Organization For Economic Cooperation Research Articles

Supply chain and logistics in smart cities: A systematic literature review

Rapid urban expansion gives rise to smart cities which pose immense logistical and supply chain challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the holistic system identified by Zhao et al. in 2021. The system encompasses logistics and supply chain integral to the concept of smart cities, with a focus on sustainability. This transformation requires an in-depth study on challenges of a common framework of policies for smart cities in countries comprising the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The study employs an extensive literature analysis for the period 2020–2022. an approach which contextualizes the model. The model identifies the causes, impact, and spillovers of new trends in logistics and supply, including the sustainability of adopted technologies. The study includes the variables involved, and barriers to creating a shared model. The results reveal that the two elements affecting the supply chain and transport in smart cities are Industry 4.0 and 5.0 technologies supporting specific sectors. The resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises positively impacts the sustainability of large urban centres. The study presents both factors that help and hinder the adoption of environmental, social, and economic sustainability technologies.

Penerapan Metode Membacakan Buku Cerita Untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Literasi Anak Usia Lima Sampai Enam Tahun di Tk XYZ [Application of the Story Book Reading Method to Improve the Literacy Skills of Five to Six Year Old Children in XYZ Kindergarten

<div><p class="1eAbstract-text">The results of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) research on the literacy test of Indonesia's Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) show that Indonesia's literacy ability is still low. Literacy skills are needed as a twenty one century skill that must be mastered from an early age. One way to increase literacy is to read storybooks. This study aims to analyze the relationship between the method of reading storybooks to early childhood literacy skills. The method used in this study is quantitative descriptive by distributing questionnaires using five Likert scales (always, often, sometimes, rarely, never). The research was conducted in a private kindergarten in Central Jakarta with a research subject of one hundred and nine students. The results of the research obtained are that there is a relationship between the method of reading storybooks to early childhood literacy skills. The longer the duration of reading stories to children, the higher their literacy skills. Therefore, the method of reading storybooks should be done with a longer duration and frequently, so that children's literacy skills can be maximized.<em></em></p></div>

The role of regulation and regional government quality for high-growth firms: the good, the bad and the ugly

ABSTRACT High-growth firms (HGFs) are important for job creation and productivity growth. We investigate the relationship between product and labour market regulations, as well as the quality of regional governments that implement these regulations, and the development of HGFs across European regions. Using data from Eurostat, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Economic Forum (WEF), and Gothenburg University, we show that both regulatory stringency and the quality of the regional government relate to the regional shares of HGFs. In particular, we find that the effect of labour and product market regulations is moderated by the quality of regional government. Depending on the quality of regional governments, regulations may have a ‘good, bad or ugly’ influence on the development of HGFs. Our findings contribute to the debate on the effects of regulations and offer important building blocks to develop tailored policy measures that may influence the development of HGFs in a region.

The Relationship of Bullying Behavior and Social Interaction in School-Age Children at SDN 22 Jambi City

The problem that is currently widespread in education circles is bullying. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) stated that Indonesia is ranked first in the position of bullying cases in ASEAN with 84% confirmed in 2023, and according to data from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) Bullying cases are quite a worrying issue in the school environment. Data records that there will be at least 1,478 cases of bullying reported in 2023. Bullying makes it difficult for children to interact well in their social environment and this can hinder the child's development process. This research was conducted to identify the relationship between bullying behavior and social interactions in school-age children at SDN 22, Jambi City. The research method used was quantitative research using a cross sectional approach. The research population was students of SDN 22 Jambi City grades IV, V, VI, totaling 103 samples taken using total sampling techniques. This research uses a questionnaire instrument. The analytical test used is Spearman Rho. The results of the research show that generally the bullying behavior data is in the low category of 96 respondents (93.2%) and most social interactions are in the good category of 80 respondents (77.7%). The test results obtained were (p 0.01<0.05). The conclusion is that there is a relationship between bullying behavior and social interaction in school-age children at SDN 22 Jambi City. It is hoped that the results of the research will be used as material for consideration by schools in providing guidance and counseling support services, so that students can understand the limits of social interaction.

