Significant Economic Sector Research Articles

An Improved UNet-Based Path Recognition Method in Low-Light Environments

The fruit industry is a significant economic sector in China, with modern orchards gradually transitioning to trellis orchards. For mechanized orchard operations, automatic vehicle navigation is essential. However, in trellis orchards, the shading from trees results in low average light intensity and large variations in lighting, posing challenges for path navigation. To address this, a path navigation algorithm for trellis orchards is proposed based on the UNet-CBAM model. The network structures of UNet, FCN, and SegNet are compared to identify and select the optimal structure for further improvement. Among the three attention mechanisms of channel attention, spatial attention, and combined attention, the most effective mechanism is identified. The optimal attention mechanism is incorporated into the optimized network to enhance the model’s ability to detect path edges and improve detection performance. To validate the effectiveness and generalizability of the model, a total of 400 images were collected under varying lighting intensities. The experimental results show that this method achieves an accuracy of 97.63%, a recall of 93.94%, and an Intersection over Union (IoU) of 92.19%. These results significantly enhance path recognition accuracy in trellis orchards, particularly under low light under conditions. Compared to the FCN and SegNet algorithms, this method provides higher detection accuracy and offers a new theoretical foundation and research approach for path recognition in low-light environments.

The Transformation of Zimbabwe’s Informal Economy: From Petty Trade to Vibrant Sector

This article explores how the informal economy of Zimbabwe has transformed from a disorganised petty trading sector to a significant economic sector, despite facing challenges. Data were collected in Norton using ethnographic methods. Results show how the sector innovated and expanded into an organised and fairly productive sector. The article debunks stereotypes about the informal economy, such as being a survivalist or low-productivity sector. It argues that the sector has become resilient and vibrant over time and grown in innovative and creative ways as it fights for a place in an economy crippled by economic crises.

Value Creation in Technology-Driven Ecosystems: Role of Coopetition in Industrial Networks

Coopetition, while offering significant strategic advantages, presents challenges in maintaining long-term collaboration among competitors, often due to a lack of perceived value for the participating actors. This study explores the role of technology in overcoming these challenges by applying the Service-Dominant Logic (S-D Logic) framework to investigate how technology-driven networks can enhance value co-creation among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study hypothesizes that transitioning to technology-driven coopetition networks can substantially improve value co-creation. To test this hypothesis, the research critically evaluates existing theoretical approaches to coopetition, identifies gaps in understanding value creation mechanisms, and implements an experimental technology-driven coopetition network leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The research design is applied explicitly to the Portuguese ornamental stone industry, a significant economic and cultural sector. The findings confirm that technology-driven coopetition networks can enhance value co-creation and improve outputs. These results suggest that integrating technology into coopetition frameworks can provide a viable path to sustaining competitive advantages in SMEs.

The Role of Sharia Risk Management, Islamic Investment Ethics, and Riba-Free Financing in the Development of the Halal Industry in Indonesia

The Halal industry has emerged as a significant economic sector globally, driven by the growing demand for products and services that conform to Islamic principles. In Indonesia, with the world's largest Muslim population, the Halal industry has enormous potential for growth. This study investigates the role of Shariah risk management, Islamic investment ethics, and usury-free financing in shaping the trajectory of the Halal industry in Indonesia. Using quantitative analysis through structural equation modeling (SEM), this study examines the relationship between these financial practices and the development of the Halal industry. Data collected from key stakeholders in the industry revealed significant positive relationships between Shariah risk management, Islamic investment ethics, usury-free financing, and Halal industry development. The findings provide valuable insights for policy makers, investors, and industry stakeholders looking to foster sustainable growth and innovation in the Halal industry in Indonesia.

