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on Investment |
| By: | Ma, Shuang (Guangzhou University); Mu, Ren (Texas A&M University); Xiao, Han |
| Abstract: | Minimum wage increases are often accompanied by firms raising qualification requirements in job postings, but whether this skill upgrading reflects changes in who applies (composition effects) or changes in whom firms select from an unchanged applicant pool (selection effects) remains unclear. Using unique data from a large online job platform in China that links job postings, applications, and job offers, we compare firm hiring practices and applicant pools before versus after province-level minimum wage increases, treated versus control provinces, and minimum-wage versus higher-wage occupations. We find that firms raise educational requirements in postings by 3-4 percentage points and increase job offers to college-educated workers by 30\%, while offers to less-educated workers remain unchanged. At the same time, the application volumes and applicant characteristics remain unchanged. This pattern reveals that the shift in job offers occurs entirely through the selection effect, as the short-run labor supply response is limited even when firms actively attempt to reshape their applicant pools. Minimum wage increases thus redistribute employment opportunities among existing job seekers away from less educated workers. |
| Keywords: | job offers, part-time jobs, job postings, minimum wage, China |
| JEL: | J23 J63 O53 |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18290 |
| By: | Qi He |
| Abstract: | The growth of large-scale AI systems is increasingly constrained by infrastructure limits: power availability, thermal and water constraints, interconnect scaling, memory pressure, data-pipeline throughput, and rapidly escalating lifecycle cost. Across hyperscale clusters, these constraints interact, yet the main metrics remain fragmented. Existing metrics, ranging from facility measures (PUE) and rack power density to network metrics (all-reduce latency), data-pipeline measures, and financial metrics (TCO series), each capture only their own domain and provide no integrated view of how physical, computational, and economic constraints interact. This fragmentation obscures the structural relationships among energy, computation, and cost, preventing a coherent optimization across sector and how bottlenecks emerge, propagate, and jointly determine the efficiency frontier of AI infrastructure. This paper develops an integrated framework that unifies these disparate metrics through a three-domain semantic classification and a six-layer architectural decomposition, producing a 6x3 taxonomy that maps how various sectors propagate across the AI infrastructure stack. The taxonomy is grounded in a systematic review and meta-analysis of all metrics with economic and financial relevance, identifying the most widely used measures, their research intensity, and their cross-domain interdependencies. Building on this evidence base, the Metric Propagation Graph (MPG) formalizes cross-layer dependencies, enabling systemwide interpretation, composite-metric construction, and multi-objective optimization of energy, carbon, and cost. The framework offers a coherent foundation for benchmarking, cluster design, capacity planning, and lifecycle economic analysis by linking physical operations, computational efficiency, and cost outcomes within a unified analytic structure. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2511.21772 |
| By: | Marin, Giovanni; Oo, Aung Tun |
| Abstract: | This study examines how extreme heat affects workplace accidents in Italy’s various economic sectors. Using granular data by sector, day, and province (NUTS-3) for 2018–2024, we evaluate the contribution of occupational exposure as a source of diverse effects at the sector level. Our findings imply that while the average effects of extreme heat on workplace accidents are, at best, negligible, high temperatures significantly raise the frequency of medium-to-low severity accidents for sectors with high levels of exposure, while exposure and extreme heat alone do not account for fatalities. |
| Keywords: | Climate Change, Sustainability |
| Date: | 2025–11–18 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:feemwp:376269 |
| By: | Scholl, Lynn; Oviedo, Daniel; Sabogal-Cardona, Orlando; Casas-Cortes, Camila; Chea, Llando; Saboin, José Luis |
| Abstract: | This study explores the multiple enablers and barriers to school transportation and their broader social implications in Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas. We examine the complex interplay between physical, functional, and social factors shaping childrens, parents ', and caregivers daily access to school. A central revelation is the profoundly gendered nature of school transportation responsibilities in Nassau, with women constituting 83% of our sample who organize or undertake these daily journeys. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and a survey of 477 caregivers across Nassau, we adopt a mixed-methods approach combining descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and cluster modelling. We identify four distinct groups based on their perceptions of traffic safety, harassment risks, and climate-related barriers, including one cluster for whom flooding and other extreme weather concerns are central drivers of school transportation challenges. Our findings reveal that inadequate infrastructure, minimal enforcement of school zone traffic laws, and the perceived threat of harassment or violence pose significant barriers to childrens safe and enjoyable access to education. At the same time, extended family support and targeted school-zone measures emerge as notable enablers, alleviating some of the burdens placed on caregivers. Building on these insights, we offer evidence-based recommendations for policy and practice, underscoring the need for cross-sector collaboration to enhance infrastructure, strengthen traffic law enforcement, and address social vulnerabilities. By highlighting cluster-specific concerns-from gender-based violence to climate impacts-this paper provides a nuanced understanding of how school transportation challenges intersect with gender norms and broader societal issues, offering practical pathways toward more inclusive and resilient mobility systems for children and their caregivers. The paper also outlines future research directions around the consequences of these barriers and enablers for caregivers time use, labor participation and well-being. |
| JEL: | I23 I28 R40 R48 |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:14422 |
| By: | Paparella, Antonio; Petsakos, Athanasios; Davis, Kristin E.; Song, Chun |
| Abstract: | In semi-arid areas, where water scarcity and poor soil condition pose significant threats to agricultural production and to the livelihood of individual smallholders and communities, water and soil management are critical for food/water security. Limited renewable freshwater and erratic rainfall patterns in those areas restrict the reliance on irrigation, making water conservation strategies more pressing and necessary [1]. Moreover, implementing advanced irrigation systems may be challenging due to limited resources and a lack of technical expertise [2]. For smallholder farmers, the adoption of irrigation systems, such as drip irrigation, is limited by further constraints such as high costs, limited access to finance, lack of technical support, and may not be suitable for all local conditions and cropping systems [3]. Under these constraints, promoting water and soil conservation strategies practices as part of a broader water management package to increase agricultural productivity at the farm level becomes crucial for ensuring sustainable agricultural production. |
| Keywords: | soil conservation; water conservation; resource conservation; natural resources; nature conservation |
| Date: | 2025–10–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:antlsb:177482 |
