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Many countries that lack the resources and/or political will to settle and integrate refugees among citizens pursue refugee encampment. At the heart of encampment is the categorization of populations according to the sedentarist dictates of the nation-state governance framework. As people who are categorized as de-territorialized bodies, refugees are subject to a peculiar form of governance which is sustained by ubiquity of refugee encampment around the world. This is the case whether in the Global South, where encampment has featured in refugee hosting for decades or in the Global North, where growing numbers of refugees in recent years have led to re-introduction of camps epitomized by anchor facilities, among others. This article argues that refugee encampment is underpinned by categorization, which separates refugees from other migrants as well as the displaced from the emplaced. Despite encampment's separation of refugees from citizens in line with the sedentarist inclinations of the nation-state, encampment in protracted situations has morphed into permanent settlements leading to informal and unofficial re-territorialization through refugee activities that challenge the logic of encampment. This and refugees' self-initiated relocation to spaces outside the camps have blurred the line between the displaced and the emplaced, thus demonstrating how refugees mediate the intended outcomes of migration categorizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Categories have gained new centrality in migration studies, highlighting the importance of critically approaching policy labels and considering categories as a lens rather than a pre-determined analytical toolkit. This Special Issue (SI) brings together migration scholars of different disciplinary backgrounds from the Global South and North. This article introduces the SI with a theoretically driven discussion of migration categories, hopefully inspiring further research and orienting newcomers to the field. Current studies have what we term sub-field confinement, one-dimensionality and context-related perspectival limitations. Bridging migration subfields, empirically apprehending the disconnections between policy and experiential dimensions of labelling and de-centring Global North analyses are key to understanding the socio-cultural life of migration categories. Further comparative and interdisciplinary research is necessary, given the topic's rising importance in migration studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes academic displacement as a lens to analyse interconnections between skilled and forced migration, and discusses the policy, work and subjective dimensions of the phenomenon. The analysis suggests that policy construction of academic displacement is framed around a temporal oxymoron between short-term emergency intervention and long-term expectations around 'rescued' scholars' capacity to engage in scientific excellence. It also rests on an individualistic interpretation of academic freedom. Differently, displaced scholars reassert the importance of the communitarian dimension of academic freedom. Being represented as exceptional/temporary guests risks bordering them from both their home academic community and their European 'host'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review delves into the realm of nonprofit marketing (NPM) by synthesizing empirical studies published between 2013 and 2022 across various sectors. Employing a meticulous screening process, we examined 62 articles sourced from reputable databases such as Science Direct, Elsevier, JSTOR, Emerald, Springer, Wiley Online Library, SAGE, and Google Scholar. Our objective was to provide a comprehensive overview and enhance understanding in the field of nonprofit marketing. The analysis of these selected articles revealed eight pivotal themes within NPM: marketing strategy, fundraising, collaboration, trust, branding, entrepreneurship, social media campaigns, and performance measurement. Through a systematic approach, we integrated these themes, shedding light on the interconnectedness of research within each domain. Our study not only consolidates a fragmented body of research but also identifies critical gaps, laying the foundation for future investigations. These gaps include a scarcity of multi-country level analyses, limited studies in developing country contexts, a deficiency of comparative analyses between developed and developing countries, and an insufficient exploration of the intersections between nonprofit and for-profit marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of qualitative data on the negative effects of workplace stressors on the well-being of healthcare professionals in hospitals in Africa. It is unclear how well research methods developed for high-income country contexts apply to different cultural, social, and economic contexts in the global south. We conducted a qualitative interview-based study including 64 perioperative healthcare professionals across all provinces of Rwanda. We used an iterative thematic analysis and aimed to explore the lived experience of Rwandan healthcare professionals and to consider to what extent the Maslach model aligns with these experiences. We found mixed responses of the effects on individuals, including the denial of burnout and fatigue to the points of physical exhaustion. Responses aligned with Maslach's three-factor model of emotional exhaustion, decreased personal accomplishment, and depersonalisation, with downstream effects on the healthcare system. Other factors included strongly patriotic culture, goals framed by narratives of Rwanda's recovery after the genocide, and personal and collective investment in developing the Rwandan healthcare system. The Rwandan healthcare system presents many challenges which can become profoundly stressful for the workforce. Consideration of reduced personal and collective accomplishment, of moral injury, and its diverse downstream effects on the whole healthcare system may better represent the costs of burnout Rwanda. It is likely that improving the causes of work-based stress will require a significant investment in improving staffing and working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using social disorganization theory, the present study considers the concentration of racial minorities and the degree of ethnic heterogeneity to provide an estimation of homicide rates in the Northeast region of Brazil. Three hypotheses were considered: (1) there is a positive association between homicides and ethnic heterogeneity and black/indigenous populations, (2) the magnitude of ethnic heterogeneity is greater than race/minority groups on homicides, and (3) metropolitan regions will be associated with an increase in homicides. Through spatial modelling techniques, results indicate the plausibility of first and third hypotheses. Implications for homicide prevention and social disorganization theory in global south are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Infectious and other complications can necessitate admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) in autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Data on need for ICU care, impact of various pre- and peri-transplant characteristics on requirement of ICU care and outcomes are scarce from the developing world. Methods: A retrospective case record review of ASCT cases was conducted. Pre- and peri-transplant characteristics like infection within 4 weeks of transplant, mucositis, surveillance culture positivity, peri-transplant infections, comorbidity, and time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment were noted. Results: A total of 109 patients underwent 109 ASCTs. Most common diagnosis was the plasma cell disorder in 75 (69%) patients. Forty-eight (45%) patients had peri-transplant infections. Fifteen (14%) patients had infections with multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms. Fifteen (14%) patients required ICU care, the most common reason being hypotension in nine patients (8.3%). Four patients (3.7%) required non-invasive ventilation, and one (0.9%) required invasive ventilation. Mortality rate was 1.8% (two patients). Factors associated with the need for ICU care were time to platelet engraftment (median 15 days among those required ICU care versus 13 days who did not, p = 0.04) and presence of peri-transplant infection showed a trend toward ICU care need (19% among those required ICU care versus 7% in those who did not, p = 0.05). Conclusion: Delayed platelet engraftment was associated with the need for ICU care and peri-transplant infections were associated with a trend toward need for ICU care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data