Probit Model Research Articles

Effects of gender and agricultural cooperatives on biodiversity conservation farming practices: evidence from an emerging economy

PurposeThis study explores the effects of gender and participation in agricultural cooperatives on biodiversity conservation farming practices in vegetable production.Design/methodology/approachThis study used data collected from a survey of 627 vegetable farmers in Viet Nam and employed the Ordered Probit regression model to examine the effects of gender and participation in agricultural cooperatives on biodiversity conservation farming practices.FindingsWe find that female vegetable farmers are more likely to conduct biodiversity conservation farming practices than male farmers. This gender difference is, however, removed when participation in agricultural cooperatives is controlled, suggesting that agricultural cooperatives effectively facilitate biodiversity conservation farming practices.Research limitations/implicationsIt is noted that our study is not free from some limitations. First, we conducted our study on vegetable farmers only. The biodiversity conservation practices in vegetable cultivation might be different from other types of farming. Future studies should be conducted with other types of agricultural cultivation. Second, we do not have enough data to explain why female farmers are more likely to adopt biodiversity conservation practices than male farmers. Future studies should capture biological and social aspects of gender differences to address this limitation.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on biodiversity conservation by presenting empirical evidence on the effects of gender and agricultural cooperatives. Participation in agricultural cooperatives is revealed to facilitate the adoption of biodiversity conservation practices. In addition, we find that the education of farmers, the number of years that farmers have been living in the local area and the quality of land and water are positively related to the adoption of biodiversity conservation practices in vegetable production.

Analysis of the Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on the Well-being of Rural Residents

Improving the sense of well-being, gain, and security among rural residents has become one of the important tasks for promoting high-quality rural economic development and achieving rural revitalization. This paper, based on data from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) from 2015 to 2019, constructs an Ordered Probit model to study and analyze the impact and mechanism of digital inclusive finance on the well-being of rural residents. The results indicate that digital inclusive finance can enhance the well-being of rural residents, and the indices of coverage breadth, usage depth, and digitalization all have significant positive effects on the well-being of rural residents. In terms of the mechanism, digital inclusive finance improves the income of rural residents, promotes entrepreneurship among them, and enhances their financial literacy, thereby increasing their well-being. At the same time, digital inclusive finance has a greater impact on the well-being of samples from rural areas in the central and eastern regions, as well as among rural women and middle-aged and elderly groups.

Determinants of health prevention behaviors in Portugal

Abstract Background One of the main causes of death in developed societies are chronic non-communicable diseases, often originated by risky behaviors as tobacco consumption, poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption and lack of physical activity. Changing lifestyles can thus lead to a reduction in chronic diseases and in their economic costs. The objective of this study is to understand what the main factors associated with health behaviors are. Methods We used the data collected through the Portuguese National Health Surveys from 2014 and 2019. The sample analyzed was composed of individuals aged 15 or more years old living in the national territory at the time the surveys were conducted. Data on demographics, socio-economic variables and health related variables was used. A maximum likelihood estimation was performed using a multivariate probit model, by using health behaviors (weekly exercise, healthy diet, non-smoking, and prudent alcohol consumption) as the outcomes of the analysis. Results The results point to a strong association between social class and health behaviors, particularly between higher income and healthy diet. It is important to highlight that having an appointment with a General Practitioner is positively associated with all healthy behaviors. For all behaviors but healthy diet, the coefficients are statistically significant at a 5% significance level and non-smoking displays the highest one (0.135). Conclusions This study presents the first step to understand the determinants of health prevention behaviors, which is important to design policies targeting lifestyles. One of its main conclusions indicates that social class (income and education) and GP appointments are associated with health behaviors. Further research would be needed to study the underlying mechanisms through which some of these factors impact behaviors. This presentation was supported by National Funds through FCT, I.P., within CINTESIS, R&D Unit (reference UIDB/4255/2020). Key messages • This study is an important step in the formulation of policies targeting lifestyles since it allows us to understand which factors are associated with health behaviors. • From this study one can conclude that social class characteristics, particularly income, and access to GP appointments are associated positively with health behaviors.

