Official Rate Research Articles

Value creation of straw-based biogas in China

BackgroundValue creation is a common concept in business, and the core purpose of economic activity. “Value creation” of biogas refers to how much biogas value can be created when it is used for different purposes. The fact that 1 m3 of biogas contains enough value as an energy carrier to replace coal, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and natural gas in the power and heat sector, as well as gasoline and diesel as a vehicle fuel, receives too little attention in China. The use of agricultural residues and waste is not only a key element for the reduction of resource demand and climate gas emissions, but also offers the potential for value creation. Biogas provision, which is being promoted more and more in China, could be the key to unlocking this potential.ResultsTo assess the potential of value creation for straw-based biogas in China, we calculated the value created by substituting fossil fuels by biogas in different provinces. Likewise, we calculated the collectable straw potential between 2011 and 2020 by using data regarding methane yield, the official biogas electricity price and rate of subsidy by province, as well as market prices of fossil fuels issued by the National Bureau of Statistics as unit price. Furthermore, the amount of value that 1 m3 methane creates in different applications is compared in Chinese yuan, euro and dollar.ConclusionsThe results showed that value creation for vehicle use is the highest, which reached 5.52/6.57/8.16 yuan/m3 methane (0.789/0.939/1.166 USD/m3) as a gasoline replacement, and 5.17/5.81/7.07 yuan/m3 methane (0.699/0.785/0.955 USD/m3) as a diesel replacement; followed by substitution of natural gas, and LPG; the current most common use, electricity generated by the CHP plant showed a relatively low value, which reached 1.08/1.90 yuan/m3 methane (0.154/0.271 USD/m3); and the heat supply showed the lowest with only 0.56 yuan/m3 methane (0.08 USD/m3). This scientific calculation method of the value of biogas as an energy carrier provides a basis for further development of the biogas industry. This paper initially raises this research question in China.

On the time-frequency effects of macroeconomic policy on growth cycles in Brazil

This paper adds to the literature on the growth cycle in Brazil by addressing instrumentalized co-movements between the quarterly variation of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita versus net debt to GDP, primary balance to GDP, inflation, official interest rate, household, and enterprise credit to GDP from 2004q1 to 2022q4. The authors use wavelet algorithms to process data by decomposing each time series as a wave-shaped function of the position and scale, partial coherency to analyze time-frequency correlation, and partial phase difference and gain to find and measure the lead-lag relationships. Summarizing the short-run main findings, in periods of non-recession, primary balance uses to leads in-phase growth cycles, while inflation and household credit use to lead out-of-phase growth cycles. During recessions, there is a positive role played by the enterprise credit and a negative leadership of interest rates on the growth cycle. According to the results, Brazil could reach a short-run fiscal equilibrium by increasing net domestic debt under control associated with a credible flow of fiscal surplus able to pay the service of the new debt pattern, with lower inflation and interest rates and thus not compromising economic growth.

Illusion of stability: An empirical analysis of inflation data manipulation by russia after 2022

This paper explores the perceived resilience of russia’s economy under severe sanctions, investigating the potential falsification of economic data to demonstrate the growth. The hypothesis is that the relationship between the official inflation rate and the FMCG deflator index during 2019–2021 significantly differs from that of 2022–2024. Statistical methods, such as correlation analysis, Granger causality tests, and differences tests (e.g., t-tests and Wilcoxon tests), are used along with vector autoregressive (VAR) models and robust linear regressions. The study covers the pre-invasion period (2019–2021) and the post-invasion period (2022–2024), focusing on indicators like the official inflation rate, inflation expectations, CPI, and the FMCG deflator index. Findings reveal a shift from a direct to an inverse correlation between official inflation and the FMCG deflator post-2022, suggesting data manipulation. Pre-2022 models predict inflation 2-3 times higher than both post-2022 models and official statistics, raising concerns about the reliability of russia’s economic data. Further research should explore indirect metrics, such as electricity production and cargo shipments, for additional evidence of data falsification. AcknowledgmentsAlex Plastun gratefully acknowledges financial support from the New Europe College (NEC), the Center for Advanced Study, and Sumy State University.Anna Vorontsova gratefully acknowledges financial support from Sumy State University.

