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The academic publishing market is characterized by its oligopolistic market structure. Two aspects are particularly striking: Few large commercial publishers have high market shares in almost all research disciplines. This is reflected in high subscription and publication costs. At the same time, the majority of work for the journals is provided free of charge by researchers. The paradox can be explained by the tremendous importance of leading journals for researchers. Publishers turn this into market power. While key stakeholders in the market are primarily focusing on open access and open science, I argue in this article that competition plays a key role in increasing not only economic efficiency but also diversity and the participation of researchers. One exceptional option would be to shift the now-established "pay per article" system back to subscription models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates resource adequacy and renewable energy integration in the United States, European Union, and Pakistan amid global energy market liberalization and greenhouse gas reduction efforts. It explores how these regions are adapting to the surge in renewable sources like wind and solar, which, despite their financial and environmental benefits, challenge resource adequacy and the economic viability of traditional energy sources. In the US and EU, significant improvements have been introduced in wholesale electricity markets and capacity accreditation mechanisms, which enhanced the large-scale deployment of renewables. This shift has prompted a reevaluation of resource adequacy, leading to the increased deployment of battery storage and demand response. Presently, gas-based generation is largely upholding resource adequacy; however, future trends indicate a move towards greater consumer participation, energy efficiency, and utility-scale storage, with a decline in fossil fuel use. Pakistan aims to adopt a liberalized market structure by balancing competitive markets with legacy contracts. Public pressure is driving a shift from costly fossil-based generation to renewables. Similarly, a trend in the rise of behind-the-meter solar generation can be witnessed. In the future, Pakistan may also experience resource adequacy challenges. It will likely need to implement battery storage, demand response, and modern capacity accreditation tools, by drawing lessons from developed markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we applied an analytical framework called "city cooperation intention → city relationship network → regional economic resilience," while considering the concept of externality as a measure of city cooperation intention, to draw insights from the perspectives of city relationships, biological evolution, and evolutionary economy. The evaluation system we developed focuses on the impact of inherent city culture on the inter-city relationship network, using variables such as knowledge spillover effect, technology symbiosis index, and market structure. We also incorporated innovation, resilience, and regeneration as determinants of regional economic resilience, building upon previous research findings. By applying structural force theory and a three-dimensional coordinate method, we analyzed the correlation between the relationship network and regional economic resilience, established a model to illustrate how the relationship network influences regional economic resilience, and described the course of action taken by the "three factors" of the relationship network on regional economic resilience. Ultimately, the aim of this study is to uncover the mechanism through which the inter-city relationship network affects regional economic resilience, with implications for healthy city design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the pervasive nature of competition in society, particularly among various Christian denominations vying for congregations. Topics include the influence of competitive markets on the growth of Evangelical Christianity, the historical impact of the Reformation on the Catholic Church's need for renewal, and the inherent Catholic desire for unity and universality amidst fragmentation.

China's labor market has changed dramatically since the beginning of reform and opening up. Previous studies have pointed out that marketization changed the segmentation structure of China's labor market. However, there was a lack of theoretical derivation of the mechanism, and empirical analysis was relatively rough due to methodological limitations. In this study, a pseudo-employer mobility temporal network was constructed for China's labor market from 1994 to 2018. Based on the temporal network analysis, this study finds the following: first, China's labor market is now structurally more open and flexible than it was before market-oriented reforms; second, the labor market in China has seen a shift from work unit segmentation to occupational segmentation; third, non-smoothness manifests itself in the structural changes in China's labor market. China's labor market quickly disintegrated after the launch of market-oriented reforms in the 1990s and then ushered in a turbulent period of drastic changes. It was after this turbulent period had ended that the present labor market structure took shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial institutions have focused on technology to enhance efficiency and reduce operating costs. We argue that due to competitive pressures, banks may not benefit from these technological investments, which may incur an extra charge to the bank. This research examines if being technologically advanced increases banks' financial performance in a competitive market. The contribution of this study is threefold; it examines, first; the impact of technology adaptation on financial performance, second; the effect of bank competition on banks' financial performance and third; we integrate the theories on tech-performance nexus and competition-performance nexus and examine if competition impacts the relationship between technology and financial performance. The findings suggest that technology enhances banks' financial performance, and competition makes banks fragile, supporting the competition-fragility theory. Moreover, the results on the impact of competition on the tech-performance nexus suggest that banks only benefit from investments in technology under low or moderate levels of market competition and that under highly competitive pressures, technology might not bring that extra competitive advantage to banks. With the said empirical evidence, it becomes clear how important technology can be for banks. The study carries vital policy insights for regulators and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact of trade liberalisation on the rural labour force in China, with a particular focus on labour mobility and off-farm employment. The analysis utilises micro data from the National Fixed Point Survey and Chinese manufacturing firms. The identification strategy relies on combining information on the initial province labour and product market structure with the exogenous tariff reduction schedule over WTO accession and distinguishes between output markets and intermediate input tariffs. The results are as follows: First, the reduction of output tariffs does not promote rural labour mobility, whereas the reduction of input tariffs has a positive impact on mobility. Additionally, output tariffs reduce off-farm employment income and time, while input tariffs increase them. This conclusion is applicable only to low-skilled labour. Second, the tariff reduction significantly affects total wages and the number of employees in firms, as supported by macro data. This suggests that tariff cuts have implications for firm employment and, consequently, rural employment. Third, tariff cuts have a more pronounced effect on young individuals, those with lower levels of education, and the female workforce. Therefore, the interests of these groups should be fully considered in the process of further import liberalisation and tariff reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the reintegration of tacit skills among Polish and Lithuanian migrants returning from the UK amid Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a CAWI survey of 740 returnees, it explores the application of tacit skills acquired abroad in their origin countries’ labor markets. The research reveals the challenges return migrants face in