The Role of E-Commerce in Economic Transformation from a Business Management Perspective

Background: Over the past few decades, the rapid expansion of cross-border e-commerce has reshaped global trade, acting as a key driver of economic transformation. As a crucial aspect of globalization, e-commerce has facilitated the integration of businesses into international markets, reducing geographical barriers and transaction costs while fostering economic development. Aims: The present study aims to examine e-commerce and its role in economic transformation from a business management perspective. Methodology: The research employs a descriptive survey method, with a statistical population comprising all students and graduates in the fields of e-commerce and business management in Bandar Abbas. Using a convenience sampling method, a total of 203 individuals were selected as the study sample. A researcher-developed questionnaire with a reliability coefficient exceeding 0.8 was distributed among the participants. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, specifically the T-test, through SPSS version 22. Findings: The findings revealed that the T-test statistic for the role of e-commerce in accelerating economic transactions was 73.7, its impact on inflation in the global economy was 54.9, and its contribution to facilitating transactions was 65.5, all statistically significant at a 95% confidence level (P<0.05). Conclusions: E-commerce plays a significant role in enhancing the speed of economic transactions, influencing inflation in the global economy, and facilitating trade from a business management perspective

Sozialstaat an seinen Grenzen. Oder: You Can't Always Get What You Want?

Die Debatte um die Grenzen des Sozialstaates läuft nun seit fast 50 Jahren und wird empirisch sowie theoretisch breit untermauert. Die Ergebnisse belegen ein hohes Ausgabenniveau, aber auch gewisse Interpretationsspielräume je nach Perspektive. Derzeit kommt es zu einer erheblichen Konkurrenz der Sozialpolitik zu anderen wichtigen Felder wie Bildung, Infrastruktur, Wohnen und Sicherheit. Klar ist, dass es nicht alles und umsonst geben kann. Oder: You Can't Always Get What You Want. D.h. es sind politische Entscheidungen über Ziele und deren Umsetzung, über Prioritäten bzw. Gewinner und Verlierer nötig. Dazu bedarf es jedoch einer realistischen Problemwahrnehmung und politischen Kommunikation - was sich im derzeitigen Wahlkampf nicht zeigt

Musik und Suizidalität: Interdisziplinäre Perspektiven

Suizidalität ist ein verbreitetes Sujet unzähliger Lieder, Opernarien und Instrumentalstücke - so etwa im berühmt-berüchtigten Suicide Song "Gloomy Sunday". Aktuell wird in fachlichen und populärwissenschaftlichen Debatten diskutiert, inwieweit Musik Einfluss auf reale Suizidhandlungen zeitigt, sei es als Risiko- oder als protektiver Faktor. Die Beiträge des Bands, die auf dem Symposium "Musik und Suizidalität" an der mdw - Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien 2022 der Öffentlichkeit vorgestellt wurden, greifen diese Debatten auf. Der Band bringt erstmals kulturhistorische, empirische, medizinische und therapeutische Perspektiven zusammen, um den Diskurs über das noch immer tabubehaftete Thema weiter zu etablieren und mit Sichtweisen aus der Praxis zu erweitern

