Search Results (16)

High-bandwidth memory (HBM) has become a strategic bottleneck in AI-centric systems, shifting competitive advantage from computing power alone to a design that is orchestrated by memory and packaging. We investigate whether publicly available information about companies’ integration decisions—vertical integration by Samsung Electronics and horizontal partnerships by SK Hynix—is included in market-expected valuation. We create a Korean-language news corpus spanning January 2023 to September 2025 and use seed-guided topic models to obtain firms’ vertical and horizontal integration. We verify qualitative distinguishability with t-SNE embeddings and use firm-specific ordinary least squares specifications to link topic intensities to equity prices. According to research findings, for Samsung, consolidation-oriented vertical indicators (M&A and risk ring-fencing) positively correlate with valuation, whereas supplier-enablement or operational vertical topics are not reliably factored into their valuation. Vendor-assisted scale-up and joint development topics support positive valuation for SK Hynix. This study provides a scalable framework for text evaluation, which distinguishes between general sentiment and strategic architecture, as well as evidence that capital markets reward consolidation and alliance execution differently depending on the management of the HBM bottleneck. Full article

This theoretical article examines how belongingness, defined as the sense that one’s participation is legitimate and valued, interacts with cultural value orientations to help explain persistent disparities in U.S. technology engagement, including emerging technologies, across racial and ethnic groups. While structural barriers (e.g., racism, poverty, linguistic bias, etc.) remain essential to understanding such inequity, we argue that engagement patterns in technology also reflect how different cultural communities may define and experience belongingness in relation to digital domains. Drawing on Triandis and Gelfand’s framework, and focusing specifically on educational contexts, we propose the Belongingness through Cultural Value Alignment (BCVA) model, whereby belongingness serves as a catalyst between cultural value orientations and technology engagement, with vertical collectivism deriving belongingness primarily through structured skill development and validation while horizontal collectivism focusing instead on belonging based on community integration. When technological environments value practices that are consistent with vertical collectivist norms, individuals from horizontal collectivist cultures may experience cultural misalignment not from disinterest in technology or exclusionary efforts but, instead, because dominant engagement modes conflict with their familiar frameworks for fostering a sense of belonging. By examining how cultural value orientations mediate the sense of belonging in contexts involving modern technologies, the proposed perspective offers a novel framework for understanding why access alone may have proven insufficient to address technological participation gaps, and suggests directions for creating technology spaces where individuals from a wider range of communities can experience the authentic sense of belonging. Full article

Background: Transportation equity has emerged as a critical area of focus in recent studies. Integrating equity into transportation research is increasingly recognized as essential for developing fair, inclusive, and sustainable transportation systems. The significance of this integration lies in its potential to reduce social and spatial disparities, support economic growth, promote social cohesion, and advance public health. Methods: This literature review synthesizes recent research on the incorporation of equity into transportation studies within transportation planning and frameworks. It examines how equity is conceptualized, measured, and operationalized, focusing on both horizontal equity (the equal treatment of similar groups) and vertical equity (prioritizing disadvantaged populations). This study evaluates various methodologies and tools, such as accessibility indices, affordability metrics, and community engagement approaches, which are used to assess and promote equity in transportation systems. Results: The findings from this review highlight the importance of both horizontal and vertical equity in transportation planning and policy and foundational tools for assessing equity. Conclusions: Integrating equity into transportation research is vital for creating systems that are equitable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all communities. Addressing current challenges requires clearer and more consistent frameworks, improved data collection, and more inclusive, community-driven decision-making processes. Full article

