Socio-economic Recovery Research Articles

Seismic resilience for recovery investments of bridges methodology

Bridges are fundamental links for the movement of goods and people and bridge damage can thus have significant impacts on society and the economy. Earthquakes can be extremely destructive and can compromise bridge functionality, which is essential for communities. Evaluation of bridge functionality is thus fundamental in the planning of emergency responses and socioeconomic recovery procedures. It is especially useful to define parameters to assess investments in bridge infrastructure. Resilience is a key parameter that can identify decision making procedures necessary for recovery investments. In this regard, resilience can be defined as the rapidity of a system to return to pre-disaster levels of functionality. This aim of this work was to assess the lack of robust analytical procedures for quantifying systematic restoration for earthquake-damaged bridges, to provide a link between the assessment of resilience and its application in decision making approaches. The proposed methodology (called seismic resilience for recovery investments of bridges) uses functionality–time curves that allow quantification of resilience along with readable findings for a wider range of stakeholders. The results presented in this paper should be of interest to multi-sectorial actors (i.e. bridge owners, transportation authorities and public administrators) and could drive interdisciplinary applications such as the assessment of recovery techniques and solutions.

Reprioritising Sustainable Development Goals in the Post-COVID-19 Global Context: Will a Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility Regime Help?

The impact of COVID-19 on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) continues to be researched. Initial signals warn of significant setbacks in achieving SDG targets by 2030. The achievement of SDGs could abet improved protection from future pandemics. This article suggests reprioritizing SDGs to facilitate a more robust global response to future pandemics. Specifically, we recommend that SDGs 3, 6, 5 and 4 (in that order) are prioritized in order to optimize efforts at a more inclusive and resilient socio-economic recovery post-pandemic. This paper suggests that mandatory CSR regimes enable governments, in combination with corporate fiscal resources, to influence the selection and progress of these SDGs. The case of India’s mandatory CSR regime is employed to illustrate our position. This study extends the debate on SDGs by raising the possibility of universal concentration on a few critical SDGs.

Climate indicators and COVID-19 recovery: A case of Wuhan during the lockdown.

The world needs to get out of the COVID-19 pandemic smoothly through a thorough socio-economic recovery. The first and the foremost step forward in this direction is the health recovery of the people infected. Our empirical study addresses this neglected point in the recent research on COVID-19 and specifically aims at exploring the impact of the environment on health recovery from COVID-19. The sample data are taken during the lockdown period in Wuhan, i.e., from 23rd January 2020 to 8th April 2020. The recently developed econometric technique of Quantile-on-Quantile regression, proposed by Shin and Zhu (2016) is employed to capture the asymmetric association between environmental factors (TEMP, HUM, PM2.5, PM10, CO, SO2, NO2, and O3) and the number of recovered patients from COVID-19. We observe significant heterogeneity in the association among variables across various quantiles. The findings suggest that TEMP, PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2, and O3 are negatively related to the COVID-19 recovery, while HUM and SO2 show a positive association at most quantiles. The study recommends that maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for the patients may increase the chances of recovery from COVID-19. The success story of Wuhan, the initial epicenter of the novel coronavirus in China, can serve as an important case study for other countries to bring the outbreak under control. The current study could be conducive for the policymakers of those countries where the COVID-19 pandemic is still unrestrained.

Digitalization as a mainstream in the economic sphere in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic

Problem setting. The introduction of quarantine restrictions during a pandemic led to active use and development of remote technologies, digital transformation, dynamic network medium, open data platforms and other instruments. Mentioned instruments became effective means to promote innovation in all sphere of life of society. Educational institutions, research institutions, companies, organizations, facing new challenges, are trying to be as open to communication, exchange of ideas and developments, be prepared for transformations, socio-economic recovery, improvement of the system of interconnections. All this is possible only by using latest effective digital technologies, increasing the role and weight of electronic communications, virtualization of the process of information support for scientific research and development, attracting network-digital resources to the practical scope of the economy. Analysis of recent researches and publications. Problems and certain issues of digitalization are studied in the scientific works of O. Baranov, O. Dannikov, K. Sichkarenko, A. Zahorodnii, N. Kraus, O. Holoborodko, S. Hlibko, O. Kryvoruchko, V. Kokhan, V. Milash, Ye. Naiman, N. Norits, Yu. Nosenko, V. Panasiuk, Yu. Pasmor, D. Namiot, V. Fishchuk, V. Matiushko Target of research. The purpose of the article is to identify the main world trends of digestion in the COVID-19 pandemic. Article’s main body. The article presents the analysis results of the state of digitalization in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main world trends of this process, which takes place with the involvement of the virtual environment and smart technologies to stimulate the innovative economy, are revealed. It is stated that quarantine restrictions, which affected all spheres of human life on all continents and negatively affected the economies of even developed countries, contributed to the intensification of digital transformation, making it a popular trend (the mainstream) in the economic sphere of development of the modern globalized world. It is concluded that a balanced policy of digitalization, quick adaptation of electronic communications to the tasks of stimulating the economy will significantly affect innovation, business, society. Conclusions and prospects for the development. The researches confirmed that the effect of digitalization will find its manifestation in the digital transformation, diversification of the economy, in formation of a modern business environment, innovative industries, in supporting of open science to overcome the structural weakness of the economy and the development of smart specializations, the development of startups, business incubators, science and technology centers, industrial parks, which are acting as drivers of interactive renewal of socio-economic processes, ensuring the welfare of the population.

