Variation In Consumption Research Articles

Impact of Tourism on Poverty Reduction: Strategies to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals Through Local Community Participation

Objective: This article aims to examine the impact of the existence of tourist destinations on the welfare of households living around tourist locations in an effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals category ‘No Poverty (SDGS 1)’. Method: The data used is the results of the 2021 National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS). The selected respondents are households in Sumenep Regency, Madura, Indonesia. The data analysis method used is Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to avoid bias. Of the approximately 3,000 selected respondents, 101 were identified as tourist respondents and 310 non-tourist households Results and Discussion: The results of different tests on expenditure variables and income per capita show that households in tourist areas are not more prosperous than other households with similar characteristics. It can be concluded that the existence of tourist destinations has not made a positive contribution to the welfare of the community around tourist destinations. Research Implications: This study has important implications. First, the development of a sustainable tourism sector has an impact on poverty reduction. Second, the significant impact of poverty reduction can improve the welfare of society in general. Originality/Value: The originality of this research is that the use of the propensity score matching method in tourism analysis is still limited. This is an initial research that uses the PSM method to analyze the impact of tourism on poverty.

Balancing the cart: Milk, plant‐based alternatives and nutrient availability in New Zealand households

AbstractMilk is a near‐universal source of essential nutrients and contributes significantly to global nutrient availability. Global demand for milk continues to rise, driven by population growth, rising household incomes and favourable consumption patterns. Plant‐based alternatives (PBAs) to milk seek to cater to the preferences of a share of consumers regarding sustainability, lifestyle or health‐related matters (e.g. allergies and lactose intolerance). Though popular, PBAs do not stand as suitable nutritional substitutes for milk. These considerations emphasise the complex relationships between nutritional content and consumer preferences. This paper estimates a demand system for milk and PBAs in the New Zealand (NZ) market. We explore patterns of complementarity or substitutability between standard milk, reduced‐fat milk and organic milk, and an aggregate group of PBAs. We use these results to calculate nutrient elasticities and assess changes in nutrient availability in response to prices and expenditure variations. We estimate a Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System using purchase records for 2460 NZ households in 2021. We find that demand for standard milk does not show any substitutional relationship with PBAs. On the contrary, increases in the PBAs price lead households to switch towards standard milk, thereby increasing the availability of essential nutrients. That is, in the case of price increases, milk effectively offsets the reduction in essential nutrients as households switch away from PBAs, but PBAs cannot offset any reduction in essential nutrients as households do not find them to be adequate substitutes for milk.

Capturing the spatiotemporal inequality in electricity consumption at the subnational level of Bangladesh using nighttime lights

This paper examines the spatiotemporal inequality in electricity consumption at the subnational level of Bangladesh using nighttime light (NTL) data. The NTL data, sourced from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) day/night band (DNB) for the period from 2013 to 2020, reveals persistent variability in electricity consumption among the districts. Notably, the gap between urban and non-urban areas has widened. While within district inequality (measured by NTL Gini) has declined over time, it remains high in several districts. Convergence analysis confirms that while lagging districts are showing a catching up effect, the sub-districts are diverging among themselves (in terms of mean NTL per capita). Interestingly, the rural sub-districts are converging among themselves despite urban sub-district divergence. The study also identifies regions with significant imbalance between NTL, population, and built-up area density values. These findings have implications for policymakers aiming to ensure electricity for all and reduce inequality.

Total Debt Service and Economic Growth in Nigeria: The Empirical Nexus

This study examines the relationship between debt service and economic growth in Nigeria in the period 1990-2022, utilizing time series data from the World Development Indicator and CBN Statistical Bulletin. The issue of debt servicing has become difficult for developing countries like Nigeria, and has not only stifle economic growth, but also increased the rate of poverty and unemployment in these countries. The study explores the empirical nexus between total debt service and economic growth in Nigeria, employing GDP growth rate as the dependent variable, while the explanatory variables involved; are total debt serving, inflation rate and capital expenditure. The variables were estimated with autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method, among other, after the stationarity tests conducted on them Indicate that the variables were of mixed integration. Evidence suggesting a long-term equilibrium relationship among the variables was also established given the cointegration result. The ARDL results reveal that the inflation rate has an inverse and significant impact on GDP growth. Total Debt services variable also exhibited a similar impact on GDP growth. However, the results indicated that capital expenditure variable has a direct and significant impact on GDP growth. Based on the findings, this study recommends that the Nigerian government should implement robust monetary policies aimed at controlling inflation and revisit its debt management strategy to ensure sustainability. It is also recommended that the government should not only increase capital expenditure but also ensure that these investments are directed towards sectors with the highest economic growth potentials. Keywords: Debt service, economic growth, inflation, capital expenditure and GDP growth