| By: | Burga, Carlos; Cespedes, Jacelly; Parra, Carlos R; Ricca, Bernardo |
| Abstract: | A long-standing debate concerns whether technological change widens wage gaps by benefiting skilled labor. We show that financial technologiesspecifically, instant payment systemscan instead reduce wage inequality. Using an administrative dataset covering all registered employees in Brazil, we study the nationwide rollout of Pix, an instant payment platform introduced in late 2020. Our empirical strategy is a triple difference-in-differences design that exploits variation in preexisting mobile penetration across municipalities, the differential benefits of Pix for cash-intensive versus non-cash-intensive sectors, and the timing of Pixs rollout. A one standard deviation increase in mobile penetration leads to a 1.2 percent wage increase in cash-intensive sectors relative to non-cash-intensive sectors following Pixs introduction. These wage gains are concentrated among workers with less education, reducing the college wage premium by 1 percentage point. Further evidence suggests that increased small-business labor demand, amplified by local labor market frictions, drives these effects. Overall, instant payment systems disproportionately benefit small, cash-intensive businesses, enhancing labor demand in sectors reliant on low-skill workers and highlighting how financial technologies can shape distributional outcomes differently from skill-biased technologies. |
| JEL: | J31 O33 G23 |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:14416 |
| By: | Haoying Dai |
| Abstract: | We develop a theoretical framework that aims to link micro-level option hedging and stock-specific factor exposure with macro-level market turbulence and explain endogenous volatility amplification during gamma-squeeze events. By explicitly modeling market-maker delta-neutral hedging and incorporating beta-dependent volatility normalization, we derive a stability condition that characterizes the onset of a gamma-squeeze event. The model captures a nonlinear recursive feedback loop between market-maker hedging and price movements and the resulting self-reinforcing dynamics. From a complex-systems perspective, the dynamics represent a bounded nonlinear response in which effective gain depends jointly on beta-normalized shock perception and gamma-scaled sensitivity. Our analysis highlights that low-beta stocks exhibit disproportionately strong feedback even for modest absolute price movements. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2511.22766 |
| By: | Albert, Jose Ramon G.; Mahmoud, Mohammad A.; Cabalfin, Deanne Lorraine D.; Monterola, Sheryl Lyn C. |
| Abstract: | The magnitude of out-of-school children (OOSC) in the Philippines has shown both progress and challenges in recent years. While the national OOSC rate decreased from 5.9 percent (1.64 million children) in 2017 to 4.1 percent (1.16 million children) in 2022, and further improved to 4.9 percent in 2023, troubling increases emerged at both ends of the age spectrum: among 5-year-olds who should be in kindergarten and among senior high school-aged children (16–17 years). This study employs a mixed-methods approach, analyzing Philippine Statistics Authority surveys, including the Annual Poverty Indicator Survey, the Family Income and Expenditure Survey, and the Labor Force Survey, alongside Department of Education (DepEd) administrative records. The study combines descriptive statistical analysis with econometric modeling using logistic regression to identify the determinants of school non-participation. It also provides estimates of children in seven dimensions of exclusion, which include both children currently not in school and those at risk of dropping out. Primary data collection involves key informant interviews with DepEd field staff, school heads, teachers, parents, and learners, including those who are OOSC. The study reveals remarkable system resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, with recovery to below pre-pandemic levels by 2022, while new age-specific barriers have emerged that require targeted interventions. Logistic regression results identify work status as the strongest predictor of non-attendance among high school-aged children (35 percentage point effect), followed by marriage (67 percentage point effect), while household income effects strengthened during the pandemic period, particularly for younger children. Female children consistently show a lower probability of being out of school across all age groups, and substantial regional variation persists even after controlling for household characteristics. Fieldwork from four study sites identified factors exacerbating these risks, including digital distractions and peer pressure among older youth (e.g., late-night gaming leading to chronic absenteeism), documentation barriers delaying kindergarten entry, and geographic isolation in rural areas. Policy recommendations are anchored in a comprehensive seven-pillar approach designed to holistically address OOSC challenges across age groups, sexes, and regions. The first pillar focuses on School Age Entry Advocacy, addressing the "too young" barrier through targeted campaigns that recognize disparities, particularly affecting 79 percent of boys and 77 percent of girls. The second pillar, Child Find, implements systematic mapping to enable precise, targeted interventions. Modern Pedagogy forms the third pillar, integrating educational technology with engaging teaching methods to make learning more accessible. The fourth pillar, HTHT (Human-Technology-Human Touch), emphasizes technology-enhanced learning with critical human connections. Economic Rebalancing constitutes the fifth pillar, directly addressing work-versus-education trade-offs that disproportionately impact different demographic groups. The sixth pillar, Enhanced Accelerated Education, provides condensed timelines, skills training, and internships to recapture and reintegrate out-of-school children. The final pillar, Supportive Ecosystems, can buffer barriers to schooling that are hidden from surveys. This multifaceted approach recognizes the complex, intersectional nature of educational exclusion, offering nuanced strategies to address systemic barriers across different age groups, genders, and regional contexts. Comments to this paper are welcome within 60 days from the date of posting. Email publications@pids.gov.ph. |
| Keywords: | out-of-school children;education access;kindergarten;senior high school;Philippines;educational policy |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:dpaper:dp_2025-34 |
| By: | Hardman, Scott PhD |
| Abstract: | More than 30 countries and several states and provinces (e.g., California, British Columbia) intend to reach 100% zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales by between 2025 and 2040. In 2024, 22% of global vehicle sales were plug-in electric vehicles (PEV), some large auto markets reached 10-30% in PEV sales, and some Nordic nations achieved sales of between 30% and 90%. Little research focuses specifically on challenges in reaching 100% ZEV sales. This policy brief is based on a literature review of the growing body of research on PEVs. The review focuses on understanding challenges in reaching 100% PEV sales and identifies current research questions on issues related to 100% PEV adoption. |
| Keywords: | Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Date: | 2024–02–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt0338k1mk |
| By: | Pilz, Madlen; Haupt, Wolfgang; Rößler, Stefanie; Renz, Lilly Sophie |