Program Keluarga Harapan and Senior Secondary Out-of-School Rates

Research Originality: The novelty of this study lies in its use of a combined approach of probit analysis and propensity score matching to evaluate the impact of the Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH) on reducing out-of-school rates at the senior high school level, specifically before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.Research Objectives: The study aims to empirically assess the effectiveness of PKH in enhancing educational outcomes to break the cycle of poverty.Research Methods: The study also utilizes recent data from 2019 and 2022, reflecting the increased financial support of up to IDR 10 million per family per year. The analysis was conducted in two stages: first, on the overall sample of students from eastern Indonesia and other regions, and second, on a subsample of students in eastern Indonesia.Empirical Results: The results indicate that PKH was more effective in 2022, with a 2.3% reduction in the overall sample and a 1.4% reduction in the eastern Indonesian subsample in preventing students from dropping out of school compared to 2019.Implications: The study suggests that PKH can effectively support educational participation and reduce out-of-school rates, supplementing primary programs like PIP (Program Indonesia Pintar).JEL Classification: I26, I38

Effect of Offshoring on Exports of Firms in South Korea

This study empirically investigates the export-magnification effect of offshoring using a firm-level panel dataset from the manufacturing sector in South Korea. It estimates the impact of offshoring activities on export performance by examining intra-firm and arm’s length offshoring. The empirical evidence demonstrates the export-magnification effect of offshoring on both export market participation and export intensity. Particularly, the export-magnification effect of offshoring still exists among export entrants switching from non-exporters to exporters. Moreover, a greater export-magnification effect from intra-firm offshoring than from arm’s length offshoring is found using instrumental variable (IV) Tobit and probit models. This indicates that the vertical integration of production processes through intra-firm offshoring has a greater effect on export performance than international outsourcing to third parties.

Larvicidal Efficacy of <i>Cassia singueana</i> methanol leaf extract against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i>

Despite the persistent control measures, mosquitoes remain abundant and the disease they transmit persists globally posing significant health challenges. There is increasing enthusiasm for exploring botanical solutions as substitutes for conventional chemical insecticides, driven by their broad insecticidal attributes, eco-friendly nature and compatibility with various ecological settings. As such, the study was designed to assess the larvicidal properties of methanol leaf extract of Cassia singueana against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. The plant was subjected to preliminary and GC-MS phytochemicals screening. Larvicidal bioassay was conducted using six different concentrations (0.10-3.20 mg/ml) and 31.25mg/l temphos and distilled water were used as positive and negative control respectively. The experimental set up was observed after 24 h and the lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC99) were determined using Probit analysis. Preliminary phytochemical screening of C. singueana methanol leaf extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides saponins, phenolic compounds, tannins, steroid carbohydrates, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Eighteen (18) bioactive compounds were identified in the methanol leaf extract of C. singueana which includes 1,5-Heptadien-3-yne, 2-Hydroxy-3-methylbenzaldehyde, 2-Butenoic acid, Acetonitrile, 2,2'-iminobis-, 7,11-Hexadecadienal,2-Hexyne, among others. The extract had larvicidal activity against A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus with LD99 of 5.44 mg/ml and 15.85 mg/ml respectively at 24 h post-treatment. This study offers valuable perspectives on the possible application and advancement of C. singueana leaf extract as a potential bioinsecticide against A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus and consequently control the diseases transmitted by them.

Examining the Determinants of Financial Inclusion in South Asian Countries

Financial inclusion is an important aspect of achieving economic growth in South Asia. The present study is offered to examine the key factors of financial inclusion in South Asian countries. The study considered the 2017 World Bank Global Findex database for the analysis. The probit regression model is used to find the relationship between financial inclusion and its determinants for individual country level as well as for the group of South Asian countries. The results have shown that socio-economic variables like age, gender, education, income and workforce are important factors of financial inclusion. The higher income quintiles, upper education classes and workforce participation have a higher probability of owning bank accounts and greater chances of accessing formal savings and borrowings. Female households are still vulnerable in the process of financial inclusion in South Asian countries. The study suggested that financial inclusion can be enhanced with higher education, higher income and more workforce participation. JEL Codes: G21, D14, C25

Consumer acceptance of bacteriophage technology for microbial control

As global concerns and awareness of the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) grow, the One Health initiative provides a framework to advance public understanding of and willingness to address AMR. The use of bacteriophages as a non-antibiotic means to control bacterial infections aligns with this framework, but it is unknown whether the use of new antibiotic alternatives, and bacteriophages in particular, will find acceptance among consumers. Within the context of poultry production and consumption, we sampled 1497 Pakistani consumers studying their knowledge of and familiarity with antibiotics, bacteriophages and AMR, whether they perceived AMR as a threat, and their willingness to accept alternative microbial control technologies. Additionally, we tested the impact information about bacteriophages had on the different concepts as well as respondents’ perception of different chicken quality attributes. Using both Probit and Multivariate Probit models we found that familiarity with antibiotics and bacteriophages is significantly associated with the acceptance of alternative microbial control technologies and perceptions of resulting products. Moreover, we find that providing information about the technology does not significantly alter respondent’s perception of most quality attributes.