are limited on the genetic profile of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) from developing countries. Here, we report one of the first study on genetic profile of patients with suspected PCD from India. In this prospective cross‐sectional study, we enrolled 162 children with suspected PCD. We recorded clinical features, relevant laboratory tests for PCD and performed whole exome sequencing (WES). We are reporting 67 patients here who had positive variant/s on WES. We had 117 variants in 40 genes among 67 patients. Among the 108 unique variants, 33 were categorized as pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP). We had nine novel variants in out cohort. The 29 definite PCD cases, diagnosed by composite reference standards, had variants in 16 genes namely LRRC6/DNAAF11 (5), DNAH5 (3), CCDC39 (3), HYDIN (3), DNAH11 (2), CCDC40 (2), CCDC65 (2) and one each DNAAF3, DNAAF2, CFAP300, RPGR, CCDC103, CCDC114, SPAG1, DNAI1, and DNAH14. To conclude, we identified 108 unique variants in 40 genes among 67 patients. The common genes involved in definite cases of PCD in Indian patients were LRRC6, DNAH5, CCDC39, and HYDIN. Our findings suggest a need to develop a separate genetic panel for PCD in the Indian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is an endemic in various tropical countries. The gold standard for disease detection is to examine the blood smears of patients by an expert medical professional to detect malaria parasite called Plasmodium. In the rural areas of underdeveloped countries, with limited infrastructure, a scarcity of healthcare professionals, an absence of sufficient computing devices, and a lack of widespread internet access, this task becomes more challenging. A severe case of malaria can be fatal within one week, so the correct detection of the malaria parasite and its life cycle stage is crucial in treating the disease correctly. Though computer vision-based malaria detection has been adequately explored lately, the malaria life cycle stage classification is still a relatively unexplored field. In this paper, we introduce a fast and robust deep learning methodology to not only classify the malaria parasite-type detection but also the life cycle stage identification of the infected cell. The proposed deep learning architecture is more than twenty times lighter than the widely used DenseNet and has less than 0.4 million parameters, making it a good candidate to be used in the mobile applications of such economically challenged states for malaria detection. We have used four different publicly available malaria datasets to test the proposed architecture and gained significantly better results than the current state of the art on malaria parasite-type and malaria life cycle classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contours of the collective action necessary to limit climate change remain difficult to discern. In this context, societal corporatist political processes, fueled by crisis narratives, have shown some promise as political devices for mobilizing people. Corporatist processes have, historically, brought political competitors like employers and labor unions together to negotiate compacts that have advanced collective goods during times of crisis. In response to the climate crisis in the Global South, affluent donor groups, state officials, some farmers, and indigenous peoples have begun to assemble corporatist-like coalitions to pursue climate stabilization. A comparative case study of efforts to promote sustainable cattle ranching through the spread of silvopastoral landscapes in Colombia and Ecuador illustrates this political dynamic, its shortcomings, and its accomplishments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores the dynamics of public transport regulation, deregulation, and reform within the context of Tver in Russia. As developing nations face increased transportation demand and industrialized regions grapple with environmental concerns policymakers are challenged to choose appropriate regulatory frameworks. Historically, different stages of economic development have led to diverse approaches, ranging from publicly owned enterprises to natural monopoly regulation. Primary objective of the study is to conduct a spatial analysis of the new public transport route network in Tver and its suburb, examining alterations, accessibility, and travel times. To achieve this, methodologies, and data parameters such as Geographic Information System (GIS) tools for spatial analysis, creation of buffer zones around public transport stops to assess accessibility, population coverage analysis to understand the demographic impact, and isochrones mapping to evaluate changes in travel times and accessibility were employed. These methods allowed for a detailed assessment of the network's alterations, accessibility, and the impact on travel times following the transfer of planning authority. Additionally, population access to transport services was assessed through demographic coverage analysis, determining the proportion of the population within a designated distance from stops. These quantifications provided insights into the effects of transferring planning authority on the regional public transport system's accessibility and efficiency. Tver's experience illustrates the potential outcomes of transport reform, with intracity and intraregional routes merged into a unified passenger transportation system. This transformation holds promise for regional development. In summary, this study offers insights into public transport regulation and reform dynamics, using the Tver case to analyze the consequences for accessibility and service quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the research is to propose reforms that would help to bridge the gap between theory and practice and produce more effective urban planners. The research on urban planning curricula in the global South is a valuable contribution to the field of urban planning education. It provides a new perspective on the challenges facing urban planning education in these countries and offers a roadmap for improvement. Design/methodology/approach: The research explores and evaluates the urban planning curricula in the global South, with a particular interest in Egypt. The research employs the use of questionnaires with 56 university instructors, analysed thematically, to evaluate the current content of curricula. The results are compared and correlated with a pilot study exploring research interest, government policies and practices of urban planning in Egypt. Findings: Through comparing the results of the evaluation with the current research interest in urban planning in Egypt, the paper investigates the possibility of improving current educational curricula using comparative network analysis which would establish stronger interdisciplinary connections. Originality/value: The seeming disconnects between urbanism concepts taught in educational curricula and their relevance in practice and reality is a vital issue in urban studies and planning. Interdisciplinary connections with topics like politics, economies, gender, and others can assist curricula in becoming more relevant to real-world situations. This disconnect is even more apparent in the global South where most educational content is highly derivative from Northern contexts. Though such interdisciplinary aspects are under discussed in educational curricula, they are frequently discussed in academic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"A Moment of Cold War Intrigue" by Judith Heimann recounts a consular officer's involvement in protecting Russian defectors seeking refuge in Brussels. The defectors, Ivan and Natasha, were mathematicians disillusioned with the Soviet regime and feared being sent back to Moscow. The officer navigated international intrigue, faced pressure to relocate the defectors, but ultimately ensured their safety until they received UN refugee status. The defectors went on to lead fulfilling lives in Europe, forming lasting friendships with the officer and her husband. [Extracted from the article]

