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In this paper I consider various shifts in my research and understanding stimulated by seeking how to combat social ecological crises connected to modern economies. The discussion and critical reflections are structured around five papers that were submitted to Environmental Values in an open call to address my work. A common aspect is the move away from neoclassical environmental economics, and its reductionist monetary valuation, to a more realist theory and multiple methods. This relates to my work on environmental ethics, plural values, stated preference validity and deliberative monetary valuation. Expanding beyond the narrow confines of mainstream orthodoxy has involved exploring a range of other disciplines (e.g. applied philosophy, social psychology, human geography, political science, social anthropology, history of thought and philosophy of science) and learning from this literature to rethink economics and develop social ecological economics. A broad range of subjects are covered here, including: personal responsibility, social practice, psychology of the individual, participatory processes, value (intrinsic, instrumental and relational), Nature–society relationships and interdependencies, critical realism and the conduct of unifying interdisciplinary science. I end with a series of comments concerning the failings of orthodox economics and the conduct of scientific research for social ecological transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The making of education governance reforms has led to the transfer of school management powers to teachers' and parents' representatives through primary school management committees. However, the committees have been found to be inadequate in ensuring that collective action is taken by their male and female members in most low- and middle-income countries. In response, this paper examines the possibilities that collective action by school committees is related to gender inequality, controlling for demographic and socio-economic factors across the rural (Iringa District) and urban (Arusha City) contexts of Tanzania. The results of a simple linear regression analysis using Ordinary Least Square techniques show that gender inequality predicts the collective action in school committees in both Arusha City and Iringa District. However, the multiple linear regression model predicts gender inequality in Arusha, and not in Iringa, controlling for membership experience and occupational status for both the rural and urban samples. This paper has implications for both policy and practice. In particular, the next round of school autonomy reforms needs to consider the criteria for school committee membership to incorporate membership experience and occupational status into the qualifications of parents' representatives. In practice, head teachers need to devise innovative, sustainable approaches using the readily available resources to provide planning, budgeting and monitoring skills-based training to newly elected parent representatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to demonstrate the role of supplier diversity in empowering indigenous entrepreneurship and the potential socio-economic benefits derived from Puna Awarau (supplier diversity) in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Design/methodology/approach: Supplier diversity is an emerging field in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The insights and learnings shared in this article are based on the authors' own professional experiences and insights as supplier diversity practitioners that have shaped, grown and worked in this field. Findings: Supplier diversity is a global practice that is quickly gaining traction in Aotearoa. This is a highly practical tool to create equity for Maori, delivering benefits directly to whanau (families) and bolstering the conditions for entrepreneurship to flourish. Maori fare worst in multiple measures of social and economic well-being in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Super charging the country's fledgling supplier diversity movement is one of the tools in growing Maori entrepreneurship and socio-economic equity at the same time. Social implications: There is significant economic and social disparity between Maori and non-Maori. The median net worth of Maori is just a fraction of that of New Zealand (NZ) Europeans. What is clear is that the systems aren't serving Maori people and a "business as usual" approach simply doesn't work. Supplier diversity is a highly practical tool that can create equity for Maori, delivering benefits directly to whanau (families) and bolstering the conditions for entrepreneurship to flourish. Originality/value: This paper is the one the first academic contributions to the supplier diversity practice in Aotearoa. This article demonstrates the case for supplier diversity, the supplier diversity journey to date and early learnings and insights from practitioners working at the coal face of this emerging practice in Aotearoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arctic melting is an effect of climate change; the use of fossil fuels in marine shipping emits large amounts of air emissions that impact climate change, and Arctic aquatic and human life. Swedish pulp and paper mills generate large amounts of waste and side streams that could be utilized. The production of forest-based biofuel may be a promising solution to achieve sustainable Arctic marine shipping. This review highlights the socio-economic impacts associated with the production of forest-based biofuel in Sweden, the related opportunities, challenges, knowledge gaps, and further need of research. From the economic perspective, it was found that the production and use of forest-based biofuel have short and long-term economic sustainability benefits: (a) short-term benefits, the use of the waste and side streams of the pulp and paper industry is a low-cost available feedstock, unlike first-generation biofuel from crops like corn forest-based biofuels neither require additional land use, water resources nor compete with food. (b) Long-term benefits: (i) the Swedish shipping sector depends on imported fossil fuels, these new biofuels can replace partly those imported fossil fuels that will reduce shipping costs, and generate economic benefits for local consumers. (ii) Usage of forest-based biofuels as blends with conventional fuels in existing engines will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Arctic shipping to the set limits in the region. (iii) One of the important socioeconomic impacts of forest-based biofuel production and use is the new job creation and employment opportunities that will impact the local communities and livelihoods of indigenous people in the area. From a societal perspective, stakeholder involvement is essential to address the sustainability challenges of biofuel production: EU policymakers need to encourage the production and use of biofuels by developing policies that promote biofuel use. Further studies are needed to develop more efficient and low-cost biofuel production routes, more investments in related research and development are required as well. Local indigenous communities must be involved in the decision-making process through surveys, local dialogues, and research studies. The production of forest-based biofuels has great potential and many social-economic impacts alongside the environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the EU's new "Farm to Fork" strategy, crop production