Search Results (297)

This study examines the impact of tax avoidance practices on investment efficiency in Egypt, with particular emphasis on the moderating role of earnings management by exploring whether these tactics reflect managerial opportunism or serve as a mechanism to ease financial constraints. We employ panel data regression to analyze a sample of 58 non-financial firms listed on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) over the period 2017–2024, yielding 464 firm-year observations. Data are collected from official corporate websites, EGX, and Egypt for Information Dissemination (EGID). Grounded in agency theory, signaling theory, and pecking order theory, this study reveals how conflicts of interest and information asymmetry between managers and stakeholders lead to managerial opportunism. The findings show that tax avoidance undermines the investment efficiency in the Egyptian market. Earnings manipulation further intensified this effect due to the financial statements’ opacity. A closer examination reveals that earnings management exacerbates overinvestment by masking managerial decisions. Conversely, for financially constrained firms with a tendency to underinvest, tax avoidance and earnings management may contribute to improved efficiency by generating internal liquidity and alleviating external financing constraints. These results provide valuable insights for regulators, highlighting that policy should be directed against managerial opportunism and improving transparency, instead of focusing solely on curbing tax avoidance. From an investor perspective, they should closely monitor and understand the tax-planning strategies to ensure they enhance the firm’s value. Full article

Arid and semi-arid soils represent extreme habitats where microbial life is constrained by high temperature, low water availability, salinity, and nutrient limitation, yet these ecosystems harbor unique bacterial communities that sustain key ecological processes. To explore the diversity and functional potential of prokaryotic assemblages in Algerian drylands, we compared soils from three contrasting sites: The Oasis of Djanet (RM1), the hyper-arid Tassili of Djanet desert (RM2), and the semi-arid El Ouricia forest in Sétif (RM3). Physicochemical analyses revealed strong environmental gradients: RM2 exhibited the highest pH (8.66), electrical conductivity (11.7 dS/m), and sand fraction (56%), whereas RM3 displayed the greatest moisture (10.9%), organic matter (7.6%), and calcium carbonate (20.7%) content, with RM1 generally showing intermediate levels. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing generated >60,000 effective reads per sample with sufficient coverage (>0.99). Alpha diversity indices indicated the highest bacterial richness and diversity in RM2 (Chao1 = 3144, Shannon = 10.0), while RM3 showed lower evenness and the dominance of a few taxa. Across sites, 66 phyla and 551 genera were detected, dominated by Actinobacteriota (38–45%) and Chloroflexi (13–44%), with Proteobacteria declining from RM1 (17.5%) to RM3 (3.3%). Venn analysis revealed limited overlap, with only 58 operational taxonomic units shared among all sites, suggesting highly habitat-specific communities. Predictive functional profiling (PICRUSt2, Tax4Fun, FAPROTAX) indicated metabolism as the dominant functional category (≈50% of KEGG Level-1), with carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism forming the metabolic backbone. Notably, transport functions (ABC transporters), lipid metabolism, and amino acid degradation pathways were enriched in RM2–RM3, consistent with adaptation to osmotic stress, nutrient limitation, and energy conservation under aridity. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that Algerian arid and semi-arid soils host diverse, site-specific bacterial communities whose functional repertoires are strongly shaped by soil chemistry and climate, highlighting their ecological and biotechnological potential. Full article

Raccoon dog fur is a commercially valuable animal product. As the scale of raccoon dog breeding continues to expand, ensuring the health of these animals has become an urgent priority. The gut microbiota plays a central role in regulating animal health; however, current research on the composition of raccoon dog gut microbiota remains limited. This study aimed to characterize changes in the gut microbiota of suckling raccoon dogs across different stages, providing a foundation for future scientific feeding practices. Fecal samples of eight lactating raccoon dogs were collected and tested for microbiota on days 14, 21, and 45. Our results showed that the richness and diversity of microbiota increased with age in suckling raccoon dogs, peaking on the 45th day. Significant separation between groups was observed in both PCoA and NMDS analyses. UPGMA analysis indicated temporal fluctuations in gut microbiota composition. At the phylum level, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant taxa across all stages. LEfSe analysis at the genus level showed that Bacteroides was the most enriched taxon on the 14th day, Fusobacterium on the 21st day, and Prevotella_9 on the 45th day. Tax4Fun and PICRUSt analyses identified metabolism and genetic information processing as the primary functional roles of the gut microbiota. Further investigation suggested that the microbiota may benefit raccoon dogs through membrane transport, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and energy metabolism. These findings establish a theoretical basis for improving the survival rate of suckling raccoon dogs and developing scientifically informed feeding and management protocols. Full article