utilizing their overseas-acquired skills, influenced by local labor market structures, employers’ attitudes, and individual experiences. The findings contribute to understanding the role of international migration in skill distribution and labor market dynamics, focusing on the personal and economic reintegration of return migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disruptive technology (DT) has the power to reshape markets and societal structures, necessitating both protection and regulation. This paper aims to examine DT protection and regulation strategies at both micro and macro levels through policy texts. We construct an analysis framework integrating Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles, innovation theory, and DT growth process. Key measures are extracted by content analysis, and dynamic topic model is used to discover evolving policy focuses. The framework is applied to analyze DT policy files of major powers. The results indicate that supply-side policy tools are employed to promote sustainable development in DT innovation, while environmental tools are utilised for early governance to preempt potential risks and innovation damage. The focuses of DT policies exhibit three evolution trends: attenuation, reinforcement, and fluctuation. Protective policies show concentration and coherence, while regulatory policies demonstrate integration and correlation. This study broadens existing perspectives and analytical frameworks, providing valuable insights for DT development and governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of innovation policies has been enhanced. However, there is still a gap in conceptualizing the effectiveness of one of innovation policy's most important tools: financial incentives (FIs). Scholars developed an understanding of the effectiveness of direct versus indirect FIs, but there is no clear theoretical framework that delineates what kind of financial instruments impact what kind of innovation under what conditions. This paper analyzes the different working and operational logic of the wide array of employed FI worldwide to develop what is, to the best of our knowledge, the first conceptual framework discerning what financial tools fit what aims and contexts. This framework allows the development of testable hypotheses as well as the development of incentives tailored differently for different national innovation missions and market structures, suggesting that the growing reliance among OECD countries on indirect FIs in the form of tax incentives is less then optimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship between equality and social Europe, which has remained underdeveloped in the process of European integration. In contrast to the social dimension of the EU, the principle of equality has been significant from the beginning of European integration. The paper opens with an overview of how equality functions as the basis for a social Europe. Next, two interpretations of equality are introduced. The EU's preferred interpretation, which is based on merit, is in sync with market ideals. One of the shortcomings of merit-based equality as a foundation of social Europe, however, is its inability to properly disconnect the vulnerable person from the employment market. This paper argues that an alternative interpretation of equality based on value is more suitable, because value-based equality can challenge the potentially harmful social structure of the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text is the result of studies and research carried out on state interventions in the sports market, here with a special look at football, analyzing its effects on economic, regulatory, and ethical dimensions. It explores the reasons behind state intervention in athlete negotiations, international transfers, image, and broadcast contracts. It also addresses the impacts of State interventions on market structures and their sporting impact. Still, we look at the clubs and how they react to the intervention. The methodology used not only for studies and research, but also for the elaboration of this theoretical-pragmatic communication was based on the criticalreflexive perspective, with support and interaction between legal-legal rationality and the important multidisciplinary contributions offered by other human knowledge/knowledge, here, were analyzed, respectively, according to the contemporary parameters of each of their "art states". That is, the state in which the object of study (state interventions in the sports) is circumstantial and momentarily in legal, social, sports, economic and business knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection process of eligible suppliers in supply chains entails numerous challenges under rapidly evolving conditions. Environmental considerations in public discourse, competitive market structures, and emerging technological capabilities influence the decision-making procedures. Rather than the conventional criteria of cost and service, different criteria have more recently been taken into consideration. In this study, presenting a Turkish case study, environmental management, environmental agility and environmental technology dimensions and the criteria related to these dimensions are defined. A fuzzy SWARA-BWM method was implemented in an integrated way to cope with the supplier selection problem. Different scenarios were created and benchmarked. The results of the study indicate that environmental agility is the prominent dimension, while the most significant criterion is delivery speed. The optimal supplier alternative among the four alternatives was identified as A3. This study was carried out to contribute to the examination and modeling of supply chain management issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forward Freight Agreements (FFAs) are exchange-traded futures and the main means of risk management for shipping spot freight. The relationship between the FFA market and the shipping spot market has attracted much attention, but few studies focus on the dynamic FFA term structure and its correlation with the spot price. In this study, we establish the dynamic term structure of the FFA market by quantifying the level factor, the slope factor and the curvature factor of the FFA term structure to reveal the underlying information in the shipping derivatives market, and further scrutinize the impact of the FFA term-structure factors on the shipping spot market. The empirical results indicate that the term-structure factors have significant time-varying effects on the BDI and BPI: The effect of the term-structure factors on BDI and BPI changes with shipping market conditions and economic environment. The level factor has a positive effect, while the slope factor and the curvature factor both have negative effects, with the impacts on the BPI being about twice as large as the impacts on the BDI. The three factors all have their strongest effect in the short term and the weakest effect in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1980s, most reforms in major arms-producing countries focus on keeping costs under control by either promoting competition between suppliers or by reducing information asymmetry through audits and controls. Indeed, cost escalation represents a challenge but, in fact, these reforms try to adjust the functioning of defence market rather than questioning the institutional features of this latter. The success of defence acquisition structures also explains their limits. The current organisation of defence market was perfectly adapted to the geostrategic context of Cold War and a technological momentum that favours symmetrical arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Even if these structures still help deliver advanced capabilities, they can be considered as not sufficient to cover all the operational needs of armed forces. The conception of capabilities needs to go beyond a long-term planning while industrial approaches open the way to more agile development and manufacturing. An alternative defence industrial policy is necessary to complement the existing one. More modular architectures for complex systems provide the opportunity to increase the reactiveness of capability deliveries and to foster both innovation and competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a unique chapter in the history of Romanian-Dutch relations. During the 19th century, the hinterland at the mouth of the Danube was an important centre for the supply of grain to