Search Results (171)

The global energy transition is frequently advocated as a means to achieve environmental sustainability. However, its distributional impacts remain inadequately understood, particularly in developing nations where approximately 666 million individuals still lack access to electricity. This study investigates whether the expansion of renewable energy consumption mitigates or exacerbates socioeconomic inequality across 82 developing economies from 2000 to 2022. Employing a multi-method econometric framework that considers cross-sectional dependence, heterogeneity, and nonlinear dynamics, we analyze three dimensions of equity: income inequality, monetary poverty, and disparities in electricity access between urban and rural populations. The findings reveal a complex relationship. While the expansion of renewable energy is associated with improvements in income distribution, it is also linked to persistent poverty and unequal access to energy services. This tension reflects what we term the “biomass paradox,” wherein the continued reliance on traditional biomass in low-income countries constrains the inclusiveness of energy transitions. Quantile regression analysis reveals that the effect of renewable energy reverses across the distribution: renewable energy slightly widens the energy access gap in countries where disparities are already small, but narrows it substantially in countries where the gap is widest. The results further indicate that the equity effects of renewable energy vary across contexts and are particularly sensitive to initial conditions and institutional capacity. In settings with weak governance, renewable expansion shows no statistically distinguishable effect on equity outcomes, whereas in stronger institutional environments, its effects become more transformative. These findings suggest that aggregate renewable energy targets that do not differentiate between traditional and modern sources may be misleading. More broadly, achieving a just energy transition necessitates not only expanding renewable capacity but also strengthening governance frameworks and directing investments toward contexts where energy inequalities are most pronounced. Full article

The urban–rural income gap remains a central issue in the income distribution of developing countries, constraining regional coordination and social equity. Although stable economic development is essential for narrowing this gap, the distributional consequences of local economic growth management have received insufficient attention, especially from the perspective of urban spatial structure. Drawing on the urban bias theory and spatial economics, this study uses panel data from 41 prefecture-level cities in the Yangtze River Delta region of China during 2007–2023 and applies a two-way fixed effects model to examine the effect of economic growth target pressure on the urban–rural income gap and the mediating role of urban spatial structure. The results show that economic growth target pressure significantly widens the urban–rural income gap, with an estimated increase of approximately 0.001–0.002 units in the Theil index. Mediation analysis further indicates that target pressure promotes a more monocentric urban spatial structure, which partially mediates the effect. The results also show evident temporal and regional heterogeneity. These findings suggest that growth-oriented local governance may reshape income distribution through spatial organization, offering empirical evidence for optimizing local economic management and urban spatial structure to promote coordinated urban–rural development. Full article

Maternal hemorrhage (MH) remains a leading preventable cause of maternal health, yet global disparities on its burden remain poorly quantified. Using the Global Burden of Disease 2021 data, we analyzed global, regional, and national trends in age-standardized maternal mortality ratio (ASR_MMR) attributed to MH from 1990 to 2021. We applied Joinpoint regression, age–period–cohort modeling, inequality indices and frontier analysis. This descriptive–analytical ecological study is based on modeled secondary data. Globally, the proportion of ASR_MMR attributed to MH declined from 33.31% in 1990 to 24.52% in 2021 (relative reduction: 24.24%). ASR_MMR attributed to MH consistently declined, with an estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of −3.17 (95% UI: −3.42, −2.91). In 2021, Central and West Africa countries reported ASR_MMR attributed to MH exceeding 300 per 100,000 live births, while the Caribbean experienced a temporary increase. ASR_MMR attributed to MH was strongly inversely correlated with the socio-demographic index (SDI). Absolute inequality (slope index of inequality) narrowed by 49.4%, while relative inequality (concentration index) increased by approximately 27.5%. Countries with the largest negative deviations from the frontier included Somalia, the Central African Republic, Chad, Nigeria, and Afghanistan. While substantial global progress has been made, socioeconomic inequities continue to drive persistent disparities in MMR attributed to MH. Policies must not only address average reductions but also the widening relative gap between advantaged and disadvantaged populations. Full article