Total Debt Service and Economic Growth in Nigeria: The Empirical Nexus

This study examines the relationship between debt service and economic growth in Nigeria in the period 1990-2022, utilizing time series data from the World Development Indicator and CBN Statistical Bulletin. The issue of debt servicing has become difficult for developing countries like Nigeria, and has not only stifle economic growth, but also increased the rate of poverty and unemployment in these countries. The study explores the empirical nexus between total debt service and economic growth in Nigeria, employing GDP growth rate as the dependent variable, while the explanatory variables involved; are total debt serving, inflation rate and capital expenditure. The variables were estimated with autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method, among other, after the stationarity tests conducted on them Indicate that the variables were of mixed integration. Evidence suggesting a long-term equilibrium relationship among the variables was also established given the cointegration result. The ARDL results reveal that the inflation rate has an inverse and significant impact on GDP growth. Total Debt services variable also exhibited a similar impact on GDP growth. However, the results indicated that capital expenditure variable has a direct and significant impact on GDP growth. Based on the findings, this study recommends that the Nigerian government should implement robust monetary policies aimed at controlling inflation and revisit its debt management strategy to ensure sustainability. It is also recommended that the government should not only increase capital expenditure but also ensure that these investments are directed towards sectors with the highest economic growth potentials. Keywords: Debt service, economic growth, inflation, capital expenditure and GDP growth

Evaluation of Air Consumption Efficiency in Structural Firefighters.

This study examines variability in air consumption (AC) between firefighters (FF) working at a standardized pace, evaluates the relationship between air consumption efficiency (ACE) and work economy, identifies parameters associated with ACE, and explores the relationship between ACE and self-paced work rate. FF completed randomized trials of an air consumption drill at a standardized pace while breathing through a self-contained breathing apparatus and a gas analyzer. A subsample completed another trial at a self-selected pace. The average AC variability (±1 standard deviation) was ~3.1 min of cylinder usage (13.7%). AC was positively associated with work economy and numerous physiological and anthropometric outcomes. No relationship was found between ACE and self-paced air consumption drill time. FF working at higher internal strain demonstrated poorer ACE. Improving metabolic tolerance may extend the self-contained breathing apparatus' functional duration to enhance productivity and safety.

Dietary supplement consumption and associated factors among Algerian population residing in Tebessa: Cross-sectional survey

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of dietary supplement consumption among Algerians in Tebessa. Materials and methodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional survey carried out over two months. The study included 216 Algerian men and women selected via simple random sampling. Approximately half of the participants were under 27 years old, with a mean age of 30 years. Variables assessed included the use of dietary supplements, reasons for consumption, frequency of use, types of supplements used, sources of purchase, and sources of advice regarding consumption. Continuous and categorical variables were compared using the Mann–Whitney test and Chi2 test, respectively. Logistic regression was employed to examine associations between dietary supplement consumption and explanatory variables, including socioeconomic factors. ResultsThe prevalence of dietary supplement use was 88.4%. The most common reasons cited for consumption were muscle mass enhancement and fatigue reduction. Vitamins were the most frequently used supplements, followed by trace elements. Consumption patterns were significantly associated with socioeconomic factors. ConclusionsA large part of the population has consumed food supplements for different reasons. This consumption could be beneficial for their health. Therefore, information-based on scientific evidence is important to prevent inappropriate use of dietary supplements by consumers. This study could serve as the foundation for a nationwide multicenter study to gain a better understanding of dietary supplement use among Algerians.

