Rank Countries In Terms Research Articles

The Economics of Wildlife Trade and Consumption

The global wildlife trade dates to antiquity. Recently, its harms to endangered species, animal welfare, and public health have become critical to address. The complexities of the wildlife trade are numerous, including the fact that much of the economic activity is illegal and unobserved. We find that wildlife products are used for sustenance, signaling status, medicine, and entertainment. There is vast heterogeneity in products and species traded. Supply chains extend from biodiverse, low-income regions to richer countries or urban centers. Empirically, we use data findings from the literature to rank countries in terms of intensity of the wildlife trade and identify factors that contribute to wildlife trade. We also identify supply-side and demand-side interventions that can control abuse in wildlife trade. Innovative techniques for observation, econometric analysis, and enforcement are sorely needed to support effective policies to preserve the world's wildlife.

Evaluation of the Performance of world Countries' Health Systems in the Face of Covid-19 in Respect of Vaccination Role

Evaluation of the Performance of world Countries' Health Systems in the Face of Covid-19 in Respect of Vaccination Role

Foreign Direct Investment Attractiveness of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European Countries: The Importance of Policy-Related Location Advantages

The paper aims to enhance the discussion about foreign direct investment (FDI) attractiveness of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European (CESEE) countries, by focusing on those location determinants of FDI which fall within the scope of public policy. First, we summarize the literature on location advantages. Second, some general trends in FDI inflows to the CESEE region are outlined. Third, based on data for 15 CESEE countries in 2013 and 2017, we build a composite index, which allows us to rank countries in terms of their FDI attractiveness, as well as its most important policy-related dimensions, such as institutional framework, infrastructure endowment, labor force quality, and cost competitiveness. In addition to allowing comparison between economies across these dimensions, the results reveal areas in which some countries need improvement so that they can attract more FDI.

Economic complexity and the green economy

Which countries are likely to have the productive capabilities to thrive in the green economy? How might countries reorient their existing industrial structures to be more competitive in an environmentally friendly world? To investigate these questions, this paper develops a novel methodology for measuring productive capabilities to the green economy. By constructing a new comprehensive dataset of traded green products and drawing on economic complexity methods, we rank countries in terms of their ability to export complex green products competitively. We show that higher ranked countries are more likely to have higher environmental patenting rates, lower CO2 emissions, and more stringent environmental policies even after controlling for per capita GDP. We then examine countries' potential to transition into green products in the future and find strong path dependence in the accumulation of green capabilities. Our results shed new light on green industrialisation and have a number of implications for green industrial policy.

Sensitivity analysis as a tool to optimise Human Development Index

Research background: Composite indicators are commonly used as an approximation tool to measure economic development, the standard of living, competitiveness, fairness, effectiveness, and many others being willingly implemented into many different research disciplines. However, it seems that in most cases, the variable weighting procedure is avoided or erroneous since, in most cases, the so-called ?weights by belief? are applied. As research show, it can be frequently observed that weights do not equal importance in composite indicators. As a result, biased rankings or grouping of objects are obtained.
 Purpose of the article: The primary purpose of this article is to optimise and improve the Human Development Index, which is the most commonly used composite indicator to rank countries in terms of their socio-economic development. The optimisation will be done by re-scaling the current weights, so they will express the real impact of every single component taken into consideration during HDI?s calculation process.
 Methods: In order to achieve the purpose mentioned above, the sensitivity analysis tools (mainly the first-order sensitivity index) were used to determine the appropriate weights in the Human Development Index. In the HDI?s resilience evaluation process, the Monte Carlo simulations and full-Bayesian Gaussian processes were applied. Based on the adjusted weights, a new ranking of countries was established and compiled with the initial ranking using, among others, Kendall tau correlation coefficient.
 Findings & Value added: Based on the data published by UNDP for 2017, it has been shown that the Human Development Index is built incorrectly by putting equal weights for all of its components. The weights proposed by the sensitivity analysis better reflect the actual contribution of individual factors to HDI variability. Re-scaled Human Development Index constructed based on proposed weights allow for better differentiation of countries due to their socio-economic development.

