New Insight into the Coupled Grain–Disaster–Economy System Based on a Multilayer Network: An Empirical Study in China

Natural disasters occur frequently causing huge economic losses and reduced grain production. Therefore, it is important to thoroughly explore the spatial correlations between grain, disaster, and the economy. Based on inter-provincial panel data in China in 2019, this study integrates complex network and co-occurrence theory into a coupled grain–disaster–economy (GDE) multilayer network, which provides a new perspective to further explore the spatial correlation between these three systems. We identify the spatial coupled characteristics of the GDE multilayer network using three aspects: degree, centrality, and community detection. The research results show the following: (1) Provinces in the major grain-producing regions have a stronger role in allocating and controlling grain resources, and the correlation between grain and disasters in these provinces is stronger and more prone to disasters. Whereas provinces in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei economic zone, and the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta economic zones, such as Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang, have a high level of economic development, thereby a stronger ability to allocate economic resources. (2) The economic subsystem assumes a more important, central role compared with the grain and disaster subsystems in the formation and development of the coupled GDE multilayer network, with a stronger coordination for the co-development between the complex grain, disaster, and economy systems in the nodal provinces of the network. (3) The community modularity of the coupled GDE multilayer network is significantly higher than that of the three single-layer networks, indicating a more reasonable community division after coupling the three subsystems. The identification of the spatial characteristics of GDE using multilayer network analysis offers a new perspective on taking various measures to improve the joint sustainable development of grain, disaster, and the economy in different regions of China according to local conditions.

Climate change in the Western Balkans and EU Green Deal: status, mitigation and challenges

Background The European Commission (EC), based on the European Green Deal (2019) and the Recovery plan for Europe (2021), envisages investing 30% of the budget in climate-related programs, projects, and initiatives, which clearly shows Europe's commitment to becoming the first climate-neutral region by 2050. Activities are also planned for countries that are not members of the European Union (EU), which require complex changes in the field of legislation, strategic planning, implementation, and monitoring. To successfully plan short-term and long-term activities on these grounds, it is necessary to have a realistic picture of the state of climate change in each country—as they spill over into the entire region of Europe. The main objective of this paper is to answer the following questions: (i) is climate change observed in Western Balkans? (ii) how are certain sectors vulnerable to climate change in Western Balkans? (iii) what are the climate change adaptation strategies in the six countries of the Western Balkans? The answers to these questions can help in planning activities and initial alignment of Western Balkan countries with the EU plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Main body The main results of the research show that in all countries of the region, the average annual temperature increased by 1.2 °C compared to 1970, with stabilization and the beginning of the decline which can be expected around 2040. The main reasons for climate change in the region are: industry, energy, and heating sector based on coal exploitation, low energy efficiency, etc. Conclusions It can be concluded that Croatia as a member of the EU has adopted, and other five Western Balkans countries are in the process of adopting the necessary regulations and strategies towards climate change mitigation, but the implementation of specific activities is at a low level. The reason for this most often lies in the insufficient commitment of decision-makers to make significant changes in the field of climate change transition (lower level of economic development, lack of investment, and preservation of social peace). Finally, this paper provides an overview of climate change by country, scenario analysis, and policy recommendations.

The Impact of Awareness Regarding Environmental Protection Laws on Ecological Degradation

Global environmental troubles are gaining significance because of the speedy and antagonistic speed of urbanization. Environmental degradation restricts the flow of environmental services. Dumping of pollutants in excess of its assimilative capacity into air, water, and soil results in deterioration of the quality of these vital resources. The nature of environmental problem depends upon the level of economic development and the geographical condition of the area under consideration. India being a developing economy with a low per capita income, high population density, agriculture-dependent labour force, and high percentage of rural areas, the problems here are different from those in developed countries. The chapter highlights the impact of knowledge regarding environmental protection issues on environmental degradation.

Potential of Kazakhstan’s grain export trade

ABSTRACT: Kazakhstan is located in the hinterland of Central Asia. Its virtuous geographical advantages and huge grain production potential make it one of the most important grain exporters in the world. The research on the problem of the grain trade in Kazakhstan is of great significance for food security. This study measured its international competitiveness using the International Market Share Index, the Revealed Comparative Advantage Index, Trade competitiveness index and calculated the international competitiveness and analyzed the influencing factors of grain export by constructing an extended gravity model and measured its export potential. Results showed that Kazakhstan has a low share of the international grain market; however, wheat, barley, and buckwheat have strong export advantages; the level of economic development and economic distance has significantly promoted the scale of grain exports. While geographical distance, the difference in GDP per capita, and the fact whether trading partner countries have joined the Eurasian Economic Union have caused obstacles to grain exports. Kazakhstan’s export potential to 6 countries including Russia, Kyrgyzstan and China shows an upward” trend, its export potential to 6 countries including Tajikistan and Ukraine showing a “stable” trend, and its export to 9 countries included Poland and Germany. The potential showed a “declining” trend.

