Organization For Economic Cooperation Research Articles

Assessing Safety Concerns in Omeprazole Use: An Observational Study of Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions and Patient Adherence in a Spanish Community Pharmacy

Introduction: Omeprazole is commonly prescribed for conditions associated with excess gastric acid, including gastroesophageal reflux and Helicobacter pylori infection. Spain ranks highest among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in omeprazole consumption (measured in doses per 1000 inhabitants per day, DHD), indicating potential overuse and misuse. Community pharmacists are pivotal in collaborating with healthcare professionals to address safety risks and improve patient outcomes. Objective: This study aims to profile omeprazole users to inform pharmaceutical care (PC) strategies that address patient-specific needs and improve treatment safety. Methods: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study (CEIm Code FCF-OME-2023-01) involving 100 omeprazole users at a community pharmacy in Barcelona from November 2023 to May 2024. Data were collected via clinical interviews using a Data Collection Questionnaire. Results: Among the omeprazole users, 49% were male, 51% female, and 56% were over the age of 65. A significant proportion (71%) exhibited long-term omeprazole use, and 30% were polymedicated (taking five or more medications). Notably, 52% of patients reported no history of gastric symptoms. Additionally, 22% reported using omeprazole occasionally, following short-term, on-demand treatment regimens, while 78% adhered to a chronic daily dosing schedule. Among these patients, 29.5% demonstrated poor treatment adherence. The analysis of medication-related problems (MRPs) among the 78 patients using omeprazole daily and chronically revealed that the most prevalent MRPs were “unnecessary medication”, “lack of adherence”, “wrong administration”, “drug interactions”, and “lack of knowledge regarding medication use”. Based on STOPP criteria, 45% of users were candidates for deprescribing or dose adjustment. Conclusions: The high incidence of MRPs among omeprazole users highlights the need for enhanced pharmaceutical care (PC). Proactive pharmacist interventions, including deprescribing, dose adjustments, and prescriber collaboration, can reduce adverse medication outcomes and promote safer omeprazole use.

An Overview on the Role of Government Initiatives in Nanotechnology Innovation for Sustainable Economic Development and Research Progress

Nanoparticle technology has emerged as a fundamental component across various industries, including electronics, renewable energy, textiles, and medical biotechnology, particularly for targeted drug delivery applications. Commercialization has profoundly impacted economic growth, especially in the pharmaceutical and electronics industries. Moreover, it has improved workforce education and training, generating millions of employment prospects associated with nanotechnology development. By 2024, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development anticipates that the global market for nanotechnology products will attain a value of United States Dollar (USD) 1 trillion to USD 3 trillion, resulting in the creation of over 2 million new employments globally. The swift progression of nanoparticle technology from 2000 to 2024 is primarily propelled by substantial industrial investment in research and development, alongside collaborations with academic institutions. The National Nanotechnology Initiative in the United States (US) has significantly contributed to these developments, with federal funding exceeding USD 30 billion by 2024 since its establishment in 2001. This funding has catalyzed significant advancements in both commercial and research applications of nanotechnology. Patent data highlights this expansion, with China establishing itself as the preeminent nation in nanotechnology patents. From 2000 to 2024, China steadily raised its proportion of nanotechnology patents, accounting for almost 40% of the global total by 2024. The US, Japan, Germany, and the Republic of Korea continued to be significant contributors, together advancing the frontiers of innovation in nanotechnology. In this timeframe, the quantity of nanotechnology-related patents increased by more than 150%, demonstrating the swift growth of the sector. The regulation of nanotechnology in the US is primarily managed by the Food and Drug Administration, particularly about healthcare and biotechnology applications. As the scope of nanotechnology uses has expanded, there is an increasing demand for more extensive regulations concerning potential long-term environmental and health effects. The future trajectory of nanotechnology, both in the US and worldwide, will hinge on continuous invention, economic advancement, and the progression of governmental policy. By upholding a robust regulatory framework and promoting ongoing collaboration between academics and industry, the complete potential of nanotechnology in advancing industrial and societal progress can be actualized.