This paper adopts the Augmented Solow model as the core empirical framework. It aims to examine the influence of institutions as moderators in the relationship between technological efficiency and labor productivity. The existing literature has not sufficiently integrated technological efficiency within the Augmented Solow framework, and they also tend to examine these dimensions in isolation rather than capturing their interactive (moderating) effects on labor productivity. To achieve the objective of this study, countries were classified into High, Upper-Middle and Lower-Middle income countries. The model examines the vast gap between the countries and finds that, according to their income, the gap will widen due to destructive-applicable institutions. This study applies a panel analysis using the data for 175 countries during the period 1990–2019. The results provide recommendations for addressing these challenges to enhance output and promote long-term economic growth. The empirical results show that the quality of the institutional context determines its impact. In particular, the interaction term shows that while efficiency benefits are dampened under worse institutional settings, they are greatly magnified in contexts with above-average institutional quality. As a result, this study emphasizes that policies that only aim to increase productivity or encourage the adoption of new technologies are inadequate without a robust and well-functioning institutional environment. Full article

The low-carbon transition (LCT) of manufacturing clusters is a critical pathway to addressing bottlenecks in global climate governance and promoting sustainable economic development in developing countries. Accurately measuring the level of this transition and clarifying its dynamic trends are of great significance. Drawing on the economic rationale of a low-carbon economy, this study constructs a comprehensive evaluation indicator system and employs the entropy-weighted CRITIC-grey relational TOPSIS method to measure the LCT levels of China’s four major industrial bases from 2013 to 2023. Combined with convergence analysis, the Theil index, mechanism analysis, and policy scenario simulation, it systematically analyzes the characteristics of disparities and the underlying mechanisms. The study’s results show that low-carbon technology is the core driver of the LCT of the four major industrial bases. The LCT levels of the four major industrial bases have generally increased, with some bases exhibiting a catch-up effect internally. The overall disparity among the four major industrial bases has widened, primarily driven by intra-base differences. Specifically, the Beijing–Tianjin–Tangshan industrial base displays polarization characteristics, while the Central-Southern Liaoning industrial base shows a relatively low-level equilibrium. The transition of resource-based cities lags, mainly constrained by rigid industrial structures and insufficient investment in technology. Industrial structure optimization plays a certain role in improving resource-based regions, whereas technological innovation has a more pronounced effect in developed regions. This study constructs a comprehensive analytical framework of “measurement–evolution–mechanism–simulation,” which refines the quantitative evaluation system for the LCT of manufacturing clusters. The findings provide empirical support for formulating differentiated low-carbon policies for manufacturing clusters and optimizing coordinated emission reduction pathways, while also offering a reference paradigm for similar research in other developing countries. Full article

Background: The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) in May 2023 marked a transition from disruption to recovery and rebuilding of health systems. The WHO African Region entered this period with declining routine immunization coverage, widening inequities, and fragile surveillance systems. We conducted a critical narrative synthesis of post-PHEIC recovery and the transformation of immunization systems in the region from 2023 to 2025. Methods: We thematically analyzed publicly available data from the WHO and other sources using a systems-oriented framework covering immunization coverage, equity, vaccine introductions, disease control, governance, financing, and data systems. Results: Regional coverage for most antigens was restored to 2019 pre-pandemic levels by 2024, e.g., three doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-containing vaccines at 76%. However, progress remains insufficient to meet the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) target of 90% coverage. In addition, there were 6.7 million zero-dose children in the 2024 birth cohort (6.3% higher than the 6.3 million in 2019), concentrated in a few countries. The IA2030 target is a 50% reduction in the number of zero-dose children by 2030, compared to 2019. Recovery initiatives have restored services, while accelerated introductions (e.g., malaria vaccines introduced in 20 new countries in 2024–2025) signal renewed system momentum. Yet, progress has plateaued at pre-pandemic levels, reflecting structural constraints rather than sustained transformation. Concurrently, recurrent outbreaks of measles, yellow fever, and other vaccine-preventable diseases highlight persistent immunity gaps and surveillance limitations. Structural constraints (including financing fragility, subnational inequities, and system fragmentation) continue to limit sustained progress. Conclusion: This study offers important insights that can inform immunization policymaking in the WHO African Region and beyond. Current post-PHEIC trends reflect recovery without transformation. Achieving IA2030 targets will require a shift from broad coverage expansion to precision delivery approaches that prioritize zero-dose and underserved populations. Immunization must be positioned as a central pillar of primary health care and health security systems. Full article

