Organization For Economic Cooperation Research Articles

IRGWP: An international network of key players for a better understanding and industrial developments in wood protection and preservation

IRGWP: An international network of key players for a better understanding and industrial developments in wood protection and preservation

Innovation Policy in OECD Activities: A Historical Reconstruction on Neo-Gramscian Foundations

The article offers a historical analysis of the formation and development of the concept of “innovation” in the discourse of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The theoretical and methodological foundation of the analysis is based on contemporary international political economy, which posits the necessity of considering international institutions as expressions of certain group interests. A characteristic feature of this approach is its reliance on the views of A. Gramsci, who argued that contrary to the original tenets of historical materialism, social processes do not arise as a direct realization of the interests of the ruling class but reflect compromises reached between it and other groups in society. Accordingly, examining the development of ideas about innovation from this perspective demonstrates that this process operates as a reflection of the converging interests of the scientific community, financial capital, and the electronics industry, forming a “historic bloc” that holds a stable position in Western society. Taking OECD documents as the subject of research, which acts as an influential center for policy development with characteristic features of both a political and scientific organization, allows for discerning traces of the historical bloc’s construction and its ideological shaping within these documents. The article traces the prehistory of the emergence of this bloc, the formation of compromises that bind its participants, and the construction of innovation policy as a way to express interests that have come to the forefront as a result of these compromises.

Changes in agricultural nitrogen (N) balance of OECD countries and its causes and impacts

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) developed soil surface nutrient balance and made it mandatory for member countries to report annual nutrient budgets since 1990. This study aimed to evaluate the status of nitrogen (N) management in member countries and to figure out why N surplus levels differ across countries and how they relate to other agri-environmental indicators, by analyzing the N budgets from 35 OECD countries over the last 30 years. Of the three factors determining N balance (agricultural land area, N input, and N output), agricultural land area decreased in most OECD countries, negatively affecting N balance reduction. However, OECD's average N balance highly decreased from 91 to 46 kg ha−1 over the last 30 years due to the decrease in N input through inorganic fertilizers and manure, especially in EU countries with high N input levels, while N output did not meaningfully change. In comparison, in Japan and Korea, the N balance slightly increased and they became the highest N balance country recently. A higher N balance led to lower N use efficiency and higher ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission intensities. More densely populated countries with smaller agricultural land per capita (ranging from 0.03 to 0.47 ha capita−1) showed a higher N balance (228–80 kg ha−1), presumably due to higher N input for more agricultural production on limited land. The most densely populated countries among OECD members (Belgium, the Netherlands, Korea, and Japan) had similar N input levels. However, two EU countries had much higher N output than two Asian countries due to higher pasture production, which led to a lower N balance and higher N use efficiency. Therefore, highly populated countries with small arable land areas per capita might need multilateral efforts to alleviate agricultural N balance.

Optimization of algorithms for in vivo preclinical screening of compounds with an alleged antitumor effect

