Socio-economic Systems Research Articles

Loneliness in Baltic-Nordic Older Adults Amid COVID-19

Abstract Background The study investigates loneliness among older adults in the Baltic-Nordic region, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to understand how loneliness varies across cultural and socio-economic contexts in these areas, which is critical for developing public health strategies tailored to the specific needs of older populations. Methods We employed a comprehensive comparative analysis, leveraging data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and the HL20 study from Iceland, focusing on individuals aged 67 and above. The study encompassed a diverse sample from Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Latvia, and Iceland, totaling 5,313 participants. This research is part of a bilateral EEA FM2021/23 initiative to enhance methodological approaches to analyzing older populations by coding and standardizing variables for comparability across different countries. Results Significant regional differences in loneliness were observed. The Baltic regions reported a higher prevalence of loneliness compared to the Nordic countries, which displayed lower levels, attributed to strong social welfare systems and community engagement. Factors such as employment, marital status, and educational attainment varied across regions, affecting loneliness levels. Conclusions The findings highlight the importance of considering regional cultural and social contexts in public health interventions aimed at reducing loneliness among older adults. The study underscores the need for targeted strategies that address the unique social dynamics of the Baltic and Nordic regions. Innovative public health actions, such as community engagement programs and policy development, are recommended to alleviate loneliness in these populations. Key messages • Significant regional differences in loneliness in the Baltic-Nordic region underscore the need for tailored public health interventions. • Employment and social welfare are key factors in mitigating loneliness among older adults, highlighting the importance of socio-economic support systems.

1.Y.1. Navigating choppy water for global health competencies, education and innovation in Europe

Abstract Global health is rapidly evolving against a backdrop of increasingly complicated, intersecting challenges and crises across health, socio-economic and ecological systems. Interconnected social justice movements call for greater acknowledgement, accountability and qualified responses to address inequities and their structural drivers. The field of global health is going through a period of reckoning and debate about how colonial legacies and structural inequities pervade the sector and how activities of global health professionals across research, policy and practice are complicit in and perpetuating them. Simultaneously, global health education (GHE) is growing, with new speciality degrees and core or elective courses integrated into degrees in medicine, health and other disciplines. Thus, GHE holds great potential as a space to train future professionals with competencies and aptitudes to confront inequalities through innovative, evidence-informed and sensitive approaches. Yet it is also a space in which inequalities may be reproduced through material and epistemic injustices. To address these paradoxical tensions, transformation in GHE is needed in terms of what is taught, how it is taught and who is involved in teaching. This Pecha Kucha workshop will contribute to this discourse by exploring perspectives on issues including: i) What key competencies and content should be included in GHE across different disciplines and Bachelor, Master or Doctoral level?; ii) How can we better practice and develop in educators and students critical perspectives and capacities to be equipped for and responsive to inequities and social injustice?; and iii) How can we ensure meaningful engagement and partnership in education with countries across varied contexts and communities with direct lived experience of marginalisation and deprivation? Four panellists with diverse backgrounds and perspectives will provide insights on their initiatives to tackles such issues within their own institutions and European alliances, followed by a short discussion with the audience. The presentations will emphasise the need to progressively build affective, practical and cognitive competencies to critically engage with historical, geopolitical and structural inequities and injustices, including how they manifest in local contexts. Panellists will highlight examples of innovative methods and approaches to build these capacities, including through co-design in education that fosters self-reflexivity in students and builds alliances and partnerships with non-academic stakeholders, such as civil society and people with lived experience. The Pecha Kucha workshop aims to inspire exchange across institutions and countries, and with the audience, about how we can collaboratively set our compasses and our sails to navigate the choppy waters of tackling pervasive colonial legacies and sailing towards an equitable, inclusive and effective future for education and action in global health. Key messages • Transformation is urgently needed to ensure that global health education builds curricula and competencies that are sensitive and responsive to historical injustice and structural inequities. • Equitable partnerships across institutions and with diverse stakeholders, and innovative educational approaches such as gamification and co-design, can address tensions in global health education. Speakers/Panelists Henrique Barros ASPHER, Porto, Portugal Victoria Saint Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany Francisco Mboufana Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Executive Secretary, Maputo, Mozambique Mariam Sbaiti Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK

Urban–Rural Integration and Agricultural Technology Innovation: Evidence from China

Urban and rural relations are important for the sustainable development of a nation or region. Urban and rural integration (URI), as a conceptual framework and strategic tool for managing urban–rural relations, is supposed to play a role in linking urban and rural socio-economic systems to promote the two-way flow of resources, facilitate spatial restructuring and functional transformation, enhance resource allocation efficiency, and shorten the gap between urban and rural areas. This article takes agriculture technological innovation in China as an example, and discuss whether and how URI can promote agricultural technological innovation (ATI). Based on a dataset of 288 prefecture-level cities spanning the years from 1999 to 2018, this article analyzes the mechanism and effect of URI on the development of ATI by using the negative binomial regression model and other models based on measuring the level of URI in the municipal area. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) URI positively promotes the development of ATI and exhibits significant heterogeneity across various dimensions, regions, and agricultural production areas. (2) The mechanism analysis shows that governance systems and mature markets positively moderate the impact of URI on promoting ATI, which also exhibits heterogeneous characteristics across various regions. (3) The impact of URI on the development of ATI exhibits a double threshold effect, and its marginal impact on the development of ATI increases with the deepening of URI. Moreover, the threshold effect of URI demonstrates significant heterogeneity. In central and urban areas, after surpassing the threshold value, the influence of URI on agricultural technological innovation becomes greater. Therefore, it is crucial to continuously deepen the development of URI, smooth the channels of factor flow, enhance resource sharing, break down the urban and rural barriers, and create a new engine for ATI development.

A Study on Socioeconomic Support Systems and Success Rate of Track and Field Athletes in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

This study investigates the correlation between socioeconomic support systems and the success rates of track and field athletes in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. Utilizing both primary and secondary data, the research explores the role of governmental programs, educational institutions, family and community support, and financial aid in shaping athletic performance. The findings reveal a strong correlation between robust socioeconomic support and higher athletic success, with significant disparities observed between regions with varying levels of resources. The study identifies key challenges, including inadequate funding and uneven resource distribution, and proposes opportunities for improvement through increased investment, stakeholder partnerships, and enhanced community involvement. Recommendations are made to guide policy and practice towards more equitable support systems, aiming to nurture athletic talent across all socioeconomic backgrounds.

ANALYSIS OF THE DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INDUSTRIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. AN ECONOMETRIC APPROACH

ABSTRACT: The sustainability of socio-economic and industrial systems is a key concern, particularly within the framework of the 2030 agenda. A holistic understanding of the functioning and relationships of these systems is essential if we want to implement practical actions to achieve sustainability. This study uses econometric techniques, such as the distributed lag autoregressive model, to explore the interactions between industrial and environmental factors and the unemployment rate. The variables analyzed include working hours, wage costs, and tropospheric ozone concentration, over two periods: 2008-2020 (reduced period) and 2008-2024 (extended period). Between both periods, substantial differences have been found in the variables significantly influencing the unemployment rate. The significance of working hours and ozone (O3) concentration, determinants of the unemployment rate in the reduced period, are replaced by wage costs, determining the unemployment rate in the extended period. The results show that an initial increase in worked hours reduces unemployment, while wage increases and high levels of O3 tend to increase the unemployment rate. Granger causality analysis suggests bidirectional relationships between unemployment, wage costs, and O3 concentration, highlighting the connection between the different aspects and feedback collateral effects. The study underscores the need for balanced socioeconomic policies that promote both economic growth and environmental sustainability and the promotion of fostering of technological innovations. The importance of policies that mitigate the adverse effects of wage increases on employment is underlined, and that favor a more sustainable development model capable of decoupling economic well-being from intensive resource consumption. Keywords: Sustainability, Socioeconomic systems, ARDL techniques, Granger causality, unemployment, O3 concentration, working hours, hourly wage.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AS A BASIS FOR THE FORMATION OF HUMAN CAPITAL IN RURAL AREAS

