Search Results (111)

This paper studies the exact and approximate relations between fluctuations in thermodynamic variables (pressure, density and temperature) that are imposed by the dilute-gas ($\mathcal{Z}=1$) equation-of-state ($\mathrm{EoS}$), which is a satisfactory approximation of air thermodynamics for a wide range of pressures and temperatures. It focuses on triple- and higher-order correlations, extending previous studies that concentrated on second-order moments, with emphasis on the mathematical relations, which are generally valid independently of the particular flow configuration. Exact equations are developed both involving only single-variable moments and relating the correlations between variables. These contain nonlinear terms generated by the density-temperature fluctuation product in the fluctuating $\mathrm{EoS}$. The importance of the nonlinear terms in the 6 exact equations between the 10 third-order moments is assessed using $\mathrm{DNS}$ (direct numerical simulation) data for compressible turbulent plane channel ($\mathrm{TPC}$) flows and analyzed using general statistical inequalities involving third-order and fourth-order moments. The corresponding linearized system between third-order moments is studied to determine approximate relations and 4-tuples of linearly independent moments. These mathematical tools are then used to analyze $\mathrm{TPC}$ flow $\mathrm{DNS}$ data on the triple correlations between the thermodynamic variables. Full article

The aim of this manuscript is to introduce the fractional integral inequalities of H-H types via multiplicative (Antagana-Baleanu) A-B fractional operators. We also provide the fractional version of the H-H type of the product and quotient of multiplicative superquadratic and multiplicative subquadratic functions via the same operators. Superquadratic functions, have stronger convexity-like behavior. They provide sharper bounds and more refined inequalities, which are valuable in optimization, information theory, and related fields. The use of multiplicative fractional operators establishes a nonlinear fractional structure, enhancing the analytical tools available for studying dynamic and nonlinear systems. The authenticity of the obtained results are verified by graphical and numerical illustrations by taking into account some examples. Additionally, the study explores applications involving special means, special functions and moments of random variables resulting in new fractional recurrence relations within the multiplicative calculus framework. These contributions not only generalize existing inequalities but also pave the way for future research in both theoretical mathematics and real-world modeling scenarios. Full article

Life distribution comparison is important in reliability and survival analysis to model system aging and longevity. The article develops a non-parametric hypothesis test procedure for testing exponentiality against the Used Better than Aged in Laplace transform (UBAL) family of life distributions. The test in this case is developed based on moment inequalities in the Laplace transform, which yields a computationally straightforward and theoretically sound methodology. We establish the asymptotic behavior of the test statistic and evaluate its performance through Monte Carlo simulations, showing acceptable power against common alternatives such as the Weibull, linear failure rate, and Makeham distributions. Critical values are also provided for practical use under complete and right-censored data. The usefulness of the procedure is also illustrated on real medical data sets, including leukemia, liver cancer, and lung cancer patient survival times, and COVID-19 deaths data. The results indicate the applicability and success of the proposed method in detecting deviations from exponentiality. Overall, this research contributes a handy statistical method for reliability, risk analysis, and medical survival analysis, where system aging is of the utmost importance. Full article

Considering the contemporary, rapidly evolving society, renewable energy emerges as a key element in advancing both environmental resilience and energy independence. The current study aims to undertake a comparative analysis of the renewable energy adoption between the Old Member States (OMSs) and New Member States (NMSs) of the European Union (EU). This study focuses on regional heterogeneity as well as the role of economic, social, and environmental determinants in shaping effective energy transition policies. This study uses advanced long-term panel estimates such as Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), Fully Modified Least Squares (FMOLS) and Canonical Cointegration Regression (CCR) on a dataset covering the 2010–2023 period. Moreover, this study utilizes quantile regression methods such as Quantile Regression (QREG) and Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR). Finally, this study employs the Dumitrescu–Hurlin test to assess panel causality. The empirical findings reveal notable discrepancies between the two samples when it comes to fossil fuel reliance, income inequality, financial and economic development, the existing level of greenhouse gas emissions, and green finances influencing renewable energy adoption. In the OMS region, a 1% increase in GHG and income inequality reduces the adoption of renewable energy by 0.80–1.14% and 0.61–0.67%, respectively, while a 1% increase in GDP increases the adoption of renewable energy by 0.72–0.92%. In the NMS region, GHG inhibits renewable energy transition by 0.27–0.30%, while fossil fuel energy share, income inequality, green finance, GDP and financial development do not have a significant effect. These results highlight economic development as the key to renewable energy transition in OMSs, while in NMSs, GHG and financial development are key levers. This research seeks to support the developing and restructuring of the existing green framework to enhance its overall effectiveness. Full article

