Regional Economic Disparities Research Articles

Can Transportation Networks Contribute to the Sustainable Development of Urban Agglomeration Spatial Structures?

The advancements in global urbanisation have significantly elevated the configuration of transportation networks for the sustainable development of urban agglomeration spatial structures (UASS). Using a comprehensive panel dataset covering 140 counties and districts in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle from 2014 to 2023, this study empirically examines the impact of transportation networks on the sustainability of UASS. It elucidates the underlying mechanisms using spatial Durbin, spatial spillover and multiple mediation effect models. The findings reveal that transportation networks considerably enhance the sustainability of UASS and generate substantial positive spatial spillover effects. The decay boundary of the spatial spillover effects exhibits a transition from positive to negative, eventually approaching ineffectiveness. The heterogeneity analysis indicates significant variations in terms of transportation network expansion and regional functional division on the sustainability of UASS across regions with various levels of economic development. This outcome suggests that regional development policies should carefully consider regional economic development disparities. The mechanism analysis further reveals that transportation networks enable the sustainability of UASS by accelerating regional hierarchical systems and regional connectivity.

Assessing Regional Economic Performance in Romania Through Panel ARDL and Panel Quantile Regression Models

This study aims to address the persistent regional economic disparities in Romania by evaluating economic performance through Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (pARDL) and panel quantile regression (PQR) models. The analysis focuses on the impact of key economic variables, including research and development expenditures (CTCRD), IT infrastructures (IT), the number of universities (FCL), and the average number of employees (NMSP), on regional gross domestic product (GDPR). Using data from the Romanian National Institute of Statistics for the period 2003–2022, this research seeks to understand how targeted investments and policy interventions can stimulate growth and reduce inequalities across regions. The findings highlight the important role of R&D, IT infrastructures, and technological advancements in driving economic growth, especially in less developed areas. The study also emphasizes the importance of region-specific strategies in fostering sustainable growth, promoting economic resilience, and bridging the gap between more and less prosperous regions.

Levelling up as green industrial policy

ABSTRACT The emergence of green industrial policy globally signals a growing awareness of climate action as central to policies that address regional economic disparities. In the UK, the newly elected Labour government’s economic vision of ‘securonomics’ corresponds with such an approach: positioning net zero as a key policy goal and the next terrain of ‘levelling up’ in the UK. Any green industrial policy in the UK will be place-based: with net zero both enabling and complicating how economic policy takes shape in regional and local contexts. This commentary highlights the key spaces in which net zero will take shape across the UK, with different communities experiencing processes of deindustrialisation or reindustrialisation as sectors decline and emerge. In advocating for a place-sensitive green industrial policy, it details how green jobs and skills will play a key role in any future just transition. With the regional geographies of net zero already taking shape, it highlights that climate action will be linked to patterns of emergence, change and decline that inscribe regional economies with new vulnerabilities, tensions and futures.

Assessment of Baltics states regional Economic disparities according to GDP

Analysis of the challenges of cohesion at the country and regional levels becomes especially relevant due to EU expansion, the Great Recession, and uneven economic recovery after that. Recent global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and imposed lockdowns, have further intensified interest in this issue. This study aims to evaluate the disparities in the development of Baltic States' regions using the author's proposed methodology for calculating an aggregate cohesion index. Some important conclusions can be made from the data analysis. A common trend across all countries was the notable economic strength of capital regions, with GDP per capita significantly exceeding national averages. Despite the pandemic's limited impact in 2020, a clear divergence trend emerged in 2021. Additionally, the club convergence between less developed regions was observed, especially in Lithuania and Latvia. In addition, Lithuania uniquely exhibited three distinct groups of regions based on economic development, in comparison with only two groups in Estonia and Latvia.

