Variation In Consumption Research Articles

Factors Affecting Household Health Expenditures: Evidence from Iran

Abstract Background Productivity plays a crucial role in driving economic growth, and its primary determinant is human capital. Human capital, in turn, is influenced by health and education investments, leading both households and governments to allocate substantial resources toward these sectors. Understanding the factors influencing health expenses is vital for designing effective policies. Methods This study investigates the factors affecting health costs by analyzing data from various provinces in the Islamic Republic of Iran, spanning from 2006 to 2019. The data, sourced from the Statistics Center of Iran, was analyzed using the panel data approach to uncover the relationships between health expenditure and several key variables. Results The analysis revealed significant disparities in health expenditure among provinces. Sistan & Baluchestan had the lowest health expenditure per household, while Tehran reported the highest. Inflation emerged as a significant factor, having a negative impact on health expenses due to its influence on purchasing power. Conversely, the education and salary of household heads had a positive impact on health expenditure. Notably, economic growth did not exhibit a significant relationship with health expenses. Conclusions The study highlights the importance of education and income levels in shaping health expenditures, while inflation can curtail spending on health due to reduced purchasing power. Policymakers should consider these factors to ensure equitable and effective allocation of health resources. Key messages • Improving health and well-being, essential for comprehensive progress and human development, relies significantly on household health expenditure. • The efforts to enhance human capital should focus on reducing inflation.

Tobacco smoking during COVID-19 pandemic among social media users in Russia

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has forced countries to take various restrictive measures, including “lockdowns”, which may have affected tobacco smoking. The study explored associations between an increase in smoking, sociodemographic, and related to pandemic factors during pandemic among social media users in Russia. Methods Between June-September 2020, 1518 users of the most popular in Russia social media networks participated in online survey investigating changes in alcohol, tobacco, and substance use during pandemic. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with an increase in tobacco smoking. The analysis was adjusted for sex, level of education, perception of the severity of public life restrictions, negative work/financial consequences of the pandemic, stress, changes in the frequency of drinking, heavy episodic drinking (6 or more standard drinks at a time), and the volume of alcohol consumed on a typical occasion. Results 46.8% of the surveyed population were current smokers. 17.0% of them reduced, 37.9% increased, and 45.1% didn’t change their smoking during the pandemic. Relative to those whose smoking reduced or didn’t change, those who increased their smoking were more likely to be: 18-29 years old (OR = 1.906; 95% CI = 1.109-3.277), residents of medium to big cities (up to 1 mln inhabitants) (1.519; 1.017-2.270), had their income reduced (1.508; 1.024-2.222), faced severe restrictions in everyday life as a result of measures taken to contain SARS-CoV-2 (2.398; 1.440-3.758). After introducing alcohol consumption variables to the model, only two factors were associated with an increase in smoking: severe restrictions in everyday life (2.147; 1.227-3.993) and increased frequency of heavy episodic drinking during pandemic (2.338; 1.167-4.685). Conclusions Increase in tobacco smoking during pandemic was associated with severe restrictions in everyday life and increased frequency of heavy episodic drinking among social media users in Russia. Key messages • More than a third of social media users increased tobacco smoking during pandemic, which was associated with severe restrictions in everyday life and increased frequency of heavy episodic drinking. • During pandemics and similar public health crises, it is advisable to expand remote counseling services for alcohol and tobacco cessation, which can be delivered through social media.

Determinants of Healthcare Expenditure: A Cross-Sectional Analysis at the Country Level

This study examines the determinants of healthcare expenditure through a cross-sectional analysis of 153 countries using 2018 data. The research employs a classical linear regression model to identify key socioeconomic and demographic factors influencing healthcare spending per capita, expressed in PPP (Purchasing Power Parity). The results show that GDP per capita, public health expenditure as a percentage of GDP, physician availability, and out-of-pocket healthcare costs are statistically significant determinants of healthcare spending. Specifically, the analysis highlights the non-linear relationship between GDP and healthcare expenditure, where wealthier nations tend to spend disproportionately more on healthcare. Public investment in healthcare and the availability of medical professionals also play crucial roles in shaping national healthcare expenditures. Out-of-pocket expenses by households further increase overall healthcare costs, especially in countries with lower public funding. The proposed model explains 96.5% of the variation in healthcare expenditure, suggesting that the selected variables are strong predictors of healthcare spending. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, particularly in the context of balancing public healthcare financing and improving access to medical services while managing overall costs.