BACKGROUND: Despite a large number of publications on preclinical studies of compounds with a suspected antitumor effect on in silico and in vitro models, in vivo studies are the most informative. The experimental part of the work on laboratory animals has its own peculiarities in the field of preclinical research: a large number of animals and analog compounds in the series, two- and three-phase staging, and, consequently, high cost and labor-intensive execution.
 AIM: Optimization of algorithms for screening preclinical in vivo studies of compounds with a suspected antitumor effect.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: To form the algorithm in the preclinical study, primary data was obtained using standard pharmacological (determination of the toxicity class index, antitumor and antimetastatic activity, inhibition of tumor growth by weight, average life expectancy of animals) and morphological (autopsy, micropreparations with hematoxylin and eosin staining, as well as immunohistochemical study using monoclonal antibodies) methods with the selection of leading compounds for in-depth study with a description of the mechanism of pharmacological activity.
 RESULTS: Based on a series of comparative experiments, the following algorithm of preclinical in vivo study for newly synthesized compounds with an alleged antitumor effect has been tested.
 Stage 1. Determination of the toxicity class with a single intragastric administration to Wistar rats according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development 420 protocol and selection of candidates for antitumor drugs according to the principle of the greatest safety of use.
 Stage 2. Determination of the presence/absence of pharmacological activity of the tested compounds. Compounds of toxicity classes IV and V (according to the Globally Harmonized System of Hazard Classification and Labeling of Chemical Products) in a wide range of doses (doses are selected depending on the toxicity class) are examined for pharmacological activity before the natural death of tumor-bearing animals with the identification of leader substances, in-depth study of which is appropriate. The selection of promising substances and total doses for administration at the next stage is determined by the life expectancy of tumor-bearing animals.
 Stage 3. Determination of indicators of antitumor and antimetastatic activity of leader substances with a fixed euthanasia period for all tumor-bearing animals and determination of possible mechanisms for the implementation of the therapeutic effect using immunohistochemical analysis.
 Stage 4. To study the effect of the tested compounds on the growth rates of the primary tumor node and metastatic foci at different stages of the development of the tumor process, when administered in different modes, as part of combined and monochemotherapy, with mandatory clarification of the mechanisms for the implementation of antitumor and antimetastatic activity using biochemical and immunohistochemical techniques.
 Stage 5. The study of the most promising compounds according to the guidelines for preclinical safety studies for the purpose of clinical trials and registration of medicines (the document was approved by the decision of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission of November 26, 2019, N 202): «Toxicity studies with repeated (multiple) administration of the drug, preclinical studies conducted in order to justify the conduct of exploratory clinical studies, studies of local tolerability of the drug, studies of genotoxicity of the drug, carcinogenicity of the drug, etc.»
 CONCLUSIONS: The step-by-step exclusion of the tested compounds from the line of similarly-structured substances described by us will increase the efficiency of selecting promising candidates for antitumor drugs and reduce the cost of conducting preclinical studies of compounds with an alleged antitumor effect.

Methodology for Assessing the Global Aggregate Demand for Digital Resources and Its Growth Rate Based on the Intersectoral Balance Model

The article reveals the relevance of scientific research due to the need to develop a methodology for assessing the development of the global digital resources market in order to substantiate the digital development of the Republic of Belarus in modern conditions. Methodological foundations for the formation and development of the global digital resources market are proposed, a new economic concept “Global Aggregate Demand for Digital Resources” is introduced. Based on the intersectoral balance model, a methodology has been developed, indicators and formulas have been proposed for calculating the global aggregate demand for digital resources and its growth rate. The methodology was tested using the dynamic series of the proposed economic indicators based on empirical data from the intersectoral balances of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries and the Republic of Belarus.

The cerium oxide nanoparticles toxicity induced physiological, histological and biochemical alterations in freshwater mussels, Unio crassus

IntroductionReleasing of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nano-CeO2) to the nature has increased due to the widespread use in many fields ranging from cosmetics to the food industry. Therefore, nano-CeO2 has been included in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) priority list for engineering nanomaterials. In this study, the effects of nano-CeO2 on the freshwater mussels were investigated to reveal the impact on the freshwater systems on model organism. MethodsFirst, the chemical and structural properties of nano-CeO2 were characterized in details. Second, the freshwater mussels were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of nano-CeO2 as 10 mg, 25 mg and 50 mg/L during 48-h and 7-d. Third, after the exposure periods, hemolymph and tissue samples were taken to analyse the Total Hemocyte Counts (THCs) histology and oxidative stress parameters (total antioxidant status, glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase, and advanced oxidative protein products). ResultsSignificant decrease of the THCs was observed in the nano-CeO2 exposed mussels compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The histological results showed a positive association between nano-CeO2 exposure concentration in the water and level of tissue damage and histopathological alterations were detected in the gill and the digestive gland tissues. Oxidative stress parameters were slightly affected after exposure to nano-CeO2 (P > 0.05). In conclusion, this study showed that acute exposure of freshwater mussels to nano-CeO2 did not pose significant biological risk. However, it has been proven that mussels are able to accumulate nano-CeO2 significantly in their bodies. ConclusionThis suggests that nano-CeO2 may be a potential risk to other organisms in the ecosystem through trophic transfer in the food-web based on their habitat and niche in the ecosystem.

