Socio-economic Situation Research Articles

Assessing the innovation climate of the region in the formation of innovative development programs

Subject. The article addresses economic and managerial relations arising in the process of building the innovative climate of the region. Objectives. The study aims to develop methodological provisions for assessing the innovative climate of the region in the formation of innovative development programs. Methods. We employ methods of systems analysis, comparison, abstraction, synthesis, generalization, structuring, and formalization. Results. We analyzed the existing methods for assessing the innovation climate in the region, proposed methodological provisions for this purpose. Our own algorithm to assess the innovation climate in the region considers stages of formation of innovative development programs. The paper offers a methodological approach to innovation climate assessment from a regional perspective. Conclusions. The formation of a favorable innovation climate in the region enables to enhance its competitiveness, improve the socio-economic situation, increase the share of domestic companies in the high-tech markets, ensure the implementation of innovative programs. Regular assessment of innovation climate is an essential procedure within the framework of managing the innovative development of the region.

Disaster risk from diarrhoeal diseases and WASH in South Africa and Botswana in MDG time

South Africa and Botswana are middle-income countries in the southern part of the African continent. They are also the two of the most developed countries in the region, where socio-economic situation is better than in many other parts of the African continent. The progression of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in these two countries can be seen as the setting stage for the disaster risk management understanding in the African region in the 21st century. This is done in this article for disaster risk management and waterborne diseases or water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions in Botswana and South Africa. The authors used an open-source on the mortality in children under 5 to develop a proxy indicator for disaster risk from WASH. This dependent variable is correlated with the access to improved water and sanitation sources or facilities, and the expected lifespan at birth of the South African population. The latter indicators are used as independent variables in correlations, and they are seen as expressions of vulnerability determinants in the WASH context in South Africa and Botswana. Results indicate that the strongest prevention of the death rates from the WASH-related diseases comes from the overall status of the healthcare system in Botswana and South Africa. Socio-economic parameter played limited to no role in the determination of the diarrhoeal disease disaster risk in both the studied countries.Contribution: Access to improved drinking water sources and improved sanitation facilities played a partial role as a controlling factor in determining the WASH-related death rates. The overall functioning of the healthcare system is the most dominant factor in the disaster risk from WASH in South Africa and Botswana.

Is confidence in knowledge related to childbirth fear and mode of birth among Polish women?

Abstract Background In Poland, cesarean section (CS) rate is 48% what means that it is one of the highest rate among OECD countries and the highest in the European Union. WHO has considered that CS rates higher than 15% at the population level are not associated with reductions in maternal and newborn mortality rates. Fear and attitudes towards childbirth are shaped years before the first pregnancy. Yet, little is understood about how young people’s knowledge, attitudes and fears concerning the birth process shape their healthcare preferences around birth. Thus, the aim of the study was to examine whether confidence in knowledge was associated with childbirth fear prior to pregnancy and preference for CS. Methods We recruited 782 women aged 18 - 35 (mean 24.7, sd = 3.19) who had never been pregnant but wished to have at least one child in the future. The women answered questions about: (i) socio-economic situation, (ii) confidence in knowledge and educational needs related to pregnancy and childbirth; (iii) fear of childbirth prior to pregnancy; (iv) preferred mode of birth in the hypothetical pregnancy in which there are no medical indications for cesarean section. Results Almost one in four women (22.1%) preferred CS in a hypothetical low-risk pregnancy. In addition, most often young women gained knowledge on pregnancy and birth from experiences and stories of family members (62.3%). Women with moderate and high level of confidence in knowledge had respectively lower odds of high level of childbirth fear prior to pregnancy comparing to women with low level of confidence in knowledge (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.39-0.83 and OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.33-0.88, respectively). Conclusions Increasing knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth among young women might lower childbirth fear and thus, indirectly, lower rates of CS in the future. Key messages • The results of this study may solve very important public health problem i.e. the growing rates of cesarean section. • Confidence in knowledge may be an important factor associated with the level of childbirth fear.

