|
on Transition Economics |
| By: | Snowdon, Christopher |
| Abstract: | What would government regulation of food, alcohol, vaping, tobacco and soft drinks look like in a more liberal Britain? There would be a lot less of it, naturally, but there would not be none. An ultra-libertarian approach would be to remove all sin taxes, abolish all health warnings, legalise all drugs, abolish age limits and sack every public health worker. But let us be realistic. Britain has been awash with nanny state policies for the last twenty years. Some of them are popular, and several of them can be justified on economic grounds. Rather than endorse a free-for-all, this paper sets itself the more modest task of making the UK the freest place in Europe for people who want to eat, drink, smoke and vape without being punished by the state. Every two years I edit the Nanny State Index, a league table of 30 European countries showing how they compare with regard to the over-regulation of food, soft drinks, alcohol and nicotine products. None of these countries is a libertarian utopia by any stretch of the imagination. Public health paternalism exists in them all, not least because of EU regulation. But there is a wide variation between the freest and most paternalistic nations. Germany and the Czech Republic have been the best performers in recent years and sit at the bottom of the table, while the top of the table is dominated by countries in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. The UK has always been in the top half, with high scores for everything except e-cigarette regulation. At the end of this paper, we will look at what needs to be done to get the UK to the bottom of the league table and make it the best country in Europe for lifestyle freedom, but first we need to define our terms and ask what problem we are seeking to solve. |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ieadps:314031 |
| By: | Niemietz, Kristian |
| Abstract: | Until very recently, Britain's National Health Service used to be beyond argument. The reverence for the health service often precluded anything resembling a rational discussion around it: the social taboos were simply too strong. Yet over the past two years or so, this has begun to change. We can now quite regularly find articles in the mainstream media which openly criticise the NHS, and point to better alternatives. In particular, advocacy of Social Health Insurance (SHI) systems has become part of the mainstream debate. SHI systems are market-based, competitive and largely non-state systems, in which the role of the state is not to run healthcare facilities, but to insure universal access. In terms of clinical outcomes, these systems tend to outperform the NHS, and they have done so for as long as we have data. This is not simply the result of better funding. While examples of a wholesale switch from an NHS-type system to an SHI-type system are rare, they do exist. The Czech Republic and Slovakia did precisely that over the course of the 1990s, and eastern Germany did so in the early 1990s as part of the Reunification process. The example of the Netherlands is also instructive. They never had a national health service, but until the mid-2000s, they had a system which, while notionally private, was very NHS-like in practice. Since then, they have replaced that system with a competitive, market-based, private SHI system. None of these examples are easily transferable to the UK, but what they do show is that a transition from one healthcare system to another need not be especially disruptive. It can be done in an orderly fashion, and it has been successfully done. |
| Keywords: | Statutory health insurance, health care, health financing, Great Britain |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ieadps:314028 |
| By: | Khakimov, Parviz; Ashurov, Timur; Goibov, Manuchehr; Aliev, Jovidon |
| Abstract: | This study examines the growth and challenges in Tajikistan’s agriculture sector, highlighting its role as a key driver of the country’s development despite significant constraints and challenges, including inputs scarcity and climate change. The agriculture sector has seen an increase in gross outputs and sectoral value added, contributing to domestic needs due to population and income growth. However, Tajikistan still has the lowest agricultural value added per worker in Central Asia and remains a net importer of agrifood products, primarily due to the underdevelopment of the food processing sector. Key growth drivers include sectoral reforms, shifts in land allocation, and government incentives. Despite these efforts, regional disparities in productivity persist, and access to inputs such as fertilizers and mechanization remains limited. The paper emphasizes the need for improved access to finance, agricultural inputs, and extension services to ensure sustainable development and food security. Recommendations include enhancing the capacity of national agricultural research and development institutions, promoting climate-smart agriculture, and improving water and irrigation management. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of developing the livestock sector through improved feeding, breeding, and veterinary services. Overall, a comprehensive approach addressing policy, institutional, economic, and technological gaps is crucial for the sustainable advancement of Tajikistan’s agriculture sector. |
| Keywords: | agriculture; development; policy analysis; reforms; Tajikistan; Asia; Central Asia |
| Date: | 2024–12–14 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:gsspwp:168997 |
| By: | Huynh, Quynh (University College London); Ku, Hyejin (University College London) |
| Abstract: | We examine the relationship between economic development and female labor force participation, with a focus on the impact of gender norms. Analyzing quasi-random variation in provincial exports in reunified Vietnam from 2002 to 2018, we find that a positive economic shock led to a significant decline in women’s labor market engagement, particularly among married women from wealthier households and those with husbands in more skilled occupations. This trend is more pronounced in the South (formerly capitalist) than in the North (always socialist), and among native Southerners compared to Northerners relocated to the South after the war. Our findings highlight the importance of gender role attitudes in shaping women’s responses to rising incomes. |