As services account for a huge proportion of the economies of countries especially in developing countries, it has been contended that goods are becoming commoditized and that service is able to provide for differentiation. It is therefore imperative to provide customer experience that is unforgettable in order to remain or acquire competitive grounds. The greatest changes in customer experience did not occur until mobile phone became common elements of life. This has caused an increase in demand for high quality services by buyers. Mobile service providers have come to a realization that for them to survive in the competitive environment they are in, they must deliver quality products and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The research aims to applying Baumol's framework to address some research gaps in the literature. This paper aims to analyze how institutional variations at the subnational level impact entrepreneurship decisions and the path toward productive or unproductive entrepreneurship in an institutionally underdeveloped country. The results offer potentially new theoretical insights and practical implications for developing or emergent countries. Design/methodology/approach: The research applies Baumol's framework to Mexico's context. The research collects data compounded by individual- and state-level variables from diverse sources for the 32 Mexican states. The individual level and some controls were obtained from sources of regular frequency, but the institutional variables were derived from surveys of irregular frequency, nonsynchronic and mostly nonoverlapping, which required aligning and centered them around 2016 and 2019 to match with the individual variables. The authors apply multilevel nonlinear mixed-effects probit regression to test nine hypotheses regarding the impact of institutional variables on entrepreneurial decisions and the path toward productive or unproductive entrepreneurship. Findings: Improved formal institutions across the Mexican states reduce the entrepreneurship probability, implying interactions with other variables and indirect effects; encourage the selection of productive entrepreneurship, e.g. formal ventures; and discourage self-employment. Consequently, those institutions do not encourage entrepreneurship selection as an occupation but entrepreneurial quality, i.e. the selection of productive-formal entrepreneurship and larger ventures. Deficient informal institutions increase the entrepreneurship and formal entrepreneurship probabilities, implying the interactions with other variables and indirect effects and supporting the corruption "greases the wheels" hypothesis, consequently encouraging productive ventures. New evidence of the positive relationship between criminality and entrepreneurship types in Mexico is reported. Research limitations/implications: Our findings indicate important impacts of the individual-level variables on the entrepreneurship decisions and that most of those decisions are potentially necessity driven and a minority are driven by opportunity, given their relationship with the macroeconomic controls and the institutional variables. The authors report mixed results on the relationship between institutions and entrepreneurship partially consistent with the literature; some results contribute additional evidence on controversial hypotheses or imply the existence of indirect effects. Overall, the results suggest that institutions impact the individual decisions to venture and the type of venture consequently affecting the amount and quality of entrepreneurship across states. Originality/value: The research addresses some of the literature gaps by providing empirical evidence on a middle-income country and how diverging regional institutional contexts, including formal and informal institutions, impact the individual's entrepreneurship decisions within an institutionally underdeveloped country. The paper contributes new knowledge and insights into entrepreneurship in emerging or developing countries with implications for Baumol's framework in this context and adds to the debated hypothesis on the relationship between some institutions, e.g. corruption and criminality and entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the increasing numbers of research studies about social media business, the concept of social media agility is still an emerging topic that has been understudied. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of social media agility on business performance by using a sample of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand. Moreover, this study explored whether the effect of social media agility on business performance could be moderated by the characteristic of firm in terms of size, as well as the characteristic of market environment in terms of environmental dynamism. Design/methodology/approach: The sample of 337 firms was obtained from the business directory using the simple random sampling method, and the model assessment was performed by using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings: The data analysis indicated that social media agility positively affected the business performance of SMEs. Moreover, the moderating effect analysis showed that smaller firms tended to gain higher business performance from social media agility than larger firms. In addition, social media agility positively affected business performance to a greater extent when firms operated under low environmental dynamism than when they operated under high environmental dynamism. Practical implications: Because SMEs are the key driving of economic development and economic growth, the recommendations from this study could be helpful for the government sector responsible for the competency development of SMEs to offer a development program that might enable entrepreneurial firms to develop social media marketing competencies and enhance their potential to be successful in the digital transformation. Originality/value: The authors found new evidence showing that the degree to which social media agility affected business performance depended significantly on the firm characteristics in terms of firm size, as well as the environmental factor in terms of environmental dynamism. These findings provide valuable contributions to the existing literature that still lacks evidence about the moderating conditions that could increase or reduce the benefits that firms obtain from social media agility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the contribution of universities to regional development and innovation in locked-in and vulnerable resource-based regions of the Global South. Building on a regional change agency approach, we identify the combination of key factors and context preconditions for universities to successfully fulfil their local engagement role in a particularly challenging environment. To do so, we use a comparative case study of two mining regions in Peru. Our results reveal that the prevalence of a climate of conflict and the lack of an innovation culture in the regional ecosystem are important challenges, while strategic leadership and institutional capacities are central elements for universities to fulfil their role as transformative agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study inspects the health consequences of greenhouse gases, energy use, institutional quality and globalization for the 23 developing economies. Utilizing panel data from 2000 to 2022, various estimation techniques, including static models (pooled, fixed and random), the two‐step systemGeneralized Methods of Moments (GMM and Panel Auto Regressive Distributive Model (PARDL), are applied to investigate the short‐ and long‐term effects of greenhouse gases, energy use, institutional quality and globalization on health. Panel causality tests, Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) are employed to ensure robustness and causal linkage among variables. The results confirmed a positive association between health and its lag value. Institutional quality negatively influences health expenditure, while greenhouse gases, energy use and globalization exhibit an increasing effect on health expenditure. Life expectancy, institutional quality, energy use and globalization have favourable effects, while greenhouse gases negatively affect health outcomes. In Model 1, energy usage and health expenditures have two‐way causality, and green house gases and energy use in Model 2 have a bi‐directional causal linkage. All variables exhibit unidirectional causality, except globalization and institutional quality, as shown by the Dumitrescu and Hurlin causality test. The study complements the literature by stating that institutional quality is the key instrument for managing the negative consequences of the recent increase in globalization and energy use and their detrimental impact on health in developing economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While foreign policy is a reserved matter for the British government in Westminster, it is clear that the Scottish government aspires to, and indeed has implemented, an expanding programme of independent external relations. It is not the first sub-state political actor to do so. Whether as a part of the UK, or as potentially an independent country, Scotland has put considerable effort into developing an identity