systems should rapidly become more environmentally friendly. In particular, by adopting agroecological measures that support functional biodiversity and improve ecosystem services for crop production, this paper contributes to the ongoing efforts in characterizing the socio-economic effects that the upscaling of these measures entails, by looking into two key measures: flower strips and mulching. One important socio-economic aspect of their adoption is their potential impact on agricultural income; however, knowledge on costs and benefits of measures enhancing functional biodiversity at the farm level is still limited. In order to improve these shortcomings our approach makes use of data from field experiments completed with interviews to provide cost–benefit results for flower strips and organic mulching. The estimations show that for "flower strips," on average costs could be covered by compensation payments. Regarding the in-crop measure "organic mulching," the benefits potentially outweigh the costs under the frame conditions of organic agriculture. The analysis also highlights some obstacles and knowledge gaps in the estimation of benefits, especially for off-crop measures like flower strips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pandemics refract sociopolitical tensions within societies and highlight how national belonging hinges on informal performances as much as legal status. While return migration has become a common practice and institutionalized strategy of state development, little scholarly work has probed how domestic populations view returnees and their claims to national membership. Using a large-scale, pre-registered online survey experiment deploying a give-or-take Dictator Game, this paper leverages the dynamics of COVID-19 to explore how Chinese nationals envision and treat returnees. First, our results illustrate that the Chinese population imagines returnees as a group of elites with substantial social and financial capital, even though returnees are a socio-economically diverse population. Next, by applying information priming, we demonstrate that Chinese nationals discriminated against overseas returnees during the pandemic and that this behavior was not primarily driven by fears of viral contagion. Finally, using mediation analysis, we show that participants' differential behavior towards returnees can largely be explained by participants' perceptions of returnees' class status and adherence to key markers of national membership. Ultimately, this paper broadens our understanding of the informal dynamics of national membership and intergroup relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global economic crisis of 2008-2013 led to the emergence of the concept of resilience, which focuses on the ability of socio-economic system store cover socially, economically, and environmentally after external impacts. The COVID-19 pandemic spurred scholarly interest in regional resilience as a new conceptual framework for the sustainability theory. This paper aims to examine the influence of the pandemic on the trends and geography of regional resilience studies. We analyzed data derived from Science Direct and used VOSviewer to perform clustering and bibliometric network analysis. The countries that suffered the most from the pandemic and showed the largest regional socioeconomic disparities have become new centers of knowledge on regional resilience. Moreover, the pandemic has led to a visible shift in the research focus. Thus, after 2020, more attention has been paid to the structural and topological characteristics of regions that enable them to reorganize their resources more effectively in times of crisis. This study investigates the potential of the resilient development concept as a framework for gaining insights into the factors supporting regional adaptability. INSET: C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the effects of environmental events across both biophysical and social dimensions is important in establishing a holistic view of such events. This study focuses on the impact of a devastating heat stress incident that occurred in many locations across the Caribbean region and South Atlantic during the 2023 summer season. The survey and focus of data collection was within Monroe County, a unique nature-based setting south of Miami, Florida, USA. The impact of the heat wave is still being calculated at the time of submission of this paper, but indications are that there was a major negative impact. The survey and data collection sought to understand recreationists' perceptions, knowledge, and behavior changes as result of the heat stress impact in the Florida Keys. Respondents were interviewed during community workshops in person and through an online sample of boating/angler license holders. The results indicated a change in behavior by some respondents, which may have a longer-term economic impact, along with trends of satisfaction with outdoor recreation over time. This rapid survey method can be applied to future scenarios where social and economic data are needed to fully contextualize environmental impacts in addition to biological endpoints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyze the trends of research conducted on companies using social media. Social media is one of the online platforms for sharing or exchanging individual thoughts, experiences, and opinions, and with the development of the IT environment, the use of social media has also grown rapidly. In recent years, research in the field of business administration or economics on the use of social media is also showing a significant increase. Contents posted on social media directly or indirectly affect corporate performance or corporate value. This study summarized the results of empirical research on this. This study proposes a technology-based convergence study on the economic effect of social media, and looks forward to expanding research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) originates from Africa and the list of producers is topped by African countries, it is not clear whether research is developed enough to support crop promotion in the continent. Thus, this systematic review of 180 articles presents a comprehensive summary of research on Bambara groundnut (BGN) in Africa. The paper addresses bibliographical metrics, the geographic distribution of the research and themes covered (viz., food and nutrition security, climate resilience, and livelihoods). The analysis shows that BGN can help address different challenges in Africa, such as food and nutrition insecurity and poverty. However, it also highlights gaps in the research from geographical and thematic standpoints. Geographically speaking, the most important producers of BGN in Africa are not sufficiently covered in the research; instead, it is mainly carried out in Nigeria and South Africa. Thematically speaking, the gaps are related to economics and social sciences, the use of BGN in animal production, processing and marketing, irrigation, contribution to climate resilience and livelihoods, and health benefits. Collaborative research and knowledge sharing, including among producing countries and those leading the research field, are highly needed to unlock the potential of BGN and boost its contribution to sustainable development in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton is a crucial cash crop in the tribal belt of Odisha. It has a significant effect on the livelihood of the tribal people. The volatile socio-economic background of the tribal farmers is a major