Territorial Conflict, Domestic Crisis, and the Covid-19 Pandemic in the South Caucasus. Explaining Variegated EU Responses.

Territorial Conflict, Domestic Crisis, and the Covid-19 Pandemic in the South Caucasus. Explaining Variegated EU Responses.

Covid, the Environment and Food Systems: Contain, Cope and Rebuild Better

The objective of this paper is to analyse impacts of COVID-19 on the nexus of food systems, the environment and sustainable development and propose ways for governments and international agencies to mitigate impacts in the short and medium term. It covers the historic period from early 2020 to early 2021 and also makes an assessment on future prospects. Although evidence is collected from all around the world, the focus is primarily on developing countries. The methods used are a review of the announced actions and preliminary findings in the academic and grey literature as well as on reliable websites from global and international institutions. By October 2020, governments around the world had invested about $12 trillion to counteract the economic effects of COVID-19. This investment could contribute to progress on the SDGs and global climate targets insofar as it was invested within a framework that supports both socio-economic recovery and sustainability. Initial analysis indicates that investments for economic recovery did not sufficiently address food security and sustainability, concentrating instead on immediate economic risk management. The global sustainable development agenda must promote the resilience and sustainability of food systems through policies and measures that: i) account for environmental thresholds and trade-offs; ii) promote food security and healthy diets; iii) enhance and protect rural livelihoods; and iv) address the inequalities and injustices that have emerged and will prevail during a post-COVID transition. National stimulus programs and the actions of international agencies must be assessed and monitored to deliver multiple benefits simultaneously and guide building back better.

Analysis of formation of ecological-technogenic and social threats of life safety in the coal industry zone of Donbass

The article considers the need to form an information-analytical complex of natural-technogenic geosystem (NTGS) of Donbass "regional technogenic complex – environment" as a tool base for building a model of ecological and economic development. Donbass (area up to 5.8 thousand km2 with a population of more than 4 million people) is a technogenic-geological system (TGS) ("regional technogenic complex – geological environment"). In addition, there are more than 4,000 potentially dangerous objects within the PTGS of Donbass. The predominance of regional irreversible changes in the ecological parameters of the geological environment as the main "depot" of the technogenesis effects (deformation of the earth's surface, geochemical pollution of landscapes, surface and groundwater, biodiversity loss, etc.) necessitates the preservation of its ecological resources for further socio-economic recovery of the Donbass region. Comparison of the impact of natural resource potential of the geological environment (GS) of Donbass and the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone showed the fundamental importance of balancing the interaction of the lithosphere with the surface hydrosphere, near-surface atmosphere and biosphere for the formation of socio-economic parameters and safety of life activity. Flooding of coal mines and rising of groundwater level to surface are the critical ecological factors of post-mining situation within Donbas. The performed analysis of ecological and technogenic parameters of NTGS of mining areas within Donbass also showed that in case of further increase in the number of flooded mines, advanced scientific development of maximum allowable changes in the environment is necessary. It is also noted that all selected tools for the formation of life safety should have a clear justification of socio-economic and environmental-technological parameters. All this should provide an opportunity to assess the efficiency of the ecological and economic system, methods of its construction and possible forecasting.

COVID 19 - Global Research Roadmap for recovery

Health emergencies that have occurred in recent years have presented significant challenges and led to the development of effective health responses. Therefore, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, researchers and health practitioners were in a position to develop a suitable response. The UN's Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery details how communities have been affected by the pandemic and how medical professionals and scientific researchers can inform responses and policies. Health systems and services comprises one section of the Research Roadmap and highlights research priorities and key foci for health systems. In addition to its role in mitigating the health implications of COVID-19, the Research Roadmap also provides recommendations for overcoming the socio-political challenges that have arisen due to the pandemic. As such, 25 research priorities have been identified with a view to addressing recovery challenges and informing long-term systemic change. There are five research priorities for each pillar of the UN's socio-economic recovery framework and the first pillar is Health Systems and Services, which is concerned with promoting compliance with public health measures. A priority for this pillar is ensuring the responsiveness, adaptability and accessibility of health systems while additional foci include eliminating discrimination in the delivery of health servicess, preparing for future health emergencies, developing cross-border responses and engaging with communities.