as a good global citizen. One area in particular where this has occurred is in human rights, where it has demonstrated leadership on a number of issues and sought to connect its domestic commitments to human rights to its external persona. This article will examine the dynamics of this development, looking at both the constraints and the possibilities for Scotland as an international human rights actor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile Health (mHealth) presents the potential to facilitate healthcare and improve the quality of life if successful pilot projects are scaled up and sustainable. However, the persistent termination of mHealth at the pilot phase challenges its potential in developing countries. Existing research suggests an absence of understanding of these phenomena for two reasons. First, literature is scarce in the broad context of armed conflict zones in developing countries, particularly in the IS domain. Second, extant literature emphasizes mHealth implementation, while neglecting the scale‐up and sustainability of these technologies. Therefore, this study employs activity theory as a holistic lens to explore how contradictions shape the scale‐up and sustainability of mHealth in the armed conflict zone of developing countries. In this study, rather than viewing contradiction as a challenge, it serves as a driver for effecting changes that can foster scale‐up and sustainability. The Algorithm for the Management of Acute Childhood Illnesses (ALMANACH), provides an empirical basis for this study. The research employs the interpretivism philosophy and the case study method. In‐depth interviews, participatory observations, and document reviews were used to collect data. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select the study's participants. The study reveals a lack of professional expertise among the CHWs, the non‐involvement of the users and beneficiaries in designing ALMANACH, and the lack of financial compensation for using ALMANACH in practice as contradictions. The study further exposes how community volunteer groups and the ALMANACH scientific board were established to steer demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the transition to online learning, with synchronous e-learning becoming a critical modality in higher education institutions (HEIs) worldwide. This shift, while ensuring educational continuity, has unveiled numerous challenges, especially in developing nations where resources and infrastructure may not adequately support such a rapid transition. Purpose: This study aims to provide a systematic literature review of the challenges encountered by students in developing nations during the implementation of synchronous e-learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on identifying and analysing technological, pedagogical, infrastructural, socioeconomic, and health-related challenges that have impacted the efficacy of online learning. Methods: Through a systematic literature review of 43 peer-reviewed studies conducted in developing nations, dated between 2020 and 2022 sourced from the SCOPUS database, this article synthesises findings on the multifaceted challenges faced by HEIs students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employs a thematic analysis approach to categorise these challenges and discuss their implications for educational equity, student well-being, and the resilience of higher education systems in developing countries. Conclusions: The study underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to address the identified challenges, emphasising the importance of infrastructural improvements, pedagogical support, socioeconomic interventions, and health-focused measures. It calls for a collaborative effort among educational institutions, governments, and international organisations to enhance the resilience and inclusivity of e-learning environments, ensuring equitable access to quality education in developing nations during and beyond the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the effects of the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP)—an institution that pools patents across geographical markets—on the licensing and adoption of life-saving drugs in low- and middle-income countries. We show the presence of an immediate and large increase in licensing when a patent is included in the MPP. We also show evidence that the pool increases actual entry and volume of sales, but these impacts are much smaller than on licensing, which is due to the geographic bundling of licenses. The paper highlights the potential of pools in promoting diffusion of biomedical innovation in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flood disasters hamper sustainable development, food security and growth in the society. The losses from natural disasters like flood are increasing and have a disproportionate impact on the less developed countries as they are known to destroy the standard of living and overall development prospects of the people (Abbade, 2017). This paper intends to bring to the fore, the economic effects of the 2022 flood disasters on food security and market activities in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State, and the extent food insecurity has affected the economic development of the state. The methodology of this paper is based on descriptive and qualitative analysis of available data, using primary and secondary sources. The findings of the paper indicate that flooding causes the soil to be infertile as the topsoil is lost due to erosion; it reduces the habitat for tropical organisms and restricts the use of the land for other purposes; and causes the destruction of food and fodder crops which in turn leads to acute food shortage. The study recommends among other things, that there should be a legislation against the indiscriminate dumping of refuse and the erection of buildings in swampy areas, the depth and width of the river bed should be increased in its capacity to carry larger loads of flood plain, and proper care should be taken in the design and construction of network of canals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peanut production plays a crucial role in global food security, particularly in developing countries, where it provides essential nutrition and income. This paper examines the optimization of peanut production through genetic advancements, climate adaptation strategies, and sustainable practices. The primary objective is to increase yields by addressing challenges related to climate change, pests, and resource constraints. Globally, peanut production is hindered by rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and declining soil quality, impacting both yield and quality. Developing countries, especially in Africa and Asia, face additional challenges, such as limited access to advanced agricultural technologies, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient support for smallholder farmers. The vital issues include genetic vulnerabilities to pests, climate stress, and inefficient water use. Recent genetic research has provided insights into breeding more resilient, drought-resistant varieties, offering hope for improving yields, despite environmental challenges. The adoption of climate adaptation strategies, precision farming, and integrated pest management is essential for boosting productivity. These, along with optimized irrigation and nutrient management, have significantly impacted peanut production in resource-limited settings. Additionally, drought-resistant varieties have proven crucial, enabling farmers to increase resilience and yields in areas facing climate stress. In conclusion, optimizing peanut production requires continued investment in genetic advancements, infrastructure, and sustainable practices. Future efforts should focus on improving climate adaptation and sustainable farming techniques for long-term success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing importance of understanding the connection between sustainability and justice. We have conducted the first robust mixed-methods review of the burgeoning academic literature on sustainability justice. Our analysis spans literature from 2013 to 2023, drawn from the databases of Web of Science and Scopus. We use a scientometric approach to identify key literature for a more detailed qualitative analysis. This dual approach uncovers key trends and themes in sustainability justice. The review identifies works that delve into the themes of environmental, social, and economic justice, pinpointing a need to amplify Global South voices, narratives, and insights for a comprehensive understanding of sustainability justice. The findings indicate a pressing need for integrating economic