Transition Countries Research Articles

Fertility Trends in Bangladesh Employing Parity Progression Ratios

Fertility trends in Bangladesh have long been a subject of study due to the country's significant demographic transitions over the past few decades. This study investigated cohort fertility rates and trends using information from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHSs) (BDHS 2011, BDHS 2014, and BDHS 2017-2018). The study utilizes parity progression ratios (PPRs) to examine the fertility distribution among all women and currently married women. Fertility patterns are investigated across various birth cohorts of women spanning seven age groups (15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, and 45-49), including the entirety of the reproductive age range (15-49 years). In the BDHS 2011, the cohort total fertility rate (TFRc) was 2.62 for all women and 2.73 for currently married women. In the BDHS 2014, the TFRc for all women decreased to 2.40, and for currently married women, it declined to 2.56. Finally, in the BDHS 2017-18, the TFR for all women decreased to 2.30, while for currently married women, it reached 2.45. Notably, TFRc exhibited a declining trend over the three surveys, with the TFR remaining constant at 2.30 from BDHS 2011 to BDHS 2017-18. It is worth mentioning that while the TFR and TFRc values are identical, the TFRc for currently married women in BDHS-2017-18 is slightly higher by 0.15 compared to all women (BDHS 2014). This research highlights significant shifts in cohort fertility levels in Bangladesh over time, offering valuable insights into fertility patterns among women of varying age groups within the reproductive span. The observed declines in both TFRc underscore Bangladesh’s evolving fertility dynamics. Policymakers should sustain declining fertility rates while balancing population control with development and regularly monitor trends to adapt policies to changing reproductive patterns. International Journal of Statistical Sciences Vol. 24(2), November, 2024, pp 1-18

The Challenges of Intergovernmental Organizations in Combating Transnational Crime: An Indonesian Perspective

Human trafficking is a pressing global issue, especially in the Southeast Asian region, where Indonesia plays a role as a country of origin, transit and destination. This study aims to identify the cooperation between the Indonesian Police and ASEANAPOL using descriptive qualitative research methods. This research also highlights the role of ASEANAPOL through 4 strategies of handling Indonesian Police in collaboration with ASEANAPOL which include capacity building through training (ATCM), international meetings (AMMTC and SOMTC), electronic-based real-time information exchange (System e-ADS), and strengthening cross-border investigation mechanisms through the Joint Coordination System (JCS) with border guarding and dispatching personnel such as Attache POLRI (ATPOL) and POLRI Technical Staff (STAFNISPOL). While this research focuses on preventive responses to human trafficking, there are limitations that need to be considered, including aspects of prevention and prosecution involving victim identification and protection. Future research is recommended to explore all aspects, including prevention and prosecution measures, to develop ASEANAPOL’s organisational framework in addressing transnational crimes.

Biopolitical Borders and the Political Economy of Migration Flows to and From Türkiye

ABSTRACTThis study examines the biopolitical borders of Türkiye. On the one hand, Türkiye deserves attention as a destination country that received millions of Syrian asylum seekers after the outbreak of the war in Syria and hundreds of thousands of migrants from other surrounding countries since the early 2010s. Yet, the country can also be seen as an origin and a transit country since a significant number of citizens and foreigners have been emigrating to Western countries from Türkiye. Recently, the number of educated and highly skilled people from Türkiye migrating to other countries has escalated. Given its unique position as a receiving, transit and origin country, Türkiye merits special investigation into the consequences of migration and border policies on domestic biopolitics. This study differs from existing literature in that it focuses on the biopolitical implications of migration from and to Türkiye. The study shows that even though the biopolitical borders of the country seem inadequate to protect domestic biopolitics, they are still discernible for migrants. Although a large number of Syrians, Afghans and other foreign nationals have crossed the national borders of Türkiye, they still face biopolitical borders. Türkiye's biopolitical borders not only function to establish a hierarchy that subordinates migrants to citizens but also create hierarchies among different migrant groups.

Capability choices in tourism and economic activities: The influence of human development

We applied Sen’s capabilities approach to examine how human development influences the association between tourism expansion and economic growth in different groups of developed, developing, and transitional countries. The mediation test explores the distinctive patterns of the Human Development Index as a mediator between tourism and per capita GDP. Developed nations exhibit a significant negative mediation effect, hinting at saturation and competition challenges, while developing and transition economies showcase a positive and considerable mediation effect, emphasizing the potential for tourism to fuel economic growth under favorable human development conditions. In addition, we conducted a convergent cross-mapping causality test highlighting the contextual nuances in the tourism-growth relationship.