Impacts of traumatic lifetime event on the likelihood of divorce

The possible pathway in which traumatic life events influence the likelihood of marriage dissolution has not been fully explored. In this study a case study of various countries were chosen to maximize the diversity. We examined the effects of various traumatic life events on the likelihood of divorce, while controlling demographic and psychological factors. We employed a mixed probit model on data collected from various countries, such as Turkey, Thailand during the period of 2015–2016. The considered variables in this study were divided into mental health, traumatic life events, and demographic characteristics along with other characteristics. Our results showed that factors such as traumatic life events, e.g., being cheated on, being emotionally or sexually abused, or being disabled, and having divorced parents are positively associated with a higher likelihood of divorce. On the other hand, factors such as better subjective life conditions, older age, and previous divorce are negatively associated with the likelihood of divorce. The results also revealed some interaction effects between different factors. The results emphasize the importance of supporting those who have undergone traumatic life events, by helping them not only with the related traumas, but also preparing them for having a successful marriage. The impacts are expected to be due to shattered assumption theory. This is one of the earliest studies to consider the impact of traumatic life events on the likelihood of divorce.

Determinants of driver injury severity in electric vehicle crashes: A random parameters binary probit model with heterogeneity in means and variances

This study aims to investigate the factors significantly affecting occupant injury severity in electric vehicle (EV) accidents, with a particular focus on traffic flow characteristics before accidents, which have often been overlooked in previous research. Using data on EV accidents from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, in Guangdong Province, China, this study considers various vehicle, road, weather, and pre-accident traffic flow characteristics. The research employs the random parameters binary probit model with heterogeneity in means and variances, comparing it with the binary probit model and the random parameters binary probit model to comprehensively address unobserved heterogeneity and further explain the factors contributing to the randomness of random variables. The results indicate that the random parameters binary probit model with heterogeneity in means and variances provides a superior fit. The findings reveal that variables such as the time of day, type of vehicle involved in the collision, color of EV, average morning/evening peak traveling hours significantly impact the severity of injuries in EV accidents. Additionally, the black indicator exhibits heterogeneity in mean and variance during the afternoon period. This study offers an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms behind driver injury severity in EV accidents and contributes to the development of effective countermeasures to protect drivers from severe injuries.

Balance or Quality: Impact of Part-Time Farming on the Nutrition and Health of Rural Residents

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between part-time farming and the nutrition and health of rural residents, test the possible effects through two potential pathways—income effect and time effect—and further analyze the family heterogeneity characteristic of downward intergenerational support. Using the ordered probit model and cross-sectional data from the China Rural Revitalization Comprehensive Survey (CRRS), which provide information on household income, health conditions, and nutritional caloric intake, this study estimates the relationship between part-time farming and the nutritional health of rural residents. The effects are decomposed into income (measured by dietary diversity scores and food consumption expenditures) and time effects (measured by excess caloric intake), with additional analysis on family heterogeneity concerning downward intergenerational support. Part-time farming positively correlates with rural residents’ nutritional health through two pathways: income effect (improved dietary diversity and increased food consumption) and time effect (negative impact of excessive caloric intake). Downward intergenerational support mitigates the negative time effect. This paper highlights the often-overlooked impact of part-time farming on rural nutrition and health, emphasizing non-linear effects and the significant role of downward intergenerational support, thus filling a gap in existing research.

Effect of different doses of esketamine on the median effective concentration of propofol for inhibiting body movement during hysteroscopy