hindrance to the proper development of the agriculture sector. In this regard, it is important to study the possible factors affecting cotton productivity in the tribal region to boost the policy effectiveness for the development of this cash crop in the area. More precisely, how is their socio-economic condition reflected in their crop productivity? So, the development of the tribal farmers can develop this crop in the region. This study analyses the detrimental effect of socio-economic factors on cotton productivity in the tribal area of Odisha. The data are collected using a structured questionnaire and a multiple-sampling technique. To understand the effect of socioeconomic factors on productivity, the ordinary least square (OLS) method has been employed in this paper. The result shows that most of the farmers are illiterate for which productivity is degrading. The age and gender of the head of the household are significant contributors to the cotton productivity of the study area. Male-headed households are more productive than female-headed households. Per capita monthly income and proportion of irrigated land are also important factors to affect cotton productivity positively. However, the social group of the family has no significant effect on the cotton productivity in the study area. Policymakers and agriculturists should emphasize farmer literacy, farmer income and land irrigation facilities to boost the productivity of this crop in the studied region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite obvious gravitation towards child adoption in recent times, resistance to the practice is still strong among Igbos in southern Nigeria. The paper explains this resistance from the Igbo cultural orientation of the past, which survives in the present, and the socio-economic realities of contemporary times. It demonstrates how the Igbo socio-cultural contexts provide both a formidable force against the identity of the adopted and a basis to contest against such for socio-economic privileges in the contemporary context. The paper further explains the implications of this development – a gradual creation of a new group of the Igbo with unshared identity in urban centers, who unlike the conventional migrant Igbo, has little or no link with the 'traditional homeland'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified global social inequalities and disrupted socio-economic stability, as recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). This study uses Marxist and critical theoretical frameworks to analyze how the pandemic has exacerbated class struggles and socio-economic disparities, focusing on the working and lower-middle classes in Southeast Asia. Through case studies of Indonesia and Malaysia, the research evaluates national policy responses designed to protect these groups. Employing a descriptive and qualitative methodology, including analysis of official data and media discourse, the study highlights how the pandemic has amplified existing contradictions within capitalist systems, leading to increased job losses and widening labor market inequalities. Despite the introduction of economic stimulus packages, these measures often fail to address the underlying systemic issues of capitalism that perpetuate class exploitation and inequality. The paper critiques the capitalist framework for exacerbating the challenges faced by the working class during the pandemic, arguing that these policies offer only temporary relief without tackling the root causes of socioeconomic disparities. This analysis underscores the need for a more transformative approach to understanding and addressing capitalist dynamics in Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determinants of farmer well-being can be derived from objective and subjective measures of social components, environmental sustainability indicators, and quality of life indices, as well as the multiple scales that farms and farmers operate. Yet, despite multiple frameworks on farmer well-being, the extent to which farmer-expressed values are used in the development of farmer well-being indicators is unclear. Challenges can arise from extracting indicators that are insufficiently grounded in place, or that inadequately incorporate context and biocultural relations and practices. Here in this scoping review, we synthesize the methodologies in the literature on assessing farmer well-being and identify the extent to which farmer well-being domains are derived from values expressed directly by farmers. We consolidated and coded 92 papers to respond to the following questions: (1) What are the most frequent farmer well-being domains in published studies? (2) What methods are used to elicit multidimensional farmer well-being domains? (3) Do well-being domains used in the literature adequately reflect a biocultural context, including place-based influences on well-being? Our results show that economics and social relationships are frequent domains of how farmer well-being is identified and assessed. These domains tend to be measured simultaneously, while less common domains, such as governance and place, are rather isolated. A suite of methods was used to assess well-being domains, ranging from basic surveys to in-depth participant observation. Yet, we identify gaps in the methods for deriving farmer well-being indicators. Specifically, methods that refer to farmer-expressed values were rare and domains identified through a place-based approach were often not recorded, but, arguably, critical in developing multidimensionality of farmer well-being. We show that while the translocal approach is well represented in established well-being frameworks, farmer expression is not foundational in well-being assessments but is needed in order to center farmer values when generating indicators of well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings from a campus climate survey conducted at an Australian university. Unprecedented compositional diversity now exists in higher education, with students enrolled from different religious, socio-economic, geographic, and cultural backgrounds. Despite this diversity, little research has been conducted into the ways that different student groups experience university, including marginalised and 'hidden' groups such as LGBTIQA+ students. The survey aimed to uncover the impact of diversity on student experiences, including the extent to which students associated with others from different backgrounds, the extent to which their own views and beliefs were challenged, and the extent to which they felt safe on campus. Findings suggest a need for more targeted research, particularly into the experiences of marginalised groups, and for reform of both institutional policy and curriculum. Further, we found that students are frequently thinking about identity, diversity, and bias, and their own voices need to be elevated within institutional strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The starting base of this paper is human life as a highest human value and the right to life as top inherent and natural right of the man. According the theory of natural rights all other human rights are in the function of the right to life. In line with that those rights are natural rights. The right to education is in the function of the qualification of the man for life and for maintenance of his life in the natural and socioeconomic conditions which are enforced to man by his natural environment. In the moment of birth the man is „tabula rasa“- the being without any knowledge for objective reality. The