10.A. Round table: Transforming public health systems at large scale: no pain, no gain

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic, acceleration of climate change, and geopolitical turmoil have triggered discussions about how public health systems in Europe need to transform to be adequately equipped for the so-called “permacrisis”. The challenges to policy makers, health institutions and health services have become so multifaceted, that single solutions from the health sector alone no longer work. Yet, despite the complexity, countries seek to get its own house in order whilst building on inter-sectoral and European approaches in parallel. Germany, Ireland, and Ukraine have all embarked upon ambitious public health services and institutional reforms, leading to transformative change in public health systems. WHO has been accompanying these reforms. The workshop will provide a platform to draw insights and lessons on transforming public health systems from all three countries, although their population size, their socioeconomic and political situation and their public health system design is so different. As the smallest of the three countries in population, Ireland created coherence and is aligning public health actors within “Healthy Ireland” and the Sláintecaire and the Crowe Horwath public health reforms. Germany’s “Pact for the Public Health Services” has been one of the greatest public health investment programs in Europe that was initiated following lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. And Ukraine has undertaken important legal steps to adopt a Public Health System Law, in the middle of a war of aggression on its territory. The workshop will exhibit the process of large-scale public health system transformation in each of the three countries. The purpose is to identify the enablers that make large scale system transformation possible and addressing some of the pains and gains. The workshop will have three parts. Part one consists of three presentations on large scale system reforms from each of the participating countries. Part two consists of a moderated Q&A session. Part three will focus on the synthesis of enablers for large scale public health system reforms through interaction with the workshop participants, using a digital white board. Key messages • Disruptive times can create enabling conditions for large scale public health system transformation. • Designing and implementing large scale public health system reforms is complex, requiring passion, resilience, and collaborative leadership.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle’s behaviours of school-aged children in Portugal

Abstract Background COVID-19 pandemic impacted children’s daily routines. Based on this, WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition and Childhood Obesity in collaboration with WHO Regional Office for Europe coordinated the study about the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle’s behaviours of school-age children in Europe, where 17 Member States participated, including Portugal. Methods Cross-sectional study was conducted within the sixth round of COSI Portugal, following a WHO common methodological protocol, during 2021-2022 school year. A national representative sample of families with children 6-8 years old were included and asked to report on variables comparing two periods: pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results 5139 families participated. 11.4% reported a worsening of their perceived wealth and the percentage of fathers and mothers working full- or part-time decreased (74.6% to 68.7% and 70.6% to 59.6%, respectively) during pandemic. Children’s consumption of sweets (19.4%), savoury snacks (13.8%), fruit (11.9%) and vegetables (7.1%) increased, and sugary soft drinks (13.8%) decreased during pandemic. Family behaviours with the highest increases during pandemic were “eating together as a family” (35.4%), “cooking meals together with your child” (33.6%), “buying food in large quantities” (33.6%) and “eating home-cooked meals” (29.1%). Approximately, one in four parents reported children’s physical activity decreased and almost one in two reported an increase in recreational screen time. Parents who perceived their child as overweight during pandemic doubled (f7.9% to 14.6%). Children’s well-being behaviours that worsened more during pandemic were “having fun with friends” (44.3%), “got on well at school” (27.9%), “feel full of energy” (23.8%) and “feel fit and well” (22.2%). Conclusions These observations underscore the need to “build back better” post-pandemic with a focus on preventing and controlling childhood obesity and its determinants. Key messages • Portuguese children experienced negative impacts of the pandemic in their lifestyle behaviours, particularly on their physical health and well-being, with a report of a poorer socioeconomic situation. • This study and its findings give us a first-of-its-kind view into the physical and mental outcomes of the pandemic on school-aged children with a focus on the long-term, high-risk disease of obesity

Artificial intelligence as it is in the current conditions of digital transformation of global society

The article is devoted to the study of the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the modern digital transformation of the rich countries of the global North and the poor countries of the global South. Particular attention is paid to the different conditions of the digital revolution in the former and the latter. They are leading to an increase in old inequalities and the emergence of new digital inequalities between developed and developing countries. At the same time, the pursuit of profit in the digital economy has become the main reason for further material and property differentiation between the first, second, and third world countries, as well as between the rich and the poor within each of these countries. All of this hinders the revolutionary potential of AI in the interests of all countries and peoples and creates conditions for its use for anti-people purposes, including by combining AI with weapons for the military purpose of killing people. The task of civil society is precisely to force state authorities to take measures to regulate digital business in order to overcome the threats posed by the oligarchs of digital corporations and improve the socio-economic situation of both the cybertariat and the entire working population in the countries of the global North and the global South.