Фрейминг и прайминг в диалоговых системах: новые формы манипуляции речи через ИИ

The article explores the cognitive mechanisms of framing (language framing) and priming (anticipatory suggestion) in the context of human interaction with artificial intelligence (AI)-based dialogue systems. The author proposes an interdisciplinary analysis combining cognitive linguistics, psycholinguistics, social psychology and generative AI technologies to identify how such systems can use speech strategies of persuasion and manipulation. It is shown that dialogue AIs actively apply frames in the presentation of information, both in lexical framing and in the tone of utterances, which can skew interpretations and guide the user's opinion. In parallel, priming allows systems to shape attitudes even before the main utterance, through tone, order of presentation, or even background information, which is particularly effective in long-term interactions. The author discusses threats to user autonomy, especially for vulnerable groups (children, the elderly, people with mental disabilities), the problems of deception through anthropomorphisation of AI and substitution of real dialogue with simulated 'friendship'. Legal and regulatory initiatives, including the European AI Act (2024) provisions, prohibit AI use for covert behavioural influence and are considered. Possible solutions are also suggested, ranging from AI content labelling and algorithm transparency to increasing digital literacy among users. Thus, the article contributes to understanding the speech mechanisms involved in human-AI communication and emphasises the need for a balance between technological development and the preservation of human cognitive freedom.В статье исследуются когнитивные механизмы фрейминга (языкового обрамления) и прайминга (предваряющего внушения) в контексте взаимодействия человека с диалоговыми системами на основе искусственного интеллекта (ИИ). Автор предлагает междисциплинарный анализ, объединяющий когнитивную лингвистику, психолингвистику, социальную психологию и технологии генеративного ИИ, с целью выявить способы, посредством которых такие системы могут использовать речевые стратегии убеждения и манипуляции. Показано, что диалоговые ИИ активно применяют фреймы при подаче информации – как в лексическом оформлении, так и в тональности высказываний, – что может искажать интерпретации и направлять мнение пользователя. Параллельно прайминг позволяет системам формировать установки ещё до основной реплики – через тон, порядок подачи данных или даже фоновую информацию, что особенно эффективно в длительном взаимодействии. Автор обсуждает угрозы автономии пользователя, особенно уязвимых групп (дети, пожилые, лица с ментальными особенностями), проблемы обмана через антропоморфизацию ИИ и подмены реального диалога симулированной «дружбой». Рассматриваются юридические и нормативные инициативы, включая положения Европейского Акта об ИИ (2024), запрещающие использование ИИ для скрытого поведенческого влияния. Предлагаются также возможные решения – от маркировки ИИ-контента и прозрачности алгоритмов до повышения цифровой грамотности пользователей. Таким образом, статья вносит вклад в понимание речевых механизмов, задействованных в коммуникации человек–ИИ, и подчёркивает необходимость баланса между технологическим развитием и сохранением когнитивной свободы человека

Junge Erwachsene und soziale Mobilität - Stellungnahme des Bundesjugendkuratoriums

Aus Sicht des Bundesjugendkuratoriums (BJK) ist es für moderne demokratische Sozialstaaten entscheidend, dass alle junge Menschen gleichberechtigte Bildungs- und soziale Aufstiegschancen haben. Gerade im jungen Erwachsenenalter werden dafür Weichen gestellt. Junge Menschen müssen auf ihrem Lebensweg so unterstützt werden, dass sie unabhängig von ihren sozialen Herkünften eine eigene berufliche Perspektive und Positionierung sowie einen anerkannten sozialen Status im Erwachsenenleben gestalten können. Die gegenwärtige Realität jedoch sieht anders aus. Das BJK widmet sich daher in seiner Stellungnahme den fehlenden oder blockierten Zugängen zu den (Aus-)Bildungseinrichtungen und zum Arbeitsmarkt sowie der hohen Zahl an Abbrüchen auf den Bildungswegen, die vielen junge Erwachsene Chancen auf einen Bildungsaufstieg verwehren oder erschweren. Das Bundesjugendkuratorium hat zu den blockierten Chancen bei jungen Erwachsenen vier Gutachten eingeholt, die der Stellungnahme anhängen: Dr. Marc Thielen: "Teilhaberisiken und Benachteiligungen von Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen am Übergang in berufliche Bildung und Beschäftigung"; Martina Kroher/Dennis H. Meier: "Die (prekäre) finanzielle Situation von Studierenden in Deutschland: Eine Einschätzung"; Ulrich Heublein: "Soziale Mobilität, Studienabbruch und Hochschulbildung im jungen Erwachsenenalter"; Jutta Henke: "Zerstörte Chancen und folgenreiche Brüche - das Beispiel wohnungsloser junger Erwachsener". Auch die Gutachten zeigen, dass die Chancen weiterhin ungleich verteilt sind. Chancen für eine Aufstiegsmobilität und die daraus resultierenden Teilhabechancen hängen immer noch stark von den familialen Hintergründen und der sozialen Herkunft ab

How Descriptive Norms and Peer Attitudes Shape Interethnic Dating Among Adolescents in Dutch Schools

This study examines the role of school‐based environmental factors in shaping interethnic dating patterns among adolescents in the Netherlands. Given that adolescence is a formative period for social behavior, early interethnic dating experiences may foster openness to interethnic marriage later in life. This article focuses on how general peer approval of the outgroup and descriptive norms (i.e., the prevalence of interethnic relationships) influences adolescents’ partner choices. Using longitudinal data from the Dutch part of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries (CILS4EU), we test whether these factors affect the likelihood of interethnic dating. Results supported the hypothesis that descriptive norms moderate interethnic dating as they strengthen the link between positive individual attitudes towards the ethnic outgroup and the likelihood of interethnic dating. Descriptive norms furthermore moderate the effect of personal preferences, strengthening the relationship under supportive normative conditions. Personal preferences and parental influences also play decisive roles. Additionally, our results suggest that ethnic minorities and non‐religious adolescents are more likely to engage in interethnic dating. Future research should explore other sources of normative influence, such as (social) media and adolescent clubs, to better understand the normative underpinnings of interethnic relationships