Political Reform as Regime Survival Strategy in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan After the Arab Uprisings

Jordan has recently celebrated its centennial in a volatile region. The Jordanian regime has an experience in dealing with mass protests; however, the recent decade with a surmounting socio-economic challenge aggravated by the mass influx of Syrian refugees has pushed the Kingdom towards a “boiling point.” The narrative of political reform has been dominated the daily political life of the monarchy; however, citizens have disillusioned with the pace of political liberalization in the Kingdom. Constitutional amendments mainly empowered the King authority with new rights, and the new election law adopted in 2016 failed to meet with the demands of the protesters. Jordan is not a country in political transition as the regime has remained intact from a genuine structural reform aimed at reaching a constitutional democracy. The introduction of economic liberalization process as well as the austerity measures dictated by the International Monetary Fund has led to an eroding social base of the monarchy. The rise of the new businessmen elite and the growing socio-economic problems in the tribal South made the society restructured in a way, which provoked more protest waves. Until now Jordan has managed to tackle with all difficulties; however, the pandemic and the shifting regional order have been aggravating the situation. The reforms mainly serve as a regime survival strategy; however, the ones launched in 2021 show that the monarch understands the situation. It has yet to be seen whether the new reforms will last and satisfy the citizens.

HEALTH LITERACY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN TRANSITION COUNTRIES - BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Introduction: Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders Croatia to the north, south, and west and Serbia and Montenegro to the east. The research was conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically in the Una-Sana Canton within the camps. Objective: The main objective of the research was to investigate the level of health literacy of migrants and refugees in transition countries with a focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Subjects and methods: The research was conducted among migrants and refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the Borići and Lipa temporary reception centers in the Una-Sana Canton during June 2022. Inclusion criteria are migrant or refugee status at the time of the research. As a research instrument, a questionnaire prepared based on literature and available questionnaires dealing with similar topics was used. The research was conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina among 120 adult refugees and migrants who speak Arabic, Farsi, Bosnian, English and Urdu, and the questionnaire was translated into these languages. Results: This research shows that the level of health literacy among migrants and refugees does not depend on the level of education. Furthermore, there is no significant difference between the more and less educated in understanding the doctor's instructions. The data we obtained through the obtained results do not prove that health literacy varies from the country of origin to the country of transition. This study has a limited sample size so reading the findings of this sample should be approached with caution. Conclusion: There is no statistically significant difference between these two groups, which gives us the conclusion that the level of health literacy does not change on the way from the country of origin to the country of transit. This research is of great importance both for the countries of destination of the respondents and for the countries of transit, since migrants and refugees are part of the public health of the country in which they are located. In accordance with the changes within the transitioncountries from which refugees and migrants come, more similar studies need to be conducted in order to obtain a comprehensive picture of health literacy. Keywords: health literacy, migrants, refugees, transition countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The center-regions relations as a basis for countering external constraints on Russia's economic development

Subject. The article is devoted to acceleration of economic development of Russia as a country in transition. Objectives. The study aims to present the author's vision of conceptual approaches to organization of the economy of the country and regions on an innovative basis, in conjunction with the improvement of center-regional relations as a factor of economic and political development. Methods. The methodological basis of the research is the problem consideration in the context of the theory of peripheral economy of capitalism, and works of domestic and foreign scientists on the development of conceptual foundations for accelerating the development of countries and their regions adapting to the world economy. Results. I substantiated and presented the concept of accelerated development as an alternative to the concepts of catch-up and advanced development, reflected in the literature. The paper unveils shortcomings of the models of center-regional relations tested in the post-Soviet period, which inhibit economic development, and offers a model of reconciliation of interests and a mechanism for transition to new center-regional relations. Conclusions. The scientific research results and proposed approaches to stimulating the acceleration of economic growth in Russia and its regions can be used in the updated process of reforms on economic and social development.

Paradigms of Georgia's Transit Potential in the Context of Contemporary Global Challenges

As the centuries pass, global civilization continues to evolve, fostering the progress of globalization processes. Consequently, contemporary society witnesses the increasing convergence of social, economic, political, and demographic processes, which amplifies the significance of international economic activities among nations. Throughout the stages of civilizational development, trade and transportation relations between states have been of paramount importance. In today’s context, this is even more pronounced, as the transportation of goods, transit, and customs procedures serve as mechanisms for shaping economic, social, and political relations among nations. Furthermore, they support developing countries in establishing themselves within regional and international trade markets. Georgia is no exception. Historically, it was a significant part of the Silk Road, linking East and West, facilitating the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas. The strategic location of our country at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia plays a vital role in regional and international transportation and trade. Georgia acts as a key connector, bridging historically distinct Europe and Asia. Thus, Georgia’s transit corridor emerges as a crucial element of regional and international transport and trade networks. The primary aim of this scientific work is to determine Georgia’s importance as a major transit country in the context of significant socio-economic developments of recent years. The subject of this study is the current state of Georgia’s transit potential, including goods transported via transit and the role of the TIR carnet system in these processes. The object of research is Georgia’s transit corridor and its geo-economic realities. Georgia is actively developing transit infrastructure to further enhance its role as a regional and international transit hub. Its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, combined with ongoing infrastructure projects and efforts to improve transport connectivity, positions Georgia as a leading player in transit development. The country has established connections with neighboring states – Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey – as well as with major trading nations such as the United States, China, and Eastern European countries

