Search Results (31)

There are close relationships between vertical positions in space and auditory experiences of fundamental frequency (F0), which even very young children seem to use. Like adults, they associate higher or rising F0 values with upper positions in space and vice versa for lower or falling F0 values. Here, we tested whether caregivers’ speech capitalizes on these associations to guide the attention of very young children (18 to 24 months). Together with their child, caregivers saw four different objects (in the corners of a computer screen). Caregivers produced standardized sentences (e.g., “Look at the hat.”). We observed a significantly increased maximum F0 (but no differences in mean or minimum F0) at the onset of the utterance when the to be named object appeared at an upper position compared to the same object at a lower position. Furthermore, exploratory analyses of F0 dynamics of caregivers’ utterances indicated that the higher F0 maximum was part of a more prominent F0 increase for objects appearing at an upper compared to a lower position. Adults without a child present and less experience in interacting with children did not show systematic pitch modulation when addressing an imagined child in the same study set-up. Thus, caregivers appear to systematically modulate F0 dynamics to provide an effective language environment when they are interacting with their child. Full article

Community resilience and community sustainability have increasingly become popular topics of research separately and together. The aim of this article is to elucidate the perceived interconnections between community sustainability and community resilience using Dayton, OH, as a case study. This article largely examines the perceived interconnections between climate change mitigation and climate adaptation initiatives within sustainability and the three-class typology of resilience (basic, adaptive, and transformative). A two-pronged data collection effort designed using the Community Capitals Framework was carried out to recruit a broad group of participants. A multi-chain referral sampling process (and subsequent snowball sampling) was initiated subsequently. The data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 75 participants. The interviews were analyzed using a three-tiered deductive structural coding approach. The findings elucidate the multifaceted and multi-dynamic nature of interconnections between community sustainability and resilience. Compared to literature that contends one concept to be a sub-concept of the other (resilience as a sub-concept of sustainability and vice versa), the findings of this study demonstrate that the interconnections between community sustainability and resilience are layered and complex. Some level of resilience was perceived as necessary for community sustainability. The implications of the findings on creating integrated sustainability and resilience strategies are discussed. Full article

The world is still facing an old challenge, e.g., environmental change. In many nations, including developing countries such as Indonesia, spurring economic growth is considered the best way to overcome many things. Indonesia is moving the center of the Indonesian Capital City (IKN). By opening up new space through the consideration of equitable economic development toward a green environment, this study is designed to investigate the impact of economic growth on environmental quality and vice versa. The object of analysis is directed at Penajam Paser Utara (PPU) as the new IKN center and four other IKN buffer areas in East Kalimantan, including (1) Paser, (2) Balikpapan, (3) Samarinda, and (4) Kutai Kartanegara. This study uses panel data regression and linear trends. The data elaborated is economic growth based on Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), which is proxied, and environmental quality, as reflected by the Environmental Quality Index (IKLH), during the 2017–2023 period. Referring to the method implemented, there is significant positive causality between the two in the selected IKN areas. Through the linear trend model, it is found that there is a tendency for changes in the data analyzed based on constant time. This study can be an instrument for practical policy making and a breakthrough in the development of a scientific discipline that studies the relationship between economic growth and environmental quality in two directions. Full article

The banking sector in Indonesia is currently growing and developing. This is due to the Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK) implementing reforms to strengthen the banking sector and enhance financial stability. One of the reforms is in the form of regulation that categorizes banks into four special categories based on core capital. This study aimed to analyzing the relationship between the efficiency and competitiveness of BUKU 1 to IV banks and KBMI 1 to IV banks in Indonesia. The data in this study were collected from journals, scientific articles, banking statistics, and financial reports of all banks based on KBMI (formerly BUKU) published by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) for the period from 2018 to 2023. The results found there are no significant changes in patterns within the BUKU and KBMI groups. However, in the KBMI 4 group, a positive correlation between competitiveness and efficiency is observed, meaning that an increase in efficiency will be followed by an increase in a bank’s competitiveness. This group has the same pattern as the KBMI 1 and KBMI 3 groups. Meanwhile, the KBMI 2 group still follows the same pattern as in the BUKU 2 group, where an increase in efficiency is accompanied by a decrease in competitiveness, and vice versa; an increase in competitiveness will be followed by a decrease in a bank’s efficiency. Full article