Socio-Economic Situation, Sanitation and Vaccination of Ethnic Children

Socio-Economic Situation, Sanitation and Vaccination of Ethnic Children

Growth of Sari Business and Its Socio Economic Impact on Handloom Weavers in Varanasi

Abstract: Banaras, the oldest inhabited city in the world, is well known for its Banarasi saris. Its silk is one of the purest and radiant, whose softness and rich brocade have given rise to the sari industry. The Indian textile industry has an integral presence in the economic life of the country. Saris are made in either handloom or powerloom, with the latter gaining more significance nowadays. With increasing competition in the textile industry, power-loom alternatives have hit the market since they tend to be cheaper and target mass markets at lower prices. 1 But times have changed, and now weavers don't want to pass their art on to their kids or to the next generation. Due to the low income and unfavourable working conditions, weavers are no longer willing to work in this industry. The paper will focus on the socioeconomic situation of the weavers and how the revolutionising of the sari business has impacted the employment of the weavers. It discusses changes in the weavers' standard of living, access to education, and healthcare, along with their awareness about government schemes. It will also explore the reasons for the shift from handloom to powerloom and the problems leading to the weaver’s current situation. The data for the study has been collected through government websites, in-depth interviews, focused group discussions, and detailed surveys.

Generation Z: pessimistic and populist? A conjoint experiment on the determinants of populist voting in Spain

Abstract Generation Z is the most educated and yet pessimistic about the future. At the same time, populist parties have much support among young voters. Do they find an answer to their discouraging socio-economic situation in populist appeals? In this article, we analyse how pessimistic economic expectations shape the preference for populist parties among the young in Spain. By using conjoint experiments, we explore which specific features of populist parties (‘thin’ or ‘thick’ characteristics) are decisive in attracting young and pessimistic voters. Unlike older generations, for whom immigration is the most relevant factor, Generation Z, especially the pessimistic, focuses more on the thin ideological elements of populism. This finding contradicts previous experimental studies, which argue that thin populist characteristics are irrelevant in explaining the general population’s voting behaviour. Ideology plays a significant mediating role, as young pessimists on the left tend to be attracted by anti-elitism, while those on the centre-right by people-centrism.

Social mobility as a driver of employee silence in India: toward a contextualized understanding of silence in emerging markets

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how the context in a dynamically developing country affects employee silence in India.Design/methodology/approachQualitative design involving semi-structured interviews with employees and managers from different sectors in the Mumbai and Delhi areas. An abductive approach was used to analyze the data.FindingsTwo types of social mobility concerns – advancement aspiration and fear of social decline – emerged as salient drivers of silence and can be attributed to a volatile job market, social status markers, transferability of qualification, someone’s socio-economic situation and the overall economic situation. Pathways were specified from social mobility concerns to silence tendencies that are motivated by both low approach and high avoidance.Research limitations/implicationsSocial mobility as a specific factor in the Indian distal context and as a characteristic of emerging markets can motivate silence while organization-related concepts like job satisfaction or commitment may have less predictive value. Propositions that were derived from the interview study need to be validated by deductive research. Generalizability of Indian findings across other emergent markets needs to be shown.Originality/valueTo the organizational behavior (OB) scholarship on silence, this research contributes by identifying antecedents of silence that are situated beyond the organizational boundaries challenging the dominant role of established factors at the team- and organizational level. To the human resource management/employment relations (HRM/ER) scholarship, this research contributes by theorizing psychological processes that link environmental factors to silence behaviors.

Social and economic importance of new bamboo species established in three municipalities of the North Eastern Mountain range of Puebla, Mexico

The study was conducted in three municipalities of Puebia, Mexico. The objectives were to identify the species of bamboo in the North Eastern region of Puebla, know the climatic conditions and agronomic systems where it grows, characterize the socioeconomic situation of the producers, and identify the contribution to the family economy. A review of the history of cultivation in Mexico was carried out at the National Herbarium of Mexico (MEXU). For the collection of information, it was considered that the bamboo system was within the local agricultural system and selection of municipalities was based on the productive relationship of the crop and the introduction of species in the area. Sixty-four surveys were done of bamboo producers through the questionnaire with social, economic, and productive variables related to the bamboo production system. In the Puebla’s North Eastern Mountain range there are two new species of bamboo, Bambusa oldhamii and Guadua angustifolia, both with different characteristics of uses and established in two production systems, the commercial and family system. At present they have a low commercialization of some bamboo derivatives and little use as food. The region is considered one of extreme proverty. The two species have a high potential for environmental adaptation agronomically they are developed as a single crop in backyards and used in various commercial activities. The lack of use of the crop in the region and its rapid natural expansion due to the environmental conditions for its growth, induces the tendency to consider it as an undesirable plant

Signs of economic development in the Kingdom of Naples under the Aragonese Crown: the Coppola Company

Abstract The article examines the role played by Loise and Francesco Coppola’s company under the Aragonese Crown, so as to outline the socio-economic situation of Southern Italy at that time and examine the impact of foreign merchant-banking companies on the development of local entrepreneurship. In the second half of the fifteenth century, Florentine bankers Filippo and Lorenzo Strozzi established a bank in Naples. Using two surviving general journals, dating back to 1473 and 1476, their lending business can be analysed. As the bookkeeper of the Strozzi Bank used to record any transaction using double-entry bookkeeping, such journals help to identify the types of clients the Strozzi Bank dealt with and the reasons for individual transactions. The article outlines the crucial role played by the Coppola family in the development of the southern economy in the fifteenth century, showing how their company was part of international commercial networks that included the wealthiest and most powerful merchant-banking businesses of the time.

