Organisation For Economic Co-operation And Development Research Articles

Theoretical Approaches to the Regulation of Bioeconomy

The development of science and technology, as well as the introduction of innovations into the production sphere, have led to the emergence of such a phenomenon as the bioeconomy. At the present time, there is no versatile definition of the concept of bioeconomy either at the national level or at the level of interstate integration associations and international organizations. To analyze the key features of the concept of bioeconomy and to identify the main approaches to the essence of this phenomenon. This is important for the understanding of directions of development of the regulatory environment in relation to bioeconomy in the Russian Federation. The article analyzes the definitions of the concept of bioeconomy at the level of the International Advisory Council on Bioeconomy (IACB), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union (EU), and individual states. The author examines a range of approaches to regulating bioeconomy. The research is based on formal-logical, dogmatic methods, the comparison method and the axiological approach. The paper presents approaches to the concept of bioeconomy as a phenomenon. The author analyzes how bioeconomy relates to the circular economy (closed-loop economy) and the linear (traditional) economy. The article presents a range of approaches to the regulation of bioeconomy through the lens of proactive law and proposes a mechanism for its regulation with the help of a symbiotic regulator. The main elements of such a reg ulator are referred to in the article. They include normative regulation, the presence of ef fectively functioning organizational structures, and properly functioning processes of interaction between organizational structures and entities. The author examines a regulation method entitled ‘ethical licensing’, highlights its advantages and disadvantages, and gives recommendation on the subsequent use of this method. Due to its complex nature, bioeconomy as a phenomenon requires specific approaches to its regulation.

Corporate Governance: Exploring Key Concepts, Mechanisms, and Historical Evolution

Corporate governance involves several key concepts that help define its scope and purpose. Though review of key corporate governance concepts and historical evolution is widespread in the extant literature, detailed review across the globe is limited. Motivated by this dearth, this study reviewed these concepts and explored how firms rely on them to implement effective corporate governance. The study employed documentary and descriptive research methods to review concepts of corporate governance, systems, mechanisms and historical perspectives around the world. Our study discovered that understanding internal controls helps ensure compliance, minimize risks and safeguard the firm’s assets. Similarly, the study discovered that executive compensation structures help align management interests with shareholder value and external oversight through auditing and regulation which provides an unbiased assessment of the firm’s financial reports. Our historical perspective of corporate governance highlighted significant milestones that have shaped its evolution. Importantly, these include reports and acts aimed at addressing corporate scandals and improving governance practices. We also discovered that to improve corporate governance standards worldwide, multilateral organizations like the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) among others have played a number of roles in developing international guidelines and codes of best practice. Further, the study explored the dynamic nature of corporate governance in response to evolving economic, social and technological trends. The study concluded that understanding the concepts, systems, mechanisms and historical perspectives of corporate governance is essential for firms and stakeholders to maintain transparency, accountability and sustainable performance.

Does competitive school climate really harm to students’ anti-bullying attitude: empirical evidence from China

BackgroundSchool bullying remains a social problem and changing students’ attitudes towards bullying is crucial for effective prevention in schools. Based on social-ecological system theory, this study examines how school climate influences anti-bullying attitudes among students. Specifically, it studies how a competitive school environment influences these attitudes, and how students’ competitive attitudes mediate these attitudes.MethodsThe data for this study comes from The Programmed for International Student Assessment (PISA), which is a global student assessment initiative led by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The sample consists of 12,058 Chinese students from the 2018 PISA survey. Data analysis was conducted using STATA (version 14.0) software.ResultsSchool competitive climate has a positive and substantial impact on their anti-bullying attitudes (r = 0.1551, p < 0.001). Students’ competitive attitudes are also positively and significantly correlated with their anti-bullying attitudes (r = 0.2249, p < 0.001). Competitive attitudes partially mediate the relationship between the school bullying climate and students’ anti-bullying attitudes.ConclusionIn the context of Chinese education, a competitive school climate clearly has a positive effect on students anti-bullying attitudes. Students’ competitive attitudes also act as partial mediator in this relationship. These findings suggest that a healthy school ecosystem that reflects sound value guidance and fair rules is imperative for fostering anti-bullying attitudes in students.