Servitization has profound implications for the sustainable development of manufacturing, the economy, and the environment. Drawing upon the literature on servitization, resource-based theory, and social capital theory, this study examines the influence of diverse forms of slack resources in manufacturing firms on their transition to a service-oriented business model, as well as the threshold effects of two types of social capital in this process. By conducting an empirical study, using the sample of 538 listed companies in the Chinese manufacturing sector, we confirm that both absorbed and unabsorbed slack resources have a positive effect on servitization, with the former playing a more significant role. Moreover, as political social capital increases and exceeds a specific threshold, the positive influence of both forms of slack resources on servitization is enhanced. Conversely, the positive effect of absorbed slack resources is negated when business social capital exceeds a certain threshold. In addition, the heterogeneity analysis shows that both types of slack resources significantly promote servitization in non-high-tech firms, while their effects are insignificant in high-tech firms; both types of slack resources effectively promote servitization when the industry is highly competitive, and vice versa; for the eastern region, both types of slack resources significantly promote servitization, while their effects are insignificant in the central region, and the negative effects of unabsorbed slack resources are significant in the western region. This study innovatively integrates the dual factors of intra-organizational slack resources and extra-organizational social capital, offering deeper insights and more concrete practical guidance for enterprises in formulating their servitization strategies. Full article

This study presents an overlapping generation model to examine the impact of fertility incentive policies on economic growth in China, incorporating endogenous fertility, education, and technological advancement by integrating unified growth theory with an R&D-based growth model. We analyze the impact of fertility incentive policies on economic growth by evaluating maternity insurance and public education. The results show that increasing the actual contribution rate of maternity insurance, maternity benefits, and public education expenditures can boost China’s fertility rate; nevertheless, extending maternity leave would not incentivize an increase in the fertility rate. The impact of fertility incentives on economic growth is ambiguous, depending upon the extent to which increased fertility dilutes aggregate human capital via technical advancement. If the dilution effect is weak, the sign will turn positive, and vice versa. The simulation analysis of the benchmark model indicates that the fertility incentive policy, which encompasses increasing the actual contribution rate of maternity insurance, maternity benefits, and public education expenditure, can foster economic growth in China by enhancing the fertility rate in the long term. Full article

Partner selection can be studied from different disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, and economics. However, linguistic perspectives have been neglected. That is why we need an interdisciplinary approach that includes language. The present article investigates how important the vocabulary size of a potential partner is for marital choice. Our theoretical framework is mainly that of biological markets which are still being widely used. This framework assumes that human decisions are made on a rational basis, e.g., about the characteristics that a potential partner brings into a marriage such as economic assets (wealth, education), psychological traits (intelligence, kindness, fairness), or signs that show physical and mental health. Partner selection takes place on a biological market where assets are displayed and are part of the negotiation for the best partner. We argue that vocabulary knowledge is such an asset, which is acquired through lengthy and costly education and distinguishes potential partners (or their parents) who can afford the accumulation of this form of human capital. Markets are not fully transparent and our knowledge about a potential partner might be incomplete or even distorted through false information or even cheating as one can clearly see from advertisements in online dating. However, we cannot pretend, at least not over a longer period of time, to know words that are not at our disposal. This present study is based on data from 83 couples after more than 15 years of marriage. Their vocabulary scores correlate highly and it is possible that this correlation is the result of accommodation through marriage. However, through partialling out statistically the years of marriage we conclude that the vocabulary size of each partner was an important factor already right at the beginning of their relationship. Those with higher human capital in vocabulary attract similar partners, and this holds for males and females as well as vice versa. Our participants are all Turkish–English sequential bilinguals and the question is whether it is vocabulary knowledge in the first or the second language that plays a crucial role in partner selection. Our results show that both languages are important. We argue that it is not knowledge of words at the surface level but that it is knowledge of conceptual concepts underlying both languages that serve as a display of human capital on the biological market of partner selection. Full article

Complex dynamic interactions exist between urbanization and sustainable urban development, and clarifying the collaborative relationship and interactive response mechanism between the two systems is key to ensuring high-quality urban development. Taking Yangtze River Delta as a typical case, dynamic coordinated and interactive response relationships between urbanization and sustainable urban development were measured using a multi-index comprehensive evaluation method, grey correlation analysis, and panel-data vector autoregressive (PVAR) model. The results indicate that: (a) a high urbanization level and significant polarization characteristics of regional central cities alongside low economic development in more peripheral cities and insufficient attraction to factors including population, capital, and technology, which widens their development gap with regional central cities; (b) a significant increasing trend in sustainable urban development, coupled with a spatiotemporal evolution trend of urbanization; (c) bidirectional Granger causal relationship between urbanization and sustainable urban development, with the PVAR model results indicating a positive interactive response relationship, which has certain path-dependent characteristics and an inertial development trend; and (d) in the long run, urbanization has a greater impact on changes in sustainable urban development than vice versa. Full article