Optimising Energy Efficiency in Offshore Buildings: Supporting SDG 7 - Clean and Affordable Energy

The offshore oil and gas sector faces significant challenges in reducing its carbon footprint while meeting global energy demand. Offshore structures consume up to 500 MW of energy per day. Despite the potential for 30-40% energy savings with efficiency technologies, only 25% of global platforms implement integrated energy management systems. This study aims to optimize energy efficiency in offshore structures to support SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy. The study uses a multi-method approach, analyzing data from 10 offshore platforms, conducting energy modeling, and cost-benefit analysis. The results show variability in daily energy consumption (423.7 ± 32.5 MW) with key factors such as hydrocarbon production and environmental conditions. Energy efficiency technologies such as hybrid power generation systems and Integrated Energy Management Systems (SMET) show significant potential for savings. The optimization model shows a total potential energy savings of 37.2 ± 2.1%. Economic analysis using Monte Carlo simulations confirms the feasibility of investment with positive NPV for all evaluated technologies. SMET has the most favorable risk-return profile with a mean NPV of 5.8 ± 0.7 million USD. These findings provide important insights for operators and policymakers, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to energy management in offshore structures. Implementation of the proposed energy efficiency strategies can contribute significantly to climate change mitigation and the achievement of SDG 7.

Structural transformation without industrialization? Evidence from Tanzanian consumers

AbstractExport‐oriented industrialization was central to many Asian countries' structural transformation processes, but many African countries are bypassing industrialization, and the prospects for competing in global manufacturing markets are poor. Alternative structural transformation pathways all rely on domestic markets, and thus understanding their trajectories requires uncovering consumer preferences. Using detailed household expenditures data from a nationally representative panel survey in Tanzania, I estimate a flexible, stylized consumer demand system. I recover estimates of expenditure elasticities of demand for goods, services, and food in the aggregate, along with price elasticities of demand, identified using within‐household variation in prices and expenditures. I find that, across the expenditures distribution and in both rural and urban areas, consumer preferences are service facing. In particular, I show that (1) consumers sharply increase spending on services relative to goods and food as incomes increase; (2) demand for services in the aggregate is somewhat sensitive to changes in service prices; and (3) food, goods, and services are substitutes for each other. On one hand, a high propensity to consume the types of services that generate large local economic growth multipliers is consistent with driving growth in service sector employment. However, sustained growth in the long run may be limited because these services are low productivity and nontradable, and domestic markets are size constrained.

Analyzing variability and coordinated demand management for various flexible integrations of residential distributed energy resources

Deploying distributed energy resources (DERs) is crucial for decarbonizing the building sector, but challenges arise due to the energy mismatch between on-site generation and consumption. Impacts of large-scale development of distributed energy technology are seldom evaluated from a system-wide perspective. This study primarily utilizes high-resolution meter data to analyze residential energy consumption behaviors and variability of solar photovoltaics (PV), heat pump and fuel cell throughout the year. Then, rolling horizon optimization is applied to harness demand flexibility through scheduling developed integrated energy systems, considering synergies between on-site energy resources and demand side management. The techno-economic performances of the integrated systems are investigated by adopting wholesale spot prices for PV grid feed-in. Results show that flexible schedule of integrated energy systems can deliver multiple benefits, including energy saving, cost reduction and grid-support interaction, improvement in PV self-consumption through flexible coupling can exceed 40 % compared to the measured results. The effectiveness of demand-side solutions strongly depends on the density and variability of household energy consumption, micro cogeneration presents a greater potential of cost-saving and carbon reduction in winter months. Findings emphasize the importance of coordinated demand management strategy in enhancing effectiveness of energy usage and grid-friendly interactions under widespread DERs implementation.