The article is dedicated to the analysis of economic, social, and environmental problems that intensified at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, stimulating the development of the concept of sustainable development. The authors examine contemporary challenges related to inequality between rich and poor countries, rising greenhouse gas emissions, and the consequences for the environment and society. The aim of the study is to systematize and generalize the existing theoretical and methodological foundations of sustainable development and to clarify them in the context of human capital formation in rural areas. The historical development of the concept of sustainable development, which was established at the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, is considered, and three main components of this concept are presented: economic, social, and environmental. The study addresses the classical concept of sustainable development based on the Venn diagram, illustrating the harmonious combination of these components. Special attention is given to the analysis of indicators used for assessing sustainable development in rural areas. Specifically, both domestic and foreign methodological approaches to measuring the effectiveness and inclusiveness of the development of these areas are studied. The article examines various methodological approaches to assessing sustainable development, particularly in rural areas, with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN. The study presents an analysis of 17 Global Goals adopted for the period until 2030, aimed at achieving peace, prosperity, and sustainable development in all countries. It is revealed that Ukraine, as a UN member, has actively participated in the implementation of the SDGs, particularly through the national report “Sustainable Development Goals: Ukraine” in 2017. The study substantiates the importance of adapting global goals to the national characteristics of Ukraine, taking into account the specifics of the socio-economic and ecological system. A list of key goals for sustainable development in rural areas of Ukraine is provided, including poverty eradication, agricultural development, ensuring quality education, clean water, decent work, innovation, and infrastructure. The research identifies the importance of indicators for monitoring the achievement of goals and comparing them with the target values planned for 2030. However, considering the current situation with Russian aggression, the achievement of these goals is only possible in the long-term perspective.

Marine protected areas as socio-economic systems: a method for defining socio-economic criteria in marine planning

This research aims to define socio-economic criteria for prioritizing proposals related to new marine protected areas, boundary adjustments, area relocations, and network corridors within marine management approaches. The study also focuses on identifying ecosystem services (ES) that address the social dimensions of various spatial management approaches in the marine realm. The presented method quantifies nature’s significance to human communities through stakeholder perceptions, bridging the gap between human activities and ecosystem services. The research defines essential socio-economic criteria, identifies the corresponding ecosystem services, and assesses their societal values within the socio-ecological system of a specific area, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of marine management processes such as marine spatial planning and marine protected areas.

Montane willow scrub restoration in Scotland: reviewing 30 years of progress to reestablish the altitudinal treeline

Many mountain woodlands across the globe have undergone anthropogenic degradation with negative implications for the ecological and socioeconomic systems dependent on them. Montane willows are arctic‐alpine species of high nature conservation concern within the altitudinal treeline. Scotland has been pioneering the restoration of montane willow scrub for three decades following widespread loss linked particularly to overgrazing by sheep and deer since the eighteenth century. In the 1990s, the total area of montane willows throughout the country was less than 10 ha, with most remaining populations highly fragmented, in rapid decline, and restricted to inaccessible cliffs. Subsequently, montane willow scrub restoration has been part of an overall 2659 ha area managed for the recovery of mountain woodlands in Scotland. By May 2023, 396,868 montane willows were planted in projects encompassing large‐scale habitat creation, relict population reinforcement by genetic rescue, fencing, and landscape‐scale management for low‐density deer populations. This review summarizes restoration methods and outcomes with case study examples to promote conservation evidence and research on plant growth and survival, planting sites, associated biodiversity, molecular ecology, genomics, and long‐term population sustainability. With the potential for montane scrub restoration to be widely expanded, improved connectivity to revive a treeline mosaic shaped by regeneration will tackle biodiversity loss and help mitigate climate change impacts on a national scale. However, caution must be applied to creating definitions of distinct habitats for restoration that are based on non‐natural or ecologically degraded systems. These experiences are particularly relevant to montane and circumpolar regions with strongly modified landscape histories.

