Articles tagged with Economic Development
A new tool and framework allow companies to assess the circularity of their products in early design stages, enabling them to create sustainable new products. The circular design framework consists of 10 categories and includes interactive questions, helping entrepreneurs and designers think systematically and collaborate better.
A study by Carnegie Mellon University and others found that the increase in taxpayers reporting self-employment earnings since 2000 cannot be attributed to the rise of gig economy platforms. Instead, it was driven by self-reported earnings due to tax code incentives, with individuals more likely to report income when they had an incent...
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that exclusively breastfed infants used fewer healthcare services and incurred lower costs compared to formula-fed infants. This could have avoided £10 million in healthcare costs if all formula-fed infants were exclusively breastfed for the first 6-8 weeks of life.
A USC study finds that rising sea levels and urban development are accelerating coastal erosion in Southern California, with predicted costs tripling by 2050. Beach nourishment projects will become increasingly costly due to the global increase in sand prices.
A study published by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics predicts significant economic impacts on provinces like Hunan, Jiangxi, and Guangdong due to increased heavy precipitation and droughts. The region's GDP is expected to be hardest hit under certain climate change scenarios, emphasizing the need for adaptation strategies.
International agreements like Sustainable Development Goals represent wide support for a sustainable future. However, disagreements on how to achieve this lead to marginalization and inaction. Researchers found that competing approaches prioritize different values of nature, making compromise difficult.
A new study analyzed 31 previous studies on global health programs to find common themes in public health success. The researchers identified eight key drivers, including efficient data systems, effective leadership, and women's empowerment, that contributed to exceptional outcomes.
A global study finds that new airport construction benefits less-developed cities with increased accessibility to the global aviation network, promoting inclusive growth and connectivity. The research used nighttime light intensity as a proxy for economic development, analyzing over 13,000 cities worldwide.
The employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities increased from 36.5% in March 2024 to 37.9% in April 2024, up 3.8%. The labor force participation rate also rose, from 40.3% to 40.6%, as individuals with disabilities remain engaged in the workforce at a similar rate to last month.
Experts argue that voluntary corporate emissions targets are not enough to create real climate action, as they may favor larger existing companies and hinder innovation. The authors suggest updating regulations to improve corporate climate ambition.
A new study suggests that renewable-scarce countries like parts of the EU, Japan, and South Korea could save between 18 to 38 percent in production costs by relocating their industrial production to countries with cheap renewable energy. The study's lead author argues that importing hydrogen via ship is not a cost-effective strategy fo...
New research reveals that women entrepreneurs face significant biases in startup financing, with higher loan rejection rates and poorer credit terms. The study found that societies with greater women's empowerment actually exacerbate these gaps, suggesting a need for policy interventions to address the issue.
Researchers analyzed firm-level data from the global supply network, revealing that wealthy nations are only exposed to supply chain disruptions from other high-income countries. Poor and developing nations are disproportionately affected by economic shocks due to their structural embeddedness in their local or national supply chains.
A new international study reveals that fluctuating coffee prices have a significant negative effect on the mental well-being of Vietnamese farmers. The study found that price volatility leads to increased stress, anxiety, and reduced social capital among farmers.
A new study reveals that climate change could lead to a significant global GDP loss of up to 10% if the planet warms by +3ºC, highlighting the substantial costs of inaction.
A new study reveals that Global North countries' outsourcing of energy-intensive industrial processes to the Global South leads to greater carbon emissions and environmental damage. The researchers urge both regions to work together to address this issue, promoting energy equity and sustainability.
Research by UniSA economists explores how small businesses in South Australia's Kangaroo Island and Barossa Valley regions adapted to disaster recovery, highlighting the importance of financial stability, online presence, and community support. The study found that a 'dynamic capabilities approach' is key to long-term recovery, and reg...
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that annual producer income from non-wood products is $88 billion, with the added value of processing reaching trillions of dollars. Non-timber forest products contribute significantly to food security, health, and employment in low- and middle-income countries.
Over the past 35 years, dams and land reclamation activities converted 250,000 acres of estuary — an area roughly 17 times the size of Manhattan — to urban land or agricultural fields. Most land conversion and estuary loss in rapidly developing countries.
A new study reveals a strong correlation between universities' sustainability performance and local innovation, while showing little connection to community environmental sustainability. The research suggests universities contribute to economic development, but struggle to drive broader sustainable transformations.