Decoding the impact of political uncertainty on IPO underpricing in China

PurposePolitical factors play a crucial role in China's initial public offering (IPO) market due to its distinctive institutional context (i.e. “economic decentralization” and “political centralization”). Given the significant level of IPO underpricing in China, we examine the impact of local political uncertainty (measured by prefecture-level city official turnover rate) on IPO underpricing.Design/methodology/approachUsing 2,259 IPOs of A-share listed companies from 2001 to 2019, we employ a structural equation model (SEM) to examine the channel (voluntarily lower the issuance price vs aftermarket trading) through which political uncertainty affects IPO underpricing. We check the robustness of the results using bootstrap tests, adopting alternative proxies for political uncertainty and IPO underpricing and employing subsample analysis.FindingsLocal official turnover-induced political uncertainty increases IPO underpricing by IPO firms voluntarily reducing the issuance price rather than by affecting investor sentiment in aftermarket trading. These relations are stronger in firms with pre-IPO political connections. The effect of political uncertainty on IPO underpricing is also contingent upon the industry and the growth phase of an IPO firm, more pronounced in politically sensitive industries and firms listed on the growth enterprise market board.Originality/valueLocal government officials in China usually have a short tenure and Chinese firms witness significantly severe IPO underpricing. By introducing the SEM model in studying China IPO underpricing, this study identifies the channel through which local government official turnover to political uncertainty on IPO underpricing.

Measuring Size and Causes of Shadow Economy in Ethiopia

The paper estimates the size of the Shadow Economy (SE) in Ethiopia from 1995 to 2022 and rigorously tests the statistical relationships between the SE and various causal variables. In order to carry out the comprehensive econometric analysis, a multiple indicator multiple causes (MIMIC) model was effectively applied. The main causes of the Ethiopian SE are carefully analyzed, and several economic policies aimed at reducing it are thoughtfully suggested. An appraisal of the reliability of these estimates is conducted, along with an alternative benchmark strategy for the MIMIC approach that was proposed for enhanced accuracy. The findings reveal that the causal variables, including tax burden, inflation rate, trade openness, and economic freedom, significantly influence the shadow economy. Furthermore, it shows that indicator variables, such as currency in circulation and official economic growth rates, significantly indicate the presence and extent of a shadow economy. Thus, based on the insightful findings of the research, the author recommends that the government increase trade relations with the rest of the world and promote greater economic freedom. It also endorses adjusting inflation and tax burdens to effectively minimize the shadow economy in Ethiopia.

Evaluating the effects of geographic adjustments on poverty measures using self‐reported financial well‐being

AbstractA central aspect of poverty measurement is identifying the people and places experiencing financial hardships. This paper explores this relationship using the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Financial Well‐Being Scale, which reflects individuals’ self‐assessments of financial challenges. Using this measure, for every 1 percentage point increase in a state's official poverty rate for working‐age adults, there is a 0.59 percentage point increase in the share with low financial well‐being. In contrast, the supplemental poverty rate is negatively correlated with the financial hardship using the CFPB measure. This reflects the supplemental poverty measure's geographic adjustment shifting poverty towards areas with lower rates of financial hardship.

