Regional Market Research Articles (Page 1)

Aim. The work aimed to structure and assess the spatial development issues of the Central Federal District (CFD) regions. Objectives. The work seeks to characterize current spatial development issues in the CFD entities; to demonstrate the consequences of concentrating economic growth in a limited number of territories; to study the tendency of declining the share of residents of small and mediumsized cities and rural areas among the Russian population; to examine changes in interregional disparities in socio-economic development; to assess the impact of scientific and technological progress on spatial development in Russia; to analyze interregional disparities in socio-economic development in the CFD regions, as well as to identify leaders and outsiders; to explore international experience in addressing demographic issues; and to assess the demographic situation across Russia. Methods. We applied general scientific principles of systemic, historical, and comparative analysis of regional issues affecting territorial development indicators. The study is based on an analysis of regional statistics and regulatory documents. Deduction and induction were used to identify the common and specific features in various models of interaction between territorial systems. In order to summarize and systematize the information obtained, we used content analysis to identify examples of the spatial development of the RF regions and examine the causes and context of regional development pathways. Results. In the course of summarizing and studying the theoretical foundations of regional economics and identifying key methods for its implementation in the scientific works of Russian and international scientists, we analyzed the current state of spatial development in the constituent entities of Russia. Specifically, we structured the problems of spatial development in the CFD regions, highlighted achievements and mechanisms for solving emerging problems, and identified areas of regional cooperation and prospects for spatial development in the federal districts in the context of rapidly developing regional economies and the new geopolitical reality that has emerged in the country. Conclusions. The study confirmed the existence of regional problems and differences in the spatial development of Russian constituent entities. The work established the need for a differentiated approach, combining consideration of initial potential opportunities and the selection of tools for solving complex regional spatial problems. Russian constituent entities are characterized by a high level of differentiation across many macroeconomic and regional indicators. Interregional disparities in the socio-economic development of individual Russian constituent entities are changing due to emerging social, cultural, household, and economic problems. The growing risk of staff shortage, especially for regions with high population outflow, creates demographic problems not only in the regional labor market, but in the country as a whole. The increasing influence of scientific and technological progress on the spatial development of the country and its regions is caused by the expansion of industrial innovation potential within the Strategy for the Development of the Manufacturing Industry of the Russian Federation to 2030 and for the period up to 2035.

ABSTRACT Evolutionary economic geography has a strong explanatory power for how regional industries emerge and is therefore particularly important in today’s context of global industrial competition. In recent years, economic geographers have proposed that the role of expectations in industrial evolution should be given as much weight as historical routines. Following this vein, we formulate a conceptual framework and propose that historical experience and expectations jointly contribute to the formation of regional conventions and industrial legitimation. We also attempt to figure out the roles of regional endowments, actor collaboration and market construction in conditioning an expectation-oriented industrial evolution. Our work contributes to the perspective transformation of evolutionary economic geography as well as provides future research directions.

Under the background of "dual-carbon" target and high-quality development, ESG performance has emerged as a central criterion for evaluating enterprises sustainable development capabilities, Although these Specialized, Refined, Differential and Innovative(SRDI) firms are central to upgrading and innovation, in-depth research on how their digital transformation affects ESG performance remains limited. This study examines A-share listed Specialized, Refined, Differential and Innovation Enterprises in China over 20162022. We develop a theoretical chain in which digital transformation stimulates green innovation that enhances ESG, and we incorporate regional marketization to evaluate the contexts that amplify or dampen this relationship. Empirical evidence indicates that DT significantly raises ESG outcomes for SRDI firms, with green technological innovation acting as a mediator; however, the ESG gains from DT are weaker where marketization is higher. These findings illuminate both the operative mechanism and the boundary conditions, contributing a novel theoretical viewpoint on integrating digital strategy into ESG management with meaningful practical implications.

