Spending Patterns Research Articles

Analyzing Post-2010 China-US Defense Expenditures: Uncovering the NewArmsRace

The New Arms Race encapsulates a dynamic geopolitical competition characterized by escalating military capabilities and strategic posturing between the U.S and China. Amidst the intensifying Sino-US arms race, the objective of this research is to examine the trends and patterns of Sino-USdefense spending’s (2010-2022) to analyze the evolving military competition's strategic, economic and social implications, contributing to the discourse on global security and stability. Data from reputable sources like SIPRI, IISS, plus official budget reports and defense White-Paper’s inform the analysis. Using a mix-method approach, quantitative data is descriptively presented to highlight trends, patterns, and significant changes over time. Plus, qualitative analysis is conducted to interpret the implications of these expenses, drawing on International Relation’s theories and expert opinions to assess how shifts in military spending influences power dynamics, alliances, and conflicts? The results show that, the global military expenditures surpassed $2240 billion. China's defense spending has seen a 29-year consecutive increase, while the US maintains its top spender status, propelled by ongoing modernization efforts and diverse geopolitical strategies. This study is Grounded in the "Security Dilemma" framework, assumes that potential enemies would viewa country's attempts to strengthen its security as a threat, setting off a cycle of action and reaction that deepens mutual suspicions and contributes to the potential for an arms race. Due to the Sino-US ongoing military modernization plans and diverse geopolitical strategies, it is suggested that this tendency will persist in the foreseeable future.

The influence of fiscal transparency on expenditure by regional and provincial governments in Vietnam

The intricate relationship between budget transparency and government expenditure has been confirmed, with a particular focus on how these dynamics are influenced by spatial and temporal factors. This study deals with the spatio-temporal effects of transparent communal budgets on local government spending, specifically across the 63 provinces in Vietnam. By analyzing data over time, the study uncovers critical insights into how the disclosure of budget information influences government spending patterns, both in the short term and the long term. The findings reveal a nuanced relationship, where both the direct and indirect effects of budget transparency on expenditure tend to be negative, suggesting that increased transparency may lead to a reduction in government spending. This trend is observed from both a short-term perspective, where immediate changes in budget disclosure affect spending, and a long-term perspective, where the effects of sustained transparency become more evident. The study highlights significant regional disparities in the impact of budget transparency on government expenditure. It finds that the influence of budget disclosure is less pronounced in northern Vietnam compared to the southern regions. The results advocate for policies that support targeted resource allocation at the provincial or regional levels. Such tailored approaches are essential for achieving more effective and equitable government budget management, ensuring that transparency initiatives are adapted to the specific needs and conditions of different regions within Vietnam. Overall, this research contributes to the broader understanding of how transparency in budgetary processes can influence government spending. By highlighting the spatial and temporal dimensions of this relationship, the study provides valuable insights for policymakers seeking to enhance fiscal accountability and optimize public resource allocation in Vietnam.

How Does Small-Scale Mining Stabilize Rural Livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa? The Case of Mozambique

This paper examines the linkages between subsistence farming and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) – low-tech, labor-intensive mineral extraction and processing – in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the case of Mozambique. While the body of literature on this subject is burgeoning, it is comprised mostly of conceptual pieces and country case studies that rely heavily on qualitative data. Focusing on Manica Province, long an epicentre of small-scale gold mining activity in Mozambique, the paper showcases the value of including complementary quantitative data in analyses of ASM-farming linkages in rural sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, quantitative data that provide detail on the demographical composition of communities engaged in both ASM and agriculture, and which shed light on the spending patterns of households involved, could go a long way toward enriching dialogues on this subject, and, in the process, yield more effective (and, indeed, representative) rural development and poverty alleviation strategies in the region. The data gathered in Manica Province provide a more nuanced picture of how the ages and educational levels of household heads, and the sizes of their families, shape views on ASM and agriculture in gold-rich sections of Mozambique. Studies exploring the linkages between ASM and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa that feature both qualitative and quantitative data provide greater clarity on the role each activity could play in tackling some of the region’s broader development challenges, including food insecurity and (building) community resilience.