Employment Discipline And the Threat of Dismissal Asregulators of the Labor Market in Kazakhstan (SDG)

Objective: This study investigates the role of unemployment as a mechanism of labor discipline in Kazakhstan. It analyzes the relationships between the official unemployment rate and the labor legislation reforms regulating labor discipline that have occurred since Kazakhstan gained independence. The manuscript outlines the developmental stages of labor legislation concerning labor discipline. Method: The research is based on a comprehensive analysis of statistical data, legislative acts, and judicial practices in Kazakhstan. Data sources include official statistics on unemployment and labor disputes, an analysis of changes in the Labor Code of Kazakhstan, and a review of judicial decisions related to disciplinary sanctions and dismissals. Results: The study reveals that strengthening disciplinary responsibility and expanding the powers of employers have significantly contributed to the decline in unemployment in Kazakhstan. These results support the hypothesis that strict labor discipline and pressure on employees can positively impact the overall labor market. However, this impact is not isolated but part of a broader set of measures. Contribution: This research provides a detailed comparative analysis of the number of labor disputes and the evolution of Kazakhstan's labor discipline legislation. Key observations include the correlation between stringent disciplinary norms and reduced unemployment, the influence of judicial practices on labor discipline, and the necessity of balancing strict discipline with fair treatment to prevent legal disputes. The findings offer valuable insights for optimizing labor policies to support sustainable labor market development in Kazakhstan. These insights align with the goals of SDG 8, which promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

SME Failures Under Large Liquidity Shocks: an Application to the Covid-19 Crisis

Abstract We study the effects of financial frictions on firm exit when firms face large liquidity shocks. We develop a simple model of firm cost-minimization, where firms’ borrowing capacity to smooth temporary shocks to liquidity is limited. In this framework, firm exit arises from the interaction between this financial friction and fluctuations in cash flow due to aggregate and sectoral changes in demand conditions, as well as more traditional shocks to productivity. To evaluate the implications of our model, we use firm level data on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in 11 European countries. We confirm that our framework is consistent with official failure rates in 2017–2019, a period characterized by standard business cycle fluctuations. To capture a large liquidity shock, we apply our framework to the COVID-19 crisis. We find that, absent government support, SME failure rates would have increased by 6.01 percentage points, putting 3.1% of employment at risk. Our results also show that in the presence of financial frictions and in the absence of government support, the firms failing due to COVID have similar productivity and growth to firms that survive COVID.

Factors Contributing to the Successful Promotion of Persons with Disabilities at Provincial Departments in South Africa

Persons with disability constitute about 15% of the world population, yet the official unemployment rate is at least twice that of persons without disabilities. The ILO reported that persons with disabilities are mostly underemployed in low-wage jobs with a lack of promotions and poor working conditions than their counterparts without disabilities in the workplace. Many studies conducted focus on the factors affecting the employment of persons with disabilities in general and very few on their successful promotion to higher positions. This paper aims to identify the factors contributing to the successful promotion of persons with disabilities at the selected Limpopo Provincial Department in South Africa. The study is exploratory and adopts a qualitative approach. It focuses on the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) where eighteen respondents were purposively sampled, nine persons with different disabilities and nine human resource officials. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide to allow respondents to disclose their thoughts and feelings about promotional experiences. Some interviews were conducted face-to-face and virtually due to time and financial constraints. Data was collected using secondary information such as government policies, reports, prescripts, and publications. Thematic analysis was used, and themes were induced from the interview data. Data was presented in the form of tables and percentages. The study recommends that provincial departments promote a culture of inclusion where persons with disabilities feel valued, respected, and supported in various ways.

Measuring Inflation During the Pandemic with the Benefit of Hindsight

AbstractThis study has adopted the actual household expenditure data from the national accounts to construct a true inflation rate (using the Fisher index) and found that the official inflation rate in the 33 OECD countries was an overestimate of true inflation for 23 and underestimate in 10 countries in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The result obtained for the countries where true inflation was higher than the official rate in this study matches the results obtained by Cavallo (Inflation with covid consumption baskets, 2020) and Reinsdorf (COVID-19 and the CPI: Is inflation underestimated?, 2020). However, a significant difference has been detected for the countries where the official inflation exceeds the true measure in this study. The core reason behind the discrepancies is in the use of appropriate expenditure weights. This suggests caution in using credit-card based expenditure data when spending behaviour has changed dramatically.

