Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 258 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. The asymmetric effect of tourism, financial development, and globalization on ecological footprint in Turkey
    Godil DI, Sharif A, Rafique S, Jermsittiparsert K
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2020 Nov;27(32):40109-40120.
    PMID: 32656759 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09937-0
    With the growing interest among researchers in analyzing the ecological footprint of any country, this study focuses on new dimensions to analyze the long-run and short-run asymmetric impact of tourism, financial development, and globalization on ecological footprint in Turkey by using Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag model for the period from 1986 to 2018. Further, the EKC hypothesis was also tested. The results show that tourism, globalization, and financial development are positively and significantly associated with the EFP. This means that the increase in these variables will further increase the ecological footprint in Turkey. The U-shaped EKC curve was found to be valid in Turkey. The results also depict nonlinear and asymmetric association among most of the variables. Hence, based on the results, further research directions and practical implications can be suggested.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development*
  2. Dynamic connection between inward foreign direct investment, renewable energy, economic growth and carbon emission in China: evidence from partial and multiple wavelet coherence
    Arain H, Sharif A, Akbar B, Younis MY
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2020 Nov;27(32):40456-40474.
    PMID: 32666445 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08836-8
    This paper presents a fresh understanding of the vigorous connection between inward FDI, renewable energy consumption, economic growth and carbon emission in the Chinese economy employing novel Morlet wavelet analysis. Wavelet correlation, continuous wavelet transform and partial and the multiple wavelet coherence analyses are applied on variables under study for data acquired during the period 1979 to 2017. The outcome of these analyses reveals that the connections among the variables progress over frequency and time. From the frequency domain point of view, the current study discovers noteworthy wavelet coherence and robust lead and lag linkages, although time domain reveals inconsistent associations among the considered variables. The wavelet analysis according to economic point of view supports that inward foreign direct investment (FDI) and renewable energy consumption help to enhance economic condition in Chinese economy. The results also suggested that inward FDI enhances the environmental degradation in medium and long run in China. The results emphasize the significance of having organized strategies by the policymakers to cope with huge environmental degradation occurred for a couple of decades in China.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development*
  3. Application of Nanotechnology in Wood-Based Products Industry: A Review
    Jasmani L, Rusli R, Khadiran T, Jalil R, Adnan S
    Nanoscale Res Lett, 2020 Nov 04;15(1):207.
    PMID: 33146807 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-020-03438-2
    Wood-based industry is one of the main drivers of economic growth in Malaysia. Forest being the source of various lignocellulosic materials has many untapped potentials that could be exploited to produce sustainable and biodegradable nanosized material that possesses very interesting features for use in wood-based industry itself or across many different application fields. Wood-based products sector could also utilise various readily available nanomaterials to enhance the performance of existing products or to create new value added products from the forest. This review highlights recent developments in nanotechnology application in the wood-based products industry.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  4. Air pollution monitoring and tree and forest decline in East Asia: A review
    Takahashi M, Feng Z, Mikhailova TA, Kalugina OV, Shergina OV, Afanasieva LV, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2020 Nov 10;742:140288.
    PMID: 32721711 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140288
    Air pollution and atmospheric deposition have adverse effects on tree and forest health. We reviewed studies on tree and forest decline in Northeast and Southeast Asia, Siberia, and the Russian Far East (hereafter referred to as East Asia). This included studies published in domestic journals and languages. We identified information about the locations, causes, periods, and tree species exhibiting decline. Past air pollution was also reviewed. Most East Asian countries show declining trends in SO2 concentration in recent years, although Mongolia and Russia show increasing trends. Ozone (O3) concentrations are stable or gradually increasing in the East Asia region, with high maxima. Wet nitrogen (N) deposition was high in China and tropical countries, but low in Russia. The decline of trees and forests primarily occurred in the mid-latitudes of Japan, Korea, China, and Russia. Long-term large N deposition resulted in the N saturation phenomenon in Japan and China, but no clear forest health response was observed. Thereafter, forest decline symptoms, suspected to be caused by O3, were observed in Japan and China. In East Russia, tree decline occurred around industrial centers in Siberia. Haze events have been increasing in tropical and boreal forests, and particulate matter inhibits photosynthesis. In recent years, chronically high O3 concentrations, in conjunction with climate change, are likely have adverse effects on tree physiology. The effects of air pollution and related factors on tree decline are summarized. Recently, the effects of air pollution on tree decline have not been apparent under the changing climate, however, monitoring air pollution is indispensable for identifying the cause of tree decline. Further economic growth is projected in Southeast Asia and therefore, the monitoring network should be expanded to tropical and boreal forest zones. Countermeasures such as restoring urban trees and rural forests are important for ensuring future ecosystem services.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  5. Renewable energy and environmental quality: A second-generation panel evidence from the Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) countries
    Salahuddin M, Habib MA, Al-Mulali U, Ozturk I, Marshall M, Ali MI
    Environ Res, 2020 12;191:110094.