Optimizing VAT threshold: The key to improving VAT performance

The low tax ratio in Indonesia is an issue often associated with suboptimal tax revenue performance. This study examines the role of the threshold for Value Added Tax (VAT), which is suspected to significantly influence the optimization of VAT revenue, while also exploring the effect of VAT rate and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. The study analyze data from member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2022 using multiple linear regression methods. The results show that increases in the VAT threshold and VAT rate positively impact VAT revenue performance, while an increase in per capita GDP has a negative effect. A higher VAT threshold allows the country to focus on larger taxpayers, while the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) benefit from reduced administrative burdens. These findings can serve as a basis for government evaluation in determining the appropriate threshold and VAT rates to enhance tax revenue performance optimally.

The Impact of Green Trade Openness on Air Quality

Environmental degradation is among the most pressing issues the world faces today. Air pollution is one of the many forms of environmental degradation and can drastically impact human health and ecosystem functioning. Research shows that rapid intervention strategies are required to achieve the environmental targets set out by international agreements. One strategy that has been widely accepted to combat this issue of environmental degradation is the introduction of green products. The adoption of green products can be increased through trade. However, knowledge of the impact of trading these products is limited. This study examines the relationship between the trading of green products and air quality in a case study of 33 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries from 2003-2016. We employ several panel strategies, such as the Westerlund (2008) Durbin-H method for cointegration and the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MM-QR). The trading of green products was proxied by the newly developed ‘Green Openness Index.’ Nitrous oxide (NOx) and sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions served as proxies for air pollution. The relationship between the variables was explored in the context of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). The cointegration analysis reveals that there is a long-run relationship among the series. Long-run estimations prove that the EKC hypothesis is valid for the analyzed series. Additionally, the empirical findings reveal that trading environmentally friendly products increases air quality while energy consumption decreases. We provide several policy suggestions based on the study’s outcomes, such as supporting the trade liberalization of green goods, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers for environmentally friendly products, and promoting the adoption of environmentally friendly goods by providing subsidies and other tax incentives to consumers.

Navigating carbon neutrality pathway beyond energy and economic agents: the influence of media liberty across the OECD countries

Abstract Press freedom is a fundamental aspect of democratic societies, playing a critical role in shaping public discourse, fostering transparency, and holding institutions accountable. Furthermore, its impact extends beyond political and social realms to encompass environmental sustainability, particularly in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. While extensive research has been conducted on the economic, social, and institutional factors that influence environmental outcomes, the role of press freedom in shaping ecological footprint remains underexplored. However, this study aims to address this gap by examining the relationship between press freedom and ecological footprint across 36 OECD countries from 2013 to 2022. Utilizing a system generalized method of moments (GMM) analysis and controlling for economic growth, trade openness, and energy consumption, this research reveals significant findings. Specifically, it demonstrates that press freedom serves as a catalyst for reducing ecological footprint, presenting OECD countries with a unique opportunity for environmental gains and potentially achieving carbon neutrality. In contrast, we find indicators such as economic growth, energy consumption, and trade openness have negative impact on environmental quality. Overall, this study underscores the importance of promoting press freedom as a key strategy for advancing environmental sustainability and calls for concerted efforts to harness its potential for mitigating ecological footprint in OECD countries and beyond.

Decentering governance models: education policy and school accountability in Post-Devolution Wales

ABSTRACT This paper investigates education policy reform in post-Devolution Wales with a focus on school accountability. Specifically, it provides a historicist analysis of Wales’ decision to abandon publicly mandated school league tables and subsequent accountability reforms. The paper uses the literature on four governance models to investigate successive accountability regimes in Wales through time. These have changed from a Trust and Altruism model, via a Transparent Public Rankings model, to a new, emerging model that relies on self-assessment and collaborative accountability standards. Notably, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has played an increasingly important role in shaping this process. Central to our analysis is Mark Bevir and Roderick Rhodes’ decentered theory. The paper argues that governance models need to be understood with reference to the dynamic interplay of historical constraints, power struggles and new belief systems that respond to policy dilemmas. As Wales has embarked on several substantial education policy reform initiatives, the paper demonstrates the importance of a historically informed approach to policy design and implementation which is responsive to competing traditions and beliefs.

A brief overview of the past, present and future of the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation

The Global Earthquake Model (GEM) is an initiative that originally emerged from discussions and proposals made by the Global Science Forum of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the early 2000’s. In 2009, GEM established itself as a non-profit legal entity, the GEM Foundation, and 15 years later, it continues to operate globally with a mission to provide transparent resources for seismic hazard and risk assessment, as well as to support disaster risk reduction for a wide range of natural hazards. This paper highlights the main milestones from the past 15 years and the vision of the foundation to 2030. An overview is also provided of the status of GEM products and services, all of which are made available for the benefit of society, under a strategy that aims to assure the continued financial sustainability of the organization.

