Socioeconomic Outcomes Research Articles

Impact of Corporate Tax Avoidance and Philanthropy on Investment Efficiency. Evidence from Pakistan.

Purpose- The purpose of such a study is to investigate the impact of corporate tax avoidance and philanthropy on investment efficiency in Pakistani firms. Study Design/Methodology/Approach - The study's population comprises companies listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange. A sample of 88 companies that are listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange was used in the study. This study covers a period comprising 11 years from 2011 to 2021 by using panel data analysis. In this study, secondary data was collected and analyzed through Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). The OLS estimator is most appropriate to analyze panel data. Findings- The findings reveal a considerable link between corporate tax avoidance, corporate philanthropy, and investment efficiency. It implies that companies will have to make higher philanthropic and tax payments. According to the findings, investment efficiency encourages managers to use corporate tax avoidance to combat tax avoidance practices. Practical Implications—We emphasize the special contribution that corporate philanthropy makes to increasing investment efficiency and the managerial ramifications of this practice. Originality/Novelty - The current study is the first to focus on links between corporate tax avoidance, corporate philanthropy, and investment efficiency in Pakistan. Corporate tax avoidance, investment efficiency, and corporate philanthropy all address the unique dynamics and problems of the country while offering significant value and fresh perspectives. This research may support Pakistan's economic growth and sustainable development by bettering corporate practices, policies, and socioeconomic outcomes.

Bibliometric Analysis of Urban and Rural Economic Inequality

This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive analysis of the scholarly landscape surrounding research on economic inequality, utilizing VOSviewer to visualize the thematic clusterization, temporal trends, emerging research opportunities, and collaborative networks in the field. The analysis begins with the identification of key thematic areas, revealing a complex interplay between income inequality, urban-rural disparities, and their socioeconomic impacts. A temporal examination traces the evolution of research themes from foundational studies focusing on regional disparities to more comprehensive explorations of socioeconomic outcomes. Emerging research opportunities are identified in less explored areas, suggesting potential for significant contributions through novel investigations. Furthermore, the study delves into collaborative networks, highlighting the pivotal roles of central researchers and the impact of academic partnerships. This study not only maps out the current academic terrain but also proposes strategic directions for future research, aiming to enhance the understanding and resolution of economic inequalities.

Bibliometric Analysis of Key Findings in Studies on Gender Disparities in Education and Employment

This study employs bibliometric analysis to explore the evolving landscape of research on gender disparities in education and employment from 1985 to 2024. Utilizing VOSviewer for data visualization, we identified key thematic clusters, analyzed trends over years, and pinpointed less-researched areas that present opportunities for further inquiry. Our findings revealed that while traditional topics like wage disparities and labor market participation continue to dominate the research, newer areas such as the impact of global events (e.g., COVID-19) and intersectional identities on gender inequalities are gaining prominence. Notably, the analysis highlighted significant gaps in research related to poverty, household dynamics, and health care's role in gender disparities. These findings suggest a need for a more nuanced exploration of how gender disparities affect various socioeconomic outcomes and call for targeted research efforts in underexplored areas to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.

Socio-economic Outcomes of Gendered Participation in Forest Management in Tanzania

Socio-economic Outcomes of Gendered Participation in Forest Management in Tanzania

Assessment of rural livelihoods, health and wellbeing in Vhembe District Municipality, South Africa and Narok County, Kenya: A water-energy-food nexus perspective