life enforce the man, in the very beginning of his life some needs which, by his age and development as a human being, become a numerous. For supplying those needs the man learns. During the process of learning or studying the man acquire the know ledges and abilities to which he has a natural right because those know ledges and abilities are necessary for supplying of his living necessities and for maintenance of his life. Having in view those facts, the right to acquire knowledge, as a right to education is a natural right of the man. This right is directly and indirectly in function of the right to life, and it is achieved through number of forms of informal or spontaneous learning and formal, by society organized studying. The right to education, as a natural right, is the subject of the regulation of the more international legal acts which are based on the theory of the natural right. Among those acts the most important are: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Declaration on the Right of the Child, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention of human rights) and other international acts. The provisions on education contained in these acts are incorporated into the constitutional provisions of the states and their national legislations on education. In the paper is analyzed the right to education, as a natural human right, in the international legal acts and as an informal and formal education. The analysis is based on the theory of natural law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we considered and characterised the features of information systems management of agricultural production processes, which are based on agricultural technologies to support and increase food security in the domestic and external markets. We revealed management models in this category, which are used in the agrarian sector of Canada and Vietnam. Differences between these two models are connected with several factors, including socioeconomic development, quality of arable land, availability of resources and their cost, level of labour resources' readiness to the implementation of new ICT, and farms' adopting the necessity of transition to precise farming. The revealed advantages and problems of implementing Agritech at the level of the two countries demonstrate that the focus on sustainable and precise farming has become a new trend in this sphere. The goal of this paper was to establish the features of the formation of approaches to information systems management in Agritech to ensure the food security of countries that produce agricultural products. The scientific novelty of this paper lies in the determination of approaches to the implementation and management of information systems in the considered category, which facilitate the creation of conditions for the growth of efficiency of agricultural productions under the influence of threats of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quests and advocacies for co-operations, alliances, integration and unity amongst African countries are quite historical, and are ever resonating in discourses on international relations. It is such advocacies that birthed the idea for the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), etc. Unfortunately, not even the rationale for the metamorphosis from OAU to the African Union (AU) has been able to entrench the much desired unity of purpose amongst African states. This paper posits that the conversations on strategies for a closer and sustainable integration in Africa should not only be centred on socio-economic and political paradigms, but should deeply reflect cultural cum educational matrixes. The paper hypothesizes that cultural transmission, which is a fundamental goal of any educational system, has to be emphatically explored in the drive for integration and unity in Africa. It therefore conceptually highlighted the link between culture and education in regional integration, with reminiscences of such linkages in Africa. The paper however observes that, beyond the affirmations and declarations arising from Treaties and Charters by some regional fora in Africa, the varied uses of education for the purposes of cultural transmission, promotion of African history and languages, in addition to the merits of intellectual exchanges, are to be further surveyed as the plausible templates that would encourage integration in Africa. Consequently, the paper suggests that socio-political institutions, governments, sub-regional blocs and other agents of diplomacy and development in Africa should carefully reconsider the multi-dimensional values of education in the realization of the dreams of African nationalists for a well-integrated and united Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view that Culture and Creative Industries (CCI) are multi-sector, emergent, and complex, this paper couples the theoretical perspective of Margaret Archer's Morphogenetic Approach with Adam Kahane's Tansformative Scenario Planning (TSP) as its strategic framework to discover, articulate, and connect cross-sector (community-based organizations, industry, government, and education) CCI efforts. This study has sought to understand how and in what ways the actions found in the creative sector can be leveraged to enhance participation and ameliorate the outputs of socio-economic efforts across the full spectrum of the greater Seattle region. Thus, though this example it contributes to the creation of vital places of public welfare, where public frameworks and policies nurture accessibility and participate in connected culture and creative ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local Economic Development strategies were formulated in response to the stipulations made by the national government of South Africa. The national mandate placed the responsibility on the local sphere of government to promote economic progression from a grassroots level and to contribute to developmental activities within the state. The National Framework LED has been created as a basis for the effective practice of LED in terms of implementation. This paper focused mainly on evaluating the effectiveness of Local Economic Development strategies in uMhlathuze Local Municipality within Empangeni town. This paper and its problem were developed by the researcher due to the growing unemployment rate in South Africa which mostly affects young people, more especially at the municipal level. The researcher was convinced to evaluate how the economic development strategies or initiatives addressing the issue of unemployment and assisting economic development within the uMhlathuze Local Municipality, intending to come up with mechanisms that may be put at hand to ensure the effectiveness of these strategies provided to address economic issues with the municipality. This paper employed qualitative methods to collect and analyze data. Qualitative data were collected from community members and staff of the municipality within the Department of Economic Development through the use of questionnaires. The analysis of qualitative data was done through thematic analysis. The findings of the research revealed that there is a communication breakdown between the community and the municipality to enable the community to use the opportunities for economic development. This paper recommends that the municipality needs to develop/advance communication methods to ensure that the community is informed and aware of the development opportunities that are provided by the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper contributes to the current debate on just transitions which is exploring what factors and conditions can lead to a twin transition that can also achieve an equitable redistribution of the outputs. The paper draws on the theories of justice, by bringing together three dimensions of justice: distributive, procedural and substantive justice. We apply this framework to explain the socio-economic impact of technology-pushed structural change on the future of work. We define just transition as a triple transition that requires digital and green shifts and crucially, a competence and skill transition that transversally cuts across industries, jobs and professions. The paper analyses the case of a specific region, Emilia Romagna in Italy, which has implemented, particularly since 2010, an original holistic approach to industrial development policy, comprising social and education policies. We conclude that within a national education framework tasked with pivoting the mix of necessary basic knowledge, regions have an important role to play by designing and implementing place-based education and training initiatives that are specific to the regional socio-economic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research paper is to determine the degree of relationship between the emergent technologies and the industry 4.0, and the Social and Solidarity-based Economic model. The research paper is a product of a quantitative analysis in 62 Guanajuato state's (Mexico) SMEs. The results show that there is a correlation between economy 4.0 and social economy. Therefore, it is necessary to create the required conditions to display the Industry 4.0 within the fabrication process, in which the following aspects are found: the development of national strategies, which lead the coordinate display of Industry 4.0; the creation of a multilateral mechanism, in which the interested parts institutionalize a participative scope in order to promote Industry 4.0; the creation of international cooperation mechanisms to accelerate the transfer of technology and technical knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 21st century, various socio-economic crises have revealed that traditional economic science and (neo)classical thinking are unable to explain all the complexity of current economic problems, therefore the application of more complex and non-trivial economic concepts is gaining relevance. In addition to behavioral and evolutionary economic thinking, models of quantum economics have been developed in recent years, which allow solving economic problems, using mainly quantum thinking and the principles of quantum physics, in particular particle-wave dualism, the principle of uncertainty, the absence of a subject-object distinction, superposition and confusion. The article addresses 3 research questions (RQ). According to RQ1, the paper finds that quantum economics research is dominated by the following topics: quantum economics, quantum finance, quantum decision making, and quantum game theory. According to these four thematic descriptors, the article carries out a systematic modern review of scientific works in the period from 1978 to 2022 (if only 50 works were published in 1978-1999, then in 2000-2022 already 3430), with an emphasis on the most cited (Google Scholar) English-language journal articles. The analysis showed that articles on this topic are published mainly in journals of a non-economic profile, that the peaks of publication activity occur at times of powerful socio-economic upheavals (for example, the dot.com bubble, the substandard/financial crisis, the European debt crisis, the coronavirus pandemic, etc.). In accordance with RQ2, the article defines the key characteristics of the quantum economic model: in contrast to neoclassical economics (based on mechanistic classical physics, is rational and deterministic, with the help of the invisible hand of the market it leads to a stable equilibrium), the quantum approach, on the contrary, considers the economy as more complex, empirically oriented, uncertain, probabilistic, superpositional, as an archetypal example of a quantum social system that has its own versions of duality, measurement, and entanglement. According to RQ 3, the article determines to what extent quantum economics can update (neo)classical economics (integration of new ontological premises into economic thinking, more experimental and practical approach, connection between the concept of entanglement and sustainable development, management of financial risks based on the concept of quantum probability, rethinking the concept of randomness by quantum probability, introduction of quantum money, equilibrium using quantum games, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present wave of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technology and trends is drastically affecting nearly every economic sector and preparing for profound changes in people's lives. The benefits of the technology include higher safety, better decisionmaking, increased productivity, efficiency, and quality in processes, as well as increased competitiveness. Thus, every effort towards raising awareness of the 4IR should begin early in primary education. This study critically evaluated the literature on the issues and challenges of implementing Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) preliminary courses in primary education in Malaysia towards raising awareness of the future 4IR. Using two databases, namely Scopus and Web of Science, the review was conducted in accordance with the ROSES (Reporting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses) publishing standard. The findings showed that the role of primary education in facilitating skills development for socioeconomic and technological development for the students was significant. Based on the thematic analysis, two primary themes emerged: a lack of 21st-century skills and support, supplemented by six sub-themes. In addition, the issues and challenges of other countries' primary education in meeting the 4IR demand are also discussed. The paper offered solutions for the issues that arose to fulfil the objective of TVET preparatory courses: to increase pupil awareness of the present 4IR in elementary education in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The academic literature showed an increasing interest in studying the link between national identity and anti-immigrant sentiment. This work is based on ten countries from the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) dataset for two different waves: 2003 and 2013. The paper aims to analyse the influence of the three facets of national identity (nationalism, political patriotism, and cultural patriotism) and other socioeconomic traits on attitudes towards immigrants (ATI). Untried methods in social science based on the fuzzy-hybrid analysis (FHA) and the fuzzy clustering are used first to analyse citizens according to their levels of openness towards immigrants, nationalism, cultural patriotism, and political patriotism. Then, the ordered probit model is applied to thoroughly examine the intricate relationships connecting the three facets of national identity and individual sociodemographic characteristics with ATI. The results show that the national identity and cultural patriotism constructs negatively influence ATI, while political patriotism positively influences ATI. In addition, country, political orientation, age, religion, economic situation, gender, place of birth, principal status, and education are crucial factors that