The Geopolitical Implications of the TAPI Pipeline for Regional Stability in Afghanistan

This paper analyzes the geopolitical and economic significance of the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) pipeline and its implications for Afghanistan’s economic development and regional stability. The study focuses on how the TAPI project offers Afghanistan significant financial benefits, including transit fees, energy independence, job creation, and infrastructure development. It also explores the strategic importance of Afghanistan as a key transit country and the geopolitical challenges posed by regional rivalries, particularly between India and Pakistan. The role of global powers such as the United States, Russia, and China in shaping the pipeline’s success is critically assessed. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach to comprehensively analyze the geopolitical and economic implications of the TAPI pipeline for Afghanistan’s regional stability. Qualitative methods include document analysis, reviewing government reports, policy briefs, and academic literature concerning the TAPI project. Quantitative data on transit fees, job creation, and projected gas revenues are gathered from governmental and organizational sources such as the Asian Development Bank and the Afghan Ministry of Mines. Case studies of similar pipeline projects (e.g., Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Nord Stream) are used for comparative analysis. This mixed-methods approach provides a holistic understanding of TAPI's potential for fostering stability or exacerbating regional tensions.

Rankings of Shorelines of Georgian Black Sea Sector According to the Ecological Sensitivity Index (ESI)

Georgia is concidered as one of the best alternative transit countries connecting Asia and Europe. The transportation of oil and oil products from the Caspian and Central Asian regions to European countries is especially significant. This boosts the country’s economy, but it also increases the risk of marine environment pollution from oil hydrocarbons. In response to the risk of oil hydrocarbon pollution, it is necessary to intensify preventive monitoring efforts. This includes assessing the extent of oil hydrocarbon contamination on shores, in coastal waters, and in bottom sediments, as well as identifying and classifying areas along the coastline that are most sensitive to pollution. The division of shorelines into sensitive areas is carried out according to the ecological sensitivity index ESI, wich contains a numeric or alpha-numeric coded description of the shoreline characteristics for each shoreline segment. According to the 10 levels of sesitivity against oil pollution, the shoreline segments are classified from "low" sensitivity ESI 1 to "very high" sensitivity ESI 10, respectively 10 main classes and up to 30 sub-classes are identified. In Georgia coastal area, for the 113 km section from Ganmukhuri to Sarpi, we have identified shoreline segments with 7 main classes and 9 sub-classes of sensitivity. Keywords: Black sea, Georgia, oil, sensitivity, rankings , pollution

Enduring flows: The transit of drugs in contemporary Honduras

Since the 2000s, Honduras has expanded its role as a transit hub for international cocaine trafficking, with tonnes of cocaine passing through the country every year. Nevertheless, research on illicit drug flows in the country – and more generally across transit areas – remains limited. This resides in a tendency within both academic and institutional discourses to depict illicit flows as detached from societal structures, with little implications for the realities they touch. Drawing on the qualitative analysis of publicly available official US court documents on drug trafficking in Honduras and semi-structured interviews with experts on the country’s drug economy, this article addresses this gap by exploring the movement of US-bound cocaine shipments across Honduras. It explores whether, and how, transient activities such as illicit drug flows become embedded in the territories they traverse. The discussion shows the extent to which the drug trade has become embedded within Honduras’ political and territorial realities, concluding that drugs do not merely pass through transit spaces but become integrated into them. Drug traffickers rely on relationships they establish with both legal and extra-legal actors – including other drug traffickers and state officials – to receive and move drugs across the country. These relationships allow them to obtain access to ‘points of passage’ such as clandestine airstrips, security checkpoints and road networks – all of which are crucial infrastructures for facilitating the transit of drugs. Furthermore, the article reveals both legal and extra-legal actors’ role in exerting control over these logistics infrastructures and therefore in enabling the transnational flow of illicit goods. These insights contribute to broader debates on illicit flows, organised crime and the control of passage points along trade routes, while also shedding light on the often-overlooked role of transit countries like Honduras in the transnational cocaine trade.