Accessibility is closely related to residents’ well-being and quality of life and is a potential indicator of social equity. This study aims to present a methodology for assessing the combined equity of living service amenities (LSAs) based on accessibility. This study focuses on fourteen types of LSAs in six dimensions and improves the three-step floating catchment area (3SFCA) model by considering the behavioral demand characteristics of different age groups. Taking the main built-up area of Xi’an as an example, the modified 3SFCA model is applied to assess the accessibility of LSAs, and the supply–demand index is used to measure the supply and demand level of the horizontal dimension. Furthermore, random forest regression was used to screen the key socioeconomic indicators affecting the accessibility of LSAs, and then the binary spatial correlation local index was used to reveal the spatial distribution characteristics between LSA accessibility and key socioeconomic indicators in the vertical dimension. Finally, the comprehensive equity of LSAs is evaluated by space superposition. The results showed that there was a serious imbalance between the supply and demand of LSAs in Xi’an’s main built-up area, with polarized oversupply and weak supply areas, especially for accessibility to low-grade LSAs. Accessibility is relatively low for children and young and middle-aged groups, and intergenerational inequalities were particularly pronounced among them. The lower-income group was generally at a disadvantage in accessing the high-demand amenities, and those who resided in affordable housing in the periphery of the city were more likely to face social exclusion. This study emphasizes the importance of distributing urban resources equitably among different social groups, which can help decision makers achieve a balance between horizontal equity and vertical equity in the allocation of urban LSAs and promote spatial equity and sustainable social development. Full article

The growing realization of the inadequacies of the conventional approach to climate change adaptation has generated interest in sustainable forms of adaptation that could promote long-term ecosystem health and social equity. In this regard, the concept of ecosystem-based adaptation has been receiving attention as an integrative framework for maintaining healthy ecosystems, with the aim of building the resilience and reducing the vulnerability of social–ecological systems to climate change impacts. However, there is currently an inadequate understanding of the institutional requirements for the transition towards ecosystem-based adaptation. A promising institutional mechanism for addressing these governance challenges is adaptive governance, a governance mechanism that relies on flexible, multi-level institutions to connect actors across multiple scales in managing conflicting values and uncertainties in ecosystem-based management processes. This paper discusses four roles of adaptive governance in the transition of water resource systems towards ecosystem-based adaptation: (1) creating awareness about climate change through social learning and the integration of diverse sources of knowledge; (2) generating interest for policy change through the provision of economic and non-economic incentives; (3) creating opportunities for change through the promotion of vertical and horizontal interactions among actors; and (4) building capacities for change through enhanced access to relevant institutions and resources. Full article

Nowadays, approximately 75% of the European population lives in urban areas, and these figures are expected to grow in future. The consequent expansion of cities means that the population might locate its residence far from daily facilities, generating a so-called transport social need. The possibility to easily reach education, health, recreation, and job opportunities is a key factor in fostering and guaranteeing the social inclusion of people in society. Spatial planning plays a fundamental role in filling the gap between people residing in the center and those living in the suburbs. In particular, public transport planning should ensure access to essential services, providing at least the same opportunities as private vehicles. In this context, this study presents a simplified quantitative method to consider equity in transit network design and assessment, considering horizontal and vertical indicators based on the socio-demographic characteristics of a population and the accessibility to main opportunities. The validity of the indicators is tested by applying them to a case study located in the Apulia region (Italy). The approach could be considered a basis for more complex transport-network design optimization oriented to social inclusion in urban areas. Full article

Groundwater irrigation has a critical role in the sustainability of arable farming in many developing countries including Pakistan. Groundwater irrigation is generally practiced to supplement surface water supplies in Pakistan. Nevertheless, uninterrupted and extensive use of groundwater irrigation has raised several concerns about its sustainability and resultant environmental implications. Due to the scarcity of groundwater and heterogeneity in farmers’ resources, informal groundwater markets have emerged in Pakistan, where farmers trade water using a contractual system. Yet, the effects of these markets on agricultural productivity and equity remain largely unknown. This paper aims to analyze the impact of participation in the groundwater market on farmland utilization, cropping patterns, water access, and income. We analyze these impacts using primary data collected from 360 farmers in three different zones of the country’s largest province. The farmers were categorized as buyers, sellers, and self-users of water. Results indicate that participation in water markets increased agricultural land utilization, evinced by a higher cropping intensity among participants. A horizontal and vertical equity analysis of water markets shows that although large farmers have better access to groundwater irrigation, water market participation improves equity to water access. Based on income inequality measures such as the Gini coefficient and the Lorenz curve, water market participation also improves farmer incomes regardless of farm size. Propensity score matching revealed that wheat yield and income among water-market participants went up by approximately 150 kg and PKR 4503 per acre compared with non-participants. Groundwater market participants’ higher crop productivity and income level suggest that water markets need a thorough revisit in terms of policy focus and institutional support to ensure sustainable rural development. Full article