explain ATI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public policy management has an intractable nature, and the institutional complexity of governance further exacerbates its practice. Transnational learning cutting across countries and policy areas can contribute to this policy knowledge in dealing with multifarious issues in public management. Understanding the institutional mix in public management in various contexts enhances the existing comprehension of how the national pattern of public management works differently in different socio-economic, cultural, and political settings. The present research aims to study the institutional framework in the form of state structure (unitary or federal) and the nature of executive government (majoritarian or consensual) in delineating the influence of institutions on public management processes in divergent policy systems. The paper undertakes four in-depth country case studies and the public management reforms as a response to institutional pressure are examined using the 4 M strategy-Maintain (holding on to existing administrative structures and processes), Modernize (keeping service delivery and regulation up to date), Marketize (efficiency and userresponsive public management), and Minimize (reducing state-led regulation). The case studies highlight the differences in the broad direction and energy of implementation that characterize a particular policy style. The results of the study indicate that even though the institutional dimensions are not present in strict polarization, the impact of the institutional mix is evident in the dominant strategies of public management reforms adopted at the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is notable that the vernacular houses of 19th-century Macedonia have undergone significant developmental transformations, reflecting a complex interplay of socioeconomic, cultural, and technological influences. On this issue, over the past 40 years, extensive documentations have been produced, shedding light on the influences of 19th-century developments on these houses. In this context, this research investigates the nature and extent of these transformations, focusing specifically on traditional village and town houses in Macedonia. The research employs a qualitative approach. It utilizes data gathering techniques such as a literature survey, observations of transformations, photographic surveys, documentations, and interviews. It produces a comprehensive understanding of the changes that have occurred in Macedonian vernacular houses by triangulating data generated from these methods. The findings indicate that the developmental changes are closely linked to advancements in building materials and construction techniques. The paper thus concludes that the traditional Macedonian village and town houses are undergoing notable changes, driven by factors such as urbanization, globalization, and shifts in cultural norms. These transformations pose challenges to the preservation of cultural heritage and underscore the need for innovative approaches to architectural conservation and urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper investigates the phenomenon of Married By Accident (MBA) marriages in Kualuh Leidong, focusing on the contributing factors and the effectiveness of religious counseling in addressing this issue. The study aims to understand the social, economic, and familial dynamics leading to MBA marriages and the role of religious and community interventions in mitigating these occurrences. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, this study employs interviews with key informants, including religious counselors and local residents, alongside a review of relevant literature and socio-economic data. The data were collected through in-depth interviews and field observations in Kualuh Leidong, analyzed thematically to identify patterns and insights related to MBA marriages. The findings reveal that MBA marriages in Kualuh Leidong are influenced by a combination of internal and external factors. Internal factors include a lack of religious understanding and weak self-control, while external factors involve inadequate parental supervision, economic hardship, and social media's impact. The study also highlights the increasing trend of MBA marriages in 2024, attributed to insufficient religious counseling and the role of socioeconomic challenges. This research provides a novel exploration of MBA marriages in a specific regional context, highlighting the intersection of religious, economic, and social factors. It offers new insights into the effectiveness of religious counseling in preventing MBA marriages and the impact of socio-economic conditions on family dynamics. he study underscores the need for enhanced religious education and community support to address the root causes of MBA marriages. It suggests that more comprehensive and culturally sensitive counseling programs are necessary to prevent early marriages and address the issues related to pregnancies outside of wedlock. Policy recommendations include increasing parental involvement and improving economic support to reduce the incidence of MBA marriages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance War heritage sites of Vietnam linked to pivotal moments such as the Indochina and Vietnam Wars, serve as vital cultural historical repositories scattered around the settlement spaces. While rekindling the memories of the past, they also also contribute to enhancing educational outcomes through tourism and public engagement. This paper examines methods to improve the preservation of these sites to fully realize their potential in reviving and reinforcing local historical awareness. It emphasizes the integration of advanced technologies such as Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) in these efforts. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining document review, case studies, and direct observations. Data collection methods include interviews with site managers, analysis of visitor feedback, and evaluations of technology implementation at the sites, providing a comprehensive perspective on the current preservation practices and their effectiveness. It concludes that, despite considerable progress in preserving and elevating the profile of the historical relics of Vietnam, there are notable deficiencies, particularly in the use of technologies and involvement of the community. The paper suggests actionable approaches to enhance the educational value of these sites, stressing the need for broader implementation of technologies and increased public engagement in heritage conservation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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As oxygen is essential for the survival of the human being likewise good governance is absolute reality for the survival of any state. Inspite of having tangible and intangible resources, Pakistan is under stress. One of the important reasons, is its' governing pattern which is not only corrupt but also has become malaise. It all weakened Pakistan. In Pakistan, the institutions have institutional gaps which not only restricted the capacity and capability of the institutions but also raised the questions over the credibility of the state. This paper will examine the issue of governance in Pakistan in the context of institutional governance. The research recommends that by keeping in mind the severity of current socio-economic and political challenges, Pakistan needs institutional governance in order to