Analysis of financial convergence between the BRICS and OECD countries.

Financial convergence is a process for establishing a relationship among the financial markets of different countries; as a result of such process the rates of similar financial assets in different markets and countries become very close to each other. Some factors might create financial convergence. of which the trade and international capital flows among countries, the presence of banks and other financial institutions in the international arena, the availability of clear and accurate information of markets and financial organizations, and the existence of similar infrastructure and their characteristics from economic, legal and cultural perspectives can be mentioned. The issue of financial convergence with the aim of achieving global financial markets and taking advantage of its capabilities and characteristics would be very important for all countries, especially the emerging countries. This study examines financial convergence in the money and capital markets of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and BRICS countries in the period of 2007-2020. The study utilizes the Panel Convergence Methodology and Cluster Analysis (Philips and Sul methodology) along with a clustering algorithm. The findings indicate a lack of overall convergence between OECD and BRICS countries in both financial markets (money and capital) this is due to the lack of similar economic infrastructure, differences in the size of the economy, and variations in trade, financial and monetary freedom indicators, trade relations, and capital transfers. The cluster test in the money market confirms the existence of 3 convergence clubs among the studied countries. The convergence of emerging BRICS countries in the money market, with a large number of OECD developed countries, is a confirmation of the development of their banking sector in the recent years. On the other hand, the capital market survey also shows the presence of 5 convergence clubs between OECD and BRICS countries. Besides, it's been shown that South Africa, along with Lithuania, Turkey, Slovakia and Latvia, has established a divergent group.

Indirect tax and the economy: Evidence from Nigeria (2000 to 2019)

The study examined the impact of indirect tax on the Nigerian economy. In line with these objectives, three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated. The study adopted the ex post facto research design. The Data for the study were collected from Central Bank of Nigeria Bulletin and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) statistics for the period of 2000–2019. The study adopted the ordinary Least – Square Regression Analysis to analyse the data. Descriptive Statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the Variables, augmented Dickey – Fuller unit root test was used for the stationary test of the data. Johansen co-integration test was used for the long-run relationship of the variables. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) was used to test the hypotheses at a 5% level of significance. Our findings revealed that Value Added Tax (VAT) has an insignificant positive impact on GDP in the Country. Import Duty IMD has a significant positive impact on GDP in Nigeria while the Export Duty (EXD) has an insignificant impact on the GDP. The study recommended that the Nigeria government can grow its economy through VAT if the revenue from the tax is not invaded, avoided and is properly administered. Secondly the government should concentrate on growing strategically with the import tax productivity since it shows a positive significant impact on GDP, Similarly the government of Nigeria should equally put in concerted efforts to improve Export Duty Tax revenue. Keywords: Economy, Export Duty, Import Duty, Nigeria, Value Added Tax.

Environmental, social, and governance investing and sustainability of pension funds: Evidence from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries

Various stakeholders have pressed pension funds (PFs) to refocus their investment strategies on environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles; however, limited attention has been devoted to the impact of sustainable investing on PF assets. Using data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries from 1999 to 2022 and using the generalised method of moment estimation, we find that the growth of pension assets in countries with high sustainability scores has slowed since the sustainable development goals were adopted. The impact is more pronounced in the European Union (EU) countries. This finding is noteworthy because EU countries are known for their leadership in sustainable development. Capital market returns are the primary channel through which sustainable investing contributes to reduced pension asset growth. Our findings provide policymakers with important information about the unintended costs of addressing climate risk through exclusionary PF policies. In OECD countries with low fertility rates and ageing populations, the cost exacerbates the sustainability challenges that PFs face.

Suicide prevention strategies in South Korea: What we have learned and the way forward.