The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus has become an integral component duly suited to enable sustainable development and an important tool to achieve and sustain various socioeconomic and environmental outcomes, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. The WEF nexus has become increasingly important in recent years as it can holistically address humankind's current triple challenges, including resource depletion, environmental degradation, and population growth. Socioeconomic factors such as increased population, economic development, and climate change patterns frequently induce unprecedented pressure on WEF resources. From the various climate change model simulations, the climate is likely to increase in the future, exacerbating the demand of the population to access the WEF resources and services. For effective resource planning and decision-making, the availability of WEF resources must be assessed under ongoing climate change. In this regard, this study assessed rural livelihoods, health, and wellbeing indicators within the WEF nexus framework in Vhembe District Municipality (VDM), South Africa, and Narok County, Kenya. The premise was to determine the drivers of livelihood changes by applying the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making to understand the causal linkages between the WEF nexus resources and the sustainable livelihood indicators. Data collected from the literature review, questionnaire/group discussions, and field visit engagements were used to formulate and develop a matrix of indicators to assess livelihoods, health, and wellbeing. A correlation analysis based on the AHP was used to determine the linkages between WEF resources and sustainable livelihood indicators. The multivariate analysis used the correlation matrix to capture the pairwise degrees of relationship between WEF resources and sustainable livelihood indicators in the two study areas. The results show that the resources for sustainable livelihoods in VDM are more sustainable than those in Narok County. The Consistency Ratio values for Narok County and VDM were 0.046 and 0.067, respectively. The resulting composite index (0.143) classified both study sites under the lowly sustainable category. The results are important for informing policy formulation that guides timely interventions to balance socio-ecological systems.

COVID-19 and economic preferences: Evidence from a panel of cab drivers

This paper studies the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on risk and time preferences. Using a longitudinal dataset from a survey of cab drivers in Lima (Peru), we document a significant increase in risk tolerance and patience. The changes are heterogeneous and monotonic by age: older cohorts become more risk-taking while younger ones become more patient. Our findings suggest that the pandemic could have affected individuals’ behavior and socioeconomic outcomes via another channel, namely, changes in economic preferences.

Determinants of community acceptance of geothermal energy projects: A case study on a geothermal energy project in Kenya

Geothermal energy is a dependable energy source that can catalyze socioeconomic development in developing countries. However, in several countries, geothermal energy sources face community opposition. Therefore, to enable the widespread use of geothermal energy, it is important to address these issues. This study aims to analyze the main factors influencing the community acceptance of geothermal energy projects in East-Africa. In this study, the controversial ’Olkaria IV Geothermal Project’ in Kenya, one of the top geothermal energy producers in the world, was considered as the case study.A quantitative survey was conducted using a questionnaire for 138 households affected by the project. Furthermore, a stepwise regression model was employed to investigate the determinant factors influencing community acceptance of the project. Fifteen independent variables were included in the model. Seven predictors were selected for the model, namely, “Perception of appropriate mitigation of environmental impacts”, “Isolation during the decision-making process”, “Understanding of socioeconomic benefits”, “Understanding of grievance mechanism”, “Understanding of environmental benefits”, “Perception about environmental impacts”, and “Explanation of grievance mechanism”. Notably, “Isolation during the decision-making process,” “Understanding of environmental benefits,” and “Explanation of grievance mechanism” portrayed a negative relationship with the dependent variable “Community acceptance”.This study highlights the importance of mitigating environmental impacts, raising awareness about mitigation measures, ensuring inclusive community engagement in the decision-making process (while considering specific cultural customs), and emphasizing the socioeconomic outcomes of the project. In addition, our study highlights the fact that the strong patriarchy of pastoral communities influences the inequality and feeling of isolation in the community, resulting in a communication gap within the community. Moreover, direct socioeconomic and environmental benefits through corporate social responsibility or royalty allowance schemes can also enhance community acceptance. Our study can serve as a framework for future studies that aim to promote the use of geothermal energy and improve the community acceptance of such projects.

Local Network Interaction as a Mechanism for Wealth Inequality

Given limited institutional resources, low-income populations often rely on social networks to improve their socioeconomic outcomes. However, it remains in question whether small-scale social interactions could affect large-scale economic inequalities in under-resourced contexts. Here, we leverage population-level data from one of the poorest South African settings to construct a large-scale, geographically defined, inter-household social network. Using a multilevel network model, we show that having social ties in close geographic proximity is associated with stable household asset conditions, while geographically distant ties correlate to changes in asset allocation. Notably, we find that localised network interactions are associated with an increase in wealth inequality at the regional level, demonstrating how macro-level inequality may arise from micro-level social processes. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding complex social connections underpinning inter-household resource dynamics, and raise the potential of large-scale social assistance programs to reduce disparities in resource-ownership by accounting for local social constraints.

