Role Of Socioeconomic Factors Research Articles

The role of socioeconomic factors in sex differences in intrinsic capacity among older adults: A cross-sectional study in Taiwan

ObjectivesThe World Health Organization’s Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) framework launched in 2019 is used to assess the intrinsic capacity of older individuals. Older women may face greater socioeconomic disadvantages, which can impact their physical and mental well-being. Therefore, we examined sex differences in intrinsic capacity and the influence of socioeconomic status. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in Tainan, Taiwan, recruiting 1,268 adults aged 60 or older in 2022. The ICOPE screening assessed cognitive decline, limited mobility, malnutrition, visual impairment, hearing loss, and depressive symptoms. Intrinsic capacity scores ranged from 0 to 6 and were categorized as impairment (1 or higher) or no impairment (0). Binary logistic regression models were used to analyze sex differences in intrinsic capacity, adjusting sequentially for demographics, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors. ResultsThe prevalence of intrinsic capacity impairment was 34 %. Women had significantly higher odds of intrinsic capacity impairment (women vs. men, odds ratio [OR] = 1.39, 95 % CI = 1.10–1.75). After sequentially adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors, the ORs were 1.46 (95 % CI = 1.12–1.90), 1.69 (95 % CI = 1.23–2.31), and 1.24 (95 % CI = 0.88–1.73), respectively. Stratified analyses showed that higher odds of impairment in women than in men was evident only in the financially dependent group (P for interaction = 0.059). ConclusionsOlder women in Taiwan have poorer intrinsic capacity than men, a disparity largely attributable to women’s lower socioeconomic status. Strategies to promote healthy aging among women from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds may help mitigate this sex difference in intrinsic capacity.

Impact of household income on survival in solid malignancies with synchronous brain metastases: A population-based study.

142 Background: Solid malignancies presenting with brain metastasis at the initial diagnosis usually carry a poor prognosis. Increased incidence of brain metastasis can be attributed to the advancements in neuroimaging techniques and improvements in the treatment of solid malignancies. The role of socioeconomic factors in cancer survival is being increasingly recognized. In this study, we analyzed the effect of median household income on survival outcomes in patients diagnosed with brain metastasis at the time of diagnosis of primary malignancies from 2010 to 2020. Methods: We analyzed the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program 17 registry (November 2022 submission) database for four primary sites of cancers based on their high propensity to develop brain metastases- Lung and/or Bronchus, Breast, Kidney and/or Renal Pelvis, and Melanoma. Patients with a median household income (MHHI) greater than 75,000 per year were classified as a high-income group, whereas those less than 75,000 per year were low-income. Patients diagnosed with malignancy during autopsy or via death certificate and with incomplete data were excluded. Kaplan-Meier method was used for 2-year survival rates and overall survival analyses. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR). Results: A total of 66493 patients were identified across the four primary sites of tumors. Lung and/or bronchus tumors comprised most of the cases (n = 58,324). 25337 patients were in the high-income group, and 41156 patients comprised the low-income group. Median survival in the low-income group was 4 months, and in the high-income group was 5 months, with a 2-year survival rate of 11% and 18% respectively. Patients in the high-income group had better survival outcomes than the low-income [HR:0.88, 95% CI:0.86-0.90, p<0.001]. Additionally, the high-income group had 19% higher odds of receiving chemotherapy [OR:1.19, 95% CI:1.16-1.23, p<0.0001]. Amongst the cancer subgroups, household income did not have a significant effect on survival in patients with kidney and/or renal pelvis tumors [HR:0.97, 95% CI:0.88-1.06, p=0.5]. The 2-year survival rates are outlined (Table). Conclusions: Our analysis highlights a modest improvement in survival in the patient population with higher median household income. This difference could be attributed to the greater accessibility to treatment modalities and other resources for patients with higher household incomes. Further studies are needed to address socioeconomic disparities in survival for patients with solid malignancies having synchronous brain metastases. 2-year survival rates (95% CI). Cancer Groups Low-income High-income Combined Cancers 11% (11-12%) 18% (18-19%) Lung and/or Bronchus 10% (10-11%) 17% (17-18%) Breast 27% (25-29%) 34% (31-37%) Melanoma 19% (17-21%) 23% (20-25%) Kidney and/or Renal Pelvis 15% (13-17%) 18% (15-21%)