| Abstract: | Neue Arbeitsfelder, die aufgrund ihrer Komplexität die Arbeit verschiedener Ressorts berühren und deren Zusammenarbeit bedingen, wie Integration, Klimaschutz oder Klimaanpassung, werden in städtischen Verwaltungen in der Regel als Querschnittsaufgaben angelegt. In den Kommunen kann eine Vielzahl von Ansätzen im Umgang mit Querschnittsaufgaben beobachtet werden, es gibt jedoch keine klar definierten Standards, die Kommunen Hilfe und Orientierung bieten. Da die Aufgaben häufig auch keine Pflichtaufgaben sind, können Kommunen selten die zur Umsetzung notwendigen finanziellen Ressourcen mobilisieren. Die Folge ist, dass die Aufgaben häufig mit wenig Personal und geringem Ressourcenaufwand in den Verwaltungen realisiert werden, was jedoch selten der Komplexität der Aufgaben gerecht wird und von verschiedenen Seiten als unzureichend kritisiert wird. Wissenschaftler*innen am Leibniz-Institut für Raumbezogene Sozialforschung - IRS und am Leibniz- Institut für ökologische Raumentwicklung - IÖR haben in zwei transdisziplinären Forschungsprojekten, StadtumMig und ExTrass Umsetzungsstrategien und -praktiken von Integrations- und Klimaaufgaben als Querschnittsaufgaben in städtischen Verwaltungen untersucht. Ausgehend von Beobachtungen zu Hürden, aber auch erfolgversprechenden Ansätzen, haben die Wissenschaftler* innen transdisziplinäre Dialoge zur vertieften Reflexion mit Verwaltungsmitarbeitenden organisiert. Das Ziel war einerseits, einen Austausch über Ressortgrenzen und zwischen Kommunen zu initiieren, andererseits gemeinsam Wege zum Abbau von Hürden und Handlungsempfehlungen zu diskutieren. Die vorliegende Projektdokumentation richtet sich in erster Linie an Mitarbeitende kommunaler Verwaltungen, Kommunalpolitiker*innen und Akteur*innen der Zivilgesellschaft und Sozialarbeit, die häufig mit Verwaltungen zusammenarbeiten. Sie soll zu einer Diskussion über die Herangehensweisen und Umsetzungsmöglichkeiten von Arbeitsfeldern als Querschnittsaufgaben in Verwaltungen anregen. Sie soll Empfehlungen geben, wie über diese Aufgaben nachgedacht und Strategien zur Umsetzung entwickelt werden können. |
| Abstract: | In municipal administrations, new areas of work that are characterized by high complexity and that require cross-departmental cooperation are typically classified as cross-cutting tasks. Examples of such cross-cutting tasks include integration or climate mitigation and adaptation. A variety of approaches can be observed in how municipalities handle cross-cutting tasks; however, there are no clearly defined standards to guide or support them. Since these tasks are often not mandatory, municipalities rarely have the necessary financial resources to implement them. As a result, these tasks are often carried out with limited personnel and minimal resources, which rarely meets the complexity of the challenges and is frequently criticized as insufficient from various perspectives. Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Regional Social Research (IRS) and the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER) have studied the implementation strategies and practices of integration and climate-related tasks as cross-cutting tasks in municipal administrations through two transdisciplinary research projects: StadtumMig and ExTrass. Based on the observations of numerous obstacles, but also promising approaches the researchers set up transdisciplinary dialogues for reflection with administrative staff to promote deeper reflection. The aim was both to foster exchanges across departmental boundaries and between municipalities, and to jointly discuss ways of overcoming obstacles and formulate actionable recommendations. This project documentation is primarily intended for municipal administration staff, local politicians, and actors from civil society and social work who frequently collaborate with public administrations. Its aim is to stimulate discussion on approaches and implementation strategies for cross-cutting tasks within local governments and to provide recommendations on how these tasks can be conceptualized, along with strategies for their implementation. |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:irsdia:331858 |
| By: | Takayuki Sakuma |
| Abstract: | We apply quantum distributional compositional circuit (QDisCoCirc) to 3-class sentiment analysis of financial text. In our classical simulations, we keep the Hilbert-space dimension manageable by decomposing each sentence into short contiguous chunks. Each chunk is mapped to a shallow quantum circuit, and the resulting Bloch vectors are used as a sequence of quantum tokens. Simple averaging of chunk vectors ignores word order and syntactic roles. We therefore add a small Transformer encoder over the raw Bloch-vector sequence and attach a CCG-based type embedding to each chunk. This hybrid design preserves physically interpretable semantic axes of quantum tokens while allowing the classical side to model word order and long-range dependencies. The sequence model improves test macro-F1 over the averaging baseline and chunk-level attribution further shows that evidential mass concentrates on a small number of chunks, that type embeddings are used more reliably for correctly predicted sentences. For real-world quantum language processing applications in finance, future key challenges include circuit designs that avoid chunking and the design of inter-chunk fusion layers. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2511.18804 |
| By: | Abigail Barr (University of Nottingham); Uzma Afzal (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)); Daniele Nosenzo (Aarhus University) |
| Abstract: | We present three lab-in-the-field studies investigating systematic heterogeneity in cooperative decision-making across spouses in arranged and love-matched marriages in Pakistan, where the former is the tradition and the latter is associated with modernization. In Study 1, we engaged married couples in a one-shot, two-person, sequential public goods game, in which we applied the strategy method to the second mover. Using hierarchical clustering to analyze the strategy data, we categorized spouses into cooperative types and found that spouses in love-matched marriages are significantly more likely to be unconditionally cooperative. Spouses in love-matched marriages are also significantly more cooperative overall. In Study 2, we replicated our findings from Study 1 in a new sample of villages similarly close to a city but found that, as distance from the city increased, the love-matched effect declined. We interpreted this as suggestive evidence that there is less tolerance and support for love matches in more remote areas. In Study 2, by also engaging the spouses in games with neighbors, we established that the observed differences in cooperation between spouses in love-matched versus arranged marriages could not be explained by the selection of unconditionally cooperative people into love-matched marriages. Finally, in Study 3, we confirmed that there is indeed a social norm prescribing arranged marriage and that this norm is stronger in more remote villages. |
| Keywords: | Creativity; Associative Thinking; Methodology |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:not:notcdx:2025-02 |
| By: | Yasmine Elkhateeb; Riccardo Turati; Jérôme Valette |
| Abstract: | Does immigration challenge the identities, values, and cultural diversity of receiving societies? This paper addresses this question by analyzing the impact of immigration on cultural diversity in Europe between 2004 and 2018. It combines regional cultural diversity indices derived from the European Social Survey with immigration shares from the European Labor Force Survey. The results indicate that immigration increases the salience of birthplace identity along cultural lines, fostering a shift toward nativist identities among the native population. These identity shifts, in turn, trigger a process of cultural homogenization among natives. This effect is stronger in regions receiving culturally distant immigrants. It reflects a process of convergence toward the values of highly skilled liberal natives and divergence from those of low-skilled conservative immigrants. |
| Keywords: | Immigration;Social Identity;Cultural Diversity |
| JEL: | F22 D03 D72 Z10 |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cii:cepidt:2025-18 |