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of various doses of esketamine on the median effective concentration (EC50) of propofol required for inhibiting body movement during hysteroscopy. Additionally, this research aims to explore the pharmacodynamic interactions between esketamine and propofol. Prospective, double-blind, up-down sequential allocation study. Operating room, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and general ward. A total of 90 patients were allocated into three groups in a randomized, double-blinded manner as follows: 0.1 mg/kg esketamine combined with propofol intravenous injection (EP0.1) group, 0.2 mg/kg esketamine combined with propofol intravenous injection (EP0.2) group, 0.3 mg/kg esketamine combined with propofol of intravenous injection (EP0.3) group. For the initial patient in each group, the starting effector target concentration of propofol was set at 4 µg/ml. Each patient received an initial intravenous injection of 0.04 mg/kg midazolam, followed by the administration of the appropriate dose of esketamine. Ten seconds after the esketamine injection, propofol was administered intravenously to achieve the target concentration. In accordance with the sequential method principle, the concentration of propofol for the subsequent patient was adjusted based on the response of the previous patient. Effective inhibition of body movement was defined as the absence of any involuntary body movements throughout the entire surgical process. If the previous patient exhibited body movements, the propofol concentration for the next patient was increased by 0.5 µg/ml; conversely, if no movements were observed, it was decreased by 0.5 µg/ml. The up-down sequential allocation method and probit regression were used to calculate the EC50 of propofol. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A) and Depression (HADS-D) score, adverse events, hemodynamic changes, demographic data and clinical characteristics. The EC50 of propofol was 3.849 μg/ml (95% CI: 3.419–4.281) in the EP0.1 group, 3.641 μg/ml (95% CI: 2.807−4.200) in the EP0.2 group, and 3.417 μg/ml (95% CI: 2.845–3.852) in the EP0.3 group. These findings suggest that esketamine can dose-dependently reduce the EC50 of propofol. Esketamine can dose-dependently reduce the EC50 of propofol in hysteroscopy, while concurrently lowering patients’ HADS-A and HADS-D scores 24 h post-operation. It is concluded that the optimal dose of esketamine, when combined with propofol for hysteroscopy, is 0.3 mg/kg.

Bayesian Multilayered Mediation Analysis for Cancer Pharmacogenomics

ABSTRACTMultiomic data from multilevel biological systems are becoming common and motivate integrative modelling approaches to decipher within‐ and cross‐platform dependencies. Mediation analysis aims to identify mediating mechanisms that regulate the effect of an exposure on an outcome. In multiomic contexts, identification of genomic mediators of disease outcomes provides a deeper understanding of mechanisms of disease and corresponding therapeutic targets. While there has been significant work on joint modelling of high‐dimensional potential mediators, approaches that can identify individual mediators in presence of high‐dimensional potential mediators are lacking. We posit that the multiomic data are interrelated following multilayered Gaussian graphical models that include undirected and directed acyclic graphs as special cases. We develop a Bayesian inferential framework for multilayered mediation analysis with continuous, binary, and ordinal outcomes using probit models. As opposed to existing approaches focusing on identifying joint mediation effects, we decompose the joint effect into effects attributable to individual mediators in the framework of interventional mediation analysis. Simulations demonstrate our method outperforms other existing approaches to identify mediators that have nonzero indirect effects to the outcome. We apply our method to multiomic analysis on drug sensitivity outcomes of palbociclib and agents for endocrine therapy, standard care for breast cancer.

The effect of internet use on the health of middle-aged and older adults: evidences from China general social survey

BackgroundAccording to the United Nations classification of aging societies, China is rapidly transitioning into a moderately aging society, facing significant challenges related to population aging. Concurrently, China is actively implementing the Internet Power Strategy and the Internet Plus action plan, which are profoundly transforming the daily lives of individuals, including their health status. However, research on the impact of internet use on the health of middle-aged and older adults has not reached a consensus. This study aims to investigate the effects of internet use on the health of middle-aged and older adults, as well as the mechanisms and heterogeneity of these effects.MethodsThis study utilized data from the China General Social Survey conducted in 2018, which includes a sample of 6470 individuals. Self-rated health, mental health, and objective health were used as key health indicators, with internet use identified as the primary independent variable. The study aims to analyze the impact of internet use on the health status of middle-aged and older adults through the application of an ordered probit model and instrumental variable methods.ResultsThe results indicate that internet use has a significant positive impact on the health of middle-aged and older adults, with significance at the 1% level. This finding has passed a series of robustness tests. Mechanism analysis reveals that information acquisition is a crucial mediating mechanism between internet use and the health of middle-aged and older adults. This suggests that increased internet use enhances information access, thereby improving health outcomes. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis shows that the impact of internet use on health is more pronounced among individuals living in rural areas, western regions, low-income groups, and those aged under 60, compared to their counterparts in urban areas, eastern regions, higher-income brackets, and those aged 60 and above.ConclusionInternet use can improve the health of middle-aged and older adults. Therefore, government departments, senior universities, communities, and families should collaborate to actively conduct digital skills training for older adults. Additionally, efforts should be accelerated to adapt electronic products to be more elder-friendly, helping older adults overcome the digital divide and thereby reducing health inequalities among middle-aged and older groups.