The determining factors of demand for life insurance: PLS method applied to the case of OECD and MENA countries

PurposeThis article provides a comparative analysis of the relationship between insurance and economic growth in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. The research aims to understand how insurance impacts economic growth in these two regions, highlighting the similarities and differences between them.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyzes economic and insurance data from various countries in the OECD and MENA regions over a specific period. It employs the statistical method of Partial Least Squares (PLS) univariate regression to examine the relationships between the variables.FindingsThe study finds a positive correlation between insurance and economic growth in both regions, though the characteristics and mechanisms differ. In the OECD region, where insurance markets are more developed, insurance is strongly linked to economic growth. In contrast, the MENA region, with lower levels of insurance and a less developed industry, still shows a positive effect of insurance on economic growth. The article also identifies factors specific to the OECD and MENA regions that influence this relationship, such as insurance industry regulation, access to financial services, economic and political stability and cultural and institutional differences.Originality/valueThe originality of this research lies in its use of the PLS regression method, setting it apart from previous studies in the same field that have typically relied on other econometric techniques.

An examination of direct and indirect taxation in OECD countries and the case of Greece

This paper attempts to analyze and interpret the principles of direct and indirect taxation. Initially, a theoretical approach to the general concepts and principles governing tax law is presented. It is followed by a presentation of the Greek tax and financial system. The key points demonstrating the harmonization of tax legislation, in accordance with the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) guidelines so far are highlighted. Any future reform of the Greek national tax system should incorporate the fundamental principles of national tax policy. Additionally, it must be in line with OECD principles and guidelines. The further implementation of the Organization's recommendations will shift the balance between direct and indirect taxation, leading to strengthening the first and reducing the second. Over the last decades, the ratio of direct to indirect taxes has been on the increase, particularly in developed countries. The main reason is that direct taxation is socially just and effective. Direct taxation is attributed by the liable person, while indirect taxation is transferred according to the ability of each person to react to the relevant market. The OECD supports, for member countries, the strengthening of direct taxation, which takes into account income and other social criteria and satisfies both the criterion of efficiency and the criterion of fair distribution of economic burdens. On the contrary, indirect taxation is reduced to inversely progressive taxation in terms of the income of consumers and is not consistent with the OECD principles of socially just and effective taxation in economically developed countries. The taxation of the citizens in general follows the principle of the citizens contributing to the public burdens according to their powers, for there is nothing more unjust than to treat unequal men as equals. From this proportional treatment of the taxing units, the constitutional principle of equality is also satisfied by reflection.

Developing the Short Form of the Survey on Social and Emotional Skills (SSES-SF)

Given the critical role of socio-emotional skills in students’ academic success, psychological well-being, and other critical life outcomes, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) developed the Survey on Social and Emotional Skills (SSES) to measure these skills among school-age students. However, the broad conceptual scope of socio-emotional skills necessitated the use of a large number of items (i.e., 120 items) in the original SSES, which poses challenges regarding survey administration and participant fatigue. To address these issues, this study aimed to develop a short form of the SSES (i.e., SSES-SF). The sample included 29,798 15-year-old students across 10 regions. We developed a 45-item version of SSES-SF using the machine learning approach of genetic algorithm, which is 62.5% shorter than the original 120-item SSES. The reliability, construct validity, reproduced information, concurrent validity, and measurement invariance of the SSES-SF were investigated. We found that the SSES-SF demonstrated satisfactory reliability, construct validity, and concurrent validity. Furthermore, the SSES-SF was able to reproduce a substantial amount of information from the original full-form SSES and exhibited measurement invariance across genders, regions, and language groups. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Evaluating cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of oil extracted from visceral fat of Caiman yacare (Daudin, 1802) in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast in vitro