| By: | Musibau, Hammed (School of Economics and Public Policy, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia); Nepal, Rabindra (School of Business, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia); Jamasb, Tooraj (Department of Economics, Copenhagen Business School) |
| Abstract: | This study investigates environmental impacts of wealth inequality, and the moderating roles of governance quality, education, and readiness for green transition. Using CO2 emissions as a multidimensional indicator, the study employs panel data from 216 countries (1970-2023) and IV-2SLS methodology. Findings suggest equitable societies achieve better environmental outcomes through social cohesion and inclusive governance. Strong institutions, education access, and renewable energy investments mitigate inequality's environmental effects. |
| Keywords: | Wealth Inequality; Environmental Degradation; Governance; Green Energy; Education; Sustainable Development |
| JEL: | C33 H23 I25 O44 Q56 |
| Date: | 2025–08–27 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:cbsnow:2025_008 |
| By: | Dong Yang |
| Abstract: | The divergence in globalization strategies between the US (retrenchment and polarization) and China (expansion) presents a puzzle that traditional distributional theories fail to fully explain. This paper offers a novel framework by conceptualizing the globalized economy as a "Congestible Club Good, " leading to a "Fractured Metropolis." We argue that globalization flows ($M$) are constrained by domestic Institutional Capacity ($K$), which is heterogeneous and historically contingent. We introduce the concept of the "Optimization Cutoff": globalization incentivized the US to bypass costly domestic upgrades in favor of global expansion, leading to the long-term neglect of Public Capacity ($K_{Public}$). This historical path created a deep polarization. "Congested Incumbents, " reliant on the stagnant $K_{Public}$, experience globalization as chaos ($MC>MB$), while "Insulated Elites" use Private Capacity ($K_{Private}$) to bypass bottlenecks ($MB>MC$). This divergence paralyzes the consensus needed to restore $K_{Public}$, creating a "Capacity Trap" where protectionism becomes the politically rational, yet economically suboptimal, equilibrium. Empirically, we construct an Institutional Congestion Index using textual analysis (2000-2024), revealing an exponential surge in disorder-related keywords (from 272 hits to 1, 333). We triangulate this perception with the material failure of $K_{Public}$, such as the 3.7 million case backlog in US immigration courts. Our findings suggest the crisis of globalization is fundamentally a crisis of uneven institutional capacity and the resulting political paralysis. |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2512.05163 |
| By: | Jaime Alonso-Carrera (Universidade de Vigo); María Jesús Freire-Serén (Universidade de Vigo); Xavier Raurich (Universitat de Barcelona) |
| Abstract: | We measure sectoral price markups, elasticities of substitution between capital and labor, and rates of factor-augmenting technical change in the United States from 1947 to 2010. Our approach utilizes the user cost of capital to decompose firms' operating surplus into capital payments and profits, enabling a direct computation of sectoral price markups. The results reveal that these markups are time-varying and exhibit a positive trend since 1980 in both manufacturing and services, mirroring the observed behavior of markups in the aggregate economy. Additionally, we estimate the elasticities of substitution and the rates of technical progress for each sector. We find that the estimated values of these technological parameters vary significantly depending on the assumption regarding the market structure of sectoral goods: perfect or imperfect competition. |
| Keywords: | Price markups, sectoral productivity, elasticity of substitution, factor-augmenting technical change |
| JEL: | O11 O41 O47 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ewp:wpaper:483web |
| By: | Ernest G\'orka; Dariusz Baran; Gabriela Wojak; Micha{\l} \'Cwi\k{a}ka{\l}a; Sebastian Zupok; Dariusz Starkowski; Dariusz Re\'sko; Oliwia Okrasa |
| Abstract: | Artificial intelligence improves enterprise decision-making by accelerating data analysis, reducing human error, and supporting evidence-based choices. A quantitative survey of 92 companies across multiple industries examines how AI adoption influences managerial performance, decision efficiency, and organizational barriers. Results show that 93 percent of firms use AI, primarily in customer service, data forecasting, and decision support. AI systems increase the speed and clarity of managerial decisions, yet implementation faces challenges. The most frequent barriers include employee resistance, high costs, and regulatory ambiguity. Respondents indicate that organizational factors are more significant than technological limitations. Critical competencies for successful AI use include understanding algorithmic mechanisms and change management. Technical skills such as programming play a smaller role. Employees report difficulties in adapting to AI tools, especially when formulating prompts or accepting system outputs. The study highlights the importance of integrating AI with human judgment and communication practices. When supported by adaptive leadership and transparent processes, AI adoption enhances organizational agility and strengthens decision-making performance. These findings contribute to ongoing research on how digital technologies reshape management and the evolution of hybrid human-machine decision environments. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2512.02048 |
| By: | Ibadoghlu, Gubad |
| Abstract: | The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector holds strategic importance for Azerbaijan's ambitions to diversify beyond hydrocarbons and modernize its national economy. Yet, despite extensive public investment and infrastructure development, the sector's contribution to GDP, employment, and exports remains limited. Drawing on official statistics and policy documents for 2020-2025, this study examines the performance, structure, and constraints of Azerbaijan's ICT and digital economy. In 2024, ICT accounted for only 1.8 percent of GDP, 0.036 percent of total exports, and 1.4 percent of national employment. Research and development (R&D) expenditure remained below 0.3 percent of GDP, while Azerbaijan ranked 94th in the 2025 Global Innovation Index-well behind regional peers. The paper attributes the sector's underperformance to low innovation intensity, weak private-sector participation, and overreliance on state-led infrastructure projects such as Azercosmos, which, while symbolically important, have not produced broad technological spillovers. At the same time, Azerbaijan has made measurable progress in digital finance, with non-cash payments rising from 30 percent in 2021 to 64.2 percent in 2024. These advances, however, have not translated into a robust, innovation-driven ICT ecosystem. The findings suggest that Azerbaijan's digital transformation remains infrastructure-heavy but innovation-light, requiring a shift toward policies that promote R&D investment, entrepreneurial capacity, and integration into global digital value chains. |
| Keywords: | Azerbaijan, Digital Economy, ICT Sector, Innovation, R&D, Diversification, Azercosmos, E-Governance, Non-Cash Payments, Digital Transformation |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esprep:333330 |
| By: | Win, Myat Thida; Maredia, Mywish K.; Kanee, Sarah; Thwal, Nyein Soe |
| Keywords: | Land Economics/Use, International Development, Community/Rural/Urban Development |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea24:344009 |
| By: | Mr. Christian H Ebeke; Ms. Mireille Ntsama Etoundi |