Purpose This paper aims to provide product design recommendations for electric vehicle supply chains (EVSCs) to improve market penetration in cold regions amidst growing market competition. Design/methodology/approach Based on two green product design approaches, we propose two electric vehicle (EV) designs with distinct cost structures: power battery expansion (Scheme N) and cold-resistance R&D (Scheme R). From a product design perspective, we consider the characteristics of the EVSC and use game theory to develop a dual oligopoly supply chain (SC) model under joint competition in price and range. By introducing range as a decision variable, we comprehensively analyze the effects of range anxiety, low temperature coefficients, production and R&D capabilities and competitive intensities on optimal solutions for firms. Findings The findings of the study are as follows: (1) the applicability and advantages of Scheme R increase as the gap between joint competition intensities narrows. High levels of range competition are consistently detrimental to the EVSC, as they hinder improvements in EV range and may reduce profits when consumer range anxiety is mitigated. (2) R&D capability significantly influences the choice of the optimal scheme. Scheme N should be selected only when R&D capabilities are limited and optimal cold-resistance performance is low. Unexpectedly, in colder temperatures with higher consumer anxiety, consumers tend to prefer purchasing EVs under Scheme N. Originality/value This study extends the green SC research by incorporating the specific needs of EVSCs and exploring the competitive dynamics of products with different structural approaches within the same market.

ABSTRACT In response to mounting climate challenges and global calls for low‐carbon development, firms are increasingly integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices with digital transformation strategies. This study investigates the synergistic effects of ESG initiatives and digital transformation on reducing corporate carbon emissions, using a dataset of A‐share listed companies in China from 2009 to 2022. We apply entropy weighting and a coupled and coordinated development model to measure the strategic integration of ESG and digitalization. Empirical analysis based on a two‐way fixed‐effects model reveals that ESG–digital synergy significantly lowers carbon emission intensity. Further analysis identifies two mediating mechanisms—enhanced technological innovation and reduced managerial myopia. Additionally, we find that the synergy's effectiveness is positively moderated by regional marketization levels. The results offer theoretical insights into sustainable corporate governance and practical guidance for firms and policymakers in emerging markets seeking to align ESG and digital strategies for effective low‐carbon transformation. This study contributes to the growing literature on strategic sustainability by introducing a novel framework for understanding how firms can leverage ESG–digital synergy to improve environmental performance.

The strength of Academic Medical Institutions (AMIs) is founded on their academic departments, both clinical and basic science. The evolving role of the departmental chair is dictated by multitude of influences including the tectonic changes in the terrain of US healthcare and academic medicine with wanning revenue sources, complexity of administrative constructs in AMIs, situational needs, and regional competitive market trends. These subtleties underscore the importance of rigorous screening and recruitment of a departmental chair whose stance will be congruent with an AMI’s mission, vision, values in alignment with the institutional leadership, in addition to possessing the requisite professional qualifications and personal attributes. Success of a departmental chair is determined by meeting expectations as a manager, leader, and scholar with performance metrics for the role against benchmarks in specific domains of academic medicine. This descriptive treatise expounds on the important implications of numerous elements and anticipated challenges contributing to the inexorable evolution of the departmental chair’s role in US AMIs.

Learning-Based inter-area trading strategies for transmission system operators in two-tier regional electricity market

Your fear is (partly) mine: the role of non-VIX volatility in forecasting regional stock market volatility using interpretable machine learning

Cross-border capital flows, government quality, and China's low-carbon productivity.

Objective: To analyze the implementation of the voluntary carbon market in forest regions of southeastern Mexico through the framework of climate justice. Methodology: Application of interviews, participant observation, and documentary analysis. These materials were analyzed taking into consideration the four dimensions of climate justice proposed by Schlosberg: distribution, participation, capacities, and recognition. Results: The voluntary carbon market provides benefits to communities, but in practice, it reproduces structural inequalities evident in differential access to information and in unequal influence on project conditions. Value: The voluntary carbon market has expanded in southeastern Mexico, but there is a lack of depth in existing studies on the topic. Limitations: There is no official information regarding the number of participating communities in this market. Conclusions: The ways the voluntary carbon market and climate policies are implemented need to be reformulated to prioritize community autonomy and climate justice over market efficiency.