Supply chain management (SCM) plays an important role in international work distribution mechanisms. This phenomenon has shifted to an SCM-to-SCM competition rather than corporate-to-corporate competition in the global market. Apple and Samsung Electronics are the two major global information and communications technology (ICT) companies, each choosing different SCM strategies to stabilize production while minimizing inventory and maintaining ongoing partnerships with suppliers. To analyze the relationship between strategic differences in SCM structure of the ICT companies and capital, while employing the generalized method of moments, this study analyzed partnerships with suppliers from a financial perspective for long-term growth and stable production. Results identified that the target debt ratio of Apple’s parts suppliers was 38%, which was slightly higher than that of US companies (33%). In the relationship between capital structure and SCM structures, the company’s debt ratio decreases if the strength of the strategic alliance and the strength of the horizontal integration of global parts suppliers are higher. Specifically, Apple’s parts suppliers with non-equity alliances, such as technological and R&D alliances, have reduced debt ratios more than companies with equity alliances. In the case of Samsung Electronics’ parts suppliers, primary vendors had a lower debt ratio than secondary vendors. These results indicates that if the strength of the vertical integration with the international strategic alliances is greater, they are more likely to adopt a lower debt ratio policy. Identifying the relationship between SCM strategic difference and capital structure, this study provides valuable insights for corporate sustainability. Full article

Social sustainability is a dimension of the concept of sustainability that has gained importance only in the last few decades and can be identified as the pursuit and measure of social equity. Equity can be analyzed under two approaches: horizontal and vertical. The horizontal approach considers the distribution of benefits equally, while the vertical equity considers these same benefits, but between specific groups, which is an adequate approach when dealing with policy-related topics, such as tariff subsidy. Accessibility is a factor that contributes to urban social sustainability and it may be a representation of physical and/or social barriers in the urban environment. Thus, this paper aims to assess social sustainability under a vertical equity approach, based on accessibility to jobs, for different population groups, comparing public with individual motorized transport. The case study was carried out in Medellín-Colombia, using data from the 2017 Home Destination Survey. It was found that users of individual transport have access to a greater number of jobs than users of public transport. In addition, those with higher income have better accessibility than those with lower income, even though they are not beneficiaries of tariff subsidy policies. Another highlight is that areas closer to the central region are also more accessible. In some specific communes, it would be indicated to seek to improve access through public transport, or the implementation of some public policy at the municipal level that could have an impact on access to opportunities. Full article

Strategic alliances have become a key focus in the management and marketing literature. However, much of the previous research in this area has focused on the antecedents and accounting effects of strategic alliances. There is an opportunity to more closely examine how alliance types might influence the public equity markets. As a result, this study summarizes the literature for the theoretical foundation of strategic alliances to increase the understanding of the two main types of strategic alliances, that is industry scope (vertical vs. horizontal alliances) and size scope (asymmetric vs. symmetric alliances). Then, this study proposes a conceptual framework to examine the main and relative effects between different types of strategic alliances and firm performance. Using the Bloomberg Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) database from 1 January 2010 to 1 January 2016, we find that vertical symmetric alliances gain more abnormal returns than others. Finally, implications and limitations are also discussed. Full article

Health care equity reflects an equal opportunity to utilize public health and health care resources in order to maximize one’s health potential. Achieving health care equity necessitates the consideration of both quantity and quality of care, as well as vertical (greater health care use by those with greater needs) and horizontal (equal health care use by those with equal needs) equity. In this paper, we summarize the approaches introduced by authors contributing to this Special Issue and how their work is captured by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) framework. The paper concludes by pointing out intervention and public policy opportunities for future investigation in order to achieve health care equity. Full article