A recent study from the University of Florida found that companies ignoring climate risks tend to face market penalties, whereas those proactively managing risks fare better. The research analyzed textual data from nearly 5,000 US public companies and discovered a costly divide between proactive and non-proactive firms.
A new study finds that BCG vaccination reduces TB transmission in cattle by almost 90%. Vaccinated cows also develop significantly fewer visible signs of TB than unvaccinated ones. The vaccine has the potential to control bovine tuberculosis and put herds on a pathway towards elimination.
Research assesses the susceptibility of open-top oil storage tanks in Patagonia to wind-induced damages, highlighting the need for wind vulnerability assessments. Fragility curves reveal a pronounced risk of structural and operational damages at common wind speeds, guiding design standards and retrofitting approaches.
Researchers from Pohang University of Science & Technology developed an economical and efficient water electrolysis catalyst using oblique angle deposition method and nickel. The catalyst resulted in a remarkable 55-fold improvement in hydrogen production efficiency compared to traditional thin film structures.
The US Department of Energy's Billion-Ton Report suggests that the country could produce over 1 billion tons of plant-based biomass per year for renewable fuels while meeting projected demands for food, feed, fiber, conventional forest products, and exports. This would triple the current bioeconomy capacity, enabling the production of ...
A new technique for producing polymer solid electrolytes has been developed, eliminating the need for vacuum heat treatment and increasing production speed by 13-fold. This method ensures consistent thickness and surface quality of polymer solid electrolytes, ideal for battery production.
A study by MIT scholars finds that workers in lower-paying firms are highly susceptible to underestimating wages at other companies. Providing correct information about salaries can increase the likelihood of workers leaving their current jobs and improve wages.
A new study reveals that adults living in extreme poverty in LMICs have high rates of hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and dyslipidemia, yet are often untreated for these conditions. The findings challenge the common assumption that poverty protection against cardiovascular disease risk factors.
The Global Hemp Innovation Center is working with 13 Native American Tribes and other partners to spur economic development through sustainable supply chains and education. The project aims to create jobs in the emergent biobased economy and explore industrial uses of hemp.
Scientists have developed a nanoporous magnesium borohydride structure that stores five hydrogen molecules in three-dimensional arrangement, achieving unprecedented high-density hydrogen storage. The material exhibits a capacity of 144 g/L per volume of pores, surpassing traditional methods and offering a promising alternative to large...
Researchers propose a new 'legibility' framework to understand cryptocurrency governance, revealing stages of illegibility, contested legibility, and collaborative legibility. The study examines the US, EU, and Japan's markets, showing they progressed through these states at different rates.
New research estimates the economic toll of youth violence in the US, revealing that homicides and nonfatal assaults among young people cost $122 billion. The study highlights the importance of developing programs to address risk factors and prevent youth violence.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that EU countries have made progress towards achieving the 2030 sustainable energy goal, but some countries still have a long way to go. Malta made the greatest progress, while Bulgaria is furthest from meeting its targets.
High levels of air pollution have a significant negative impact on teams' ability to solve complex problems, such as developing clean energy technologies and vaccines. The study used escape-room games data to estimate that high-pollution days can lead to up to 5% longer completion times for teams.
Researchers found that personal lies result in lower rates of deception due to moral costs, while non-personal information leads to higher lying rates. This study contributes to understanding the complex relationship between morality and economic behavior.
In a setup resembling a trust game, participants exchanged large amounts with anonymous members of their own community but little with members of other communities. The researchers found that repeated interactions alone cannot explain the evolution of human cooperation and that group competition also weakens overall cooperation.
A new study from the University of Delaware and Yale University aims to improve cost estimates for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by understanding the underlying frictions that prevent people from adopting newer, greener technologies. The researchers focus on the social sciences to better understand these negative costs.
A new study suggests Mexico can grow its economy by building biorefineries to produce biofuels, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals from abundant organic waste materials. The research promotes the adoption of sustainable practices to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals 8-12.
The book provides a systematic analysis of the Chinese credit bond market, covering institutional, technological, macroeconomic, and microeconomic factors. It offers tools for investors, fund managers, researchers, and university students to understand the market's evolution, existing problems, and development direction.
A new study found that digital collateral programs lead to positive selection, increased loan repayment, and profitability. Securing loans with digital collateral also increased school enrollment and attendance in developing countries.