Social Determinants of Health and US Health Care Expenditures by Insurer

US health expenditures have been growing at an unsustainable rate, while health inequities and poor outcomes persist. Targeting social determinants of health (SDOH) may contribute to identifying and controlling health care expenditures. To determine whether SDOH are associated with US health care expenditures by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers. Cross-sectional study of adults, representing the US civilian, noninstitutionalized population with Medicare, Medicaid, or private coverage, from the 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel SDOH Survey. Data analysis was conducted from October 2023 to April 2024. SDOH as individual-level, health-related social needs categorized by Healthy People 2030 domains: (1) educational access and quality, (2) health care access and quality, (3) neighborhood and built environment,(4) economic stability, and (5) social and community context. The primary outcome was health care expenditures (US dollars) by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers. A 2-part econometric model (probit regression model and generalized linear model with gamma distribution) was used. Among the 14 918 insured adults in the analytic sample (mean [SD] age, 52.5 [17.9] years; 8471 female [56.8%]), the majority had middle to high family income (10 524 participants [70.5%]) and were privately insured (10 227 participants [68.5%]). Annual median (IQR) expenditure was $1648 ($389-$7126) for Medicaid, $3643 ($1321-$10 519) for Medicare, and $1369 ($456-$4078) for private insurers. Educational attainment and social isolation were associated with Medicaid expenditures. Medicaid beneficiaries with a high school diploma or general educational development certificate had on average (mean difference) $2245.39 lower annual Medicaid expenditures (95% CI, -$3700.97 to -$789.80) compared with beneficiaries with less than high school attainment. Compared with those who never felt isolated, Medicaid beneficiaries who often felt isolated had on average $2706.94 (95% CI, $1339.06-$4074.82) higher annual Medicaid expenditures. Health care access, built environment, and economic stability were associated with Medicare expenditures. Medicare beneficiaries living in neighborhoods with lower availability of parks had on average $5959.27 (95% CI, $1679.99 to $10 238.55) higher annual Medicare expenditures. Medicare beneficiaries who were very confident in covering unexpected expenses had on average $3743.98 lower annual Medicare expenditures (95% CI, -$6500.68 to -$987.28) compared with those who were not confident. Medical discrimination and economic stability were associated with private expenditures. Private insurance beneficiaries who experienced medical discrimination had on average $2599.93 (95% CI, $863.71-$4336.15) higher annual private expenditures compared with those who did not. Private beneficiaries who were contacted by debt collections in the past year had on average $2033.34 (95% CI, $896.82 to $3169.86) higher annual private expenditures compared with those who were not contacted. In this cross-sectional study of 14 918 insured adults, individual-level SDOH were significantly associated with US health care expenditures by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers. These findings may inform health insurers and policymakers to incorporate SDOH in their decision-making practices to identify and control health care expenditures, advancing health equity.

Prevalence of depression and associated factors among adolescents in Uttar Pradesh, India: insights from UDAYA wave-1

ABSTRACT Mental health issues, especially depression among adolescents is a global concern. This study focuses on understanding the prevalence and factors influencing depression among adolescents in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. The study was utilized data from the Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) survey (Wave-1) conducted in 2015–16 among adolescents (aged 10–19 years). Bi-variate analysis, t-test, ANOVA, and ordered probit regression were employed for statistical analysis (N = 8,363). The ordered probit model demonstrated significant associations with higher depression among older adolescents (coef. = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.24), females (coef. = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.26), those with higher schooling (coef. = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.33), and non-Hindu individuals (coef. = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.15). Additionally, depression was notably higher in the richest households (coef. = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.23), with high parental interaction (coef. = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.21), and high peer interaction (coef. = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.31). Conversely, lower depression was linked to good academic performance (coef. = -0.10; 95% CI: −0.18, −0.02), belonging to OBC (coef. = -0.11; 95% CI: −0.18, −0.05), and general (coef. = -0.09; 95% CI: −0.17, −0.01) categories. The study concludes that addressing adolescent depression in UP requires a nuanced approach considering demographic, socio-economic, and interpersonal factors. Interventions should target vulnerable groups while addressing academic stress, promoting positive social interactions, and providing mental health support. Further research is needed to explore underlying mechanisms and develop effective strategies for improving adolescent mental well-being in the region.

The impact of rural health insurance on vulnerability to chronic poverty among rural residents in China: analysis using Probit and IVprobit models.