Economic Development of the Major Cities in the Context of Demographic Challenges

In recent years, Russia has faced serious global challenges. Particular attention is required for demographic challenges, which are caused by natural population decline, ambiguous migration processes, and their exacerbation due to the spread of the coronavirus infection and subsequently the aggravation of the foreign policy situation. The largest Russian cities are centers of economic growth with significant potential for solving regional livelihood problems. An important indicator of the state and development of a city as a socio-economic system is the change in population size. The dynamics of demographic and other socio-economic indicators deserve detailed analysis and study. The results obtained must be considered when making strategic decisions and developing adaptation mechanisms. In the past five years, a natural population decline has prevailed in the studied largest municipalities, which is only partially offset by migration growth. In most cities with a population of over one million, there is a correlation between the dynamics of population growth (both natural and migration), the average wage level, and the quality of the urban environment. In cities with migration outflow, measures are needed to improve these parameters. Since all cities have developed industries, including due to natural and historical factors, systematic monitoring of the relevant indicators and a detailed analysis of the reasons for negative trends, including demographic ones, are important for ensuring balanced economic development. To ensure the balance of supply and demand in the labor market in terms of qualification and professional requirements and expectations, the implementation of regional programs and projects with the participation of government and business is proposed. In the context of the economic development of the largest cities and adaptation to global challenges, it is proposed that government authorities, local governments, the scientific community, and businesses identify new promising specializations for cities, including the need to enhance import substitution and implement high-tech, science-intensive industries.

Analysis of the impact of mechanisms of integration of university science into the regional innovation system on the spatial development of the Voronezh region

Relevance. University science is the basis for the progressive development of the regions of the Russian Federation, providing new knowledge and ideas, turning knowledge into technology and accelerated development of the cultural environment. The introduction of scientific research into the educational process is necessary and important conditions for maintaining the high professional level of teachers, the formation of professional competencies, and advanced training of future specialists. In the last few years, the main economic processes have demonstrated positive dynamics, which indicates the effectiveness of the implemented strategy of socio-economic development of the region, as well as an effective policy of spatial development of the territory are key factors in achieving a positive trend in the development of the region. Minister of Science and Higher Education V.N. Falkov in April 2024 He stated the need to transform the higher education system, focusing on specialized higher education based on an interdisciplinary approach that will more effectively integrate university science into regional spatial development and the national innovation system.The purpose of the study is to determine the mechanisms of integration of university science in the spatial development of the Voronezh region through the innovation system.Objectives: to analyze the impact of the mechanisms of integration of university science on the trends of spatial development; to analyze scientific and technological development; to formulate the main conclusions about university science as part of the socio-economic system of the territory.Methodology. The general scientific methods of logical analysis, method of desk research, method of systematization, descriptive method were used in the study. Results. The study revealed the key factors that contributed to the positive dynamics of the economy of the Voronezh region and considered the mechanisms of integration of university science into the regional innovation system.Conclusions. In the realities of scientific and technological development there is a need to improve the methods of integration of university science into the regional innovation system, and recommendations related to the optimization of spatial development of the Voronezh region in order to improve the quality and attractiveness of university science on the basis of innovative aspects functioning in the region have been proposed.