Utilising User Data from a Food-Sharing App to Evidence the "Heat-or-Eat" Dilemma

Introduction & BackgroundPrevious literature has found that financially vulnerable households often make involuntary spending trade-offs between necessities, particularly energy and food. This effect is especially pronounced during winter, when homes require greater energy expenditure to maintain an adequate temperature. Despite frequent colloquial and journalistic references to the "heat-or-eat dilemma”, there remains limited recent empirical evidence of this phenomenon in the UK. This is a considerable knowledge gap, given recent economic hardship and rising energy costs. Objectives & ApproachThis study uses survey data (n=2877), collected during winter 2022 in London, UK, to analyse the sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics of respondents affecting self-reported heat-or-eat trade-offs. The survey was deployed via users of the food-sharing app, OLIO, and quota restraints were enforced to ensure the socioeconomic representativeness of the sample (based on Index of Multiple Deprivation). The survey question of interest (i.e., the dependent variable) was ""in the past year, how frequently did your household reduce or forego expenses for basic household necessities, such as medicine or food, in order to pay an energy bill?"" and responses were recorded using a discrete, ordinal scale: never; 1-2 months; some months but not every month; almost every month. Given the nature of the dependent variable, the Random Parameters Ordered Probit (RPOP) model, a statistical modelling framework used in the case of discrete, ordered outcomes, was considered suitable. The RPOP approach allows the effect of various independent variables to be explored, which in this case, are sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics of respondents. Relevance to Digital FootprintsThe relevance to the digital footprints theme is embedded in the study’s aim: to draw insights into social issues through the analysis of sociodemographic and behavioural data retrieved from the users of a mobile app. ResultsInitial results show that a considerable proportion (~37%) of the sample made heat-or-eat trade-offs at least one month of the year. Interestingly, this is several times higher than the official rate of fuel poverty in London (11.9%), suggesting that the government’s fuel poverty metric fails to capture many homes that display signs of energy unaffordability. The RPOP model estimation results show that a broad range of sociodemographic variables (including features of household composition and disability), as well as several behavioural features derived from the respondents’ use of the OLIO app, including the frequency of app usage and food requests, significantly affected the likelihood of heat-or-eat trade-offs. Conclusions & ImplicationsOur results can be used to guide remedial food and fuel poverty policies. It may be particularly useful to focus on the sociodemographic variables that lead to heat-or-eat trade-offs, given that the English fuel poverty metric places arguably unjust focus on a home’s energy efficiency, rather than occupant characteristics.

The invisible problem of early adolescent pregnancy in the Dominican Republic: a descriptive analysis

Study objectivesThe aim of this article is to describe the problem of pregnancy in girls under 15 years of age in the Dominican Republic in the period 2000–2021, to develop a specific indicator for this age group and describing the related factors. MethodsThis is an exploratory ecological study, based on secondary data sources, such as birth records from the National Statistics Office (NSO) and the Ministry of Public Health (MPH). We calculated the rates of fertility and pregnancy in early adolescence, as well as analyzed their main determining factors and consequences. ResultsFertility Rate in Early Adolescence (FREA) decreases from 6.27 to 1.04 per thousand in the period 2001–2021. The average FREA for 2015–2021 was 1.78. The average Estimated Rate of Pregnancy in Early Adolescence (ERPEA) for the same period was 3.39. Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) were 11,620 years. Years of Life Lost (YLL) were 9,665.9 years. The prevalence of Low Birth Weight (LBW) in the under 15-year-old age group was 14.2 %. ConclusionsPregnancy in childhood implies risks for both the mother and the child, including low birth weight. The official fertility rate is substantially underreported (2.84 vs. 1.79).The fertility rate indicator traditionally used does not accurately measure the number of pregnancies in women, particularly in specific age groups or populations where pregnancies may be interrupted by various factors. Therefore, the use of ERPEA is recommended.We emphasize the need for implementing the proposed indicator for the target group, as well as monitoring Sustainable Development Goal indicator 3.7.2.

