Search Results (33)

In a global context characterized by budgetary pressures, aging populations, and accelerated economic transitions, the capacity of countries to mobilize stable and sustainable tax revenues represents a crucial pillar for maintaining macroeconomic stability and social cohesion. This research investigated the determinants of total tax revenues in the developed economies of the G7 group (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) during the period 2000–2022, employing both static and dynamic panel econometric approaches. The estimated model considered total tax revenues as the dependent variable, while the explanatory variables encompassed the main categories of government revenues: direct taxes (personal and corporate income), indirect taxes (consumption, trade, and other taxes), social contributions, grants, other non-tax revenues, and institutional quality indicators (regulatory quality and control of corruption). The empirical findings revealed that all tax components analyzed exert a positive and significant influence on total tax revenues, with particularly strong effects observed for consumption taxes, social contributions, and personal income taxes. Based on these results, the study provides policy recommendations aimed at diversifying revenue sources, balancing direct and indirect taxation, and broadening the tax base equitably. The study advances the literature on international taxation by offering an integrated and comparative analysis of the revenue structures in advanced economies, while also identifying relevant pathways for sustainable tax reforms in a dynamic global environment. Full article

In this work, we examine the correlation between financial inclusion and the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors of sustainable development with the assistance of an exhaustive panel dataset of 103 emerging and developing economies spanning 2011 to 2022. The “Account Age” variable, standing for financial inclusion, is the share of adults owning accounts with formal financial institutions or with the providers of mobile money services, inclusive of both conventional and digital entry points. Methodologically, the article follows an econometric approach with panel data regressions, supplemented by Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) with instrumental variables in order to control endogeneity biases. ESG-specific instruments like climate resilience indicators and digital penetration measures are utilized for the purpose of robustness. As a companion approach, the paper follows machine learning techniques, applying a set of algorithms either for regression or for clustering for the purpose of detecting non-linearities and discerning ESG-inclusion typologies for the sample of countries. Results reflect that financial inclusion is, in the Environmental pillar, significantly associated with contemporary sustainability activity such as consumption of green energy, extent of protected area, and value added by agriculture, while reliance on traditional agriculture, measured by land use and value added by agriculture, decreases inclusion. For the Social pillar, expenditure on education, internet, sanitation, and gender equity are prominent inclusion facilitators, while engagement with the informal labor market exhibits a suppressing function. For the Governance pillar, anti-corruption activity and patent filing activity are inclusive, while diminishing regulatory quality, possibly by way of digital governance gaps, has a negative correlation. Policy implications are substantial: the research suggests that development dividends from a multi-dimensional approach can be had through enhancing financial inclusion. Policies that intersect financial access with upgrading the environment, social expenditure, and institutional reconstitution can simultaneously support sustainability targets. These are the most applicable lessons for the policy-makers and development professionals concerned with the attainment of the SDGs, specifically over the regions of the Global South, where the trinity of climate resilience, social fairness, and institutional renovation most significantly manifests. Full article

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly affected public health and socio-economic structures globally. This research conducted a post-COVID-19 analysis of the role of fiscal support interventions on COVID-19 health regulations such as mandatory non-pharmaceutical interventions like face masks, social distancing, periodic lockdowns which include restrictions on movement, and socio-economic dimensions. This quantitative research obtained 302 responses from different households in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, and Limpopo Provinces in South Africa. The results reveal that the relief fund (R350 unemployment grant, unemployment insurance fund claim, and food parcel distribution, among others) mediated the relationship between COVID-19 health regulations and poverty levels and the relationship between COVID-19 health regulations and health and well-being. The relief fund also mediated the relationship between COVID-19 health regulations and employment levels. Support packages from the R500 billion government support, which included loan guarantees, job support, tax and payment deferrals and holidays, social grants, wage guarantees, health interventions, and municipalities support, moderate the relationship between COVID-19 health regulations and the family and social support. These results validate the impact of the fiscal support intervention by the government in mitigating its emergency intervention with COVID-19 health regulations. This strengthens the theory of intervention, highlighting that multiple dynamics make interventions complex as shown by mediation and moderation results. Furthermore, this study highlights intervention being central to the management of the crisis. The study highlights the importance of comprehensive intervention for future preparedness, thus advancing the crisis–intervention perspective. Advances in these areas are critical to mitigate the impact of the next pandemic or similar major events in society. This can be achieved through improved pandemic timely response with effective economic stimulus, social relief, strong legal framework, and anti-corruption policies. Full article

