Source Of Income Research Articles

Analysis of Health-related Quality of Life and Incurred Costs Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Tuberculosis, and TB/HIV Co-infected Outpatients in Indonesia

ObjectivesA growing interest in healthcare costs and patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) exists in the context of the increasing importance of health technology assessment (HTA) in countries with high numbers of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) patient populations, such as Indonesia. This study aimed to analyse the HRQoL and out-of-pocket (OOP) costs of HIV-, TB-, and TB/HIV co-infected participants in a city in Indonesia with a high prevalence of HIV and TB. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in the voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) and lung clinics of Bekasi City Public Hospital (Indonesia) from January to March 2018. Patients’ HRQoL was measured using the EQ-5D 5L questionnaire, while OOP costs were extracted from a semi-structured questionnaire. ResultsOut of the 460 eligible participants, 82% resided in the city, 48% of them were married, and their median age was 34. Less than half were insured, and more than half had no source of income. The median values of health utilities for HIV, TB, and TB/HIV participants were perceived as potentially high (1.0, 0.9, and 0.8, respectively). The TB/HIV co-infected outpatients had the highest out-of-pocket costs ($94.5), with the largest contribution coming from direct medical OOP expenditures. Taking loans from family members was adopted as a financial strategy to overcome inadequate household incomes and high treatment costs. ConclusionThis study suggests that TB/HIV coinfection potentially lowers HRQoL, increases healthcare costs, and the need for economic analysis to underpin cost-effective treatment in such patients.

Analysis of Socio-economic Factors on Dry Farming Households of Ananthapuramu District of Andhra Pradesh, India

This study examines the socio-economic profile, household income, and risk aversion behaviour of dry farming households in the Ananthapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh. The research employs a range of analytical tools, including percentages, averages, Lorenz curve, Gini ratios, and multiple linear regression analysis, to investigate income inequalities and risk aversion among farmers. Data was collected through structured questionnaires from 120 randomly selected respondents within the study area. The results revealed that a significant proportion of farmers fell within the age group of 30-39 years (33%), while the majority had attained primary level education (33%). The average family size was 4 to 5 members (68%), comprising 33% males, 31% females, and 35% children. The composition of earners and dependents was found to be 1:1.98, indicating a relatively balanced distribution between those who contributed to household income and those who relied on it. Regarding asset ownership, most farmers possessed land as the primary asset, followed by buildings and implements. The majority of the sampled farmers operated small farms, with 1 to 2 hectares being the prevalent farm size. Income sources were primarily derived from cultivating crops such as groundnut, paddy, cotton, Bengal gram, and tomatoes, alongside income from livestock activities. The study further assessed income inequality using Gini ratios and Lorenz curves. It was found that farmers with less than 1 hectare of land experienced higher income inequality compared to those with larger farms (1-2 hectares and more than 2 hectares). Risk aversion index of the dry farming households was calculated and found to be 3.60 indicating that farmers are risk averters.

Farmer Application

The aim of the program is to provide a platform for farmers to rent modern agricultural machinery and equipment as well as rent storage space for crops. The app will also connect to government servers to track data on crops, fertilizer use and government funds. Records of machinery and equipment will be kept along with details of the crop stored. In India, agriculture is the main source of income for the majority of the population. However, many farmers are not aware of advances in agricultural technology and cannot understand the market value of their products. That's why they often sell products at very low prices. In addition, they also try to follow the government's agricultural plans and reports. To solve these problems, our initiative will create a platform where farmers can get the latest information on vegetables and fruits in every market in India. This will help them sell their products at reasonable prices and improve their financial situation. Additionally, farmers will also receive notifications regarding government agricultural programs and in-app notifications to benefit from these programs. Additionally, our application will help farmers prepare the required products by estimating the amount of vegetables and fruits according to the market. We will also include weather data to support farmers' planning for the next 2-3 days. Overall, our programs focus on providing farmers with new knowledge and technology that will improve their livelihoods and increase their productivity

Determinants of Income Inequality Sources among Women in Rural Oyo State, Nigeria