Microfinance and Clients’ Welfare: Role of Socio-Economic Factors

Microfinance and Clients’ Welfare: Role of Socio-Economic Factors

The role of socio-economic factors, parental occupation, and education in enhancing adolescent knowledge of STDs: A quasi-experiment study, Bangalore

This study investigates the impact of socio-economic status, occupation of the head of the family, and education of the head of the family on adolescents' knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Adolescents often face knowledge gaps regarding STDs, increasing their risk of infection and adverse health outcomes. Addressing these gaps through targeted educational interventions is crucial for promoting safer sexual practices and improving adolescent health. Using a quasi-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design, this study assessed sixty adolescents from 1st and 2nd Pre-University (PU) classes at NSVK PU College, Bangalore, selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic proforma, including socio-economic status, occupation, and education of the head of the family. A structured questionnaire evaluated baseline STD knowledge. A planned teaching program on STDs covered transmission modes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment. The effectiveness of the intervention was measured by comparing pre-test and post-test scores, with statistical analysis confirming significant knowledge improvements. The analysis showed that socio-economic status, occupation, and education of the head of the family critically influenced knowledge acquisition. Adolescents from families with higher socio-economic status, more educated heads, and professional occupations exhibited greater knowledge improvement. These results highlight the importance of considering socio-economic factors when designing educational programs to increase STD awareness among adolescents. Tailored interventions addressing the specific needs of different demographic groups are essential to reduce STD incidence and promote healthier behaviours.

Climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in Senegal’s semi-arid zone: role of socio-economic factors and institutional supports

In dryland agricultural systems, developing appropriate climate-smart technology (CST) options is important to adapt agriculture to climate change and transition toward sustainability, as well as increasing productivity and incomes. This study examines the impact of socio-economic and institutional support on community responses to climate change and the impact of changes in three selected regions of Senegal (Meouane, Thiel, and Daga Birame), which fall within different rainfall gradients. It captures community perceptions of climate change, compares them to long-term meteorological data, and identifies site-specific response strategies. Communities are randomly selected from a list of communities within the target sites. We used a two-stage stratified sampling method to select sample households. First, purposive sampling was conducted to select at least six (6) villages as a cluster within each rainfall gradient. Likewise, the selection of households in each cluster was based on the main value chains of crops grown in the study area, namely groundnut, millet, black pea, and livestock. A total of 145 households participated in this study. Data from surveys conducted during the 2022 post-harvest season were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logit models. The analysis found that smallholders have a comprehensive understanding of climate indicators, including annual rainfall, shortened crop seasons, and rising temperatures, compared to historical data trends. Additionally, the results highlight how farmers view the negative impacts of seasonal rainfall deficiencies (72%), delayed start of the growing season (88%), frequent dry spells (68%), and longer dry spells (76%), which ultimately lead to decreased grain and fodder yields. The logit model also highlights the importance of socio-economic and institutional factors such as access to credit, extension services, agricultural experience, frequency of interaction with extension workers, and access to government subsidies. These factors play a crucial role in farmers’ decision to adopt CST. Given the specificity of community contexts, these insights have important implications for guiding policymakers and making it easier to reduce climate risk among smallholder farmers.

Spatial network structure and influencing factors of carbon emission intensity in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay area

Introduction: In response to China’s ambitious dual-carbon goals, this study investigates the spatial correlation and influencing factors of carbon emission intensity within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area (GBA), a region pivotal for the nation’s energy conservation and emission reduction efforts. Through a comprehensive analysis encompassing the period from 2000 to 2020, this research aims to delineate the spatial dynamics of carbon emissions and identify actionable insights for regional low-carbon development.Methods: Utilizing an integrated methodology comprising spatial autocorrelation analysis, Social Network Analysis (SNA), and the Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP), the study analyzes carbon emission data alongside socio-economic variables. These methodologies allow for a nuanced exploration of the spatial correlation structure and the determination of factors influencing carbon emission intensity across the GBA.Results: Findings reveal a cyclical fluctuation in the spatial network of carbon emissions from 2000 to 2020, characterized by varying degrees of cohesion among cities, indicating significant opportunities for spatial optimization. A “core-periphery” pattern emerges, with economically robust cities such as Hong Kong and Macao at the core, and less developed cities like Huizhou and Jiangmen on the periphery. Cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen play crucial mediator roles. The QAP analysis further identifies six major influencing factors: geographic spatial proximity, economic development level, urbanization rate, industrial configuration, level of technological innovation, and environmental protection efforts, with the latter four having a markedly positive impact on spatial relevance.Discussion: The study’s insights underscore the importance of understanding the spatial dynamics of carbon emissions and the role of socioeconomic factors in shaping these patterns. For policymakers and stakeholders in the GBA, these findings highlight the necessity of targeted intervention strategies that consider both the unique position of cities within the spatial network and the broader socio-economic context. This approach can significantly contribute to achieving China’s dual-carbon objectives, promoting energy conservation, and facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Cannabis-related arrests and convictions in Canada: Differences by race/ethnicity, individual socioeconomic factors, and neighborhood deprivation