Despite numerous global initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the implementation of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics aimed at mitigating climate change, promoting social welfare, and addressing a variety of other causes, progress has been significantly slower than expected, particularly in developing economies. Thus, we attempted to link corporate ESG to sustainable development. It was also investigated whether ESG contributes to a reduction in corporate risk. Using panel data and the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique, we examine the relationship between ESG scores and important financial risk indicators such as systematic risk (beta), stock price volatility, unsystematic risk, and the cost of capital (WACC). The findings show that corporations place a disproportionate emphasis on governance (G) rather than environmental (E) and social (S) characteristics. ESG and G governance were also found to be statistically significant predictors of financial risk. This disparity shows that companies may be using high governance scores to conceal underperformance in environmental and social issues, raising worries about greenwashing and superficial compliance. As a result, their contributions to SDGs such as affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), climate action (SDG 13), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10) are minimal. The findings highlight the need for a more open, balanced, and integrated ESG approach, one that not only promotes sustainable development but also improves long-term financial resilience. Full article

A brief review of various existing mathematical formulations of the uncertainty relations in quantum mechanics, containing variances of two or more non-commuting operators, is given. In particular, inequalities for the products of higher-order moments of a coordinate and a momentum are considered, as well as inequalities making the uncertainty relations more accurate when additional information about a quantum system is available (for example, the correlation coefficient or the degree of mixing of a quantum state characterized by the trace of the squared statistical operator). The special cases of two, three, and four operators are discussed in detail. Full article

Achieving a more inclusive financial system is crucial to unlocking economic opportunities, reducing inequality, and ensuring that no person will be excluded from access and usage of financial and banking services. Even if financial services are widely available in some areas, others, especially in developing nations, have low levels of financial inclusion and continue to confront obstacles that restrict economic growth and participation. This study examines the key factors influencing financial inclusion by analyzing 74 banks across 10 MENA countries from 2010 to 2021. It performs the System Generalized Method of Moments (SGMM) technique as an empirical approach. The results indicate that economic growth, education, infrastructure, and institutional quality have a significant impact on improving the level of financial inclusion in the MENA region. The results of the sensitivity analysis reveal that, in either GCC or non-GCC countries, key determinants include education, infrastructure, institutional quality, and GDP growth, leading to a more inclusive financial system. Full article

The issue of multi-switch generalized projective anti-synchronization of fractional-order chaotic systems is investigated in this work. The model is constructed using Caputo–Fabrizio derivatives, which have been rarely addressed in previous research. In order to expand the symmetric and asymmetric synchronization modes of chaotic systems, we consider modeling chaotic systems under such fractional calculus definitions. Firstly, a new fractional-order differential inequality is proven, which facilitates the rapid confirmation of a suitable Lyapunov function. Secondly, an effective multi-switching controller is designed to confirm the convergence of the error system within a short moment to achieve synchronization asymptotically. Simultaneously, a multi-switching parameter adaptive principle is developed to appraise the uncertain parameters in the system. Finally, two simulation examples are presented to affirm the correctness and superiority of the introduced approach. It can be said that the symmetric properties of Caputo–Fabrizio fractional derivative are making outstanding contributions to the research on chaos synchronization. Full article

This study analyzed the evolution of the poverty rate between 2004 and 2023 in 29 European countries, using two categories of variables: institutional variables (Corruption Control Index and Rule of Law Index) and economic variables (unemployment rate, shadow economy, government expenditures on social protection and the Gini index). The methodology adopted included dynamic panel econometric models, applying a technique which involves the elimination of individual effects by a primary differencing of the variables and the use of the generalized method of moments (GMM) to evaluate the estimators. This methodology eliminates endogeneity caused by including the dependent variable with lag among the explanatory variables in the model. The results showed a strong negative correlation between the poverty rate and institutional variables, suggesting that improvements in governance and access to education and health resources are essential for poverty reduction. The shadow economy has also been identified as a poverty buffer, providing support in the absence of formal employment opportunities. The short-term impact of government expenditures on social protection was not significant, indicating the need for further analysis to better understand these dynamics. This research can make a significant contribution to the design of more effective public policies aimed at reducing shocks, reducing inequality and promoting sustainable economic growth. Full article

Reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and implementing sustainable environmental policies require the identification of the economic, political, ecological, and social factors that affect emission levels. To this end, this study examines, for the first time, the impact of wealth inequality, economic growth, and renewable energy consumption on CO₂ emissions in 17 countries with the highest wealth inequality over the 1995–2021 period. This study employs a novel and robust approach, the method of moments quantile regression, to analyze the relationships among these variables. Findings support the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis by displaying that economic growth initially increases CO₂ emissions but has a dampening effect after a turning point. Moreover, renewable energy consumption reduces CO₂ emissions, where certain as increasing wealth inequality contributes to higher CO₂ emissions. These results underscore the need for policymakers to adopt more egalitarian socioeconomic models, accelerate the transition to clean energy, and maintain robust environmental policies to achieve sustainable development goals. Full article