NIGERIA: RESOURCE CONFLICTS AND RURALITY. IMPLICATIONS ON HERITAGE ASSETS

Since its independence in 1960, Nigeria has been ravaged by various categories of resource conflicts with consequential effects on rurality. These conflicts have caused untold hardship on rural communities in Nigeria to the extent that some of the communities have been deserted for safety elsewhere. These rural communities have valued heritage assets where they had leveraged on for meaningful socioeconomic recovery. This study was aimed at identifying these resource conflicts and their impacts on heritage assets in rural Nigeria. However, resource conflicts like Boko Haram, militancy, herdsmen, banditry, and communal conflicts were identified. Evidences show that these conflicts obliterate tangible and intangible heritage assets of rural communities in Nigeria, with correspondence effect on heritage transfer through memory loss. Effective international support among others was recommended as a possible option. This study has implications for the understanding of further effects of resource conflicts on rurality in Nigeria. Keywords: Resource conflicts; heritage assets; heritage preservation; rural communities; conflict theory

A systematic examination of international funding flows for Ebola virus and Zika virus outbreaks 2014–2019: donors, recipients and funding purposes

IntroductionThere has been no systematic comparison of how the policy response to past infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics was funded. This study aims to collate and analyse funding for the...

COVID-19 Pandemic Is About More than Health: A State of Governance Challenges in Bangladesh

Governance can help minimise the effects of catastrophes. Countries had some time to prepare for the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but some did not use it to improve their arrangements. This research investigates several countries’ governance strategies, develops a governance model and critically analyses Bangladesh’s failure as a case of governance catastrophe. This study applies qualitative methods of textual data analysis to explore data sourced from current newspapers, blogs, websites, journal articles and books to determine the most appropriate evidence and generate connections and interpretations. The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating consequences for all countries; however, the different national responses have provided the opportunity to measure governments’ capability in addressing the crisis. Governments need to study the current COVID-19 response and enhance their governance capacities to minimise the spread of infection and to prepare for the challenge of socio-economic recovery.

Who is hardest hit by a pandemic? Racial disparities in COVID-19 hardship in the U.S.

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Americans’ lives and livelihoods from a wide range of socioeconomic and public health perspectives, some racial/ethnic groups more profoundly than others. Beyond the statistics of confirmed cases and deaths, however, we do not have sufficient evidence to explain the racial disparity in pandemic hardships. By using the Household Pulse Survey, a nationally representative data timely deployed by the U.S. Census Bureau, this paper measures and examines five dimensions of pandemic hardships – food insufficiency, employment income loss, housing instability, health problem, and school closure – and their racial disparities. This paper finds a pervasive racial disparity across those individual hardships as well as compounded types of hardships (e.g. income loss with food insufficiency at the same time), with commonly higher odds of experiencing hardship for non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics than non-Hispanic whites. The effects of small business closures and reopening policy are unequal across racial/ethnic groups, implying that non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics may be left behind the benefits from state reopening and socioeconomic recovery. These findings can shed new light on the role of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics as well as statewide contextual variables in explaining racial disparities in the pandemic hardships and suggest new possibilities for COVID-19 research. Highlights The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Americans’ lives from a wide range of socioeconomic and public health perspectives Risk of experiencing pandemic hardships – food insufficiency, employment income loss, housing instability, health problem, and school closure – is higher for non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics than non-Hispanic whites Pervasive racial disparities exist across compounded types of hardships, including income loss with food insufficiency at the same time The effects of small business closures and reopening policy are unequal across racial/ethnic groups Non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics may be left behind the socioeconomic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic

ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЕ СЛУЖБЫ ЗАНЯТОСТИ В КРИЗИС COVID-19: ОПЫТ И ПОСЛЕДСТВИЯ ДЛЯ УСТОЙЧИВОГО ВОССТАНОВЛЕНИЯ

This article discusses how Public Employment Services (PES) have dealt globally with the crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how policies and measures related to PES can be enhanced for sustainable socioeconomic recovery. The COVID-19 crisis has been historically unique, particularly in that it has been necessary to comply with physical-distancing measures implemented by governments in order to avoid further spread of the virus. In such circumstances, reactivity and flexibility have been key for PES to effectively operate and support jobseekers and other clients during this challenging time. Globally, PES have adapted and changed their priorities according to three different phases during the crisis. Based on these experiences, the enhancement of and investment in PES are recommended in order to facilitate a human-centred, sustainable, and resilient socio-economic recovery from the crisis. The enhancement of services along with the operation and management of PES is possible through accelerated digitalization, further focus on supporting vulnerable groups of citizens, building and strengthening partnerships with various actors, and increasing the skills of staff. This is similarly true for PES in the Russian Federation. They have significant potential to accomplish such reforms and greatly contribute to the sustainable recovery of economy and society in the country.

