54,051 research outputs found

    The Supply Chain Management for Perishables Products : A Literature Review

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    In recent years, food loss has emerged as a global concern, with research indicating that between 20% to 60% of total production is lost within the food supply chain. Consequently, both researchers and practitioners have increasingly directed their attention towards maximizing the availability of food products for society. As a result, researchers have employed various operations research tools to optimize the food supply chain and facilitate decision�making processes. This paper aims to provide a literature review of modeling and optimization approaches in perishable supply chain management, with a specific focus on minimizing losses throughout the supply chain. Our primary emphasis is on perishable foods, and we analyze selected research papers based on their objectives, employed models, and solution approaches. Through our research analysis, we identify potential avenues for future research in the field of perishable products supply chains, with the overarching goal of reducing losses along the entire supply chain

    Towards a General Complex Systems Model of Economic Sanctions with Some Results Outlining Consequences of Sanctions on the Russian Economy and the World

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    The main purpose of this paper is to present a complex nonlinear modelling approach to analyzing mixed capitalist economic systems. An application of a more elaborate version of this model is to explore the consequences of sanctions on the Russian economy and evaluate the model’s predictive successes or failures. Furthermore, the formal expanded nonlinear model presented in the appendix may be seen as an initial step to put the analysis of economic sanctions within a formal complex socio-economic systems framework. The results obtained from this structural complex multisectoral model so far seem fairly accurate in terms of agreement with measured values of observable economic variables. The political consequences are uncertain and are to be explored separately in a companion paper and ultimately in a book length treatment. Methodologically, the paper also presents the case for using Social Accounting Matrix (SAM)-based models for understanding problems of analyzing sanctions in an economywide context. Linear as well as Nonlinear models are presented in the appendix. The nonlinear modelling approach might prove to be especially relevant for studying the properties of multiple equilibria and complex dynamics

    Social Entrepreneurship as a Tool to Promoting Sustainable Development in Low-Income Communities: An Empirical Analysis

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    Social entrepreneurship has emerged as a critical driver for promoting sustainable development in low-income communities facing pressing social and environmental challenges. However, the factors that contribute to the success of such initiatives and the obstacles faced by social entrepreneurs remain poorly understood. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, drawing on data collected from surveys of 60 community members and interviews with 20 social entrepreneurs operating in low-income communities to examine the role of social entrepreneurship in fostering sustainable development. The results reveal that successful social entrepreneurship initiatives in low-income communities require strong leadership, community engagement, funding accessibility, and adaptability. Moreover, social entrepreneurship has the potential to advance sustainable development through the provision of innovative solutions to complex social and environmental problems, the promotion of local economic development, and the enhancement of community resilience. However, the study also highlights several challenges social entrepreneurs face in low-income communities, including navigating complex regulatory environments, securing funding, and establishing community trust. Addressing these obstacles requires collaboration between social entrepreneurs, policymakers, and other stakeholders, as well as the development of tailored support mechanisms that address the unique needs of social entrepreneurship initiatives

    Closing the gap between research and projects in climate change innovation in Europe

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    Innovation is a key component to equip our society with tools to adapt to new climatic conditions. The development of research-action interfaces shifts useful ideas into operationalized knowledge allowing innovation to flourish. In this paper we quantify the existing gap between climate research and innovation action in Europe using a novel framework that combines artificial intelligence (AI) methods and network science. We compute the distance between key topics of research interest from peer review publications and core issues tackled by innovation projects funded by the most recent European framework programmes. Our findings reveal significant differences exist between and within the two layers. Economic incentives, agricultural and industrial processes are differently connected to adaptation and mitigation priorities. We also find a loose research-action connection in bioproducts, biotechnologies and risk assessment practices, where applications are still too few compared to the research insights. Our analysis supports policy-makers to measure and track how research funding result in innovation action, and to adjust decisions if stated priorities are not achieved

    (De facto) Historical Ethnic Borders and Land Tenure in Sub-Saharan Africa

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    We study the role of proximity to historical ethnic borders in determining individual land ownership in Sub-Saharan Africa. Following an instrumental variable strategy, we document that individuals have a lower likelihood of owning land near historical ethnic borders. In particular, the likelihood of owning land decreases by 15 percentage points, i.e., about 1/3 of the mean rate of landownership, for rural migrants who move from 57km (90th percentile) to 2 km (10th percentile) from the border. This result aligns with the view that competition for land is stronger and property rights are weaker close to historical ethnic borders in Sub-Saharan Africa