Economic and social impacts of armed conflicts: Assessing the effects of military operations on development

The paper highlights the impact of military conflicts on society's socio-economic development. A review of scientific publications on the subject is carried out. The impact of the Russia-Ukraine military conflict on the socio-economic development of Ukraine is considered based on regression analysis. The main consequences of military operations in Ukraine are outlined. The approaches of the leading international organisations to accounting and auditing the consequences of conflicts and wars are determined. Examples are given, and the main aspects of accounting for losses caused by military conflict in different countries are compared. The study aims to comprehensively analyse and assess the impact of military conflicts on economic development and social aspects of society. Regression analysis methods were used to determine the relationship between military conflicts and economic indicators such as GDP, inflation, unemployment, public debt, defence spending, scientific data analysis, synthesis and comparison, and geospatial and comparative analysis, which helped to assess the direct and indirect effects of conflicts on economic development and the social sphere in Ukraine. The article analyses the social consequences of the military conflict in Ukraine in 2014–2024. An empirical analysis of economic losses from military conflicts is carried out. The need for an integrated approach to assessing and overcoming the consequences of wars and conflicts and coordination between government organisations, local communities and international partners to achieve sustainable development and restore the country's socio-economic situation is established.

Clientelism and digitalisation of Roma parties' electoral campaigns: a case study

AbstractContrary to recent developments within party politics, Roma political parties in Romania fail to incorporate digital technology into their activities, although they face a continuously decreasing level of support from their voters. To explain this phenomenon, this article argues that elections governed by non‐programmatic strategies create not only different incentives towards digitalization, but also pose more challenges for certain ethnic parties, which also face internal shortcomings. It looks at the 2020 local elections in Romania and focuses on the two largest Roma political parties. The qualitative analysis, based on interviews with county Roma party leaders, confirms that the lack of digitalization is influenced by local clientelism, which affects the Roma electorate because of their socioeconomic situation. Besides, internal shortcomings further constrain such an option.

An Exploration of Entrepreneurs’ Socio-economic Situation and Its Impact on Micro and Small Businesses in South Andaman

This study aims to investigate the socio-economic conditions of entrepreneurs that influence the growth of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the South Andaman District. In this study, a scheduled questionnaire-based survey research design was used, and a sample of 344 small business owners was collected for analysis. The data were processed using SPSS, and chi-squared test was applied for statistical analysis. The study’s findings revealed that factors such as entrepreneurs’ business experience, income levels, the number of working employees and ownership of house property significantly impact the growth of enterprises in the island region. However, factors like business location and sector of enterprises were found to be statistically insignificant in determining MSEs’ growth in the island region. The study suggests that policymakers and local administrations should enhance support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in island regions by implementing policies such as island capital investment subsidies and island transport subsidies for MSEs. As a result, small businesses play a pivotal role by contributing to local employment, production and investment opportunities in the island region.

Sex-specific socioeconomic risk factors for spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage-a case-control study during the 5 years before ictus.

There is a difference in the incidence of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) between sexes, with the majority of cases occurring in female patients. Although this phenomenon has been studied from a medical perspective, the reasons for the predominance of female cases are still unclear. Non-medical factors, such as a patient's socioeconomic situation, can differ between female and male patients, with health implications. The aim of the study was to identify socioeconomic profiles for both sexes that may be vulnerable to developing SAH. This information could potentially be used for active preventive health efforts. This study was based on a 7-year consecutive cohort of 890 patients with SAH treated at Uppsala University Hospital, along with a sex- and age-matched 5:1 control group from Statistics Sweden. The collected information included demographic data, income that was analyzed through "earnings" (EAs), which is defined as the sum of income and other economic compensations related to work, and "disposable income" (DI), which is the net amount that an individual can use. Pension and sickness-related absence from work were measured using early pension (EP), old age pension (OAP), sickness absence (SA), and disability pension (DP). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used. Among the women, the socioeconomic risk profile for SAH included lower education, unemployment, being registered as living single, residing in a sparsely populated municipality, and increased age. For the men, the risk profile included residing in a sparsely populated municipality and changes in civil status. Both women and men with SAH had lower EAs and DI compared to the controls. Notably, a significantly higher proportion of the women with SAH received DP compared to the controls. Residing in a sparsely populated area was associated with an increased risk for SAH for both women and men. The women with SAH were more economically vulnerable, whereas the men faced a different type of vulnerability related to changes in civil status. We suggest that healthcare organizations use this information to identify individuals at risk and actively implement preventive measures according to stroke guidelines for both groups.