Nepal's Status‐Seeking Endeavors: Between Normative Convergence and Geopolitical Interests

Due to limited material and geopolitical factors, the agency of small states is limited in international politics. As such, these states may seek to mitigate such weaknesses through status-seeking, adopting peculiar foreign policy approaches or international commitments to signal to more powerful actors about specific political or normative affinities. In this article, the conceptual framework of social identity theory, specifically social mobility, is used to assess Nepal's foreign policy choices. It is argued that Nepal pursues the identity management strategy of social mobility in the form of normative conformance with more powerful actors to reinforce its status in the international community but not necessarily to rise up in the hierarchy of states. Social mobility through normative conformance not only allows Nepal to elevate its status with higher-status groups like the EU, the UN, and US (which are the country's primary development partners), but it also reinforces Nepal's interest in maintaining (and if possible, expanding) its agency as a sovereign state which is constrained due to its geopolitical location in between much larger neighbors, India and China. Nepal's normative convergence efforts are broadly categorized into two specific types of commitments: (a) multilateralism and (b) normative congruence with development partners. Both of these normative conformance approaches seek to emulate the values and practices of the higher-status group - the US, the UN, and the EU

Exploring Media Literacy Formation at the Intersection of Family, School, and Peers

Today, media literacy and digital skills are essential for personal communication and social interaction. Children and adolescents need these skills to act autonomously in highly digitised social contexts. These skills are acquired in different social spaces, most frequently and primarily at home, followed by peer groups, school, and extracurricular activities. The present study aims to conceptually situate media literacy within a broader network of social power relations. It is therefore grounded in an academic theoretical framework that constructs media literacy as a form of digital cultural capital. As such, media literacy also contains the principles of media preferences and choices that condition the media choices of young people. This draws our attention to the social contexts in which media literacy and digital skills of children and teenagers are formed: within the family, school, and peers. With a selective thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with 67 primary and secondary school students (12-19 years), the empirical research is focused on different contextual incentives and regulations related to the formation of students' media literacy, primarily in relation to digital media. First, we examine parenting practices that frame home access to media and media practices within families. Then, we explore the characteristics of formal media education within schools, which seems limited to teaching with/through media. Finally, we identify peer networks as important promoters of both digital capital and elements of advanced media practices and skills, compared to the media literacy encouraged within families and schools

Multimorbidity clusters and their contribution to well-being among the oldest old: Results based on a nationally representative sample in Germany

Our aim was to identify multimorbidity clusters and, in particular, to examine their contribution to well-being outcomes among the oldest old in Germany. Methods: Data were taken from the large nationally representative D80+ study including community-dwelling and institutionalized individuals aged 80 years and over residing in Germany (n=8,773). The mean age was 85.6 years (SD: 4.1). Based on 21 chronic conditions, latent class analysis was carried out to explore multimorbidity (≥2 chronic conditions) clusters. Widely used tools were applied to quantify well-being outcomes. Results Approximately nine out of ten people aged 80 and over living in Germany were multimorbid. Four multimorbidity clusters were identified: relatively healthy class (30.2%), musculoskeletal class (44.8%), mental illness class (8.6%), and high morbidity class (16.4%). Being part of the mental disorders cluster was consistently linked to reduced well-being (in terms of low life satisfaction, high loneliness and lower odds of meaning in life), followed by membership in the high morbidity cluster. Conclusions Four multimorbidity clusters were detected among the oldest old in Germany. Particularly belonging to the mental disorders cluster is consistently associated with low well-being, followed by belonging to the high morbidity cluster. This stresses the need for efforts to target such vulnerable groups, pending future longitudinal research

Voice Assistants in Private Homes: Media, Data and Language in Interaction and Discourse

Voice Assistants such as Amazon's Alexa populate private homes as well as smartphones, TVs and cars. While suggesting easy living with smart devices, these assistants are criticized as the next step of corporate and state surveillance of the private home, or as harbingers of new and simplified linguistic practices. The contributors to this volume focus on the transformation and persistence of everyday linguistic, media and data practices under platformized conditions and new interfaces. This collection thus brings together perspectives from media sociology, media studies, media linguistics and domestication research