Articles tagged with Economic Development
Researchers warn that Africa's planned 'development corridors' could have devastating environmental impacts, including habitat disruption and loss of biodiversity. The corridors, spanning 53,000 km, would crisscross the continent and prioritize agricultural production over environmental conservation.
A study by University of East Anglia researchers found that people's honesty varies significantly between countries, with estimated dishonesty ranging from 3.4% in the UK to 70% in China. The study also suggests that honesty is less important to a country's current economic growth than during earlier periods in history.
Researchers develop a better method for modelling panel data, offering rich opportunities for economists to apply analytical tools. The new approach improves upon existing techniques and can be used to analyze the effect of various factors such as job-training, clinical trials, and economic policies.
A University of Missouri researcher found a strong correlation between rural-to-urban migration and negative environmental effects on Chinese cities. Despite negative impacts, the study suggests that policymakers should encourage population redistribution to less-dense urban areas.
A study by Penn State economists found that counties with higher rates of self-employment suffered fewer negative effects from increased imports. Self-employed workers are better positioned to recognize changes in the market and adapt to new opportunities, leading to stronger economic networks and growth.
The study analyzed sales of soft drinks in southeastern Brazil, finding that mass advertising is less effective in full-service stores, where package size variety is crucial. Brands' channel relationship programs support price increases with no decrease in sales, highlighting the need for tailored marketing strategies.
Life expectancy has increased everywhere in Germany, with the biggest gains seen in Eastern regions. Regional economic development is becoming a key factor in determining life expectancy, with areas like Baden-Württemberg and Saxony consistently having higher life expectancies.
A University of New Hampshire scientist has discovered a promising target for combating plant parasitic nematodes, which cause significant crop damage worldwide. The phosphodiesterase enzyme (PDE) inhibitor compound may provide a safer alternative to traditional chemical pesticides.
A University at Buffalo research team proposes new measures for savings and asset accumulation to promote lasting economic security. The study estimates monthly savings amounts required to meet various goals, such as retirement and education savings, and highlights the need for policy changes to encourage saving among low-income families.
LSU researchers analyzed the impact of CDBG-DR funds on housing, infrastructure, and economic development recovery since Katrina and Rita. The study found that investments led to increased solvency and population growth in parishes with higher disbursements, while also improving fiscal health and reducing debt-to-asset ratios.
A new study suggests that higher education's impact on economic development is influenced by geography, available skills, and knowledge, as well as networks of local companies. The research highlights the importance of considering these contextual factors in policy-making to maximize the positive effects of investment in education.
The Sochi Winter Olympics have left a legacy of oversized infrastructure and inflated prices, paid for almost exclusively by the public. The total cost of the Games is $55bn, with sports-related costs alone amounting to $16bn, more than twice the official figure.
The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting is expanding its commitment to young African scientists through the newly created Horst Köhler Fellowship Programme. Thirty-five African students will participate in the meeting, with funding provided by the Robert Bosch Foundation and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Research suggests that Doha's rise is driven by relational economic geography and urban development, with the Oryx antelope logo symbolizing its growth. However, the city lacks cohesive development plans and amenities for knowledge workers, which may hinder its success.
A study published in Science found that an anti-poverty program providing productive assets, job training, and life-skills coaching increased income by 5%, food consumption by 8%, and savings by 96% among participants over a three-year period. The results demonstrate sustained gains in well-being, with improved mental health and reduce...
The university will receive $499,959 to build the I-20 Corridor Maker's Innovation Network, integrating maker-spaces, entrepreneurship, and business development across the region. The initiative aims to generate new business ventures and economic activity, particularly in small-scale manufacturing.
Current residential development research is limited by single-discipline perspectives, missing holistic insights into environmental, economic, and social impacts. Key findings include the underrepresentation of ecosystem processes and nutrient cycling in studies.
A study by Ohio State University researcher Hui Zheng found that medical expansion in 28 countries led to people feeling less healthy over time. Despite increased access to medicine and medical care, self-rated health decreased, with percentages dropping from 39% to 28% in the US between 1982 and 2006.
Developing countries like India, Egypt, and Ukraine are found near the border of a development trap due to institutional and value-based political traps. The researchers predict that investing in education can help these countries transition to higher democracy and socio-economic wellbeing.