A cost-benefit analysis of mass prostate cancer screening

BackgroundProstate cancer (PCa) causes a substantial health and financial burden worldwide, underscoring the need for efficient mass screening approaches. This study attempts to evaluate the Net Cost-Benefit Index (NCBI) of PCa screening in Iran to offer insights for informed decision-making and resource allocation.MethodThe Net Cost-Benefit Index (NCBI) was calculated for four age groups (40 years and above) using a decision-analysis model. Two screening strategies, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) solely and PSA with Digital Rectal Examination (DRE), were evaluated from the health system perspective. A retrospective assessment of 1402 prostate cancer (PCa) patients’ profiles were conducted, and direct medical and non-medical costs were calculated based on the 2021 official tariff rates, patient records, and interviews. The monetary value of mass screening was determined through Willingness to Pay (WTP) assessments, which served as a measure for the benefit aspect.ResultThe combined PSA and DRE strategy of screening is cost-effective, yields up to $3 saving in costs per case and emerges as the dominant strategy over PSA alone. Screening for men aged 70 and above does not meet economic justification, indicated by a negative Net Cost-Benefit Index (NCBI). The 40–49 age group exhibits the highest net benefit, $13.81 based on basic information and $13.54 based on comprehensive information. Sensitivity analysis strongly supports the cost-effectiveness of the combined screening approach.ConclusionThis study advocates prostate cancer screening with PSA and DRE, is economically justified for men aged 40–69. The results of the study recommend that policymakers prioritize resource allocation for PCa screening programs based on age and budget constraints. Men’s willingness to pay, especially for the 40–49 age group which had the highest net benefit, leverages their financial participation in screening services. Additionally, screening services for other age groups, such as 50–54 or 55–59, can be provided either for free or at a reduced cost.

Evaluating the Effects of Geographic Adjustments on Poverty Measures Using Self-Reported Financial Well-Being Scores

A central aspect of poverty measurement is how well the measure can identify the people and places that are experiencing financial hardships. This paper explores the relationship between poverty financial hardship by using the CFPB’s financial well-being scale, which reflects individuals’ self-assessments of their financial challenges. Using this measure, for every 1 percentage point increase in a state’s official poverty rate for working-age adults, there is a 0.59 percentage point increase in the share of working-age adults with very low financial well-being. In contrast, the state’s supplemental poverty rate is negatively correlated with the rate of financial hardship using the CFPB measure. This finding is due to the supplemental poverty measure’s geographic adjustment shifting poverty towards areas that have lower rates of self-reported financial hardship.

Determinants of perceived inflation in Algeria: an empirical study

This study aims to assess the determinants of inflation perception in Algeria. A survey of 32 items was held online on February 2022 where respondents were questioned about their perception for the last twelve months as well as their characteristics and behaviour. Collected data has been analysed using two Probit models. The results revealed that perceived inflation is affected by socio-demographic characteristics, especially age and education degree while knowledge about inflation rate doesn’t have a direct effect on it. Psychological factors also play an important role as price decrease awareness contribute to lower perceived inflation while individuals who doesn’t usually buy goods tend to report lower perceived inflation too. Atypical results have been found for consumer behaviour effect, as a more intensive search on internet translates in higher inflation perception while the use of cash card contributes to lower it. Finally, economic condition also plays an important role, as individuals with a kind of financial distress are more likely to report higher perceived inflation. Thus, perceived inflation in Algeria highly differs from official statistical rates due to many factors specific to each individual.

The spread in time and space of COVID-19 pandemic waves: the Italian experience from mortality data analyses.