Trends in the livestock and pork market in Poland with regard to the environmental impact of this production direction

After joining the European Union, the market economy continued to drive structural changes in meat production and processing. Unfortunately, the functioning of meat markets was impacted by several threats with significant adverse influence. Phenomena such as the spread of ASF disease, the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union or the Covid-19 epidemic added instability to the already cyclical pork market. The study aims to evaluate the functioning of Poland’s pork market and to identify the main trend in this market. Livestock and pork meat production in Poland form a significant economic sector; however, it creates considerable environmental challenges. The study focuses on key aspects such as greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, feed consumption, and waste management. The study covers the years 2004-2021, i.e., the period of seventeen years after Poland's accession to the European Union. The statistical data analysis methods showed four to three-year cycles in pork live stock with a decreasing amplitude over time and high and relatively stable domestic demand for pork. This provides a favourable foundation for future production direction. However, the systematic changes in the structure of meat consumption and price development led to a steady increase in the share of poultry meat at the expense of pork and bovine during the observed year span.

INVESTMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE FOOD SECTOR IN JORDAN

Purpose: This research aims to demonstrate the impact of manufacturing growth, exports, and the GDP deflator on the food industry. Furthermore, it examines the influence of manufacturing growth on the food industry from 1983 to 2021. Theoretical Framework: It should be highlighted that the global financial crisis, notably in the industrial sector, including the food sector, has had a negative impact on economic performance in 2021 (Central Bank, 2022). Jordan is still suffering from the economic consequences of events in neighboring nations. Design/Methodology/Approach: The methods utilized in this study include descriptive methods and statistical analysis, which allow for the examination of the parameters impacting the research issue and the description and measurement of the relationship between them. Findings: It is proven that the processing sector's production volume positively impacts the food industry by testing the hypotheses based on the research results. The GDP deflator has a positive impact on the food industry as well. Research, Practical & Social Implications: It is advised that the food sector be given serious consideration as it has a significant impact on the country's economy and that several studies and research relating the GDP deflator to various other economic sectors be presented in order to identify and contrast the most significant economic sectors. Originality/Value: The findings demonstrated that the expansion of exports in all economic sectors has a detrimental effect on the expansion of the food industry. The study also demonstrated that the impact of the GDP deflator on the food industry is favorable. It is advised that serious attention be paid to the food sector because it significantly impacts the country's economy. Research and studies that link the GDP deflator to various other economic sectors should be presented to identify and contrast the most significant economic sectors.

Exploring the Potential of Adventure Tourism in Mongolia’s Eastern Region: A Resource-Based Approach

The tourism industry has emerged as a significant economic sector, playing a pivotal role in the socio-economic advancement of the nation. In recent years, special interest tourism has experienced rapid growth among various forms of tourism. This type of travel is characterized by individuals pursuing their unique interests, aspirations, and desire for novelty. Among the various types of special interest tourism, we have chosen adventure tourism. Currently, the range of adventure tourism services emerging in Mongolia is constrained, exhibiting limited innovation and failing to capitalize fully on available prospects. This form of tourism is confined to a select few activities, including horseback riding, cycling, hiking, camel riding, and mountain climbing. According to researchers, the majority of tourists exhibit a preference for skill-based adventure tourism in remote regions, as opposed to less skill-intensive adventure tourism in popular tourist destinations. The presence of abundant natural resources in the eastern region of Mongolia constitutes a distinct advantage for the advancement of adventure tourism. Nonetheless, a thorough examination of these natural resources is imperative to ascertain their suitability for the development of tourism, particularly adventure tourism. Adventure tourism natural resources can be categorized into two primary groups: land resources, encompassing mountains, rocks, sand dunes, steppes, and forest areas, and water resources, including rivers and lakes. Each of these two groups and their seven elemental resources exhibit distinct characteristics and indicators. This article delineates the indicators used to assess each element of these resources, presents the outcomes of research conducted to gauge their potential level (corresponding level), and highlights select findings from studies aimed at identifying natural resources for the advancement of adventure tourism in the eastern region of Mongolia.