    PMID: 32846170 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110094
    This study employs dynamic panel data for 34 Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) countries for the period 1984-2016 to estimate the effects of renewable energy on environmental quality measured by three indicators, namely, per capita CO2 emissions, energy intensity (EI) and Aggregate National Savings (ANS). The study leveraged a battery of second-generation econometric tests and estimation and causality methods to obtain the coefficients between the regressed and the regressors. Results reveal that use of renewable energy reduces CO2 emissions and energy intensity while it enhances ANS. Economic growth still seems to be expensive for the region as it stimulates CO2 emissions. However, it has a positive effect on ANS. As expected, fossil fuels exacerbate CO2 emissions and energy intensity. FDI is found to be detrimental for the environment of SSA region with its positive significant coefficient on CO2 emissions. Financial development is reported to reduce CO2 emissions. Some causal links between variables are also noted.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  6. Fulltext Does military spending stifle economic growth? The empirical evidence from non-OECD countries
    Azam M
    Heliyon, 2020 Dec;6(12):e05853.
    PMID: 33426342 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05853
    Undeniably, peace and long-term sustainable economic development are the prime agenda of all countries. This study aims to empirically evaluate the impact of military spending on economic growth for a panel of 35 non-OECD countries over 1988-2019. A multivariate regression model based on the augmented production function is used to achieve the objective of the study. The panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL)/pooled mean group (PMG) technique is employed, while, in addition the robust least squares and fixed-effect estimators are implemented for the robustness of the results. This study found a clear negative effect of military spending on economic growth. The pairwise Dumitrescu Hurlin panel causality test results exhibit bi-directional causality between military expenses and economic growth. Overall, these estimates provide strong support that military expenditure is not beneficial rather detrimental to economic growth. The empirical findings of this study suggest that policymakers need to redesign the military budget to stimulate economic growth and improve social welfare.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  7. The effects of total factor of productivity, natural resources and green taxation on CO2 emissions in Malaysia
    Loganathan N, Mursitama TN, Pillai LLK, Khan A, Taha R
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2020 Dec;27(36):45121-45132.
    PMID: 32776215 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10291-4
    This study attempts to investigate the environment cleanness between the total factor productivity, natural resources and green taxation on Malaysia's clean environment. Using the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, this study employs the bootstrap quantile estimates based on the annual data series covering the period of 1970-2018 to analyse the quantile effect factors affecting environment cleanness in Malaysia. The empirical estimates of this study reject the EKC hypothesis throughout the quantile levels, while the green taxation shows a negative sign which indicated government fiscal policies are reducing carbon emission in the upper quantiles. There is also homogeneity slope equality effect between total factor of productivity and green taxation on carbon emissions in the middle and upper quantile levels, while natural resources are indication heterogeneity effect on all quantile levels. From the policy point of view, if Malaysia wants to get environment cleanness, there is a need for comprehensive policies of total factor of productivity with environment innovation-friendly and technological improvement in all major economic sectors of the country.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development*
  8. Does globalization and financial sector development affect environmental quality? A panel data investigation for the Middle East and North African countries
    Awan AM, Azam M, Saeed IU, Bakhtyar B
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2020 Dec;27(36):45405-45418.