PULPO: A framework for efficient integration of life cycle inventory models into life cycle product optimization

AbstractThis work presents the PULPO (Python‐based user‐defined lifecycle product optimization) framework, developed to efficiently integrate life cycle inventory (LCI) models into life cycle product optimization. Life cycle optimization (LCO), which has found interest in both the process systems engineering and life cycle assessment (LCA) communities, leverages LCA data to go beyond simple assessments of a limited number of alternatives and identify the best possible product systems configuration subject to a manifold of choices, constraints, and objectives. However, typically, aggregated inventories are used to build the optimization problems. Contrary to existing frameworks, PULPO integrates whole LCI databases and user inventories as a backbone for the optimization problem, considering economy‐wide feedback loops between fore‐ and background systems that would otherwise be omitted. The open‐source implementation combines functions from Brightway2 for the manipulation of inventory data and pyomo for the formulation and solution of the optimization problem. The advantages of this approach are demonstrated in a case study focusing on the design of optimal future global green methanol production systems from captured CO2 and electrolytic H2. It is shown that the approach can be used to assess sector‐coupling with multi‐functional processes and prospective background databases that would otherwise be impractical to approach from a standalone LCA perspective. The use of PULPO is particularly appealing when evaluating large‐scale decisions that have a strong impact on socioeconomic systems, resulting in changes in the technosphere on which the background system is based and which is often assumed constant in standard LCO approaches regardless of the decisions taken. This article met the requirements for a gold‐gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.

Sports Development Management in the Republic of Armenia: The Structure and Statistics

Sports is one of the many branches of the national economic complex and represents a complex and unique socio-economic system, the activity of which is characterized by multifaceted social and state relations. It should be considered that the management structure of any socio-economic sector of the state is largely determined first by the state policy, the very structure of the state. It should be organically integrated into the sports movement management system. The state body responsible for the development of sports in Republic of Armenia (RA) is the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (MESCS), which is entrusted with the functions of implementing state policy and legal regulation, as well as providing support to sports organizations and sports federations. The main goal of its activity is the formation of a positive attitude of society, the state and the entire nation towards sports as an effective means of maintaining and strengthening human health, an integral part of universal culture, and as a factor, especially in the physical and moral education of children and young people. The Ministry carries out the functions of state policy and legal regulation in physical culture, sports and youth issues and the processes of developing and implementing them. Along with that, public sports organizations in the form of NAOC of Armenia and national sports federations and units play an important role in the development of sports in the republic. Funding for mass sports and high-performance sports is increasing year by year in Armenia, which is aimed at increasing the number of events, as well as increasing the number of incentives for the achievements of people who do sports and high-level athletes.

Characteristics of Italian, German and Spanish Socio-Economic, Public Health and Long-Term Care Systems Associated with COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality in the First Pandemic Year: Lessons for Future Sustainability in an International Perspective

Background/Objectives: The main outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic can be used to assess the capability and sustainability of public healthcare and Long-Term Care (LTC) systems. This study aims to identify the population’s demographic and socio-economic characteristics, as well as other national resources associated with the incidence and mortality of COVID-19, by comparing three European countries during the first pandemic period (Italy, Spain, and Germany). The results will identify possible strengths and weaknesses that could be considered as hints of the need for health and social intervention. Methods: Variables describing the countries’ core demographics, socio-economic characteristics, and national resources were collected from 2001–2021 from well-established international databases. COVID-19 incidence and death figures from 1 March 2020 to 31 March 2021 were extracted from national health databases. Analysis focused on bivariate and weighted multivariable linear regressions between incidence, mortality, and socio-economic covariates. Results: Findings show that both care models and socio-demographic characteristics influenced the capability of the first year’s response to the COVID-19 emergency. Formal public care appears to represent the most effective strategy against incidence and mortality regarding COVID-19, especially for older people, because it mitigates the adverse effects of socio-economic characteristics. Conclusions: Current strategies oriented towards privatizing care should, therefore, be considered critically, since they may result in weaker protection of vulnerable groups, such as frail older people, due to the unequal position of individuals with different socio-economic conditions in purchasing services from the care market.