Providing a common language for obesity: the European Association for the Study of Obesity obesity taxonomy.

The basis for a high-performing and resilient healthcare system is having a common, precise, and scientifically accurate language used across all stakeholder groups. However, such a common language is lacking for obesity. Therefore, the European Association for the Study of Obesity undertook a taxonomy initiative to provide standardised language for obesity as commonly used from policy to practice for other major policy-prioritised non-communicable diseases (NCDs). An online Delphi consensus study was conducted, involving a panel of experts representing stakeholder groups of policymakers, healthcare professionals, people with lived experience, and researchers. Based on the understanding of obesity as an adiposity-based chronic disease, 54 statements demarcated into definition, scope and contextual usage were developed across six themes: Definition of obesity, Causes, onset and progression, Obesity prevention, Screening and early diagnosis, Treatment and management, Obesity consequences. Of the 194 invited experts, 70 (36%), 63 (33%), and 58 (30%) experts participated in rounds one, two, and three, respectively. Consensus was achieved on 70% of the proposed definitions, scope, and contextual usage after round one, 94% after round two and 100% after round three. The Definition of Obesity theme included distinctions between population-level indicators and individual-level signs of obesity, and how pre-obesity was defined. The Causes, Onset and Progression theme characterised the timing of obesity development. The Obesity Prevention theme explicitly differentiated between health promotion and primary prevention. Both the Screening and Early Diagnosis, and the Treatment and Management themes defined concepts supporting a continuum of care model. The Consequences of Obesity theme encompassed health and socio-economic outcomes. The taxonomy provides a contemporary evidence-based language about obesity that aligns with language used for policy-prioritised NCDs. The taxonomy is useful for education, advocacy, and communication and can be used by policymakers, healthcare professionals, people living with obesity, researchers, and health system users.

Tolerance to waterlogging determines the effectiveness of biodrainage in mitigating runoff in hillslope-scale simulations

Reversal of land degradation in agricultural systems through a wide range of natural resources management tailored to the specific climate, soil, and topography is crucial. This is especially critical for subsistence farming systems such as the Ethiopian Highlands, subject to some of the highest soil erosion rates in the world. Although biodrainage is widely and successfully used for waterlogging and erosion control in arid regions, it is not widely applied in sub-humid places like the Ethiopian Highlands. Beginning with field observations of the complex vertical soil profiles and variations in lithology and soil hydraulic properties along a hillslope ridge-channel transect in the Debre Mawi watershed of the Abay (Upper Blue Nile) Basin in the Ethiopian Highlands, we construct a synthetic model hillslope in HYRDUS-2D. For the growing season coinciding with the rainy season, known as Kiremt, we calibrated the hillslope water storage using observations of water table elevation. The synthetic hillslope is then used to test the feasibility of biodrainage to mitigate saturation, a major driver of gullying and soil loss in the area, and to identify plant traits to which such mitigation is sensitive. The simulation results using bare soil, eucalyptus and maize land covers revealed that in spite of low potential evapotranspiration during the Kiremt season, biodrainage with Eucalyptus can reduce the occurrence and duration of saturation of the top 0.6 m surface soil profile of the hillslope. Of the different plant traits explored, the maximum soil water potential at which the crop can transpire at potential rates, and the LAI, which controls potential evaporation rates via the crop coefficient, provide the most important controls on the effectiveness of biodrainage in desaturating the hillslope. We conclude that biodrainage strategies to mitigate soil erosion in sub humid locales merits further investigation through empirical trials. However, implementation of biodrainage strategies should be subject to thoughtful consideration of the implications for socio-economic outcomes and the local environment.