European islands have been leading the charge in renewable energy innovation. Yet, the intermittent nature of sources like solar and wind poses challenges such as grid saturation and frequency variations. Limited interconnection with mainland grids exacerbates these issues, necessitating backup from conventional power sources during low-production periods. Until 2021, Crete operated independently, but new infrastructure now integrates it with the Greek mainland grid, facilitating swift energy transfers. This integration enables surplus power from Crete’s solar and wind systems to be transmitted to the mainland and vice versa. However, reliance on remote power production exposes the island to market fluctuations and distant disruptions, impacting electricity production. Storage technologies offer a solution, enhancing renewable energy penetration while reducing carbon emissions. Green hydrogen, a rising storage method, shows promise in offsetting carbon emissions. Its clean-burning nature minimizes environmental impact and reduces reliance on costly and harmful conventional sources. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of achieving carbon-neutral electricity production in Crete, Greece, using hydrogen storage to offset annual carbon emissions in a financially viable and sustainable manner. Hydrogen’s clean-burning properties reduce environmental impact and lessen dependence on expensive and environmentally harmful conventional sources. The methodology prioritizes the independence of the Cretan electricity system, utilizing electrolysis to produce green hydrogen and proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells for energy generation. It investigates the optimal expansion of renewable energy systems, including photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine (WT) parks, alongside the installation of hydrogen storage, under specific assumptions. This proposed installation aims to achieve both island independence and profitability, requiring an additional expansion in PV capacity of 2.13 GW, WT capacity of 3.55 GW, and a hydrogen system with electrolyzer and fuel cell capacities totaling 278.83 MW each, along with a hydrogen tank capacity of 69.20 MWh. The investment entails a capital expenditure (CAPEX) of 6,516,043,003.31 EUR for a nearly zero net present value (NPV) over 20 years. However, carbon neutrality cannot be attained through this optimal solution alone, as relying solely on carbon sequestration from olive groves, the primary crop cultivated on the island, is insufficient as a carbon sink method. The annual net carbon emissions from electricity production, island transport, residential heating, and carbon sequestration are estimated at 94,772.22 tCO₂. Full article

This article focuses on the study of issues related to the functionality and structure of an economy. To achieve this, the theory of the cycle of money is used. The structural features of an economy are reflected in its operational characteristics, and vice versa. The index of the cycle of money indexes how well an economic system can counteract a financial crisis and characterizes how well structured a country’s economy is. Calculations of the index of the cycle of money in Switzerland were compared with the global average index. The results showed that Switzerland is close to the global average; therefore, it has an excellent economy and is equipped to face any economic crisis. The applied methodology abides by theoretical, mathematical, statistical, and econometrical outcomes. This work is significant as it demonstrates the strength of Switzerland’s economy in response to a potential crisis. Prior case studies were reviewed from Latvia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Thailand, Greece, Montenegro, and many other countries. This study postulates that companies with high capital should invest in manufacturing and high technology sectors that should be subject to fewer taxes; this approach facilitates a better distribution of money to the economy by allowing small companies to service the remaining economic activities. The period used for compilations in this study was the global recession of 2007–2017. The reviewed case study results are from a project studying multiple countries, and at present, this article presents the only study about Switzerland’s index of the cycle of money. Full article

Although solar photovoltaic (PV) system costs have declined, capital cost remains a barrier to widespread adoption. Do-it-yourself (DIY) system designs can significantly reduce labor costs, but if they are not attached to a building structure, they require ground penetrating footings. This is not technically and economically feasible at all sites. To overcome these challenges, this study details systems designed to (1) eliminate drilling holes and pouring concrete, (2) propose solutions for both fixed and variable tilt systems, (3) remain cost effective, and (4) allow for modifications to best fit the user’s needs. The ballast-supported foundations are analyzed for eight systems by proposing two separate ballast designs: one for a single line of post systems, and one for a double line of post systems, both built on a 4-kW basis. The results of the analysis found that both designs are slightly more expensive than typical in-ground concrete systems by 25% (assuming rocks are purchased at a landscaping company), but the overall DIY system’s costs remain economically advantageous. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to show how modifications to the dimensions influence the weight of the system and thus change the economic value of the design, so users can trade dimensional freedom for cost savings, and vice versa. Overall, all wood-based PV racking system designs provide users with cost-effective and easy DIY alternatives to conventional metal racking, and the novel ballast systems presented provide more versatility for PV systems installations. Full article