    Robots at work: new evidence with recent data

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    We reassess the relationship between robotization and the growth in labor productivity with more recent data. We discover that the effect of robot density in the growth productivity substantially decreased in the post-2008 period. In this period, the lower positive effect of robot density in the growth of labor productivity is less dependent on the increase in value added. The data analysis dismisses any positive effect of robotization on hours worked. Results are confirmed by several robustness checks, cross-sectional (and panel-data) IV and quantile regression analysis. By means of the quantile regression analysis, we learn that the effect of robots on labor productivity is stronger for low productivity sectors and that in the most recent period, the effect of robotization felt significantly throughout the distribution. This highlights one of the possible sources of stagnation in the era of robotization and have implication both for labor market and R&D policies

    Coping with Concurrent Crises in Lebanon: For an Inclusive National Social Registry to Protect the Vulnerable

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    This brief assesses the response of the Lebanese government to the pandemic and other concurrent crises on vulnerable populations. It provides a discussion of the major challenges in mounting a wide-scale response to alleviate the social and economic repercussions of the various crises. The work highlights two main shortcomings: 1) the lack of information (data) to guide any relief or social safety net program, and 2) the limited scope of already existing programs, mainly due to budgetary constraints. We argue that putting in place a unified digital social registry that covers all residents in Lebanon is a necessity. Based on observed vulnerabilities in the past three years, we urge the government to prioritize adopting and implementing a universal national social protection strategy to better protect the disadvantaged population. Equally important is the need to ensure that the financial sustainability of these programs in the medium to long term (once Lebanon enhances its fiscal capacity) by decreasing reliance on foreign aid and shifting towards viable domestic social spending

    The Need for Green Data Centers in Modern Society: Technology, Economy and Environmental Sustainability

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    In the past two decades, technology providers have devoted a lot of their efforts to improving the energy efficiency of data centers in order to make them more efficient. This is because they have since the dawn of the information age in order to make them more efficient and effective. Therefore, this has proved to be beneficial both to the business sector as well as to the environment. In addition, it has also been beneficial both to the business sector and to the environment. In turn, this has resulted in a win-win situation for both sectors. As a result of the advancement of technology throughout history and the advancement of technology as a result of the advancement of technology, there has been a noticeable shift in the focus from efficiency to green as a result of the advancement of technology. To establish a sustainable planet, it will be required to consider the impact of a variety of factors, such as renewable energy, greenhouse gas emissions, water, waste, land, ecosystems, and biodiversity, in order to achieve a sustainable future, such as renewable energy, greenhouse gas emissions, water, waste, land, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Technology providers have the ability to have a positive impact on the environment by reducing the overall carbon footprint of the data centers and increasing the efficiency of the data centers by reducing the overall carbon footprint of the data centers and increasing the efficiency of the data centers by reducing the overall carbon footprint of the data centers. It is actually a fact that there are a number of technology infrastructures that are heavily reliant on data centers. One of the most important components of many of them is their data centers. Whatever the industry, whether it is Mobile App Development, Banking, Government, Telecommunication, or Telecom, there is no doubt that infrastructure technology is housed in a Data Center. This is regardless of the industry. It does not matter what industry you are in. Depending on where they are located, data centers can be classified into two types: those located inside the company and those located outside. The design and implementation of a Data Center is a complex process that requires a significant amount of expertise in order to be successful

    Central bank digital currency, poverty reduction and the United Nations sustainable development goals

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    This paper examines the role of central bank digital currency (CBDC) for poverty reduction and sustainable development. In the paper, I argue that a CBDC can eliminate poverty by increasing financial inclusion which gives poor people access to affordable credit and other basic financial services which they can use to improve their welfare, thereby enabling them to rise above poverty, and achieve the United Nations sustainable development goal of eradicating poverty. This argument is valid only if a central bank digital currency is designed to incorporate features that increase financial inclusion. The argument may not be valid in cases where a CBDC is not designed to increase financial inclusion as is the case in some developed countries. The implication is that a CBDC can lead to poverty reduction only when the CBDC design incorporate features that increase financial inclusion. Policy makers can ensure that the CBDC used in their countries is designed to incorporate features that increase financial inclusion which is vital for poverty reduction and for achieving the United Nations sustainable development goal of eradicating poverty in all its forms
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