This paper applies the regression-based inequality decomposition approach to explore determinants of income inequality sources among women in rural Oyo State, Nigeria. A four-stage sampling procedure was used in the collection of primary data with purposive selection of two agricultural development programme zones in Oyo State of Nigeria. 150 respondents were eventually used for the study. Structured questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Shapley decomposition approach. Age and household size of women were 35.5±1.06 years and 8.0±0.59 persons, respectively. Most respondents (88.0%) were married and 43.3% were farmers with income of N24,196.76±11,897.90 per month. Sources that largely explain inequality were primary occupation (0.5551), farm size (0.2523) and household assets (0.0766) and the relative contributions of these factors sum up to 80%. Total inequality computed by the Gini index was 0.2206 and it implies that the contribution of the predicted residual term to income inequality in this case was 22.06%.The marginal contribution of the estimated income sources of the weighted mean with no negative values from level 1 to 12 were primary occupation, educational level, workers per household, number of assets and location with weighted marginal contribution of 0.0125, 0.0120, 0.0105, 0.0071 and 0.0053 respectively. Narrowing the gap between those at the top and the bottom of income distribution will reduce inequality in the households and the nation at large and that is the more reason this study needs attention because within group components overwhelmingly accounted for inequality compared to the between group components. The role of spatial inequality and policies that encourage entrepreneurship training and non-formal education for women in rural areas would be inequality reducing, and would tend to be more effective if additional policy instruments are used to target other sources of measured income inequality.

Sustainable tourism development through community homestays: a case study of Ayodhyapuri Community Homestay in Madi, Chitwan, Nepal

ABSTRACT In rural areas of Nepal, homestays are becoming an important source of income for many families. Homestay offers many benefits, such as experiencing the local culture, learning about different cultural practices in a homely environment, improving language skills, and many more. This study is an attempt to explore the status and homestay owners’ perceptions of Ayodhyapuri Community Homestay, Madi, Nepal. In this study, a concurrent mixed-methods approach was applied using a questionnaire and informal interviews to understand the homestay situation. The research explores how a specific community in Nepal has developed a sustainable tourism industry through the use of homestays, with a focus on how the community has balanced economic growth with environmental and cultural sustainability. Along with this, it also examines the impact of ecotourism on the local community, including the economic benefits, social and cultural impacts, and environmental sustainability practices. The finding suggests that homestays play a vital role in conserving nature, reducing human-wildlife conflict, preserving culture, and generating employment opportunities.

Career decisions in artistic professions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany—an experimental study

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the professional situation in artistic professions. Repeated lockdowns resulted in the cancellation of cultural events and exacerbated economic challenges, depriving artists and people working in the culture industry of their primary source of income. Such drastic conditions could lead to important professional decisions, including career changes. This study aimed to determine the factors that could influence career decisions among artistic professionals during a second pandemic lockdown period in Germany. To examine whether health concerns or financial struggles are more important in shaping artistic professionals’ decisions to change or stay in their profession, a vignette experiment was conducted in an online survey (n = 788) in the winter of 2020–2021. In the experiment’s 2*3-factorial randomised design, all respondents were asked to put themselves in the role of artists and make decisions about career changes under different income conditions or with different health prospects. The vignette experiment revealed that income losses related to career changes decreased the willingness to change careers, whereas health prospects (hypothetical differences in vaccine efficacy) did not affect the decisions. In addition, other variables were found to explain career decisions; female gender and signs of a depressive disorder were associated with greater willingness for career turnover, whereas a higher educational level and status of earning one’s livelihood in the culture industry were associated with a diminished tendency for career turnover. The latter impact factor was interpreted as a kind of “don´t give up effect” that is particularly observable among artistic professionals.

“We Don’t Need to Worry Because We Will Find Food Tomorrow”: Local Knowledge and Drivers of Mangroves as a Food System through a Gendered Lens in West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Indonesia is home to the greatest area of mangroves globally, which provide an essential source of livelihoods and food for millions of people. Despite this, there is a gap in the empirical evidence on the role mangroves play as a food system and the diversity of species they provide. This study aimed to examine mangroves as a gendered food system through the knowledge of community mangrove resource users in West Kalimantan. The research applied a case study approach, using gendered focus group discussions and a participatory seasonal food mapping method in two villages. The research identified participants’ extensive local knowledge of 276 species across 12 food groups sourced seasonally from mangroves primarily for food and as a source of income. Barriers to utilizing mangroves for women were influenced by socio-cultural norms, including but not limited to gender roles and access to fishing infrastructure, while men alone faced political and institutional challenges to mangrove utilisation. This study found that mangroves are an important local food system in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, and argues for greater consideration of the contribution mangroves make to local food and nutrition security. This study contributes to a growing global discourse of gendered food systems and inclusion of local knowledges in natural resource management.

