Regional Competitiveness Research Articles

Inequality in the distribution of resources and health care in the poverty quintiles: Evidence from Peruvian comprehensive health insurance 2018-2019

<b>Introduction: </b>In many regions of the world, healthcare is inequitable and limited, affecting poor populations who need greater health opportunities. Given that Peru’s comprehensive health insurance (SIS) seeks to enhance its coverage for the entire population, it is important to know if its coverage benefits the poorest populations.<br /> <b>Objectives: </b>To determine the allocation of SIS resources and care to the poorest quintile during 2018 and 2019 in Peru.<br /> <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a secondary analysis of data from five Peruvian technical institutions. In 39,8207 Peruvian households, we analyzed the per capita budget assigned to the population affiliated with SIS in microregions of quintile 1 and quintile 2 (poor), and quintile 4 and quintile 5 (non-poor), health coverage, and the level of poverty considering the human development index (HDI) and the regional competitiveness index (RCI).<br /> <b>Results:</b> The poorest regions are inversely correlated with HDI and RCI and have an average service of 25.0% affiliates. In poor areas, the allocated budget was lower (approximately $303,000 to $2.2 million), but the proportion of members requiring care was higher (>70.0%). The budget allocated to health was unfair (p<0.05) between poor areas (maximum resources from $96.28 to $108.14) and non-poor areas (maximum resources from $150.00 to $172.43). Low budget allocations and low household per capita income contributed to poverty in quintile 1 and quintile 2 (p<0.01).<br /> <b>Conclusions:</b> the poorest regions have greater inequity and the majority of affiliates do not use or do not have access to SIS services, but they have a greater need for health care. In addition, poor regions have a high amount of population without SIS coverage, and low allocated budgets, which affects competitiveness and regional development.

Development of Leading Commodities for Vegetable and Fruit Crops in Brebes Regency, Central Java

Determining leading commodities is very important to increase regional competitiveness in economic development. This research aims to identify leading commodities for vegetable and fruit crops in the Brebes Regency, analyze the continuity of leading commodities, and determine the pattern and structure of leading commodities. The research uses a quantitative approach with secondary data for 2018-2022. Data were analyzed using the Location Quotient (LQ), Dynamic Location Quotient (DLQ), and Klassen Typology analysis methods. The analysis results show that Brebes Regency's leading commodities for vegetable and fruit crops are shallot, rose apple, mango, banana, sapodilla, breadfruit, apple, melinjo, and twisted cluster bean. Potential commodities that have the opportunity to become leading commodities in the future are welch onion, yard long bean, chilli, cayenne pepper, tomato, eggplant, green bean, chayote, duku, guava, tangerine, mangosteen, pineapple, papaya, rambutan, salacca, grape, and jengkol. The pattern and structure of vegetable and fruit crops in Brebes Regency, which is considered advanced and fast-growing, is shallots. Plants with fast-growing patterns and structures are garlic, Welsh onion, cabbage, yard long bean, chili, cayenne pepper, tomato, eggplant, green bean, cucumber, chayote, water spinach, melon, watermelon, star fruit, duku, durian, rose apple, tangerine, mangosteen, pineapple, papaya, banana, grape, and jengkol.

Analysis of Regional Competitiveness of China’s Cross-Border E-Commerce

Cross-border e-commerce is a pivotal component of the digital economy, serving as a crucial gauge for regional competitiveness in digital transformation and international trade. This study employs the Groundings-Enterprises-Markets (GEM) model, factor analysis, and the entropy weight method to evaluate the regional competitiveness of cross-border e-commerce in China. Analyzing data from 2018 to 2021 across 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, the research assesses competitiveness through basic, enterprise, and market factors. Findings reveal annual improvement in China’s overall cross-border e-commerce competitiveness, yet notable regional disparities persist, with the east outpacing the west. Guangdong Province emerges as a key player and leader when the regions are classified into three tiers. Key factors influencing competitiveness include the digital economy development index, the number of cross-border e-commerce pilot zones, R&D expenditures, cross-border enterprise competitiveness, and core enterprise scale. The study concludes with policy recommendations, emphasizing digital reform, logistics efficiency enhancement, and the promotion of digital technologies.

Examining the factors of interlocal economic development collaboration in rural areas

Understanding collaboration among local governments for economic development has been a significant research topic over the last few decades. However, because much of the literature has focused on urban and metropolitan areas, there is little evidence of the factors that influence collaboration among local governments in rural areas. To address this gap, this study examines interlocal economic development collaboration in three rural regions in West Texas, USA, by using a unique survey dataset of these regions. We employ an exponential hurdle model on a set of factors that are expected to predict the probability of and the extent to which cities in rural areas engage in collaborative activities for economic development purposes. We find that a combination of local business diversity, institutional support, and regional competition has a positive effect on the scope of collaboration among our sample of communities, whereas stronger fiscal capacity and greater economic development challenges decrease the extent of their collaboration.