The study identifies areas with high carbon footprints, including those reliant on fossil fuels and manufacturing, highlighting the need for targeted economic assistance programs. The research provides a precise way to assess industrial composition, helping policymakers incorporate considerations into future policies.
West Virginia University has been awarded a $1 million National Science Foundation grant to drive energy technology and infrastructure development in the region. The initiative aims to identify pathways for workforce development and policy development that accelerates adoption of energy technologies.
A new study from the University of Notre Dame found that female entrepreneurs in emerging markets benefit significantly more from having a female mentor, with firms' performance improving by 32% and 31%. Female mentors proved to be more positive and social in their interactions, helping businesswomen build better customer relationships.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a 45% increase in childhood obesity among 4-5-year-olds in England, persisting into 2022. The study found that this group will incur an additional £800 million in healthcare costs over their lifetimes.
New research shows that migrants can be a transformative force for sustainability, bringing energy and ideas to new locations. However, poorly managed migration deepens inequality and increases environmental harm. The studies emphasize the need for comprehensive policies that manage migration in the interests of people and the planet.
Binghamton University will receive $6 million from the NSF to translate cutting-edge research into real-world applications and promote regional entrepreneurship. The initiative aims to increase the university's capacity for translational research, providing students with practical training and career development opportunities.
A $2 million three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce will create a regional incubator for life sciences startups in South Carolina, providing them with expertise, resources, and networking opportunities.
Researchers found that less than two percent of patients in Medicaid and commercially insured plans received Z-codes to document Social Determinants of Health. The study highlights the need for improved tracking and documentation of SDOH in healthcare settings, with recommendations for policy changes and provider education.
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that using alternative data from smartphones is more effective in improving financial inclusion (23% better) and business profitability (42% better) compared to social media data. This approach can help microloan companies adopt cost-effective solutions and offset potential economic loss.
The National DigiFoundry aims to establish global standards for digital asset use and exchange through blockchain technologies. The consortium will develop a resilient framework to address cybersecurity challenges in digital asset management.
The new GEET+ 2.0 report and assessment tool aims to integrate equity, diversity, and inclusion into business-training curriculums, enhancing program content and delivery. By identifying biases and stereotypes, organizations can create more inclusive entrepreneurship systems, ultimately improving access to resources for underrepresente...
A study published in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture proposes a framework to characterise the unique properties of cacao beans in the Buenaventura region. The research highlights the benefits of establishing Denominations of Origin for cacao, including higher market prices, cultural preservation, and sustainable practices.
A new study found that accounting for long-term impacts of tropical cyclones raises the global Social Cost of Carbon by more than 20%. The increase is mainly driven by projected rise of tropical-cyclone damages to major economies, particularly India, USA, China, Taiwan, and Japan under global warming.
The study reveals that bilateral cooperation intensity has gradually strengthened between China and Russia over the past three decades. Energy trade assumed new importance after 2008, while military cooperation showed a more varied pattern of evolution. Political cooperation structures the Sino-Russian relationship, driving its progress.
A study from the University of Illinois found a correlation between high obesity levels at hospitals and increased C-section rates in Mexico. The researchers analyzed patient data from 226 public hospitals across Mexico, finding that hospitals with higher obesity rates were more likely to perform C-sections.
A study in Brazil found that social pensions and conditional cash transfers significantly reduced child mortality rates between 13-16%. The impact was greater in poorer communities. Expanding these programs could avert nearly 150,000 child deaths by 2030.
A special issue of Medical Care journal highlights the need to study economic impacts on patient outcomes, including trade-offs in family decision-making about health care. The studies aim to improve data collection and infrastructure to measure nonmedical economic outcomes and track economic well-being over longer periods.
African nations could see an additional $37 million in profit each year by raising access fees for their fisheries. This would lead to an increase in fish biomass and a more sustainable operation. However, challenges include differing interests and objectives among governments and varying conditions of different fisheries.
Research from Portland State University finds that female students are more likely to choose universities in states with upheld abortion rights, potentially affecting future workforces and economies. The study suggests a significant impact on the labor market as young people often live and work in the state they attend college.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has been selected to establish a Secure Manufacturing Tech Hub with a $500,000 grant from the US Economic Development Administration. The consortium aims to grow a skilled workforce, enhance business competitiveness, and promote secure manufacturing strategies across South Texas.