    PMID: 32789804 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10445-4
    The broad purpose of this study is to empirically explore the impact of globalization and financial development on environmental pollution by carbon (CO2) emissions in the six Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries using balanced panel data from 1971 to 2015. We also aimed to test the legitimacy of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis for this region. The fixed-effects approach preferred by the Hausman specification test is used to estimate the empirical model, and the feasible generalized least squares (F.G.L.S.) estimator is employed to cope with any issue of heteroscedasticity and serial correlation. This study found that globalization and financial development have adverse and significant effects on environmental degradation and affirm the legitimacy of the EKC hypothesis for these countries. The finding of this study suggests that the governments of MENA countries should design and implement appropriate policies for strengthening the renewable sources of energy like wind, solar, bio-fuel, and thermal to decrease CO2 emissions and boost sustainable economic development. The policymakers should focus on the efficiency of institutions and enhancement of energy-saving projects in this region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development*
  9. The role of fixed capital formation, renewable and non-renewable energy in economic growth and carbon emission: a case study of Belt and Road Initiative project
    Abbas Q, Nurunnabi M, Alfakhri Y, Khan W, Hussain A, Iqbal W
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2020 Dec;27(36):45476-45486.
    PMID: 32794094 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10413-y
    Economic integration in the form of Belt and Road Initiative project opens many opportunities and hazards, especially of the participating nations' environment. The current study attempted to empirically test the economic and energy usage (renewable and non-renewable) impact on some selected countries of belt and road projects. For this purpose, the panel data set of twenty-four emerging economies of belt and road projects was selected from 1995 to 2014. The autoregressive distributed lags technique of econometric applied to determine the effect of renewable and non-renewable energy, GDP and GDP2 for EKC, and gross fixed capital formation on carbon emission in the selected countries of Belt and Road Initiative project. The outcomes of this study confirm the existence of EKC in these underlined countries. Here, fossil fuel-based energy consumption is a source of environmental degradation, while renewable and clean energy usage can help sustain environmental conditions without affecting economic growth progress. Capital fixed formation in these economies can enhance economic growth and help to sustainable environmental conditions in the belt and road countries. Thus, based on these empirical outcomes, this study suggests economic and financial assistance in green renewable energy sources and clean technological innovation to enhance economic benefits of Belt and Road Initiative project without compromising the environmental conditions of the region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development*
  10. Determinants of economic growth and environmental sustainability in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation: evidence from panel ARDL
    Khan SAR, Yu Z, Sharif A, Golpîra H
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2020 Dec;27(36):45675-45687.
    PMID: 32803598 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10410-1
    Considering the importance of green economic growth and environmental sustainability in the discussion, it is crucial to understand its critical contributing factors and to draw results implications for the green policy. This research used the data of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member countries for a period from 2005 to 2017. It adopted the panel autoregressive distributed lag technique to examine the hypotheses. The findings revealed that environmental sustainability is strongly and positively associated with national scale-level green practices, including renewable energy, regulatory pressure, and eco-friendly policies, and sustainable use of natural resources. Conversely, in our model, the "regulatory pressure" has an insignificant effect on economic growth. A necessary contribution of the present study is that a positive effect of green practices on national scale economic and environmental variables, particularly in the scenario of SAARC member states, can be noticed. At the end of the present study, we have provided policy implications for regulatory authorities and discussed potential areas for future research.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development*
  11. Fulltext Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Management of Viral Pneumonia
    Xi S, Li Y, Yue L, Gong Y, Qian L, Liang T, et al.
    Front Pharmacol, 2020;11:582322.
    PMID: 33192523 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.582322
    Viral pneumonia is one kind of acute respiratory tract infection caused by the virus. There have been many outbreaks of viral pneumonia with high contagiousness and mortality both in China and abroad, such as the great influenza in 1918, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus in 2003, the Influenza A (H1N1) virus in 2009, and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012 and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019. These outbreaks and/or pandemic have significant impact on human life, social behaviors, and economic development. Moreover, no specific drug has been developed for these viruses. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an important role in the treatment of viral pneumonia during these outbreaks especially in SARS and SARS-CoV-2 because studies suggest that TCM formulations may target several aspects of the disease and may have lesser side effects than manufactured pharmaceuticals. In recent years, a lot of clinicians and researchers have made a series of in-depth explorations and investigations on the treatment of viral pneumonia with TCM, which have understood TCM therapeutic mechanisms more specifically and clearly. But critical analysis of this research in addition to further studies are needed to assess the potential of TCM in the treatment of viral pneumonia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  12. Fulltext Forecasting electricity demand from daily log sheet with correlated variables
    Mohamad Syamim Hilm, Sofianita Mutalib, Sarifah Radiah Shari, Siti Nur Kamaliah Kamarudin
    ESTEEM Academic Journal, 2020;16(2):31-40.