Did the Economic Reforms Change the Macroeconomic Drivers of the Indian Economy in the Post-Reform Era? An ARDL Bounds Test Approach

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the macroeconomic forces that have been driving the Indian economy during both the pre-reform and post-reform eras, that is, from 1950-1951 to 1990-1991 and from 1991-1992 to 2022-2023 respectively. 
 Problem: The Indian economy underwent significant economic and financial sector reforms in 1991-92, with the goal of reviving its stagnant growth. These reforms are intended to spur the economic growth of India. What were the main forces behind the Indian economy before and after the reforms? Is the research question. The goal of the current study is to determine if the economic reforms shifted or maintained the pre-reform era’s driving forces for the Indian economy in the post-reform era. 
 Design/Methodology/Approach: The gross domestic product (GDP), the gross domestic savings (GDS), the private consumption expenditure (PFCE), the government final consumption expenditure (GFCE), the inflation rate, the exchange rate, the exports, the imports, the internal and external borrowings of the government, personal remittances, foreign direct investment (FDI), and foreign portfolio investments (FPI) are all taken into consideration in order to fill the research gap that has been identified as a result of the comprehensive review of the literature. Following an analysis of the selected variables' fundamental characteristics, an econometric model is developed using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds Test Model. 
 Findings: There is no evidence of long-run causation and association between the variables, but the findings of the ARDL Bounds Test showed that in the pre-reform period, PFCE is the major driver of the GDP in the short-run, with strong support from imports. However, since the reform, PFCE, GDS, and Exports are the primary short- and long-term contributors to GDP. 
 Practical Implication: These findings indicate that India's macroeconomic system is shifting. The Indian economy has undergone a dramatic shift, moving away from a reliance on imports and toward one that is consumer-driven and export-driven. As savings and consumer expenditures are the main drivers of the Indian economy’s growth in the post-reform era, policies should be designed to increase savings and consumption as well as increase exports.

Forecasting Malaysian Natural Rubber Prices: An Analysis of Trends and Factors Influencing Price Fluctuations

Recently, the natural rubber industry has grown to be one of Malaysia's most significant economic sectors. However, Standard Malaysia Rubber (SMR20) prices have frequently fluctuated. To predict the price situation in the future, it is crucial to construct a price prediction or forecasting model. As such, a study on forecasting Malaysian natural rubber prices over the next ten years needs to be done. The data gained for this study were from Malaysian Rubber Board covering 1995 to 2022. Univariate forecasting methods such as Holt's Winter, Double Exponential Smoothing, Naive with Trend and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) were used. The best method to forecast natural rubber prices was decided based on the lowest measurement error. From the analysis, ARIMA was chosen because it has the smallest measurement error to predict natural rubber prices over the next decade. As a result, Malaysia’s natural rubber prices showed an upward trend. Keywords: Natural rubber price, forecasting, autoregressive integrated moving average, measurement forecasting error

Mapping of Inland Excess Water Using Geographical Information System and High-Resolution Satellite Images: A Case Study of SREM, Serbia

Abstract Extreme hydrological events, such as floods and droughts, are becoming more frequent as a result of climate change, leading to negative impacts on various economic sectors. The Pannonian-Carpathian Basin is particularly affected by the increasing frequency of hazardous hydrological events. Agricultural production, which is a highly significant economic sector in the region, is particularly vulnerable to these unfavourable climatic conditions. Changes in precipitation patterns and soil moisture levels can lead to reduced crop yields, while floods can pollute water sources and erode fertile soil. Mapping of Inland Excess Water (IEW), also known as ponding water or waterlogged areas, is crucial for informed decision-making, damage compensation, risk management, and future prevention planning. Remote sensing technology and machine learning have been demonstrated to be valuable tools for the mapping of IEW. The 2014 floods in Southeastern and Central Europe serve as a reminder of the importance of effective flood risk management. This study used a Geographical Information System (GIS) and a Semi-automated Classification Processing (SCP) tool to process high-resolution RapidEye satellite images from the 2014 floods in the Srem region of Serbia. The Spectral Angle Mapping (SAM) classification model was used to produce a map of IEW. The SAM model achieved an overall accuracy of 92.68 %. The study found that IEW affected approximately 2.90 % or 99.59 km² of the territory in Srem. The obtained maps can be used by responsible water management agencies to prevent and control excessive inland water.