Trust and needles: how perceptions of inequality shape vaccination in South Korea

This study investigates the influence of perceived inequality on vaccination behaviors within the social context of South Korea. It explores how perceptions of inequality affect trust in science and society, subsequently impacting vaccination behaviors. The first analysis utilizes path analysis to identify both direct and indirect effects of perceived inequality on COVID-19 vaccine-related attitudes, mediated by trust in science and society. This provides foundational insights into these relationships at the individual level. The second analysis expands the scope to district-level data, analyzing influenza vaccination records from 2015 to 2021 to validate and enhance the initial findings. These results suggest that the public uses perceptions of inequality and regional economic disparity as heuristics in vaccination decisions. This study contributes to academic discourse by elucidating factors influencing vaccination behavior. It highlights the critical role of subjective sense of inequality in shaping public health policy, especially in response to emerging infectious diseases and future pandemics.

Causes and Consequences of Minimum Wage Variation in China

This paper examines the effects of minimum wage policies on employment and income inequality in China. It is focusing on the interplay with foreign direct investment (FDI) and regional economic disparities. Since 1978, China’s economic reforms have led to significant growth and rising wages. Yet exacerbated income inequality. The study finds that FDI raises wages. It is particularly for skilled labor, while regional variations in minimum wage standards reflect economic activity differences between coastal and inland provinces. Higher minimum wages have mixed employment effects. It is negatively impacting prosperous Eastern regions while benefiting Central and Western regions. Additionally, higher wages spur productivity improvements and innovation among firms. Policy recommendations include developing region-specific wage policies. It enhances protections for migrant workers, encouraging investment in productivity-enhancing technologies. It promotes balanced economic development and strengthens labor regulation enforcement. These measures aim to balance wage growth with employment stability. Hence, this analysis promotes equitable economic development across China.

Policy strategy: Nickel mining contribution to rural development equity and social violence minimization in Kolaka Regency

The lack of attention from mining companies to the majority of areas still affected by mining activities can result in regional economic disparities and high levels of social violence. It is crucial to have policy strategies for mining contributions to rural development equity and social violence reduction through CSR assistance and other aid funds. This research employs the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis method using the MULTIPOL analysis tool. Recommended action programs include the construction of schools, provision of scholarships, job openings, business capital, and infrastructure development, supported by strong regulations and law enforcement. Cracking down on illegal mining permits is essential to reduce environmental damage. Holistic and sustainable integration policies, alongside effective law enforcement, are necessary to achieve the goals of equitable development and social violence reduction. These steps should be reinforced with incentives for traditional/community leaders and increased police/military presence in villages within the next 2 years, particularly in zones 2 and 3 of the mining areas. Failure to implement these measures could escalate social violence, jeopardize security, and impede the operations of mining companies in Kolaka. The findings of this research support the priority of security and orderliness in development and underscore the importance of diverse research methods for mining area development policies.

Can e-commerce narrow regional economic disparities? Evidence from national e-commerce demonstration cities policy in China

Can e-commerce narrow regional economic disparities? Evidence from national e-commerce demonstration cities policy in China

Unraveling the spatial dynamics of regional economic disparities in East Java

The objective of this research was to analyze the determinants of regional disparities in East Java Province. This study utilized panel data, incorporating research locations across 38 regencies in East Java, with a data series spanning from 2016 to 2020. Spatial panel data models were employed to address the research objective, specifically examining the impact of spatial and non-spatial factors on disparities in East Java. The study's findings indicated that the Spatial Autoregressive (SAR) model was the most effective for estimating disparities in the region. The effects of each variable are as follows: the average duration of schooling and investment had positive and significant effects on disparities, while the variable of open unemployment rate did not exhibit any significant effect. Additionally, there is a spatial effect in the form of an endogenous interaction effect, signifying that the extent of disparities is influenced by the disparities in neighboring areas.