Industrial Policy and Green Growth in a Small Island Economy: The Case of Singapore

Industrial Policy and Green Growth in a Small Island Economy: The Case of Singapore

Narrowing the eco-innovation gender divide: insights for transition economies

ABSTRACT This paper aims to address the gender imbalance in eco-innovation within firms, particularly focusing on the role of top managers. Drawing on Upper Echelon Theory and Social Identity Theory, the study investigates the influence of female CEOs on the promotion of eco-innovation and examines how knowledge factors influence this relationship, especially within transition countries. Using a comprehensive cross-sectional dataset from the World Bank and EBRD (BEEPS), the research analyses over 12,000 firms operating across 28 European and Central Asian transition economies. The findings show that firms led by a female CEO are less likely to engage in eco-innovation. However, the moderating effect of knowledge can complement CEO actions, though this effect varies by macro-area. The study suggests tailored strategies, emphasising the need for knowledge-sharing networks, targeted investments in human capital, and a collaborative organizational culture. These strategies represent concrete steps to enhance management capabilities and mitigating the costs and uncertainties associated with eco-innovation process in specific socio-economic contexts

The power of women in the success of business family: A case study of Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia

The main objective of this research is to emphasize the significant role women hold in leading family businesses in transitional countries such as Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania. It aims to demonstrate how women’s leadership can positively influence business performance, economic advancement and social development in these regions where traditional gender norms are shifting. Additionally, this study explores how empowering women in leadership roles can foster innovation, strengthen resilience, and ensure long-term sustainability for family-owned businesses ultimately contributing to the broader economic progress of these transitioning economies. This research aims to analyze family support, cultural factors and the influence of education on the advancement of women in leadership positions with a particular focus on family businesses. In this empirical research, 490 women from the countries above were included and the sample was randomly selected due to a lack of formal data. The results of the analyses were presented through descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and T-test. The results indicate that family support has already a significant impacted advancement. Similarly, cultural factors have a positive influence. These factors have changed and are no longer obstacles to women's advancement as in the past, although in some rural countries this is still seen as an obstacle. Another important factor is education where women prioritize before taking leadership positions and continue with various training even after taking positions to be fully prepared to achieve their business objectives.

AI Impact on Hotel Guest Satisfaction via Tailor-Made Services: A Case Study of Serbia and Hungary

This study examines the level of implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the personalization of hotel services and its impact on guest satisfaction through an analysis of tourists’ attitudes and behaviors The focus of the research is on how personalized recommendations for food and beverages, activities, and room services, delivered by trustworthy AI systems, digital experience, and the perception of privacy and data security, influence overall guest satisfaction. The research was conducted in Serbia and Hungary, using structural models to assess and analyze direct and indirect effects. The results show that AI personalization significantly contributes to guest satisfaction, with mediating variables such as trust in AI systems and technological experience playing a key role. A comparative analysis highlights differences between Hungary, a member of the European Union, and Serbia, a country in transition, shedding light on specific regulatory frameworks and cultural preferences in these countries.

The Quest for Educational Equity in Schools in South Africa

Abstract The quest for educational equity in South Africa takes its impetus from the country's transition to democracy in 1994. The country faced the challenge of overcoming deep systemic inequality-both racial and class-based-caused by three hundred fifty years of colonialism and apartheid. The African National Congress undertook a process to equalize the educational system and expand opportunities for students. Significant progress has been made in addressing issues of race, class, and gender in the thirty years since 1994, but a combination of factors has both reproduced and amplified old inequalities and disparities, particularly those of space and race, and introduced intense new socioeconomic inequalities overlain with challenging cultural and linguistic markers, such as the dominance of English and the loss of indigenous language capacity. Two elements have been pivotal: stubborn legacy effects of apartheid such as poverty in a context of a weakening economy; and complex and contradictory arrangements made at the transition in 1994 that have left privilege, predominantly but no longer only white, largely intact. The COVID-19 pandemic sharpened these inequalities.

Global variations in elderly cancer mortality pattern in 2020 & prediction to 2040: A population-based study.