Host utilization prediction using Taylor Kernel Convolutional Neural Network (TKCNN) and workflow scheduling for smart irrigation cloud data centers

One of the most significant economic sectors in these nations is agriculture, which emphasises the significance of controlling the water resources at hand to maintain the survival of this industry. Sensor and cloud computing (CC) technology are widely used in many real-time applications, particularly in agriculture. To ensure Quality of Service in the CC environment, Virtual Machine (VM) Migration as part of VM Consolidation is very important (QoS). Predicting host utilization utilizing utilization history and lowering energy consumption while satisfying Service Level Agreements (SLAs) is a challenging task as a result of the large fluctuation in the consumption of cloud resources and the dynamic workloads.CC technologies are widely used in many real-time applications, particularly in agriculture for smart irrigation cloud data centers difficult task. To solve this issue proposed work introduced a Taylor Kernel Convolutional Neural Network (TKCNN) algorithm, which trains the past history for host usage prediction in smart irrigation cloud data centers. The Optimum Energy and Resource Aware Workflow Scheduling- Host Utilization Prediction (OERES-HUP) method, which attempts to schedule the task workflow to VMs engaging in computing, was influenced by the well-known Fuzzy Multi-Verse Optimizer (FMVO) algorithm. Additionally, it focuses on dynamically deploying and underplaying VMs in accordance with job requirements. The effectiveness of scheduling algorithms is evaluated using key metrics including Resource Utilization (RU), Energy Consumption or Task (ECT), Total Energy Consumption (TEC), Makespan, and Execution Time per Task (ETT).The outcomes are a good representation of how effective the suggested algorithm is compared to current techniques. To test the efficacy of the suggested model, the cloud environment is simulated using the Cloud Sim simulator.

Analysis of physicochemical characteristics of textile and printing industrial effluents and their influence on vegetation near industrial drain areas in Sanganer, Jaipur (Rajasthan)

A significant threat to the ecosystem and the variety of life forms is posed by the massive amount of garbage that has been produced as a result of rapid industrialisation. Up to 20% of industrial water pollution is contributed by the textile industry, one of the largest industries in the world. Rajasthan occupies a unique position in the textile dyeing and printing industry as a significant economic sector. The textile sector is also regarded as one of the major environmental risks. Many dyes, chemicals, and other substances are used by the textile industry to give fabrics the properties they need. Because textile industries use a lot of water and chemicals, their dyeing units produce a huge amount of effluents that are harmful. The volume of effluents produced by these operations is substantial. They not only have detrimental impacts on the soil and water quality, but they also endanger the health of plants and animals. In this investigation, the physicochemical parameters of industrial effluents from four different sites at the Sanganer textile industrial area were studied to access the quality of effluents and results were compared to textile effluent standards prescribed by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board. The samples were alkaline besides having high chemical oxygen demand. Two different vegetation areas near Sanganer industrial drainage were also identified and studied to analyse the effects of effluents on the growth of plants. It has been noted from the study that the textile wastewaters exhibit extreme variations from the CPCB guidelines in terms of pH, TDS, and EC. The outcomes also show that the effluents have a pollutant load that is significantly larger than the raw water utilised.

Cultural or Economic Nation? The Concept of “Cultural Economy” in the Contemporary Germany‘s Political Discourse

The conceptualization and dissemination of the concept of “cultural economics” has significantly influenced the idea of culture in Germany. In recent decades, culture is increasingly represented as one of the most important factors of economic development, whereas cultural economy as one of the most significant economic sectors with a large number of employees and impressive revenues. Based on the methodology of historical semantics and historical sociology, the article provides a multifaceted study of the concept of “cultural economics”. The concept has become an indicator and driver of the revision of cultural policy in Germany in recent decades, which has led to significant changes in both institutional design and discourse about culture. The introduction of this concept into the election campaign texts of the largest political parties in Germany entailed a modification of the political discourse about culture. This has led to the fact that sections of election programs dedicated to culture increasingly contain financial, economic and industrial vocabulary. Such changes in the political discourse about culture have led to a new contextualization, resemantization and a change in the relationship between the basic concepts of “cultural nation” and “economic nation” in relation to contemporary Germany.