Unveiling Regional Dynamics and Factors Influencing Fish Purchase and Consumption in Odisha, India

Despite India being a major global fish producer, per capita fish consumption remains notably low in several regions, raising concerns regarding the nutritional adequacy of diets. This study explores the factors influencing fish purchase and consumption patterns in the Cuttack and Khordha districts of Odisha, India. A comprehensive survey (n=400)was conducted, and a trans-regression analysis was applied to identify key factors. The results reveal that fish quality, with an emphasis on freshness, taste, and texture, is the most crucial factor influencing consumer preferences in both districts. Affordability, represented by fish prices, ranked second, while dressing facilities unexpectedly held significant importance, reflecting consumer preference for convenience in fish preparation. Sociocultural factors, including local traditions and dietary customs, also played a role but were less significant compared to other factors. The study highlights apromising trend of fish consumption exceeding recommended levels, contributing positively to nutritional goals. A comparative analysis betweenregions showed variability in meat consumption, with fish standing out as a primary dietary staple. These findings underscore the need for region-specific strategies to promote sustainable fish consumption, considering both economic and socio-cultural influences. The study contributes to the understanding of regional variations in fish consumption patterns and provides a foundation for targeted interventions to address nutritional challenges and promote sustainable dietary practices.

Expenditure Rules: Limiting the Level or the Variation of Public Expenditure?

The main goal of the first-generation expenditure rules was to ensure fiscal discipline: preserving a sound fiscal framework and public debt sustainability. Regarding this goal, analytically as well as empirically, limiting the share of public expenditure in GDP would be more appropriate in case of weak potential economic growth or if the public expenditure-to-GDP ratio is high. On the contrary, limiting the variation of public expenditure would be more appropriate for countries with high potential economic growth or with a weak public expenditure-to-GDP ratio. The second goal of expenditure rules is to contribute to sustaining economic activity. Regarding this goal, limiting the level of public expenditure appears as more favorable than limiting the variation of public expenditure. Indeed, a rule in terms of variation could hamper economic growth, especially for countries with a high public expenditure-to-GDP ratio.

Alcohol Misuse and Correlates with Mental Health Indicators among Firefighters

Background: Stress and repetitive exposures to potentially traumatizing events are inherent to first-responder professions. Firefighters and other crisis responders are often exposed to incidents in their work environments and are at risk of developing acute or posttraumatic symptomatology, depression, and anxiety, as well as harmful patterns of alcohol consumption. Most prior research and theory suggests that many firefighters use alcohol to cope with past and current stressors, and that increased drinking accompanies ongoing exposures to stressful occupational hazards. Objectives: The primary aim of this research was to examine alcohol consumption and mental health variables associated in the literature with alcohol misuse. Participants included 546 predominantly male career firefighters in the U.S. Using a cross-sectional design, we examined alcohol misuse in the context of self-reported depression, generalized anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal ideation using previously validated measures. Results: Based on the AUDIT’s recommended cut score of 8, 38.8% of our sample reported drinking at hazardous levels. Hazardous alcohol use was also significantly associated with several mental health indicators with correlations ranging from .28 to .34. Regression analyses revealed that over 14% of the variance in AUDIT scores could be explained by psychological symptom measures, and 29% of the variance in suicide risk was explained by a model using both alcohol and mental health measures. Conclusions: Findings suggest that psychological distress is associated with hazardous drinking, and that more consistent screening and referral for these issues, as well as multi-level interventions, are needed to effectively address these behavioral health concerns among firefighters.

Analysis of The Influence of State Income and State Expenditure on Tax Revenue in Indonesia 2001-2023 From the Perspective of Islamic Economics

Taxes are one of the sources of state revenue for financing state expenditure. When tax revenue decline, governments often face an urgent need to maintain social and economic stability. In Indonesia in 2020 the ratio of state revenue from taxes fell by 1.5% from the previous year. So if fluctuations in tax revenue and an increase in state spending lead to a high budget deficit, and the government needs to find others sources of financing, such as loans to cover the financing shortfall. The type of research used is quantitative. The method used in this study is the Error Correction Model (ECM). The data used is secondary data published by the Ministry of Finance with the type of time series data in the year of observation, namely 2001-2023 in the State of Indonesia. Testing was carried out with the help of the Eviews 10 software application. The results of this study shows that only the state revenue variable has a significant effect on tax revenue in the long term and short term, while the state expenditure variable does not have a significant effect on tax revenue in the long term and in the short term.

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.