European warehouses, and from the 1880s onwards, international trading houses became increasingly interested in placing the main commodity of Moldo-Wallachian production structures on the markets of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Due to its entrepreneurial and infrastructural connections with Germany, the port of Rotterdam became a transit and temporary storage point for grain dedicated to the Rhine-Ruhr industrial region. This study is based on unpublished documents from archives, databases, and statistical yearbooks in the Netherlands and Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simple Summary: During the ethanol creation process, ethanol and ethanol co-products are created. Ethanol plants take these co-products and market them in a secondary market. While originally just additional revenue streams, coproducts have evolved into valuable commodities themselves. Analyzing existing research, the study finds that most of the current economic understanding is for distillers' grains, a common coproduct used in animal feed. Newer coproducts like pelletized or high-protein grains are less studied. Moreover, alternative uses for coproducts such as plastics and CO2 have remained largely unexplored. The research underscores the need for further investigation to optimize coproduct utilization and inform future decision-making. We suggest focusing on the economic pricing, marketing, and regulatory structure of newer ethanol co-products to add additional value to the ethanol industry. During the mid-2000s to the early 2010s, the domestic ethanol industry witnessed substantial growth, with ethanol coproducts emerging as vital elements for plant profitability and livestock feeding. Initially serving as supplementary revenue streams, coproducts from ethanol production have evolved into diverse value-added offerings, bolstering revenue streams, and sustaining profit margins. This study reviews existing economic research on ethanol coproducts, detailing methodologies, product focus, and research locations. Initially gathering 972 articles from 9 databases, 110 articles were synthesized. We find that most studies primarily examined the growth and future of the ethanol industry with a limited focus on specific coproducts. Feed-use distillers' grains, especially dried distillers' grains, were the most widely published while newer coproducts like pelletized, de-oiled, and high-protein distillers' grains were relatively understudied. Non-feed-use products were notably overlooked, highlighting the need for exploration beyond conventional applications. The evolving market landscape for ethanol co-products has surpassed published academic understanding of the economic tradeoffs necessitating further research into product dynamics, pricing, marketing, market structures, and regulatory frameworks. This highlights and underscores the importance of investigating value-added grains across diverse commodities and geographic contexts to inform strategic decision-making and policy formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare systems worldwide face escalating pharmaceutical expenditures despite interventions targeting pricing and generic substitution. Existing studies often overlook unwarranted volume increases in multisource markets due to differential physician perceptions of brand name and generics. Objective: This study aims to explain the outpacing of generic medicine use over brand name use in multisource markets and assess the regulatory role, specifically examining the impact of reference pricing on volume and intensity increases. Methods: Analyzing German multisource prescription medicine markets from 2011 to 2014, we evaluate regulatory mechanisms and explore whether brand name and generic medicines constitute separate market segments. Using an Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition approach, we divide the differential in brand name versus generic medicine use rates into market structure and unobserved segment effects. Results: Generic use rates surpass same-market brand name substitution by 3.87 prescriptions per physician and medicine, on average. Reference pricing mitigated volume increase, treatment intensity and expenditure. Disparities in quantity and expenditure dynamics between brand name and generic segments are partially explained by market structure and segment effects. Conclusion: Generic medicine use effectively reduces expenditures but contributes to increased net prescription rates. Reference pricing may control medicine use, but divergent physician perceptions of brand name and generics, revealed by identified segment effects, call for nuanced policy interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting the widespread access and integration of new energy generation into existing power markets is a key strategy for China to achieve peak carbon and carbon neutrality. A joint regulatory mechanism composed of government regulators, power generation enterprises, and third-party testing organizations has become an effective way to ensure the stable operation of the power market and safeguard the economic interest of all parties. In order to analyze the key factors affecting the mechanism and improve the regulatory efficiency, this paper constructs a three-party evolutionary game model, explores the motivations of the participants under different strategy choices, and establishes a set of indicator systems for evaluating producers. The evolutionary game model is numerically simulated using the unified dynamics method, and the evolutionary stable strategy analysis is used to reveal how the key parameters affect the outcome of the game and its dynamic process, so as to find out the potential driving factors affecting the strategy choices. The results of the study show that in the early stage of market development, it is crucial to improve the profitability of firms, and the government needs to impose strict penalties and high incentives. As the market gradually matures and becomes more transparent, the government can gradually reduce the level of penalties. At the same time, ensuring accountability mechanisms from higher authorities to the government is key to ensure the effectiveness of regulation. This study provides an important theoretical basis and policy recommendations for constructing a new regulatory structure for the electricity market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of a long-term, cross-border market in which forward market coupling and bilateral contracts are developed in an integrated approach is instrumental for the European internal electricity market. We propose the joint energy and transmission right auction (JETRA) mechanism, developed by O'Neill et al., as a solution for long-term cross-border markets in Europe. The main contribution of this research lies in its examination of the underlying market structures for effective JETRA implementation. We compare the institutional setting, market rules, and grid modeling under nodal and zonal pricing systems, adapting JETRA to the flow-based market coupling (FBMC) mechanism that is currently implemented in the European day-ahead market. This adaptation reveals the inherent limitations of FBMC in supporting JETRA, in particular in the long-term auction. We also identify constraints posed by existing European market rules, particularly those that affect the application of multi-settlement rules and the effective timeframe of hedging instruments. In conclusion, our research suggests that transitioning from zonal to nodal pricing is essential for JETRA's effective implementation. Furthermore, a comprehensive market reform is required to seamlessly integrate long- and short-term markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of the research is the transformative impact of digital platforms on traditional market structures. Qualitative research is used to gain a deep understanding of how traditional market structures are impacted by digital platforms. Interviews with eight participants highlight the shift towards gig and freelance work, the erosion of traditional employment protections, and the emergence of new business models facilitated by technological advancements. The study adopted thematic analysis to analyze the collected data. The study reveals that digital platforms have significantly lowered barriers to market entry and fostered economic inclusion. As a result, the initial costs of starting a business have significantly decreased. However, they have also introduced complexities