Methodology and Model of Technologistics Index

In today’s competitive landscape, it is necessary for firms and countries to maintain a competitive edge so as to gain a new consciousness by bringing together technological knowledge and logistics mind. The name of this consciousness is Technologistics. Technologistics is a consciousness that provides a sustainable competitive advantage and advanced company performance to the firms that adds technological base and logistics mind to its management and operation processes. In this paper, it is aimed to develop an index to rank countries in terms of Technologistics performance. Therefore NRI, GII, LPI have been used and these indices have been linked to GDP according to the methodology of the new index. As a result of this paper, TLI was proposed as the most prominent indicator of competitive advantage.

Economic Complexity and the Green Economy

Which countries currently have the productive capabilities to thrive in the green economy? How might countries reorient their existing industrial structures to be more competitive in an environmentally friendly world? To investigate these questions, this paper develops a novel methodology for measuring productive capabilities to the green economy. By constructing a new and comprehensive dataset of traded green products and drawing on economic complexity methods, we rank countries in terms of their ability to export complex green products competitively. We show that higher ranked countries are more likely to have higher environmental patenting rates, lower CO2 emissions, and more stringent environmental policies even after controlling for per capita GDP. We then examine countries’ potential to transition into green products in the future and find strong path dependence in the accumulation of green capabilities. Our results shed new light on green industrialisation and have a number of implications for green industrial policy.

NATIONAL ICT, ECONOMIC FREEDOM AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: A CROSS-COUNTRY DYNAMIC PANEL DATA ANALYSIS

(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae omitted.)INTRODUCTION:Development levels of countries have gained gradual attention both from the scholars and public policy makers lately from almost all over the world. Ranking countries in terms of development levels provides insight on living standards and perceived prestige among the other nations. The concept of Human Development Level (HDL) is a composite phenomenon covering public health, wealth accumulation, safe environment, education and schooling that provides knowledge and a mix of rights and freedoms that are essential for human dignity (Alleyne, 2000). HDL is thought to be both an output and a process of widening a variety of individuals' choices to lead satisfactory lives. Though economic growth is somehow considered as an important source for human development and many people see Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as an easy way to measure and compare quality of life; human wellbeing, freedom, happiness, awareness and opportunity to live in a just and equitable environment cannot be reduced plainly to the scale and/or growth rate of GDP (Sen, 2013).According to information asymmetry theory, information is regarded as the negative entropy against ignorance which represents entropy in social or industrial systems (Akerlof, 1970). Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) penetration and information culture has created new forms of discrimination between those who can be inhabitants of the infosphere and those who cannot, between insiders and outsiders, between information rich and information poor, entropic or non-entropic. Humanity in coverage area of infosphere generally has been progressed since information and knowledge has spilled into remote places in soc iety (Floridi & Sanders, 2001). ICT capability is considered as a very significant phenomenon in terms of constructing a new and livable environment for future generations (Floridi & Sanders, 2005). Multiple studies confirm ICT has contributed significantly to growth on developed economies (e.g. Kraemer & Dedrick, 200 Colecchia and Schreyer, 2002). On the other hand, presence of this relationship in developing economies is of the concern especially if it is not supported with healthcare and education dimensions (Sunden & Wicander, 2002; Ngwenyama et al, 2006).Neoliberal economic theory posits the concept of economic freedom as an important determinant of growth and probably key enabler for agents in an economy to accumulate wealth and develop higher living standards (Chauffour, 2009; Boas & Gans-Morse, 2009). In countries with greater Economic Freedom Level (EFL), human capital is considered relatively and significantly more valuable than others with lower EFL (Schultz, 1975). Although there are plenty of works which report positive relation between EFL and economic growth in developed countries (Scully and Slottje, 1991), ongoing debate still exists on the sensitivity of economic growth to EFL especially in developing and underdeveloped countries (De Haan & Sturm, 2000; Turen, Gokmen & Dilek, 2012). We cannot find any research directly scrutinizing longitudional causality relationship between EFL and HDL of countries in the literature.Despite the importance of ICT and EFL to HDL, the literature has no research designed to quantify the magnitude of their combined impact based on global data. This research is therefore a first attempt to fill this gap by exploring the longitudinal impacts ICT and EFL on HDL using global panel data.LITERATURE REVIEW:Human Development Level:Human development and sustainable development concepts namely have emerged and transformed the general approach to economic development in recent decades. The human development paradigm is a concept which is human centric and based on human well-being and emphasizes on how development can widen and straighten the social, economic and political choices of people by broadening freedoms, capabilities and opportunities (Kusharjanto & Kim, 2011). …