A Novel Transgenic Model to Study Thyroid Axis Activity in Early Life Stage Medaka.

Identifying endocrine disrupting chemicals in order to limit their usage is a priority and required according to the European Regulation. There are no Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guidelines based on fish available for the detection of Thyroid axis Active Chemicals (TACs). This study aimed to fill this gap by developing an assay at eleuthero-embryonic life stages in a novel medaka (Oryzias latipes) transgenic line. This transgenic line expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) in thyrocytes, under the control of the medaka thyroglobulin gene promoter. The fluorescence expressed in the thyrocytes is inversely proportional to the thyroid axis activity. When exposed for 72 h to activators (triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)) or inhibitors (6-N-propylthiouracil (PTU), Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)) of the thyroid axis, the thyrocytes can change their size and express lower or higher levels of fluorescence, respectively. This reflects the regulation of thyroglobulin by the negative feedback loop of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid axis. T3, T4, PTU, and TBBPA induced fluorescence changes with the lowest observable effect concentrations (LOECs) of 5 μg/L, 1 μg/L, 8 mg/L, and 5 mg/L, respectively. This promising tool could be used as a rapid screening assay and also to help decipher the mechanisms by which TACs can disrupt the thyroid axis in medaka.

The Implementation Of Two Stays Two Strays Strategy To Improve Students’ Economic Literacy In Class X-10 MAN 1 Pasuruan

In response to the results of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2019, that Indonesia ranks 62nd out of the 70 lowest countries with low literacy levels, the government is very concerned about launching the School Literacy Movement (GLS). This Classroom Action Research (CAR) was carried out as an effort to improve the literacy skills of students in class X-10 MAN 1 Pasuruan in the even semester of the 2022-2023 school year. The formulation of the problem is (1) how is the implementation of the Two Stays Two Strays (TSTS) strategy to increase the literacy skills of Business Entities in the Economy subject at class X-10 MAN 1 Pasuruan? and (2) to what extent can the TSTS strategy increase the literacy skills of Business Entities in the Economy subject at class X-10 MAN 1 Pasuruan? Based on the results of the implementation of cycle 1 and cycle 2, the researcher concluded; first, the implementation of the TSTS strategy in class X-10 MAN 1 Pasuruan can be fully (100%) implemented according to the guidelines in the literature review. Second, the implementation of the TSTS strategy can significantly improve the literacy skills of students in class X-10 MAN 1 Pasuruan both in cognitive and psychomotor aspects. In the cognitive aspect there was a very significant increase from cycle 1 to cycle 2. The same thing also happened in the psychomotor aspect. Thus, the second and third indicators of success where the mean score of X-10 class on the cognitive and psychomotor aspects of &gt; 80% is well fulfilled. Suggestions for further research, first, the TSTS strategy is very appropriate to choose in the teaching and learning process of economics and other subjects that have a large amount of material, because this strategy is able to improve students' literacy skills so that they master the subject well. Second, for future researchers it is recommended to combine it with other strategies in order to obtain a more optimal increase in literacy.

Potency classification of isothiazolinone compounds based on defined approaches of skin sensitization in OECD GL 497.

Regulatory decisions for skin sensitization are now based on adverse outcome pathway (AOP) and integrated approaches to testing and assessment (IATA). Based on these, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines on defined approaches for skin sensitization were adopted with a fixed data interpretation procedure (DIP). In the guidelines, "Defined Approaches" (DA) on skin sensitization uses the results from multiple information sources of in chemico, in vitro, and in silico data to achieve an equivalent predictive capacity as those of the animal tests. In this review, we evaluated the skin sensitization of eleven isothiazolinone compounds including 4,5-Dichloro-2-octyl-3(2H)-isothiazolone (DCOIT), 2-n-Octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (OIT), 2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MIT), 1,2-Benzisothiazolin-3-one (BIT), 1,2-Benzisothiazolin-3-one, 2-butyl (BBIT), 5-Chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (CMIT), 2-methyl-4,5-trimethylene-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MTMIT), 2-methyl-1,2-benzothiazol-3-one (MBIT), 2-methyl-1,2-benzothiazole-3-thione (MBIT-S), 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-, 1,1-dioxide (BBIT-O), and a mixture of CMIT/MIT. Data from direct peptide reactivity assay (DPRA), human cell line activation (h-CLAT) test, and quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) Toolbox were evaluated and were applied to the DIP to derive a prediction of hazard identification and a potency classification. Among the evaluated chemicals, six isothiazolinone compounds were classified to be UN GHS 1A, one compound to be UN GHS 1, and four compounds could not be classified due to lack of data. The results of sensitizer chemicals were found to coincide well with those of in vivo test.