Analysis of the Long-Term Interaction Between Molten Core and Dry Concrete at Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1

The latest investigations of Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 have demonstrated that corium attack to the pedestal walls and pedestal floor has occurred in Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 to a certain extent. The results of past analytical benchmarks, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Benchmark Study of the Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (BSAF project), have agreed with this finding. However, the latest investigation does not show evidence of unlimited molten core–concrete interaction (MCCI), which is one of the main discrepancies from the BSAF project. More recently a MCCI benchmark has been launched in the context of the OECD/NEA project ARC-F (Analysis of Information from Reactor Building and Containment Vessels of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station). In the benchmark, common geometry, boundary, and initial conditions have been selected among all the participants. The results show an improved agreement among different codes for what concerns overall erosion, corium temperature, and hydrogen generation, confirming that to some extent, the earlier scatter found in these variables came from differences in the MCCI scenario modeled by each partner. However, common unlimited erosion, not observed by onsite visual inspections, is still predicted. Understanding the origin of this deviation might provide insights into boundary conditions, model drawbacks, or ill-posed assumptions that might need to be revisited (e.g. interfacial temperature, effective heat transfer coefficients, concrete heat transfer). In this paper, a summary of the overall results and a discussion of modeling and boundary conditions is presented to disclose the results of the activity and the future steps to be taken in the OECD/NEA project FACE (Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident Information Collection and Evaluation).

Study on the preparation of green tea hand wash gel

Green tea exhibits beneficial effects on the skin, such as deodorization, antibacterial properties, sun protection, and antioxidant activity. Formulating hand wash from green tea leverages these advantages in personal hygiene products. This study was conducted to investigate the ratios of surfactants, thickeners, and moisturizers in the formulation of hand wash gel containing green tea. Nine different formulations with surfactant ratios ranging from 9-15%, thickener ratios 1-2%, and moisturizer ratios 5-9% were examined. Sensory characteristics, pH, dirt dispersion ability, viscosity, foam height, and foam stability were evaluated to select the most appropriate formulation. The results showed that the F8 formulation had suitable sensory characteristics, a pH of 5.53, good dirt dispersion ability, a viscosity of 152.6 Cps, a foam height of 5.1 cm, and foam stability of 94.12%. According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines, the product did not exhibit skin irritation in tests conducted on rabbits.Thus, the optimal formulation for green tea hand wash gel was determined to include 1% green tea extract (dry extract form), 12% surfactant, 1.5% thickener, 7% moisturizer, other additives, and water to make up to 100%.

A standardized chamuangone enriched extract from Garcinia cowa Roxb. leaves shows acute and sub-acute safety

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe safety assessment of herbal products is critical for their appropriate pharmacological applications. Garcinia cowa Roxb., commonly known as Cha-muang in Thai, has ethnopharmacological relevance for inflammation, infectious diseases, and diabetes. The leaf extracts of G. cowa have been extensively reported for their anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects. Notably, chamuangone is their major active constituent that contributes to various pharmacological properties. Aim of the studyThe current study aims to establish a standardized chamuangone enriched extract (CEE) and assess its acute and sub-acute toxicities in animal models. MethodologyCEE was established from G. cowa leaves using a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), followed by fractionation and enrichment through silica gel vacuum and column chromatography. The concentration of chamuangone in the extract was quantified using a validated quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The safety profiles of CEE were thoroughly evaluated in rodents according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 425 and 407 guidelines. The effects on oxidative stress markers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also evaluated in various organs. ResultsBased on the quantitative HPLC analysis, the CEE contained 73.0 ± 2.0% w/w of chamuangone. In the acute toxicity study, following up and down procedure the female rats were dosed with CEE at 1750 and 550 mg/kg body weight (b.w.), with CEE 1750 mg/kg b.w. was toxic, causing mortality, while CEE 550 mg/kg b.w. was deemed safe. An LD50 value was calculated according to the standard protocols, resulting in 970 mg/kg b.w. In histopathological examination, 550 mg/kg b.w. of CEE was safe in all the selected organs, while the 1750 mg/kg b.w. CEE treated rats exhibited toxic effects in histological tissues sections in the form of necrosis in the brain, cardiac muscle hypertrophy, liver inflammation, mild untoward effect in the spleen, fibrosis in the lungs, pancreatitis, pyelonephritis, and ovarian cyst. Administration of CEE at doses of 550 mg/kg b.w. (single dose) in the acute and 100 mg/kg b.w. (regularly 28-days) in the sub-acute toxicity studies significantly (p < 0.05) decreased levels of uric acid, triglycerides, and cholesterol. Importantly, the CEE (550 and 100 mg/kg b.w.) also significantly increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH, and CAT) and decreased MDA levels. Normal histopathology was observed in the sub-acute toxicity study in all treated groups. ConclusionThis study successfully concludes that CEE at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.w. is safe for therapeutic application or use as a chemopreventive functional food utilizing green extraction methods. However, chronic toxicity studies are further recommended to validate safety concerns over an extended period.