Using Modified Similarity Multiple criteria Decision Making technique to rank countries in terms of Human Development Index

Purpose : Human Development Index (HDI) reported annually by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is apopular measure of human well-being. The purposeof this study is to propose a Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique named Modified Similarity technique for ranking countries based on multi criteria HDI. Design/methodology/approach: In Human Development Reports (HDRs), the HDI for each country isfirst calculated from the average of the health, education and income dimension indices with equally allocatedweight. Then the countries are ranked based on this index. Regarding the criticisms the method ofcalculating the HDI has received, this study usesModified Similarity Multi Criteria Decision Making methodfor ranking countries based on multi criteriaHDI, as an alternative method to the average method, which is being used in annually reported HDRs. Findings: We used the four HD indices mentioned in the 2010 and 2011 HDRs to rank 187 countries which have been investigated in the 2011 HDR. The results of ranking countries by the Modified Similarity technique were somewhat different from the 2011 HDR ranking. Originality/value: Some of the HDI criticisms are related to the method of calculating the index in the form of computing theaverage of the three health, education and income dimension indices with equally allocated weight. in an attempt to eliminatesome of the weaknesses associated with the index, this study uses Similarity technique, as an alternative to the average method of ranking countries in terms of humandevelopment. In addition due to some discrepancies associated with the Similarity technique introduced by Deng (2007), a Modified Similarity technique is discussed.

Really a front-runner, really a Straggler? Of environmental leaders and laggards in the European Union and beyond — A quantitative policy perspective

As it has long been debated who is a front-runner and who is a laggard state in terms of environmental protection it is rather surprising that the topic has received rather scant attention as far as quantitative, large-n research endeavours are concerned. Of course, there is a broad literature on the topic. However, existing studies have shortcomings. The criteria on which the assessments rely are often neither equivalent cross-nationally nor are they communicated clearly enough (i.e., not transparent). Although ambitious efforts have been invested to rank countries in terms of their environmental performance, little systematic research exists that clearly determines leaders and laggards in terms of their policies (policy performance) and states’ ranking, accordingly.To the best of our knowledge no empirical study has so far conducted a comprehensive and quantitative leader-laggard assessment policy analysis. Against this backdrop, we aim to provide such a paper. We especially strive to test the validity of “common knowledge” classifications or rankings derived from assessments in the literature.We demonstrate that while some known frontrunner states are indeed leaders if assessed from a broader policy data perspective, other countries commonly assigned a leader role find themselves in a lower position instead. In addition, some nations commonly excluded from the frontrunners are located unexpectedly high in the rankings. Even leader-laggard reversals occur if our results would be compared to existing classifications. Most importantly, the analyses show a considerable temporal dynamic. While often claimed or assumed, this has not been proven as clearly until now.

Relative Response: Ranking Country Responses to HIV and AIDS

The aim of this article is to support efforts to hold governments accountable for their commitments to respond to HIV and AIDS. It describes a new approach to ranking countries' responses in order to facilitate cross-country comparisons. The method uses the United Nations General/Assembly Speecial Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) Declaration of Commitment as its point of departure and was designed to rank countries in terms of their efforts to fight HIV and AIDS. Three indicators of the country response were analyzed. (1) prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) coverage; (2) antiretroviral (ARV) coverage; and (3) the ratio of orphans to non-orphans attending school An assessment of this nature must acknowledge the unique situation of each country, depending on its infrastructure and access to resources. To account for these differences, a regression analysis with contextual control variables was carried out to identify the variation resulting from controllable factors. It is this variation which is used to examine countries' relative response to HIV as it considers what was actually achieved relative to what was expected given the context. The results highlight the efforts of not only some well-reputed, strong actors but also some unexpected front-runners. The results also point to a group of countries which are lagging behind in all regards. Comparisons between the three indicators show great variations in the focus of countries' efforts. Rating countries' relative response to HIV highlghts countries that do well in spite of diffcult circumstances. The article argues that these "relative overachievers" should be examined more closely so that lessons may be learnt from their efforts. The rating also draws attention to countries where the response is comparatively weak, and where governments, as lead actors in the AIDS partnership, bear the greatest responsibility.