Contemporary European societies face overlapping societal challenges—ecological degradation, immigration pressures, and widening economic inequality—which generate a pervasive climate of uncertainty affecting citizens’ perceptions of their own life conditions. This study investigates how social pessimism, conceptualised as a multidimensional orientation reflecting perceived threats across environmental, migratory, and distributive domains, relates to subjective financial insecurity at the individual level. Drawing on harmonised cross-national data from the CRONOS-II panel (N = 8993), covering eleven European countries, we construct a composite pessimism index and analyse its association with perceived financial strain using multivariate and multilevel regression models. Results demonstrate that individuals who express greater societal pessimism report significantly higher levels of financial insecurity, even after controlling for income, education, employment status, and country-level heterogeneity. This relationship is moderated by socioeconomic position; specifically, the pessimism–insecurity link is strongest among lower-income and less-educated groups, suggesting that material precarity and anticipatory anxiety compound one another. Cross-national analysis reveals substantial variation in effect magnitude, with the strongest associations observed in Hungary, Portugal, and the Czech Republic, and the weakest in Slovenia and Iceland. These findings contribute to the interdisciplinary understanding of how macro-level societal concerns permeate individual wellbeing, demonstrating that subjective economic vulnerability is shaped not only by objective circumstances but also by the broader socio-political climate in which citizens interpret their life situations. The results underscore the need for policies that address both material conditions and the affective dimensions of societal uncertainty in order to strengthen social cohesion and reduce perceived economic risk. Theoretically, we frame social pessimism as a formative composite capturing perceived threat to societal stability, offering an integrative perspective on how structurally distinct societal concerns converge to shape economic subjectivities. Full article

This article discusses the link between secularisation and the rights of religious and belief minorities. Using data from the Atlas of Religious or Belief Minority Rights, it measures the extent to which RBM rights are respected, promoted and restricted. Taking the number of ‘nones’ in a country as an indicator of the secularisation of its legal system, it examines the impact of secularisation on the promotion of religious minority rights and the equal treatment of minorities, as well as the gap between their rights and those of the majority. The article concludes that secularisation does not directly promote RBM rights. Instead, it reduces the disparity between the rights enjoyed by the various minorities and between them and the majority Church. Notably, there is a clear correlation between secularisation and the majority–minority rights gap: highly secularised states tend to reduce it, whereas less secularised states tend to widen it. In terms of equal treatment, a highly secularised state does not guarantee equal treatment of all RBMs. However, a less secularised state makes equal treatment even more difficult. Full article

Climate-related economic losses across Europe have evolved from isolated environmental shocks to persistent, structurally embedded fiscal risks, posing a direct challenge to the long-term fiscal sustainability of European states. This study presents an empirical framework for diagnosing and quantifying this transformation across 38 European countries between 1980 and 2023. Combining regime-switching time-series models with a two-part panel design, we identify temporal shifts and spatial asymmetries in loss exposure. Our findings reveal the emergence of a high-loss regime from the early 2000s, alongside a widening inequality in national vulnerability, with countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and Spain bearing a disproportionate burden. This concentration raises critical questions about the sustainability and equity of current EU risk-sharing frameworks. The two-part model further disaggregates the probability of experiencing losses from their conditional magnitude, enabling country-level estimates of expected annual losses. These results highlight the limitations of current fiscal instruments, which remain reactive and fail to align with the spatial and temporal dynamics of climate risk. We argue for a shift from climate loss management to climate loss governance, underpinned by predictive analytics, differentiated policy tools, and a reorientation of EU fiscal solidarity mechanisms. By quantifying, measuring, and spatially disaggregating climate-related fiscal exposure, this study contributes directly to the sustainability agenda: it demonstrates that climate losses are no longer exogenous disruptions but endogenous features of the European economic landscape that must be integrated into sustainable development planning, fiscal governance, and EU-level adaptation policy. Full article