Suicide is a serious global public health concern. South Korea has consistently reported one of the highest suicide rates among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries over the past few decades. In response to the increasing suicide rate, South Korea enacted the Suicide Prevention Act in 2011, and allocated significant budget funding for implementation of various policies according to its national strategy for suicide prevention. Suicide prevention policies, such as restricting access to highly hazardous pesticides, implementing emergency room-based follow-up management programs, and adhering to safety guidelines for the media while reporting on suicide, were effective. Thereafter, the overall suicide rate and the suicide rate in older people steadily declined. However, the suicide rate among younger age groups has increased since 2017, and South Korea continues to report higher suicide rates than those of most other countries. Further research is needed to develop and implement suicide prevention strategies that address the recently changing trends.

Integrated Care for People Living With Rare Disease: A Scoping Review on Primary Care Models in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Countries.

Individually rare, rare diseases are collectively common resulting in frequent health system use. Navigating the health system persists as a challenge. Primary care provides longitudinal contact with the health system and is placed to provide integrated rare-disease-care. This scoping review used Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA methods with a Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research based data extraction tool to find how integrated rare-disease-care is delivered, enablers and barriers to the same, in primary care settings in contemporary literature in OECD countries. The Primary Care Provider (PCP) role varies from routine primary care to shared-rare-disease-care models. In the 26 papers, the most frequently cited PCP roles included involvement in diagnosis (n = 14), care coordination (n = 16), primary and preventative care (n = 18), management of components of rare-disease-care (n = 13), and treatment monitoring (n = 10). Individuals whose PCP was actively involved in their care were reported to have shortened diagnostic delay, improved transitions of care across the lifespan, reduced unplanned utilization of emergency and hospital services, comprehensive psychosocial care, improved quality of life across environments including home, school and work and improved palliative care experiences. Sufficient communication from specialists, information, resources, time and reimbursement for complex care are still needed. Future integrated-rare-disease-care models should be developed by, or with, PCPs.

Security Aspects of Implementing the Circular Economy: Advancing Sustainability within the Czech Republic's Strategic Priorities

The article (prepared by combining an interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach of interested social sciences with the application of analytical methods) follows the current issues of implementing circular technologies in security contexts using the example of the Czech Republic. It points out the reduction of environmental risks and, at the same time, within the framework of the requirements of diversification and decentralization, draws attention to the possibilities of partially strengthening the energy security of the state through the use of waste as a renewable resource. The established economic policy of the state for the implementation of circular technologies is in line with the calls to fulfil the interrelated environmental, economic and security goals of NATO, the European Union and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Keywords: circular economy implementation, sustainable development, environmental and energy security, renewable energy sources

Pathways to remedy for corporate human rights abuse: a qualitative comparative analysis of the institutional design of the OECD national contact points

ABSTRACT In light of the considerable challenges faced by victims of transnational business-related human rights abuses in accessing legal remedies, the National Contact Points (NCPs) for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are recognised as prominent international mechanisms for remedy. However, the NCPs exhibit considerable institutional diversity, impacting their effectiveness. The 2023 revision of the OECD Guidelines has raised questions about whether changes to NCP procedural guidance may improve access to remedy. However, because empirical research into the substantive remedy outcomes available through NCPs is limited and largely based on small-N case studies, it is unclear which features of institutional design improve access to remedy. Starting from the assumption that there may be different procedural combinations that facilitate access to remedy, this article uses Qualitative Comparative Analysis on a novel dataset of 81 cases concerning allegations of human rights abuse handled by NCPs to explore combinations of institutional design features leading to effective remedy. Some of the findings align with existing research – especially confirming the relevance of the mandate to ‘make a determination’ – but others contradict conclusions reached in previous research. The 2023 revision of the OECD Guidelines is discussed in light of these findings.