A study by Population Council reveals that consensual unions are becoming a common family arrangement for bearing children among educated women in Latin America. The trend is seen as a shift from limited economic and social opportunities, with educated women now entering these unions to have children.
A new study by University of Pittsburgh sociologists reveals that women who petition for restraining orders against abusers typically experience decreased earnings due to financial instability and hardship. The researchers found that the period of petitioning is accompanied by serious losses, which are not recouped later.
A study of corporate scandals found that corrective measures led to improved operating performance, often outstripping rivals. Share prices plummeted short-term but recovered within three years.
Researchers found that women, parents, and nature lovers are willing to pay more for environmental upgrades. The study used a psychological scale to understand why people choose between promoting environmental values or commercial uses.
The book, 'Unfinished Work: The Struggle to Build an Aging American Workforce,' explores how businesses, governments, and individuals deal with the issue. Coleman traveled extensively, including Japan, France, and Sweden, to research how companies are adapting to an aging workforce.
Research by University of Illinois economist Ben Crost found that aid to villages in the Philippines increased violence. The villages that qualified for aid saw a significant increase in violence, while those that didn't participate experienced less violence. This suggests that aid can inadvertently make communities vulnerable to attacks.
A new MIT study reveals that industrial clusters across various industries drive economic growth by fostering job creation, innovation, and the formation of new industries. The research suggests that regions can improve their economic performance by investing in and extending their comparative advantage rather than chasing global hotsp...
Researchers divert a Chinese river to mitigate environmental disasters and propose an integrated approach to manage water resources, ecological health, and economic development. This study provides a potential model for sustainable development of other inland river basins.
A new integrated coastal zone management plan has been developed for Belize using novel tools to calculate risk of habitat degradation. The plan reduces high-risk areas by 20% and triples space for coastal development, while allowing for sustainable aquaculture and oil exploration limits.
A new study by the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business finds that Western retailers like Walmart enhance Chinese suppliers' export capabilities through improved productivity, efficiency, and quality. The study reveals a significant boost in exports from Chinese cities when foreign retail outlets increase.
The series examines four distinct phases in Latin American countries' history of health system reform and universal coverage. It highlights the importance of social determinants, intersectoral action, and solidarity-based financing schemes to achieve universal health coverage.
The University of Missouri will receive funding to study open online communities and develop principles for sharing OOC data across disciplines. The goal is to increase the coherence of scientific knowledge and make OCCs more productive.
The Food Processing and Innovation Center (FPIC) will provide USDA/FDA certification and scale up services for private companies to develop new food products and production processes. MSU's Product Center expects the center to create over 300 jobs annually.
Malaysia's 'smart villages' offer a global model for poverty relief, tripling monthly income to US $475 per family. The country is also implementing low-carbon cities with solar-generated power and biomass energy.
A new study by University of Toronto researchers explores the relationship between Islam and liberal democracy in Muslim-majority countries. They found that while people in these countries are less tolerant on average than those in Western nations, socio-economic conditions and political regimes play a significant role.
The National Science Foundation has awarded a $20 million grant to fund a five-year project studying climate variability and its potential impacts in Missouri. The project will model and predict changes in climate and determine their effects on plant ecosystems and communities that rely on them.
A new study by Monash University researchers links night-time light intensity to regional favouritism and GDP growth, finding that countries where political leaders were born tend to have higher night-time light levels and regional GDP. The study also highlights the impact of authoritarian leadership on foreign aid distribution.
The US saw a dramatic slowdown in healthcare spending growth between 2000 and 2011, aligning with other high-spending countries. However, the authors warn that future economic recovery could reverse this progress, highlighting the need for measures to control healthcare costs.
A fully mapped salmon genome will help improve aquaculture operations, address conservation challenges, and promote environmental sustainability. The international collaboration also provides a basis for global coordination to address fisheries and aquaculture challenges.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) report reveals that programs and policies to reduce tropical deforestation have been successful in 17 countries across four continents. Successful reductions result from various policy options, including forest protected areas, moratoriums, and financial incentives through the REDD+ program.
A 20-year study found that early childhood development programs in Jamaica improved cognitive and emotional development, leading to higher earnings and better economic status for adults. The intervention, which included weekly home visits and educational games, compensated for developmental delays faced by disadvantaged children.