Protection against unfair competition—African Regional Intellectual Property Organization member states and South Africa

Abstract This article summarizes the current status of protection against unfair competition in 19 Member States of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) as well as South Africa. Since several study countries are Member States to at least one Regional Economic Community (RECs) or customs union, which have introduced regional or sub-regional competition regimes to advance regional integration in this area, the relevant RECs and customs unions are also briefly analysed. This is followed by some reflections on the impact of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the AfCFTA’s recently adopted Phase II protocols on Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Policy. The article then examines the different approaches adopted in the study countries to fulfil the obligation to ensure effective protection against unfair competition, as stipulated in Article 10bis(1) of the Paris Convention (PC), and investigates how the concept of ‘honest practices in industrial or commercial matters’ (Article 10bis(2) PC) is interpreted and applied. The article also explores how study countries have implemented the examples of prohibited acts of unfair competition contained in Article 10bis(3) PC, and addresses the question whether additional acts fall within the scope of protection against unfair competition in the study countries. The findings here are presented in such a way that observations from several countries are typically clustered together to exemplify general approaches and categories. The article observes that while countries in the region typically provide some form of legal protection to safeguard fair play in the business sector, study countries represent a variety of legal systems (civil law, common law, a combination of civil law and common law and/or religious law). This influences the way of how they address unfair competition.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN THE SOUTH OF RUSSIA UNDER CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTIONS

The growth of investments in tourism and increase in production due to increased tourist demand has a positive synergistic effect on all sectors of the country's economy. That encourages investment activity, the creation of new jobs, the expansion of trade, and an increase in wages. A part of the income comes through taxes to the state budget. A synergistic effect occurs consequently. This research showed that the system of organization and development of the tourist services market represents a combination of financial and economic structures, models, and management methods. With the help of it, social, group coordination, and private interest arising from the growth of the tourist product market are achieved. The paper presents the methods and tools that enable the assessment of the region's competitiveness in the tourist and recreational services provisions and an overview of the main factors that influence the demand for these services. The consistency and objectivity of the considered problems in their mutual connection and interdependence are ensured by considering general economic principles and methods of analyzing the legality of economic development, logical analysis, decision theory methods, set theory, historical method, abstract-logical method, statistical methods (consideration of indicators in dynamics, grouping, method of detailing), methods of comparison, comparison, etc. The study is based on economic literature, works of contemporary scientists, the legislative framework of the Russian Federation, materials of state statistical authorities, materials of scientific conferences, and the information potential of the Internet.

Analisis Dampak Kebijakan Fiskal: Evaluasi Perubahan Peraturan Pajak Tahun 2021 terhadap Pertumbuhan Ekonomi di Kalteng

This study aims to evaluate how these changes in taxation policy affect the economic dynamics of the region. Through a quantitative approach and using secondary data from Statistics Indonesia, this research includes a Difference in Difference analysis to compare the changes in economic growth before and after the changes in tax regulations in Central Kalimantan. This evaluation is important because fiscal policy, especially in terms of taxation, has great potential to affect people's welfare, the region's competitiveness in attracting investment, as well as the growth of key sectors. The results will provide a deeper understanding of the implications of fiscal policy on the regional economy, provide valuable input for future policy decision makers, and serve as a guideline for other regions that may face similar policy changes.

КОНКУРЕНТОСПОСОБНОСТЬ РЕГИОНА: ПОКАЗАТЕЛИ И МЕТОДЫ ОЦЕНКИ

The competitiveness of regions is one of the significant characteristics in the development of strategies and programs for their development, which determines the need to use adequate indicators and methods of its assessment. The approaches to assessing the competitiveness of Russian regions used both in the system of public administration and in the practice of rating agencies are considered. The foreign experience of assessing the competitiveness of regions is summarized and the priorities of socio-economic transformation of regions are highlighted, which must be taken into account when developing indicators for assessing their competitiveness. The theoretical and methodological approaches of Russian scientists to the problem of choosing indicators for assessing the competitiveness of regions are analyzed. Based on the conducted comparative critical analysis, the author’s set of indicators for assessing the competitiveness of the region is proposed and justified.