Critical Analysis of Tax Audit Process: Evaluative Study at DGT Regional Office of South Jakarta II

A tax audit constitutes a primary business process within the framework of the DGT. While the efficacy of tax audits in augmenting tax revenue is evident, their concomitant effect of escalating tax disputes in the tax court is equally salient. The objective of this study is to evaluate the tax audit process at DGT. The evaluation employs criteria from the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), including accuracy, efficiency, objectivity, transparency, fairness, completeness, defensibility, and consistency. The research method employed is qualitative, with a case study approach. The data were collected through surveys, document analysis, and interviews. The research focuses on the DGT Regional Office of South Jakarta II. The research encompasses a specific audit type, namely a field audit conducted by functional tax auditors, spanning the period from 2021 to 2023. The results demonstrated that a portion of the tax audit process has been conducted in alignment with OECD criteria. However, there is room for improvement in audit processes, particularly regarding the identification of taxpayer non-compliance. Furthermore, the audit process can be conducted in accordance with the criteria if the taxpayer is cooperative. Keywords: Tax Audit; Evaluation; OECD.

Pre-clinical acute oral toxicity and subacute neurotoxicity risk assessments on sprague dawley rats treated with single dose or repeated doses of flavonoid-enriched fraction extracted from Oroxylum indicum leaves

Oroxylum indicum possesses promising flavonoid secondary metabolites. However, translation of these compounds into clinical practice for neurological disease treatment is halted as the toxicity and safety profile of the plant extracts are yet to be determined. This study was conducted to assess the acute oral toxicity and subacute neurotoxicity that could be imposed by the flavonoid-enriched fraction (FEF) extracted from O. indicum leaves, by strictly following the procedures set in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines No.420 and 424. It was found that at the highest dosage (2000 mg/kg b.wt), no death or toxicity-related behavioral changes were observed. No significant alteration in hematological and serum biochemical parameters beyond the standard laboratory range was observed. Detailed histopathological examination, as verified by clinical pathologist, revealed absence of detectable inflammation, changes in any macroscopic and microscopic tissue abnormalities in all vital organ of the treated rats. Moreover, neurological functional test of rats treated with repeated doses of FEF for 28 d also showed absence of neurological abnormality, suggesting negative long term side effects of this fraction on the animal. In conclusion, this study presented valuable pre-clinical safety validation of a high-quality herbal medicinal product, setting the foundation for its future application in clinical setting.

Development of the fish invitrome for animal-free environmental risk assessment of chemicals.

Given the need to reduce animal testing for environmental risk assessment, we aim to develop a fish invitrome, an alternative fish modular framework capable of predicting chemical toxicity in fish without the use of animals. The central module of the framework is the validated RTgill-W1 cell line assay that predicts fish acute toxicity of chemicals (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Test Guideline (OECD TG) 249). Expanding towards prediction of chronic toxicity, the fish invitrome includes two other well-advanced modules for chemical bioaccumulation/biotransformation and inhibition of fish growth. This framework is expected to continuously evolve with the development of modules that predict, for instance, neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity. We envisage the fish invitrome framework to become part of the broader academic field of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), where it will remain flexible and open to integration of new developments from research groups around the world. To accelerate the development and uptake of this framework, we strive for transdisciplinarity, integrating both natural and social sciences, along with broader stakeholder interactions. A stepwise socio-technical approach has been chosen, where mainstreaming the fish invitrome involves progressive adoption across various ecotoxicological contexts. The framework will be co-designed with stakeholders from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies. Rather than aiming for immediate regulatory acceptance, this approach aims to build trust and familiarity with fish cell line-based testing among stakeholders. By doing so, it encourages broader use of the framework in practical applications while gradually overcoming institutional, cultural, and technical barriers. Additionally, establishing a clear roadmap for mainstreaming the fish invitrome will help identify and address challenges to its uptake, ensuring a smoother transition to non-organismal testing methodologies.

A Study of Radium Content and Radon Exhalation Rates in Soil Samples from Abi-Adi Town, Ethiopia, Using LR-115 Type-II.