A 90-day subchronic exposure to heated tobacco product aerosol caused differences in intestinal inflammation and microbiome dysregulation in rats.

Smoking is one of the most important predisposing factors of intestinal inflammatory diseases. Heated tobacco product (HTP) is a novel tobacco category that is claimed to deliver reduced chemicals to human those reported in combustible cigarette smoke (CS). However, the effect of HTP on intestine is still unknown. In the framework of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines 413 guidelines, Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to HTP aerosol and CS for 13 weeks. The atmosphere was characterized and oxidative stress and inflammation of intestine were investigated after exposure. Furthermore, the faeces we performed with 16S sequencing and metabolomics analysis. HTP aerosol and CS led to obvious intestinal damage evidenced by increased intestinal pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in male and female rats After HTP and CS exposure, the abundance that obviously changed were Lactobacillus and Turiciacter in male rats and Lactobacillus and Prevotella in female rats. HTP mainly induced the metabolism of amino acids and fatty acyls such as short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan, while CS involved into the main metabolism of bile acids, especially indole and derivatives. Although different metabolic pathways in the gut mediated by HTP and CS, both to inflammation and oxidative stress were ultimately induced. HTP aerosol and CS induced intestinal damage mediated by different gut microbiota and metabolites, while both lead to inflammation and oxidative stress. The concentration of various harmful components in heated tobacco product aerosol is reported lower than that of traditional cigarette smoke, however, its health risk impact on consumers remains to be studied. Our research findings indicate that heated tobacco product and cigarette smoke inhalation induced intestinal damage through different metabolic pathways mediated by gut microbiome, indicating the health risk of heated tobacco product in intestine.

Method validation, residue behaviour and dietary risk assessment of insecticides (cyantraniliprole, acetamiprid, flubendiamide and its metabolite, des-iodo flubendiamide) in or on broccoli using LC-MS/MS.

Residue behaviour and dietary risk assessment of cyantraniliprole, flubendiamide and acetamiprid in broccoli were carried out using the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) technique coupled with LC-MS/MS. The QuEChERS technique was validated on parameters such as linearity, accuracy, precision, robustness, matrix effects, limit of quantification (LOQ), specificity, retention time and ion ratio as per SANTE (Directorate General for Health and Food Safety) guidelines to attest to the specificity, accuracy and precision of the analytical method in estimating insecticide residues in and on broccoli heads and cropped soil. The LOQ of the method for all three insecticides was 0.01 mg/kg. The initial deposits of cyantraniliprole, flubendiamide and acetamiprid reduced to half of its concentration in 1.873-2.354, 1.975-2.484 and 1.371-1.620 days, respectively. No residues were detected in broccoli-cropped soil at harvest time (30 days after last spray). The proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) of 1.5, 0.5-0.9 and 2.0-3mg/kg for cyantraniliprole, flubendiamide and acetamiprid were calculated using the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development MRL calculator. The acute and chronic dietary risk assessment of the tested insecticides identified no appreciable dietary risk to the Indian population from the consumption of broccoli heads. The findings of no dietary risk highlight the importance of informed pesticide usage in broccoli and the proposed MRL derived from this study offers crucial guidelines for the regulatory authorities, ensuring the safety of broccoli consumption.