Social versus individual work preferences: implications for optimal linear income taxation

We extend the standard optimal linear income taxation model to allow for differences in social and individual work preferences while still maintaining the assumption that individuals are rational. The theoretical and simulation analyses show that when the government places a higher social weight on work than do individuals, the optimal marginal income tax rate (MIT) becomes lower. This implies lower revenue, income guarantee, and overall progressivity. The case for lower MIT is reinforced when the government places a relatively higher weight on work for low earners. Combining our analysis with that of An and Coady (2022), we, on the one hand, agree with previous studies that the optimal nonlinear income tax schedule would be close to the optimal linear one but, on the other, show that the degree of closeness would depend on preference differences. Our work contributes to the burgeoning field of non-welfarist economics.

The impact of policy legacies on the implementation of Citizen Income in Italy: A policy feedback perspective

AbstractThe Citizen Income (Reddito di cittadinanza—RdC) is the most extensive program to fight poverty ever adopted in Italy. RdC is a Minimum Income Scheme that grants a cash amount to beneficiaries but obliges some specific groups to participate in active measures and in social inclusion programs. After 4 years of implementation, RdC seems not to have fully achieved its goals and scholars blame policy legacies as one of the main causes of its failures. Drawing on the literature on policy feedback, the paper proposes an analytical framework that identifies the mechanisms related to resources, incentives, and meanings affecting policy actors (public administration, organized civil society, and citizens). The framework is then applied to the case of RdC to detect through what specific mechanisms deriving from past anti‐poverty, active, and social policies impacted on the implementation of the RdC. The paper is moreover aimed at advancing the debate about policy legacies and their effects on current policies through the elaboration of a framework specifying the mechanisms through which policy feedback produces change or stability.

Functional Finance and the Sustainability of Universal Basic Income

Abstract “Functional finance” is an economic theory within the Post Keynesian school of thought. Especially in the form of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), it has begun to have two big but opposite effects on the debate over Universal Basic Income (UBI). Some people state MMT in an exaggerated way that implies the government can spend all it wants on UBI or anything else without ever raising taxes or borrowing money as if government spending had no limits of any kind. Other people refer to MMT while arguing that any effort to maintain a livable level of UBI is unsustainable. This article discusses the functional finance implications for the cost and sustainability of UBI, arguing that neither of those exaggerated implications are correct. MMT doesn’t free us for the concern for how to support UBI with taxes, but neither does it give reason to believe UBI is any less sustainable.

Guaranteed Basic Income from the Perspective of Self‐Determination Theory

AbstractIn capitalistic societies the concepts of income and labour are inseparable, and as such, providing all citizens with an unconditional living wage is a contentious issue. Capitalist ideals that emphasize individual effort, competition, and financial prosperity have spurred tremendous economic growth but underestimate human motivation and have implications for human wellbeing. The aim of this essay is to examine the implications of guaranteed basic income based on existing data from the perspective of self‐determination theory, a humanistic theory of motivation that considers both practical performance‐related outcomes as well as human flourishing. I discuss the motivational dynamics involved in labour participation rates, how basic income may impact basic psychological needs and wellbeing, how basic income may impact workplace environments, and whether neoliberal capitalist values are a useful framework through which to discuss basic income. From this perspective, the benefits of basic income to individuals and society are promising. A shift in values from hyper‐rational competitive ideologies towards more humanistic frameworks such as self‐determination theory may be beneficial for not only for basic income and management research, but also the evaluation of public policy.

Fresh or dry maize or both: Which is most economical and preferred by farmers?