| Abstract: | This paper provides new cross-country evidence that greater investment in agricultural R&D significantly mitigates the adverse effects of climate variability on crop yields in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this critical role, only a handful of countries have invested at levels sufficient to reach the thresholds where R&D delivers effective risk adaptation. Our analysis indicates that closing this gap would require an additional US$1–3 billion in annual agricultural research investment across the region. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural productivity; Climate variability; Research and Development; Sub-saharan Africa |
| Date: | 2025–12–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2025/249 |
| By: | - |
| Abstract: | La Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), en colaboración con Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, llevó a cabo un ejercicio metodológico para estimar daños, pérdidas y costos adicionales en el sector ambiental, con foco en áreas protegidas. La experiencia se desarrolló en tres parques nacionales piloto —Parque Nacional Natural Vía Parque Isla Salamanca, Parque Nacional Natural Sanquianga y Parque Nacional Natural Farallones de Cali— mediante la aplicación de la metodología de evaluación de daños y pérdidas (DaLA). Se construyó una línea de base para cada parque, que incluyó la estimación del capital natural y la valoración de los servicios ecosistémicos que dichos ecosistemas proveen, así como la estimación del costo de desastres específicos. Este trabajo puso en evidencia importantes desafíos metodológicos y la necesidad de establecer estándares nacionales para la restauración y valoración de los ecosistemas, y constituye un aporte concreto al fortalecimiento de las capacidades del país para enfrentar desastres ambientales, en línea con el Marco de Sendái para la Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres y los compromisos asumidos por Colombia en la 27ª Conferencia de las Partes de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático. |
| Date: | 2025–10–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecr:col022:82706 |
| By: | Xiang Gao; Cody Hyndman |
| Abstract: | We develop an arbitrage-free deep learning framework for yield curve and bond price forecasting based on the Heath-Jarrow-Morton (HJM) term-structure model and a dynamic Nelson-Siegel parameterization of forward rates. Our approach embeds a no-arbitrage drift restriction into a neural state-space architecture by combining Kalman, extended Kalman, and particle filters with recurrent neural networks (LSTM/CLSTM), and introduces an explicit arbitrage error regularization (AER) term during training. The model is applied to U.S. Treasury and corporate bond data, and its performance is evaluated for both yield-space and price-space predictions at 1-day and 5-day horizons. Empirically, arbitrage regularization leads to its strongest improvements at short maturities, particularly in 5-day-ahead forecasts, increasing market-consistency as measured by bid-ask hit rates and reducing dollar-denominated prediction errors. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2511.17892 |
| By: | Ntuli, Herbert (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Climate Services Research Group, Pretoria, South Africa and University of Pretoria, Department of Agricultural Economic, Extension and Rural Development and Environmental and Policy Research Unit, School of Economics, University of Cape Town); Muchapondwa, Edwin (Environmental and Policy Research Unit, School of Economics, University of Cape Town and Department of Social Sciences, Technology and Arts, Luleå University of Technology); Okumu, Boscow (The National Treasury and Economic Planning, Kenya); Tibesigwa, Byela (Department of Economics, University of Dar es Salaam); Dahlberg, Moa (Department of Social Sciences, Technology and Arts, Luleå University of Technology); Sundstrom, Aksel (Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg); Tibanywana, Julieth (Department of Economics, University of Dar es Salaam); Chikumbi, Lydia (Environmental and Policy Research Unit, School of Economics, University of Cape Town); Montsi, Kgomotso (Environmental and Policy Research Unit, School of Economics, University of Cape Town) |
| Abstract: | The establishment of Transfrontier Conservation Areas reflects efforts by governments to promote biodiversity-based economic opportunities while curbing illicit environmental resource extraction. Our understanding of the ways in which the biodiversity economy contributes to the livelihoods of communities living near protected areas is, however, constrained by the limited availability of data on illicit environmental activities. Based on a mixed method approach combining descriptive statistics and regression analysis, this study presents a novel approach to bridging this gap, using the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area as a case study. In this paper, our aim is to answer the following research questions: i) How does participation in the biodiversity economy (especially resource extraction) impact household welfare? ii) Does the impact differ across income distributions and according to gender? iii) Are there differences between the treatment effects of licit and illicit resource extraction? |
| Keywords: | Gender |
| JEL: | Q10 |
| Date: | 2025–11–25 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:gunefd:2025_011 |
| By: | F. Javier Rodríguez Román (University of Barcelona, BEAT); Lidia Cruces de Sousa (Goethe University Frankfurt) |
| Abstract: | Are financial incentives effective in increasing fertility rates? Empirical evidence suggests they are, primarily in the short run (around implementation). Can such policies also increase the total number of children in the long run? We address this question by using a structural life-cycle model of fertility and labor supply, calibrated to replicate the short-run effects of a cash transfer paid at childbirth implemented in 2007 in Spain. The model incorporates labor market duality, a defining feature of Spanish labor markets that negatively impacts fertility. Our calibrated model replicates a 6% increase in fertility rates in the short run but only generates a 3% rise in completed fertility over women’s lifetimes—the long run. Eliminating labor market duality increases lifetime fertility by 6.62%, but the discrepancy between short- and long-run effects of the incentive persists. These results highlight the limited impact of financial incentives alone to sustain fertility gains. |
| Keywords: | Cash Transfers, Fertility, Female Labor Force Participation, Dual Labor Markets, Life-Cycle |
| JEL: | J11 J13 J22 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ewp:wpaper:481web |
| By: | Yan, Hongqiang; Rejesus, Roderick M.; Chen, Le; Aglasan, Serkan |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, Production Economics |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea24:343580 |
| By: | Kim, Dohan; Milesi-Ferretti, Gian Maria |
| Abstract: | Over the past two decades, many emerging markets and developing economies have been viewed as increasingly resilient to external financial shocks. This paper assesses whether such resilience is broadly shared across emerging markets and developing economies by classifying them into three tiers based on economic size, income level, institutional strength, and financial integration. The analysis shows that first-tier emerging markets and developing economies have improved their external balance sheets and reduced dependence on official support. However, second- and third-tier emerging markets and developing economies have experienced growing external vulnerabilities since the global financial crisis, marked by rising external debt liabilities and declining foreign exchange reserves. Using a range of indicators, including sovereign defaults, arrears, partial defaults, and International Monetary Fund lending, the paper identifies episodes of external financial distress and shows that distress remains widespread among second- and third-tier emerging markets and developing economies. The empirical analysis confirms that key components of the net international investment position—especially external debt and foreign exchange reserves—predict the onset of external financial distress, with institutional quality shaping the impact. Weak institutions amplify risks, while strong institutions mitigate them. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing heterogeneity across emerging markets and developing economies, strengthening institutional quality alongside external balance-sheet management, and rebuilding buffers to safeguard against renewed global financial stress. |