Революционные события 1905-1907 годов на предприятиях Гарелиных в городе Иваново-Вознесенске

The paper studies the revolutionary movement at the Garelins textile enterprises in the period 1905-1907. The author analyzes the conditions in which workers had to work, their interaction with administration, as well as their role in mass strikes and walkouts in Ivanovo-Voznesensk. Based on documents from the State Archive of the Vladimir Region, it was established that revolutionary activity at the Garelins enterprises began almost immediately after the events of January 9, 1905 in St. Petersburg and continued until mid-1907. Thanks to the analysis of documents, it was possible to establish that the main types of revolutionary activities were strikes and walkouts caused by the difficult socio-economic situation of the workers.

Formation of the System of Social Services to the Population

The current socio-economic, moral, psychological and spiritual situation in Kyrgyzstan is extremely contradictory and multifaceted. There is instability in the economy, a budget deficit is acutely felt, the number of people with incomes below the subsistence level is practically not decreasing, differentiation of the population by income is increasing, tension in the labor market is increasing, arrears in wages, pensions and social benefits are growing, trends of distress, including social deviations, are acutely evident. The current situation requires the state and non-governmental organizations, and public associations to take adequate measures, primarily in the area of developing the social protection system of the population and ensuring social security.

ҚОҒАМДЫҚ САЯСИ ИНСТИТУТТАРЫНЫҢ ТАРИХИ ҚҰҚЫҚТЫҚ ҚАЛЫПТАСУЫ

The article will focus on the process of formation and development of laws and regulations governing the life of society. This process takes place in the history of mankind, such as diverse forms of democracy (representative, direct, multiparty), republican form of government, constitutional guarantees of the rights and freedoms of citizens, independent courts, free and transparent elections and is associated with the formation of various institutions of power, mechanisms of governance of society, human and civil rights. Socio-political institutions include such elements as the state, legislative, executive and judicial authorities, political parties, social movements and the system of rights and obligations of citizens to society. The historical legal formation of socio-political institutions reflects the evolution of the socio-political system and the formation of the rule of law. We are talking about issues related to changes in the socio-economic situation, culture and values of society, as well as the struggle for the rights and freedoms of citizens. The process of historical legal formation of socio-political institutions is an essential element of the development of society and democracy, as it contributes to the strengthening of the rule of law. It should also be noted that the process of formation of socio-political institutions is not complete and continues to this day, with changes and reforms adapted to new conditions and challenges of the time.

Ideological segmentation of mass strata of the population under conditions of aggravated confrontation with the West (empirical analysis)

Using the data from surveys conducted by IS FCTAS RAS over a number of years, it is shown that despite the absence of the segmentation traditionally used for ideological structuring in the mass strata of the population, it still exists, but is based on different grounds. Moreover, the importance of ideological contradictions in the perception of Russians themselves has grown significantly over the past decade, and the majority of the country's citizens now have internally consistent ideological views. The comparative role of their various components changes over time under the influence of external events. The main line of demarcation in the ideological segmentation is the attitude to the West in modern conditions, which is based on different attitudes to the civilizational specifics of Russia and, in turn, influences their assessment of the vector of the country's development, their trust in the authorities, attitude to the special military operation, etc. It is also shown that in recent years, in the course of active crystallization and polarization of ideological views of Russians', an ideological majority and an ideological minority have been formed in the country, comprising almost two-thirds and about one-third of the population, respectively. The normative-value basis of the former is the recognition of the priority of state interests over human rights and the conviction that Western values are not suitable for Russians. The ideological majority is divided into a core and a peripheral group, which differ in the degree of consistency of their views and assessments, including those regarding to the special military operation in Ukraine. The ideological minority, which is characterized by the desire for Russia to adhere to the norms proposed by Western countries, is also heterogeneous. It includes, firstly, a group that is consistent in its negative attitude towards the current course of Russia, which makes up about a quarter of the population, and whose moods are primarily influenced by the unfavorable socio-economic situation these people are experiencing. The other group includes representatives who are loyal to the authorities and the course being implemented but would like Russia to follow the Western-oriented path in future. The normative value basis of the views of the members of the ideological minority is the recognition of the priority of human rights over the interests of the state.