Using a method inspired by quantum principles, this study estimates the composition of various types of tax contributions expected from foreign trade operations. The estimation approach is proposed considering the superposition of expectations and disturbances—fundamental elements of quantum methods—that add complexity to the forecasts of tax collections. For instance, the contributions of international trade-related taxes may be determined not only by the country’s degree of regional integration but also by the composition of tax revenue that depends on the kind and use of merchandise. Using the case of Mexico’s imports, the methodology illustrates how the expectations of collecting certain taxes—like the General Import Tariff (GIT) and the Value Added Tax (VAT)—would be impacted by fluctuations in others—such as the Special Tax on Production and Services (STPS). The hypothesis of this study is that, through the proposed quantum-inspired methodology, it is possible to establish future scenarios of tax revenue compositions while maintaining fiscal consistency by anticipating potential outcomes in the adjustments of contributions if the recently proposed fiscal reform is approved by the Mexican Government. This work contributes to the academic literature on public finance management by advancing a methodology that can support the strategic formulation of fiscal expectations and policy. Full article

Despite seven decades of international commitment—from the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights through SDG 3.8—universal health coverage remains stubbornly out of reach. Two billion people, predominantly informal sector workers, lack access to sustainable health insurance. This entry explains the underlying cause: sustainable health insurance requires specific behavioral and institutional conditions for collective action—conditions that existing health insurance models systematically fail to satisfy, thereby structurally excluding informal populations. The Trinity Law framework formalizes these conditions as three multiplicatively interacting requirements—Trust (T), Consensus (C), and Dual Benefit (DB)—expressed as S = T × C × DB. Empirical analysis of community-based health insurance schemes across 24 countries identifies a robust trust threshold (τ* ≈ 0.68) operating as a behavioral phase transition: below this level, cooperation collapses; above it, participation becomes self-sustaining. Cross-country evidence from 274 organizations across 155 countries confirms consensus thresholds (C* ≈ 0.59), while analysis of 158,763 observations validates dual benefit mechanisms. The multiplicative structure explains why partial reforms fail: weakness in any single component drives overall sustainability toward zero. Applied to health insurance, this framework distinguishes conventional systems—Bismarckian employment-based, Beveridgean tax-financed, and commercial health insurance from sustainable systems like participatory community-based microinsurance that satisfy all three Trinity Law conditions through participatory design, transparent governance, and aligned incentives. The persistent UHC gap reflects not implementation failures but fundamental design incompatibilities that the Trinity Law makes explicit. This entry has three objectives: first, it states the Trinity Law conditions; second, it summarizes the empirical evidence for each component; third, it applies the framework to classify major health insurance models. Supporting datasets and code are available in the referenced Zenodo repositories. The term ‘law’ follows the tradition of social science regularities like the ‘law of demand’: a robust empirical pattern with strong predictive validity, not a claim to physical certainty. Full article

This paper examines the changes in the level of informal and shadow economy, mapping their evolution within the EU and measuring their implications on economic growth. The study also addresses the issue of conceptual differences in the methodology for measuring these phenomena. We used a two-dimensional methodological approach, combining theoretical and empirical analysis. Initially, the bibliometric analysis—conducted exclusively on the Web of Science Core Collection to ensure methodological rigour, international comparability, and high-quality, standardised data—reveals the evolution of the subject and the inconsistencies in the conceptualisation and measurement of phenomena associated with the shadow economy. Subsequently, the normative analysis highlighted the most relevant norms, directives, and projects developed and applied at the European Union level to prevent and combat tax evasion activities. Finally, the empirical dimension of this study was conducted through structural equation modelling and fixed and random effects regressions, using data from the EU 27 member states for the period 2000–2022. Our results reveal a potential relationship between the level of scientific research and the prevalence of the shadow economy within EU countries and indicate a negative effect of the informal economy on economic growth, as undeclared work produces goods and services that are consumed in the informal economy and hinders economic growth. Since the level of the shadow economy has not decreased proportionally with the increase in the GDP per capita, we conclude that the efforts to combat the shadow economy are insufficient, and tax administration needs to be more drastic and efficient. Full article