This study analyzes the influence of natural resource rents, governance indicators, and their interactions on economic growth in twelve oil-producing countries in the MENA region from 2002 to 2021. Various versions of a panel ARDL model are estimated using PMG, MG, and DFE estimators. The results suggest that natural resource rents in MENA oil-producing countries positively affect long-term economic growth when accompanied by good governance. Government effectiveness and control of corruption also contribute positively to economic growth in the long run. Furthermore, financial development is found to enhance long-term economic growth. These findings highlight the potential of natural resources to drive economic growth when supported by strong institutions. To maximize natural resource rent benefits, MENA countries should improve governance indicators such as government effectiveness, control of corruption, and rule of law. This includes enhancing civil service competence, decision implementation, and managing political pressure. Key factors include revenue mobilization, infrastructure quality, policy consistency, and penalties for corruption. Ensuring equality under the law, transparent legal processes, an independent judiciary, and access to legal remedies are crucial for effective rule of law. Additionally, MENA countries should prioritize developing non-oil sectors like tourism, industry, technology, entertainment, transportation, and communication. Full article

Forests contain just under 58% of all known species globally, with approximately 61% of these found in countries with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified forests. Few studies have directly analyzed the association between biodiversity and certification, often focusing on limited geographical or temporal scopes. There is a lack of understanding regarding the socio-political and ecological drivers of FSC certification’s relationship with biodiversity conservation. We assess the associations between country-level characteristics and the relationship between FSC’s forest management (FSC-FM) certification area and independently made biodiversity estimates from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Specifically, using generalized random forests (GRF) and data from 91 countries between 2008 and 2019, we examine the associated factors that govern FSC-FM certifications relationship with percentage threatened species. The results indicate that increasing FSC-FM-certified areas is linked to a reduction in the percentage of threatened species by 0.1 to 0.15. Moreover, FSC-FM certifications show a positive relationship with biodiversity in regions with high population densities and significant tree cover loss. Enhanced perception of corruption control and reduced extraction of non-forestry resources further strengthen this association. These findings provide the FSC with strategic insights to expand FM certification, contributing to biodiversity conservation through sustainable forest management. Full article

Investigating the experience and improvement measures for China’s distinctive land supply participation in macro-control processes holds significance for full utilization of land policy. However, the spatial heterogeneity and its theoretical and comprehensive analysis of drivers are still poorly revealed. This paper uses spatial analysis methods and micro-scale big data on land transactions to depict the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of land supply, and analyses its driving mechanisms via an endogenous–exogenous factor framework and regression models. Land supply experienced fluctuating “growth–decline–growth” trends in 2001–2021, spatially showed a large cluster in the east, a small cluster in the center and scattering in the west, with the gravity center relocating southwest, and formed a multi-core, hierarchical, circular structure of high density in core cities, density in peripheral cities and sparseness in districts. Endogenously, total land resources and road accessibility facilitated land supply, while topographic relief and urban proximity showed inhibitory effects; land supply positively correlated with land finance dependence, officials’ appraisal pressure, local government competition and officials’ corruption but negatively related with fiscal tax revenues and fiscal transparency; construction land indicators directly determined land supply, while the intensity of use control restricted the conversion of arable land and weakened land supply. Exogenously, urbanization, industrialization, capital investment, technological innovation and marketization level promoted land supply, while the substitution of human capital reduced the demand for land; economic fluctuations showed non-significant relationships with land supply. Differentiated impacts of multiple factors on land supply pattern are emphasized and should be integrated into formulating land policy and optimizing land allocation. Full article

The high rate of depredation of forest resources causes major climatic changes that affect the economic activities and health of populations, plunging them into poverty and social problems. The state is responsible for dealing with these problems, because it has the technical, legal, and economic power to do so. This research aims to identify the factors that limit the design and formulation of public policies for the conservation of natural resources at the level of local district and provincial governments in Peru. For this study, we used qualitative methodology and non-probabilistic sampling, as well as techniques such as unstructured interviews, focus groups, and documentary review; moreover, for data analysis, we applied the theoretical saturation design in grounded theory. The results show that the conservation of natural resources is not positioned as a priority public policy in municipal administrations; furthermore, the organic units of natural resources suffer financial restrictions, and not because of a lack of budget availability, but because of a lack of will and decision-making capacity of authorities and civil servants, as well as a lack of coordination between the different national governments. It concludes that there are conflicts of interest in public policy making, with abuse of power and corruption predominating. Furthermore, the complexity of addressing sustainability criteria and the inability to confront the environmental crisis mean that international summits and national norms are attenuated in the face of the problems of environmental degradation. Deforestation should be considered a major public priority problem because of its environmental, economic, social, and health impacts. These problems require a holistic approach that combines local, national, and international policies and fosters effective and participatory governance. Full article