Sustainable development of the Republic of Bashkortostan of the Russian Federation: current state and prospects

The issues and prospects of sustainable development of the Republic of Bashkortostan with a focus on innovation aspects have been considered in order to develop recommendations to ensure the long-term progress of the region. The research methodology is based on the analysis and comparison of economic, social, and environmental factors of sustainable development, assessment of the role of innovation in each sphere, study of successes and experience of other constituent entities of the Russian Federation and foreign countries, as well as on the proposals for creating regional centers for assessing and monitoring sustainable development that in their activities will be focused on comprehensive research in regional socio-economic systems, considering the innovation component. The main spheres and components of ensuring sustainable development of the region have been defined and presented. The main study results are: identification of key aspects of sustainable development of the Republic of Bashkortostan; identification of issues and prospects in developing the economy and social and environmental spheres; analysis of the role of innovation in ensuring sustainable development; recommendations development for creating regional centers for assessing and monitoring sustainable development. Sustainable development of the territory is one of the main strategic objectives of the constituent entity. In order to achieve it, it is necessary to continue the work, as well as to increase attention to innovations, education and management systems. The centers creation can contribute to the system analysis and assessment of sustainable development processes, as well as the development of recommendations and strategies to improve the economic, social, and environmental condition of the territory.

СУТНІСНА ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА РОЗВИТКУ ПІДПРИЄМСТВА

The article is devoted to the study of the essential characteristics of the development of socio-economic systems in general and the enterprise, in particular. Attention is focused on the dependence of the perception of development and economic conditions in the country's economic system. A philosophical approach to the "development" category is presented. Because of the research of the views of domestic scientists, emphasis is placed on the main such feature as objective changes in the qualitative characteristics of the system. At the same time, three main directions of changes are highlighted - quantitative, structural and qualitative - which are clearly correlated. Other approaches to the concept of "development of the enterprise" are considered, which accordingly focus on: its acquisition of new opportunities and properties, qualities and characteristic features; quantitative changes in the system due to the process of transition to a new, higher quality state. The results of the study of various approaches of domestic scientists and their generalization made it possible to single out four differentiated groups of views on the economic context of the concept of "enterprise development", which are structured in the form of a table. A separate aspect of the consideration of this article is the main laws of the development of the economic system, on which the concept of enterprise development is based. These are the laws of unity of analysis and synthesis, development, stability, synergy, awareness, composition and proportionality. Based on the analysis of synonymous concepts, such as "organizational development" and "organizational development of the enterprise" and others, three main aspects of development are emphasized: scientific and technical, market and organizational. The importance of managing the development of the enterprise as a cyclical process of managing qualitative and quantitative changes in the organization with appropriate information support aimed at increasing the efficiency of the enterprise in the long term is emphasized. It was concluded that development is an integral process of the existence of any socio-economic systems and requires constant control and management by management.

Marine Heatwaves in the Mediterranean Sea: A Literature Review

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are prolonged periods of exceptionally warm temperatures in the ocean, which have forced profound transformations in marine biodiversity and socio-economic systems globally over the last decades. The Mediterranean basin, a highly vulnerable area to climate change, has been particularly affected as a marginal sea, experiencing multifaceted changes due to these events. This literature review brings together a comprehensive list of interdisciplinary research on MHW evolution in the Mediterranean basin, from the past to the future, covering the most common driving mechanisms of MHWs, known feedbacks and impacts on various marine organisms and local economies. Aiming to enhance our understanding of Mediterranean MHWs across various dimensions, we further discuss ongoing challenges in their detection and characterization, highlighting the need to improve monitoring systems and forecasting capabilities using novel approaches in the basin and beyond.