Identifying the approach to financial sustainability: Navigating the complexities of earning and spending

This study provides insightful information about personal finance by examining the complex relationship between income and spending patterns in various occupations. It reveals strong relationships between income levels and expected results through regression analysis, providing insight into how different occupational groups are impacted by financial well-being. Building on this basis, a thorough one-way ANOVA and post-hoc tests show that students, academics, labourers, business owners, and government employees have remarkably different spending preferences. These results highlight the significant impact of occupation-specific variables on financial behaviour, including benefits, income stability, and social expectations. This research provides a path corresponding to specific policy interventions and programs aimed at financial literacy. By promoting economic resilience and well-being across a range of demographic and occupational landscapes, the ultimate objective is to cultivate a future in which responsible spending practices are shared realities rather than just ideals.

The impact of payment method on overseas tourism consumption: micro-evidence from China

ABSTRACT This study conducts an empirical analysis to examine the impact of payment methods on spending patterns and product preferences using micro-survey data on Chinese citizens’ overseas tourism expenditures. A sample selection model was constructed to address the potential bias arising from the non-randomly selected samples used for estimation. Our findings suggest that payment methods significantly affect the amount on Chinese citizens on overseas tourism. And these impacts vary across different age and gender groups. Payment methods also significantly influence the product preferences of Chinese citizens’ overseas tourism consumption. Moreover, it is also found that shopping venues significantly affect Chinese citizens’ spending on overseas tourism.

The Ballpark Effect: Spatial-Data-Driven Insights into Baseball’s Local Economic Impact

The impact of sporting events on local economies and their spatial distribution is a topic of active policy debate. This study adds to the discussion by examining granular cellphone location data to assess the spillover effects of Major League Baseball (MLB) games in a major US city. Focusing on the 2019 season, we explore granular geospatial patterns in mobility and consumer spending on game days versus non-game days in the Saint Louis region. Through density-based clustering and hotspot analysis, we uncover distinct spatiotemporal signatures and variations in visitor affluence across different teams. This study uses features like game day characteristics, location data (latitude and longitude), business types, and spending data. A significant finding is that specific spatial clusters of economic activity are formed around the stadium, particularly on game days, with multiple clusters identified. These clusters reveal a marked increase in spending at businesses such as restaurants, bars, and liquor stores, with revenue surges of up to 38% in certain areas. We identified a significant change in spending patterns in the local economy during games, with results varying greatly across teams. Notably, the XGBoost model performs best, achieving a test R2 of 0.80. The framework presented enhances the literature at the intersection of urban economics, sports analytics, and spatial modeling while providing data-driven actionable insights for businesses and policymakers.

A Study on the Phenomenon of Conspicuous Consumption in South Korea’s Luxury Market Under Economic Uncertainty

This paper investigates the phenomenon of conspicuous consumption in South Korea’s luxury market under conditions of economic uncertainty. While traditional economic theories suggest that luxury spending should decrease during periods of financial instability, the South Korean market demonstrates a contrasting trend, where luxury consumption not only persists but often intensifies. Through qualitative interviews with consumers, industry experts, and market analysts, this study explores the cultural, social, and psychological factors driving this behavior. The findings reveal that social status, identity, and emotional coping mechanisms play crucial roles in sustaining luxury consumption, even amidst economic downturns. Furthermore, the influence of K-Culture and social media amplifies the desire for luxury goods, especially among younger consumers. The study also highlights the complex interplay between economic variables, such as GDP growth, unemployment rates, and consumer confidence, and their impact on luxury spending patterns. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the unique dynamics at play in the South Korean luxury market and offers insights for luxury brands, marketers, and policymakers to develop effective strategies in this rapidly evolving environment.

An Overview of Credit Card Fraud Detection Techniques

Credit card fraud is the first thing that comes to mind when the word fraud is uttered. The volume of credit card transactions has increased significantly in recent years, along with a corresponding spike in credit card fraud. Monitoring users' and customers' spending patterns helps detect fraud and stop bad behavior. There is a rising rate of credit card fraud as they become the most widely used payment mechanism for both online and offline transactions. The goal of fraud detection is to identify fraudulent conduct as soon as it is possible and to document it. The utilization of charge cards is normal in present day culture. The multimillion-dollar industry of extortion is growing each. Extortion influences the world economy fundamentally. Different contemporary strategies, for example, information mining, AI, fluffy rationale, hereditary programming, and man-made consciousness, have been produced for identifying charge card extortion. This study tells the best way to successfully consolidate information mining methods to keep a low or high misleading problem rate while accomplishing high extortion inclusion.