A multi-dimensional quantitative assessment of high-quality development (HQD) in China’s livestock industry and the identification of its main constraints are essential to understanding its current stage and future direction. Guided by global sustainability targets and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an evaluation system was constructed by this study. This system integrates five key aspects: product safety, output efficiency, resource conservation, environmental friendliness, and regulatory effectiveness. Using provincial panel data from China for 2013–2022, this research applies the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method, kernel density estimation (KDE), and an obstacle degree model for analysis, the goal is to support food security and foster environmentally sustainable growth. The findings indicate the following: (1) Notable inter-provincial disparities exist in the HQD of China’s livestock industry, revealing a spatial pattern of “leading in the east, stable in the center, and lagging in the west.” (2) The nationwide evolution exhibits a “convergence followed by divergence” pattern: from 2013 to 2017, the primary peak of the KDE rose and its width narrowed; from 2018 to 2022, the primary peak declined and its width widened, indicating that inter-provincial disparities first narrowed and then expanded. At the regional level, the development pattern is characterized by eastern polarization, central stability, and western lock-in. (3) Obstacle factor analysis identifies product safety and environmental friendliness as the principal constraints on HQD in the livestock industry. Addressing these bottlenecks is crucial for ensuring the supply of livestock products (SDG 2: Zero Hunger), promoting resource conservation and green production (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production), and alleviating the ecological and environmental pressures of the livestock industry (SDG 15: Protection of Terrestrial Ecosystems). The challenges related to resources, the environment, and quality safety confronting China’s livestock industry are common among developing countries. Consequently, the evaluation framework established in this study can offer methodological references for relevant nations. Full article

As populations age, the gap between care needs and available support systems is widening, leading to critical vulnerabilities in staffing, infrastructure, and funding. The need for accessible, human-centred, and ethically grounded care technologies is growing. However, the development of digital health tools often lacks inclusivity and practical guidance. Existing ethical frameworks tend to remain abstract, which limits their real-world application. This study examines how such frameworks support the responsible development and implementation of caring technologies in older adult care. To achieve this, in-depth interviews were conducted with care providers, technology developers, and policymakers from partner organisations of the EMPOWERCARE project in the four participating countries: the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. A core challenge was the limited applicability of abstract ethical principles in daily care settings. While existing initiatives often define ethical domains, few offer a structured, actionable process to guide implementation in practice. The proposed guide responds with a step-by-step structure, practical examples, and participatory tools to support inclusive, value-driven technology adoption. It is envisioned both as an implementation aid and a quality label to align stakeholders. Future research should validate the guide’s usability, explore its role across care contexts, and examine how ethics can be more firmly embedded in innovation governance. Full article

Introduction: Classification of haematological malignancies has evolved over centuries from multiple morphology-based classifications to a single consensus classification, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classification of tumours in 2001, which included clinical history and immunophenotype. The next two decades saw a revised WHO classification, incorporating immunophenotyping, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, morphology, and clinical features. In 2022, the WHO classification of Haematolymphoid Tumours fifth edition (WHO-HAEM5) and International Consensus Classification (ICC) integrated advanced genetic technologies. Navigating two classifications has caused uncertainty for pathologists and clinicians globally. However, there is added concern for low and middle income countries (LMICs), where diagnostic disparities compared to high income countries (HICs) already exist. The incorporation of advanced and costly genetic testing will likely widen this gap. This disparity and diagnostic evolution are the focus of this review. Methods: A literature search was performed for articles reporting on historical evolution of haematological malignancy diagnosis, diagnostic challenges for haematology in LMICs, haematological classification systems, overall survival, and laboratory turn-around times was performed using three scholarly databases; and a Google search was made for historic portions of this review. Ninety-two publications were included. Results: This narrative review describes the diagnostic and genetic evolution of haematological malignancies, and highlights disparities of laboratory diagnostics between LMICs and HICs. Conclusions: The existing disparities in diagnostic haematology between LMICs and HICs will likely widen due to the emphasis on advanced genetic testing in the WHO-HAEM5 and ICC. Advocacy for consistent accessibility and affordability of haematology diagnostics in LMICs is needed. Full article

To advance human society towards a fully inclusive and accessible digital future, it is essential to foster the comprehensive and balanced development of digital villages, thereby addressing rural residents’ aspirations for a digitally enriched life. This study systematically investigates the spatiotemporal differentiation patterns and spatial spillover effects of China’s Digital Rural Development (DRD). Utilizing panel data from 31 provinces in China from 2013 to 2022, we construct a comprehensive evaluation framework covering digital infrastructure, economic digitization, governance digitization, and life digitization. The empirical analysis integrates entropy weighting, Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition, Moran’s I index, and spatial Durbin models. The findings indicate that China’s DRD has exhibited sustained overall improvement, progressing through three distinct phases: slow growth, rapid advancement, and fluctuating ascent. Significant regional disparities persist, with eastern regions consistently outperforming central, western, and northeastern areas. Inter-regional differences constitute the primary source of overall variation, and this gap has progressively widened over time. Spatially, DRD demonstrates a significant positive agglomeration effect alongside a negative spatial spillover effect (ρ = −1.3209), suggesting that advancements in neighboring regions may inhibit local development progress. Mechanism analysis identifies technological innovation, rural population size, and age structure as key local determinants, whereas industrial upgrading generates significant positive spillover effects on surrounding regions. Based on these results, at the same time, in order to ensure the sustainable development of DRD, we propose the following policy recommendations: implement regionally differentiated interventions, enhance the alignment of core local drivers, establish interregional coordination mechanisms, and develop dynamic monitoring and adjustment systems. These measures are expected to promote more balanced urban–rural and regional development, offering empirical evidence and policy insights for other developing countries pursuing similar pathways of rural digital transformation. Full article