Background & objectives Cancer contributes to decreasing life expectancy, especially in low- and middle- income countries (LMIC) and countries in transition where resources for diagnosis and care are limited. As the world population is ageing, and by 2050, two-thirds of the population in LMIC will be elderly, the greater impact of cancer on the expectation of life in years at a given age of an adult will be seen in these countries. Methods Estimated cancer mortality for older adults (60 yr or above) was estimated using statistics available on Globocan 2020 platform (gco.iarc.fr). This platform provided the number of deaths and age-standardized truncated mortality rates (per 100,000) by sex and continent. We calculated the projected cancer deaths in 2040 by applying the projection model, considering a stable rate. Results Globally, with an estimated 7.5 million deaths, cancer deaths in older population represented a total of 71.2 per cent of all cancer-related deaths. The truncated age-adjusted mortality rate among the older population (both sexes) was estimated as 615.1 deaths per 100,000 and the mortality rate was 62.6 per cent higher in elderly (60 yr or above) males as compared to elderly females. The overall future cancer death among the elderly was estimated to increase from 7.05 to 12.7 million deaths, representing a total 80.2 per cent increase in deaths by 2040. Interpretation & conclusions The projected mortality increase will challenge existing healthcare systems, especially in lower or lower medium-income countries where resources are limited. Elderly patients are at an elevated risk of adverse outcomes due to the high prevalence of co-morbid conditions. Geriatric oncology will play an important role in the coming years to ensure the overall health and well-being of elderly patients, which needs to be supported by good stratified data on elderly cancer.

Interlinkages between public expenditures, non-tax government revenues and corruption in the transition economies

PurposeThis article examines potential impacts of increase in non-tax government revenues and public expenses on corruption for 11 transition economies in the Central and Eastern Europe.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical analysis uses yearly panel datasets and employs second-generation panel data models which take cross-sectional dependency and slope heterogeneity into account.FindingsThe empirical results reveal the fact that there is a strong linkage between public expenses and corruption and a weak linkage between non-tax revenue collection and corruption in the transition economies. We perform the same analysis by using data sets from G-7 countries but do not notice any linkages between those variables.Research limitations/implicationsThe research topic requires further discussion on constitutional political economy to digest the empirical findings. Thus, an extended version combined with political economic approach might be useful.Practical implicationsThrough economic transitions, there might be a linkage between public expenditures and corruption index. Thus, public spending might be controlled by using constitutional economics policies.Originality/valueThis paper is the first empirical work in the literature, which examines if there is a linkage between corruption and public expenditures and government tax income structure by using panel data sets. Moreover, it compares the results from transition countries with those of G-7 countries and provides certain policy suggestions in the context of constitutional economics.

‘Resettlement is worthwhile for our children’s future’: reflections from the Stateless Rohingya refugees in Malaysia

Resettlement to a third country offers a durable solution for refugees who cannot integrate into their asylum or transit countries. While most studies focus on the experiences of refugees after their arrival in resettlement countries or on the political aspects of resettlement, fewer studies explore refugees’ perspectives prior to resettlement. This paper examines how Rohingyas in Malaysia view their resettlement opportunities. We collected qualitative micronarratives from 56 adult Rohingyas living in Malaysia between March and September 2019, to explore the complexities of their decision-making processes. The findings indicate that most Rohingyas aspire to resettle in another country to gain legal status or citizenship, providing a better future for their children, including access to education and healthcare. However, preferences among Rohingyas vary: while some are eager to resettle, others express a strong desire to return to their home country in Myanmar. Still, others wish to reunite with family in Myanmar or Bangladesh, and a significant minority are reluctant to resettle in non-Islamic countries, reflecting broader concerns about cultural and religious compatibility. This study highlights the varied resettlement preferences among Rohingyas, underscoring the need for resettlement policies to consider these diverse priorities to enhance the effectiveness of resettlement programs.

How beliefs about tampering with nature influence support for enhanced geothermal systems: A cross-national study.

Many believe that enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) can greatly increase the extraction of geothermal energy worldwide, helping to decarbonize heat and electricity production. Effective communication is key to realizing the potential of EGS, yet we currently know little about how the public perceives this emerging technology. This exploratory study contributes to the literature with a cross-national survey in the United States (n=1003) and Switzerland (n=1028), two countries with active EGS projects. Specifically, we explore how EGS support relates to beliefs about the deep underground and perceptions of EGS as tampering with nature. The results show that respondents tend to perceive the deep underground as part of nature, dangerous, and unpredictable. The majority are positive about using the deep underground as a resource, although there were variations regarding specific underground activities. In both countries, EGS support is greater for respondents who perceive the underground as something for human use, perceive more benefits than risks from EGS, and support their country's transition to renewable energy. In Switzerland, EGS support is positively related to trust in industry developers and negatively related to perceptions that EGS is tampering with nature. The results offer novel theoretical insights into perceptions of the deep underground in relation to energy development. From a practical standpoint, the results suggest that those seeking to develop EGS may want to consider how to familiarize individuals with current subsurface energy activities, including efforts to protect the underground from unwanted consequences of "tampering," alongside engaging in discussions about the risks and benefits of EGS.