СОЦІАЛЬНО-ЕКОНОМІЧНА ЕФЕКТИВНІСТЬ ІННОВАЦІЙНОГО КОНСУЛЬТУВАННЯ З МОЛОДІЖНОГО ПІДПРИЄМНИЦТВА

The article considers the importance of increasing the socio-economic efficiency of counselling on youth entrepreneurship on the basis of innovation. The purpose of the study is to establish the impact of innovative approaches and technologies on improving the socio-economic outcomes of counselling young entrepreneurs. In the course of the study the methods of description, generalization and systematization were used. The influence of indicators of socio-economic outcomes of entrepreneurship on the socio-economic effectiveness of youth entrepreneurship counselling was identified and the main aspects of this influence were determined. It is established that youth entrepreneurship counselling has an inherent innovative function, which becomes the main factor in the socio-economic efficiency of its subjects. The introduction of product, process, managerial and organizational innovations in youth entrepreneurship counselling is proposed. Key words: youth entrepreneurship, consulting, business consulting, Global Innovation Index, innovation activity, innovation management, innovation function, product innovation, managerial innovation, organizational innovation, social innovation.

Silvopastoral transitions in Latin America: toward diverse perennial systems

AbstractAgroecosystems with greater diversity and perenniality have been proposed to promote resilience to climate change, stability of production, multiple ecosystem services, and socioeconomic outcomes. A wide diversity of silvopastoral systems have been promoted in Latin America for their production and environmental outcomes. In this brief perspective article, we discuss the implications of different trajectories towards silvopastoral systems within the framework of ecological intensification. Transitioning from agricultural systems dominated by annual crops towards complex silvopastoral systems integrating multiple perennial species and livestock constitutes a clear trajectory of ecological intensification. In the context of the tropical dry forests and Amazon rainforests, re-introducing native trees into degraded sown pastures to establish silvopastoral systems increases biodiversity, perenniality, and ecosystem services. In contrast, in the context of native grasslands, plantations of exotic trees for timber or silvopastoral systems reduce biodiversity and ecosystem services. Therefore, transitioning to silvopastoral systems is not always a trajectory of ecological intensification but depends on the contexts and native ecosystems.

QOL-52. SOCIOECONOMIC METRICS AND THEIR UNIQUE ROLE IN PREDICTING COGNITIVE AND FUNCTIONAL MORBIDITY IN RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE PATIENTS WITH PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR (PBT)

Abstract BACKGROUND Caregivers from more advantaged backgrounds have better understanding of their child’s needs, access to resources, and medical adherence, contributing to higher survival and neuropsychological (NP) outcomes in PBT, above and beyond diagnostic/treatment-related factors. Children with PBT from disadvantaged neighborhoods have increased medical morbidity, though cognitive morbidity is unknown. This study examines area deprivation index (ADI) quintiles (neighborhood disadvantage) in relation to established proxies for socioeconomic status (SES) and NP outcomes following PBT diagnosis. METHODS Parental education and median household income (SES proxies), as well as ADI quintiles (1-5, 5=most disadvantaged) were estimated for 120 PBT patients (ages 5-21; x̄=13.6 years, SD=3.8 years; 50% female). NP outcomes included estimated IQ (calculated from Wechsler Vocabulary/Matrix Reasoning) and/or the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-Third Edition (ABAS-3). RESULTS Over 75% identified as minorities (53% Latinx, 10% Asian American, 5% Black, 8% multi/other). Findings revealed significant racial/ethnic disparities in household income [F(4,115)=11.208, p<.001] and ADI [F(4,108)=9.663, p<.001]. Parental education was correlated with household income [rs(80)=.490, p<.001] and ADI [rs(76)=-.477, p<.001]. Interestingly, household income [F(1,74)=7.498, p=.008] and parental education [F(1,49)=10.084, p=.003] significantly predicted IQ (SS=44-132; x̄=99.78, SD=14.66), while ADI did not. Neither SES proxy nor ADI predicted adaptive functioning (SS=51-120; x̄=90.12, SD=13.927), despite the relationship between IQ and adaptive functioning, r(47)=.273, p=.032. CONCLUSIONS The predictive value of household income (which varies by race/ethnicity) and parental education on cognition following PBT diagnosis continues to inform neuropsychological practice. While ADI is correlated with both established SES proxies, higher neighborhood disadvantage does not predict cognitive concerns in the same way, indicating potential unique housing factors (e.g., persons per room ratio) that may protect against cognitive morbidity (e.g., multigenerational living). Additional investigation is needed to understand why adaptive functioning is less susceptible to SES/ADI than cognition.