Racialized individuals were disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition in Canada; however, the role of socioeconomic factors and neighborhood deprivation are not well understood. The current study examined race/ethnicity, individual socioeconomic factors, and neighborhood deprivation in relation to arrests and convictions for cannabis-related offenses. Repeat cross-sectional data were analyzed from two waves of the International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS), a web-based survey conducted in 2019 (n = 12,226) and 2020 (n = 12,815) in Canada among those aged 16 to 65. Respondents were recruited through commercial online panels. Respondents’ postal codes were linked to the INSPQ deprivation index. Multinomial regression models examined the association between race/ethnicity, individual socioeconomic factors, neighborhood deprivation, and lifetime arrests or convictions for cannabis offenses. Overall, 4.4% of respondents reported a lifetime arrest or conviction for a cannabis-related offense. Black and Indigenous individuals had more than three times the odds of conviction than White individuals (AOR = 3.90, 95% CI = 2.07–7.35, p = <0.01; AOR = 3.24, 95% CI = 1.78–5.90, p = <0.01, respectively). Differences were still statistically significant after adjusting for cannabis use and socioeconomic factors; however, after adjusting for neighborhood deprivation, only the difference for Black individuals remained. Neighborhood deprivation was associated with cannabis-related convictions: the odds of a conviction among the “most privileged” and “privileged” neighborhoods were approximately half of those in the “most deprived” neighborhoods (AOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.29–0.86, p = 0.01; AOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.27–0.92, p = 0.03, respectively). Arrests and convictions for cannabis-related offenses were disproportionately higher among racialized individuals and those living in the most marginalized neighborhoods. Future research should examine whether inequities change following the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada.

Sun protection behaviors among children aged 6-18 years old, the role of socioeconomic factors: A cross-sectional study.

Evaluation of sun protection behavior and related factors in children aged between 6 and 18 years in Isfahan, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted at outpatient pediatric clinics affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran during the summer of 2021. A checklist was designed, and the interviewer used that to gather the required information including children's demographic characteristics, families' socioeconomic data, and sun-protective behaviors in children. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of children was 10.54 ± 3.61. Among the study population, 63.7% of children were male. The most common skin phototypes were II and III (33.5% each). 83.8% of children used at least one method of sun protection (94.5% of girls, 77.6% of boys, p < 0.001). Wearing long-sleeved clothes was the most frequent UV-protection method (48%), while sunscreen application was the least prevalent method (28.1%). Sun protection behaviors were more frequent among urban children (86.7%, p = 0.009) and children with wealthy families (94%, p = 0.035). Sun protection methods were used by most of the children whose mothers applied sunscreen on a daily basis (90.2%, p = 0.002) and all of the children whose mothers held a master's degree or above (100%, p = 0.004). Children's sun protection behavior is directly associated with demographic characteristics, families' socioeconomic level and maternal usage of sun protection measures. It is necessary to provide information and education about sun protection methods and the risks of excessive sun exposure to families and children, as well as facilitate their access to these.

From smoke to sustainability: the role of socioeconomic factors in the continuous use of clean cooking technologies in Uganda

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the influence of specific socioeconomic factors, namely neighborhood, gender roles and affordability, on the continuous use of clean cooking technologies (CCTs) in households, using evidence from Uganda.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted an explanatory quantitative design. A questionnaire survey with 379 clean household responses was conducted. The data were analyzed using the Smart Partial Least Squares (PLS) software.FindingsThe results indicate that the sustained use of clean cooking technologies in households in Uganda is significantly associated with neighborhood influence, shared gender roles and affordability, collectively accounting for 27.7% of the variance.Research limitations/implicationsThe three dimensions of socioeconomic factors under study partially explain the sustained use of CCTs in Uganda. The study does not delve into other socioeconomic factors that could probably account for 72.2% of the variance not explained. The quantitative design may have overlooked the social reality perspectives inherent in qualitative studies that other researchers may endeavor to exploit.Originality/valueThe authors integrated three dimensions of socioeconomic factors – neighborhood influence, gender roles and affordability – with the diffusion of innovation theory (DIT) using Smart PLS to explain the continuous use of CCTs within households.