Financial development, resource richness, eco-innovation, and sustainable development: Does geopolitical risk matter?

Financial development and geopolitical risks can significantly affect sustainable development. However, the roles of these factors in sustainable development are rarely investigated. Thus, this study takes into account the role of geopolitical risk while exploring the effects of financial development, natural resource rents, and eco-innovation on sustainable development in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. To this end, yearly data from 1990 to 2019 is analyzed using advanced econometric tests. The Common Correlated Effects Mean Group (CCEMG) results indicate that financial development and eco-innovation are significantly and positively related to sustainable development. Natural resource rents have a detrimental impact on sustainable development which confirms the presence of the resource curse hypothesis in OECD countries. Furthermore, the results revealed that controlling geopolitical risk is useful in fostering sustainable development. Lastly, the panel Granger causality test unveiled one-way causality from financial development, eco-innovation, natural resource rents, and geopolitical risk to sustainable development. Moreover, causalities are found from geopolitical risk to financial development, eco-innovation and natural resources. These findings suggest that OECD countries should prioritize financial development and eco-innovation policies for sustainable development while mitigating the negative effects of natural resource rents. The geopolitical risk can harm sustainable development, so policymakers should promote international cooperation and risk-sharing.

Interdependencies between international innovation partnerships: the case of Central and Eastern Europe

Purpose Competitively multipolar international system demands bilateral and multilateral partnerships. Joint innovation signals close partnerships. Regional proximity of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) to the European Union (EU) defines its research and development objectives. These objectives are additionally subjected to the USA’s geopolitical strategy in this geographical area. Hence, CEE’s limited resources require limited resources make international innovation cooperation. This paper aims to analyse whether and how CEE countries make international innovation cooperation decisions. Design/methodology/approach This paper used Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) database of total patent applications filed to the patent cooperation treaty (PCT) with co-applicants from abroad, where co-patents with at least one foreign inventor present a measure of international innovation partnership. A vector autoregression analysis and impulse response function were used to analyse international innovation partnership choices of eight CEE OECD countries for the period 1990–2018. Findings Innovation with the EU is of collaborative nature, commonly displaying complementary properties with the rest of the examined innovation partners, while co-patenting with the Russia and China act as substitutes or complements. Co-patenting with Russia is the most versatile, displaying both properties of collaboration and competition. Some countries exhibit complementarity in co-patenting activities with multiple partners. The significance levels of these relationships vary, indicating varying degrees of impact. Overall, these findings highlight the complex dynamics of co-patenting activities and the influence of different partners on countries’ collaborative innovation strategies. Research limitations/implications In addition to significant relationships, insignificant relationships as well as those that could bring about greater synergy are flagged in the paper. Those relationships portray possible direction into which national funds could be channelled to incite cooperation between different sectors and countries, especially as innovation partnerships are not always successful and require a long time period to materialise. Originality/value By examining bilateral innovation partnerships, this study provides an insight into the strategic political and economic spheres of influence in the CEE region.

Assessment of the Role of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) In Global Governance: Developing Country's Perspectives

In the world of today, both developed, developing, and underdeveloped countries have realized that they cannot achieve much on their own, hence the need for partnership or collaboration with other countries to achieve set goals. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental economic organisation in which member countries discuss and develop key policy recommendations that often serve as the basis for international standards and practice. The paper will assess the role of the organisation and its impact on global governance. The research is doctrinal and makes use of primary and secondary sources of materials, such as journals, books, and internet materials to x-ray the organisation’s history and development from inception, its roles, and powers etcetera. The paper also considers the challenges faced by the organisation in the discharge of its functions, as well as examines how the organisations’ global governance affects the economy of countries and draws lessons that can positively impact the economy of countries. The paper concludes with some recommendations.