Экономическая природа и содержание конкурентоспособности региона: нарративный подход

Regional competitiveness remains a debated issue. This problem requires a solution, as competitiveness is now seen not only as an indicator of achievement, but also as a tool for performance assessment of regional authorities. Additionally, a correct understanding of the essence of this phenomenon helps define objectives and tools of regional policy and management. The article aims to reveal the true nature of regional competitiveness as a form of competitiveness and describe its specific characteristics. The content analysis of relevant foreign and Russian publications shows that the stated problem cannot be solved by existing methods. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a fundamentally different approach that looks at the problem from the standpoint of struggle for economic benefits. A system-reproductive method of analysis demonstrated that, by its nature, competitiveness is the ability of economic entities to redistribute economic value in their favour. Regional competitiveness is interpreted as a form of competitiveness, occurring when regions acquire economic subjectivity. Such subjectivity is characterised by the presence of separate material interests, authority and regulatory powers resulting from the transformation of regions into elements of the productive forces of society. This creates competition between regions for investment resources necessary to achieve regional goals. Regional competitiveness is defined as the ability of a region to redistribute investment flows in its favour by creating an attractive environment and incentives for their application. The given interpretation, which adequately describes the nature of regional competitiveness, has a number of advantages, such as syntheticity, sustainability, flexibility and operability.

Міжнародний досвід регулювання конвергенції регіонального розвитку

The article analyzes the international experience of convergence of regional development. The features of the European development of regional policy are defined. The main stages of formation of regional policy of some European countries have been allocated. It is substantiated that the change of the conception of the Europe of nations into the conception of the Europe of regions has led to the formation of a single market, in which the regions are considered as independent players due to increasing their competitiveness. The main tasks of regional development support funds in European countries have been formed. It is determined that on the basis of support and implementation of socioeconomic reforms, introduction of innovative technologies, an increase in the competitiveness of regions and an increase in the level of employment of the population has been achieved. In developed countries, programs are being developed to improve energy infrastructure, which include the development of alternative energy, the introduction of energy-saving technologies, and the creation of new energy communications. It is determined that in regional development an important role is played by stimulation of medium and small businesses, which is implemented on the basis of support of such initiatives by providing them with simplified access to capital, activation of enterprises engaged in tourism activities. It is determined that, despite the different levels of regional development, the main vector is the creation of prerequisites for the balanced development of all territories through minimizing the impact of negative environmental factors. The main instruments for ensuring the convergence of regional development have been allocated. The policy of France in the direction of stimulating the convergence of regions, which consists in the State-controlled system of contracts for planning regional development, is substantiated. The regional development policy of the Netherlands and Austria is more focused on the development of instruments of influence. The peculiarity of the Danish system of regional development is the refusal to stimulate and support certain problem regions and the application of a market approach, which is aimed at creating the necessary conditions for their independent development. The features of the policy of regional convergence of the USA, China, Canada and Australia have been studied, which allowed to allocate the features of their policy of stimulating the development of territories. The main aspects of the formation of regional development policy in Ukraine are also examined and the priority tasks in this aspect are allocated.

МОНІТОРИНГ ЛЮДСЬКОГО РОЗВИТКУ В РЕГІОНІ: ПОТОЧНА ТА СТРАТЕГІЧНА КОМПОНЕНТИ

One of the key factors in building regional competitiveness in modern conditions is human development. The purpose of the article is the study of modern classic methods of current and strategic monitoring and their extrapolation to the field of human development in the terms of the regional economy. In the process of research, methods of abstraction were applied when outlining the main indicators characterizing the current or strategic state of the human potential of the region; methods of strategic analysis, comparison techniques and others. The article reveals the problem of assessing human development as a factor in the formation of regional competitiveness on the basis of monitoring, which is proposed to be carried out in two directions: both current and strategic. The current monitoring is aimed at researching the state of development of the region and its human potential in a retrospective plan. This type of monitoring contributes to the identification of emerging trends and their assessment. Strategic monitoring is based on strategic analysis methods, among which the SPACE-analysis adapted to the field of human development deserves attention. To conduct strategic research, it is recommended to use the method of expert assessments, and to do this, invite highly qualified specialists in the field of regional competitiveness and human development. Based on the results of the SPACE-analysis, one of the strategies of human development is diagnosed: aggressive, competitive, conservative or defensive. Monitoring of strategic positioning allows not only to assess the strategic position of human development, but also to identify which indicators determine its position. The strategy is determined on the coordinate scale, where four vectors are highlighted. Two of them characterize the human potential of the region (the financial strength of human potential and its competitive advantages), and the other two - its external environment, which includes the stability of the regional economy and the attractiveness of the region. The practical significance of the proposed methodology is to provide regional management with objective information for making management decisions.