surrounding labor rights and necessitated a re-evaluation of regulatory frameworks to address monopolistic practices and ensure fair competition. This is due to the lack of labor regulations protection for freelance workers compared to traditional employment. The study stresses the need for agile, forward-looking, and internationally coordinated regulatory approaches to effectively govern digital platforms, balancing innovation with the protection of consumer and worker rights. Such an approach should aim to address the current challenges but also anticipate future developments by ensuring that regulations evolve in tandem with technological advancements without stifling innovation. Furthermore, fostering technological literacy among lawmakers, adopting adaptive regulatory frameworks, and ensuring the inclusion of diverse perspectives are crucial steps towards achieving effective governance of digital technologies. The findings contribute to the ongoing dialogue on digital governance, offering insights for policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders in crafting regulations that harness the benefits of digital platforms while mitigating their negative impacts on society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim was to quantify changes in the market structure of primary care physicians and examine its relationship with access to care. Data Sources and Study Setting: We created measures of market structure from a 5% sample of Medicare fee‐for‐service claims and examined access to care using nationally representative data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Our study spanned from 2008 to 2019. Study Design: We used a linear probability model to estimate the relationship between access to care and two measures of market structure: concentration, measured by the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI), and vertical integration, measured by the market share of multispecialty firms. Our model controlled for year and ZIP code fixed effects, respondents' demographics and health status, and other measures of market structure. Data Collection/Extraction Methods: All adult respondents in the MEPS were included. Principal Findings: The percentage of people living in concentrated ZIP codes (HHI above 1500) increased from 37% in 2008 to 53% in 2019. During the same period, the median market share of multispecialty firms rose from 30% to 48%. Respondents in highly concentrated ZIP codes (HHI over 2500) were 5.9 percentage points (95% CI: −1.4 to −10.4) less likely to report having access to immediate care than respondents in unconcentrated ZIP codes. The association was largest among Medicaid beneficiaries, a 17.3 percentage point reduction (95% CI: −5.1 to −29.4). When we applied a model that was robust to biases from treatments with staggered timing, the estimated association remained negative but was not statistically significant. We found no association between HHI and indicators for having a usual source of care and annual checkups. The multispecialty market share was negatively associated with checkups, but not other measures of access. Conclusions: Increases in concentration may reduce some types of access to healthcare. These effects appear most pronounced among Medicaid beneficiaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the vast majority of Chinese farmers' income comes from factor income. The distortion of factor market affects the sustainable growth of farmers' income and the optimization of income structure to a certain extent. The development of factor market is particularly important to solve the problem of increasing farmers' income. Based on the panel data of 28 provinces (cities, autonomous regions) in China from 1997 to 2021, this study constructs a spatial panel model to empirically analyze the spatial impact of the three major factor market distortions on Farmers' income growth. The results show that Chinese farmers' income has a strong spatial dependence, and there is a significant spatial correlation effect in different regions. There are serious market distortions, which have significantly hindered the growth of farmers' income. The distortion of China's factor market not only inhibits the growth of farmers' income in this region, but also has a significant negative spatial spillover effect. The distortion of factor market restricts the improvement of farmers' income in adjacent areas. In the future, we need to further straighten out the influencing factors and give full play to the income increasing efficiency of various factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessments of the bike-sharing industry traditionally focus on its effects on other markets, municipalities, or general well-being. This paper deviates from this on how the market is organised. Using information on the aggregate number of firms in cities and greater cities across Europe, we found non-proportional changes in market size with respect to changes in market structure. This is crucial information inferring changes in profits, costs, or degree of product differentiation. To distinguish between these three sources, we utilised additional firm-level data on capacity and type of service provided. Our results suggest that the non-proportional increase in market size after an entry is most likely associated with increased intensity of competition and new forms of offered services, i.e. product differentiation. We did not find evidence that newcomers have been entering with substantially larger capacities per capita compared to incumbents. From a policy perspective, entry into the bike-sharing industry has benefited consumers through market expansion and caused a potential decrease in profits. • A non-proportional market size increase after the entry of the second and third firms. • No association for entry barriers; no entries with larger capacity. • Increases likely associated with differentiation: entrants likely dockless or e-bikes. • Entry and competition benefited consumers through market expansion and may decrease profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an agent-based micro-simulation model to acquire the responses of road freight transportation systems like the productivity of trucks, the capability of road freight transportation companies, and the economic state of actors to different regulatory reforms. The shippers, freight companies, and drivers are the key decision-makers. These agents have different choices, including transport carrier choice, shipping price, truck allocation to shipment, and empty backhauls. Performance measures were used for the calibration phase with less than 3.7% average error. Finally, three viable regulatory reforms were evaluated, and their performance measures were estimated and discussed. We found that the shipping cost will reduce by 6% if a competitive market structure replaces the mandatory freight assignment procedure. Furthermore, we observed a 20% increase in the market share of the top fifty transport companies and a 3% improvement in the overall productivity when the physical freight companies' branch requirements are relaxed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of bank market structure on firm innovation in China using a two-way fixed effects model. Our analysis is based on a dataset comprising 2,412,316 firm-city level observations. Our findings suggest that there exists a U-shaped relationship between bank market structure and firm innovation in China. Specifically, we identify that the financing channel is a crucial pathway through which bank market structure influences firm innovation. Moreover, our results indicate that this relationship is mainly driven by small firms and innovative firms, and is more pronounced in regions with stronger intellectual property rights protection or greater openness to foreign markets. In sum, this study contributes to the existing literature by advancing our understanding of the impact of bank market structure on innovation in Chinese firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the attributes and the significance of the roughness of oil market volatility. We employ unspanned stochastic volatility models driven by rough Brownian motions that yield semi-analytical prices for future options entailing efficient calibration applications. By performing a Monte Carlo simulation study, we show that the semi-analytical pricing performs well thus establishing its efficiency for calibration applications. Thus we calibrate option prices written on oil futures and