How does age and gender of the employees influence human resource practices–employee competencies relationship?

PurposeApplying resource-based view and the configurational approach theory, this study seeks to understand the moderating role of age and gender between human resource practices and employee competencies relationship.Design/methodology/approach43 food processing firms of India participated in the study. Applying multilevel approach, the responses of 295 human resource managers and 3,557 employees were used for the analysis.FindingsThe human resource practices–employee competencies relationship was stronger in the case of young employees. Furthermore, the relationship was better in case of male employees over female employees. The results urge for greater attention toward age and gender diversity issues while tailoring human resource practices for enhancing employee skills. This article contributes the human resource management literature by exploring the role of age and gender, which has been used as the control variables as the moderating variables for governing the human resource practices–employee competencies relationship.Practical implicationsSpecial focus can be placed on extensive custom in-house training and development activities. Proper division of work can be done for new employees and experienced employees depending upon their learning capabilities. The firms can do so by either implementing formal or informal organizational structures to achieve full gains. Firms should focus largely on narrowing the development practices adopted for diverse age groups of workforce population. The four practices proposed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (2006) for ensuring effectiveness of development practices and its impact on old age employee effectiveness and attitude should be put in practice.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in its exploration of the intricate interplay among age, gender and human resource practices in shaping employee competencies. By understanding how these factors interact within the human resource practices–employee competencies framework, this research offers a unique perspective on the evolving workforce dynamics. It goes beyond the conventional human resource management strategies to uncover nuanced insights, shedding light on tailored approaches that consider the specific needs and aspirations of diverse employees. This innovative perspective contributes to a more inclusive, efficient and adaptable work environment, enriching both the academic understanding of human resources and the practical implementation of strategies for contemporary organizations.

МЕТОДОЛОГІЧНІ ПІДХОДИ ДО ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ ЕКОНОМІЧНОЇ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ ПРАВА НЕПЛАТОСПРОМОЖНОСТІ

Insolvency law is an essential part of the legal system in any country. It serves a dual function – restoring the solvency of debtors and removing inefficient economic entities from the market. The effectiveness of insolvency law has a direct impact on a country's investment attractiveness and economic growth. This is why international economic organizations conduct assessments of national insolvency mechanisms using various approaches to define and evaluate effectiveness criteria. Despite the existence of an insolvency indicator developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the international Doing Business ranking by the World Bank became a catalyst for bankruptcy legislation reform in Ukraine in 2021. It is worth noting that each approach to evaluating the effectiveness of this area of law has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of accuracy and objectivity. The final assessments may be distorted due to biases of the compilers, which led to the cancellation of the Doing Business ranking in 2021. For Ukraine, the assessment of the effectiveness of insolvency legislation is crucial, given the importance of this institution in ensuring economic efficiency during both wartime and peacetime. It helps identify directions for improving legal regulation, including aligning Ukrainian legislation with European Union standards. This highlights the need to develop specific criteria for evaluating the practicality of legislative changes to enhance the efficiency when applied to all participants in the insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings. It should stimulate economic growth and harmonize Ukrainian legislation with European Union standards. This research analyzes various aspects of the effectiveness of insolvency legal mechanisms in Ukraine using the methodology of economic analysis of law, which has received insufficient attention in empirical studies and legislative work in Ukraine until now. The research findings will be a significant contribution to promoting effective regulation of debtor solvency restoration and preventing bankruptcy. They will also stimulate economic growth and harmonize Ukrainian legislation with European Union standards. Through the lens of interdisciplinary approaches to evaluating the effectiveness of insolvency law in Ukraine, the study proposes seven indicators for determining the economic efficiency of Ukrainian insolvency law: 1) Funds Recovery Ratio; 2) Case Processing Time; 3) Solvency Restoration Index; 4) Bankruptcy (Insolvency) Case Quantity Dynamics Index; 5) Business Climate Index; 6) Insolvency Policy Index for SMEs; 7) Legal Application Predictability Index. The proposed methodological approach allows for the assessment of the result of the formation and implementation of the state insolvency policy.