| Date: | 2025–12–04 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:11274 |
| By: | Christian Buelens; Staffan Lindén |
| Abstract: | This paper looks at household inflation attention in the euro area, using the European Commission's Business and Consumer Survey. The main contributions are to measure inflation inattention and its drivers and to illustrate how inflation inattention differs across socio-economic categories (gender, income, education and age). We use two measures: self-reported inflation inattention, corresponding to the share of `don't know' responses and a new index of revealed inflation attention. This index assesses how well consumer inflation perceptions match actual inflation outturns and takes into account biases by survey participants. We find that inflation attention increases with inflation, and accelerates when inflation exceeds a certain level. Our results also show that inflation perceptions and expectations change not only due to revisions in views, but also because individuals switch from having no view to holding a view when inflation is high. We also find that there are structural differences in inflation inattention across socio-economic categories, which are closely related to the overestimation of inflation in these categories. These findings have implications for the interpretation of inflation perceptions and expectations and are relevant for the targeting of policy communication towards specific groups and depending on the inflation environment. |
| JEL: | C81 D83 D84 E31 E7 |
| Date: | 2025–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:euf:dispap:225 |
| By: | Josef Schroth |
| Abstract: | Time-varying capital buffer requirements are a powerful tool that allow bank regulators to avoid severe financial stress without the cost of imposing very high levels of capital. However, this tool is only effective if banks understand how it is used. I present a model that banks and financial market participants can use to anticipate how time-varying capital buffer requirements change over time. |
| Keywords: | Business fluctuations and cycles; Credit and credit aggregates |
| JEL: | E E1 E13 E3 E32 E4 E44 |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bca:bocsan:25-27 |
| By: | Paparella, Antonio; Petsakos, Athanasios; Davis, Kristin E.; Song, Chun |
| Abstract: | Manure is any excrement and urine of farmed animals and is considered a resource or waste, depending on where and how much is produced, and how it is used. It is an essential source of nutrients for plants, and it has been used for fertilizing soil and enhancing crop production since the advent of agriculture [1]. It reduces the reliance on chemical fertilizers in situations where they can be hard to find (or to afford) and in contexts like organic agriculture, where chemical fertilizers are avoided for ethical or policy reasons. Manure production worldwide is increasing [2] due to the growing demand for meat and animal-based products [3]. This trend raises concerns about the potential threat to ecosystems posed by manure, since several factors can contribute to environmental pollution hazards [4]. Manure contains high levels of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. When manure is applied to soil in excessive amounts, or during periods of heavy rainfall, these nutrients can enter nearby water bodies through the processes of leaching and runoff [5]. High levels of nitrates in water bodies can lead to excessive and rapid growth of algae, causing oxygen depletion and eutrophication [6]. This process can lead to the death of fish and other aquatic organisms that depend on oxygen to survive, ultimately resulting in habitat degradation and loss of biodiversity [7]. In fact, untreated manure spread onto soils is generally considered the principal cause of eutrophication [8], [9] and of nitrate freshwater pollution from agricultural sources [10] |
| Keywords: | sustainability; manure management; natural resources; nature conservation |
| Date: | 2025–10–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:antlsb:177483 |
| By: | Christina D Romer |
| Keywords: | fiscal-monetary interactions; policy coordination; central bank independence; fiscal consolidation |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rba:rbaacp:acp2025-01 |
| By: | Stracke, Stefan |
| Abstract: | Das Backgewerbe befindet sich seit vielen Jahren in einem tiefgreifenden Strukturwandel. Die Zahl kleiner und mittlerer Betriebe mit Wurzeln im Bäckerhandwerk ist stetig zurückgegangen. Gleichzeitig haben sich einige Bäckereien zu Großfilialisten und Lieferbäckereien entwickelt, die den industriellen Teil des Backgewerbes prägen. Der Mangel an Personal und Fachkräften stellt - neben der hohen Arbeitsbelastung der Beschäftigten - eine der größten Herausforderungen für das Backgewerbe dar, insbesondere im Bäckerhandwerk. Die Studie gibt einen Überblick über die aktuelle Situation des Backwarenmarktes und der Mühlenwirtschaft in Deutschland und analysiert Beschäftigtenstruktur, Tariflandschaft, Arbeitsbedingungen und Stand der Technisierung. |
| Keywords: | Fachkräftemangel, Getreide, Handwerk, Zentralverband des Deutschen Bäckerhandwerks |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:hbsfof:333419 |
| By: | Quisumbing, Agnes R.; Albert, Jose Ramon G.; Bayudan-Dacuycuy, Connie; Vargas, Anna Rita P.; Basillote, Lovelaine B.; Luzon, Paola Ellaine D.; Mahmoud, Mohammad A.; Cabalfin, Deanne Lorraine D. |
| Abstract: | This study examines the Philippines' progress toward achieving gender equality, disability inclusion, and social inclusion (GEDSI) through an analysis of available data on Goals 5 (Gender Equality) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 2015 to 2025. The research reveals substantial policy achievements alongside critical implementation gaps that undermine transformational potential, with intersecting forms of marginalization creating complex patterns of exclusion that require integrated policy responses. Despite robust legal frameworks, including the Magna Carta of Women and the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, significant inequalities persist for women, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples (IPs), and marginalized groups across multiple dimensions of identity and experience. Using descriptive and intersectional analytics, Shapley decomposition, and intersectional analysis, the study combines quantitative data from national surveys with qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews to examine how gender, disability, ethnicity, and geography interact to shape development outcomes. Key findings show notable advances in gender equality indicators, but persistent challenges remain for persons with disabilities (12% of the population aged 15+, with 15% female prevalence versus 9% male). Multiple identities intersect to create unique patterns of disadvantage, with substantial regional disparities. Key findings reveal stark disparities across marginalized groups that demonstrate the inadequacy of single-identity approaches to inclusion. For persons with disabilities, severe disability prevalence varies dramatically by educational attainment, from 39 percent among those with no formal education (reaching 55% among women compared to 23% among men) to just 6 percent among college graduates. Ethnic variations are equally pronounced, with Waray speakers experiencing 21 percent overall disability prevalence, including 31 percent among women