In the present study, we are presenting the results of radium content, radon concentration, and radon exhalation rates (both mass and area) for 32 soil samples collected from different locations of Abi-Adi Town, Ethiopia, by using the sealed can technique containing a LR-115 Type-II plastic detector. The values of radium content from soil samples were found to vary from 35.26 Bq kg-1 to 101.78 Bq kg-1, with a mean value of 70.25 Bq kg-1. The mass and area exhalation rates of radon were found to be from 2.72 × 10-6 Bq kg-1 d-1 to 7.87 × 10-6 Bq kg-1 d-1 and from 0.76 × 10-4 Bq m-2 d-1 to 2.20 × 10-4 Bq m-2 d-1, with a mean value of 5.43 × 10-6 Bq kg-1 d-1 and 1.52 × 10-4 Bq m-2 d-1, respectively. The outdoor and indoor annual effective dose equivalent varied from 0.24 mSv y-1 to 0.68 mSv y-1 and from 0.06 mSv y-1 to 0.17 mSv y-1 with a mean value of 0.37 mSv y-1 and 0.09 mSv y-1, respectively. The working level varied from 2.50 mWL to 7.21 mWL with a mean value of 3.94 mWL. From the results of this study, we found that there was a positive correlation between radium content and radon exhalation rates in soil samples. The radium content values determined in soil samples are less than the permissible value of 370 Bq kg-1 recommended by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developments as acceptable for safe use. Thus, results reveal that the area under investigation is safe as far as the health hazards of radon are concerned.

Developing Adverse Outcome Pathways to support radioecological risk assessment: Challenges and insights.

Environmental pollution associated with long term effects, especially in the case of ionizing radiation, poses significant risks to wildlife, necessitating a more nuanced approach to Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA). In radioecology, current methods, as outlined by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), focus primarily on exposure and individual/population-level effects, often both suffering a lack of ecological realism due to the nature of data used, and, sidelining a big amount of critical non-individual effects such as sub-individual one like genotoxicity. This review aims to address these gaps by suggesting the integration of New Approach Methods (NAMs) and the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework in the field of radioecology. NAMs encompass innovative techniques, such as in silico and in vitro methodologies, that can provide predictive insights without relying solely on traditional animal testing. The AOP framework, developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), structures effects data into a sequence of causally linked events, enabling a clearer understanding of how molecular changes lead to adverse ecological outcomes. In the first section of the review, we explore the challenges of applying AOPs within radioecology, including the complexities of modelling realistic exposure scenarios, the temporal dynamics of effects, and the impacts of multiple stressors. The second section highlights the potential and the application of some NAMs within an AOP framework to contribute improving risk assessment methodologies (in species realism issue and the use of sub-individual data). This part also offers other potential solutions to increase the number of data to be used in ERA as well as their ecological realism, through the use of AOP framework with relevant biological scales and ecological endpoints still uninvestigated in such way. In conclusion, leveraging NAMs and AOPs is much valuable for bridging molecular data and ecological implications, thereby advancing regulatory practices in radioecology and ensuring more comprehensive protection of ecosystems from radiological hazards.

CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF IMPLEMENTING THE SAFE HARBOUR REGIME IN TRANSFER PRICING

The article examines the conceptual basis and international experience with the implementation of the safe harbour regime in the area of transfer pricing. It argues for the need to use this mechanism as an effective tool for minimising tax risks, optimising the administrative burden and increasing the predictability of tax rules. It is noted that the safe harbour regime is based on the establishment of clear criteria for low-risk transactions, which makes it possible to reduce the volume of controls and increase the level of transparency of intra-group transactions. The article analyses the main features of the safe harbour regime, in particular its voluntary nature, the clarity of the compliance criteria, the simplification of administrative procedures, the limitation of its scope and the harmonisation with international standards. It shows that the implementation of this regime helps to reduce conflicts between business and tax authorities, promotes trust between the parties and contributes to the creation of a stable tax environment. The historical aspects of the emergence of the concept of safe harbours in the context of global initiatives to combat base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) are examined. The role of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in developing standards to ensure consistency in transfer pricing approaches is identified. International experience in implementing the regime in developed countries, such as the United States, Germany and Australia, and in developing countries, such as Brazil and India, will be examined. The paper analyses the advantages and disadvantages of different models of safe harbour implementation, taking into account their adaptability to local conditions, their compliance with international standards and their ability to minimise administrative costs. Particular attention is paid to the harmonisation of the safe harbour regime with European directives, which ensures consistency of tax approaches within the Single Economic Space. It finds that the use of this regime in EU countries helps to attract investment, but faces challenges due to the need to take into account national specificities. It is demonstrated that the successful implementation of the safe harbour regime depends on its adaptation to the national legal framework, institutional characteristics and economic realities. Evidence shows that clarity of criteria and transparency of procedures are key conditions for effective implementation of the regime. The author suggests ways to improve the mechanisms for implementing safe harbours, taking into account international recommendations and the specific economic conditions of individual countries. The author identifies the need to create tools to monitor the effectiveness of the regime and to provide technical assistance to tax authorities and companies. The research analyses the potential impact of safe harbours on the tax system and investment climate of the countries implementing the regime. It is shown that the introduction of safe harbours has a positive impact on reducing administrative costs, reducing the number of disputes and stimulating economic activity. It concludes that the safe harbour regime is an important strategic tool in the transfer pricing system that can ensure a balance between the interests of the state and those of business. The author emphasises the need for further research to integrate the best international practices into national tax systems. The study provides a theoretical and practical basis for the development of new approaches to the implementation of safe harbours that will facilitate the integration of countries into the global economic system and increase their competitiveness.

The TOXIN knowledge graph: supporting animal-free risk assessment of cosmetics.

The European Union's ban on animal testing for cosmetic products and their ingredients, combined with the lack of validated animal-free methods, poses challenges in evaluating their potential repeated-dose organ toxicity. To address this, innovative strategies like Next-Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) are being explored, integrating historical animal data with new mechanistic insights from non-animal New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). This paper introduces the TOXIN knowledge graph (TOXIN KG), a tool designed to retrieve toxicological information on cosmetic ingredients, with a focus on liver-related data. TOXIN KG uses graph-structured semantic technology and integrates toxicological data through ontologies, ensuring interoperable representation. The primary data source is safety information on cosmetic ingredients from scientific opinions issued by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety between 2009 and 2019. The ToxRTool automates the reliability assessment of toxicity studies, while the Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES) notation standardizes chemical identification, enabling in silico prediction of repeated-dose toxicity via the implementation of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Toolbox (OECD QSAR Toolbox). The ToXic Process Ontology, enriched with relevant biological repositories, is employed to represent toxicological concepts systematically. Search filters allow the identification of cosmetic compounds potentially linked to liver toxicity. Data visualization is achieved through Ontodia, a JavaScript library. TOXIN KG, filled with information for 88 cosmetic ingredients, allowed us to identify 53 compounds affecting at least one liver toxicity parameter in a 90-day repeated-dose animal study. For one compound, we illustrate how TOXIN KG links this observation to hepatic cholestasis as an adverse outcome. In an ab initio NGRA context, follow-up in vitro studies using human-based NAMs would be necessary to understand the compound's biological activity and the molecular mechanism leading to the adverse effect. In summary, TOXIN KG emerges as a valuable tool for advancing the reusability of cosmetics safety data, providing knowledge in support of NAM-based hazard and risk assessments. Database URL: https://toxin-search.netlify.app/.