GCT-16. LONG-TERM OUTCOMES AND COMPLICATION MANAGEMENT IN CNS GERM CELL TUMORS: INSIGHTS FROM A PHASE II HISTOPATHOLOGY-STRATIFIED TREATMENT TRIAL

Abstract BACKGROUND This detailed examination merges outcomes from a Phase II clinical trial targeting central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors (GCTs) conducted between 1995 and 2003. It evaluates the impact of histopathologically driven treatment modalities on survival, recurrence, and post-treatment life and social outcomes, aiming to delineate the long-term effects of such stratified treatment approaches. METHODS The cohort comprised 228 patients, stratified into three groups based on histology: germinoma (n=161), intermediate prognosis (n=38), and poor prognosis (n=28), each receiving customized chemotherapy and radiation treatments. With a median follow-up duration of 222 months, this longitudinal study scrutinized survival rates, recurrence patterns, and a spectrum of socio-economic and health-related outcomes. RESULTS For the germinoma group, the 10- and 20-year event-free survival (EFS) rates stood impressively at 82% and 73%, respectively, with overall survival (OS) rates reaching 97% and 92%. The intermediate prognosis group witnessed 10- and 20-year EFS rates of 76% and 66%, and OS rates of 87% and 70%. The poor prognosis group recorded EFS rates of 49% at both intervals, with OS diminishing to 61% and 53%. Notably, germinomas localized in the basal ganglia exhibited high relapse rates absent initial whole-brain radiation, yet were effectively managed upon subsequent interventions. The comprehensive follow-up illuminated striking disparities in socio-economic achievements: higher educational attainments, more stable employment, and improved health outcomes were predominantly observed among patients without recurrence. Non-recurrent germinoma patients, in particular, showcased enhanced educational and employment status, vividly illustrating the profound impact of disease progression and treatment on life quality. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the critical importance of customized initial treatments for improving survival and life quality in CNS GCT patients, stressing the need for detailed long-term follow-up to address relapses and complications effectively. The study advocates for personalized care that balances treatment intensity to optimize long-term outcomes, enhancing post-treatment care.

Poor socioeconomic outcomes: Completion of the final examination after lower secondary education mitigates risks associated with gestational age.

To investigate the influence of gestational age (GA) on the association between completion of the final examination after 10-11 years of basic education and education, financial independence and income in early adulthood. A nationwide register-based study including individuals born in Denmark between 1990 and 1992. Completion of the examination was evaluated at age 18 and education, financial independence and income at age 28. Of 165 683 individuals included, 15.7%, 10.8% and 5.5% had low educational level, were not financially independent and had low income. For those who completed the examination odds ratio (OR) ranged from 1.03 at GA = 32-36 weeks to 1.25 at ≤27 weeks for low education, from 1.10 to 0.91 for not being financial independent and from 1.06 to 1.48 for low income. For those who did not complete the examination, OR increased from 7.55 at ≥37 weeks to 15.03 at ≤27 weeks for low education and from 4.68 to 15.31 for not being financial independent. For low income, OR was 2.57 and independent of GA. For individuals who completed the examination, the odds of poor socioeconomic outcomes were independent of GA. Individuals who did not complete the examination had increased odds of poor socioeconomic outcomes, particularly as GA decreased.