    MyJurnal
    Electricity is one of the most important resources and fundamental infrastructure for every nation. Its milestone shows a significant contribution to world development that brought forth new technological breakthroughs throughout the centuries. Electricity demand constantly fluctuates, which affects the supply. Suppliers need to generate more electrical energy when demand is high, and less when demand is low. It is a common practice in power markets to have a reserve margin for unexpected fluctuation of demand. This research paper investigates regression techniques: multiple linear regression (MLR) and vector autoregression (VAR) to forecast demand with predictors of economic growth, population growth, and climate change as well as the demand itself. Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (Auto-ARIMA) was used in benchmarking the forecasting. The results from MLR and VAR (lag-values=20) and Auto-ARIMA are monitored for five months from June to October of 2019. Using the root mean square error (RMSE) as an indicator for accuracy, Auto-ARIMA has the lowest RMSE for four months except in June 2019. VAR (lag-values=20) shows good forecasting capabilities for all five months, considering it uses the same lag values (20) for each month. Three different techniques have been successfully examined in order to find the best model for the prediction of the demand.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  13. Fulltext Marketing margins of aquaculture shrimp production in Kedah
    Wen, Chiat Lee, Lim, Siak Ze, K. Kuperan Viswanathan, Md Ariful Islam
    Borneo Journal of Marine Science and Aquaculture, 2020;4(1):20-23.
    MyJurnal
    Shrimp aquaculture has great potential for providing income and employment opportunities to farmers. Shrimp production can also contribute to economic growth given its high value and demand in Malaysia. However, it is often said that players in the marketing channel extract high margins for themselves. This study intends to verify this claim by examining a case study based on white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) aquaculture in Kedah. The data for this study was obtained from a detailed study involving a shrimp retailer in Kedah. The marketing margins were calculated from the interviews of the farmer and the retailer. The results showed that the marketing channel was quite efficient because there was no large gap in the prices between the marketing channels. The difference between retail price and farm price is only RM7 per kilogram for the white shrimp which accounts for 43.75 percent of total farm price and represents the cost of bringing shrimps from the farm to the retail market.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  14. Fulltext Urban health and the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Malaysia
    Normaz Wana Ismail, Sudha Sivadas
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(2):3-9.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Urbanisation is a key determinant of population health. Malaysia’s exemplary economic growth in the early 1990s and the consequent development and urbanisation led to significant changes in health, lifestyle and quality of life. Rising expectations, changing demographics and nutrition and disease transitions were challenges synonymous to an increasingly urban Malaysia. As the Government targets optimal population health, this paper aims to explore one of the many challenges of urbanisation, namely the prevalence of non-communicable diseases or NCDs. For the purpose of this paper, NCD is proxied by Diabetes Mellitus. Methods: This study is based the 2015 National Health and Morbidity Survey, which is a cross-sectional population-based survey, involving 30,000 re- spondents. Given the binomial nature of the survey variables, the multinomial Probit model was employed using the STATA statistical software. Results: Generally, age, gender and race are significant in determining health outcomes. Socioeconomically, all three variables of income, education and employment are significant. For lifestyle factors, findings show that only the weight and physically active status have a role in determining health outcomes. Finally, the urban variable is also positive and significant. Conclusion: Findings show that the prevalence of Diabetes Melli- tus, is rising along with urbanisation and that there is a health penalty for the urban population and also for those who do not embrace healthy lifestyles. Additionally, other factors are equally important as urban health determinants, encompassing both the demographic and socioeconomic factors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  15. Fulltext Pulse Crop Genetics for a Sustainable Future: Where We Are Now and Where We Should Be Heading
    Sahruzaini NA, Rejab NA, Harikrishna JA, Khairul Ikram NK, Ismail I, Kugan HM, et al.
    Front Plant Sci, 2020;11:531.