| Keywords: | female labor force participation, social norms, gender role attitudes, income and substitution effects, trade liberalization |
| JEL: | J16 J22 O12 |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17911 |
| By: | Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés; Bartalucci, Federico; Rau, Genadiy |
| Abstract: | This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the growing regional divide in Kazakhstan, examining the dimensions and implications of spatial inequality in a country that has experienced robust economic growth in recent decades. We employ convergence analysis, a Regional Development Trap Index, and a Regional Competitiveness Index to measure territorial inequalities across Kazakhstan. Our findings reveal that whilst the country has achieved relatively rapid aggregate economic growth, this has been accompanied by a widening territorial divide. Wealth and economic activities are becoming increasingly concentrated in major urban centres such as Almaty and Astana, whilst other regions —particularly those in the south— continue to lag significantly behind. These results highlight an increasingly polarised nation, where certain regions benefit from economic dynamism and Kazakhstan's international integration, whilst others remain trapped in low-growth equilibria. The article concludes by offering targeted policy recommendations aimed at promoting inclusive growth, enhancing regional competitiveness, and reducing spatial disparities throughout Kazakhstan. |
| Keywords: | regional inequalities; Kazakhstan; agglomeration economies; globalisation; convergence; development traps; regional competitiveness; spatial disparities; institutional quality; inclusive growth |
| JEL: | R11 O18 R58 P25 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:128410 |
| By: | Renate Lorenz |
| Abstract: | How does the arrival of a new immigrant group affect earlier generations of immigrants? Do group relations and self-identification change? Previous research on ethnic boundaries is usually restricted to a two-group paradigm and primarily focuses on the majority group’s perspective. In contrast, this study analyzes how the arrival of refugees in Germany influenced previous immigrants of Turkish and Polish origin by exploiting regional and temporal variation in refugee immigration. I combine macro data about refugees with individual longitudinal data of a large-scale German panel survey (SOEP) from 2012 to 2018 based on a random sample. Using fixed effects estimations, this study finds that an increasing proportion of refugees in a county increased concerns about immigration and decreased self-reported discrimination among Turkish (N = 676 respondents, n = 2, 914 person-years) and Polish (N = 513 respondents, n = 2, 141 person-years) respondents. Moreover, Turkish immigrants showed a tendency to feel more German and felt closer to Turkey at the same time. Poles also felt more German but not closer to Poland. These results are in line with the theoretical assumptions that minority groups tend to distance themselves from new immigrants, and use the opportunity to improve their own social position by strengthening their identification with the majority and/or with their own ethnic group. |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp1225 |
| By: | Niftiyev, Ibrahim |
| Abstract: | Rapidly changing global economic conditions and geopolitical tensions are prompting countries to rethink their energy and food security strategies more rigorously than ever before. This urgency is particularly evident in many developing countries, especially those of the former Soviet Union (FSU), which have intensified their efforts to reconceptualize agro-industrial complexes (AICs) concerning energy efficiency and renewable energy. The aim of this study is to conduct an integrative literature review to provide a systematic and comprehensive perspective on this subject. An analysis based on the Scopus and Google Scholar databases shows that AICs have attracted considerable interest in recent years due to their potential to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the agricultural sectors. The main issue with AICs is the urgent need to scale up their application in conjunction with sustainable development practices such as green growth, circular economy and energy transition. The integration of renewable energy sources into AICs can improve agricultural development by promoting the production and integration of sustainable energy into the agricultural sector. The literature review concludes with theoretical and conceptual implications on the studied topic that will be of interest to scholars, policy makers and businesses. |
| Keywords: | energy efficiency, integrative literature review, renewable energy integration, sustainable agriculture, synthesis, agro-industrial complexes, circular economy |
| JEL: | Q42 Q16 O13 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esprep:319683 |
| By: | Pechtl, Sarah; Mardonova Tolibkhonovna, Mohru; Ergasheva, Tanzila; Lambrecht, Isabel B. |