The objective of this study was to establish the relationship between certain institutional variables and the effectiveness of fiscal decentralisation in Latin America. To fulfil this objective, we took a sample of 15 Latin American countries for the years 1996 to 2020 to estimate the logarithm of GDP per capita based on the level of fiscal decentralisation, as well as its interaction with six institutional variables plus three control variables. The results show that institutional variables always modulate the effects of fiscal decentralisation, in most cases significantly and negatively, the exceptions being accountability with a positive result and government effectiveness with a non-significant result. It was concluded that in the presence of weak regulations, political conflicts, and corruption, fiscal decentralisation can worsen social or economic circumstances in Latin America. Full article

Due to the European Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), coffee and other commodities and their derived products from deforested areas will be prohibited from being placed on the European Union (EU) market starting in December 2024. With the “EUDR Coffee Check”, a comprehensive tool was developed, in collaboration with the German Coffee Association (DKV), combining a database solution with automated analysis methodologies, combined with a web-frontend, to support the EUDR compliance of the coffee industry. The tool supports the gathering of verifiable information to ensure that coffee is deforestation-free after the 31 December 2020 EUDR cutoff date. To determine deforestation-free status, deep learning-based mapping methods on satellite imagery along with open access local and global datasets were applied to develop a 2020 forest reference map that aligns with the defined EUDR forest categories and the cutoff date. The tool can be used to conduct automatic deforestation checks by comparing coffee farm locations with reference forest maps from 2020 and raises a potential deforestation alert. Potential deforestation alerts are identified as critical cases based on the annually updated series of land use changes and/or deforestations observed within the base 2020 forest areas after the cutoff date. The tool also allows users to conduct a structured risk assessment of the provided geo-coordinates of production areas and the supply chain to document the complete exercise of the required EUDR due diligence process. The tool uses internationally recognized indices and statistics, such as UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank, and many more, to calculate a risk score to evaluate governance and human rights risks such as child labor, forced labor, or corruption associated with the sourcing regions. The presence of forests, deforestation risk, and maps providing information on the protected areas of indigenous people are used to identify the coffee production areas’ proximity and relative risk exposure to provide a full picture of the risk factors in line with the EUDR requirements. In addition to the detailed analysis of deforestation risk alerts, the EUDR Coffee Check provides a questionnaire that guides the user through the structured process to supplement the risk assessment and documentation of legality. Following focused questions and providing potential answers, the user is enabled to evaluate the risk for non-compliance according to the exact requirements of the EUDR and provides guidance on risk mitigation measures, such as the implementation of internal due diligence strategies, the usage of third-party verification schemes to increase reliability through on-site audits, or the usage of traceability platforms. The developed EUDR Coffee Check supports companies to comply with the EUDR due diligence obligations by analyzing, documenting, and reporting on individual shipments and the associated production areas and can be used by operators, traders, or any actor along the supply chain, including authorities, to control the checks at their discretion. The tool is offered at a nominal fee structure based on a customized term of usage. Full article

This study aims to carry out a comparative analysis between the level of digitization of the Romanian public administration compared to that existing in the most digitally developed states at the European level. Our study identifies the extent to which Romanian citizens have access to non-bureaucratic and transparent public services that support social inclusion and non-discrimination, compared to European citizens from states with the best digitalization of public services. Also, our research studies the relationship between the level of digitalization quantified by the DESI indicator and the level of income for the states considered in the analysis, as well as the relationship between digitalization and bureaucracy, the corruption index, and the digital skills of citizens. Based on the 486 statistical data collected and centralized on the corruption index (CPI), as well as the values for DESI and GNI per capita, for the period 2017–2022 for the 27 EU member states, we performed a statistical analysis using SPSS 28 regarding the existence of a DESI relationship and level of income (GNI per capita) and/or CPI (Corruption Perceptions Index). Our study is on a current issue, as it addresses the issue of digitalization of public administration, in the new post-pandemic and geostrategic context. It has theoretical applicability, by determining a model that can be used to study the relationship between digitalization and the standard of living and corruption, and also practical application, because it can contribute to the awareness of the government in taking measures and adopting strategies to reduce gaps as compared to the most developed digital states. Full article

In recent years, the study of corruption has become one of the most prominent in the social sciences. If there is corruption, however, it is because something has been corrupted; something pure has been sullied. This pure element serves mainly as a normative reference: It may never have constituted a social and political reality. However, the purpose of this article is to try to define what its components might be. In this way, theoretical considerations can be used to provide a more solid basis for the fight against corruption. The position of this paper is that the opposite of corruption should be explicitly defined without the use of abstract categories such as good governance or integrity. The paper will begin with a discussion of the concept of “non-corrupt government” and then proceed to a theoretical analysis of the main issues involved. It will conclude with some practical remarks on how to build, in the most parsimonious way, the benchmark of quality that corruption undermines. The contention is that a “non-corrupt government” is based on four principles: (1) equality (input side), (2) reasonableness (input side), (3) impartiality and professionalism of the administration (output side), and (4) accountability of the office (output side). Full article