ՍՈՑԻԱԼԱԿԱՆ ՊԱՇՏՊԱՆՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԻՆՍՏԻՏՈՒՏԸ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՀԱՆՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹՅՈՒՆՈՒՄ/INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL PROTECTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA/ИНСТИТУТ СОЦИАЛЬНОЙ ЗАЩИТЫ В РЕСПУБЛИКЕ АРМЕНИЯ

The article analyzes the content of the concept of "social protection", which is characterized as a human right, as a set of policies and programs, and also as a multi-level risks management system. The fact is argued that social protection as a fundamental human right belongs to everyone and provides over the life cycle. Consequently, social protection legislation should be based on the concept of “social security for all” and should create a national social protection floor. Taking into account the crisis in the country following the events of 2020, the problems associated with ensuring security and the post-crisis socio-economic recovery of Artsakh and Armenia, as well as the uncertainty in connection with the coronavirus, it is proposed to form a synergistic and effective social protection system, develop political and legislative strategies, and also create a strong institutional and legal framework for the social protection system.

АНАЛИЗ ТУРИСТСКО-РЕКРЕАЦИОННОГО ПОТЕНЦИАЛА ПРИОРИТЕТНОГО ИНВЕСТИЦИОННОГО ПРОЕКТА РАЗВИТИЯ РАЙОНА БАЛАКЛАВСКОЙ БУХТЫ

The structural transformation of the economy and the achievement of socio-economic recovery of the country are largely determined by investment trends in the state. The implementation of a well-thought-out investment strategy and the active desire of the state to create attractive conditions for investors contribute to the development of the regions. The article presents an analysis of the implementation of the priority investment project for the development of the Balaklava Bay (Sevastopol). The project involves a holistic approach of restructuring the social infrastructure of the territory and form the basis of the tourism product, followed by increasing the flow of investment to fill it.

Review on socio-economic impacts of ‘Triple Threats’ of COVID-19, desert locusts, and floods in East Africa: Evidence from Ethiopia

East Africa region is facing an unprecedented triple socio-economic threat caused by the combined effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the upsurge of desert locusts, and recent severe floods. The socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic with the massive economic impacts of desert locust, and flooding resulted in devastating implications on livelihood and food security situation in East Africa. The overall objective of this review is to assess and compile the widespread socio-economic impacts of the three threats in East Africa evidence from Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, in this review, all relevant information were collected through different search engines of PubMed/PMC/Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, Google, and Science Direct databases. In addition, local media news, reports relevant to the topic from local and national governments, international organizations, and NGOs were used. The review found that the threats do not just have short-term impacts on socio-economic conditions of the people in the region in general and in Ethiopia in particular, they exacerbate prevailing food insecurity and undermine livelihoods and development gains that took years to build. Restriction measures introduced by governments to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic inside their boundaries would have adverse socio-economic-impacts on the people of their countries. Prolonged cessation in economic activities due to the pandemic with the overwhelming effects of flooding and desert locust will result in a permanent loss in the economy of Ethiopia and its GDP is expected to fall by 3% in 2019/2021. The findings of this review can help and inform that the observed impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, desert locust, and floods call for policy measures to curb future occurrences. Countries’ preparedness for these threats is crucial to prevent the adverse socio-economic impacts and loss of human lives. Therefore, to ensure socio-economic recovery within a reasonable period the governments need to make credible commitments in each country of the region. Particularly, the government of Ethiopia should put in place plans and resources to improve the risk resilience capacity of the people to cope up and minimize the adverse effects of such disasters in the short-term basis and, also to build a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future in the long-term basis.