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of religiosity and religion on tax equity. Most prior studies have argued that higher taxpayers’ religiosity reduces tax evasion and increases the level of tax morale. Various studies have also shown that tax evasion and morale vary with perceptions of tax equity, including exchange, horizontal, and vertical equities. However, the relationship between religiosity and tax equity has not been studied actively. Especially in Korea, there has been considerable debate about the implementation of taxation for clergies. Therefore, the relationship between religiosity and tax equity will be analyzed clearly using Korean survey panel data. The results of this study show that religiosity and religion do not affect exchange and horizontal equity; however, each religion affects vertical equity. This implies that economic and social incentives are more effective than religiosity and religion on taxpayers’ tax evasion or morale. Full article

Urban public transit is an important solution for narrowing the mobility gap between captive riders and choice riders and to address issues of social equity. An equitable transit system essentially could meet the needs of transit dependents and maximize the scope of public transit services. To acquire a better understanding of transit equity, we use Lorenz curves and the GINI coefficient to measure the relative supply of public transit to the population and employ the spatial overlay method to analyze the matching degree of transit supply and demand in Guangzhou, China. The findings show that there are obvious and unequal differences between the levels of transit service in the internal zones. The spatial coverage rate and number of stop services of the outer city are significantly less than that of the inner and middle city. Eighty percent of the population shares only 36.7% of the public transit supply in Guangzhou. Most communities of low-supply and high-need public transit are distributed contiguously in the eastern Baiyun and southern Huadu districts. This distribution pattern is beneficial to the transit agency, which could improve the supply in these areas to avoid the risk caused when a large number of residents lack access to public transit services. The results could serve as an excellent foundation for planning the handling of spatial gaps in the Guangzhou public transit supply. Full article

This paper explores whether the principles of horizontal and vertical equity in healthcare are met by the Spanish national health system in the case of the Roma and general populations. The 2011/2012 Spanish National Health Survey (n = 21,650) and the 2014 National Health Survey of the Spanish Roma Population (n = 1167) were analyzed. Use of healthcare services was measured in terms of visits to a general practitioner (GP), visits to an emergency department, and hospitalizations. Healthcare need was measured using (a) self-rated health and (b) the reported number of chronic diseases. The Roma reported worse self-rated health and a higher prevalence of chronic diseases. A redistributive effect (increased healthcare service use among Roma and those in lower socio-economic classes) was found for hospitalizations and emergency visits. This effect was also observed in GP visits for women, but not for men. Vertical inequity was observed in the general population but not in the Roma population for GP visits. The results suggest the existence of horizontal inequity in the use of GP services (Roma women), emergency department visits (Roma and general population), and hospitalizations (Roma population) and of vertical inequity in the use of GP services among the general population. Full article

The aim of this research is to compare OLS (Ordinary Least Squares) and spatial regression models which are methods of calculating the traditional value of land—using data on the practical transaction price of land—and to enhance the applicability of estimation of official land assessment prices set by the Korean government while deducing policy implications for effective implementation. That is, as a way to overcome the limitations of the traditional regression model, we compare various Generalized Regression Models such as SLM (Spatial Lag Model), SEM (Spatial Error Model) with OLS. Consequently, an in-depth diagnosis is conducted to generate a proper estimation model for land pricing, and, also, the analysis focuses on vertical and horizontal equity using COD (Coefficient of Dispersion), COV (Coefficient of Variation) and PRD (Price-Related Differential). The results indicate that SEM is more appropriate than AIC (Akaike info criterion) and SC (Schwarz criterion) in terms of measuring log-likelihood, demonstrating that the spatial autocorrelation model is superior to the traditional regression model. It shows that the SEM is also the best among the tested models with regard to measuring horizontal equity. The spatial econometric model, therefore, is strongly recommended for estimating the prices of land and houses. Full article