As a staple crop of great importance in sub-Saharan Africa, maize is essential for the production of food for humans and animals, particularly in the raising of poultry and livestock. Smallholder farmers in Ghana are the main producers of maize, and they frequently have difficulties in turning their crop into a sustainable source of income. As a result, there is an increasing need for these farmers to look into other options such as switching from traditional dry maize production to growing fresh maize. This circumstance calls for a critical analysis to ascertain whether producing for fresh or dry maize markets yields higher profitability. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to estimate the profitability of Ghana's fresh and dry maize markets, examine the factors influencing farmers' market choices as well as rank the production constraints. Data was collected from 390 maize farmers using questionnaires. Gross margin analysis, multinomial logit regression and Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance, were the methods of analysis. According to the study, fresh maize yields a profit of 78.00 pesewas for every GH¢ 1.00 invested, both alternatives generate 71.00 pesewas, and dry maize yields 67.00 pesewas. This implies that even though all three businesses are profitable, fresh maize cultivation stands out as the most lucrative. The results of the multinomial logit regression analysis showed that the choice of maize production systems is influenced by socioeconomic characteristics, farming experience, and loan availability. The Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance analysis confirms consensus on constraints, with lack of finance, pest issues, poor roads, and low maize prices as key challenges. According to the report, farmers may increase their profits by diversifying their crops to include the fresh maize market. Additionally, the government could assist these farmers by making financing more accessible to them through collaborations with financial institutions and specially designed agricultural loan programs.

Изменение системы налогообложения крестьян Коми края в XVIII веке

The work deals with the study of changes in the taxation system of peasants of the Komi region in the XVIII century. In place of the household comes the poll system, which has radically changed not only the taxation system, but also the distribution of monetary taxes. The nomenclature of taxes and fees, their dynamics were determined, the specifics of changes in tax policy were revealed, etc. As shown by the study of monetary taxes on the territory of the Komi region (Yarensk, since 1780, and Ust-Sysolsk Uyezds), the peasantry paid poll taxes, quitrent and all kinds of «mundane» monetary taxes in favour of the state. They did not remain unchanged and were constantly increasing. New emergency taxes and fees have been introduced. As a result, it was concluded that the strengthening of the tax press led not only to a deterioration in the economic situation of the peasants, but also activated the population to search for new sources of income.

Redistribution Methods for Income Equality in the United States


 
 
 
 Redistribution for income equality is a contentious issue, with advocates citing increased economic stability and skeptics fearing potential negative impacts on economic growth. The United States (U.S.) faces notably high income inequality compared to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average, with wealth concentrated in the top brackets. This paper critically examines the existing U.S. redistribution methods, including the taxation system and welfare programs, highlighting challenges such as the lack of tax progressiveness in top brackets and limited redistribution compared to European counterparts. Based on this overview, the study evaluates alternative redistribution strategies, including wealth and business taxes. The paper compares theory with insights from pilot programs in other countries. Finally, the paper argues for a universal basic income (UBI) set at per-capita welfare spending, positing that this approach can empower individuals to escape poverty traps, enhance productivity, and introduce a choice mechanism for welfare consumption. Ultimately, this research seeks to propose the most effective and feasible income redistribution policies for the U.S. to bridge the income inequality gap.
 
 
 

A systematic review of the socio-cultural and economic value of Ghanaian weaving art tradition

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the value of Ghanaian weaving art tradition to humanity from socio-cultural and economic points of view. This study sought to answer questions such as “What is the interest of researchers regarding Ghanaian textile weaving art tradition?”, “To what extent has weaving art tradition projected the Ghanaian culture?” and “What is the socio-economic value of Ghanaian weaving art tradition?” Design/methodology/approach The systematic literature review approach was used to analyse data obtained from the Scopus online database. The PRISMA framework was adopted to select 22 relevant studies for analysis and conclusions. Also, the VOSviewer software was used to analyse and understand the co-occurrence of keywords. Findings It was revealed that Ghanaian weaving art tradition stands as a major craft that projects Ghana globally. Researchers around the world keep adding knowledge on Ghanaian traditional weaving and its value to humanity, resulting in a significant rise recently in the publication trend. Also, the rich cloth from the art is celebrated annually to invite people around the globe to learn the Ghanaian culture for social development. This study again found that traditional weaving serves as a major source of income for weavers and marketers of indigenous Ghanaian woven fabrics. Practical implications The findings of this study serve as a wake-up call to the Government of Ghana, institutional actors and national leaders to practically engage in the projection of the local art by playing individual roles such as financially supporting the craftsmen, initiating and implementing appropriate policies and displaying the local cloth on international occasions. This will make the local art more attractive for effective marketing and cultural preservation. Originality/value With reliable information extracted from the Scopus online database, this study presents original results and makes appropriate suggestions worth adopting for the improvement of the Ghanaian weaving art tradition.