Indian Attitudes on International Atomic Energy Controls

T HE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY of i968 has been in effect since March 5, 1970, when the fortieth non-nuclear-weapon state deposited its instruments of ratification in Washington, Moscow, and London. Although almost a hundred nations have now signed the treaty, the lack of support by several threshold states will vitiate some of its significance. The most prominent recalcitrants are the two nuclear-weapon states, France and China, which refused even to participate in the negotiations leading to the drafting of the treaty in the years i965-i968. In addition, Japan and West Germany-the world's third and fourth ranking countries in terms of Gross National Product-despite their belated signatures on the treaty in the winter of i969-70, are not expected to ratify the agreement in the near future. Each has its particular significant reservations about total adherence. Several other potential nuclear-weapon states have also failed to sign the treaty. Israel, Australia, the Union of South Africa, and Indonesia have not yet given their support; nor have the three largest countries of South America-Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. India, the second most populous nation in the world, is of especial concern to proponents of the treaty because of the advanced state of its civilian nuclear technology, its strategic geographic position, and its passionate espousal of most previous international efforts at arms control. In addition, as long as India refuses to sign, Pakistan can be expected to follow suit. India's attitude toward the non-proliferation treaty is frequently misunderstood by many who assume that the Indian signature will come in due time.1 Such speculation fails to realize that the Indian decision not to sign reflects several years of deliberate modification of previous Indian foreign policy. As early as i965, India's attitude toward international cooperation in matters of arms control had given evidence of becoming less internationallyoriented and more concerned with considerations of national security and internal development. The final decision on the non-proliferation treaty was simply the ultimate culmination of this adjustment.

Educational Development in Ghana and Guatemala: Some Problems in Estimating "Levels of Educational Growth"

The most ambitious attempt that has yet been made to provide a series of profiles of educational development and to group countries according to or levels of development is that undertaken by Harbison and Myers.' Their book is a path-breaking venture, and authors are well aware of difficulties involved in establishing a meaningful system of rankings. They group countries into four levels, but point out that the distinction between countries in lower stages and higher stages is better described as a gradient or slope (than as a sharply defined step). There is probably not much difference between higher countries in level I ... and lower countries in level II and similarly for extremes in other levels.2 They rank countries in terms of a composite index which is based on numbers of students attending secondary school expressed as a percentage of numbers in relevant age-group and a similar percentage estimate of numbers attending university, with latter figure multiplied by five. This paper examines education in two countries, both level II countries in Harbison-Myers classification. It will be shown, first, that there are major differences between performance in two countries in many important aspects of educational development and, second, that their classification in same level is due to significant deficiencies in Harbison-Myers criteria: principally, that Harbison-Myers data are drawn from single-point observations and take no account of rate at which key variables are changing, and that no attempt is made to develop any qualitative measures of educational system.3 This writer is not, of course, suggesting that Harbison and Myers are unaware of these simple points: they are not included among crit ria because authors wanted to develop a functional model (which imposes severe limitations on number of variables that can be employed) and because it is very difficult either to obtain accurate historical data or to establish valid qualitative comparisons. The critical question is whether or not simplicity of model leads to fundamental, not merely peripheral, errors in interpreting data: evidence from Ghana and Guatemala suggests that it does.4 The two countries have a number of things i common, apart from their classification in level II. The level of per-capita incom is roughly same in both countries, for example; but most useful similarity for present purposes is that both have presented annual reports on education, which are still available in national archives of each country, for last eighty years or so. The earlier reports (and some of later ones) contain a great deal of information which is of little value for analytical purposes and sometimes omit matters of importance, but enough material is available to enable one to compare pattern of growth with a reasonable degree of accuracy. The data for both countries-and especially for Guatemala-present some problems with respect to comparison over time because of changes in educational structure and educational philosophy (this last problem exacerbated in Guatemala by lack of continuity between succeeding political regimes, accompanied-not infrequentlyby charges that previous administration had been rigging statistics).5 This is, however, significant only with respect to first section on comparative data presented below and there differences in estimated growth rates are so great that even most radical re-interpretation of data would affect