This study examines how socialization costs, inspection costs, collection costs, motor vehicle tax rates (Pajak Kendaraan Bermotor, PKB), vehicle ownership transfer tax rates (Bea Balik Nama Kendaraan Bermotor, BBNKB), the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), and the Indonesian Digital Society Index (Indeks Masyarakat Digital Indonesia, IMDI) influence regional tax compliance across 34 provinces in Indonesia, using secondary data from 2020 to 2024. Guided by Fiscal Federalism, Tax Optimization Theory, and the Fischer Tax Compliance Model, the analysis integrates spatial regression and SWOT to capture both structural and spatial dynamics in provincial tax administration. The spatial error model reveals that socialization costs, PKB, and BBNKB significantly shape provincial tax compliance. At the same time, the other variables show no measurable effect. Spatial clustering indicates High–High compliance in Central Java, Low–Low compliance in South Sumatra and Lampung, and Low–High compliance in North Sumatra. The SWOT assessment places Indonesia’s provincial tax compliance strategy in Quadrant I, suggesting strong institutional capacity and substantial external opportunities to support aggressive improvement strategies. This study contributes by providing province-wide empirical evidence on the fiscal and administrative determinants of compliance and by incorporating collection costs and spatial relationships into the analysis. Policy implications include strengthening targeted socialization, improving rate-setting mechanisms, and expanding digital reporting systems to enhance taxpayer understanding and administrative transparency. Full article

Cultural landscapes are facing increasing challenges in terms of sustainable financing, owing to fiscal austerity and limited public funding. This study explores tourists’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the conservation of cultural landscapes through Japan’s Furusato Nozei (Tax payment to hometown)—a policy that pairs tax deductions with tangible “return gifts,” institutionalising a form of mixed (or “impure”) altruism that can convert intention into action. Using a survey of 500 visitors to Shibamata, Tokyo, we estimate an integrative model that links psychological pathways (motivation → destination evaluation), behavioural investments (time, spending, and interactions with residents), and socio-demographic characteristics. To analyse the collected data, we use partial least squares structural equation modelling. Results reveal that interaction with local communities has the strongest direct effects on WTP, while motivation influences WTP indirectly through destination evaluation. Age shows a negative relationship, whereas marital status has a positive one; income and gender are not significant predictors. These findings suggest that institutional incentives embedded in Furusato Nozei can transform altruistic intention into actual financial support for heritage conservation. This study contributes theoretically by linking institutional design to behavioural intention–action gaps and practically by providing insights for participatory and incentive-based heritage financing. The findings are based on a single-site case in Shibamata, Tokyo, and should therefore be interpreted within its local and cultural context. Full article

Background: Energy-dense non-essential snacks are subject to 8% excise tax in Mexico. Objectives: To model the impact on diet quality of (1) replacing energy-dense snacks with pistachios and (2) adding small amounts of pistachios to the diet. Methods: Data came from the Mexico National Health and Nutrition survey (ENSANUT, by its Spanish acronym) 2012 (n = 7132) and 2016 (n = 14,764). Dietary intakes were collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Substitution analyses replaced energy-dense snack foods with equicaloric amounts of pistachios (Model 1) or with mixed nuts/seeds (Model 2). Additional analyses (Model 3) added small amounts of pistachios (10–28 g) to the daily diet. Added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat along with protein fiber, vitamins, and minerals were the main nutrients of interest. Dietary nutrient density was assessed using the Nutrient-Rich Food (NRF9.3) Index. Separate modeling analyses were performed for ENSANUT 2012 and 2016 and for children and adults. Results: Energy-dense foods, mostly sweet, accounted for about 20% of daily energy. Modeled diets with pistachios and mixed nuts/seeds were much lower in added sugars (<8% of dietary energy) and in sodium (<550 mg/day) and were higher in protein, fiber, mono- and polyunsaturated fats, potassium, and magnesium (p < 0.05). Significant improvements in dietary quality held across all socio-demographic strata. Adding small amounts of pistachios (10–28 g) to the diet (Model 3) increased calories but also led to better diets and higher NRF9.3 dietary nutrient density scores. Conclusions: Modeled diets with pistachios replacing energy-dense snack foods had less added sugars and sodium and more protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Adding small amounts of pistachios also led to better diets. Pistachios are a healthy snack and can be an integral component of healthy diets. Full article