execute quality decisions. This paper is structured on qualitative methodology, based on secondary source data and used exploratory research technique to frame a case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article uses R Studio Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and Connected Papers to structure the scientific work of scientists on the development of educational systems during socio-economic, political, migration, pandemic, and climate crises in the 2020s. The research is based on more than 970 publications (articles, conference abstracts, monographs, and their sections) indexed by Scopus in 2020--2024, selected by keywords: "educational crisis," "education policy response," "education disruption," and "learning loss." The publication activity grew at an annual rate of 16.45%, peaking in 2023, while the peak of public interest (determined by Google Trends) was in 2022. The study consists of seven parts: the first examines shifts and patterns in the fields of educational crisis; the second analyzes influential publications; the third identifies key research institutions; the fourth explores various counties; the fifth highlights prominent researchers in these fields; the sixth delves into key areas of study; and the seventh uncovers core themes and insights in the research. The study identifies a number of important areas of concentration for the study of educational crises from a thematic perspective. These include education disruption and learning loss, and the broader impact of these issues on inclusive growth and sustainable development. Among all the crises that took place in the world in 2020--2024, COVID-19 and the full-scale war in Ukraine had the greatest impact on the transformation of education systems. China and the United States dominate the world in terms of publication activity and citation of articles by scientists from these countries (their point of view actually determines the emphasis with which the scientific world speaks about challenges in education), while scientists from Australia, India, and the United Kingdom have significantly increased their research activity in this area over the study period. The findings of this study are aimed at understanding the causes and consequences of educational crises and formulating recovery plans to mitigate global risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses socio-economic relations of the bourgeoisie and proletariat relating them to present-day contemporary Pakistani society. The paper is broken down into sections where class consciousness, struggle, and mobility are discussed in view of a Marxist framework and aligned with that of the Victorian English era and that of today's Pakistan. The present paper, therefore, employing qualitative research methods, including close reading, finds persistent class conflicts and socio-economic disparities, in unison with the struggles laid down by Dickens in his narrative. The implications of the findings strongly hint at the fact that these historical literary insights can be of substantial help in guiding socio-economic reforms within the domain of Pakistan. Future research recommendations are to point towards precise measures on how class disparities in Pakistani society could be alleviated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literary prizes, while providing legitimacy of artistic excellence to authors, are delicately poised in modern prize culture. They must maintain a balance between the artistic merit of literature and the health of the economic capital of the publishing industry and sponsors. This paper meticulously examines the myriad proliferation of literary prizes and the convergence of its intricacies--the process of nomination and selection, sponsorships, promotion, media coverage of the award ceremony, celebratory nature of the occasion, the climactic drama of acceptance speech, and controversy--to characterize the centrality of economic force at play. It reflects the dependency of art form's flourishing and sustenance on the logic of the economic marketplace. Through a close analysis of the controversial selection of certain authors and particular books, the paper looks at the epiphenomena of prestigious literary prizes to demonstrate a classic working of the neoliberal market outcome of controversy as publicity/currency, which not only brings about manufacturing of aura for controversial writers as celebrities but simultaneously radiates its effect on the demand value of their literary products and investing participants. It concludes that centrifugal dissemination and consumption of mediatised controversy events across national and international borders generates a centripetal concentration of socio-economic capital for writers, publishers and sponsors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental and land resource degradation is a serious problem that poses significant challenges in Sudan and worldwide generally. Despite the fact that the physical environment components are the underlying economic resources and production assets in developing countries like Sudan, and they directly affect the nation's socioeconomic aspects of income, health, water availability, food security, and many others. The interventions and protective measures were insufficient to meet the magnitude and extent of the ongoing degradation and resource wastage. Based on the analysis of the indicators and trends of the environmental and natural resources management 'status quo', this paper is an attempt to overview and investigate the state of environmental and natural resources management and governance in Sudan. Further discussion delves into the utilization of geo-information systems in Sudan's environmental and resource management by analyzing and reviewing "some previous case studies" where GIS approaches and techniques were deployed. The paper further strives to explore and highlight the opportunities and potential contributions of GIS in the context of Sudan's environmental and resource management. Lessons learned from the previous experiences were considered, and the recommendations for the future use of a tailored geoinformation system in Sudan context were highlighted and suggested to support better practices and sustainability insights for environmental governance and resources management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poetry of Rizwan Akhtar exhibits an extensive thematic scope, yet notably, it features a subtle and succinct feminine presence. Predominantly the poetry focuses on indigenous traditions and the cultural and social milieu of post-colonial Lahore. However, this paper explores a distinct facet of Akhtar's work: its treatment of gender dynamics. This study critically examines the portrayal of Pakistani women within Rizwan Akhtar's poetic landscape, as depicted in his poetry collection, Lahore I am Coming. It seeks to elucidate the pervasive phenomenon of objectification and subsequent self-objectification experienced by Pakistani women across diverse socio-economic contexts. Akhtar's deliberate or inadvertent endeavor to imbue these women with agency and consciousness within society is analyzed, contrasting prevalent objectification with his humanizing portrayal. Through meticulous analysis, this research aims to delineate the complexities of Pakistani women's lived experiences, shedding light on their struggles for agency and recognition amidst societal norms and expectations. Through close textual analysis, the paper elucidates various manifestations of objectification and their impact on the