Financing health in sub-Saharan Africa 1990-2050: Donor dependence and expected domestic health spending.

In 2021, global life expectancy at birth was 74 years whereas in sub-Saharan Africa it was 66 years. Yet in that same year, $92 per person was spent on health in sub- Saharan Africa, which is roughly one fifth of what the next lowest geographic region-North Africa and Middle East-spent ($379). The challenges to healthy lives in sub-Saharan Africa are many while health spending remains low. This study uses gross domestic product, government, and health spending data to give a more complete picture of the patterns of future health spending in sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed trends in growth in gross domestic product, government health spending, development assistance for health and the prioritization of health in national spending to compare countries within sub-Saharan Africa and globally.We found that while gross domestic product was projected to increase through 2050 in sub-Saharan Africa, the share of gross domestic product that goes to health spending is only expected to increase moderately. Our exploration shows that this tepid growth is expected because the percent of overall government spending that is dedicated to health 7·2% (6·3-8·3) compared to average of 12·4% (11·7-13·2) in other regions) is expected to stay low. Even if the amount, of resources provided from donors climbs some, it is not expected to keep pace with growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa and may transition towards other global public health goods. Critically, development assistance for health provided to sub-Saharan Africa is expected to decrease in some countries, and the expected growth in government health spending might not be enough to cover this expected decline. Increases in spending with a concordant prioritization of health and the appropriate health system governance and structural reforms are critical to ensure that people who live in sub-Saharan Africa are not left behind.

Federations of academic departments: performance-based funding and academic field-level expenditures at Russell group universities

ABSTRACT The widespread adoption of performance-based funding has been a global trend in higher education policy over the past 40 years. While considerable attention has been devoted to studying the relationship between performance-based funding and institutional behavior at the university level, little research has explored the relationship between performance-based funding and institutional decision-making behavior within universities. Conceptualizing universities as federations of academic departments, I used results from the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise to explore the relationship between those results and subsequent spending patterns within Russell Group universities. The most important finding is that this relationship varies based upon both the academic field and the university’s rank in the Times Higher Education World University Ranking (THE-WUR). It also has implications for policymakers around the world as it underscores that policy decisions can have differential impacts not only across universities, but also within universities.

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for a Sustainable Tourism: A Case Study on Saudi Arabia

This work conducts a rigorous examination of the economic influence of tourism in Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on predicting tourist spending patterns and classifying spending behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic period and its implications for sustainable development. Utilizing authentic datasets obtained from the Saudi Tourism Authority for the years 2015 to 2021, the research employs a variety of machine learning (ML) algorithms, including Decision Trees, Random Forests, K-Neighbors Classifiers, Gaussian Naive Bayes, and Support Vector Classifiers, all meticulously fine-tuned to optimize model performance. Additionally, the ARIMA model is expertly adjusted to forecast the economic landscape of tourism from 2022 to 2030, providing a robust predictive framework for future trends. The research framework is comprehensive, encompassing diligent data collection and purification, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and extensive calibration of ML algorithms through hyperparameter tuning. This thorough process tailors the predictive models to the unique dynamics of Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry, resulting in robust forecasts and insights. The findings reveal the growth trajectory of the tourism sector, highlighted by nearly 965,073 thousand tourist visits and 7,335,538 thousand overnights, with an aggregate tourist expenditure of SAR 2,246,491 million. These figures, coupled with an average expenditure of SAR 89,443 per trip and SAR 9198 per night, form a solid statistical basis for the employed predictive models. Furthermore, this research expands on how ML and AI innovations contribute to sustainable tourism practices, addressing key aspects such as resource management, economic resilience, and environmental stewardship. By integrating predictive analytics and AI-driven operational efficiencies, the study provides strategic insights for future planning and decision-making, aiming to support stakeholders in developing resilient and sustainable strategies for the tourism sector. This approach not only enhances the capacity for navigating economic complexities in a post-pandemic context, but also reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a premier tourism destination, with a strong emphasis on sustainability leading into 2030 and beyond.