    PMID: 32431724 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00531
    The last decade has witnessed dramatic changes in global food consumption patterns mainly because of population growth and economic development. Food substitutions for healthier eating, such as swapping regular servings of meat for protein-rich crops, is an emerging diet trend that may shape the future of food systems and the environment worldwide. To meet the erratic consumer demand in a rapidly changing world where resources become increasingly scarce due largely to anthropogenic activity, the need to develop crops that benefit both human health and the environment has become urgent. Legumes are often considered to be affordable plant-based sources of dietary proteins. Growing legumes provides significant benefits to cropping systems and the environment because of their natural ability to perform symbiotic nitrogen fixation, which enhances both soil fertility and water-use efficiency. In recent years, the focus in legume research has seen a transition from merely improving economically important species such as soybeans to increasingly turning attention to some promising underutilized species whose genetic resources hold the potential to address global challenges such as food security and climate change. Pulse crops have gained in popularity as an affordable source of food or feed; in fact, the United Nations designated 2016 as the International Year of Pulses, proclaiming their critical role in enhancing global food security. Given that many studies have been conducted on numerous underutilized pulse crops across the world, we provide a systematic review of the related literature to identify gaps and opportunities in pulse crop genetics research. We then discuss plausible strategies for developing and using pulse crops to strengthen food and nutrition security in the face of climate and anthropogenic changes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  16. Fulltext FORECASTING THE NUMBER OF AIRPLANE PASSENGERS USING BOX-JENKINS AND ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK IN MALAYSIA
    NURFARAHIN IDRUS, NORIZAN MOHAMED
    UMT Journal of Undergraduate Research, 2020;2(4):89-100.
    MyJurnal
    Airline industry is one of the largest industries in the world of transport because it is the most important transport in the global transport system. The airline industry has played a very important role in the economic development in Malaysia. Due to the increase in its operating business, the demand for air travel increases day by day. Hence, this study focused on the number of passengers using air transport in Malaysia. The monthly data from January 2005 to December 2015 were obtained from Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) in Sepang, Selangor. The data is divided into 2 parts, which are in sample data from January 2005 to December 2014 and out sample data from January 2015 to December 2015. The study was conducted to predict airline passengers in Malaysia using the Box-Jenkins model and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. Both models were studied to choose the best model. Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and Mean Squared Error (MSE) were used to measure the performance of both models. SARIMA was selected as the best model for Box-Jenkins with MAPE and MSE were 7.3458388 and 2.67011 respectively while Multilayer Feed Forward Neural Network (MFFNN) with seven input variables, with MAPE and MSE, 7.251 and 0.0006 respectively were selected as the best model for Multilayer Feed Forward Neural Network (FFNN). In conclusion, these studies have proven that the Multilayer Feed Forward Neural Network (FFNN) model is the best model for considering airplanes in Malaysia compared to the SARIMA model.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  17. Fulltext THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON SELECTED SECTORS TOWARDS ECONOMIC GROWTH IN MALAYSIA
    NURUL FARHANA SENAWI, NOR FATIMAH CHE SULAIMAN, NOR FATIMAH CHE SULAIMAN
    UMT Journal of Undergraduate Research, 2020;2(3):83-92.
    MyJurnal
    Government expenditure plays an important role in the country’s economic growth. Budget allocations through the annual budget presented have their strategies to ensure that the allocated budget can improve the growth and development in Malaysia and also can be enjoyed by all Malaysian. The government’s expenditure has contributed to the expansion of this country’s development from various sectors. However, there are various problems involving government expenditure such as low level of health, homeless poor people, weak public transportation and illegal immigrants. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between government expenditure on health, education, housing, transportation and defence sectors towards economic growth. The data used is secondary data from 1980-2017 for 38 years from the Department of Statistics, Malaysia and World Bank Data. The method used in this study is Descriptive Analysis and Autoregressive Distributed Lagged Model (ARDL). The result showed that economic growth and government expenditure on health, education, transportation, and defence has a long-run relationship. Therefore, the government should increase more expenditure on crucial sectors such as education, transportation, defence and health that will strengthen economic growth in the long run.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  18. Fulltext Emerging challenges for sustainable development and forest conservation in Sarawak, Borneo
    Alamgir M, Campbell MJ, Sloan S, Engert J, Word J, Laurance WF
    PLoS One, 2020;15(3):e0229614.