Influence of ICT on the Competitiveness of the Trade Sector in Kazakhstan

The theoretical frameworks of economic growth are considered, and key indicators for assessing the economic development of regions are identified. A cluster analysis of Kazakhstan's regions was conducted, according to a set of economic growth factors. Based on the results of the analysis, a classification of the country's regions is proposed. The level of economic development of regions, according to the theory of sustainable economic growth, was estimated using a number of indicators, which include innovation activity, human capital, private capital, public capital, regional accessibility, regional concentration, and gross regional product (GRP) per capita. Thus, with the help of cluster analysis of factors of socio-economic development of Kazakhstan's regions, we were able to structure indicators of their economic growth by the degree of similarity, and identify 8 regional clusters. The results obtained can be used in the formation of economic, social, and financial policy of the state, taking into account regional features of the Republic's development.

“OLEVSK BORDERLINE” AFTER THE PEACE OF RIGA: BORDER PROBLEMS AND PEOPLE'S FATES

The purpose of the study is to clarify the peculiarities of the development of the Soviet-Polish border and the impact of territorial changes on the daily lives of residents of the “Olevsk Borderline”, in particular through the emergence of mass illegal border crossings related to smuggling. The research methodology involves a combination of general scientific and special-historical methods of research: problem-chronological, retrospective comparative, historical-genetic, source critical, archival heuristics, which have helped to identify, process and systematize the available factual material. Scientific novelty of the research. The author for the first time introduces into scientific circulation materials of the State Archives of Zhytomyr Oblast, which allow to trace the development of banditry in these areas, show the level of economic development of the region and explain the expediency of consumer smuggling. The materials of criminal-investigative cases of repressed residents of “Olevsk Borderline” on charges of espionage have been released, the information capabilities of these documents for research of the everyday history of the mentioned region have been revealed. Conclusions. The administrative-territorial changes that took place as a result of the signing of the Peace of Riga and changes in the daily lives of the inhabitants of the border areas have been described. It is shown how the weak level of border protection contributed to the violation of the border regime, contacts between the local population on both sides of the border, and became one of the reasons for the emergence of smuggling in this area.

The determinants of ESG in the banking sector of MENA region: a trend or necessity?

Purpose As reporting environmental, social and governance (ESG) information is not yet mandatory in all countries, it is intriguing to understand ESG’s underlying driving mechanisms. This study aims to investigate ESG determinants in the banking sector of the Middle East and North Africa countries. Design/methodology/approach The authors gather data for 38 listed banks for the period 2011–2019. The data used is threefold as follows: data related to ESG; firm-level; and country-level data. While ESG and firm’s level data are taken from Refinitiv, country-level data are extracted from the World Bank. Using panel regression, the authors test the effect of firm- and country-specific variables on the overall ESG score and its pillars. Findings Results indicate that banks’ ESG scores are negatively affected by performance and positively affected by size. The level of economic development exerts a negative impact on the environmental pillar while the social development exerts a positive impact on ESG and governance pillar. Corruption is the only country-level that gathers a homogenous effect on ESG scores. Finally, the three pillars follow heterogeneous patterns. Originality/value This study extends the scope of previous studies by introducing new country-level independent variables to contribute to the understanding of ESG antecedents.

Cryptocurrency and the Nigerian Economy

The development of cryptocurrency as a means of exchange without legal backing and invisibility of the identity of operators has posed peculiar challenges such as illicit financial flow and terrorism amongst others, to the country. This study, therefore, sought to examine the effect of cryptocurrency on the Nigerian economy. The study was hinged on social exchange theory. Secondary data were obtained from the CBN statistical bulletin and Global Financial Integrity Report for a period of six years from 2013 to 2018. The data were analyzed using a simple regression model. The result shows that R is 5.8% which means that there is a low positive relationship between cryptocurrency and the level of economic development in Nigeria. It further shows an adjusted R square of -24.6 which depicts that cryptocurrency has a low inverse effect on the level of economic development in Nigeria. In conclusion, the computed p-value of 0.913 which is higher than the set p-value of 0.05 shows that cryptocurrency does not have a significant effect on the level of economic development in Nigeria. Hence, it is recommended that, in order to sustain economic development from the activities of cryptocurrency in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria needs to ensure that laws and mechanisms are put in place to adequately capture the activities of cryptocurrency in the country.

Determinanty zróżnicowania regionalnego cen gruntów rolnych w Polsce

The aim of the research presented in this article was an attempt to explain the regional differentiation of arable land prices in 2018 in terms of natural and economic conditions, resulting both from factors characterizing the size, structure and quality of land, as well as the level of economic development and agricultural potential of individual voivodeships. The research used qualitative and quantitative analysis of Polish Statistical Office data. The results of the analysis carried out confirmed the regional differentiation of natural and economic conditions as well as the level of prices and rents on the agricultural land market in Poland. The variables explaining the differentiation in land prices include indicators characterizing the quality of the agricultural land resource, its profitability and the agricultural potential of a given region.

Efficiency Driven Effect of Education in China: The Perspective of Global Competitiveness and Graduate Education

Capital, natural resources, technology and education are often considered to be the most important factors in improving the level of economic development. China is in the "efficiency-driven" stage of economic development. There are objective laws in the development of education level and economic growth, but they interact with each other. Economic growth provides the foundation and necessary conditions for the development of education. At the same time, the role of education in promoting economic growth is also very obvious. Based on the perspective of postgraduate training, this paper studies the role of education in economic efficiency-driven, through the study of theory, data collection and empirical analysis, combined with the development characteristics of China's higher education, and compares China's and US higher education policies to guide China's higher education. The development of education, and then promote the transformation of China into the "innovation-driven" stage, has certain theoretical and practical significance.