Державне регулювання соціально-економічного відновлення Українського Донбасу (мемуарно-аналітичний огляд альтернативних варіантів державних рішень, прийнятих у 1991- 2020 рр.). Частина 2. Стратегічне соціальне планування унітарної держави в умовах впровадження бюджетного федералізму

The article reveals the possibilities of implementing the doctrine of three "S": social forecasting, social planning and social management in the formation of strategies for regional development of Luhansk and Donetsk regions and Ukraine as a whole. The main components of budgetary federalism of the unitary state with definition of coordinated borders of financial independence of Ukrainian Donbass and state regulation by reproduction of economic and vital activity of the population are considered. The results of the study, the subject of which were the leading components of scientific and methodological support of socio-economic recovery of Ukrainian Donbass, are presented in the form of a memoir-analytical review of fateful state and possible alternative solutions. The object of the study was the chronology, essence, content and validity of decisions. The working hypothesis of the review was to find out the origins of the civil-military conflict between the national authorities in 2014 and the population of Ukrainian Donbass, identifying the causes and factors of the tragedy of both sides 7 years ago in the context of "terror" and "terrorism". The features of state and international terrorism sanctified by Wikipedia are considered and their manifestation in the national economy in the processes of introduction of Anglo-Saxon model of open market economy is generalized. The reduction of the role of state influence on regional development in the development of long-term development strategies to achieve the 7th Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 and 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the period up to 2030 is revealed. The absence of a "goal tree" in the hierarchy and in the time of its coordination with the MDG, SDG and human development indicators was revealed. The close connection of International Geopolitical Business with the holding of the First (2004) and Second (2014) Maidans in Kyiv, the launch of the "ATO" project was revealed. Author's versions of state decisions on the transition of unitary Ukraine to model of budget federalism to strengthen its independence and sovereignty as an alternative to the "ATO" project are revealed. In contrast to the deliberately falsified information on the rating of 2013 of regional human development in Luhansk and Donetsk regions according to the National Methods of 2001, 2012, it is possible to predict 33 indicators of the Regional Human Development Index: 22 growth stimulators and 11 development disincentives. Thanks to this, the strategic and operational goals of the socio-economic reconstruction of Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukrainian Donbass have been determined.

Global Austerity Alert: Looming Budget Cuts in 2021-25 and Alternative Pathways

This paper warns of an emerging post-pandemic fiscal austerity shock—one that is far more premature and severe than the one that followed the global financial crisis—and presents alternative options to ensure that populations do not yet again have to suffer from austerity cuts. It does so by: (i) examining IMF government expenditure projections until 2025; (ii) summarizing the most common austerity measures to be avoided given their negative social impacts; (iii) presenting financing alternatives and (iv) calling on governments to urgently create fiscal space to finance an equitable socio-economic recovery and progress toward human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Traditional knowledge and use value for sustainability: “Castanea sativa Mill.’ as a model of socio-economic recovery in northern Morocco

Overtime, local communities across the world, have largely contributed to the creation of landscape units with great socioeconomic, cultural, and ecological interests. Traditional agroecosystems are an example of these landscape units, that constitute an important refuge for genetic resources and traditional agricultural practices. Chestnut agroecosystems are not an exception. It represents the example of an agroforestry system with great socio-economic and ecological potential for rural communities. In Morocco, C. sativa is one of the neglected species that has never been studied. This paper aims, on one hand, to identify, localize and analyze the populations of chestnut trees in northern Morocco. On the other hand, to highlight its traditional techniques and practices and the assessment of its socioeconomic contribution. With the scarcity of documentation and data, the study concerned 3588 chestnut trees identified in 30 villages belonging to three regions in northern Morocco. The results of surveys carried out among 389 farmers, who unanimously confirmed the aging of the trees, with a very variable spatial distribution. Surveys carried out in different seasons have revealed a wide range of implemented techniques and knowledge to ensure conservation and the sustainability of chestnut trees. For farmers, the sale of chestnuts in local markets generates additional income, but beyond its subsistence role, chestnut tree has cognitive and identity connotations. The applied management method, the diversity of the techniques and practices dedicated to this tree as well as the significant contribution of its fruit to the local economy, testify its socio-economic importance beyond its ecological role.

POLICY MEASURES FOR VIET NAM TOURISM IN RESPONSE TO IMPACTS OF COVID-19

While the global community is taking urgent measures to overcome difficulties for production and businesses and ensure social security in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam tourism industry needs to develop policy measures to minimize economic recession. Based on the research documents of international development organizations on developing policy measures for socio-economic recovery and case studies in Asian countries when the pandemic outbreaks in the region and the world, we propose policy measures to manage Vietnam destination as a national tourism destination. Given the impacts by Covid-19 pandemic, the policy measures addressed in this paper are divided into 3 groups: (1) support businesses to minimize economic losses in order to best promote the tourism business models in pandemic situations; (2) promote tourism stimulus programs and public-private partnerships; and (3) restructure tourism businesses and proper business management models for a new normal situation, in line with Sustainable Development Goals in the long term.