ЭКОНОМИКО-ПРАВОВОЙ АНАЛИЗ ПРОТИВОДЕЙСТВИЯ НАЛОГОВОЙ ПРЕСТУПНОСТИ: ОПЫТ ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВА И РАЗВИТИЯ И ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ ЕГО ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ В РОССИИ

The fight against tax crimes requires the use of complex strategies based on principles such as the development and implementation of unified standards and mechanisms for countering tax crimes and economic incentives for voluntary compliance with legislation. The purpose of the article is to consider the economic and legal specifics of the global and national nature of countering tax crimes using the example of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to find new effective mechanisms based on closer international cooperation and unification of national legislation. The results showed a direct correlation between differences in national legislation countering illegal actions by taxpayers, and empirical data obtained mainly through field and laboratory experiments demonstrate the importance of taking into account social, cultural and psychological aspects that have a direct impact on the perception of tax crime in countries.

Educational inequalities in deaths of despair in 14 OECD countries: a cross-sectional observational study

BackgroundDeaths of despair are a key contributor to stagnating life expectancy in the USA, especially among those without a university-level education, but these findings have not been compared internationally.MethodsMortality and...

Resident Communities and Perception of Tourism Sustainability in Sun And Beach Destinations: An Empirical Analysis in The Province of Manabí (Ecuador)

Objective: To know the perception of the resident population on the multidimensional variables of sustainable tourism in sun and beach destinations in the province of Manabí, Ecuador. Theoretical reference: Within this process, methodologies developed by researchers who have worked in nature tourism, conservation and sustainable development were used. The contributions used as theoretical reference are related to the Organization for World Economic Cooperation and Development and its Pressure-State-Response model (OECD 1993); the methodology designed by Torres and Guzmán (2020) through the ISSOT tool to study the variables associated with the multidimensional nature of sustainable tourism or those developed by Casas et al. (2017) and Salvatore, Chiodo and Fantinni (2018). Method: This study was developed through mixed research with an exploratory descriptive approach. For this research, the use of the deductive method was considered for the processing and analysis of data and information collected. From the processed data, a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data was implemented to achieve a greater understanding of the perception that residents have regarding the impacts generated by tourism in these destinations. Results and conclusion: The results analyzed in this work aim to make contributions to the orientation, design and implementation of public policies in Ecuadorian sun and beach destinations based on a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable tourism development. This requires considering that the benefits and costs perceived by residents play a fundamental role in the local tourism development process, as they will have a greater willingness to accept this development to the extent that the former surpass the latter. Implications of the research: The results of this research have served to validate the criteria, guidelines and variables related to the planning, management and sustainable development of tourism in the territory, all with a strategic and sustainable long-term approach that allows generating positive benefits for local rural populations without degrading ecosystems and through the conservation of natural heritage. Originality/value: This work is an authentic and original work that has been developed for several years through the Academy and scientific research in different territories of continental and insular Ecuador, which seeks to establish real data that allows generating valuable information for more effective and efficient decision making from the point of sustainability and local development.

Do farmers prefer result-based, hybrid or practice-based agri-environmental schemes?

Abstract This study examines farmers’ preferences for practice-based, result-based and hybrid agri-environmental schemes in three countries through a choice experiment conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, focusing on biodiversity, climate and water quality. The results reveal that, in general, farmers tend to prefer practice-based schemes for water quality or climate change mitigation goals over hybrid or result-based schemes. Moreover, the study indicates that only a limited number of hybrid schemes are both preferred by farmers and more socially beneficial compared to equivalent practice- or result-based schemes. These conclusions are further reinforced by a cost-benefit analysis.

Miniaturizing Nanotoxicity Assays in Daphnids.

The rapid progress of the modern world has resulted in new materials and products created at an accelerating pace. As such, nanoparticles have widespread applications and often find their way into the aquatic ecosystem. In the case of freshwater ecosystems, one of the commonly used bioindicators species used for pollution assessment is Daphnid magna. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and other organizations such as the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have set guidelines for acute toxicity testing in daphnids that are severely lacking in terms of information on the characteristics of the exposure vessel when studying the adverse effects of nanoparticles (NPs). Understanding the toxicity mechanisms of nanomaterials is imperative given the scarcity of information on their adverse effects. Furthermore, miniaturization of nanotoxicity assays can reduce the number of daphnids used, as well as the cost and nanomaterial waste, and provide results even at the individual animal level with enhanced reproducibility of testing. In this study, the impact of the exposure vessel on the observed physiological changes of daphnids was investigated for a silver nano ink. Exposures in eleven commercially available vessels; nine made of plastic and two made of glass were compared for 24 h. The effect of surface to volume ratio of the exposure vessel and the animal number or "crowding" during exposure was investigated in the context of miniaturizing biomarker assays as alternatives to traditional experimental setups in Daphnid magna. Toxicity curves showed differences depending on the vessel used, while a novel feeding rate assay and the activity of key enzymes were assessed as physiology endpoints.