Construction of an adverse outcome pathway framework based on integrated data to evaluate arsenic-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Arsenic is a recognized environmental pollutant naturally occurring in aquifers through geological processes. Toxicological studies have revealed that liver is the main target organ harmed by arsenic exposure. However, systematic studies of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are not comprehensive, and information regarding threats and risk assessment remains insufficient. This research aimed to examine the association between arsenic exposure and NAFLD and uncover the role of molecular initiating events and key events in disease development using the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP). Data from 8,104 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to explore the relationship between urinary arsenic and NAFLD. In a logistic regression model, urinary inorganic arsenic levels positively correlated with NAFLD (odds ratio = 1.12, 95 % confidence interval = 1.07–1.16). Subsequently, to gain a deeper understanding of arsenic-induced NAFLD, an AOP framework was constructed, revealing that arsenic exposure led to elevate levels of TNF-α, which regulated the NF-κB pathway and led to hepatic lipid deposition, causing NAFLD. This AOP was assessed as “high” according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development users’ handbook, and in vitro and in vivo models validated the AOP framework. In summary, this study highlights the potential mechanisms of arsenic-induced NAFLD. We combined the AOP with classical toxicological approaches with a view of establishing, rapidly and accurately, the lowest level at which environmental arsenic exposure can have adverse effects on the body, thereby contributing to risk assessment strategies for arsenic exposure through iterative and animal modeling at the population level.

In Vitro and Anti-Inflammatory Activity Evaluation Nanofibers from a Breath Mask and Filter Based on Polyurethane and Polyvinylidene Fluoride.

Nanofiber (NF) products exhibit outstanding performances in materials science, textiles, and medicine that cannot be realized using conventional technologies. However, the safety of such products is debated because of the potential health risks that nanomaterials pose and the lack of standardized guidelines for the safety evaluation of NF products. The global safety evaluations of nanomaterials have focused on evaluating the cytotoxicity of low-dimensional materials, including nanoparticles and nanotubes, based on OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) criteria. NFs are one-dimensional materials with nanometer diameters and considerable lengths. Many fibers are applied in a densely woven web-like form, so assessing cellular penetration and fiber toxicity using the same methods is inappropriate. This study verifies the safety of the polyurethane (PU) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymers currently applied in filters and masks. To this end, polymer NFs were collected from each product, and the NFs were compared with reference samples using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. For the safety evaluation, DMSO stocks of varying concentrations of PVDF and PU NFs (at 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 μg/mL) were prepared. The cytotoxicity and inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production and protein expression obtained via Western blot were identified.

Territorial Development: A Bibliometric Analysis of Scientific Production Through RStudio® and VOSviewer® (2013-2022)

Objective: Carry out a bibliometric study of scientific production on Territorial Development, in the Web of Science database, in the period from 2013 to 2022, using RStudio® and VOSviewer® software. Theoretical framework: Relies on the literature on Territorial Development and its current context. Method: This research is classified as descriptive and quantitative. Data were collected from the Web of Science database by accessing the Journal Portal of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, with a time frame between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2022. They were used for data analysis. RStudio® and VOSviewer® software and bibliometric packages Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny. Results and conclusion: 422 documents were identified, with the largest scientific productions on the subject coming from Ukraine, Brazil, Spain, France and Russia. In 2022, it was the year with the most publications, followed by 2020. The most cited sources are: Regional Studies followed by Journal of Rural Studies. The main co-occurrences of keywords are: territorial development, governance, sustainable development, territory and rural development. With regard to co-authorship between countries, there is a prevalence of Spain, Brazil and France. The most relevant authors on the subject are: Mamonov K.; Medeiros E.; and Torre A. With regard to co-citation between authors, there was a prevalence of(e): European Commission; Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development; Torre, A.; Medeiros, E.; and Camagni, E. As for the most cited studies globally in the last ten years at the international level, there are: Mundler, P. (2016); Halbert, L. (2014); and Mordvinov, O. (2021). Finally, it is concluded that this study aims to improve the knowledge base on Territorial Development and the related field of studies. Search Implications: The main limitation of this search is that it was restricted to the Web of Science, where most of the documents were articles. Therefore, it would be interesting to consider a broader line of research that includes other databases, such as Scopus or Google Scholar, in addition to other types of publications, such as books or conference proceedings. Originality/Value: This study aims to improve the knowledge base on Territorial Development and the related field of studies.