    PMID: 32126070 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229614
    The forests of Borneo-the third largest island on the planet-sustain some of the highest biodiversity and carbon storage in the world. The forests also provide vital ecosystem services and livelihood support for millions of people in the region, including many indigenous communities. The Pan-Borneo Highway and several hydroelectric dams are planned or already under construction in Sarawak, a Malaysian state comprising part of the Borneo. This development seeks to enhance economic growth and regional connectivity, support community access to services, and promote industrial development. However, the implications of the development of highway and dams for forest integrity, biodiversity and ecosystem services remained largely unreported. We assessed these development projects using fine-scale biophysical and environmental data and found several environmental and socioeconomic risks associated with the projects. The highway and hydroelectric dam projects will impact 32 protected areas including numerous key habitats of threatened species such as the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), Sarawak surili (Presbytis chrysomelas), Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) and tufted ground squirrel (Rheithrosciurus macrotis). Under its slated development trajectory, the local and trans-national forest connectivity between Malaysian Borneo and Indonesian Borneo would also be substantially diminished. Nearly ~161 km of the Pan-Borneo Highway in Sarawak will traverse forested landscapes and ~55 km will traverse carbon-rich peatlands. The 13 hydroelectric dam projects will collectively impact ~1.7 million ha of forest in Sarawak. The consequences of planned highway and hydroelectric dams construction will increase the carbon footprint of development in the region. Moreover, many new road segments and hydroelectric dams would be built on steep slopes in high-rainfall zones and forested areas, increasing both construction and ongoing maintenance costs. The projects would also alter livelihood activities of downstream communities, risking their long-term sustainability. Overall, our findings identify major economic, social and environmental risks for several planned road segments in Sarawak-such as those between Telok Melano and Kuching; Sibu and Bintulu; and in the Lambir, Limbang and Lawas regions-and dam projects-such as Tutoh, Limbang, Lawas, Baram, Linau, Ulu Air and Baleh dams. Such projects need to be reviewed to ensure they reflect Borneo's unique environmental and forest ecosystem values, the aspirations of local communities and long-term sustainability of the projects rather than being assessed solely on their short-term economic returns.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  19. Fulltext Associations Between Social Capital and Depressive Symptoms Among College Students in 12 Countries: Results of a Cross-National Study
    Backhaus I, Varela AR, Khoo S, Siefken K, Crozier A, Begotaraj E, et al.
    Front Psychol, 2020;11:644.
    PMID: 32411038 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00644
    Introduction: A mental health crisis has hit university campuses across the world. This study sought to determine the prevalence and social determinants of depressive symptoms among university students in twelve countries. Particular focus was placed on the association between social capital and depressive symptoms.

    Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students at their first year at university in Europe, Asia, the Western Pacific, and Latin and North America. Data were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire, including questions on sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, and social capital. The simplified Beck's Depression Inventory was used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms. Social capital was assessed using items drawn from the World Bank Integrated Questionnaire to Measure Social Capital. Multilevel analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between social capital and depressive symptoms, adjusting for individual covariates (e.g., perceived stress) and country-level characteristics (e.g., economic development).

    Results: Among 4228 students, 48% presented clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Lower levels of cognitive (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.44-2.29) and behavioral social capital (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.29-1.76) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. The likelihood of having depressive symptoms was also significantly higher among those living in regions with lower levels of social capital.

    Conclusion: The study demonstrates that lower levels of individual and macro-level social capital contribute to clinically relevant depressive symptoms among university students. Increasing social capital may mitigate depressive symptoms in college students.

    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
  20. Fulltext A critical analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and ecosystems and opportunities for circular economy strategies
    Ibn-Mohammed T, Mustapha KB, Godsell J, Adamu Z, Babatunde KA, Akintade DD, et al.
    Resour Conserv Recycl, 2021 Jan;164:105169.
    PMID: 32982059 DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105169
    The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on the 11th of March 2020, but the world is still reeling from its aftermath. Originating from China, cases quickly spread across the globe, prompting the implementation of stringent measures by world governments in efforts to isolate cases and limit the transmission rate of the virus. These measures have however shattered the core sustaining pillars of the modern world economies as global trade and cooperation succumbed to nationalist focus and competition for scarce supplies. Against this backdrop, this paper presents a critical review of the catalogue of negative and positive impacts of the pandemic and proffers perspectives on how it can be leveraged to steer towards a better, more resilient low-carbon economy. The paper diagnosed the danger of relying on pandemic-driven benefits to achieving sustainable development goals and emphasizes a need for a decisive, fundamental structural change to the dynamics of how we live. It argues for a rethink of the present global economic growth model, shaped by a linear economy system and sustained by profiteering and energy-gulping manufacturing processes, in favour of a more sustainable model recalibrated on circular economy (CE) framework. Building on evidence in support of CE as a vehicle for balancing the complex equation of accomplishing profit with minimal environmental harms, the paper outlines concrete sector-specific recommendations on CE-related solutions as a catalyst for the global economic growth and development in a resilient post-COVID-19 world.
    Matched MeSH terms: Economic Development
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links