aspects with social and environmental factors, advocating for more focus on transformative justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article assesses the political dynamics behind labour standards reform attempts and their divergent outcomes in Lebanon and Tunisia during the neoliberal era according to a success/failure and flexibility/security configuration. It emphasises the interconnection of three power resources. Institutional legacies mattered for organised labour's influence on these reforms. Having already had access to formal channels of decision-making since the 1970s, Tunisian labour effectively used these channels during the 1990s reforms. Such channels were not historically well-developed for Lebanese labour and were critical in the reform failure. Furthermore, thanks to its ideational power (i.e. legitimacy), Tunisian organised labour was part of the political coalition of reform. Consequently, Tunisian labour was successful in gaining some job security privileges in exchange for flexibility. Conversely, Lebanese organised labour lacked such legitimacy, which contributed to their exclusion from the political coalition. Instead, employers used their informal channels (e.g. networks) with the political coalition's elites to halt job security reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have often identified and ranked the most frequently reported barriers to green building (GB) implementation in a limited geographical scope. This study aims to address this gap by identifying critical GB barriers in developing countries, based on a comprehensive review in 30 countries worldwide. In addition, this research specifies which of these barriers are weightier and have a greater impact on GB implementation. On the other hand, using a PESTEL framework, this study analyzes the macro-environmental features that should be taken into account by the construction industry when making decisions to set out long-term GB strategies. To achieve this aim, 27 barriers were identified and categorized into the PESTEL framework. Likert scale- and AHP-based questionnaire surveys were completed by experienced experts in both green and conventional buildings. Results indicated that economic barriers are ranked as the most significant barriers hindering GB adoption. It also confirmed that the perceptions of the barriers criticality from a different group of respondents were significantly dissimilar. Furthermore, comparing the results with studies in China, India, the USA, Canada, Australia, and Ghana highlights the need for such studies to better understand the critical barriers to GB adoption in countries that decided to expand GB practices. The results of this study contribute to bridging the gap in knowledge on GB barriers in developing countries as well as helping industry practitioners and policymakers to develop suitable strategies to remove the barriers and promote the widespread GB for more sustainable built environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature shows that tourists can make significant financial contributions towards efforts of erosion prevention, but very few studies are done in the context of developing countries, especially to protect World Heritage sites. This paper provides the first estimates of willingness to pay (WTP) for differing coastal erosion measures by domestic and foreign tourists visiting Hoi An, an UNESCO World Heritage site located in Vietnam. Using a discrete choice experiment, our study presents several new and important findings. Tourists support visible protection structures and trees on beaches even though these hard measures can affect the natural aesthetics. There exists preference heterogeneity among tourists. Most importantly, our analysis shows that WTP of each tourist is USD $13.45, nearly seven times greater than WTP by local residents estimated in previous literature for a similar erosion protection program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper empirically looks over the consequences of financial inclusion on CO2 emissions in the developing nations of the world. To check this impact, pooled ordinary least square, fixed effect, and CS ARDL techniques are applied using the annual data of 29 developing countries from 2004 through 2018. The results highlight the overall influence of financial inclusion is directly proportional to CO2 emissions as more financial inclusion lead to more CO2 emissions, proving the findings of the available literature. We find evidence that more income, foreign direct investment, urbanization, and population lead to more CO2 emissions, while trade openness assists to decrease CO2 emissions. The results indicated that providing more financial inclusion services leads to more manufacturing and industrial activities which results in more CO2 emissions. Rapid urbanization has increased the need for energy across a range of sectors, including manufacturing, transportation, and residential, which increases CO2 emissions. The policymakers in these countries should take strict measures to curb carbon emissions by increasing financial inclusion and foreign direct investment in supporting such projects that are environmentally friendly. Therefore, to mitigate such current and future issues, policymakers in developing countries need to give serious attention to this area to fulfill sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, cultural institutions face the challenge of answering the requirements of a very diverse audience in order to be more socially inclusive, enabling everyone to have access to their cultural content. However, there are different barriers to participation in culture and unequal access to cultural contents of a large number of sensitive social groups, preventing them from having a meaningful experience. This particularly refers to groups facing the risk of cultural exclusion such as parents with children, the elderly, and people with disabilities (impaired sight, hearing, and immobile people). In economically less developed countries such as Serbia, this issue is even more pronounced, as investments in cultural institutions and activities regarding audience research are very low. Moreover, the existing literature on this field is scarce regarding studies involving sensitive groups. Thus, the primary aim of this research is to explore the perception of different groups facing the risk of cultural exclusion in Vojvodina province (Serbia) regarding their major barriers to cultural participation, factors influencing their cultural participation, and their cultural habits but also their perception of accessibility of particular cultural institutions. The survey research, conducted from June to October 2022, included a total of 412 respondents, representatives of the mentioned groups of audience. The main results indicate significant differences between analyzed groups regarding all analyzed issues. Differences and implications for audience development strategies are further discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transmission of informational privacy has become a fertile ground for debate among competing actors affected by the proliferation of information communication technologies. Contexts are among the factors that shape the flow of informational privacy. The existing discussion however has been mainly dominated by perspectives from the Global North and the able-bodied. In response, based on interview data collected from people with disabilities (PwD) living in Vietnam, this study offers the continuum of context in informational privacy transmissions as a concept to illuminate the types, the levels, and the interest of the transmission and the capability of PwD to manage the flow of their informational privacy. The concept has the potential to enrich the existing discussion by providing more nuance and dynamic of informational privacy transmissions situated in the Global South and among groups who have been historically marginalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the question of doing information systems (IS) research from a location, particularly from a developing country like India. Our analysis reveals that IS publications from India are relatively few in number, though increasing in recent years; hardly focussed on context‐specific issues and concerns; and are largely in lower‐ranked journals. Using neo‐institutional theory, we show that the reasons are dominantly coercive (measuring up to rankings and accreditation agencies) and mimetic (following leaders). Normative (influence of professional bodies) forces appear to counterbalance this by necessitating continuous improvement in research outputs and emphasising location‐specific, impactful research. Institutional responses to these forces manifest