As a capital-intensive and highly cyclical economic activity, real estate investment risks are heavily dependent on the socioeconomic environment of specific geographic regions. With the deepening of China's regional development strategy and the differentiated evolution of urbanization, the real estate market exhibits pronounced regional divergence. Traditional, universal risk management frameworks struggle to effectively address this heterogeneity of risks. This paper systematically reviews domestic and international research on the correlation between real estate investment risks and regional disparities. It analyzes how regional differences shape and transmit real estate investment risks across multiple dimensions, including regional economic foundations, policy environments, demographic structures, market supply and demand, financial support, and external shocks. It further summarizes strategies for identifying, assessing, warning, and responding to risks specific to regional disparities, emphasizing the importance of establishing a refined risk management model tailored to local conditions. Finally, the paper highlights shortcomings in existing research regarding theoretical integration, dynamic modeling, microdata application, and interdisciplinary convergence, while outlining future research directions. The aim is to provide investors, financial institutions, and policymakers with more regionally adaptive decision support.

This study aims to assess the degree of integration of individual economic actors into the regional and national economy through the lens of the Transcaspian (Central Asian) Railway, using the specific case of the Murghab Sovereign's Estate in the Transcaspian Region. The research draws on official statistical compilations from the Department of Railway Affairs of the Russian Empire's Ministry of Finance and reporting materials from the Murghab Estate itself, held in the Russian State Historical Archive. The analysis focuses on the railway shipments of both the Estate's primary agricultural output — cotton — and the secondary products of its local processing plants — cottonseed oil and soap. The findings indicate that the railway transported the entirety of the Estate's cotton harvest to industrial centers in Russia, while a portion of the oil and all of the soap were shipped via rail to supply the local regional market. An examination of inbound freight reveals that the railway also delivered essential, albeit limited, supplies to the Estate, including agricultural machinery, fertilizers, and auxiliary packaging, such as sacks for the internal transportation of cotton. The study concludes that a symbiotic relationship existed between the railway system and the market-oriented enterprises of the region. It is argued that the railroad was a critical catalyst for the integration of the Murghab Estate into both the regional and the broader Russian economic space.

Agriculture stands at a pivotal juncture in the twenty-first century, confronting the converging crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and rising food demand, even as it is increasingly recognised as part of the solution. This paper assesses the transformative potential of integrating three emerging paradigms—digital agriculture, regenerative agriculture and decommoditised agriculture—into a unified approach capable of delivering productivity, ecological restoration and economic viability. Digital agriculture deploys artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT) networks and remote sensing to optimise inputs and sharpen decision-making. Regenerative agriculture seeks to rebuild soil function, enhance biodiversity and restore ecosystem processes through holistic, adaptive management. Decommoditised agriculture reorients value chains from bulk markets towards quality-differentiated systems that privilege direct producer–consumer relationships, value-added processing and regional market development, enabling price premiums and community resilience. We examine their convergence through the “3N” lens—net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, nature-positive outcomes and nutrition-balanced food systems. Integration creates clear complementarities: digital tools monitor, verify and optimise regenerative practices; regenerative systems provide the ecological foundation for sustainable intensification; and decommoditised models supply economic incentives that reward stewardship and nutritional quality. Persistent barriers include the digital divide, data governance, technical complexity and fragmented policy settings. Realising the benefits will require technology democratisation, interdisciplinary research, enabling regulation and farmer-centred innovation processes. We conclude that converging digital, regenerative and decommoditised approaches offers a credible and necessary pathway to resilient, sustainable and equitable agri-food systems.