Economists at Yale School of Environment develop framework to value natural resources as long-term wealth stores, rather than commodities. The new approach combines economic and biophysical measurements to quantify feedbacks between nature and human behavior, providing a basis for accurate valuation.
A new report estimates that business activities conducted by informal entrepreneurs can make up over 80% of total economic activity in developing countries. The study found that Indonesia has the highest rate of shadow economy entrepreneurs, with a ratio of over 130 to every legally registered business.
Clemson professor Rajendra Singh is recognized for his efforts to expand solar deployment across the US, driving policy changes and creating jobs in the industry. He has played a key role in increasing new solar installations, enough to power over 2.2 million American homes.
A study by World Agroforestry Centre found that Jathropha, promoted for its energy potential, failed in Kenya due to lack of market access and proper cultivation practices. The researchers emphasize the importance of analyzing the crop's impact before promotion.
A Harvard study suggests that pessimistic early global policy architects stunted developing nations' economies by rejecting innovation and entrepreneurialism. The study recommends prioritizing innovation, building technical capacity, and emphasizing entrepreneurs and risk-taking in emerging countries to drive growth.
A new report promotes REDD+ and Green Economy as a pathway to sustainable development, benefiting all nations. Forests are the foundation of sustainable societies, storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, regulating water flows, and reducing soil erosion.
The grant will help the Yangon Institute of Economics improve its teaching and outreach capabilities, while also strengthening entrepreneurial activities in rural areas. The project aims to increase institutional effectiveness and build current programs to support best standards and practices.
Researchers found that counties with a history of favoring entrepreneurship and fostering economic self-dependence tend to predict higher self-employment growth rates in the future. The availability of capital matters minimally to self-employment growth, except in small rural counties near metro areas.
Columbia Business School professors Ilyana Kuziemko and Emi Nakamura have been selected as 2014 Sloan Research Fellows. They will receive $50,000 to further their research in economics, with a focus on inequality, macroeconomics, and industrial organization.
A new study using social media and Foursquare tracked the movements of fashion workers in the New York metropolitan area, showing the Garment District's importance in the industry. The study found that 77% of fashion designers' trips were within the district, highlighting its role in product production.
A recent study found that community-focused agriculture has a measurable effect on economic growth in certain US regions. For every $1 increase in agricultural sales, personal income rose by 22 cents over five years.
The region supported 21,450 full-time jobs for workers in oil and gas, drilling, support operations, pipeline construction, refineries, and petrochemicals. The study estimates growth in full-time jobs supported by the oil and gas industry could potentially increase by 42.2% from 2012-2022.
A recent study found that random fluctuations in brain cell activity may influence our choices when faced with equal options. The research suggests that the orbitofrontal cortex plays a key role in decision-making and that neuronal signals can be biased by random noise, leading to close calls.
A new study published in Demography reveals that improvements in education levels around the world have been key drivers of economic growth in developing countries. In contrast to previous assumptions, the researchers found that declines in fertility rates do not lead to economic development.
A new analysis suggests that economic development can only buy happiness up to a certain level of wealth. Once income reaches around $36,000 GDP per capita, life satisfaction levels peak before dipping slightly in the very rich countries. This finding contradicts previous studies that showed a flat relationship between GDP and happiness.
A long-term analysis of economic cycles found that death rates increased for middle-aged and elderly people when the economy was growing. The study suggests that factors like job stress and road traffic accidents may not fully explain these trends, but social support changes could play a role.
Researchers warn that eliminating local economic data could harm small businesses and entrepreneurs, who rely on this data to understand market trends and identify opportunities. The loss of data could also limit policymakers' ability to anticipate and respond to community needs.
Green energy development, lifelong education, and entrepreneurship are top priorities for emerging economy nations, according to US expert Jerry Hultin. Investments in these areas can drive economic breakthroughs and promote sustainable growth.
Two new versions of a technoeconomic model for biofuels, incorporating latest state-of-the-art technologies, simulate critical factors in biorefinery process. The models enable researchers to concentrate efforts on cost-efficient biorefinery operations and explore promising strategies.
The World Happiness Report 2013 reveals six key factors explaining national happiness, including real GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, and freedom from corruption. The report also shows significant changes in happiness levels over time, with some countries rising and others falling.