Tourism Demand among the KUST Students

Tourism demand is crucial for different tourism products in a different location, markets, time frame and at particular prices. Numerous empirical studies have been developed to evaluate the determinants of international tourism demand because tourism is one of the most significant and dynamic economic sectors in the world. Tourism demand function depend on the nations or regions, the time frame, the data type and the type of travel. Due to these factors, tourism demand is crucial for promoting the industry's economic outcome: First off, the tourist sector offers opportunity to raise the country's profile and support efforts to reduce poverty in developing nations Secondly, in developing nations, tourism can produce greater benefits than trade, therefore the study is conducted to find tourism demand among the KUST students. The study employed uses primary data, collected through structured questionnaire and evaluated using descriptive statistics. The results indicate that demographic, social, economic and education are the significant factor of tourism demand. The recommendation are provided in the lower section of the study.

Forecasting of groundnut yield using meteorological variables

Agriculture is one of the most significant economic sectors in India, which is strongly dependent on climatic conditions. Groundnut is one of the major oilseed crops of Gujarat and Junagadh has highest production of groundnut in Gujarat. For effective, forward-looking, and current planning, especially in agriculture, which is fraught with uncertainty, reliable and timely forecasts are essential. Therefore, effective yield forecast of such important oilseed crop is necessary for future planning and policy making. In the present investigation, the time series data of groundnut yield and weather parameters of 29 years Junagadh (1991-92 to 2019-20) were used. The week wise weather indices were generated using correlation between de-trend yield and weekly weather variables. Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and Discriminant Function Analysis were used to develop yield forecasting model using weather indices before three week and one week before harvest, respectively. These models were compared using Coefficient of multiple determination (Adj. R2), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The study found that model-1A, developed using MLR technique have high value of adj. R2(78.8%) and low RMSE value (671.72). Multiple linear regression (MLR) was found to be more accurate than the discriminant function analysis approach.

Assessing the nature of corporate environmental responsibility in Zimbabwe’s gold mining sector

Orientation: In Zimbabwe, mining is a significant economic sector but has adverse environmental impacts.Purpose: This article assesses environmental responsibility practiced by gold mining companies differentiated by ownership structure and assesses the ownership system that leads in environmental, social and governance practices.Motivation for the study: The adverse environmental impacts inherent in gold mining need assessments to gauge the integrity of the environmental stewardship using the structure–conduct–performance paradigm as an assessment framework.Design, methodology, approach: The mode of assessment is to establish, through the structure–conduct–performance paradigm, whether these governance systems affect the companies’ environmental performance, and if so, to what extent. The article uses a multiple case study design with a population of 35 large-scale gold mining companies that are members of both the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe and the Mine Industry Pension Fund, and 23 participated. The article uses a mixed methods approach using a questionnaire and structured interviews to collect quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. The study employed Kruskal–Wallis rank test, to rank the differences in governance structures’ performances.Findings: The results show that gold mining companies in Zimbabwe exercise environmental stewardship. Mining companies listed on foreign exchanges and local private limited companies exhibit more responsibility than other ownership types.Practical implications: Government policy to compel soil restoration and overburden management can improve these practices.Contribution/originality/value of the study: This study contributes to the burgeoning literature on corporate environmental responsibility by illuminating the possible role played by ownership structure in environmental responsibility.

Prospects of Sericulture in Border Areas of Jammu with Special Reference to Poonch District

The most significant economic sector is sericulture, which has a variety of entrepreneurship opportunities and the ability to increase regular periodicity of economic returns. The effective rate of rearing and the techniques used during the rearing stage are the most crucial factors in a good cocoon harvest. Additionally, technical expertise and scientific knowledge are needed for silkworm cultivation. An effort has been done in the form of a survey research to learn more about the knowledge and skill profile of the sericulture farmers in the Poonch area. The study found that farmers lack technical expertise in commercial rearing and scientific knowledge. Low productivity in the district as compared to other districts of Jammu and Kashmir is caused by a lack of understanding about new technology. In this context, State Sericulture Development Department, Central Silk Board Sub-departments, and Post Graduate Department of Sericulture, Poonch Campus, University of Jammu, play important roles in the form of extension programmes for enhancing technical skills among the district's sericultural farmers. The study unequivocally shown that there were significant differences in the socioeconomic condition of sericulturists among the farmers in Tehsil Haveli, Poonch District, and that these differences also existed in knowledge and implementation of sericultural methods. Therefore, the extension staff must work together to convey better sericultural technology to the farmers in order to increase cocoon output.