This study explored the development of a novel, non-caffeinated coffee alternative using underutilized tropical crops: marang seeds (Artocarpus odoratissimus), corn (Zea mays), and malunggay (Moringa oleifera) leaves. These crops are abundant in tropical regions, such as Banaybanay, Davao Oriental, Philippines, yet remain largely untapped for value-added food products. Marang, a seasonal fruit native to the Philippines, yields seeds rich in protein, fats, and carbohydrates, which are often discarded as waste. Corn, widely cultivated in the region, contributes dietary fiber and antioxidants, while malunggay leaves are celebrated for their dense micronutrient content, including iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. The MaCoMa (Marang + Corn + Malunggay) coffee blend was formulated through strategic post-harvest processing techniques, including roasting, drying, and blending, to enhance flavor, preserve nutrients, and extend shelf life. The research evaluated both scientific parameters, such as nutritional profiling and sensory attributes (appearance, aroma, taste, and texture), as well as business viability factors, including consumer acceptability and financial metrics. A sensory evaluation conducted with 200 respondents revealed high levels of acceptability, particularly in terms of aroma and taste. Economic analysis indicated a Return on Investment (ROI) of 7.84%, a net profit margin of 6.86%, and a payback period of 1.5 years, evidence of strong enterprise potential. A SWOT analysis highlighted key strengths, including local availability, nutritional benefits, affordability, and sustainability, while also noting challenges such as limited market awareness and shelf-life constraints. This project demonstrates the potential of transforming tropical crops into market ready products that support community-based enterprises. The MaCoMa coffee blend offers a healthier alternative to conventional coffee, promotes agricultural innovation, reduces postharvest waste, and creates livelihood opportunities. Continued research into flavor variants, shelf-life stabilization, and regional marketing is recommended to scale its impact across tropical agricultural communities.

Abstract: Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector globally and guarantees food security and nutrition. Aquaculture production in Armenia increased significantly over the past three decades, increasing approximately tenfold. In this context, it is important to study the dynamics of aquaculture production in the region and the impact of regional market pressures on Armenian production, considering the country’s right to start exporting aquaculture to the EU. This study examines the impact of regional aquaculture expansion on Armenian aquaculture. Using Principal Component Analysis, regional growth and divergence factors were extracted and incorporated into an ARDL Error Correction framework. Results reveal a long‑run cointegration with regional growth trend and negative short-run effects. Nevertheless, the system rapidly corrects disequilibria through cointegration.

Healthcare services markets display a trend toward concentration in recent decades. 1,887 hospital mergers have been announced in the United States between 1998 and 2021. In one regional market—really, in several regional markets—the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) acquired twenty-eight hospitals between 1996 and 2019. UPMC’s consolidating tendency has not slowed down into the present: in June of 2023, UPMC signed a non-binding letter of intent to affiliate with the Washington Health System, which consists of two hospitals. Meanwhile, in December of 2023, the two federal agencies empowered to enforce federal antitrust law, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), released new merger guidelines thatsignal a more aggressive approach to Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act in seeking injunctions against corporate mergers. The new guidelines above all signal a stronger presumption of illegality with respect to mergers and thus require less concrete evidence of a merger’s future individualized detrimental impacts on consumer welfare than previous guidelines for FTC or DOJ’s antitrust division to prosecute such mergers. Whether these guidelines will acquire cachet in the courts and change the state of antitrust law as we know it is an open question.Similarly, in February of 2023, the Department of Justice retracted Clinton-era policy statements creating an “antitrust safety zone” for hospital mergers. This Note will consider how the changes in FTC and DOJ policy signaled by the 2023 guidelines bear upon the healthcare services market. Though ultimately it is not likely that the shift in the agencies’ policies will be perfectly reflected in judicial decisions, healthcare administrators and their legal counsel concerned with the expense of litigation can consult this Note to understand how the FTC and DOJ will analyze mergers in their industry under the new guidelines.

Aim. To analyze key trends in the development of regional labor markets and employment in North-West of Russia.Methodology. The study was based on data from the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, including individual indicators calculated from microdata collected in a sample survey of the workforce. Cost indicators were analyzed using comparable prices. In the study, methods of comparative and descriptive statistical analysis were used as well as methods of generalization.Results. The study reveals that the situation on the regional labor market of the Northwest is typical of Russia as a whole. The employment rate is stable and unemployment is low, wages are growing, and new and flexible forms of employment are poorly represented (except for employment in the informal economy). In conclusion, the article underlines the need to strengthen cooperation between various actors in the labor market to address the issue of personnel shortages.Research implications. It consists in revealing the potential of using the results obtained to enhance the mechanisms for regulating the labor market with the aim of increasing its resilience to current challenges.