Methylene blue at recommended concentrations alters metabolism in early zebrafish development

Methylene blue (MB) is an antifungal agent widely used during critical stages of zebrafish development. Most guidelines recommend 0.00005% or 0.0001% of MB for embryo/larval rearing. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development zebrafish embryo toxicity test guideline omits MB recommendations, leading to inconsistent MB use in zebrafish research. Because MB affects oxidative energy metabolism in vitro and in vivo, we investigate possible metabolic effects of recommended MB concentrations in developing zebrafish (1–5 days post-fertilization (dpf)). MB increases O2 consumption rate at 1 dpf, followed by an overall reduction in oxidative energy metabolism in post-hatch eleutheroembryos (4–5 dpf). Concomitantly, mitochondrial transcripts decrease in 1 and 4 dpf zebrafish. Our findings show that MB, at recommended husbandry concentrations, affects oxidative metabolism and can thus confound experiments. Since the zebrafish embryo/larval model is gaining traction as a high-throughput New Approach Methodology (NAM) for toxicity assessment, researchers should reconsider MB use.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide: evidence from South Korea

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic led to public health crises beyond the direct casualties from the virus itself. This study assesses the impact of COVID-19 on suicide rates in South Korea, which implemented effective policy interventions against COVID-19 and has one of the highest suicide rates among member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).Study designA county fixed effects model.MethodsWe analyze county-level data covering the 2017-2022 period from the National Statistical Office of Korea and use a county fixed effects model. The primary outcome is the suicide rate per 100,000 population. Our main analysis compares pre-pandemic suicide rates (2019) with those during the pandemic (2020-2022) at bimonthly frequency, focusing on the population aged 20-59 years.ResultsWe find that, in contrast to the initial global concerns about potential increases in suicide because of pandemic-related stress, suicide rates significantly decreased during the pandemic. However, this trend was not uniform: young women experienced fluctuating suicide rates, highlighting a demographic-specific impact. The study also finds that both people who died by suicide and people who died of other non-suicide causes were more likely to have a college diploma and were less likely to be married. Additionally, there are mixed results regarding the location of death. Overall, the pandemic appears to have had a complex effect on suicide behaviors in South Korea.ConclusionsThe findings underscore the need for targeted mental health interventions, especially for vulnerable groups such as young women. The findings also emphasize the importance of considering demographic-specific responses in public health strategies to better address the mental health consequences of large-scale crises.

Measuring social and emotional development with a ‘Western ruler’: problematising the ‘cross-cultural comparability’ of the Study on Social and Emotional Skills

ABSTRACT In 2018, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) initiated the Study on Social and Emotional Skills (SSES). This paper investigates how the OECD has self-justified the cross-cultural comparability of SSES via analysing relevant reports. By primarily drawing upon the rich indigenous and cultural psychological and philosophical studies about China, it further examines whether the SSES framework can measure the social and emotional development in cross-cultural settings as the OECD claims. I argue that it is highly problematic of the OECD’s self-justification and employing a Western-originated personality model as the basis for a cross-national educational assessment. By extending the discussion beyond China, I call for critical reflections on the participation in SSES and possibly better construction of social and emotional education via deeply engaging with one’s own culture (rather than reproducing Western-centrism) while openly embracing others (rather than falling into Sinocentrism).

The OECD and Ritualized Isomorphism: Anti-Corruption Monitoring, the ‘Narrow View’ of Corruption and the Transnational Political Order

While there is considerable literature on the causes of corruption and its harmful effects, along with an extensive body of work focused on anti-corruptionism, there is a paucity of research that examines the anti-corruption dynamic. Few studies contemplate why anti-corruption rhetoric has come to occupy a central role in global governance, despite a growing consensus among some scholars that the anti-corruption movement has done little to reduce corruption globally. This paper explores the anti-corruption dynamic through an examination of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD’s) Anti-Bribery Convention and related peer-review process of the Government of Canada’s anti-corruption measures. It does so by situating the OECD’s work as part of a transnational movement that is more about advancing corporate interests on a global scale than about combating corruption in its various guises. In the process, our findings shed important light on how the state’s regulation of corporations is itself regulated through supranational political institutions.