In previous studies, the oil extracted from the visceral fat of Caiman yacare (Daudin, 1802) demonstrated a wound-healing effect on the skin of Wistar rats. To enhance knowledge our about the mechanism underlying this effect, we analysed the oil’s toxicological potential in vitro. Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, pro-oxidant, and antioxidant activities were evaluated in a V79-4 cell line. The oil was obtained using the Soxhlet method, and the proportions of the fatty acid profile was previously identified 43.74 % saturated and 34.65 % unsaturated fatty acids. Protocol 487 of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) was employed for cell line selection and concentrations. Cytotoxicity was determined using the MTT assay and clonogenic survival. Pro-oxidant and antioxidant activities were analysed using flow cytometry. Genotoxicity was evaluated using comet and micronucleus assays. The oil did not demonstrate cytotoxicity up to a concentration of 500 µg/mL. At concentrations of 250 and 500 µg/mL, the oil exerted a protective effect against oxidative stress and showed genotoxic effects only at the highest concentration (2000 µg/mL). Like other oils of interest for human health, the oil extracted from the visceral fat of C. yacare demonstrated low toxicological potential in vitro.

Building resilience of the Ghanaian healthcare system: Lessons from a global health stage: Preparedness for the next pandemic: A scoping review

Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has underscored the need for resilient health systems. However, Ghana does not seem to achieve commensurate results, suggesting potential gaps in critical interventions. This study examines these gaps by drawing on global experiences to guide Ghana's preparedness for future emergencies. Methods A scoping review based on the synthesis of published journal articles and grey literature was used to gather relevant evidence to address the study’s objective. Peer-reviewed literature searches were conducted in databases, including Medline, Scopus, and Health Sources, supplemented by searches on organizational websites to identify grey literature. We adopted the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) framework to explore how health systems responded to the COVID-19 pandemic globally and draw lessons for strengthening Ghana's health system resilience. We analyzed policy responses in three main areas: pandemic preparedness, crisis management, and response and recovery. Results Ten strategies emerged from the study as critical in strengthening health system resilience against future pandemics. These strategies include whole-of-government engagement, financing for preparedness, community engagement and trust, robust surveillance systems, emergency medical care, diverse workforce development, digital health integration, critical health infrastructure, well-planned commodities/products, and social capital. Each strategy plays a vital role in enhancing preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, highlighting the multifaceted approach needed to mitigate the impact of future pandemics on health systems. Conclusions The identified strategies align with the attributes of a resilient healthcare system. By adopting these strategies, Ghana can build a resilient healthcare system that effectively addresses future challenges, guided by global insights and experiences.

Game-based Learning for Science Education in Institutional Care Settings in Northwestern Mexico

Play has been key to knowledge acquisition, creativity, and innovation. In education, game-based learning (GBL) is a physical and digital environment that enhances learning outcomes in students. This paper presents the results of observational research on game-based learning in science education as a motivation for young students from two institutional care settings in Northwestern Mexico, in the State of Sonora. The observational research touched on 1) game-based learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and 2) learning motivation in vulnerable student groups. This paper focuses on the authors' experiences, most of them early researchers focused on science education, their purpose of promoting game-based learning in STEM education, and interviews with representatives from both institutions. We found that game-based learning was seen as a novelty, innovative, and motivational way of engaging young students from institutional care settings to learn and become curious about the STEM field. We also designed and created games focused on STEM subjects in both institutions. Students living in institutional care settings face even greater obstacles regarding education. In some instances, the lack of mentorship or follow-up tutoring activities can determine their academic outcome or lack thereof. With the ever-changing world of technology, industries demand highly qualified people in STEM fields. Nonetheless, international organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have reported that school systems around the world are not equipped with the proper teaching methodologies for students to acquire basic skills such as mathematics nor critical thinking. In Mexico, public school systems and institutional care settings often lack teacher training or mentorship approaches to promote STEM education. This paper concludes with a reflection on the benefits of GBL in STEM education in such settings and suggestions for student-led collaborations with children and youth in such settings.

Analyzing the Lange–Lerner Hypothesis: is a monopolized banking sector a threat to democracy?

Is a monopolized banking sector a threat to democracy? Increasing bank monopolization and its growing share of the economy have brought renewed interest to this historical concern. Oskar Lange and Abba Lerner held that banking monopolization would undermine democracy through the concentration of political power among banking elites. This led them to exclude the banking sector from their more general support for private ownership of the means of production. We examine whether banking monopolization is associated with concentrated political power and the undermining of democracy using the Lerner Index (based on Lerner’s measure of banking concentration), Polity scores, Varieties of Democracy’s (V-Dem’s) Political Civil Liberty Index, and V-Dem’s Power Distributed by Socioeconomic Position Index, comprising data for 101 countries from 1996 to 2014 in our full specification. We find no relationship between civil liberties and the banking sector in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries but a negative and statistically significant relationship in non-OECD countries. We find no relationship between the Lerner Index and the concentration of power by socioeconomic status. Our results support only one variant of the Lange–Lerner Hypothesis and only among non-OECD countries. We argue that, most likely, this is because long-established democracies are more resilient.