Purpose : This article investigated asymmetric volatility connectedness and spillover dynamics in emerging forex markets, emphasizing BRICS countries, amid recent geopolitical and trade-tariff conflicts. Methodology : The analysis employed the recently introduced TVP-VAR framework by Antonakakis et al. (2020) on daily exchange rate data from April 2015 to March 2025, sourced from Investing.com. Findings : The study uncovered several key insights. Based on realized variance, the total connectedness index stood at 24.02, reflecting weak connectedness with South Africa and Brazil as net transmitters and Russia, China, and India as net receivers. Consistent with prior evidence, connectedness intensified in crises and weakened during stable periods. The spillover asymmetric measure highlighted the dominance of positive volatility, where RS+ was revealed to be low and RS– was suggested to have weak connectedness. Conversely, cross-market connectedness, estimated at 33.87, within a 2N × 2N dimensional framework, confirmed the dominance of bad volatility. Additionally, network-connectedness analysis identified Russia’s pivotal position in transmitting volatility across BRICS forex markets. Implications : The study contributed to the literature by applying advanced methodology to emerging economies. For investors, it provided actionable insights for portfolio and risk management strategies. For policymakers, the weak connectedness underscored the need to strengthen economic and financial integration to advance the de-dollarization agenda and enhance regional market resilience. Originality : This study offered a novel perspective on volatility spillover dynamics in emerging foreign exchange markets and introduced a unique framework for ranking spillover indices.

The article presents the results of a comprehensive study examining the image-related characteristics of a medical organization, based on the company’s and its competitors’ presence in the digital space, as well as the specific features of consumer behavior in the regional market. Using data from a voluntary questionnaire survey, the study identifies key factors influencing consumer choice of a healthcare provider, including informedness, quality of services, level of patient trust, organization’s imagebuilding characteristics, and pricing preferences. In the regional private medical services market, the prioritization of choice of the organization is driven rather by expectations of personalization and the variety of offered services than by pricing or personnel policies. Adapting a company’s digital presence to client requirements is one of the factors that enhances competitiveness and consumer loyalty. The results of the study provided the basis for developing a unified model for analyzing company performance through open digital data and accessible analytical platforms for regular marketing monitoring and refinement of main target audience parameters. The academic novelty of the work is in applying a comprehensive approach to studying consumer preferences of private clinic clients in the region and identifying current requirements for improving a company’s digital presence.

Relevance. The relevance of human resource potential research as a key tool for smoothing regional imbalances in the national economy is due to the increasing need to ensure balanced socio-economic development of territories. The deepening of inter-regional differences in the standard of living of the population, access to quality education and employment opportunities creates significant obstacles to the sustainable growth of the national economy as a whole. In this regard, the study of the role of human resources in smoothing regional imbalances and the development of strategies for its development and effective allocation are an important condition for ensuring sustainable and competitive development of the national economy.The purpose of this study was human resource potential as a tool for smoothing regional imbalances in the national economy.Objectives: involve studying the mechanisms of the influence of human resources on the socio-economic development of regions, as well as checking the availability of statistical links between the number of vacancies in the regional labor market and the number of graduates in the region under study.Methodology. In this study, such methods as data systematization, quantitative statistical, analysis and synthesis, theoretical generalization, as well as data visualization methods were used.Results. The main aspects of regional imbalances are highlighted, where one of the main ones is the inefficient allocation of human resources. The correlation and regression analysis revealed the presence of statistical relationships between the number of vacancies in the regional labor market and the number of graduates in the region under study.Conclusions. Based on the conducted research, including the quantitative statistical method, the study established the presence and closeness of statistical relationships between the number of vacancies in the regional labor market and the number of graduates in the region under study. The conclusion that human resources is a tool for smoothing regional disparities is substantiated.