Responsible Consumption: Developing Sustainable Habits of Living for The Future

This study looks at consumer behavior in a variety of socioeconomic circumstances with regard to sustainable consumption trends and variables. The study highlights the importance of personal beliefs, sociocultural elements, and outside influences by using a mixed-methods approach to uncover subtle patterns in consumer choices. To comprehend the intricacies of sustainable consumption, the theoretical framework incorporates socioeconomic variables, environmental psychology, and marketing methods. To collect both quantitative and qualitative data, the study makes use of questionnaires, interviews, and content analysis. The results emphasize how business sustainability activities and education play a part in influencing sustainable customer behavior. According to the research, there are still issues that need to be resolved, such as the absence of uniform sustainability criteria and more robust governmental interventions. The results highlight the significance of comprehensive approaches incorporating business, policy-driven, and educational activities for a sustainable future.

How do Macroeconomic Conditions Affect GDP? (BRICS Case Study)

One of the international institutions in the spotlight is BRICS. Because the countries incorporated in it (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) have a fairly high income. Thus, the purpose of this study is to see what factors contribute to economic growth in BRICS countries. The method in this study is Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS). By using a variable of investment, labor force, and electrical energy consumption. Based on the results of the study, there is a positive influence on BRICS revenue.

Assessment of the COVID-19 impact on the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) financing: an analysis of the financing dynamics of 2020 and 2021

BackgroundAfter the establishment of the public health emergency of international concern in 2020, health systems worldwide and in Brazil observed the need to apply more extraordinary logistical efforts and possibly resources to combat the imminent pandemic.MethodsUsing the historical series of public expenditures of the National Health Fund (FNS), 2015 to 2021, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, and a seasonal ARIMAX model, we sought to assess how the increase in the new virus infections affected the systematic financing of the SUS in Brazil.ResultsThere were signs of seasonality and an increasing trend in the expenditure variable, which in practical terms, only indicated that the resource contributions followed an increasing trajectory already underway before the advent of the pandemic. The 1% increase in COVID-19 cases, with a one-month lag, contributes to the 0.062% increase in the variation in FNS expenditures but a decrease of 0.058% with a two-month lag.ConclusionThe tests showed no evidence to confirm a positive shift on FNS spending growth trajectory due to the increase of COVID-19 cases, only observing a significant increase one month after the occurrence of COVID cases, probably due to their worsening after this period, which was followed by a similar and comparable decrease in percentage of growth in the following month.

Variation in physician spending and its association with postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing surgery for gastrointestinal cancer

BackgroundThere is significant variation in inpatient expenditures among physicians and hospitals. This study aimed to characterize the association between variation in physician spending and short-term outcomes among patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). MethodsPatients who underwent surgery for PDAC and CRC from 2010 to 2020 were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result-Medicare–linked database. The cohort was divided into quartiles based on adjusted physician spending, and multivariate models were used to assess the association between physician spending and patient outcomes. ResultsAmong 27,596 Medicare beneficiaries, 25,615 (92.8%) underwent surgery for CRC and 1981 (7.2%) underwent surgery for PDAC. Of the variations in spending, 79.9% were due to patient-level factors, 13.3% were due to hospital characteristics, and 6.8% were due to surgeon-level variables. On multivariate analysis, there was no association between physician spending and 30-day readmission (with complications: first quartile [Q1], reference; Q4: odds ratio [OR], 1.10; 95% CI, 0.86–1.41; P = .123; without complications: Q1, reference; Q3, stage IV: OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.68–1.40; P = .882) or between physician spending and 30-day mortality (without complications: Q1, reference; Q2, stage I: OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.45–3.01; P = .804). However, an increase in physician spending was associated with higher 30-day mortality among patients with complications (Q1, reference; Q4: OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.72–3.03; P < .001). ConclusionThere was more variation in healthcare spending across hospitals than across individual physicians. No consistent association between variation in physician spending and patient outcomes was noted. Wasteful spending can be reduced through targeted interventions aimed at reducing variations at the physician and hospital levels.