Research on the coupling coordination characteristics and convergence of digital finance and regional sustainable development: evidence from Chinese city clusters

The study examines the digital finance (DF) and regional sustainable development (RSD) across 90 cities within six major city clusters in China over the period from 2011 to 2020. By constructing an evaluation index system for DF and RSD, we employed the entropy value method to assess their levels, and the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model to evaluate their interplay. Our analysis extended to temporal and spatial disparities, distribution dynamics, and the convergence of CCD through kernel density estimation, Markov chain analysis, σ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sigma$$\\end{document}-convergence, and β\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\beta$$\\end{document}-convergence techniques. The results indicate a consistent upward trend in CCD, yet it remains at a low level with pronounced regional disparities and temporal characteristics. The kernel density distribution’s central tendency has shifted rightward progressively, albeit with a decelerating pace annually. The Markov transition probability matrix suggests a stable CCD across various levels, hinting at “club convergence”. Furthermore, both σ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\sigma$$\\end{document}-convergence and β\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\beta$$\\end{document}-convergence analyses reveal significant convergence trends in CCD, enhanced by economic growth factors. Using the Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP) method, we found that regional economic growth disparities significantly influence the CCD’s regional variances.

The Digital Economy and Real Economy: The Dynamic Interaction Effect and the Coupling Coordination Degree

This article aims to analyze the interplay between the digital economy (DE) and the real economy (RE), examining how they impact each other in terms of empowerment and supply effects. The study object is China from 2011 to 2021. This study applies the panel vector autoregressive model (PVAR). The study’s findings underscore a delayed empowerment effect within the DE. While DE growth has the potential to substantially enhance the future overall expansion of the tangible economy, it might concurrently dampen the short-term structural balance of the latter. However, the supply effect in the RE mode exhibits a similar delay. The time-lagged factors relating to the tangible economy’s total growth and structural fine-tuning play a pivotal role in fostering the progress of DE. Self-enhancement mechanisms significantly influence the overall growth of the tangible economy. However, this mechanism does not have the same significance in regard to enhancing structural coordination. Although the tangible economy’s expansion can catalyze structural refinement, the inverse relationship—where structural enhancement profoundly fuels tangible economic growth—does not hold true to a substantial extent. By assessing the overall degree of coupling and coordination between the DE and the tangible economy, it becomes apparent that these two domains are not tightly integrated. Instead, they exist in a fundamentally coordinated state, with a year-on-year upwards trend in their alignment, albeit at a modest pace. Furthermore, this coupling coordination degree displays a progressively diminishing trend from the southeastern coastal regions to the western interior, revealing a pronounced spatial imbalance. The contribution of this paper lies in its comprehensive enhancement of the theoretical framework and empirical research in the integration of energy and digital economy, addressing sustainable development, regional economic disparities, and practical policy implications to support future strategies for blending digital advancement with renewable energy utilization.

Technology Focus: Decarbonization (July 2024)

While significant progress has been made in carbon abatement, evidenced in literature produced over the past year, particularly within the realm of carbon capture and storage (CCS), I’d like to invite your attention to three key topics in this discussion. First, despite more than 3 decades of intense focus on emissions issues, highlighted since the 1980s and formalized with the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992, global emissions have only increased instead of going down. It’s imperative to question the efficacy, premises, practicality, and overlooked hurdles of current approaches. Paper SPE 214950, summarized here, sheds light on some of these challenges. It emphasizes that implementing costly carbon-abatement methods in a world marked by sharp regional economic disparities with wealth concentrated in a few countries could worsen economic inequalities by making access to energy even less equitable. Additionally, paper SPE 215050 (included in the list for further reading) underscores the priority of energy security over carbon reduction, citing recent evidence from leading proponent nations of climate action resorting to the use of coal. Failing to address energy security and economic disparity, though these are not the only obstacles, could hinder progress toward societal carbon-reduction goals. My second topic for your kind attention is the progress made on the CCS front, on which an overwhelming number of papers (approximately 75% of those reviewed) were presented at SPE conferences last year. An ongoing challenge with CCS, particularly in deep saline aquifers, is the prolonged period required for injected CO2 to chemically react and solidify for permanent storage. Paper SPE 215352, summarized here, introduces a different perspective based on the author’s exposure to another industry: proposing the coinjection of CaCl2 to expedite the permanent storage of CO2, potentially addressing this issue. The third topic that you will find interesting is developments on the hydrogen front, aimed at replacing direct use of fossil fuels as energy vectors. The cost of producing green hydrogen is expected to come down with advancement of technology, at least in some geographical areas, as the second paper shortlisted for further reading, paper IPTC 23652, suggests. One promising application involves using excess solar power during the day to convert hydrogen and store it underground for use when sunlight is unavailable. This could green the so-called peaker plants. While the approach of underground hydrogen storage (UHS) undoubtedly has the advantage of storing large amounts of energy, it may still struggle to compete with utility-scale battery storage in terms of the associated round-trip energy efficiency. There are many technoeconomic challenges to be solved in the hydrogen-based energy approach, including in the UHS context, before it can be used at a significant scale. Despite some previous experience with controlled and small-scale application of UHS, much remains to be learned about its safety and economics. The risks include leakage hazards, underground chemical reactions, loss from residual trapping, and contamination, among others. However, papers like IPTC 23943, one summarized here, along with the third one selected for further reading, paper SPE 215489, underline the necessity and the strides being made by the engineering community in overcoming these technological challenges. Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. SPE 215050 Energy Transition or Energy Advancement! by Sami A. Alnuaim, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, et al. IPTC 23652 Sun-Powered Green Hydrogen—A Comparative Analysis From the Kingdoms of Morocco and Saudi Arabia by Waldemar Szemat-Vielma, SLB, et al. SPE 215489 Role of Hydrogen Storage for UK Energy Resilience for Net Zero by S.K. Kimpton, DNV, et al.