Poverty is a global problem, and combating it is a major governance issue worldwide. In China, poverty management efforts have shifted from eliminating absolute poverty to managing relative poverty. One of the most important tasks in managing relative poverty in the post-poverty reduction era is to prevent recurring poverty due to illness. Rural health insurance is an important method of preventing and mitigating disease risk and a key part of China's poverty reduction policy, including among rural residents. However, the mechanism by which basic health insurance alleviates vulnerability to poverty, the causal effect of rural health insurance on vulnerability to poverty, and differences based on having a second health insurance policy and by age and income have not been sufficiently explored. Therefore, this study examined the impact of rural health insurance on vulnerability to long-term poverty among rural residents in China. In addition, this study evaluated the impact of having a second health insurance policy and differences in the effects of rural health insurance by age and income. This study used data from the 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 China Family Panel Studies. Household-related characteristics, such as finance, education, and healthcare, were retrieved from the household database; while data on healthcare expenditures, healthcare insurance, and personal-related characteristics were retrieved from the adult database. Robustness tests were conducted with Probit models, and endogeneity tests were conducted with IVprobit models. Vulnerability to poverty was significantly lower among residents with rural health insurance than those without any health insurance coverage, and this difference was observed across age and income groups. These findings were consistently robust and significant after controlling for endogeneity, considering sample selectivity, and eliminating measurement bias in the core variables. The findings indicate that rural health insurance is an important tool for poverty alleviation. The current results could effectively reduce the economic vulnerability of rural households facing health risks, ensuring broader economic security. Moreover, these findings provide policy references for managing relative poverty in China.

Present bias and its influence on financial behaviours amongst Indians

PurposePresent bias (PB) is a cognitive bias that stimulates the individual decision-maker to favour the present reward even over the higher reward in the future to avoid the uncertainty attached to the reward in an uncertain future. The article attempts to examine the prevalence of PB amongst Indians and the effect of such bias on savings and borrowings.Design/methodology/approachSecondary data on 47,132 respondents from the Financial Inclusion Insights, 2017 database was used in the study. The theory of self-control, which is captured by the widely accepted hyperbolic discounting model, was used to explore the presence of PB. Suitable statistical techniques and the binary probit regression model were employed to attain the objectives of the study.FindingsThe prevalence of PB was found amongst 8.2% of the sample respondents. The outcome of the study endorses the view of previous researchers that present-biased people tend to save less and borrow more.Originality/valueAlthough the exploration of the role of various cognitive biases on financial behaviour is gaining momentum in recent times, there is a dearth of studies exploring the prevalence of PB and its implication towards financial behaviour, especially in the context of the emerging economy of India. The study makes an original contribution in this regard by using a very rich dataset of 47,132 individuals in the Indian context for the first time.

Does smartphone use encourage farmers to participate in centralized household waste disposal?

The centralization of household waste disposal represents a significant stride toward achieving ecological viability in rural China. This initiative can substantially alleviate the grassroots government's burden of managing rural household waste. The proliferation and utilization of smartphones, a powerful tool that can expedite and reduce the cost of imparting environmental protection knowledge to producers, is a beacon of hope in the fight against waste. This article, utilizing Probit modeling and micro-survey data from 2126 agricultural households in China, examines the effect of smartphone usage on farmers' participation in centralized household waste disposal. The findings indicate that smartphone usage significantly enhances farmers' engagement in centralized domestic waste disposal, motivating them to participate actively. Notably, this finding persists even after robustness tests. Further heterogeneity analyses indicate that older and low-income populations exhibit a more pronounced level of engagement in centralized household waste disposal. This paper presents these findings and underscores the importance of the proposed policies to enhance farmers' consciousness regarding the environmental implications of smartphone usage. These policies are not just suggestions but urgent and necessary steps towards a more technologically advanced and efficient waste management system, and their implementation is crucial for the future of waste management.

The Impact of Financial Ratios on the Financial Health of Companies Listed on the Stock Exchange

Organizational stability, insolvency, financial hardship, and accounting data quality are all connected to a company's financial health. Examining the financial health of companies is important from various aspects, especially in light of globalization and the expansion of communications. There are multiple methods to assess the financial health of companies and predict financial bankruptcy, among which statistical techniques are prominent. This study investigates the financial ratios impacting the Logit model-based financial stability of businesses listed on stock exchanges. The members of the statistical sample include 152 businesses that are listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange since 2011 to 2021. To test the hypotheses, regression analysis and Logit and Probit models were employed using EViews software. The results indicated that profitability and agency costs have a significant impact on the financial health of companies. However, financial leverage, current ratio, cash holding level, and working capital to total assets did not significantly affect the financial health of the companies.