A Study on Financial Literacy among Farmers in Mosra Village, Nizamabad District Telangana

This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the financial literacy levels among farmers in Mosra Village, situated in the Nizamabad District of Telangana, India. The study aims to assess the current state of financial literacy within the farming community and to identify key factors that influence farmers' financial knowledge and decision-making. To achieve these objectives, a mixed-methods approach was employed, including surveys and interviews with a representative sample of farmers in Mosra Village. The study investigates various aspects of financial literacy, such as understanding basic financial concepts, knowledge of financial products and services, and the ability to make informed financial decisions related to agricultural practices and investments. The findings of this study reveal both the strengths and weaknesses in the financial literacy of farmers in Mosra Village. It highlights the importance of tailored financial education and outreach programs to bridge the existing knowledge gaps and empower farmers with the necessary financial skills and knowledge to improve their economic well-being. Additionally, the study sheds light on the role of socioeconomic factors, educational background, and access to financial resources in shaping farmers' financial literacy levels.

The Role of Socioeconomic Factors and Race in Access to Services at a Memory Clinic

The Role of Socioeconomic Factors and Race in Access to Services at a Memory Clinic

Socio-economic factors and clean cooking fuel consumption in India: A household level study

The present paper investigates the clean cooking fuel transition in India and the role of socio-economic factors, in determining the primary cooking fuel choices among Indian households during the last seven years. Our empirical finding suggests that there has been a sharp increase in clean cooking fuel consumption from 2015–16 to 2019–21 across the socio-economic groups, castes, religions and rural-urban areas. Our logit regression estimates based on NFHS fourth and fifth-round data on a sample of 664,543 and 685,337 households suggest that socioeconomic status is imperative in the clean cooking fuel consumption process. We further demonstrate that, as the household's size and age increase, they prefer less clean cooking fuels; however, households living in urban areas, especially female-headed, are more likely to use clean cooking fuels than their counterparts. Our finding also indicates that lower caste households are less likely to use clean cooking fuel than their upper caste counterparts, even though there has been a sharp improvement for the SC caste from 2015–16 to 2019–21. A comparatively contrasting result for religion suggests that Muslims and Christians are more likely to use clean cooking fuels than Hindus. Similarly, households with higher educational attainment, better wealth status, and female financial decision-makers with the availability of piped water sources are more likely to use clean cooking fuels. Further, to understand the effectiveness of PMUY policies on overall LPG use, a Difference In Difference (DID) technique has been applied, and the result indicates a positive impact of PMUY on the overall use of clean cooking fuel for the BPL households.

Associations between EEG trajectories, family income, and cognitive abilities over the first two years of life

We sought to characterize developmental trajectories of EEG spectral power over the first 2 years after birth and examine whether family income or maternal education alter those trajectories. We analyzed EEGs (n = 161 infants, 534 EEGs) collected longitudinally between 2 and 24 months of age, and calculated frontal absolute power across 7 canonical frequency bands. For each frequency band, a piecewise growth curve model was fit, resulting in an estimated intercept and two slope parameters from 2 to 9 months and 9–24 months of age. Across 6/7 frequency bands, absolute power significantly increased over age, with steeper slopes in the 2–9 month period compared to 9–24 months. Increased family income, but not maternal education, was associated with higher intercept (2–3 month power) across delta–gamma bands (p range = 0.002–0.04), and reduced change in power between 2 and 9 months of age in lower frequency bands (delta-alpha, p range = 0.01–0.02). There was no significant effect of income on slope between 9 and 24 months. EEG intercept and slope measures did not mediate relationships between income and 24-month verbal and nonverbal development. These results add to growing literature concerning the role of socioeconomic factors in shaping brain trajectories.