Real Estate Insights on Mortgage Rates, Apartment Prices, and Rentals in Czech Republic

This study examines the complex dynamics of the Czech real estate market, focusing on the interaction between mortgage rates and residential property prices, the influence of dwelling size on market price trends, and the impact of regional economic disparities on property values. We find that lower mortgage rates paradoxically raise house prices through increased demand, calling into question the effectiveness of monetary policy in improving housing affordability. This counter-intuitive effect highlights the complex interplay between fiscal policy and market responses. In addition, the analysis reveals a significant shift towards smaller dwellings, increasingly favoured by single-person households, reflecting changing demographic trends. This shift has clear implications for price dynamics and market accessibility in both the sales and rental sectors, suggesting a nuanced response to consumer preferences across different market segments. In addition, the research highlights a strong correlation between regional economic vitality and property prices, underlining the profound influence of the broader economic landscape in shaping property values in different areas. By integrating these critical aspects, the study provides a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the factors influencing the Czech property market, offering valuable insights for policy makers, property developers and investors seeking to navigate or influence this market effectively.

Revolutionizing economic insights and development: The transformative power of machine learning

This comprehensive study delves into the transformative role of machine learning (ML) in various facets of economic analysis and development. By leveraging ML's advanced predictive capabilities, the paper explores its impact on economic forecasting, the analysis of regional economic disparities, sustainable development, and bridging the digital divide. Through empirical analyses and case studies, we demonstrate how ML algorithms enhance the accuracy of GDP forecasts, identify factors contributing to economic inequality, and foster technological innovations that drive productivity and sustainable practices. The paper also addresses the challenges and limitations inherent in the application of ML, such as data quality, model overfitting, and the interpretability of complex algorithms. By offering targeted policy recommendations, this research contributes to the formulation of more effective economic policies and interventions.

A Study on the Spatio-Temporal Evolution Characteristics of Social Development Levels in China