Calculating a Prefecture-Level Well-Being Index in Japan: Applying the framework of the OECD's Better Life Index.

Objectives Well-being serves as a crucial indicator of national governance and societal advancement. Consequently, the Better Life Index (BLI) developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has emerged as a pivotal multidimensional measure of well-being, surpassing traditional indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, current well-being indicators predominantly focus on national measurements and do not effectively evaluate well-being in smaller regions such as states or prefectures. This study aimed to calculate a Regional Well-Being Index (RWI) tailored to localized areas in Japan.Methods Japanese official statistics, publicly available as open data, were analyzed, focusing on 11 domains similar to those in the BLI: "Income," "Jobs," "Housing," "Health," "Work-Life Balance," "Education," "Community," "Civic Engagement," "Environment," "Safety," and "Life Satisfaction." The RWI scores were calculated for each prefecture in 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019 using standard normalization techniques. To represent the overall well-being of each prefecture in each year, scores were aggregated across all domains; this aggregate is referred to as the Integrated RWI. The reliability and validity of RWI were assessed by examining time-series changes and Pearson's correlation coefficients.Results Median Integrated RWI scores for Japanese prefectures remained relatively stable across the study period, with slight variations observed: median = 0.67 (Interquartile range [IQR]: -2.48-2.71) in 2010, median = 0.00 (IQR: -2.85-2.76) in 2013, median = 0.13 (IQR: -3.05-2.49) in 2016, and median = 0.19 (IQR: -2.75-3.06) in 2019. Geographical analysis showed lower scores in regions such as Western Kyushu and Shikoku, and higher scores in Chubu and Eastern Kinki. The RWI and the BLI demonstrated construct validity, with Pearson's correlation coefficients ranging from 0.58 to 0.99 across various domains.Conclusion The RWI, based on the OECD's BLI, proved to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing comprehensive well-being at the regional level in Japan. It offers foundational data for identifying challenges to regional well-being and shaping targeted policies, thereby contributing to evidence-based policymaking. Moreover, this methodology has potential applicability in evaluating comprehensive well-being beyond GDP at the regional level in other countries using official statistics.

An assessment of economy- and transport-oriented health performance

BackgroundGood health can prolong one’s lifespan and is a fundamental human right. Thus, human health is being influenced by prejudiced from sociological, environmental, economic, and geographic aspects. The economy and transportation system pose a serious challenge to the assessment of the health performance of economies.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the health performance of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) economies by using economic and transport-related indicators and examining the role of health expenditure and governance in improving efficiency.MethodsThis study measures the economy- and transport-oriented health efficiency of 35 OECD economies for the period of 2000–2022. In the first stage, this study employs a slacks-based measure and the data envelopment analysis–window analysis approach to conduct individual (economy and transportation) and joint assessments to measure health efficiency. In the second stage, this study uses the tobit regression method to investigate the effects of influencing factors, namely, government general health and pharmaceutical expenditures, the medical infrastructure, and governance, on health efficiency.ResultsEmpirical results reveal that a 1-unit change in the health expenditure during the research period improves economy-oriented health efficiency by 71% and transport-oriented health efficiency by 58%. The econometric analysis demonstrates that all the coefficients of economy- and transport-oriented health efficiency are significant and positive. Notably, a 1-unit change in the medical infrastructure increases economy- and transport-oriented health efficiency by 50.8%, and a 1% increase in pharmaceutical expenditure increases the health, economy, and transport efficiency scores by 16.3%, 33%, and 58.6%, respectively.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that some of the economies were efficient with regard to their health-oriented outputs, that is, quality of life and mortality and morbidity rates, and most of the economies demonstrated excellent economic performance. The findings of the transport-oriented health efficiency assessment reveal that the economies were unable to perform well in the last year of the research period owing to the nationwide lockdowns. Nonetheless, they demonstrated efficiency in the first half of the research period. The joint assessment of economy- and transport-oriented health efficiency indicates that economic and transport input resources can adversely affect the GDP and life expectancy simultaneously, and the medical infrastructure, pharmaceutical expenditure, and number of medical graduates serve as constructive stimuli for health efficiency improvement.