Association of social deprivation with survival in younger adult patients with AML: an Alliance study

Survival of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is influenced by genetic factors, age, and race. Social deprivation is increasingly recognized as an important contributor to disparities in cancer outcomes, but studies of adult AML are lacking. We analyzed associations between social deprivation index (SDI) and outcome in 1,893 patients with AML treated on Cancer and Leukemia Group B/Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology frontline protocols. Patients with low (first quartile, lowest deprivation) and high (quartiles 2-4) SDI were analyzed for associations with baseline clinical, cytogenetic and molecular features, and outcomes. Except for racial-ethnic identity, SDI was not associated with baseline clinical characteristics. Patients aged <60 years with high SDI harbored BCOR (3% vs 7%, P=.03), IDH1 (6% vs 11%, P=.03) and STAG2 (2% vs 5%, P=.02) mutations less often than patients with low SDI, suggesting possible differences in the underlying disease biology. High SDI patients had shorter disease-free (median: 1.5 vs 2.8 years, P=.02) and overall survival (OS; median: 1.9 vs 3.0 years, P=.005) than low SDI patients. In multivariable analysis, high SDI was associated with worse OS (HR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.06-1.55, P=.001). Survival differences occurred mainly in the 2017 European LeukemiaNet favorable genetic-risk group. There were no significant associations between SDI and molecular features or survival among patients aged ≥60 years. We conclude that high SDI associated with worse survival, independent from other pretreatment prognostic factors, in younger AML patients. The role of socioeconomic factors in AML should be further investigated to overcome potentially avoidable survival disparities.

The role of socioeconomic factors as barriers to patient reported outcome measure completion following lumbar spine fusion

BACKGROUND CONTEXTAlthough incorporating patient reported outcomes (PROMs) into practice allows healthcare systems to evaluate the value of care provided, research and policy reflecting PROMs can only be valid if they represent all patients. Few studies have evaluated socioeconomic barriers to PROM completion, and none have done so in a spine patient population. PURPOSETo identify patient barriers to PROM completion one year following lumbar spine fusion. STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGRetrospective single-institution cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLEA total of 2,984 patients undergoing lumbar fusion between 2014 and 2020 OUTCOME MEASURESCompletion of Mental Component Score (MCS-12) and Physical Component Score (PCS-12) of Short Form-12 questionnaire 1 year postoperatively. METHODSA retrospective review was conducted of all patients undergoing 1-3-level lumbar fusion at a single urban tertiary center. PROMs were queried from our prospectively managed electronic outcomes database. Patients were considered to have complete PROMs if 1-year outcomes were available. Community-level characteristics were collected from patients’ zip codes using the Economic Innovation Group Distressed Communities Index. Bivariate analyses were performed to assess factors associated with PROM incompletion along with multivariate logistic regression to control for confounders. RESULTSA total of 1,968 (66.0%) had incomplete 1-year PROMs. Patients with incomplete PROMs were more likely to be Black (14.5% vs 9.3%, p<.001), Hispanic (2.9% vs 1.6%, p=.027), reside in a distressed community (14.7% vs 8.5%, p<.001), and be active smokers (22.4% vs 15.5%, p<.001). On multivariate regression, Black race (OR: 1.46, p=.014, Hispanic ethnicity (OR: 2.19, p=.027), distressed community status (OR: 1.47, p=.024), workers’ compensation status (OR: 2.82, p=.001), and active smoking (OR:1.31, p=.034) all were independently associated with PROM incompletion. Surgical characteristics, including primary surgeon, revision status, approach, and levels fused were not associated with PROM incompletion. CONCLUSIONSSocial determinants of health impact completion of PROMs. Patients completing PROMs are overwhelmingly White, non-Hispanic, and reside in wealthier communities. Efforts should be taken to provide better education regarding PROMs and ensure closer follow-up of certain subgroups of patients to avoid furthering disparities in PROM research.

The Role of Socioeconomic Factors, Psychological Motivations, and Social Networks in Women’s Participation in Community-Based Fishery Management in Ghana

Women’s participation in community-based decision-making in managing natural resources such as fishery is considered crucial to the sustainability of the fishery industry. However, women experience the brunt of inequality in fishery tasks and decision-making despite their crucial contributions. Using survey data (N = 400) from an ethnographic study on Ghanaian female fisherfolk, we examine the factors affecting women’s participation in community-based fishery decision-making. Findings show that while women attended community meetings, only a few held positions in the fishery associations. Whilst education was not a significant factor in women’s community participation, the age of children, women’s ownership of fishery assets as well as psychological characteristics such as trust, interests and gender role attitudes were very crucial. Results further show that network variables such as women’s position in other associations were more important to their participation in community-based fishery decision-making than mere membership in such associations. This study highlights the need for fishery policies aimed at gender equality to move beyond gender structures and economic models toward examining the complexity of factors affecting different aspects of women’s participation in fishery decision-making.