Quality of life modeling in Saint Petersburg and the Northwest regions

Subject: application of the quality economics methodology to obtain scientifically based assessments of the quality of life in the regions of the Northwestern Federal District. The purpose of the study: research development related to the search for possible areas of impact on the socio-economic system that contribute to improving the population’s quality of life in the context of digitalization (according to the data from St. Petersburg and the regions of the Northwestern Federal District). In the course of the study, a quality of life model was created for the regions of the Northwestern Federal District. A basic and comprehensive assessment of the quality of life was carried out, so now we can trace the more than ten-year dynamics of the indicator, group the regions, identify and justify their common and accusatory features in the context of the study. An analysis of individual characteristics of the quality of life in the Northwestern Federal District regions has shown that it is possible to measure the contribution that medical and demographic conditions, socio-economic well-being, comfort and safety of the living environment make to the quality of life indicator. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that it is important to assess the contribution of these components to determine the direction of regional development policy. In the interests of revealing promising opportunities for obtaining algorithmic solutions in the field of standardization of quality of life management in the region, a new format of a multi-level quality management system is proposed. The use of a digitalized format for managerial decision-making in a multi-level quality management system will greatly increase their effectiveness by expanding the capabilities of analyzing complex data without clear relationships, including for forecasting and optimizing processes occurring at the local, regional, and national levels.

Sacred Water: Neo-Spiritual Consumerism in Catherine Chanter’s The Well

ABSTRACT Catherine Chanter’s The Well depicts a water-scarce Britain where the fertile farm of the Ardingly couple becomes a site of exploitation by a spiritual community called the Sisters of the Rose. By setting her novel on a farm named The Well, Chanter constructs a spatial map that not only exposes the cult’s manipulative power but also serves as a symbolic microcosm of their capitalist exploitation, highlighting the rise of a phenomenon I term “neo-spiritual consumerism.” Drawing on Fredric Jameson’s concept of “late capitalism” (1991) and his theory of “cognitive mapping” (1992), this study examines how Chanter uses The Well as a spatial narrative instrument to re-mythologize religious narratives as a form of cultural consumption. Through a literary analysis of Chanter’s novel, the study examines her ironic use of religious symbols to delve into the social, psychological, and political implications of associating environmental crises with divine retribution, deflecting attention from the socio-economic systems perpetuating environmental degradation. Chanter’s subversive use of religious symbolism highlights how capitalist frameworks exacerbate ecological vulnerabilities. This research prompts critical assessment of modern spiritual movements and emphasizes capitalism’s pervasive influence in sacred domains, compelling readers to consider alternative worldviews and ethical frameworks for navigating a changing world.

Promoting the ESG agenda for small and medium-sized businesses in the Republic of Kazakhstan in the context of sustainable development

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kazakhstan can become a system-forming factor in economic diversification in the context of ESG development. Responsible business requires the responsible attitude of business entities in all those affected by its activities. The introduction of ESG principles into the activities of S&MSB will ensure long-term profitability, improve the image of organizations, and ensure both the sustainability of the company itself and the sustainability of the development of a socio-economic system of a higher order. The formation and implementation of public non-financial indicators for business entities will make it possible to intensify efforts to promote the ESG agenda in transformative business conditions. The goal is to study the problems of promoting the ESG agenda for SMEs in the Republic of Kazakhstan and systematize non-financial indicators that promote responsible business conduct. Research methods - deconstruction, analysis, synthesis, description, comparison, survey. Conclusions are drawn about the need for legislative regulation, the formation of non-financial reporting, and the use of tax incentives for those business entities that follow ESG principles. Legislative regulation is aimed at creating publicity and openness in the presentation of non-financial reporting data. Criteria for monitoring non-financial reporting are proposed, covering the environmental, social, and managerial profile of the entrepreneur. The results obtained can be used by SMEs, higher education, the public, and government authorities.

The Coupling Coordination Relationship between Green Low-Carbon Agriculture and Socio-Economic Systems: Based on the Empirical Analysis of 31 Provinces in China

The Coupling Coordination Relationship between Green Low-Carbon Agriculture and Socio-Economic Systems: Based on the Empirical Analysis of 31 Provinces in China