Analyses of Jet Buoyant Flow in a Multicompartment Containment Using an Open-Source Solver

Hydrogen mixing and distribution in a nuclear power plant containment during a postulated severe accident is a phenomenon with high safety relevance for current and advanced light water reactors. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) SESAR Thermal-Hydraulics (SETH) project was carried out to generate experimental data on basic containment phenomena with the required instrumentation to assess computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and lumped parameter codes. In this paper, we analyze the PANDA SETH Test 16 of the OECD/NEA SETH project using containmentFOAM, which is a tailored open-source CFD code package for containment analysis developed at Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH based on OpenFOAM.® SETH Test 16 addressed steam-air mixture transport driven by jets and plumes in the multicompartment PANDA facility (two vessels and an interconnecting pipe) at the Paul Scherrer Institut in Switzerland. Steam as a wall plume was injected at 0.040 kg/s and 140°C in vessel 1, which was initially filled with dry air at 108°C. The steam-air mixture was vented out from the top of vessel 2. The system pressure was constant at 1.3 bar for the whole test duration (4000 s). To simulate SETH Test 16, the k-ω shear stress transport turbulence model was adopted with the generalized gradient diffusive hypothesis buoyancy turbulence model. The simulation represented the experimental phenomenology reasonably well. The trends for the calculated temperature distribution were similar to those of the experiments and only yielded a slight discrepancy of about 2.7%. In addition, the distribution of the steam molar fraction was well predicted above the injection tube in vessel 1. However, below the injection tube in vessel 1, some discrepancies between the simulations and the experimental results were observed. These may have been caused by the higher turbulent mass diffusivity in the physical model and the challenge of the mesh resolution in the middle region of vessel 1.

Unveiling underutilized public data on Canadian industrial pollutant transfers and disposals

ABSTRACT Over 50 nations worldwide have Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs), including Canada’s National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI), which comprise large public datasets of chemical releases to air, water, and land and also transfers to various on and off-site waste management practices. These inventories aim to support a myriad of audiences in pollution-related decision-making. While the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) framed a role for PRTRs as indicators for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 - the sound management of chemicals and wastes, research to date has focused only on air and water releases, omitting vast PRTR data on pollutant transfers to waste management. For Canada’s NPRI, 30 years of waste management transfers data on 250+ chemicals has been collected but rarely used in environmental research. Here we show how this overlooked NPRI data may be used to inform snapshots and trends in progress towards SDG 12 using the OECD’s framework. Results show that over 28 million (M) tonnes (t) of NPRI pollutants have been transferred from industrial facilities to various waste management practices from 2006 to 2021, of which ~10M t were transferred off-site for waste management operations both within and outside Canada. Time trends show pollutant transfer quantities are increasing, driven by on-site disposals to tailings and waste rock management (of mainly phosphorous, manganese and other metals) and underground injection (of mainly hydrogen sulphide). New route maps reveal that interprovincial and international pollutant transfers are common, and that chain of custody analyses is a burgeoning opportunity but hampered by data limitations. The findings create a state of the knowledge launching point for mainstreaming the use of this overlooked data from both Canada’s NPRI and PRTRs around the world, to better track both national and international progress towards sound management of chemicals in waste and SDG 12. Implications: Pollutant transfers and disposals data has not previously been widely used in environmental research. This paper shows how it can be, in the context of SDG 12. Doing so can inspire uptake by researchers and a range of other public users, both strengthening the justification for collecting this data, and bolstering public participation in environmental decision-making from a local to global scale. Doing so also provides the foundation for more in-depth analysis on the domestic and international transboundary movement of Canadian industrial pollutants in waste in the lens of SDG 12 – a topic that was beyond scope here but addressed elsewhere.