provide empirical evidence of the roughness in oil volatility. Introducing just one additional parameter, the Hurst parameter, indicating the roughness of the volatility improves the calibration by almost a factor of 10. The calibrated option-implied Hurst parameter varies over time, but the entire set of parameters becomes more stable than in the non-rough case corresponding to a fixed Hurst parameter 1/2. These results underscore the importance to model the time dependency of the roughness of oil market volatility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies how social structure — the pattern of social links that connect individuals in a community — affects labor markets. Under competing views on the role of networks, social structures that discourage network hiring could improve or hinder labor market performance. We test these competing views using data on marriage networks in 15,000 villages, combined with labor force survey data. Using regressions analyses and an instrumental variable strategy, we find that individuals living in more socially fragmented villages are less likely to work in family firms, more likely to use formal job search strategies, invest more in education and earn higher wages. Social fragmentation thus discourages network hiring and improves labor market performance. These results survive 384 combinations of robustness checks. We further provide direct evidence against reverse causality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this programme, we map and examine local labour market programmes (LLMPs) at the municipal level in Sweden. This includes their institutional structure and organisation, as well as the experiences of participants in the programmes, using a longitudinal approach with the aim to improve LLMPs. The long-term goal is to increasing the inclusion of LLMP participants in working life. To answer the programme's questions, data will be collected and analysed within the four work packages. In each work package, a mixed-method approach is applied with a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The programme is informed by three overarching general theoretical approached, tying together institutional ethnography, intersectional studies of structural inequalities on different levels, and the role of emotions in everyday work. At the organisational level (WP 1), we will investigate the circumstances under which LLMPs are performed and negotiated by those involved. Here, the internal organisation, activities and methods are the focus. This approach will result in knowledge about the characteristics of these organisations and the factors promoting the inclusion of underrepresented groups in working life. By examining the activities in LLMPs (WP 2), we will be able to determine how their institutional structure differs between regions in Sweden, how the different municipalities work with labour market policy, how they translate national policy into the local context, how they organise their work and which initiatives they choose to adopt. By examining the individual experiences of those who are directly affected by such incentives (WP 3), knowledge and understanding will be obtained of the connections between experiences and labour market policies. This will give important insights into the functioning of local programmes and of the opportunities to create entry into the labour market. Furthermore, in WP4 we will develop and test an effect evaluation of work methods used in LLMPs and their effect on clients' progress over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the relationship between domestic and international prices of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea fertilisers together with exchange rates in Türkiye using the non-linear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model on monthly data for the period of January 2011 to September 2022. The result of the study provides empirical evidence about the presence of asymmetries in the short and long-run among these fertilisers. The findings of the study confirm that international prices of di-ammonium phosphate and urea fertilisers have a symmetric effect in the long-run and exchange rate of the Turkish lira to US dollars has an asymmetric effect on the domestic prices of fertilisers in the short run. This is the first study in Türkiye to delineate the dynamic simultaneous interaction among these markets and its findings can be extremely useful for academicians, and policymakers to make decisions regarding the market structure of countries that do not have sufficient domestic resources for fertiliser supply and are dependent on imports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is not only the largest sector in the world economy, but also one of the fastest growing emerging industries in the world. Unlike other economic sectors that transport products to consumers, tourism enables people to migrate to places where tourism resources are concentrated. These resources are consumed somewhere. With the development of social economy, tourism has increasingly shown its important position in the national economy. After years of development, Kazakhstan's tourism industry has made significant contributions to the national economic development. At the same time, the industry has also accumulated many problems and contradictions in the long-term development process. From a macro level, the development situation of Kazakhstan's tourism industry is good, with total tourism revenue and tourist numbers rising rapidly. From a micro level, tourism enterprises are small in scale, have poor operations, and have low overall competitiveness. From the industrial level analysis, the main problems and contradictions of Kazakhstan's tourism industry are related to its market structure characteristics. Structural issues are core issues in the development of tourism in Kazakhstan. Using structural ideas and methods to study the tourism industry in Kazakhstan can guide the sustainable development of the tourism industry and provide a basis for decision-making by the government. Based on the literature review of the tourism market structure, the authors analyze the optimization path based on the Kazakhstan tourism market structure and effectively promotes the tourism industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work deals with issues characterizing the mobile app industry. In particular, we focus on an app developer who competes against either a rival app developer or a private label of the distribution platform, and who can bypass the platform's distribution and billing systems. The innovation of this work lies in considering the co-creation of app quality by the app developer and the distribution platform while using a revenue-sharing contract, which is popular in the mobile app industry. We investigate both tactical equilibrium (the parties' operational decisions for a given market structure) and strategic equilibrium (for the developer—whether or not to bypass; for the platform—whether or not to discourage bypassing by improving the contract terms). Our research provides answers to the following strategic questions: Is it beneficial for the app developer to bypass the distribution platform and offer the app to users directly in a competitive environment? Is it beneficial for the distribution platform to introduce a private label to compete with the app developer? Can bypassing also be beneficial for the platform and/or the rival developer? In response to these questions, several counter-intuitive results are revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Java long pepper (Piper retrofractum Vahl.) is a potential export commodity. One of the centers of Java long pepper production in Indonesia is Sumenep Regency. However, in marketing, farmers only act as price takers, and prices fluctuate a lot. This study aimed to describe the structure, conduct, and performance of the Java Long Pepper market in Bluto District, Sumenep Regency. Sampling was carried out using the snowball sampling method to obtain a sample of 31 farmers, 2 small traders, and 1 large trader. The analysis technique used is the SCP (structure, conduct, and performance) with qualitative and quantitative approaches. Market structure is analyzed by calculating CR and IHH, market conduct by analyzing pricing methods, marketing channels, and marketing functions, and market performance by marketing margin and farmer’s share. Based on the research results, it is known that the market structure that occurs is an oligopsony with a high concentration and collusion price leadership types by the dominant firm. Market conduct shows that farmers cannot bargain, and traders determine absolute prices. Market performance is seen from marketing channel I which is considered the best, with a marketing margin IDR2.000,00 and a farmer’s share of 97.30%. This condition of imperfect market competition needs to be controlled and paid attention to so that it can be managed well, create healthy business conditions, and avoid monopoly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The authors provide a novel interpretation of the relationship between skill demand and labour market concentration based on the training rationale. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use a novel data set on Italian online job vacancies during 2013–2018 to analyse the relationship between labour market concentration and employers' skill demand. The authors construct measures of market concentration and skill intensity in the local labour market. The authors regress the measures of skill demand on market concentration, controlling for sector, occupations and other features of the labour market. The authors also use the Hausman–Nevo instrument for market concentration. Findings: The authors show that employers in a highly concentrated labour market demand competencies associated with the ability of workers to learn faster (e.g. social skills) rather than actual knowledge. They also require less experience but higher education. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that employers in more concentrated labour markets are more prone to train their employees. Instead of looking for workers who already have job-specific skills, they look for workers who can acquire them faster and efficiently. The authors provide a theoretical framework within which to analyse these aspects as well as providing a test for the relevant hypotheses. Practical implications: In addition to cross-countries differences in labour market regulations, the authors' findings suggest that policy authorities should consider the local labour market structure when studying workforce development programmes aimed at bridging the skill gap of displaced workers. Moreover, the authors show that market concentration can have relevant implications for human resource (HR) managers by affecting their recruitment behaviour through the demand for skills. In fact, concentrated markets tend to favour firms' collusion and anti-competitive behaviour that could strongly affect HR management practices. Originality/value: The authors' paper innovates on the literature in a number of ways. First, the authors provide evidence of local labour market concentration in Italy. Second, the authors provide evidence of skill demand at the local level using a detailed skill taxonomy that goes beyond the classical distinction between high and low skills. Third, and most importantly, the authors provide evidence of the relationship between skill demand and labour market concentration. By analysing detailed skills and competencies, the authors take one step beyond understanding the features of labour demand in monopsonistic markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging was introduced to achieve closed‐loop end‐of‐life management and design for recyclability and is an integral part of the European Union's (EU) environmental policy mix. Despite common objectives, EPR systems differ across EU member states in design and implementation. Existing cross‐country comparisons often fall short of systematizing EPR and reflecting its complexity. Understanding the components and interdependencies of EPR is crucial for adjusting policy design. This article links previously isolated components of EPR and studies the design, implementation, and transfer of EPR systems in 25 European countries through a developmental approach. It extends EPR theory by systematizing EPR design features at three hierarchical levels: system scope, responsibility allocation, and instrument type. It then tests the approach by systematically examining similarities and differences, including a uniform coding process and cluster analysis. My results indicate that EPR for plastic packaging is becoming increasingly fine‐grained and diverse. I show that "path‐dependencies" emerge between certain features at the responsibility allocation level. I also find common implementation patterns across countries revolving around, for example, EPR market structure or producer responsibility type. System scope converges across countries, while instrument types are becoming increasingly multi‐faceted. I find that policy transfer mechanisms, such as first‐mover dynamics and geographic proximity, have likely influenced existing landscapes of EPR design across the EU. These insights provide an intriguing first step toward deeper analysis of EPR design and, if further extended, can be operationalized for future ex ante or ex post policy analysis of EPR system setups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Product exclusivity is a well-known strategy adopted by agencies to attract buyers. Although some platform firms develop first-party products to improve competitiveness, we show that they do not necessarily benefit from the exclusivity of these products in a competitive market. Platforms may sell their first-party products on their competitive platforms, which we call the non-exclusive strategy. The impact of the non-exclusive strategy on firms' profits is the result of an interaction between a competition effect and a demand effect. The competition effect is that the non-exclusive strategy reduces the differentiation between firms, and the investment strategy on the first-party product has no impact on the price competition between firms. The competition effect causes firms to intensify price competition and decrease the investment for their first-party product. The demand effect is that, in the presence of the non-exclusive strategy, the firm can obtain a sale profit from the first-party products in the competitive platform. The demand effect causes firms to diminish price competition and increase investments in first-party products. As a result of these two effects, we find that firms are more likely to benefit from the exclusivity of the first-party products only when the unit misfit cost is sufficiently high. We also find that firms implementing the non-exclusivity strategy will reduce the investment in the first-party product if the consumers' performance sensitivity is low. When platforms develop the targeted investment in first-party products, we can also see that the exclusivity of the first-party product is not always beneficial to the platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Price fluctuations, market structure, and price transmission can significantly affect the welfare of egg producers and consumers. The current study aims to evaluate price transmission and analyze its impact on the egg market in the Fars province (April 2016 to December 2021). The market structure was examined using several indices, i.e., the inverse number of firms, concentration ratios, Herfindal-Hirschman index, and Hall-Tiedman index at the pullet breeding and wholesale levels in the egg market. The price transmission between wholesale eggs and retail levels was investigated, employing error correction, threshold autoregressive, and momentum threshold autoregressive models. The results indicated an increasing trend in the average annual changes in the percentage of wholesale and retail prices, with an increase in the standard deviation of average monthly prices. Thus, the results revealed severe fluctuations during this study. Market structure at the pullet breeding and wholesale levels indicated a state of multilateral monopoly and monopolistic competition. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrated asymmetric price transmission from wholesale to retail. Due to the non-competitive market structure and the observed asymmetry in price transmission, egg producers and consumers have to bear higher costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to carry out an empirical investigation about how the level of market concentration or competitiveness of the banking system and institutional quality are associated with bank's financial stability. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses dynamic panel data techniques on the sample of 133 developing and emerging countries over the years 2002–2020. Findings: The authors document several significant findings. First, there is evidence that bank stability is positively associated with the level of market concentration. The result is in line with the concentration–stability view that banks operating in a more concentrated market tend to be more stable than those in a less concentrated market. Second, the results confirm that the quality of the institutional environment plays a critical role in improving the stability of banks in developing and emerging countries. Third, the authors find that institutional development can moderate the effect of market concentration (or competitiveness of the banking system) on bank stability. Specifically, the results show that better institutional quality enhances the positive influence of bank concentration on the bank's financial stability in developing and emerging countries. These results are robust to different specifications with the alternative measures of bank stability and market concentration. Originality/value: This study provides further understanding regarding the effects of the level of market concentration or competitiveness of the banking system and institutional quality on bank stability in 133 developing and emerging countries over the years 2002–2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Türkiye has seen significant increases in animal products and input prices. These recent increases in prices have made it even more important to examine the prices of animal products and their associated factors. This study aimed to reveal the pattern network structure and characteristics of the prices of animal products and related variables for the 2010-2020 period in Türkiye. For this aim, a network analysis covered the prices of animal products, input prices used in producing these foods, and some economic variables. The study results revealed that Producer Price Index (PPI) and Agricultural PPI are key variables that are highly active in the network and act as a bridge between other unconnected variables. In addition, the results of the analysis suggest that the overall network consists of highly correlated variables and that the PPI and Agricultural PPI are the two most important variables. As a result, the pattern network structure shows that economic variables have a high impact on the prices of animal products. The network structure visualizes Türkiye's import-substitution model in animal production and foreign dependency on feed inputs, and the market structure affected by high exchange rates. In addition, as can be understood from the positive connections between feed inputs, the pattern network of the variables affecting the prices of animal products is largely shaped by feed prices and the internal dynamics of economic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The price–volume nexus is essential for understanding and discriminating the structure of the carbon market. The current research investigates the price–volume dependences in the European carbon market and Chinese national carbon markets through fractal methods. The results demonstrate that prices have close connections with volumes at multi-time scales in both markets, and that the price–volume correlation coefficient series in the Chinese carbon market have more intense volatility, implying that it is more difficult for Chinese investors to reach consensus on prices at different time scales than European investors. In addition, there are bidirectional price–volume transmissions in both markets. Interestingly, in most cases, the influence from volume to price is much more apparent than that from price to volume in both markets, indicating that volume acts a more important role in the price–volume transmission. Finally, the European price–volume dependence has lower risk and higher efficiency than the Chinese price–volume dependence, which is due to the fact that the European market is more mature than the Chinese market. This study has both theoretical and practical applications for policymakers and investors to make optimum decisions relating to policy formation and risk management in the carbon market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A global transition towards diets increasingly dominated by ultra‐processed foods (UPFs) has occurred in recent decades to the detriment of public health and the environment. This study aimed to examine long‐term trends in the structure and market dynamics of the global UPF manufacturing industry as part of broader efforts to understand the drivers of this transition. Using diverse methods, metrics and data sources, we examined several dimensions (e.g., industry concentration and profitability) according to an adapted structure–conduct–performance model. We found that the global UPF manufacturing industry has evolved to become a major component of global food systems, with its longstanding dominant corporations becoming some of the system's largest accumulators of profit and distributors of capital. It follows that reversing the global UPF dietary transition will require structural and regulatory changes to ensure that population diets, and food systems more broadly, are not subordinated to the interests of powerful for‐profit business corporations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cattle ranching, transportation, and utilization are issues associated with resource endowment, distance traveled, and types of markets. The structure of the livestock mobilization network by market at the municipal and state level in Mexico during the 2017-2021 period was investigated. The data were analyzed using measures of economic structure and Social Network Analysis. During the period under analysis, an annual average of 8.9 million heads of cattle were moved in Mexico: 57.9 % interstate and 42.1 % intrastate. The most important markets were for slaughter and fattening, the rest corresponded to beef breeding, reproduction, fairs, and shows. The average market and state specialization were low, with a higher specialization in the entertainment market. The structure of the state network of all markets showed a high degree of average market and density, but low centrality of output and input. These measures mean that, on average, states can connect in 1.2 steps to the national network and in 1.7 steps to the network per purpose. The authors conclude that the state structure of the livestock market in Mexico is composed of 32 origins, 32 destinations, six markets, and major interstate mobilization from the south to the north of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of the Modern Market Control Policy in the City of Cirebon is the responsibility of the Regional Government of the City of Cirebon in order to control the development of the modern market and protect the traditional market against the continuity of business competition in the City of Cirebon in line with the spread of the establishment of modern markets spread across the City of Cirebon. The formulation of the problem in this research are (1) Local Government Policy in structuring and controlling modern shops; (2) the constraints of the Cirebon City government in implementing and controlling the existence of modern shops. This research uses normative legal research, namely the approach of field research by seeing and observing what is happening in the field and the application of legislation in its implementation. The object of this research is the Department of Trade and Investment of the City of Cirebon. The results of this study are: The implementation of Cirebon City Government policies in the context of controlling Modern Markets in Cirebon City, namely by implementing a Licensing Moratorium to maintain order with the growth of modern markets in Cirebon City, this also needs to be done in the context of business protection for MSMEs. Obstacles faced by the Cirebon City Government include obstacles in supervising and controlling unlicensed modern shops/markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research systematically analyzes the behaviors of correlations among stock prices and the eigenvalues for correlation matrices by utilizing random matrix theory (RMT) for Chinese and US stock markets. Results suggest that most eigenvalues of both markets fall within the predicted distribution intervals by RMT, whereas some larger eigenvalues fall beyond the noises and carry market information. The largest eigenvalue represents the market and is a good indicator for averaged correlations. Further, the average largest eigenvalue shows similar movement with the index