versus 11 percent among men. IPs face compounded disadvantages through intersecting barriers: gender gaps in labor market participation are significantly larger among IPs and Muslim ethnic groups, with Indigenous women's engagement in unpaid family work more than three times higher than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Educational exclusion reflects both ethnic and administrative barriers, as around 20 percent of Muslim ethnic groups and 10 percent of IPs lack birth registration, fundamentally limiting access to essential services. About half of Indigenous and Muslim ethnic groups did not progress beyond elementary school, compared to less than one-third among non-Indigenous peoples, while more than half remain concentrated in agriculture, compared to 19 percent of non-IPs. Intersectional analysis reveals that multiple identities create distinctive experiences of marginalization that cannot be understood through additive approaches. The research demonstrates that spatial inequalities often exceed ethnic disparities, while ethnic inequalities in education remain particularly pronounced and significantly correlated with poverty. The systematic exclusion of IPs creates what is referred to as "statistical invisibility, " where IPs remain hidden in national statistics, constituting the first layer of social, economic, and political exclusion that undermines evidence-based policy development. Critical implementation deficits center on the Gender and Development (GAD) budget crisis, where the mandatory 5% allocation has become compliance-oriented rather than transformational. Widespread fund misuse, weak accountability mechanisms, and the institutional weakening of oversight bodies significantly limit the effectiveness of GAD budget interventions. Priority reforms include transforming GAD budgeting through outcome-based criteria, restoring institutional architecture, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and developing intersectional monitoring systems. Strategic interventions focus on legislative harmonization, capacity building, and anti-discrimination enforcement. Women with disabilities face compounded marginalization through both stigma and infrastructural barriers, while rural women with disabilities encounter additional transport challenges that one-off programs fail to address. The study's policy recommendations emphasize four priority reform areas that can collectively accelerate progress toward inclusive development. Legislative and regulatory reforms must harmonize existing laws with international standards, particularly regarding disability rights and protections for indigenous peoples. Budget and resource allocation reforms should transform GAD budgeting through outcome-based criteria while establishing community-controlled funding mechanisms that respect indigenous governance structures. Institutional capacity building requires systematic strengthening across all government levels, with mandatory GEDSI training for personnel and enhanced technical assistance for local government units. Improvements in data and monitoring systems must develop intersectional indicators, strengthen community-based monitoring mechanisms, and address the statistical invisibility of marginalized groups through systematic data collection and analysis. This research provides evidence-based recommendations for addressing intersectional inequalities and accelerating progress toward inclusive development that ensures no one is left behind in achieving the 2030 SDGs. Through integrated policy interventions that recognize how multiple forms of disadvantage compound to create unique patterns of exclusion, transformational change that reaches the Philippines' most marginalized populations in pursuit of the 2030 SDGs is ensured. Comments to this paper are welcome within 60 days from the date of posting. Email publications@pids.gov.ph. |
| Keywords: | GEDSI;gender equality;disability inclusion;social inclusion;intersectionality;SDG 5;SDG 10;persons with disabilities;indigenous peoples;marginalized groups;multiple discrimination;intersection analysis;statistical invisibility;compound marginalization;gender-responsive budgeting;GAD budget reform;institutional strengthening;legislative harmonization;community-controlled funding;inclusive development;Shapley decomposition;educational exclusion;labor market discrimination;ancestral domain rights;outcome-based budgeting;evidence-based policy |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:dpaper:dp_2025-35 |
| By: | Fiechter, Chad M.; Miller, Noah J.; Ifft, Jennifer; Nelson, Blaine |
| Keywords: | Agricultural Finance, Financial Economics, Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea24:343924 |
| By: | Ziyao Wang; A. Alexandre Trindade; Svetlozar T. Rachev |
| Abstract: | This paper develops a three-dimensional decomposition of volatility memory into orthogonal components of level, shape, and tempo. The framework unifies regime-switching, fractional-integration, and business-time approaches within a single canonical representation that identifies how each dimension governs persistence strength, long-memory form, and temporal speed. We establish conditions for existence, uniqueness, and ergodicity of this decomposition and show that all GARCH-type processes arise as special cases. Empirically, applications to SPY and EURUSD (2005--2024) reveal that volatility memory is state-dependent: regime and tempo gates dominate in equities, while fractional-memory gates prevail in foreign exchange. The unified tri-gate model jointly captures these effects. By formalizing volatility dynamics through a level--shape--tempo structure, the paper provides a coherent link between information flow, market activity, and the evolving memory of financial volatility. |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2512.02166 |
| By: | Bayudan-Dacuycuy, Connie; Vargas, Anna Rita P.; Luzon, Paola Ellaine D. |
| Abstract: | Cognizant of the persistent concerns about the misalignment of skills and education with industry and occupation needs, this paper investigates the returns to professional licenses alongside education-occupation matching. It also analyzes the effects of individual and higher education attributes on basic pay. Results indicate that individual and school characteristics are important, but labor market experiences and structural mismatches play a more significant role in determining pay premiums. There are observed payoffs in holding a license when education and occupation credentials align. Beyond reforms in the education sector, policies are needed to ensure that education and learning lead to desirable labor market outcomes. Comments to this paper are welcome within 60 days from the date of posting. Email publications@pids.gov.ph. |
| Keywords: | labor market outcomes;returns to professional licenses;higher education institutions;education-occupation match;skill mismatch;overeducation;work experience |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:dpaper:dp_2025-32 |
| By: | Bietenbeck, Jan (Lund University); Maschmann, Lukas (Lund University); Nilsson, Therese (Lund University); Spika, Devon (University of Zurich) |
| Abstract: | We examine whether culturally transmitted time and risk preferences help explain differences in preventive health care uptake. We combine individual-level survey data from 27 European countries with country-level preference measures from the Global Preferences Survey. To isolate cultural influences from institutional and economic confounders, we focus on second-generation immigrants, who were born and currently reside in the same country -- and thus face the same institutional environment and health care system -- but whose parents originate from culturally distinct countries. We find that descendants of more patient cultures are more likely to use preventive services, while those from more risk-taking cultures are less likely to do so. These associations appear across multiple preventive care outcomes and remain robust to a wide range of socio-demographic and country-of-origin controls. The results highlight the role of culturally shaped preferences as a subtle but systematic determinant of preventive health behavior. |