The economic lives of refugees

The economic lives of refugees are often viewed as relatively homogeneous, and sources of within-group variation remain largely unexplored. We describe the socio-economic diversity of refugees in one particular region: East Africa. Drawing upon first-hand quantitative and qualitative data collected in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia (n = 8,996), the article systematically compares 12 refugee subpopulations living in seven refugee camps and the three capital cities. In order to identify sources of variation, we examine three main questions: (1) What variation is there in socio-economic outcomes? (2) What strategies and resources do refugees rely upon, and how do these vary? (3) How are opportunities and constraints shaped by differences in institutions and identity? Overall, we show that, although the economic lives of refugees have some distinguishing and common features, they are also heterogeneous by host country, urban/camp context, nationality, and household. We explain why describing and understanding sources of within-group variation matters for research and policy.

“Safer to plant corn and beans”? Navigating the challenges and opportunities of agricultural diversification in the U.S. Corn Belt

AbstractAgricultural diversification in the Midwestern Corn Belt has the potential to improve socioeconomic and environmental outcomes by buffering farmers from environmental and economic shocks and improving soil, water, and air quality. However, complex barriers related to agricultural markets, individual behavior, social norms, and government policy constrain diversification in this region. This study examines farmer perspectives regarding the challenges and opportunities for both corn and soybean production and agricultural diversification strategies. We analyze data from 20 focus groups with 100 participants conducted in Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa through a combined inductive and deductive approach, drawing upon interpretive grounded theory. Our results suggest that when identifying challenges and opportunities, participants center economics and market considerations, particularly income, productivity, and market access. These themes are emphasized both as benefits of the current corn-soybean system, as well as challenges for diversification. Additionally, logistical, resource and behavioral hurdles– including the comparative difficulty and time required to diversify, and constraints in accessing land, labor, and technical support– are emphasized by participants as key barriers to diversification. Agricultural policies shape these challenges, enhancing the comparative advantage and decreasing the risk of producing corn and soybeans as compared to diversified products. Meanwhile, alternative marketing arrangements, farmer networks, family relationships, and improved soil health are highlighted as important opportunities for diversification. We contextualize our findings within the theories of reasoned action and diffusion of innovation, and explore their implications for farmer engagement, markets, and agricultural policy, and the development of additional resources for business and technical support.

Preterm Birth, Family Income, and Intergenerational Income Mobility

Preterm birth (PTB) has been associated with lower income in adulthood, but associations with intergenerational income mobility and the role of family socioeconomic status (SES) as modifying factor are unclear. To assess whether the association between PTB and income differs according to family SES at birth and to assess the association between PTB and intergenerational income mobility. This study comprised a matched cohort of live births in Canada between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 1996, with follow-up until December 31, 2018. Statistical analysis was performed between May 2023 and March 2024. Preterm birth, defined as birth between 24 and 37 weeks' gestational age (with gestational age subcategories of 34-36, 32-33, 28-31, and 24-27 weeks) vs early and full term births (gestational age, 37-41 weeks). Associations between PTB and annual adulthood income in 2018 Canadian dollars were assessed overall (current exhange rate: $1 = CAD $1.37) and stratified by family income quintiles, using generalized estimating equation regression models. Associations between PTB and percentile rank change (ie, difference between the rank of individuals and their parents in the income distribution within their respective generations) and upward or downward mobility (based on income quintile) were assessed using linear and multinomial logistic regressions, respectively. Of 1.6 million included births (51.1% boys and 48.9% girls), 6.9% infants were born preterm (5.4% born at 34-36 weeks, 0.7% born at 32-33 weeks, 0.5% born at 28-31 weeks, and 0.2% born at 24-27 weeks). After matching on baseline characteristics (eg, sex, province of birth, and parental demographics) and adjusting for age and period effects, PTB was associated with lower annual income (mean difference, CAD -$687 [95% CI, -$788 to -$586]; 3% lower per year), and the differences were greater among those belonging to families in the lowest family SES quintile (mean difference, CAD -$807 [95% CI, -$998 to -$617]; 5% lower per year). Preterm birth was also associated with lower upward mobility and higher downward mobility, particularly for those born earlier than 31 weeks' gestational age (24-27 weeks: mean difference in percentile rank change, -8.7 percentile points [95% CI, -10.5 to -6.8 percentile points]). In this population-based matched cohort study, PTB was associated with lower adulthood income, lower upward social mobility, and higher downward mobility, with greater differences among those belonging to economically disadvantaged families. Interventions to optimize socioeconomic outcomes of preterm-born individuals would need to define target population considering SES.