Insights into nanoparticle toxicity against aquatic organisms using multivariate regression, read-across, and ML algorithms: Predictive models for Daphnia magna and Danio rerio

The production of nanoparticles (NPs) has recently become more prevalent owing to their numerous applications in the fast-growing nanotechnology industry. Although nanoparticles have growing applications, there is a significant concern over their environmental impact due to their inevitable release into the environment. With the increasing risk to aquatic organisms, D. magna and zebrafish (Danio rerio) have been preferred as important freshwater model organisms for risk assessment and ecotoxicological studies on metal oxide-based nanoparticles (MeOxNPs) in aquatic environments. It is unfeasible to assess the risks associated with every single NP through in vivo or in vitro experiments. As an alternative, in silico approaches are employed to evaluate the NP toxicity. To evaluate such performance, we have collected data from databases and literature reviews to develop models based on multivariate regression, read-across approach (RA), and machine learning (ML) algorithms following the principles of OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) for QSAR modeling. This work has aimed to investigate which features are important drivers of nanotoxicity in D. magna and Danio rerio using simple periodic table-derived descriptors. Further, we have examined the effectiveness of read-across-derived similarity measures compared to traditional QSAR models. The results obtained from model 1 infers that nanoparticles' size, the number of metals, the core environment of the metal present in the metal oxide, and the oxidation number of the metal play a key role in the final expression of toxicity of nanoparticles to D. magna. On the other hand, the presence of higher molecular weight, the core of the metal, and the presence of oxygen influence the enzyme inhibition activity. The enzyme inhibition is correlated with the ability of zebrafish embryos to hatch, and therefore, the inhibition of ZHE1 seems to be the factor driving hatch delay. The study emphasized the importance of developing transferable, reproducible, and easily interpretable models for the early identification of nanoparticle features contributing to aquatic toxicity.

Hybrid Modeling Techniques for Municipal Solid Waste Forecasting: An Application to OECD Countries

Abstract Accurate forecasting of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation is critical for effective waste management, given the rising volumes of waste posing environmental and public health challenges. This study investigates the efficacy of hybrid forecasting models in predicting MSW generation trends across Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The empirical analysis utilizes five distinct approaches – ARIMA, Theta model, neural networks, exponential smoothing state space (ETS), and TBATS models. MSW data spanning 1995–2021 for 29 OECD nations are analyzed using the hybrid models and benchmarked against individual ARIMA models. The results demonstrate superior predictive accuracy for the hybrid models across multiple error metrics, capturing complex data patterns and relationships missed by individual models. The forecasts project continued MSW generation growth in most countries but reveal nuanced country-level differences as well. The implications for waste management policies include implementing waste reduction and recycling programs, investing in infrastructure and technology, enhancing public education, implementing pricing incentives, rigorous monitoring and evaluation of practices, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. However, uncertainties related to model selection and data limitations warrant acknowledgment. Overall, this study affirms the value of hybrid forecasting models in providing robust insights to inform evidence-based waste management strategies and transition toward sustainability in the OECD region.

Social Cost of Carbon as an International Benchmark to Drive Countries’ Carbon Pricing during the Transition

Building on updated estimates of the social cost of carbon obtained from the most recent literature, this article proposes a social cost of carbon-based benchmark for carbon pricing to drive world countries’ carbon pricing policies up to 2050, consistent with the Paris Agreement targets. By using a dataset on net effective carbon rates developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), we firstly compare both explicit and implicit carbon pricing in 2021 in 71 OECD and non-OECD countries with the social cost of carbon benchmark for 2021 and calculate the degree of internalization of the social cost of carbon averagely related to their carbon pricing instruments. We find that there is a serious gap in current climate policies, which are far from creating optimal pricing conditions to reduce global emissions to levels needed by the Paris Agreement. The economic and distributional feasibility of a full implementation of the carbon pricing benchmark is tested in the same set of countries using two indicators, which are calculated for 2025, 2030, 2040 and 2050. Since the test results are income-regressive among income country groups, benchmark implementation by countries within the cooperative approaches of Paris Agreement art. 6 should be accompanied by the creation of an international cooperative fund aimed to recycle at least part of the revenues collected by high-income countries to compensate affected population in lower-income countries.