in policies and mechanisms to operationalise them, such as resource availability, balancing teaching load with research expectations, promotion and tenure policies amongst others. We examine the paths by which more rigorous and relevant research, responsible to a location can be achieved, based on the insights from a series of talks given by eminent IS scholars. We opine that there is a need to consciously seek out such paths, perhaps by actively seeking collaboration with other disciplines and practitioners; establishing programmes of research; and building contextualised theories. We conclude with a relook at the underlying dynamics of the various institutional responses, recommended paths and some policy implications of our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How regime types affect the provision of social spending in the context of developing countries? This article provides a novel political-economic approach, arguing that single-party regimes are more likely to spend on pensions than other types of autocratic states to co-opt the large number of critical members although the regime type does not affect the general welfare spending across autocratic states. The theory emphasizes the effect of institutional and power structure heterogeneity across autocracies in shaping the incentives and strategies that the ruling elites co-opt and respond to the demands of the ruling coalition across different autocratic regimes. Using panel, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression with lagged dependent variable along with several empirical strategies, it finds the evidence supporting this argument with a new dataset from 1990 to 2012. The study provides new insights on how autocratic institutions especially the party utilize strategic social policies to resolve the elite-level dictator dilemma for regime survival that are absent in other autocratic types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal waste disposal site (IWDS) have become a chronic and severe environmental issue worldwide. Monitoring of IWDS is a central environmental issue in both developed and developing countries. The main aim of this study is to analyze changes in the shape and size of the IWDS over a period of time and to evaluate problems related to IWDS activities. This study also aims to determine the spatial and temporal pattern distribution of IWDS activities based on land use by combining time-series analysis from 2021 to 2023 using historical satellite imagery and ArcGIS. The results show an increase in IWDS locations in Deli Serdang from 98 in 2021 to 112 in 2022 and 120 in 2023. The total area IWDS in Deli Serdang also rose from 115,138.1971 m2 in 2021 to 164,194.87 m² in 2023. Plantation/estate areas consistently recorded the highest number of IWDS incidents each year. The result shows that the trend highlights the tendency for IWDS to occur in natural vegetation-rich environments, which effectively hides these activities and complicates detection and access efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty is a global scourge especially in developing countries like Nigeria. The country has spent billions in poverty alleviation schemes over different administrations, all of which did not stop Nigeria from becoming the poverty capital of the world in 2018. With this undesirable status, this study set out to understand how poverty has been reported in three Nigerian newspapers: Leadership, the Punch, and Nigerian Tribune using content analysis, over 2 years from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020. The research was grounded on the Framing Theory. Findings revealed that poverty was underreported, stories included solutions to poverty in 92% of the reports, and most of the poverty stories and initiatives were referenced in the future (58%) compared to past (3%) or ongoing (39%) activities. The tone of the stories was mainly positive (64%). The frame analysis produced 22 frames, 14 were prevalent while seven were not. The dominant frame pattern from the analysis was the 'empowerment' frame, highlighting the various empowerment programs across federal and state agencies In Nigeria. Recommendations include more coverage of poverty stories by Nigerian newspapers and the need for government to be transparent with its poverty alleviation initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of disclosure on the unsolved initial public offering (IPO) puzzle. For this purpose, the authors analyzed the impact of the primary uses of the proceeds disclosed in a firm's IPO prospectus on underpricing, prelisting performance, postlisting underperformance and operating performance. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses Indian public firms that went public between March 31, 2010, and March 31, 2020. A multivariate regression technique was used to study the impact of the primary uses of proceeds on underpricing, prelisting performance and postlisting underperformance, whereas a quantile regression technique was used to study their impact on operating performance. Findings: The authors found that the primary use of proceeds disclosure helps predict underpricing and returns to the investor only until day 60 postlisting; beyond that, they provide no further insights into the firm's performance. Firms with lower and average operating performance should not state the general corporate purposes and payment on borrowings, respectively, as their primary use of proceeds, as it leads to a decline in their operating performance. Research limitations/implications: Results might suffer from the potential endogeneity problem due to selection bias. This research focuses on India only, which makes generalization of results for other economies difficult. Future research may extend the post-IPO period and include more developing economies. Furthermore, future studies can draw comparisons between developed and developing nations' disclosures of using proceeds. Practical implications: This study will help the firms going public in India better disclose the use of proceeds based on their characteristics. Stating future acquisitions, payments on borrowings and working capital reduces the uncertainty, and therefore, these are feasible avenues for investing proceeds raised through IPO. Originality/value: The authors used ten categories for the primary use of proceeds disclosure, whereas previous studies have used only five to six categories. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study was the first to use underpricing, postlisting performance and operating performance in a single study. These measures gave a more holistic view of the use of proceeds disclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Suicide is a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to its substantial psychological, social, and economic impact. There is little synthesized evidence to estimate the economic burden of suicide and suicide attempts in such economies. The present systematic literature review aims to examine existing evidence on the cost of illness (COI) in the case of suicides and suicide attempts and assess their quality. Methods: A systematic review was carried out using electronic databases, such as Medline, EMBASE, EconLit, PsycINFO, and CINAHL using keywords like 'suicide and suicide attempts,' 'cost of illness,' and economic burden." The quality assessment of studies was conducted along with the per-person cost estimation to understand the variation of methods followed across the studies. Result: 14 studies qualified for final data extraction and synthesis out of 4,164 studies. The studies showed heterogeneity across objectives, settings, and methods, with cost estimates reflecting a wide range of costings per person in suicide and suicide attempts. Conclusion: It is challenging to determine and compare the economic estimates of suicide. Intensive research is warranted with standardized cost assessment techniques and wider perspectives to understand the true economic burden of suicide. Registration: PROSPERO Registration No- CRD42022294080 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flexible approach is described for incorporating a weight‐of‐evidence (WoE) methodology into a tiered ecological risk assessment (ERA)/management framework for chemicals. The approach is oriented toward informing decisions about chemicals. Communication is regarded as a critical component of the risk assessment process. The paper resulted from insights gained from seven ERA workshops held by SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, www.setac.org) in the Asia‐Pacific, African, and Latin American regions. Formal ERA methods are not fully developed or applied in many of these countries and assessments often begin with tables