Spanish flu or determine the consequences of this pandemic in terms of population mortality. The expected number of deaths from Spanish influenza in the Czechoslovak Republic can be calculated using mathematical methods and relevant data. The Spanish flu pandemic tested the readiness of hospitals and nursing care to fight infectious disease of the new created state.

Islamic law and investments in children: Evidence from the Sharia introduction in Nigeria

Islamic law lays down detailed rules regulating children’s upbringing. This study examines the effect of such rules on investments in children by analysing the introduction of Sharia law in northern Nigeria. Triple-differences estimates using temporal, geographical and religious variation together with large, representative survey data show decreases in infant mortality. Official government statistics further confirm improvements in survival. Findings also show that Sharia increased vaccination rates, duration of breastfeeding and prenatal health care. Evidence suggests that Sharia improved survival by specifying strict child protection laws and by formalising children’s duty to maintain their parents in old age or in sickness.

Comment on “Big Data in Asian Central Banks”

Comment on “Big Data in Asian Central Banks”

Strengthening Local Governance of Secondary Forest in Peru

Natural forest regrowth is critical for restoring ecosystem services in degraded landscapes and providing forest resources. Those who control tenure and access rights to these secondary forest areas determine who benefits from economically charged off-farm opportunities such as finance for forest restoration, selling carbon credits, and receiving payment for ecosystem services. We explore multiple dimensions of secondary forest governance in Peru, where the lack of official government statistics of the extent, geography, and ownership, coupled with low state capacity, prevents the development of governance structures that could stimulate their sustainable management. In this paper, we review the challenges to secondary forest governance, and the opportunities to strengthen it, focusing on beneficial outcomes for smallholder farmers. We characterize secondary forest types, extent, and persistence in Peru, followed by a presentation of the social dimensions of their governance. We identify four entry points for government to take action: national mapping of the socio-geography of second growth forest, regularize the property rights of untitled landholders, relax forest regulations, and provide incentives, not sanctions, for secondary forest management. Overall, we recommend folding secondary forest governance into a landscape approach. In Peru, strengthening local forest governance could help to drive benefits of climate change mitigation incentives directly to local forest stewards.

Effectiveness of hunting regulations for the conservation of a globally-threatened species: The case of the European turtle-dove in Spain

Wildlife management regulations for exploited species often aim to manipulate harvest levels in order to avoid unsustainable levels of exploitation. For such regulations to be effective the size of the harvest needs to respond to changes in those regulatory measures. The European turtle-dove is a widespread migratory quarry species of conservation concern for which recent levels of hunting in Western Europe are considered unsustainable. We describe temporal and spatial variation in the hunting of this species across Spain, the country with the largest harvest in Europe, after reducing biases inherent in the official Government statistics. We also assess whether changes in hunting policy regulations (the number of permitted hunting days, the start date of the hunting season and daily quotas imposed on hunters) have been effective in limiting the numbers of turtle doves harvested. Official national government harvest statistics under-estimated harvest reported by hunters by an average of 38% during 2007–2009 due to information gaps and underreporting, but this problem subsequently declined and was negligible by 2017. The density of shot birds was highest in the southwest of the country. None of the three regulatory measures had any detectable impact on reported provincial harvest, indicating that the main policy mechanisms employed by the Spanish hunting authorities to manage hunting have been ineffective. Our findings highlight the continued need of accurate measures of harvest and of developing and deploying effective means of managing the harvest of quarry species, especially those with unfavorable conservation status.

Ear and Hearing Care Workforce: Current Status and its Implications

This study aimed to provide comprehensive global evidence on the availability of ear and hearing care (EHC) professionals and real-life examples that showcase the impact of workforce shortages on the workload faced by existing professionals. Six sources of data were used to estimate availability of EHC workforce: a scoping literature review, World Health Organization (WHO) National Health Workforce Accounts platform, WHO Member States survey and regional consultations, hearing care organizations survey, and official government statistics. EHC professionals' workload undertaking common interventions was estimated through the WHO workload indicators of staffing need human resource management tool. With data on otolaryngologists from 138, audiologists from 102, speech and language therapists from 124, and teachers of the deaf from 86 countries, this study revealed large gaps in availability of EHC cadres. The majority of countries in the African region had less than one professional in each cadre per million in comparison with most European countries having up to 50 times higher densities. Workload indicators of staffing need calculations revealed the challenging workload faced by existing EHC professionals, with ratios between existing and required staff of 0.01-0.86. There is an enormous shortage of EHC professionals and urgent actions are needed to ensure sufficient and equitable access to services. Task sharing, a novel approach for improving access to hearing care alongside the development of new cadres, can be a vital strategy in overcoming the shortage of highly qualified providers in many settings, even in well-resourced health systems, to facilitate equitable access to required EHC services.