The Rising Influence of Sustainability in South Africa’s Fashion Industry

The designer fashion industry has become a key creative sector and a vibrant wave of fashion innovation has transformed the global fashion industry from a small economy to a significant economic sector in a bustling global creative and arts scene. The African fashion industry has shown creative dynamism and innovation aligned to global trends but infused with a unique cultural flavour showcasing the range of creative dynamism on the African continent. Sustainability has risen to the fore as a design philosophy and an integral part of garment making. In line with global trends, sustainability has heralded a new era in fashion design globally very evidently. In this paper trends in the fashion industry are explored with a focus on Johannesburg and South Africa as well as the influence of a growing move towards sustainability becoming more evident globally and in South Africa.

The Impact of Human Capital Development on Economic Growth in Germany (1991-2018)

This paper examined the impact of human capital development on economic growth in Germany from 1991 to 2018, using time series data from the World Bank Indicator and the National Bureau of Statistics. In Germany, the service industry accounts for up to 85% of total employment, with a heavy focus on education, research, the cultural and creative sectors as well as health services. Despite being shrunk since reunification, the public sector continues to account for the vast majority of employment. The health services industry, which employs over 180 000 people in Berlin, is the most significant economic sector. As the most common type of organization in the private sector, small and medium-sized firms account for 80% of total employment in Berlin. Berlin's social structure is characterized by a significant migrant population, which is reflected in its economy. The goal of this research was to investigate the link between human capital indices (education and health) and economic growth. The ordinary least square regression analysis is used in this study to examine the impact of human capital development on German economic growth from 1991 to 2018. The empirical findings show that human capital development has a significant impact on economic growth, as measured by GDP. According to theory, the human capital development indicators of secondary school enrollment, primary school enrollment, gross capital formation, total labor, gross domestic product and life expectancy have a positive and statistically significant run long impact on Germany’s economic growth, implying that these indicators are critical in achieving growth in the German economy in the long run. Life expectancy and gross capital formation, on the other hand, have a positive and statistically significant impact on Germany's economic growth in the short run. According to the study, the German government should ensure that adequate resources are allocated for human capital development in order to boost economic growth in Germany. Keywords: Human Capital, Economic growth, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Life expectancy DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-22-05 Publication date: November 30 th 2021

Drastic impacts of COVID-19 on food, agriculture and economy

Global epidemics and illness outbreaks are the huge threats to human prosperity and sustainability. In mankind history, humans have faced many epidemics that have caused millions of deaths and destroyed the global economy, politics, etc. Under the existing era, the globe is facing another pandemic, namely the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). Aware of the gravity and severity of the prevailing situation, each country has taken special steps to combat this dinger epidemic, mainly through non-pharmaceutical trails including self-isolation and social distance. Moreover, most countries restrict travel and trade to limit the spread of the coronavirus. By adopting these measures, still the epidemic has greatly pretentious key economic sectors, for instance agriculture, the most significant economic sector that supports human development and food security. The review aims to explore possible drastic impacts of worldwide pandemic (COVID-19) on food and agriculture sector. It is very significant to assess the impact of COVID-19 epidemic on the food, agriculture, and economy, because it mainly concerns the sustainability of human existence and the economy. The guidelines and regulations to curb pandemic interfered with the markets supply chain, resulting halt production, distribution, and lack of labor and inputs. This has greatly affected dairy production, poultry, livestock and fisheries. During the pandemic, it was not possible to plant spring crops, such as, open field of vegetables, wheat, maize, barley, sunflower, and canola. Therefore, due to the supply chain, the pandemic has serious impacts on food, agriculture, and economy, which the governments need to quickly resolve this issue.