Genetic architecture of post-harvest tuber quality traits in bush yam (Dioscorea praehensilis Benth.) germplasm through association mapping

IntroductionBush yam (Dioscorea praehensilis Benth.) is an important semi-domesticated food crop in West Africa. Limited information on the genetic architecture and its poor post-harvest tuber quality traits significantly hinder its use as food and source of income. Hence, dissecting the genetics underlying the expression of its post-harvest tuber quality traits is essential for establishing proper breeding schemes.MethodsIn this study, 138 D. praehensilis accessions collected in Ghana were sequenced using Diversity Array Technology (DArTSeq). The materials were profiled for dry matter content (DMC), tuber flesh oxidation (TBOXI) and for tuber flesh hardness (TBhard) during two cropping seasons.Results and discussionDiversity assessment using population structure, principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering methods revealed the presence of three major groups. Six genetic models were used for the trait association analysis using multiple random locus mixed linear model (MrMLM). Sixteen SNP markers distributed across the yam genome were identified to be associated with the evaluated traits. The associated SNP markers displayed a phenotypic variance ranged from 4.22% in TBHard to 16.92% in TBOXI. A total 25 putative candidate genes were identified around the SNP markers. The putative genes were identified to play key roles in tuber bulking, oxidative browning and starch hydroxylase. This study provides a valuable insight on the genetics underlying tuber quality traits in bush yam and opens avenues for developing genomic resources to improve D. praehensilis.

Non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci (NASM): their role in bovine mastitis and One Health.

Non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) are gaining importance in mastitis and public health, and some NAS have been reclassified as mammaliicocci (NASM). Bovine milk production has a major influence on the world economy, being an essential source of income for small, medium and large producers, and bovine mastitis caused by NASM can cause an economic impact. Mastitis generates financial losses due to reduced revenue, increased veterinary costs and expenses associated with animal slaughter. However, it is also a public health issue involving animal health and welfare, human health and the ecosystem. Furthermore, it is an increasingly common infection caused by NASM, including antimicrobial-resistant strains. Despite all these adverse effects that NASM can cause, some studies also point to its protective role against mastitis. Therefore, this review article addresses the negative and positive aspects that NASM can cause in bovine mastitis, the virulence of the disease and resistance factors that make it difficult to treat and, through the One Health approach, presents a holistic view of how mastitis caused by NASM can affect both animal and human health at one and the same time.

Non-Timber Forest Products: an alternative source of rural income

Dandapakhar, in Sindhu Palchok District of Nepal, was the focus area for the Nepal Australia Community Resource Management Project to undertake action research on the potential of NTFPs as a source of rural income. The area is located along the Jiri Road at an altitude between 2000 and 3000 meters, and is rich in natural broad-leaved forest harboring a large variety of indigenously occurring species having medicinal, aromatic and other values. The species occurring in Dandapakhar have both traditional and non-traditional uses and (the potential to) command, in some cases, significant market prices, not only locally, but also in Kathmandu andthe international market.

Bamboo research and development in Nepal

Bamboos are important sources of income for rural households in Nepal and elsewhere. This paper highlights bamboo research and development activities that have so far been carried out in Nepal and the prospects for future research and development. Bamboos, the perennial woody grasses, are one of the very important non-timber forest products of Nepal. They are an important component of rural farming system. These play a critical role in rural economy and helps sustain livelihoods of many rural households, in particular social and economically disadvantaged groups. Bamboo culms and its various products are readily sold and bought in the market (Poudyal, 1992; Das, 1999). It is in this context that Bamboo is increasingly identified as potential species for poverty reduction programs in many countries including Nepal. Box 1 indicates the importance of Bamboo for domestic as well as commercial purposes. Despite its importance, management and commercial utilization aspects are not yet fully explored to its potential in Nepal.

Tik Tok Ban in Nepal: Reactions of the public

TikTok was the most popular social media app in Nepal and a major source of income for content creators, artists, influencers, and users. The government of Nepal made the decision to ban TikTok on November 13, 2023, stating it was disrupting social harmony in the country, which brought anger to the TikTok users. This research critically considers how the TikTok ban has been met with reactions from the public. This qualitative content analysis approach will look for a deep exploration of the emotional, professional, and creative dimensions of public experiences. Hence, the study’s main finding is to shed light on how the TikTok ban has affected the public and to know their opinions on it. In conclusion, the findings of this study shed light on the consequences of the TikTok ban in Nepal and people’s reactions to it, emphasizing the need to find a solution and to make strict rules and regulations for social media.