In this paper, I explore Kierkegaard’s views on envy as developed in A Literary Review, by confronting them with the capital vices tradition. I begin by developing a basic account of envy that serves as a point of reference throughout the paper. I then turn to the capital vices tradition, elaborating the concept of a capital vice, and discussing the views of Basil of Caesarea, Evagrius of Pontus, John Cassian, Gregory the Great, and Thomas Aquinas on envy’s viciousness. Subsequently, I discuss Kierkegaard’s treatment of envy in A Literary Review, exploring two of its key notions—‘the public’ and ‘leveling’—through a reading of L.P. Hartley’s novel Facial Justice (1960). In the final part of the paper, I show that the originality of Kierkegaard’s account of envy consists both in its character as a collective vice and its evaluative status as vicious yet valuable. Full article

Financial decision making in family companies is a topical issue that has arisen from an awareness of the significant impact of family businesses on the economies of individual countries. This article deals with the capital structure and business performance of family firms in the Czech Republic, as there is still a significant gap in family business research and empirical verification. This study aims to investigate Czech family businesses’ corporate financing practices and compare them with population data from all active companies. The literature distinguishes between the positive and negative impacts of family ownership on capital structure and performance. Our empirical findings hypothesise that family businesses are more leveraged than non-family firms and vice versa. At the same time, a slightly positive impact from family influence on firm financial performance is indicated. This study uses descriptive statistics to detect family influence on corporate capital structure and financial performance regarding business sectors. The results of this study indicate that Czech family firms are less indebted than all/non-family businesses, and that they have proved to be more profitable in terms of ROEs and ROAs. Furthermore, significant differences in financial characteristics have been identified not just between individual business sectors but also between sample family firms and all/non-family firms within one business sector. Full article

Regional transportation integration is a key aspect in promoting regional integration and high-quality economic development, as it can improve inter-regional connectivity, decrease transportation costs, and facilitate the flow of labor, capital, technology, and data. However, regional transportation integration is also difficult to quantitatively evaluate, causing difficulties in comprehensively understanding the specific transportation–economic relationships for different regions that are planned for integration. This article studied 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta, which is known as the largest regional integration project in China. Two sets of index systems were created to quantitatively evaluate regional transportation integration and high-quality economic development. Coupling coordination degree analysis was then performed to investigate the relationship between the two systems. It was found that areas with a high degree of coupling coordination are located in the Z-shaped belt with the Shanghai–Nanjing–Hefei and Shanghai–Hangzhou–Ningbo urban agglomerations. Furthermore, specific developmental gaps between regional transportation integration and high-quality economic development were identified and mapped, showing areas with transportation development falling behind economic development and vice versa. Based on these findings, a number of policy suggestions are provided from the perspective of province and regional development. It is recommended to continue to invest in transportation development and integration in the well-coordinated Z-shaped region and areas with transportation development falling behind economic development, while it is not recommended to use transportation investment to solve economic problems for those under-developed regions that already have relatively advanced transportation than economic development. Full article

This study aims to investigate the impacts and identify the causal links between tourism expansion and the environment among countries of the Eurozone from 1996 to 2019 in the context of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). To achieve this end, we used a new set of untested tourism proxies when elaborating the EKC. We disaggregated the tourism phenomenon and highlighted its heterogenous nature by including specific and high-impact market segments such as business and leisure tourism spending as well as capital investment spending. The research findings indicate the pivotal role that tourism proxies have on environmental degradation in terms of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Specifically, the identified reciprocal causalities between leisure and investment spending and environmental degradation suggest some complementarities between these variables. In the case of business tourism spending, an increase (decrease) in this variable leads to an increase (decrease) in environmental degradation. The last two feedback hypotheses indicate that the primary and final energy consumption Granger cause GHGs and vice versa. Such a result offers evidence for incorporating the concept of energy efficiency in tourism. Practical implications should motivate supply and demand dimensions within the tourism system to improve efficiency in tourism flow management. The supply side should transfer the environmental message to visitors to spend wisely and consume smarter, whereas the demand side should perform pro-environmental behavior by spending wisely and acting responsibly at destinations. Full article