| Abstract: | Tajikistan faces food insecurity and multiple forms of malnutrition in its population, with women particularly at risk. Social norms related to gender and intrahousehold hierarchy are pervasive and are commonly upheld in household roles. Yet, how gender may impact dietary intake in Tajikistan remains to be studied. Understanding this mechanism is critical to develop adequate strategies for effective, equitable progress in mitigating malnutrition and food insecurity. mixed-methods study was conducted to assess the extent and identify the drivers of gender-based and intrahousehold differences in dietary intake in Khatlon Province, Tajikistan. Predictors of food intake and dietary diversity were statistically assessed using quantitative survey data from 1, 704 individuals collected in winter- and springtime 2023. Qualitative data from 12 focus group discussions, 20 individual interviews, and 22 Photovoice interviews collected in winter- and springtime 2024 was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to further ascertain and understand these drivers. We find gender differences in dietary diversity, with women reporting lower dietary diversity than men, even when comparing men and women living in the same household. Among women, there are significant differences in dietary diversity based on their role in the household. Gendered social norms and intrahousehold power relations influence food acquisition, preparation, distribution, and consumption. Men, particularly household heads, and children tend to be prioritized over women in consuming food products that are deemed more nutritious (e.g., meat). Women adapt their food intake to meet the expectations and needs of other household members. This study highlights the importance of considering household dynamics and gender roles when creating programs and policies aiming to equitably address food and nutrition insecurity and malnutrition. The findings suggest that mitigating malnutrition in Tajikistan will necessitate gender equity-focused social behavior change interventions targeting women and men across different generations. |
| Keywords: | food security; malnutrition; gender; diet; intrahousehold relations; dietary diversity; Tajikistan; Central Asia |
| Date: | 2024–11–27 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:gsspwp:162924 |
| By: | Kertesi, Gabor (Institute of Economics, Budapest); Köllő, János (Institute of Economics, Budapest); Károlyi, Róbert (HUN-REN Centre for Economic and Regional Studies); Szabó, Lajos Tamás (Central European University) |
| Abstract: | Hungary's sizeable Roma minority is hit by massive prejudice. Using 2011 Census data and supplementary sources, we study how ethnic bias translates to employment discrimination in local labor markets. The male ethnic employment gap, adjusted for a rich battery of controls, was 20-40 percent wider than average if, and only if, the local population strongly supported an openly anti-Roma far-right party and, at the same time, small firms had a substantial share in the local economy. Roma women's (very low) employment is less responsive to prejudice and the small firm share. The results for men, the sole breadwinners in most Roma families, survive robustness checks and confrontation with alternative explanations. Since small firms easily elude the anti-discrimination regulations, the results draw attention to the limits of legal instruments and call for active policy. |
| Keywords: | minorities, discrimination, regional labor markets, small firms |
| JEL: | J15 J71 R23 D22 |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17901 |
| By: | Batsaikhan, mongoljin; Kamei, Kenju |
| Abstract: | Team-based collaboration is integral to education, work, and daily life, fostering ability-driven peer effects through discussions, social comparisons, and knowledge sharing. Despite extensive evidence of peer effects in specific contexts, their broader impacts on comparable but different activities remain underexplored. Our study addresses this gap using a novel dataset from Mongolia that combines a natural field experiment in classrooms, university entrance examination scores, and grade point averages in the university. First-year undergraduate students were randomly paired to collaboratively complete weekly assignments throughout a course. Low-ability students (based on their entrance exam scores) paired with high-ability peers significantly improved their academic performance not only in the specific course but also in other concurrent courses, showing strong spillover effects. The magnitude of the spill-over relative to the direct effect was 0.723. These pairings had no adverse effects on high-ability students. The findings highlight the Pareto efficiency of peer interactions in groups with large ability differences and offer insights into improving productivity and learning through ability-based spillovers. |
| Keywords: | peer effects, spillover effects, a natural field experiment, teamwork |
| JEL: | C93 I23 M53 M54 |
| Date: | 2025–05–20 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:124793 |
| By: | Dukanovic, Danilo; Krpan, Dario |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the efficacy of AI-driven chatbots in accurately inferring personality traits compared to traditional psychometric tests within a real-world professional hiring context. The study is driven by the increasing integration of AI tools in recruitment processes, which necessitates a deeper understanding of their reliability and validity. Using a quasi-experimental design with propensity score matching, we analysed data from 159 candidates and other professionals from Serbian and Montenegrin regions who completed both traditional psychometric assessments and AI-based personality evaluations based on the Big Five Personality model. A novel one-question-per-facet approach was employed in the chatbot assessments with a goal of enabling more granular analysis of the chatbot’s psychometric properties. The findings indicate that the chatbot demonstrated good structural, substantive, and convergent validity for certain traits, particularly Extraversion and Conscientiousness, but not for Neuroticism, Agreeableness, and Openness. While robust regression confirmed that AI-inferred scores are less susceptible to social desirability bias than traditional tests, they did not significantly predict real-world outcomes, indicating issues with external validity, particularly predictive validity. The results suggest that AI-driven chatbots show promise for identifying certain personality traits and demonstrate resistance to social desirability bias. This paper contributes to the emerging field of AI and psychometrics by offering insights into the potential and limitations of AI tools in professional selection, while developing an approach for refining psychometric properties of AI-driven assessments. |
| Keywords: | big five; professional selection; chatbots; social desirability bias; personality; AI; hiring |
| JEL: | L81 |
| Date: | 2025–04–25 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:128106 |