Does School Consolidation in Rural Areas Affect Students' Education? Empirical Evidence From China

ABSTRACTIn the late 1990s, an extensive consolidation of schools in rural China led to the amalgamation of numerous primary and secondary schools into urban schools or their discontinuation. The study aimed to investigate whether China's school consolidation movement has influenced the educational attainment of rural students. The data are sourced from the China Household Income Project (CHIP) and regional statistical yearbooks, and the cross‐section difference‐in‐differences (DID) method is used to analyse the differences in high school enrolment of rural students between regions with different degrees of school consolidation. Empirical analysis results indicate that school consolidation substantially enhances the probability of rural students receiving high school education, as well as having a positive impact on rural students taking the college entrance examination and receiving a longer formal education. Moreover, the findings of the empirical analysis remain significant even after controlling for variations in government educational expenditures, substituting the explained variables, as well as eliminating the influence of school‐entering age. The adjustment of rural schools, as an inevitable historical trend, is beneficial to improving rural educational attainment.

Food consumption in East Kazakhstan region - focus on stability of indicators

Consumption of food products by the population is an important indicator of food security, as this concept includes not only food independence, but also the availability of food products. The aim is to assess the relationship between economic indicators and sustainable development of agro-industrial complex in East Kazakhstan for 2012-2023, with emphasis on the impact of the existing conditions and factors on food consumption patterns. Methods include econometric modeling, statistical estimation, data synthesis and regression analysis to study the obtained data, identify patterns and summarize suggestions and recommendations. Innovative econometric techniques supported by Eviews 12.0 software allow the interaction between different variables to be quantified with precision. Results show that growth in gross regional product per capita is correlated with improvements in dietary diversity and nutritional quality, increasing food security. The authors note that fluctuations in agricultural production significantly affect food availability and prices. An analysis of the level of food utilization is presented, which makes it possible to determine the state and prospects for the development of key branches of the agricultural sector of the region and the achievement of import substitution policy. The negative point is the problem of economic availability of food products in the region in the necessary volumes and assortment for residents with low incomes, which is caused by the growth of inflation and the decline in real money. It is shown that economic parameters explain about 95% of the variability in food consumption. The subsistence minimum plays an important role in food consumption. Its growth leads to an increase in food expenditures, which in turn affects the overall level of food consumption. Regular adjustments to social standards are needed. Conclusions - the possibilities of food stability in the country depend on the demand trends in the food market. There is a direct correlation between the productivity of agricultural production and the structure of consumer demand for food products. The state policy in the sphere of food consumption and provision of the population with food should include mechanisms to reduce income differences, stabilize prices, focus on balanced nutrition, and a comprehensive approach to forecasting consumer preferences.

Analisis Pengaruh Investasi Penanaman Modal Asing (PMA), Penanaman Modal Dalam Negeri (PMDN), Belanja Modal, dan Tenaga Kerja Terhadap Produk Domestik Regional Bruto di Kabupaten/Kota Provinsi NTB Tahun 2018-2022

This study aims to analyze the effect of foreign investment, domestic investment, local government capital expenditure, and labor on district/city GRDP in NTB Province in 2018-2022, and This study will also analyze which variables have the highest effect on the GRDP value. This study is a study that uses quantitative descriptive methods using data panel data analysis tools using EViews software 10. The results of this study indicate that foreign investment variables and domestic investment variables partially have a positive and significant effect on the GRDP variable, while the capital expenditure variable and labor variables have a positive but not significant influence. As for simultaneously the independent variables of foreign investment, domestic investment, capital expenditure, and labor simultaneously have a significant effect and for the highest variables on GRDP is a foreign investment variables.