The socioeconomic dimensions of BRICS: a comparative analysis over three decades 1990 to 2020

BRICS countries are not only striving to gain more political and economic clouts in the developing world but are also influencing global governance. However, each one is facing its own economic concerns and challenges. For instance, India has been witnessing a severe economic slowdown, while Brazil is maintaining a low growth rate along with persistent high inflation and unemployment problems. South Africa has been mired with low growth rate, rising youth unemployment, high debt and inequality. China has been suffering from a sluggish growth on account of the trade war with the US, and Russia has massively suffered from US and EU sanctions. Despite these problems, they are trying to lay a robust foundation of cooperation with the countries in the Global South amid their rising discontent over perceived Western dominance of the global institutions. With this background, our main focus here is to comprehend socioeconomic dimensions from a comparative assessment to develop an understanding and visualize their relative developmental positions over the last three decades (1990 to 2020). Analyzing the data, the study clearly observes visible diversities within them. While China’s socioeconomic dimensions have improved remarkably, followed by India, South Africa could achieve relatively only with minimal success. It demonstrates that certain BRICS countries while achieving significant strides in their socioeconomic development outcomes, others are encumbered and struggling with challenges over the last three decades (1990 to 2020) without witnessing similar success and yet to overcome those challenges. The uneven economic progress of economies needs to be addressed by individual economies by laying down efficient economic policies, which have been falling short of the average progress in any economic development parameters if their economic and social cooperation needs to be strengthened towards achieving higher economic progress by mutually benefitting from their stronger socioeconomic ties and simultaneously exert greater influence in the world stage.

SHEA position statement on pandemic preparedness for policymakers: introduction and overview.

Throughout history, pandemics and their aftereffects have spurred society to make substantial improvements in healthcare. After the Black Death in 14th century Europe, changes were made to elevate standards of care and nutrition that resulted in improved life expectancy.1 The 1918 influenza pandemic spurred a movement that emphasized public health surveillance and detection of future outbreaks and eventually led to the creation of the World Health Organization Global Influenza Surveillance Network.2 In the present, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed many of the pre-existing problems within the US healthcare system, which included (1) a lack of capacity to manage a large influx of contagious patients while simultaneously maintaining routine and emergency care to non-COVID patients; (2) a "just in time" supply network that led to shortages and competition among hospitals, nursing homes, and other care sites for essential supplies; and (3) longstanding inequities in the distribution of healthcare and the healthcare workforce. The decades-long shift from domestic manufacturing to a reliance on global supply chains has compounded ongoing gaps in preparedness for supplies such as personal protective equipment and ventilators. Inequities in racial and socioeconomic outcomes highlighted during the pandemic have accelerated the call to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within our communities. The pandemic accelerated cooperation between government entities and the healthcare system, resulting in swift implementation of mitigation measures, new therapies and vaccinations at unprecedented speeds, despite our fragmented healthcare delivery system and political divisions. Still, widespread misinformation or disinformation and political divisions contributed to eroded trust in the public health system and prevented an even uptake of mitigation measures, vaccines and therapeutics, impeding our ability to contain the spread of the virus in this country.3 Ultimately, the lessons of COVID-19 illustrate the need to better prepare for the next pandemic. Rising microbial resistance, emerging and re-emerging pathogens, increased globalization, an aging population, and climate change are all factors that increase the likelihood of another pandemic.4.