Urban air pollution and emission reduction commitments have stimulated interest in cleaner vehicle technologies in Latin America, yet hybrid vehicle penetration in Ecuador, particularly in Guayaquil, remains limited. This study analyzes technical and commercial determinants of purchase intention using a mixed-methods design that combines a survey of 384 consumers with interviews of 20 dealership representatives. Within this male-dominated sample, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients ($\rho$) (all two-sided tests yielded $p<0.001$) indicate that technical attributes show stronger associations with purchase intention than commercial variables: technology and performance ($\rho =0.65$) and maintenance ($\rho =0.61$) are the most influential, followed by Social Influence ($\rho =0.53$); public policies ($\rho =0.48$) and purchase price ($\rho =0.45$) display moderate effects. Overall, 51.5% of respondents report a favorable intention to purchase a hybrid vehicle in the short to medium term. Interviews confirm an information gap on tax incentives at the point of sale and underscore the potential of financing schemes to mitigate upfront cost barriers. Findings suggest that, in this market, narratives emphasizing long-term operating savings and reliability are more persuasive than generic sustainability messages. We discuss implications for dealership communication, targeted credit programs, and public policy instruments with information campaigns to accelerate sustainable mobility transitions in urban Ecuador. While price is widely cited as decisive (84.2%), variation in technical attributes explains more of the variation in stated purchase intention than price within our sample. The survey sample was collected at an auto show and dealerships and is predominantly male (87.5%). Thus, results describe a male-skewed subset of potential buyers and should not be generalized to households or the broader consumer base. Full article

In-depth data on business development processes is required to understand the reasons behind productivity dynamics and economic trends. However, even basic demographic knowledge of Russian timber enterprises is often scarce, which severely limits opportunities for advanced economic research. This paper addresses this issue by introducing an open dataset on the business demographics of logging and sawn wood production companies in Asian Russia, an important center of the global forestry economy. To create an aggregated dataset containing registration and liquidation information from 1991 to 2024, we developed an approach to collect and process primary data on 9731 legal entities in the specified timber industries and Russian regions. This paper presents the periodization of the Russian timber market for the first time based on the obtained dataset. This periodization allows us to track the effects of significant changes in the business environment over the past 35 years. The analysis revealed a structural shift in 2016, due to the launch of the tax authorities’ policy of liquidating abandoned and shell companies. This led to an overestimation of the number of liquidations in official statistics. Our estimates of the liquidation rates for economically active timber companies from 2016 to 2024 are three to five times lower, highlighting the importance of using micro-level data for economic research. Our findings suggest that the crises of 2019–2020 and 2022–2024 had a greater impact on new entries than exits in the Asian Russian timber market. The largest forest companies have demonstrated resilience in the face of changes in the timber market, the pandemic crisis, and economic sanctions imposed on Russia, as evidenced by their low liquidation rates. Full article

In a carbon pricing mechanism, the collection of contributions (taxes) and the distribution of carbon revenue are both equally critical, as they constitute the interdependent elements of the same system. While contribution collection serves to economically incentivize stakeholders, carbon revenue distribution fosters participation in decarbonization efforts through mechanisms such as rebates, rewards, and green loans. The economic effects of a carbon pricing mechanism vary significantly depending on how the generated revenues are used. A well-structured organizational framework can assist policymakers in optimizing the allocation of carbon revenues, thereby supporting a robust fiscal policy that promotes efficiency, long-term growth, and equity. Despite the critical role of carbon revenue distribution, there is a notable absence of literature addressing this issue in the maritime context. To address this gap, this study draws on insights from other sectors and global carbon pricing mechanisms to develop a simulatory template for evaluating its applicability to the maritime industry. The simulation yields a comprehensive classification of approaches to carbon revenue recycling, while also examining the associated risks and challenges in implementing future carbon pricing mechanism in the maritime industry. Full article