Optimizing electric load forecasting with support vector regression/LSTM optimized by flexible Gorilla troops algorithm and neural networks a case study

This research work focuses on addressing the challenges of electric load forecasting through the combination of Support Vector Regression and Long Short-Term Memory (SVR/LSTM) methodology. The model has been modified by a flexible version of the Gorilla Troops optimization algorithm. The objective of this study is to enhance the precision and effectiveness of load forecasting models by integrating the adaptive functionalities of the Gorilla Troops algorithm within the SVR/LSTM framework. To assess the efficacy of the proposed methodology, a comprehensive series of experiments and evaluations have been undertaken, utilizing authentic data obtained from 200 residential properties located in Texas, United States of America. The dataset comprises historical records of electricity consumption, meteorological data, and other pertinent variables that exert an impact on energy demand. The presence of this general dataset enhances the dependability and inclusiveness of the empirical findings. The proposed methodology was evaluated against various contemporary load forecasting techniques that are widely employed in the industry. The results of a comprehensive evaluation and performance analysis indicate that the modified SVR/LSTM model exhibits superior performance compared to the existing methods in terms of accuracy and robustness. The comparison results unequivocally demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method in accurately forecasting electric load demand.

The Effect Of Income On Consumption In North Sumatra For The 2009-2021 Period

This study aims to determine the effect of income on consumption in North Sumatra. The research method used is the integration between qualitative and quantitative methods. The data analysis technique used is in the form of multiple linear regression. The author conducted an empirical study with research objects in North Sumatra Province in 2009-2021. This research uses secondary data obtained from published data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and the type of data used in this analysis is scaled data (time series). Data processing is carried out using the eviews 12 application by conducting a classic assumption test followed by a hypothesis test. The results of this study, partially the income variable affects the consumption variable. Simultaneously variable income.

Patterns and Motivations of Topical Steroid Use for Skin Whitening in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background The use of topical steroids for skin whitening is prevalent in many regions, including Saudi Arabia. This study aims to analyze the patterns, motivations, and demographic factors associated with the use of topical steroids for cosmetic purposes in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted online over three weeks. A structured questionnaire was distributed to adults residing in Jazan, collecting data on demographics, topical steroid use, motivations, and product sources. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results Among the 340 participants, 173 (50.9%) reported using topical steroids for skin whitening. The majority of users were female (149, 43.8%) and aged between 20 and 30 years (78, 22.9%). Most participants had used topical steroids for less than a year (127, 73.4%), with usage predominantly in the evening (86, 49.7%). Topical steroids were primarily purchased from pharmacies (70, 40.5%), with significant monthly expenditure variability: 55 participants (31.8%) spent between 50 and 110 SAR, and 62 (35.7%) spent more than 150 SAR. Motivations for use included a preference for lighter skin (49, 28.4%) and treatment of melasma (42, 24.3%). Recommendations from friends (71, 41.0%) and TV advertisements (34, 19.8%) influenced product choice. Conclusion Topical steroid use for skin whitening is widespread among adults in Jazan, with a notable emphasis on cosmetic outcomes and substantial financial investment. There is a critical need for increased public education on the risks associated with topical steroids and enhanced professional guidance to promote safer usage practices.

Can I choose my offer? How choice of a promotional offer impacts consumer evaluations and decisions

Free gifts play a role in consumer sales promotions, and some retailers have begun to provide consumers with a choice of free gifts. However, there is scant empirical research that explores the effects of this novel sales promotion on consumption variables. This research investigates the interactive effects of attributes and gift choice (versus a fixed free gift) on value perceptions and purchase intentions. Findings show that by offering a choice set, marketers can increase the perceived value and attenuate the negative effects of lower monetary levels of the gift offer. Our conceptualization and predictions are supported by one field and four controlled experiments in a variety of contexts. Additionally, this research identifies boundary conditions and eliminates potential alternative explanations. Results advance our understanding of the moderating and mediating relationships between value perceptions and purchase intentions, and how managers can use free gift choices in designing effective sales promotions.

Investigating the Impact of Economic Growth on Pollution Index in Emerging Market Countries

This research aims to provide answers to two problems: to analyze the influence of economic, ecological, and demographic variables on environmental quality and which variables of the three have more influence on environmental quality. Using panel data analysis, with 24 Emerging Markets countries as the research objects and a series for the period between 2013 to 2022, it was found that: (a) the variables of economic growth, greenhouse gases, petrol consumption, and population influence the pollution index, while carbon emissions have no significant effect on the Pollution Index in Emerging Market countries; (b) the variables that have the greatest influence on the pollution index in emerging market countries are ecological and demographic variables compared to economic variables. Based on the findings, the implications for policy implementation are: (a) providing understanding to the public about ecology; (b) increasing population must be balanced with increasing education for the community to provide information about maintaining environmental quality; and (c) directing a sustainable economic development model in all countries through an appropriate and consistent policy framework. Theoretically, this research contributes to sharpening and understanding the flow of thinking of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) theory. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-03-07 Full Text: PDF