Blockchain has found wide acceptance not just in the DeFi and Crypto space, but also in digital supply chains, non-monetary transactions, and governance. Amongst many, the food supply chain is riddled with lots of inefficiencies and untraceable corruption. Hence, many have investigated the integration of blockchain technology into the food system. This paper discusses the major advancement in blockchain technology from the aspect of food security and proposes roadmaps for future applications in businesses. We dive into the different pillars of food security and how blockchains can play a valuable role in the technology infrastructure of food security in a holistic sense. Next, the paper also discusses the organizational, economic, and management aspects of technology adoption. Finally, we end by discussing the nexus between Blockchain and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO), as well as Digital Twins, respectively. Full article

The contemporary environment is interrelated, and interactions between markets, countries, and international actors at different levels exist in every corner of the globe. Amid this, the failures of the free-market system have paved the way for institutionalism, which proposes minimising transaction costs, substantial property rights, and enabling proper contract enforcement. Studies on institutions and insurance development spillover concerning growth relationships are rare and a critical area needing exploration. This study explores the behaviour of economic development in terms of potential spatial dependencies and spatial institutional and insurance development spillover on economic growth. To measure insurance development by the life insurance and non-life insurance penetration, economic growth by per capita gross domestic product (GDP), and indicators of good governance for institutions in the nations. The study explored the spatial impact between countries using panel data of 56 countries between 2002 and 2020 representing the Asian and European regions. We did this by using dynamic spatial econometric modelling (DSEM) on institutional and insurance development and seeing the spatial implications and the spatial institutional impact moderated by insurance development on growth. Results indicate that developing the life insurance and non-life insurance of surrounding countries creates a spillover impact on the local countries’ economies. In contrast, institutions have created a reverse spatial spillover impact on local countries. However, life insurance development, moderated through accountability and government effectiveness, has created a spatial spillover between countries. Both life and non-life penetration moderated by the control of corruption and overall institutions have shown a reverse spillover on countries’ economies. This suggests that global governance is a positive-sum game, and monitoring and governance structures have failed at the international level concerning separate countries. Therefore, it is seen that to prevent institutional failure at the state level, good governance and links with the global governance structure could disrupt or energise local institutions. Full article

This study offers a comprehensive examination of environmental governance within the European Union (EU), focusing on the comparative experiences of Bosnia and Herzegovina (a non-EU member) and Croatia (an EU member). The research uses policy transfer theory to investigate the practicality and effectiveness of EU-led environmental initiatives when implemented at state and local levels. The study reveals a disconnect between these initiatives and their execution, with corruption and fragile political arrangements identified as significant barriers to environmental protection. The research further underscores the complex nature of EU-driven environmental governance policies and the impact of post-war political agreements and transitional struggles on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s and Croatia’s governance structures. The methodology involves a detailed analysis of the legal frameworks, policies, and plans employed by the EU and the countries under study. The results highlight the importance of context and capacity in evaluating the effectiveness of environmental governance. The study contributes to understanding environmental governance in the EU context and provides insights into the challenges and opportunities for policy transfer to state-level governments. Full article

Our paper focuses on the role of e-government in relation to economic development within the post-COVID era. Nowadays, e-government represents the service which utilizes digital technology to create electronic pathways to improve the efficiency of public services, increase economic prosperity, and improve the standard of living. In this paper, we argue that e-government presents the only proper and viable model for public administration in the 21st century by embedding internet-based technologies to ensure smooth interactions between the government and its citizens, solving the most socially important problems, enabling internal communication between public servants, and delivering public services to the entire population regardless of age or gender. In addition, we show that stakeholders and policymakers should foster the development of an adequate and non-discriminatory environment for e-government through regulatory frameworks, policy guidelines, and government guarantees. Our study is based on the results of our own survey that was administered using a snowball and quasi-random sample of 400 respondents (aged 19–26 years; 56.2% females and 43.8% males) from the Czech Republic (N = 136) and the Russian Federation (N = 264), of whom 58% were women and 42% were men (M ± SD = 45.53 ± 11.46, median age 44). Our results show that the e-government enhancement concept has been perceived as an effective tool for fostering economic prosperity, tackling corruption, and helping to avoid uncertainty. Based on the theories of customer-focus and relationship marketing, this study suggests that the most significant factor influencing the success of e-government projects is citizen orientation, followed by channel and channel orientation, and technology orientation. We show that the governments of developing countries should prioritize e-government applications in their requests for international assistance and cooperation, as well as international financial support. Moreover, we argue that digital transformation should become the key element of the changing business and market needs in the post-COVID era. Full article