female psyche. Moreover, it endeavors to illuminate how women, despite enduring objectification, navigate avenues of resistance, revealing profound psychological insights and asserting individual agency against the backdrop of pervasive male dominance. This inquiry sheds light on pertinent contemporary issues concerning women, underscoring their resilience and quest for autonomy within patriarchal structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the role of standard block and modular dwelling designs in Hong Kong's public housing provision since the mid-1950s. It explores how standard types have evolved in relation to housing policies, demographic and socio-economic changes, and minimum space requirements. In contrast to other countries, Hong Kong lacks defined space or room standards. In the absence of space standards, Hong Kong relies on a living density standard. This paper studies the historical development of Hong Kong's public housing in terms of dwelling size as a measure of housing quality, questioning the effectiveness of standard block and dwelling designs as housing design controls and highlighting the contextual nature of dwelling usability and size. The analysis is based on public housing design projects, policies, and data implemented or presented by the Hong Kong government, particularly the Hong Kong Housing Authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the high-speed rail debate (HSR) there has been lacking in-depth theoretical and evidential research on the role HSR has on tacit knowledge flows between industrial clusters or regions of economic productivity. The research that has begun to emerge has focused on knowledge indicators such as patents for social/tacit knowledge exchange, which this paper raises concerns over. This review aims to discover new links for HSR with cluster economics through social knowledge theory and aims to create a conceptual framework that will provide a new perspective for future research in the HSR debate concerning social knowledge exchange. Potential implications are presented for future transport policy decision-making, based on the relationship HSR may have with inter-regional tacit knowledge flows and accessibility benefits in regional balancing. Future research considerations are pointed out that argue to measure the flow of knowledge from HSR, research needs to go in-depth to the social aspect of interactions and relationship buildings, as quantitative data will struggle to capture tacit knowledge flow itself, due to the tacit nature of such information. The presented framework highlights the tacit nature of interactions facilitated by HSR connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic that broke out in 2019 was one of the largest epidemics in human history after the Spanish flu of 1918-1919 (Trilla, Trilla and Daer, 2008). Its spread across Africa, and Zimbabwe in particular, shook economies and disrupted social structures, severely affecting the mental health of the populace. However, calamities like Covid-19 are hardly gender-neutral. While Covid-19 had negative psychosocial and economic impacts on all gender groups, women suffered disproportionately from the socio-economic and psychological toll of the epidemic. Using qualitative research methods based on interviews and observations in Harare Zimbabwe, this article explores the experiences of urban Zimbabwean women during the Covid-19 pandemic. The outbreak of covid-19 and the consequential lockdowns had a marked disruptive effect on urban formal and informal sources of livelihoods than it had on the largely subsistence rural economy. We, therefore, analyse the urban socio-cultural and economic contexts that shaped women's daily experiences in the context of Covid-19 and how this affected their economic and psychological situation. We aver that while Covid-19 made women 'beasts of burden' who had to provide for the household and family, it also served as a means of social reconstruction and provided opportunities for women's social and economic advancement and long-term psychological well-being. Covid-19 broke down and weakened the manipulative patriarchal socio-cultural norms that excluded women from economic and social advancement. Using the neo-dependency analytical framework, this article contends that while crises worsen conditions for vulnerable groups, there should also be space to celebrate the breaking of exploitative social structures that have kept women in subservient positions for centuries. By exposing the weaknesses of patriarchy, Covid-19 signalled the development of a new social order that recognises and celebrates women's courage, strengths, and resilience in times of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the concept of migration, and its causes and effects, with a focus on international migration. Various journal articles, reports, and policy documents are reviewed to address the controversies concerning the concept and key issues of migration. The paper indicates that migration is not only a contested concept, but migration research has resulted in different outcomes. It is mainly affected by personal, socio-economic, and political factors associated with the origin and host countries. Similarly, scholars have been asking the question, "who is a migrant?" for decades without a definite answer. It is also important to consider "what would happen after migrants obtain host country citizenship": would they continue to be migrants, the host countries' citizens, or both? This paper contributes to advancing our knowledge and broadening our understanding of the concept of migration and key issues associated with it. It also serves as a base for further discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analysis of the extent to which poor pupils in England are clustered in schools with others like them. It is based on a segregation index of pupils eligible for free school meals for every year for which official national data is available. The trend over time has been published before up to 2019, and this paper extends the analysis to 2021, covering both the Covid-19 era so far and the beginning of transitional arrangements for Universal Credit, which have led to a substantial increase in the number of pupils eligible for free school meals. Results show that the segregation of poor pupils between secondary schools has continued to decline annually – a decline that started with the onset of Pupil Premium funding. This decline in segregation has not occurred for other possible indicators of disadvantage, such as pupils having a special educational need or disability, which are not addressed by Pupil Premium funding. Clustering disadvantaged pupils together in parts of a national school system has been linked to worse pupil outcomes overall, lower aspirations, less ethnic cohesion, and reduced trust in society by students. So, this ongoing reduction is encouraging, and is likely to lead to a lower poverty attainment gap in academic outcomes. However, the reduction in 2020 and 2021 is "false" to some extent, based mostly on a sudden increase in the number of pupils officially classed as poor, rather than an improvement in their distribution or evenness. It is, therefore, important to retain Pupil Premium funding or something like it for the time being to see what happens to the attainment gap. And the apparent success of this funding scheme could have implications for school systems worldwide that value fairness in the provision of national opportunities for education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]