P119 COMPARISON BETWEEN MACRONUTRIENT DISTRIBUTION AND ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASURES IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT HYPERTENSION

Introduction: The hormonal changes of menopause have a deleterious effect on metabolism and on blood pressure regulation, since 50% of women have metabolic syndrome. At this stage, there is an increased risk for some chronic non-communicable diseases, especially hypertension. Anthropometric data are established indicators for the risk of heart disease and, associated with the food consumption of post-menopausal women and hypertension, represent a gap to be elucidated. Objective: To compare the relationships between anthropometric measures and macronutrient distribution in the diet of postmenopausal women with and without hypertension. Methods: The study recruited 45 women between 45 and 65 years old, with and without hypertension and a minimum of one year of amenorrhea. Participants answered a food recall and had their weight, height, waist circumference, abdomen and hips collected. Distribution of macronutrients in the diet, waist/hip ratio and waist/height were calculated. Data by T-test considering significant differences between groups for p &lt;0.05. Results: There was a statistical difference between normotensive and hypertensive women for BMI (24.87±4.05 kg/m2 vs. 32.03±4.20 kg/m2; p&lt;0.001) Waist Circumference (80.91±9.96 cm vs. 102.08±9.27 cm, p&lt;0.001); Hips circumference (101.43±8.15 cm vs. 111.23±8.93 cm; p&lt;0.001); Waist-to-height ratio (0.43±0.06 cm vs. 0.64±0.06 cm, p&lt;0.001); and Waist-to-hips ratio (0.79±0.05 cm vs. 0.91±0.04 cm, p&lt;0.001) In food consumption, there was an important disparity in intake of carbohydrates (172.66±88.67 g vs. 250.32 ± 92.95 g, p=0.007) and lipids (55.69±26.23 g vs. 82.07±51.12 g, p=0.037) with no difference in protein consumption (62.80±23.32 g vs. 77.60±39.67 g, p=0.139). Conclusion: The study suggests that there are significant differences in anthropometric and food consumption variables among the participants, which may, therefore, be related to the development of hypertension.

Determinants of Private Consumption Expenditure in Australia: ARDL Study

This paper studies the relationship among non-public intake expenditure and independent variables that encompass GDP, population number, interest price, and inflation price in Australia at some point of the duration from 1960 to 2022using the Autoregressive disbursed Lag version (ARDL). The studies additionally ambitions to take a look at the impact of displacement among non-public intake spending and government consumption spending using a model (ARDL). The have a look at determined that there may be an advantageous and enormous dating between personal intake spending and each output and populace in the end. Ultimately, a 1% growth in GDP is related to a zero.8% boom in private consumption pending, and a 1% boom in populace is associated with a zero.3% increase in private consumption spending. However, there is an inverse and tremendous dating among private consumption spending and both interest rate and government consumer spending in the long run. Ultimately, a 1% boom in the interest rate is associated with a 0.2% lower in private consumption spending, and a 1% growth inside the inflation rate is related to a 0.1% lower in private consumption spending. Inside the quick term, there's a high-quality and substantial dating between private consumption spending and both output and population. Within the short term, a 1% increase in GDP is associated with a zero.6% growth in private consumer spending, and a 1% increase in population is associated with a 0.2% growth in private consumer spending. However, there is an inverse dating among private consumer spending and short-time period interest rate, within the quick term, a 1% increase within the interest price is related to a 0.1% decrease in private consumer spending. The findings of this study advise that the imperative financial institution can use financial coverage equipment order to persuade the intermediate objective of monetary policy and have an effect private consumer spending and aggregate demand. Taxes can also be used as one of the fiscal coverage gear to persuade disposable income which will change private client spending and combination demand.