Urban edible greening initiatives, such as urban orchards and community fruit gardens, can deliver ecological and social benefits, but their long-term success depends on community acceptance. This study examines the establishment phase of a newly planted orchard in a housing estate in a mid-sized Czech city and operationalizes esthetic fit over time, i.e., the extent to which early-phase design is perceived as orderly, suitable, and promising using targeted items on design legibility, species–site suitability, and perceived promise. Data were collected through standardized face-to-face interviews with 150 residents, using a stratified sampling strategy. The survey elicited anticipated burdens and benefits, current and future evaluations of the orchard, and attitudes toward its care. Attitudes were measured with an adapted Urban Green Attachment Scale (UGAS). Descriptive and inferential analyses, including logistic regression and non-parametric tests, were conducted. Findings reveal that residents credited the orchard with design legibility, beauty, and ecological promise, while pragmatic concerns focused on maintenance tasks (leaf litter, watering) and questions of fruit access. Window views of the orchard and general satisfaction with the residential environment significantly increased the odds of higher attachment, while gender differences suggested varied engagement pathways. Importantly, attachment was strongly associated with stewardship intentions; residents with higher UGAS scores were more likely to defend the orchard, taste the fruit, participate in maintenance, and even support its preservation through higher property taxes. The results underscore that attachment is measurable before full ecological performance emerges, arising from a combination of design legibility and daily visibility. Practically, visible routines of care can pace expectations and sustain legitimacy. Conceptually, the study demonstrates that early-phase esthetic fit spans installation with stewardship, providing a foundation for long-term resilience and co-stewardship of edible urban greening. Full article

This paper aims to assess the level of financial and tax literacy among the resident population in Portugal, as well as to evaluate their perception of existing public measures in this field. Financial literacy is a key pillar for individual development and for making informed economic decisions. Recent data indicate that Portugal lags behind the European average in this area, underscoring the importance of this research. Using a questionnaire applied to a representative sample of the Portuguese population, the data were analysed through statistical methods. The results reveal a reasonable level of knowledge in areas such as budgeting and saving, but also significant shortcomings in the tax domain. In a global context marked by economic, political, and geopolitical instability, financial literacy stands out as a strategic skill essential for both individual and collective resilience. A lack of competence in this area is linked to poor financial decisions, over-indebtedness, and economic exclusion. The findings underline the need for a more systematic and structured approach to financial literacy in Portugal. This study offers practical recommendations designed to promote a more informed, prepared, and financially inclusive population, thereby contributing to the country’s economic sustainability and development. Full article

This study examines the occupational health challenges faced by artisans in Ghana’s Ashanti Region. The study employed a purposive sampling technique to select 425 masons through questionnaires. The data collected included workers’ mass, block weights, and health problems. The analysis identified fourteen health problems, with headaches, muscle pain, lower back pain, chronic pain, and bruises being most prevalent. Artisan weight negatively correlated with weights of 125 mm blocks (r = −0.202, p < 0.01) and 150 mm blocks (r = −0.248, p < 0.01). Additionally, artisan weight showed a negative correlation with working hours (coefficient = −0.133, p < 0.05), as did body weight with resting hours (coefficient = −0.217, p < 0.05). Higher educational qualifications correlated positively with lifting-related health issues (coefficient = 0.259, p = 0.000) and negatively with weather-related issues (coefficient = −0.154, p = 0.002). Moreover, the number of working days per week was positively correlated with lifting problems (coefficient = 0.270, p < 0.05). The study recommends redesigning block sizes to reduce physical strain. Additionally, policy measures such as reducing machinery import taxes are suggested to encourage mechanisation. The study further emphasises the need for training institutions to incorporate occupational health education into artisan training programs. Full article