With the increase in regional economic development disparities, a regional coordinated development strategy is put forward that prioritizes human welfare and holistic social progress over a purely materialistic growth model. To address the challenges of balanced regional development, this paper has developed a multidimensional assessment framework of social development encompassing education, healthcare, culture, and social security. Using the entropy weight TOPSIS method, this study measures the social development level across 296 Chinese prefecture-level cities from 1990 to 2020. It explores the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics of China’s social development level through the Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition method and exploratory spatial data analysis. The results indicate that (1) the level of social development in China exhibits a fluctuating upward trend over the time series, showing a phase-wise pattern of decline–rise–rise; (2) there is a clear heterogeneity in the level of social development, with a general hierarchy of Eastern, Northeastern, Western, and Central regions in terms of social development; (3) spatially, China’s social development level has evolved from a patchy distribution in 1990 to a clustered distribution around urban agglomerations by 2020, with pronounced characteristics of spatial imbalance; (4) the level of social development in China displays varying degrees of spatial clustering, with this trend intensifying over time; and (5) over the period 1990–2020, the overall disparity in China’s social development level presents a fluctuating trend, with a notable reduction after an initial increase, and regional disparities following the order of Central, Western, Eastern, and Northeastern regions. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers and scholars seeking to understand and enhance China’s social development landscape.

Competition in the ‘body without organs’: an assemblage perspective on the UK’s fast train (HS2) cancellation

ABSTRACT In this contribution, an investigation is made into the abandonment of a very large infrastructural investment by the UK government. It was the HS2 (High Speed 2) train ‘assemblage’ for the 345 miles from Leeds in the North to London. It occurred in the belief that such expenditure would ‘level-up’ the worsening regional economic disparities between the two regions and render the North (dubbed the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ by successive governments) ‘competitive’. In reality, there was no evidence in support of the idea that a faster rail service would have this effect. Critics realized London’s advantage could not be competed against. This was because its advantage as an unregulated ‘tax haven’ had been entrenched since even before William the Conqueror’s invasion in 1066. Our take on this débâcle is that it was caused by hubris on the part of successive governments, culminating in the growth of distrust between politicians and the people, including ‘experts’ who were singled out for special ministerial disdain. The analysis explores ‘assemblage’ theory and its psychological origins, in which desire has come to substitute for thought in the UK political arena. Accordingly, desire has been swallowed up by ‘competitiveness’, meaning mistakes were made due to hubris, narcissism and criminality because of the politics of ‘we know better’ on the part of the political élite. The cost of these mistakes was upwards of £36 billion for the biggest UK rail infrastructure project in a hundred years.

UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE REGIONAL CONTEXT IN LATVIA

This paper sets out a methodological framework for identifying and mitigating unemployment problems in different regions. The study is based on the 2020 and 2023 Latvian Unemployment Surveys. The study includes a comprehensive review of the relevant scientific literature, policy and regulatory frameworks, the development of a multilevel research methodology and tools, an analysis of the research results, in-depth discussions of the identified problems in the context of existing scientific knowledge, and a set of key conclusions and proposed measures to address these problems. By structuring the paper in this way, it offers a holistic and systematic approach to understanding and addressing regional unemployment problems. The study contributes to the ongoing dialogue on regional economic disparities and highlights opportunities for more inclusive, sustainable and equitable labour markets.

Asymmetric modeling of regional tourism economic disparity in China.

China's tourism economy has experienced significant regional disparities. However, little attention has been paid to understanding the intricate mechanisms through which the interplay of influential factors gives rise to such disparities. Utilizing statistical data from the tourism economy of 31 provinces in mainland China, this study investigates regional tourism economic disparity through the asymmetric modeling of fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The findings reveal that the causes of regional tourism economic disparity exhibit asymmetry; varying approaches contribute to the formation of high and low levels of tourism economy; the functioning of the most influential factors is impacted by other antecedent conditions, presenting an asymmetric non-linear effect; favorable transportation convenience is a necessary condition for a high level of tourism economy, while poor tourism attraction is a necessary condition for a low level of tourism economy. This research not only introduces a fresh perspective on regional tourism economic disparities, enabling an in-depth comprehension of the complex interactions and nonlinear functional mechanisms of influential factors, but also explores a region-based tourism development model, offering valuable practical guidance for policymakers in the tourism sector.

Hematologic health services and practical characteristics: report of a nationwide survey among Chinese hematologists.