Italy was the first European country affected by COVID-19. Thanks to governmental containment measures (9 March 2020), the spread of COVID-19 was limited. However, in this context, accurate data assessment is crucial and mortality is a more reliable indicator of the virus spread compared to the count of positive cases. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the impact of the pandemic in different areas of Italy using the time series analysis of official deaths and excess COVID-19 deaths. Mortality data (23 February-30 April 2022) by Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (ISTAT) were analyzed, including four waves of COVID-19. Previous mortality data (January 2015-November 2019) were used to estimate a Poisson regression model of the pre-pandemic mortality pattern and derive the excess COVID-19 deaths as the difference between the actual deaths number and the extrapolation of the previous mortality pattern to the pandemic period, separately for Northern, Central, and Southern Italy, to compare the impact of mortality across time periods and geographical areas. Estimated excess compared with official COVID-19 mortality shows that, during the first wave, there was an underestimation of deaths. COVID-19 mortality rate almost doubled the official rate in the North (1.60‰ vs. 0.86‰) and nearly tripled it in the South (0.22‰ vs. 0.08‰). In late 2020-early 2021, official and estimated mortality curves are closer, displaying just a small gap at the start of the second wave. During the fourth wave (end of 2021-early 2022), Northern and Central Italy show reasonable agreement; the South presents a large relative underestimation of deaths (+90% increase), with a large increase in its excess deaths national quota, 9% in the first wave to 42% in the fourth. The results provide a measure of the COVID-19 excess deaths and an unbiased estimate of Italian mortality rates. In the first wave, the gap between official COVID-19 and excess mortality was particularly high and lockdown measures may have reduced the spread of the infection. In the fourth wave, the gap for the South increases again, probably because the healthcare system may not have coped with the prolonged pressure of the pandemic, or for a decreased compliance with the official paper-based mortality surveillance system that could be overcome in the future by digitalizing the process.

Employment effects of minimum wages in a dual economy: Evidence from Thailand

This study employs both theoretical insights and empirical techniques to investigate the impact of a minimum wage increase on employment when minimum wage coverage is incomplete. Previous empirical studies on this topic have found conflicting results: while some find the share of the covered sector decreases, some find it increases. In the theoretical part, we extended the classic two-sector model and found both scenarios can occur depending on the parameters of the economy. Empirically, using as a natural experiment a novel minimum wage policy in Thailand whereby 40 percent of workers were not covered by the legislation, we found that one percent increase in the minimum wage reduced low-skilled employment in the covered sector by 0.1–1.1 percent and increased employment in the uncovered sector. The official unemployment rate also decreased because the rise in the minimum wage lowered the probability of covered employment to such a large extent that workers instead turned to the uncovered sector.

OP34 Application Of A Case-Mix Analysis In COVID-19 Management At A University Hospital In Malaysia

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected healthcare systems. The most immediate effect was the increased demand for healthcare resources. This study aimed to conduct a case-mix analysis at one of the teaching hospitals in Malaysia to understand the economic implications of the pandemic.MethodsAdmissions related to COVID-19, either as a primary or secondary diagnosis, were extracted and given ICD-10 codes for diagnosis and ICD9-CM codes for procedures. The combined ICD-10 and ICD9-CM codes were imported into a case-mix grouper to generate the case-mix codes. The codes used for COVID-19 were A-4-13-I, A-4-13-II, and A-4-13-III for mild, moderate, and severe disease, respectively. Clinical pathways were collected and healthcare resource utilization was estimated by combining top-down and bottom-up costing approaches. Discounting and inflation were based on guidelines and official rates. The cost data were reported in US dollars (price year 2021).ResultsA total of 4,889 patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis were admitted to the hospital in 2021. Of these, 4,813 patients (98%) had a primary diagnosis of COVID-19. The remaining 76 patients (2%) were admitted for other medical reasons but were found to be positive for SARS-Cov-2 during admission. Therefore, for these patients, infection with the virus was considered a secondary diagnosis during the treatment episode.Among the 4,813 patients, 3,909 (81%) were admitted with mild COVID-19 (A-4-13-I), 630 (13%) had moderate COVID-19 (A-4-13-II), and 274 (6%) had severe disease (A-4-13-III). More than half (56%) of the patients with a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19 were admitted for elective procedures. The average length of hospital stay (LOS) for mild disease was 9 days, with cumulative hospital costs of USD1,543. The average LOS for both moderate and severe disease was 21 days, and the cumulative hospital costs were USD23,527 and USD26,731 respectively. The total costs incurred for COVID-19 were estimated at USD19,259,153.ConclusionsCOVID-19 has considerable economic implications. This study provided information as part of a health technology assessment in the hospital to inform evidence-based healthcare decisions.