Burden of Migraine and Migraine-Associated Symptoms in People with Differing Ethnic and Racial Backgrounds: Results of the OVERCOME (US) Study (S41.003)

Burden of Migraine and Migraine-Associated Symptoms in People with Differing Ethnic and Racial Backgrounds: Results of the OVERCOME (US) Study (S41.003)

The Role of Socioeconomic Factors in Improving the Performance of Students Based on Intelligent Computational Approaches

Nowadays, we are living in the modern era of technological revolution and globalization, where people are giving more priority to proper education to compete among the top countries and to achieve something in their lives. Education improves a person’s abilities and creativity, which in turn have a positive effect on the development of a nation’s or an individual’s economy and also play a productive role in it. The traditional approaches are based only on statistical measures and are not capable of figuring out the most significant socioeconomic factors affecting the performance of a student. Keeping in mind the significance of socioeconomic status (SES) in improving the performance of a student, this study analyzes the important socioeconomic factors that affect the performance of a student in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. We developed our own dataset by collecting data from 100 different schools (both government and private) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, consisting of more than 5550 students who were given a proper questionnaire survey. The created dataset consists of a total of 18 features and a target class. In this research, we used different statistical and machine learning (ML) methodologies to identify the most crucial elements that significantly affect the academic achievements of a student and have a strong correlation with the target class. To select the most prominent features from the dataset, we used two different feature selectors (FCBF and relief) and measured their performances along with ML models. To measure the significance rate of each ML algorithm using the full and selected feature space, we used different performance measures such as accuracy, precision, recall, sensitivity, specificity, etc. The experimental outcomes show that the feature selection algorithms significantly improve the performance of the classification models by providing more relevant features that have a strong association with the target class. This study also offered some advice for decision-makers, particularly in the respective education sector and other authorities, to develop specific solution strategies, plans, and initiatives to address the issue. It is envisioned that the suggested scheme will help the residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in particular, obtain a high-quality education that can help pave the way for an educated and developed Pakistan.

Regional disparity of residential solar panel diffusion in Australia: The roles of socio-economic factors

In following a pathway towards decarbonisation of energy systems, Australia has successfully accelerated the adoption of solar technologies, with approximately three million small-scale distributed solar panels installed on rooftops of Australian homes. This study, in seeking to explore the effects of socio-economic variables on solar energy uptake, firstly explored the historical diffusions of household solar panels across 2668 Australian postcode areas, and classified the postal areas into three groups through K-means clustering according to their solar penetration status, namely the regions with low, medium, and high solar-level. Subsequently, this study carried out a hierarchical regression analysis investigating the significant socio-economic factors impacting solar adoption in each of the three region types. The results indicate that the three solar groups have different significant impacting factors. In addition, factors, such as detached house and multi-person household, positively contribute to the solar panel uptake, while factors like population density and middle-aged people provide negative contributes. The findings suggest new directions that could be taken for future policies and viable business models, and that specific measures for the varied socio-economic factors to be considered at different stages of solar energy development.

Evaluating COVID-19’s impacts on Puerto Rican’s travel behaviors

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has completely disrupted and possibly permanently changed the way humans travel. In Puerto Rico, major travel restrictions to the island have persisted at different levels since March 2020, which heavily influenced residents’ travel behaviors. However, it remains unclear about how big the impact is and how inequitable it might be. The goal of this study is to evaluate COVID-19’s impacts on Puerto Rican’s travel behaviors by analyzing travel flows from Puerto Rico to the contiguous US with a modified gravity model. The roles of socioeconomic factors regarding the Puerto Rican travelers and COVID-19 factors regarding the destination US states have been assessed. COVID-19 was a strong deterring factor of travel at the beginning of the pandemic and also in the winter of 2020, but it did not keep Puerto Ricans from traveling during the summer 2020 when most travel restrictions were lifted. We found that the elderly population of Puerto Rico, despite being more vulnerable to COVID-19, were much more likely to travel during the pandemic. We also found that, during the holiday season in 2020, some socioeconomically disadvantaged populations were more likely to be traveling, a direct contradiction to their travel flows the year prior. These findings shed light on about how disproportionately affected populations behavior changed from pre-pandemic to after the pandemic started. With the continuance of the pandemic, this information is extremely valuable for future planning with respect to emergency management, travel regulation, and social benefit.