Whole-plant maize (corn) (WPC) is a critical forage in ruminant diets, and rapid, reliable measurement of its nutritional composition is essential for precision feeding. We hypothesized that an on-site near-infrared spectroscopy (OS-NIRS—specifically, HarvestLab™ 3000) sensor would provide within-laboratory repeatability comparable to commercial analytical laboratories (ALs) and inter-laboratory reproducibility similar to conventional laboratory analyses. To test this, WPC samples were collected across three experiments and two countries (USA and Germany) and analyzed by both OS-NIRS and ALs, with precision metrics calculated according to ISO 5725. Results showed that OS-NIRS achieved intra-laboratory repeatability equal to or greater than ALs, particularly for protein and starch. The repeatability performance of the OS-NIRS sensors was similar to that of ALs for moisture and NDF. Inter-laboratory reproducibility varied widely across constituents and experiments. Including OS-NIRS data with AL measurements produced inconsistent effects—sometimes narrowing confidence intervals but more often widening them—while OS-NIRS data alone demonstrated repeatability on par with ALs but mixed reproducibility outcomes. Inclusion of OS-NIRS data did not introduce systematic bias and, in some cases, improved consistency. These findings indicate that OS-NIRS can complement laboratory analyses by providing timely, farm-level measurements that enhance decision-making in feed management. Full article

For a long time, low efficiency in the transfer of rural collective land use rights and the ambiguous attribution of collective land property rights have not only restricted the mobility of rural labor factors but have also hindered the release of vitality in the rural collective economy. This has resulted in lagging growth in the income that rural residents obtain from collective economic factors, contributing to the persistent widening of the urban/rural income gap. As an important institutional innovation to address these issues, the effects of the reform of the rural collective property rights system urgently need to be clarified. The reform of the rural collective property rights system constitutes a major initiative in the transformation of the rural land system. Centered on asset verification and valuation, as well as the demarcation of membership rights and the restructuring towards a shareholding cooperative system, it aims to establish a collective property rights regime characterized by clearly defined ownership and fully functional entitlements. This study takes the national pilot reform of rural collective property rights launched in 2016 as a quasi-natural policy experiment, systematically examining the impact of this pilot policy on the internal income gap within households and its spillover effects on the urban–rural income gap. Based on microdata from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) and the China Longitudinal Night Light Data Set (PANDA-China), this study constructs a five-period balanced panel dataset covering 2304 rural households across 25 provinces. A relative exploitation index based on the Kawani index is constructed, and empirical analysis is conducted using a combination of multi-period difference-in-differences (Multi-period DID), discrete binary models, and propensity score matching-difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) models. The results show that: First, the pilot reform significantly reduced the level of income inequality within rural areas in the pilot regions, and its policy benefits further generated positive spillovers via market-driven factor allocation mechanisms, effectively bridging the urban–rural income gap. Second, institutional reforms activated the potential of rural non-agricultural economic factors, establishing new channels for a two-way flow of urban and rural factors, becoming an important path to achieve the goal of common prosperity. Third, the policy effects exhibited significant heterogeneity, specifically manifested in the attributes of major grain-producing regions, initial household income levels, and the human capital characteristics of household heads having significant moderating effects on reform outcomes. This study not only provides theoretical support and empirical evidence for deepening rural property rights reforms under the new rural revitalization strategy, but it also reveals the driving role of institutional innovation in factor mobility, thereby influencing the transmission mechanism of income distribution patterns. This finding offers a China-based solution for developing countries to address the imbalance in urban–rural development and the widening income gap. Full article