for both markets. The analysis demonstrates the fraction of eigenvalues falling beyond the predicted interval, pinpointing major market switching points. It has identified that the average of eigenvector components corresponds to the largest eigenvalue switch with the market itself. The investigation on the second largest eigenvalue and its eigenvector suggests that the Chinese market is dominated by four industries whereas the US market contains three leading industries. The study later investigates how it changes before and after a market crash, revealing that the two markets behave differently, and a major market structure change is observed in the Chinese market but not in the US market. The results shed new light on mining hidden information from stock market data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the retrofitting of the building stock seems to be an effective solution to reach the targets for 2049 greenhouse gas emission, the current rate and quality of work is still too low. This article first proposes a state-of-the-art methodology and a brief description of the barriers to renovation. The literature review identifies 26 major issues. Then, the one stop shops (OSS), which are introduced as a solution to these barriers, are described under different aspects according to their business model, the type of project owner targeted and the kind of services they offer with their support. Drawing on previous literature, this article proposes a classification framework. Then a comprehensive benchmark of 63 OSSs in Europe was conducted, allowing for a comparative analysis of the distribution of OSSs models across various countries and territories; it highlights the existing need in all countries, but also the disparity of support being provided. This examination revealed that selecting an appropriate OSS model cannot be solely based on factors like scope, ownership, or the existence of other OSSs. In the final section, a correlation study is made between several criteria (energy consumption and type, urbanization rate, construction date, climatic context, renovation rate etc.) that have been identified as being potentially indicative of renovation activities. The objective of this work is to provide an overview of the current context and emphasize effective strategies to accelerate the pace of renovation. By identifying and addressing the unique needs and challenges in each specific context, the goal is to promote efficient and streamlined renovation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Status systems bring social order to markets, but they are non-meritocratic arrangements that benefit those of a higher status and penalize those of a lower status. Paradoxically, these systems are also maintained by those who suffer the most from their inequalities. The literature tends to explain the persistence of these systems through macrooriented or micro-oriented mechanisms. We propose an alternative path by investigating relational mechanisms that might explain the persistence of this paradox. In an haute cuisine market, we used the social network analysis perspective to identify relational mechanisms that maintain this collective system. The results revealed a threerole structure of symbolic deference/appreciation (diffuse, selective, and egocentric). To conclude, we highlight the social order as a continuous tension between normality and chaos in the relationships between roles and the procedural aspect of structuring market roles, which we call authorizing the representation of a market category. Sistemas de status trazem ordem social aos mercados, mas eles são arranjos não meritocráticos que, em essência, privilegiam positivamente aqueles de mais alto status e penalizam desproporcionalmente aqueles de status inferior. Paradoxalmente, esses sistemas são mantidos não apenas por seus maiores beneficiados, mas também por aqueles que mais sofrem com suas desigualdades. A literatura tende a explicar a persistência desses sistemas por mecanismos macro ou micro orientados. Propomos uma via alternativa e complementar ao investigar os mecanismos relacionais que possam explicar a persistência desse paradoxo nas ordens de status. Tendo como objeto a hierarquia de status categórico de restaurantes em um mercado de alta gastronomia, empregamos a Perspectiva da Análise de Redes Sociais para identificar mecanismos relacionais (via modelagem em bloco) que atuam na manutenção desse sistema coletivo de produção de desigualdades. Os resultados da modelagem em bloco na rede de atribuição de deferências entre os produtores desse mercado revelaram uma estrutura de três papéis de deferência/apreciação simbólica (difusa, seletiva e egocentrada). Como conclusão, destacamos a ordem social como uma contínua tensão entre normalidade e caos nas relações entre papéis e o aspecto processual da estruturação de papéis dos mercados, o qual denominamos autorização da representação da categoria de mercado. Los sistemas de estatus traen orden social a los mercados, pero son arreglos no meritocráticos que benefician a los de mayor estatus y penalizan a los de menor estatus. Paradójicamente, estos sistemas también son mantenidos por quienes más sufren sus desigualdades. La literatura tiende a explicar la persistencia de estos sistemas por mecanismos macro o micro orientados. Proponemos un camino alternativo al investigar los mecanismos relacionales que pueden explicar la persistencia de esta paradoja. Teniendo como objeto la jerarquía de estatus categorial en un mercado de alta gastronomía, utilizamos la perspectiva de análisis de redes sociales para identificar mecanismos relacionales que mantienen este sistema colectivo de producción de desigualdades. Los resultados revelaron una estructura de deferencia/apreciación simbólica de tres roles (difusa, selectiva y egocéntrica). Para concluir, destacamos el orden social como una tensión continua entre la normalidad y el caos en las relaciones entre roles y el aspecto procedimental de la estructuración de roles de mercado, lo que llamamos: autorización de la representación de la categoría de mercado. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the socio-cultural dimensions of land in family de-agrarianisation processes, an invisible reality under economistic approaches to agrarian transformations. We analyse the values, duties, and imaginaries about land in different generations of families that run wine farms in Penedès region (Catalonia). Decisions about the family's land and its future orientations are ruled not only by market structures but by kinship and the moral codes of filiation and mutuality. Inherited land is still transmitted as an inalienable patrimony which cannot be freely disposed of and whose sale is perceived as illegitimate, even by de-agrarianisated generations. In a context of growing commodification, values, moral duties, and affections to the family's land do not diminish, but instead, under a contingent moral economy, compromise the de-agrarianisation and capitalist accumulation. Despite family de-agrarianisation, there are cultural resistances to abandoning agrarian production as a way of life. These resistances reflect intense cultural ideals and bonds with the land, that are difficult to change, embedded in kinship and out of step with the rapid material erosion of agrarian structures. Sociocultural de-agrarianisation is slower than the economic one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the stock market networks, we propose a community detection procedure, Spectral Clustering On Ratios-of-Eigenvectors with Composite Coefficient of Determination. This method has two main contributions. First, it is simple and fast with small error rates. Second, it addresses the problem that sample correlations are hard to capture the structural characteristics of financial markets. Simulation results show the effectiveness of this method. We build the stock network of the 500 largest companies listed on the New York stock exchanges. We show the rationality of community detection on the stock market network. The detection method explores five communities of the market network. We then provide detailed discussions on the most influential companies. For example, we find the pair features from the largest community. Clarify the difference between near-location pairing and distant-location pairing. Our study obtains some financial meaningful results. We also provide an insight into the internal structure of the stock market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]