The EU has consistently tackled the challenge of energy poverty (EP) through various legislative and non-legislative measures, particularly in the context of ongoing energy crisis, but it should also support the reduction of income inequality that might accelerate EP. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of income inequality on EP and other interconnected indicators in the EU in the period 2005–2023 using method of moments quantile (MMQ) regression and mean group (MG) estimators. The results suggest that income inequality based on Gini index enhances energy poverty, while gender pay gap, economic growth, and urban population reduce it. Foreign direct investment (FDI) and renewable energy consumption (REC) might combat EP only in the long-run. These findings suggest that macroeconomic policies should focus not only on economic growth, but also on addressing income inequalities. Policymakers must prioritize measures to reduce income inequality, such as progressive taxation or targeted social programs. Full article

As countries worldwide endeavor to fulfill the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10, which emphasizes reducing inequality, there is a growing imperative to utilize tax policy and institutions to accomplish this objective. Hence, this study is inspired by this rationale. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between effective VAT (calculated as total VAT revenues divided by final consumption, which reflects the economic incidence of the tax rather than its legal definition), institution index, and income inequality. To achieve this objective, this study uses the system generalized method of moments (SGMM) for 35 Sub Saharan Africa countries from 1995 to 2021. The results show that effective VAT increases income inequality in both the short and long run. However, the effect of the long run is greater than that of the short run. Furthermore, the results reveal that institutional quality reinforced the positive effect of effective value added tax on income inequality in both the short and long run, with the long run being more pronounced than the short run. This suggests that effective VAT policies and institutional quality applied in this study augment income inequality. Additionally, it is also noticed that ethnic fragmentation impedes effective VAT to lower income disparity in the short and long run in SSA. Hence, a relevant policy to strengthen the tax system and improve institutional quality should be given priority in SSA. Full article

Over the years, high levels of corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa have diverted resources from social welfare, weakened institutional effectiveness, and deepened economic inequalities. This study explores the misery index’s effects on economic inequality and social welfare in 19 Sub-Saharan African countries, highlighting corruption’s role in amplifying these issues. The misery index, a composite measure of inflation and unemployment, indicates economic distress exacerbating poverty and inequality, disproportionately affecting lower-income populations. This research employs quantile regression and the System Generalised Method of Moments to analyse data from 2007 to 2022, revealing that corruption often undermines poverty reduction efforts, with economic growth and foreign direct investment showing limited effects without strong institutional frameworks. The findings emphasise the need for multifaceted policies targeting job creation, inflation control, and anti-corruption initiatives to foster inclusive growth and mitigate economic disparity. To address inequality, this study recommends that governance be strengthened, corruption curbed, and inflation controlled while expanding welfare programmes and promoting inclusive growth across Sub-Saharan Africa. Full article

In the context of Sustainable Development Goals, declining poverty (Goal 1), achieving gender equality (Goal 5), and ensuring access to clean and affordable energy (SDG7) are still behind track, and the gaps are not yet ready to be rapidly fulfilled. As part of Goal 7, energy consumption-related targets still lack the potential to be targeted. Considering these elements, this study aims to determine the impact of poverty and gender equality on the energy consumption of households in several European countries. Using data from 2010 to 2022 and the moments’ quantile regression method combined with a pooled OLS based on Driskoll-Kraay estimators, we found statistically significant results regarding the impact of poverty and gender on household energy consumption. These findings’ significance will direct policy design towards those meaningful tools that will increase energy efficiency, address energy poverty, and ensure energy just transition, leaving no one behind. Based on the main findings, the policymakers can understand that a mix of policies is significantly more efficient. In such circumstances, social and economic inequalities will not successfully address development issues without including key environmental priorities, such as emissions mitigation and energy consumption patterns. Full article

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of environmental education to attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Environmental education has an interconnection with the SDGs, that constitute 169 targets and 230 indicators. Education is addressed in SDG4; however, education has an extended role in other interconnected areas such as poverty, gender, health and inequality, natural resources, energy, and climate change and variability. This study adopted a survey method and employed a questionnaire, open-ended questions, and critical review of secondary sources. The results from this study reveal interspersed areas played by environmental education in attaining the integrated SDGs and contribute to building awareness on the momentous role of environmental education in producing sustainable pathways for the future. The international environmental education community shares a goal of focusing on environmental education to attain the SDGs. This paper recommends competent mainstreaming of environmental education practices in the school curriculum, lifelong learning settings, and in government and corporation policy frameworks to enable societies to become resilient. Full article