The Experience of Bulgaria in Attracting Foreign Direct Investment — Lessons for Emerging Economies

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been crucial in transitioning Central and Eastern European countries from planned to market economies, facilitating technological modernisation, job creation, export performance, and regional competitiveness. However, FDI alone cannot solve economic development challenges; effective policies are essential for leveraging FDI as a catalyst for economic catch-up. This paper aims to derive economic policy lessons for emerging economies through a critical assessment of the Bulgarian experience in attracting FDI. It employs a methodological approach that combines quantitative analysis of key FDI indicators with qualitative evaluation of the policy landscape. Since the end of the 1990s, Bulgaria has secured macroeconomic and political stability as an important precondition for FDI, applying an open-door policy for foreign investors without strategic targeting. The country's accession to the European Union in 2007 further enhanced its investment appeal. Nevertheless, the passive policy of reliance on a low tax regime and low labour costs without a strategic focus has led to unbalanced regional and unfavourable sectoral distribution with foreign investors crowding into the metropolitan area and sectors like non-tradable services and low-end manufacturing. Thereby, the Bulgarian experience, where the quantity of incoming FDI overshadowed the quality, demonstrates the insufficiency of a laissez-faire FDI strategy for maximising the benefits of FDI. The study underscores the necessity for proactive state policies in emerging economies that not only attract FDI but also ensure it fosters technological transfer and stimulates the economic potential of underdeveloped regions.

Use mobile location data to infer airport catchment areas and calibrate Huff gravity model in the New York metropolitan area

Mobile location data have emerged as a pivotal asset for analyzing travelers' spatial behaviors and movement patterns. In the context of air travel, the data empower researchers to gain empirical insights into travelers' choices of airports. This study employs mobile location data to scrutinize the market shares and infer catchment areas of three primary hub airports within the New York Metropolitan Area. Our study, together with Teixeira and Derudder (2021), helps contribute to a better understanding of competitive airport dynamics in the New York Metropolitan Area. In addition, the mobile location data allow us to calibrate the two key components of the Huff Gravity Model, which is frequently used in existing studies focusing on airport competition and catchment areas in Multiple Airport Regions (MARs). Our investigation underscores that the application of the Huff Model should not follow a uniform approach across different scenarios. The dynamics of airport competition and ground access alternatives exhibit unique characteristics within each MAR. Furthermore, our study unveils inherent quality challenges associated with mobile location data. Future studies intending to incorporate mobile location data are advised to conduct preliminary assessments of data quality before embarking on empirical analyses.

The development of grain farming as one of the conditions for the scale of agricultural production in the regions of the country

Agricultural production in Russia exhibits disparities across various levels of development, largely influenced by diverse natural and economic potentials across regions. Certain areas stand out as agro- developed regions, where the volume of agricultural production significantly deviates from the national average. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between the performance of grain farming and the overall scale of agricultural production. It is hypothesized that grain farming, with its high multiplicative capacity, plays a pivotal role in fostering the growth of interconnected agricultural sectors. Thus, the more efficient grain farming is, the greater the overall impact on regional agriculture. Statistical techniques such as grouping, correlation, and regression analysis were employed for analysis. The grouping exercise resulted in the formation of five distinct groups comprising agro-developed regions. These groups were compared based on absolute and average indicators of agricultural production and grain farming performance. The analysis underscores the significance of grain farming as a foundational element of agriculture in these regions, revealing a strong correlation between gross grain harvests and the overall scale of agricultural production. Consequently, the study concludes that there is a pressing need for further development of grain farming, tailored to regional characteristics, and emphasizing the effective implementation of intensification strategies. Currently, the export of grain serves as a crucial stimulus for boosting grain yields. However, it is imperative to maintain the competitiveness of the product amidst global markets. Thus, the study advocates for a balanced approach that considers both regional nuances and market competitiveness to sustainably drive the growth of grain farming and agricultural production in Russia.

First open Siberian regional vocal competition named after V. V. Sotnikov

First open Siberian regional vocal competition named after V. V. Sotnikov

Algorithms for the study of ecological and economic competitiveness of regions

Algorithms for the study of ecological and economic competitiveness of regions

СПЕЦИФИКА РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЙ КОНКУРЕНТОСПОСОБНОСТИ, ПРОБЛЕМНЫЕ ВОПРОСЫ И ПУТИ ИХ РЕШЕНИЯ

Modern economic conditions are characterized by high dynamism and versatility of processes occurring at the macro and micro levels. In this context, the concept of the region’s competitive potential becomes especially relevant, since it determines the region’s ability to adapt to a changing economic environment and successfully compete in the market. Improving the competitiveness of regions is one of the key tasks of modern economic development. In the context of globalization and intensification of interregional competition, understanding and developing competitive potential are becoming crucial for ensuring sustainable growth and progress in the region.

Architecture for innovation and entrepreneur in terms of sustainability for building regional competitiveness. “Case study on higher education in Egypt”

Architecture for innovation and entrepreneur in terms of sustainability for building regional competitiveness. “Case study on higher education in Egypt”

A study of the effects of regional competition and digital financial inclusion on urban carbon emissions

A study of the effects of regional competition and digital financial inclusion on urban carbon emissions

An empirical study of Sino-European trade geographic regional competition under the Belt and Road and Arctic Routes based on transportation cost equilibrium line model

An empirical study of Sino-European trade geographic regional competition under the Belt and Road and Arctic Routes based on transportation cost equilibrium line model