of risk values and test methods from countries where ERA is already implemented. While appropriate and sometimes necessary, workshop participants had questions about the reliability and relevance of using this information for regionally specific ecosystems with different receptors, fate processes, and exposure characteristics. The idea that an assessment of reliability and relevance of available information and the need for additional information was necessary at an early stage of the assessment process was considered. The judgment of reliability and relevance is central to WoE approaches along with the identification of information needs and the integration of such information. The need to engage in WoE considerations early and throughout the assessment process indicates that a tiered approach is appropriate for unifying the evaluation process in a consistent way from early screening‐level steps to later more involved evaluations. The approach outlined in this article is complementary to WoE guidance developed by the Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development and many national guidance documents. To link assessments of risk to management decisions, emphasis is given to communications at each tier between the risk assessor (technical side) and the decision‐makers (policy and regulatory side). Tools and information sources are suggested for each tier and suggestions are meant to be illustrative and not prescriptive. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:2312–2325. © 2024 SETAC Key Points: Weight of evidence embedded within a tiered assessment and risk management approach provides a structure that can be adopted and modified as needed by developing countries that currently do not have formal or complete assessment systems.Weight of evidence is part of the entire assessment process and is not something that enters into consideration later in the process.Capacity building is needed to share knowledge and to develop in‐country capabilities for risk assessment and risk management of chemicals.Organizations like SETAC can play key roles in helping facilitate the sharing of knowledge and the building of capabilities in a manner that involves academia, governments, and business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing countries have increasingly decentralized power to local governments. This paper studies the implications of a central element of decentralization (polity size) using population-based discontinuities that determine local government boundaries for over 100,000 Indian villages. Over the short and long run, individuals allocated into local governments with smaller populations have better access to public goods. We provide suggestive evidence that these results are related to heightened civic engagement and stronger political incentives, but not to other mechanisms such as elite capture. (JEL D72, H41, H75, H76, O17, O18, R50) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The suboptimal level of vaccine research and development globally contributes to millions of people losing their lives to vaccine‐preventable diseases each year, the vast majority of whom live in developing countries. Vaccine manufacturers based in developing countries are increasingly participating in vaccine research and development to improve the availability of these life‐saving vaccine products. To understand the extent to which these emerging market vaccine manufacturers can contribute to global vaccine research and development, and thus improve health and societal outcomes, we examined the capabilities, priorities, and strategies of these organizations. We identified that emerging market manufacturers often engage in partnerships and solicit external support to alleviate the technical and financial hurdles associated with the complexity and cost of vaccine development. Focusing on unmet medical needs facilitates emerging market manufacturers' access to partners and external support and is critical in establishing a reputation in the global vaccine research and development ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare waste (HCW) consists of hazardous material that may be radioactive, toxic or infectious. Inappropriate treatment and disposal of HCW may pose health risks to humans indirectly through the release of pathogens and toxic pollutants into the environment. The biggest problem in HCW management is its handling, which causes anxiety over sorting and categorizing the waste. Hence, the current study identifies and addresses the challenges towards sustainable environmental development by managing infectious HCW in developing countries. Fuzzy Delphi method is used in the present study to carefully examine the barrier drawn from the literature and experts' opinions. The number of barriers taken into consideration for study are 30, which are then grouped into four main categories, that is, social, environmental, technological and economic barriers. Additionally, a hybrid strategy based on the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory is developed in this work to examine the significance and interrelationships of the identified barrier. The research outcome is a hierarchy and classification model based on the relative importance of the barriers. The results of this study indicate that: 'Lack of segregation', 'Inconsistency in waste collection', 'Unregulated disposal site' and 'Inadequate programme for training and awareness' require quick action. The conclusions obtained through the study would facilitate the preparation of check sheets for documenting HCW management procedures by the healthcare administration and Pollution Control Boards. Understanding the priority cause-group barrier would improve the long-term protection of the hospital environment from the spread of infection caused by the HCW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current article examines the economic growth effect of tax transition reform in developing countries. Tax transition reform is defined here as the process that entails the convergence of developing countries' tax structure toward that of developed countries. The analysis covers a sample of 101 developing countries over the period of 1980 to 2019. The empirical analysis that makes use of the two-step system generalized method of moments has shown that tax transition reform promotes economic growth, including in countries with a high share of non-resource tax revenue in total public revenue. These findings have important policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurship scholars have focused their research on compiling a list of competencies that enhance entrepreneurial behaviour. Yet, these efforts might be redundant as new competencies are necessary in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Furthermore, previous research investigated entrepreneurial competencies (ECs) from a developed country perspective. This paper follows two phases in identifying ECs for the 4IR in a developing country context. During phase 1, a Delphi study is employed, whereby 12 participants provide 108 ECs (round 1) and 87 ECs (round 2) required for the 4IR. Based on an extensive literature review, a concept matrix is conducted in phase 2, in which 136 competencies are listed. After phase 2 has been conducted, 87 ECs are identified, of which 33 have resulted as the most cited in the literature. By utilizing this multi-dimensional holistic approach, we can distinguish the ECs necessary to increase entrepreneurs' capacity to innovate. The final analyses indicate 12 ECs, presented in a conceptual framework and categorized into four domains: cognitive (knowledge), functional (skills), social (attitudes and behaviours) and meta (facilitating learning). The findings illustrate the demand for specific ECs, although no additional ECs such as technology skills are identified for the 4IR within a developing country context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study delves into the causes of relatively lower retail participation in the Indian REIT market. Specifically, it investigates investors' attitudes and perceptions towards REITs as a unique asset class. This paper provides a comprehensive understanding of the perception and factors influencing Indian retail investors' reluctance to participate in the REIT market. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative research was conducted through semi-structured interviews to gather insights from non-investors in REITs. The data were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis techniques. Finally, coding techniques were used to identify broad study themes. Findings: According to the study results, many retail investors are unfamiliar with REITs. Even among those knowledgeable about REITs and with a favorable view, it is not commonly seen as a feasible investment option due to its early stage, unattractive returns and limited number of REITs. Practical implications: Developed countries have established REIT markets, while it is still in its infancy in developing countries such as India. Financial advisors, fund houses and the media should focus on educating investors to increase awareness. Originality/value: The study is the first qualitative investigation into the perception of retail investors to understand the reasons for lower retail engagement in the Indian REIT market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Medical substances are utilized around the world, and their accumulation in nature is a global concern. This work aimed to identify three priority pharmaceuticals discharged into the domestic sewage stream of Astana city (Kazakhstan). Samples of municipal wastewater were taken before and after the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) over a period of 13 months. The performed experiments demonstrated that there are seasonal variations in the priority pharmaceuticals – carbamazepine (CBZ), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and aspirin (ASP) – identified in the wastewaters. RESULTS: The non‐conventional WWTP of Astana city, which includes a sequence of treatment processes, showed 2–100% removal of these compounds with the following influent concentrations from the entering stream: 12.5–185.6 ppb (μg L−1) for CBZ, 2.6–51.2 ppb for SMX and 1.9–199.8 ppb for ASP. Laboratory‐scale experiments revealed that the application of the membrane separation technique, i.e. ultrafiltration, is able to provide improved removal of these pharmaceuticals. The removal of ASP, CBZ and SMX by phase inversion polyethersulfone and track etch (TE) polycarbonate membranes was investigated. Filtration with TE membrane demonstrated 39–97% removal of the primary pharmaceuticals from the wastewater. CONCLUSION: Filtration with TE membrane was recognized as an affordable and efficient supplementary treatment step. The addition of the TE separation process in the Astana WWTP could potentially improve the removal of the studied pharmaceuticals along with other medical substances. The reported results hold substantial significance, particularly for rapidly expanding urban centers and developing nations. This is especially crucial as there is a scarcity of data regarding the treatment of pharmaceuticals in municipal wastewater for these regions. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers based in poorer countries typically face major challenges in publishing their work in international journals, compared to those faced by researchers in the wealthier countries of Europe and North America. This paper studies this issue based on the experience of papers submitted to the Review of Development Economics, an important international development economics journal. It presents an analysis of submissions and success in publication, based on the fortunes of all papers submitted to the journal between 2015 and April 2022, disaggregated by the country in which the corresponding author is based. Authors based in low and middle income countries accounted for 33% of publications in this period, though they accounted for 61% of the submissions received. A main factor was that these papers were significantly less likely to be sent for review by the journal; if reviewed, they were also less likely to be accepted than papers from authors in high income countries, though that differential is much less stark. This analysis is presented in the interests of transparency and to encourage discussion, but also to raise issues the journal needs to address. The paper finishes by reviewing, based on co‐editor experience over this period, issues and potential responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving greater geographical diversity in economics in general, and in the field of development in particular, is a desirable objective due to ethical and utilitarian reasons. In this article, we analyze geographical diversity in the main academic journals of the discipline, providing a detailed look at articles written in collaboration between researchers from developed and developing countries. Our results confirm the striking prevalence of articles written by researchers based in developed countries. We also detect an increase in collaborative research in time and highlight the importance of non‐academic institutions in the conformation of these collaborative research teams. In terms of contents, most of these collaborations address the study of a country or a region, and many of them are empirical, mainly using quantitative approaches. Integrating a collaborative research team allows researchers located in the developing world to publish in higher quality journals and get more impact, at least in terms of citations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of the informal economy are vital to understanding economic activity in developing countries, but challenges abound when analysing something that is so difficult to measure. In this article, we explore these challenges and what they mean for research and research design in studies of the informal economy. We review key economic theories developed to study the informal economy, before critically discussing the range of methods of data collection available for researchers. All approaches to data collection have limitations, yet many studies fail to reflect adequately on these in their design and presentation. In reviewing data sources for economic analyses of informality, we give particular attention to surveys designed and led by academic researchers, the consideration of which is omitted from leading official organisations' own reports on data collection in the informal economy. In the absence of a unifying theory and data sources that deliver the 'comprehensive and accurate' data called for by some authors we argue, first, that no one source of data is intrinsically superior; and second, that research on the informal economy must embrace transparency—around the data used, their alignment with the underlying theory adopted, and the detailed arrangements for data collection and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as a methodological approach has become ubiquitous across disciplines, particularly in development economics. Building on the existing scholarship critiquing the widespread deployment of RCTs, this paper argues that the lack of a nuanced engagement with the concept of objectivity creates fertile grounds for the technocratization of social science research. The technocratic discourse that shapes the use of RCTs makes them susceptible to two potential dangers: perpetuating politics of partner organizations and Eurocentrism. To illustrate these issues, this paper utilizes a recently published RCT titled 'Randomizing Religion' as a case study. Two important conclusions are drawn by analyzing the case. First, a lack of engagement with the worldviews and assumptions from which causal mechanisms are drawn leads to a normative imposition of a Eurocentric social reality onto the marginalized communities in the Global South. Second, participation in the activities of a partner organization during the conduct of the RCT requires researchers to reflect on the organization's politics and its ramifications for marginalized communities. Finally, this paper contributes to an ongoing conversation about including strong reflexivity in the conduct of research in economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By utilizing data of 1,336 Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) from 91 emerging and developing countries for the period 2010–2018, this study investigates the non-linear/quadratic relationship between employee turnover and the depth of outreach of MFIs. The data were analysed using conventional panel data econometric tools and techniques. In general, the findings revealed that employee turnover has an inverted U-shaped relationship with the depth of outreach of MFIs when proxied by the proportion of female borrowers. The study outcomes imply that a low to moderate level of employee turnover is good for MFIs, as it may overcome organizational blindness and groupthink, and favours the replacement of unproductive and inefficient employees that lack social or human capital related to their job. However, after a certain threshold, employee turnover was observed to generate an adverse impact on the depth of outreach of MFIs. Therefore, the management of MFIs should give due consideration to ensuring an optimal level of employee turnover that is beneficial for the intended organizational goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]