| Keywords: | patience, culture, preventive care, risk-taking |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18301 |
| By: | Devender Saini; Bhavika Jain; Nitish Ujjwal; Philip Sommer; Dan Romuald Mbanga; Dhagash Mehta |
| Abstract: | In regulated domains such as finance, the integrity and governance of data pipelines are critical - yet existing systems treat data quality control (QC) as an isolated preprocessing step rather than a first-class system component. We present a unified AI-driven Data QC and DataOps Management framework that embeds rule-based, statistical, and AI-based QC methods into a continuous, governed layer spanning ingestion, model pipelines, and downstream applications. Our architecture integrates open-source tools with custom modules for profiling, audit logging, breach handling, configuration-driven policies, and dynamic remediation. We demonstrate deployment in a production-grade financial setup: handling streaming and tabular data across multiple asset classes and transaction streams, with configurable thresholds, cloud-native storage interfaces, and automated alerts. We show empirical gains in anomaly detection recall, reduction of manual remediation effort, and improved auditability and traceability in high-throughput data workflows. By treating QC as a system concern rather than an afterthought, our framework provides a foundation for trustworthy, scalable, and compliant AI pipelines in regulated environments. |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2512.05559 |
| By: | Paparella, Antonio; Petsakos, Athanasios; Davis, Kristin E.; Song, Chun |
| Abstract: | The relationship between plants and pollinators is widely recognized as one of the most significant forms of ecological interactions [1]. Without pollinators, numerous plant species could not reproduce. Additionally, many animals rely on plants for essential resources such as pollen and nectar. This relationship is remarkably frequent in nature, with an estimated 87% of flowering plants pollinating through animal interaction [2]. Consequently, pollinators are also essential for humanity, especially for their contribution to food security since they are necessary to produce various crop commodities [3]. The production of medicines, biofuels, and construction materials relies, to some extent, on the pollination carried out by animals. Finally, the livelihood of many people is based on beekeeping and honey gathering, which are ancient activities yet still important in many rural communities [3]. Pollination is a recognized ecosystem service, and its economic value has been assessed numerous times [4], [5], [6]. However, we witness a rapid biodiversity decline in terms of wild pollinators, which is caused by human activities [7]. Among the factors leading to this decline, the intensive and improper use of agrochemicals is arguably the most severe [8]. For instance, the practice of seed coating with systemic pesticides (such as Imidacloprid) affects the nectar and pollen, causing a potential threat to pollinators [9], [10]. Habitat fragmentation, loss, and degradation are also important drivers of the decline of wild pollinators. These can be caused by urbanization, removal of “waste places” like hedgerows and field margins, and (over)grazing and early cutting of hay meadows [8]. Climate change is an additional risk, interrupting the timely synchronization of plant-pollinator interactions |
| Keywords: | pollinators; integrated pest management; natural resources; nature conservation |
| Date: | 2025–10–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:antlsb:177484 |
| By: | Kai A. Konrad; Marcel Thum |
| Abstract: | The enforcement of international sanctions is frequently undermined by multiple third-party sanction-breaking countries. This paper examines how a sanctioning country can optimally negotiate with several such loophole countries to close the enforcement gaps. We compare several sequential and simultaneous bargaining strategies. Suitably chosen sequencing, but also simultaneous negotiations under the Single-Undertaking Principle can minimize the cost to the sanctioning country by creating competitive pressure among the loophole countries. We find that, if the desire to make the sanctioning regime effective is sufficiently high, the ultimate goal of closing the sanction loopholes is achieved for all sequencing rules of ultimatum bargaining we consider. However, the equilibrium size and distribution of compensation among loophole countries differ. We characterize the optimal sequential strategy and the optimal simultaneous-offer strategy. Furthermore, for well-chosen negotiation strategies, the sum of compensations paid to multiple loophole countries is lower than if there is only one loophole country. |
| Keywords: | sanctions, negotiations, geoeconomics, conflict, trade |
| JEL: | F13 F51 C78 H56 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12308 |
| By: | Cheng Weilun; Liang Zongxia; Wang Sheng; Xia Jianming |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates infinite-dimensional portfolio selection problem under a general distribution of the risk aversion parameter. We provide a complete characterization of all deterministic equilibrium investment strategies. Our results reveal that the solution structure depends critically on the distribution of risk aversion: the equilibrium is unique whenever it exists in the case of finite expected risk aversion, whereas an infinite expectation can lead to infinitely many equilibria or to a unique trivial one (pi equals 0). To address this multiplicity, we introduce three optimality criteria-optimal, uniformly optimal, and uniformly strictly optimal-and explicitly characterize the existence and uniqueness of the corresponding equilibria. Under the same necessary and sufficient condition, the optimal and uniformly optimal equilibria exist uniquely and coincide. Furthermore, by additionally assuming that the market price of risk is non-zero near the terminal time, we show that the optimal (and hence uniformly optimal) equilibrium is also uniformly strictly optimal. Finally, we perform comparative statics to demonstrate that a risk aversion distribution dominating another in the reverse hazard rate order leads to a less aggressive equilibrium strategy. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2512.00830 |
| By: | Kraft, Stephan; Manzer, Steffen |
| Abstract: | Die Branchenanalyse bietet einen umfassenden Einblick in die Industrie für Technische Elastomer-Erzeugnisse (TEE). Die Studie untersucht zunächst strukturrelevante Aspekte wie Branchenkonzentration, Standort- und Wettbewerbssituation, Produktsegmente, Außenhandel sowie Investitions- und Innovationsverhalten bis hin zu Kreislaufwirtschaft. Zudem werden beschäftigungsrelevante Aspekte wie die Entwicklung der Beschäftigtenzahlen, Arbeitszeitmodelle, Kurzarbeit, Qualifikationen, Verdienste, Tarifbindung und Arbeitsschutz analysiert. Abschließend liefert eine SWOT-Analyse wertvolle Einblicke in Stärken, Schwächen, Chancen und Risiken der Branche und zeigt auf, welche unternehmerischen und politischen Maßnahmen notwendig sind, um Beschäftigung und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit zukunftssicher zu gestalten. |
| Keywords: | Elastomerwerkstoffe, Grundstoffindustrie, Gummiwaren, Reifen, Kautschuk |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:hbsfof:333418 |
| By: | Lim, Changsik; Kim, Miwha; Im, Jeongbin |
| Keywords: | International Development, International Relations/Trade, Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea24:343626 |
| By: | Clark, Harrison; Chen, Xuqi; Yenerall, Jackie |
| Keywords: | Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Consumer/Household Economics, Marketing |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea24:343781 |