South Korea's Medical Tourism Competitiveness and Future Strategy: Focused on Cancer Treatment: A Review.

Medical tourism is a leading industry of South Korea. Since the transition from the latest health pandemic to endemic, foreign patients have been on a rapid increase. The Korean government regards medical tourism as a major national industry and pursues medical, legal, and policy strategies with the goal of attracting 700,000 foreign patients by 2027. Examining objective data and statistics as well as academic articles, we investigated the strengths and advantages, which might persuade foreign medical tourists to visit South Korea by performing a comparative analysis with high-income or medically advanced countries among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and other competing Asian countries. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Compared with other advanced countries and Asian competitors in cancer treatment, South Korea shows excellent result of major cancers treatments, accessibility to hospitals and medical professionals, and competitiveness in terms of surgery and treatment costs. South Korea has excellent competitiveness both in price and in cancer treatment with the outstanding results of cancer mortality rates and 5-year survival rates. The achievement of Korea's cancer treatments is due to accurate diagnosis with the advantage of PET-CT, 64-sllice CT, 3.0 TESLA MRI, etc., and the use of cutting-edge equipment, such as CyberKnife and Da Vince robotic surgery. Besides, the Korean central and local governments actively support for the promotion of Korea's medical tourism industry, such as issuance of visas for foreigners, the hospital certification system, and medical tourism convergence cluster project.

Decentralisation, unfunded mandates and the regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a surge in the number and scope of governmental interventions in both centralised and decentralised states. While decentralisation theories and recent empirical studies suggest that highly decentralised systems are more resilient to shocks and cope better with adversity, other research presents inconclusive or even contradictory findings. Yet, little is still known about how decentralised governments coped with the COVID-19 health emergency. Using an original dataset of 445 regions across 26 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries for 2020 and 2021, this article finds that excess mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic are not connected to the degree of fiscal and political decentralisation, but rather tied to the mismatch between the two dimensions, also known as unfunded mandates. Large unfunded mandates are positively associated with higher excess mortality rates during COVID-19. Fiscal and political decentralisation, by contrast, become statistically insignificant when unfunded mandates are considered. Hence, better – not more – decentralisation is needed as unfunded mandates represented a threat to the capacity of subnational authorities to address the COVID-19 emergency. In emergency situations, the dysfunctionality caused by unfunded mandates undermines the effectiveness of the response of the relevant public authorities to pressing challenges.

Science, technology, and innovation: the next frontier in Asia-Pacific’s legal framework

ABSTRACT The pivotal role of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in the global economic framework has brought the Asia-Pacific region into sharp focus, given its unique blend of burgeoning and mature economies. Historically, International Investment Agreements (IIAs) were designed to protect investors, but the rapid ascendancy of STI necessitates a recalibration of these accords. This article embarks on a detailed comparative analysis of IIAs in the Asia-Pacific, exploring the nuances of STI provisions therein. While some IIAs incorporate STI considerations, a holistic integration remains noticeably lacking. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development provides frameworks to quantify technological capabilities, emphasizing the transition to a ‘knowledge economy’. Meanwhile, Intellectual Property Rights emerge with dual roles: fostering innovation while potentially hindering technological proliferation. The discussion delves into the necessity for IIAs, especially Bilateral Investment Treaties, and Free Trade Agreements, to fully embrace STI for maximizing global investment potential. The article's structure sequentially examines the ‘New Economy’, typologies of STI in IIAs, and the need for their incorporation, concluding with insights on the challenges and prospects of such integration.