The High Cost of Raising Provincial Tax Revenues Has Gotten Even Higher

Households and firms’ responses to higher tax rates alter the volume and the allocation of land, labour and capital in the economy, reducing our income and consumption opportunities. These economic losses from raising tax revenues have increased for provincial governments across Canada in the last decade with the problem being especially acute in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and British Columbia. However, by lowering personal and corporate income tax rates and shifting more of the tax burden to a sales tax harmonized with the federal GST, the provinces could lower the economic cost of raising tax revenues. Taxpayers’ responses to higher tax rates adversely affect the economy. When rates go up, people are less inclined to save for the future because they must pay higher taxes on interest and dividends, and workers react by avoiding overtime and retiring early. When returns on investment generate higher taxes for corporations, they respond by cutting back their capital expenditures. Also, when people and companies can avoid paying a tax by shifting income or consumption to another jurisdiction with lower tax rates, the tax base will shrink as the tax rate goes up, reducing both income and consumption opportunities — an effect known as the deadweight loss from taxation. The larger the tax base, measured as a share of tax revenues, the greater the deadweight loss from a tax-induced decline in the tax base. All of these reactions to higher tax rates change the volume and allocation of land, capital and labour in the economy. The societal cost from raising extra revenue through a small tax rate increase is called the marginal cost of public funds (MCPF). It can be used to determine which taxes are causing the greatest welfare losses and to measure the gains from shifting the tax burden from the high-cost sources of tax revenues to those that impose a lower deadweight loss. Public projects should use the MCPF in doing a cost-benefit analysis, comparing the project’s benefits with the welfare loss from financing the project through higher taxes. The more reactivehousehold and business decisions are to tax rates, the greater the MCPF. When sales taxes are applied to a wide range of goods and services, people are limited by how much they can change their spending patterns to avoid paying those taxes. Thus, revenue is generated with lower detrimental economic effects than those created by increased personal and corporate income tax rates. Provinces could reduce the problems created by the public’s incentive to avoid paying taxes by both lowering their personal and corporate income tax rates and moving the tax burden over to a general sales tax.

INVESTING IN OUR ROOTS: A STUDY OF CSR ALLOCATION FOR HERITAGE, ART AND CULTURE BY PSUS AND NON-PSUS

This research paper explores the corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending patterns of public sector undertakings (PSUs) versus non-public sector undertakings (non-PSUs) companies in India, specifically focusing on contributions towards heritage, art, and culture. The study utilizes data from the National CSR portal, covering the period from 2017-‘18 to 2021-‘22. The analysis reveals that non-PSUs consistently demonstrate higher average contributions to heritage, art, and culture than PSUs. However, the spending patterns show significant year-on-year variability for both sectors, with PSUs exhibiting more fluctuation. The findings underscore the need for more strategic and consistent CSR investments in heritage, art, and culture, particularly among PSUs. The paper concludes with recommendations for policy measures to enhance corporate contributions to preserving and promoting India's rich cultural heritage.

Analyzing the Household Income and Consumption Expenditure: Reality of Rising Cost of Living in Malaysia

Malaysia has been experiencing rapid socioeconomic transition over many years and achieved remarkable socioeconomic development and economic growth in the last few decades. Basically, such growth and development brought significant improvements in the level of income of low- and middle-income households. However, the cost of living in Malaysia has increasingly become a serious economic issue due to the increase in inflation. This paper addresses the question of how the cost of living can affect household income and expenditure. The finding of this research is threefold. Firstly, the income gap between households is increasing every year. This implies that the program to increase the income of the lower-income group should be given priority so that national development can be felt by all levels of society to achieve the goal of inclusive national development. Secondly, the monthly income average of households shows a steady increase. However, B40 earnings growth needs to be improving greater as an effort to reduce the income gap between the highest with low- and medium-income groups. Thirdly, income growth for each household group is still greater than inflation. This shows that on average households can still cope with the burden of rising costs and thus deal with the cost of living depending on how they model their spending patterns. This study highlights that to address the cost of living problem, the policy or program planned by the government should touch three important elements of income, price, and spending patterns. Also, this study highlights that to address the cost of living problem, a holistic approach is essential. This study also proposes that each of the economic agents, the government, the private sector, and the households have their roles in economics to develop better economic welfare among society. Keywords: cost of living, income, low-income, middle income, living standard, spending patterns

FACTORS OF FINANCIAL LITERACY, PERSONAL BEHAVIOR, AND FAMILY ON INVESTMENT AWARENESS OF GENERATION Z WORKERS

This study aims to investigate the role of financial literacy, personal and family behaviors (such as saving behavior, self-control, spending patterns, and risk attitude) on investment awareness among Generation Z workers. Data were collected using purposive sampling through an online survey of Gen-Z workers who have worked or are currently working for at least 1 year and are aged 18-27 years in the Jabodetabek area. A total of 262 respondents were collected and then analyzed using PLS-SEM. Results show that financial literacy, self-control, saving behaviorrisk attitude, and family financial socialization have a significant influence on the investment awareness of Gen-Z workers. Meanwhile, self-control and spending patterns do not have a significant influence on the investment awareness of Gen-Z workers.