Tax administration of digital economy: Concepts, problems and directions of development

The article argues that the international business landscape has changed due to advances in information and communication technologies (ICT), which have led to digital transformation in all sectors of the economy. These processes have required legislators to urgently adapt traditional taxation methods to the digital economy. The author considers the concept of digital economy, its implications for tax systems. An attempt is made to analyze the main problems in the context of tax administration of the digital economy. According to the author, the current rules governing international taxation are designed to apply to enterprises physically present in the country and are not suitable for “digital” companies that do not have an identifiable physical presence in the states in which they conduct economic activities. The current proposed solutions to tax problems are analyzed: the concept of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) within the framework of work on BEPS, unilateral introduction of digital service tax by countries or application of indirect taxes (VAT, WHT, etc.), the concept of “profit sharing”, changing the definition of permanent establishment by creating a new concept of “virtual (digital) permanent establishment”. It is concluded that the first component of the OECD concept and amending bilateral international tax conventions to include the definition of digital representation seem to be the most promising development options.

Analysing FDI inflow effects on CO2 emissions: a comparative study of OECD and BRICS nations with PHH and PHE models

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the correlation between foreign direct investment (FDI) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in emerging economies, with a particular emphasis on Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries along with 10 the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development nations. Design/methodology/approach This study uses quantitative research methods and econometric analysis to investigate the relationship between FDI inflows and CO2 emissions in selected countries. Specifically, the research concentrates on assessing the impact of FDI on CO2 emissions within the BRICS countries. By examining data spanning from 2000 to 2003, the study aims to shed light on the interaction between economic integration and environmental sustainability dynamics on a global scale. Findings The results of this study highlight notable contributors to CO2 emissions within the BRICS countries, identifying Switzerland, Denmark and the UK as significant sources. These findings support the notion of a pollution haven, underscoring the influence of FDI in moulding environmental outcomes in developing economies. Research limitations/implications Drawing from the study’s outcomes, suggestions are put forth to foster sustainable development strategies. It is recommended that BRICS nations prioritize the attraction of environmentally aware FDI to bolster efforts aimed at mitigating environmental harm. Originality/value This study adds to the ongoing discussion surrounding sustainable development by offering a concentrated analysis of how FDI influences CO2 emissions within BRICS countries. Its novelty lies in questioning traditional assumptions about environmental accountability and emphasizing the necessity for cooperative endeavours between emerging and developed economies to effectively tackle global environmental issues.

Consumer Protection Frameworks by Enhancing Market Fairness, Accountability and Transparency (FAT) for Ethical Consumer Decision-Making: Integrating Circular Economy Principles and Digital Transformation in Global Consumer Markets

This research explores the evolving role of consumer protection laws for enhancing market fairness, accountability, and transparency (FAT) to facilitate informed consumer decision-making within the digital economy. Exploring international standards by The United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection (UNGCP), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), as well as regional initiatives like the European Commission's, the study investigates circular economy principles for consumer resilience and marginalized groups such as low-income populations and rural communities. Utilizing a normative and exploratory research approach, data is gathered from global policy documents and scholarly sources. Comparative qualitative analysis is conducted to identify standard practices. The significance of adopting consumer protection frameworks to study the intricacies of digital transactions and environmental sustainability and its impact on consumer protection law, which will help citizens make informed decisions. This study highlights innovative strategies, such as the OECD’s guidelines for e-commerce and national policies promoting circular economy principles. By exploring case studies from countries like Germany, the Netherlands, China, Japan, India and Oman for circular economy practices and Sweden, the United States, Armenia, Australia and Oman for financial sector improvements, the research provides the framework for improving consumer protection policies globally.

Perceptions and preferences for redistribution

Abstract The relationship between the degree of inequality and the demand for redistribution has been a central question in political science and political economy. The famous median-voter model predicts that higher inequality, reflected in a growing gap between the income of the average and the median voter, should lead to increased demand for redistribution, as policymakers cater to the median voter’s preferences. Yet data from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries show that, despite increases in inequality in those countries, there was no corresponding increase in demand for redistribution. Part of the explanation of this puzzle lies in the realization that it is not only (or even mainly) reality but also perceptions that shape support for policy. This article will explore recent evidence, using large-scale social economics surveys and experiments, that sheds light on beliefs about inequality, social mobility, diversity and immigration, social position, and understanding of how policies work.