In the past 40 years, China has experienced tremendous economic development, but the current situation of hematologists has rarely been reported. A landscape survey of human resources is essential for healthcare development and policy formulation in the future. The Chinese Society of Hematology initiated a survey of Chinese hematologists in mainland China for evaluating demographic and practice characteristics. Respondents were anonymous, and there were no limitations regarding their age, sex, etc. RESULTS: Totally 2032 hematologists responded, with a median age bracket of 36-45 years. Respondents were well engaged into subspecialties, and 28.1% acquired doctorates of philosophy. Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) centers have been established all over China. Higher-GDP regions reported more advantages, including bigger scale of transplant centers (P < 0.001), younger age structure (P = 0.039), better education qualifications (P = 0.001) and less turnover intentions (P = 0.004), despite of increased risk of medical disputes (P = 0.028). Although females accounted for 65.5% of hematologists, males were older (P < 0.001), and had more senior professional titles (P < 0.001), academic positions (P < 0.001), opportunities for continuing education (P < 0.001), and paper publishing in the recent two years (P = 0.001). For turnover intention, the higher GDP regions led to an independently reduced risk (HR = 0.673, 95%CI [0.482-0.940], P = 0.020), whereas medical disputes resulted in an increased the risk (HR = 2.037, 95%CI [1.513-2.743], P < 0.001). Considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, majority of respondents believed that the decline in patient visits and delay in treatment was within 30%. 67.9% of respondents reported a decrease of the use of bone marrow as grafts but 18.8% reported an increase of cord blood units. 35.0% of the respondents switched their daily work to support the anti-epidemic medical activities. We concluded the discipline of hematology in China has flourished in recent years with a young workforce, while regional economic and gender disparities warrant further continuous optimization. Joint efforts against the impact of COVID-19 are needed in the post-pandemic era.

Understanding the Determinants of Poverty in Brazil: A Household Level Analysis

ABSTRACT: This study aims to comprehensively examine the determinants of household poverty in Brazil, placing a specific emphasis on the heads of households as the primary unit of analysis. Household poverty is a critical and multifaceted issue in developing countries, a reality that holds true for Brazil as well. Understanding the intricate web of factors that contribute to household poverty is of paramount importance to policymakers, researchers, and advocates dedicated to poverty alleviation and socioeconomic development. Household poverty remains a persistent challenge in Brazil, with far-reaching social and economic consequences. To address this issue effectively, it is essential to identify the factors that contribute to poverty among households, particularly those led by individuals who are the primary income earners. These households often face unique economic and social challenges that demand targeted interventions. To analyze household poverty determinants, this study utilizes data from the "Pesquisa Nacional por Amostras de Domicílios Contínua" (Continuous National Household Sample Survey) (PNADC). The dataset provides comprehensive information on the individual characteristics of the household head and household-level attributes, offering a nuanced view of the factors at play. A probit model is employed to estimate the probability of a household head experiencing poverty, allowing for a examination of various factors. The research findings reveal several significant determinants of household poverty in Brazil. Firstly, households led by men are found to be less likely to be in a situation of poverty, shedding light on gender-related disparities in income and opportunities. Secondly, households with heads who have attained higher levels of education exhibit a lower probability of being in poverty, underscoring the importance of education as a pathway out of poverty. Moreover, urban households are found to be less prone to poverty compared to their rural counterparts, since households led by individuals who work in agricultural-related activities are more likely to experience poverty. This emphasizes the need for targeted rural development strategies. Additionally, households located in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil face a higher likelihood of poverty, possibly due to regional economic disparities that require specific policy attention. These findings have important policy implications for poverty alleviation efforts in Brazil. Policymakers should consider targeted interventions that focus on improving access to education, particularly in regions with higher poverty rates, as education is a powerful tool for poverty reduction. Efforts to promote gender equality and enhance economic opportunities in rural areas are also essential to address the diverse causes of poverty. Additionally, regional disparities in poverty should be addressed through comprehensive regional development initiatives that take into account the unique challenges faced by different areas of the country. Our results also highlight the importance of community-specific social programs, including conditional-cash transfers and incentives for childhood education, which can play a pivotal role in breaking the cycle of poverty in Brazil's diverse communities.