A design of cross-selling products based on frequent itemset mining for coffee shop business

Using a case study at the XYZ coffee shop in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, this work conducts knowledge extraction on a sales dataset to create a cross-selling model for product bundling advice. Understanding Knowledge extraction was done using a frequent itemset mining technique based on an Apriori algorithm to extract a set of association rules between products. The study implemented a five-stage frequent itemset structure that encompasses business comprehension, data preparation, data exploration, model creation using the Apriori algorithm, and rules evaluation. The framework that comes from this research provides a set of bundling association rules across items for cross-selling strategies that involve many products and complex sales timeframes. Additionally, we recommended sales activities based on loyalty cards to enhance our dataset with consumer attributes and purchasing trends. Based on customized services and tailored offers based on consumers' past purchases and spending patterns, the loyalty card recommendation was created. Consequently, we may target the appropriate clients and items with our marketing initiatives

A Study on Cashless Payments in Retail Businesses in Rural Areas of Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract: In India post demonetization, cashless transactions have emerged as a significant trend in the Indian economy. They are touted for their convenience, simplicity, and enhanced safety compared to cash transactions. This shift is notably affecting the spending habits of rural residents in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. The purpose of this article is to explore rural attitudes towards cashless transactions. A study conducted among 100 respondents revealed that 65% of rural residents engage in cashless transactions, particularly those with higher education levels. However, 35% of respondents still do not use cashless methods. These findings underscore the need for education and awareness programs aimed at rural communities to promote cashless transactions. Such initiatives could play a crucial role in fostering economic development and transforming spending patterns in these areas.

Buying Game Derivative Products Is Different from In-Game Purchases: A Mixed-Method Approach.

The consumption of games has received increasing attention due to their high profits and addiction issues. However, previous studies have focused mainly on players' in-game purchases, neglecting the purchase of game derivative products. This article provides the first exploration of the differences and similarities between in-game purchases and derivative product purchases with a mixed-method approach. A quantitative survey collected data from 9864 game players, and the results suggested that there were differences between in-game purchases and derivative product consumption in terms of consumption amount and number of participants, and that derivative product purchases had a stronger relationship with character attachment and game loyalty. Subsequent interviews were conducted with 22 players. The findings supported the quantitative results and revealed that players exhibited a distinct understanding of each type of purchase in terms of ownership. Overall, these findings contribute to the understanding of game derivative product purchases and explore the factors influencing in-game purchases and derivative product purchases. We strongly argue that the pattern of spending on game derivative products is very different from that of spending on in-game purchases and is, thus, worthy of dedicated research.

State Partisan Dominance and the Distribution of TANF Funds, 2000–2018

In this field note, we examine the changing distribution of TANF spending patterns across the states. Given the important shift from the more restrictive categorical grant of AFDC to the more flexible block grant of TANF, examining patterns of spending across program categories is an important facet for understanding states’ welfare efforts. Overall, there has been a general decrease in the percentage of state TANF spending on cash assistance. Using a new measure of party dominance, we find that Democratic states initially spent a higher share of their TANF funds on cash assistance than Republican states. However, by the 2010s this partisan difference basically disappeared with Democratic states spending patterns matching those of Republican states, focusing less on cash assistance and giving greater priority to areas less reflective of TANF’s principal objectives.

People’s decisions matter: an empirical examination of behavioral contributors of poverty

ABSTRACT The study empirically examines the role of behavioral factors in the perpetuation of poverty through a comparison of the behavior of poor and nonpoor household members across five major dimensions. The study found evidence supporting the presence of suboptimal decision-making among poor in the surveyed region. The poor were found to indulge in irrational spending patterns and have higher present bias, risk-aversion, lower aspirations, lack of institutional trust, and gender bias than nonpoor persons. This becomes a cause of a vicious cycle of poverty. Targeting these problematic behavioral tendencies of poor individuals can help provide a low-cost solution for sustainable reduction of the magnitude of poverty.