Cost-per-responder analysis for eltrombopag and rituximab in the treatment of primary immune thrombocytopenia in Spain

ObjectiveSplenectomy, thrombopoietin receptor agonists and rituximab are the second-line treatments for steroid-resistant adult primary immune thrombocytopenia. The last two are becoming the most widely used treatments to avoid splenectomy adverse effects and inconveniences. However, the choice between rituximab and thrombopoietin receptor agonists is unclear. Therefore, the treatment cost may be of particular interest to prioritize the therapy option. Our aim is to determine the cost per responding-patient after 6 months of use of rituximab compared to thrombopoietin receptor agonists eltrombopag in the treatment of chronic primary immune thrombocytopenia in the Spanish National Health Service. MethodA 26-week decision tree model was developed to assess the cost of treatment response of adult patients with chronic-refractory primary immune thrombocytopenia to eltrombopag and rituximab from the perspective of the Spanish National Health System. Effectiveness was obtained from the literature, and cost was obtained from the official rates. Costs were expressed in € (2018). Due to the short period of assessment, no discount rate was applied. ResultsThe average cost per patient after 6 months of treatment was slightly higher for eltrombopag (€13,089.40) than for rituximab (€11,852.60). However, the greater response rate of eltrombopag decreases the bleeding costs, resulting in a 29% higher cost per responding-patient with rituximab (€18,964.15) than for eltrombopag (€14,732.65). This result is consistent with the results of the 15 sensitivity analyses carried out where eltrombopag always represents a lower cost per responding patient, except in the sensitivity analysis in which treatment with eltrombopag is performed at its maximum dose (75mg). Only in this case, the cost per responder of eltrombopag is €48 more expensive than that of rituximab. Likewise, the greatest difference in favor of eltrombopag occurs in the scenario that uses the minimum dose of this drug —25mg— (eltrombopag €7,622.14 compared to €18,964.15 for rituximab). Thus, the cost per responding patient is lower in eltrombopag even if a second cycle of retreatment with rituximab is not performed (€14,732.65 versus €15,298.61). ConclusionsThe treatment cost of rituximab, including monitoring and bleeding costs, is higher than eltrombopag, favoring the latter over rituximab treatment.

Features of Transformation Business Demographies of Enterprises in the Modern Economic Space of Russia

The demography of enterprises (or business demography) is a fairly new scientific direction for foreign and especially Russian economic science. The purpose of the study is to assess demographic business trends in the federal districts of the Russian Federation in 2017-2022. in the context of economic sanctions, the COVID-19 pandemic, NWO in Ukraine. The main trends in the entry and exit of enterprises from the market are identified, the birth rates and official liquidation rates are calculated on average over a 6-year period for all federal districts of the Russian Federation. The authors prove that the demography of enterprises is becoming one of the most important markers of the development of countries and regions. As a result of the study, it was concluded that regional features of the entry and exit of enterprises from the market remain and are largely predetermined by the existing economic potential and structure of the economy of individual subjects of the Russian Federation. The given information and analytical materials are useful in developing measures to improve the effectiveness of managerial decisions in order to increase the mobility of the economy of the country and individual regions, taking into account their territorial identity. Taking into account the identified features of the transformation of the business demography of enterprises across the country will be relevant when developing strategies for the socio-economic development of regions in the context of overcoming the consequences of sanctions.