COVID-19, poverty and inclusive development

Constructing an evaluation model for the comprehensive level of sustainable development of provincial competitive sports in China based on DPSIR and MCDM

This study focuses on the objective assessment of sport development in socio-economic environments, considering the challenges faced by the industry. These challenges include disparities in regional investments, limited market participation, slow progress towards sports professionalization, and insufficient technological innovations. To tackle these challenges, we suggest implementing an integrated evaluation model that follows the DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, States, Impacts, Responses) framework and incorporates comprehensive socioeconomic indicators. Subsequently, we utilized the Entropy power method and TOPSIS (Order Preference Technique for Similarity to an Ideal Solution, TOPSIS) analysis to comprehensively assess the progress of competitive sports development in 31 provinces and cities in China. Additionally, we recommended further developments in competitive sports and proposed precise strategies for promoting its growth. The framework and methodology developed in this paper provide an objective and scientifically based set of decision-making guidelines that can be adopted by government agencies and related industries in order to create successful plans that promote the sustainable growth of competitive sport. This is expected to bolster the nation's global influence, enhance social unity, and fuel economic expansion. The findings of this study offer policymakers valuable insights regarding competitive sports and can advance the development of the sports sector in China, thus making it a crucial driver of regional socio-economic progress.

Growth and inequality trade-offs to eradicate absolute poverty

The relationship between growth, inequality and poverty remains elusive, despite considerable scholarship. To what extent can governments rely on growth to eradicate poverty without reducing inequality? We derive a closed-form relationship between a minimum income threshold, changes in the Gini index of income inequality and average national income required to meet this target, independent of the form of income distribution. We develop a generalized form of redistribution and validate it against historical changes in inequality. We use this formulation to illustrate feasible growth-redistribution strategies to raise entire populations above the International Poverty Line ($1.90/day) by 2030, the Sustainable Development Goal 1, in two selective countries: India and Rwanda. We show that meeting this target would require unprecedented rates of both growth and inequality reduction in Rwanda. India could not eradicate acute poverty by 2030 with growth alone, but it could with only a modest reduction in inequality.

A step toward inclusive green growth: can digital finance be the main engine?

Inclusive green growth (IGG) has become a worldwide consensus to achieve the target of sustainable development goals. Although the prominent role of digital finance (DF) against the pandemic has drawn considerable attention from policymakers, its plausible effect on IGG and underlying mechanisms have not been distinctly explored in academia. The aim of the study is to explore the causal effect of DF on IGG based on prefecture city-level data from 2011 to 2019 in China. To this end, we employed the non-radial direction distance function approach within the global production technology to evaluate the aggregate IGG performance and its three sub-dimensions. The empirical results demonstrate that DF exerts a significant promotional effect on urban IGG. This finding continues to survive in an extensive set of robustness checks using an alternative dependent variable, model specifications, instrumental variable, and difference-in-difference approaches to address the endogeneity concerns. Meanwhile, sub-dimensional regressions show that this positive effect is driven predominantly by the scale economy of DF, while the depth of usage and digitalization playing a minor role. Moreover, we uncover that DF enhances IGG by leveraging greater marginal product of labor rather than capital, improving environmental externalities, increasing fuller employment, and reducing rural-urban income inequality. However, we also reveal the dark side of DF on imbalanced regional development. The promotional effect of DF on IGG is only prominent for cities with better inherent comparative advantages, and we are thus likely to see a widening digital divide resulting from the "Matthew effect" on regional disparity without timely policy interventions.

An exploratory review of investments by development actors in health workforce programmes and job creation

The World Health Organization's Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 identified a projected shortfall of 18 million health workers by 2030, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. The need for investment was re-enforced by the 2016 report and recommendations of the United Nations High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth. This exploratory policy tracing study has as objective to map and analyse investments by bilateral, multilateral and other development actors in human resources for health actions, programmes and health jobs more broadly since 2016. This analysis will contribute to the accountability of global human resources for health actions and its commitment by the international community. It provides insights in gaps, priorities and future policies' needs. The study follows an exploratory rapid review methodology, mapping and analysing the actions of four categories of development actors in implementing the ten recommendations of the United Nations High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth. These four categories of actors include (A) bilateral agencies, (B) multilateral initiatives, (C) international financial institutions and (D) non-state actors. Analysing the data generated via this review, three trends can be observed. Firstly, while a broad range of human resources for health actions and outputs have been identified, data on programme outcomes and especially on their impacts are limited. Secondly, many of the programmatic human resources for health actions, often funded via bilateral or philanthropic grants and implemented by non-governmental organisations, seemed to be rather short-term in nature, focusing on in-service training, health security, technical and service delivery needs. Despite the strategic guidance and norms developed by multilateral initiatives, such as the International Labour Organization-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development-World Health Organization Working for Health programme, has it been for several development projects difficult to assess how their activities actually contributed to national human resources for health strategic development and health system reforms. Lastly, governance, monitoring and accountability between development actors and across the policy recommendations from the United Nations High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth could be improved. There has been limited actionable progress made for the enablers required to transform the workforce, including in the domain of generating fiscal space for health that would strengthen jobs in the health sector, the development of health workforce partnerships and its global agenda, and the governance of international health workforce migration. In conclusion, one can observe that global health workforce needs are much recognised, especially given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, 20 years after the Joint Learning Initiative on Human Resources for Health, there is still an urgent need to take shared responsibility for international cooperative action for overcoming and addressing persistent underinvestment in the health workforce. Specific policy recommendations are provided to this end.

Pathway through which COVID-19 exacerbates energy poverty and proposed relief measures

Increased residential energy consumption and reduced income caused by the lockdown measures invoked to combat the COVID-19 pandemic have deepened energy poverty, particularly in vulnerable communities. In this context, the pathway through which COVID-19 impacts energy poverty is constructed, and six relief measures are proposed: consistent financing of energy suppliers and consumers, developing various forms of socio-economic aids, leveraging fiscal stimuli to promote renewable energy transition, identifying vulnerable populations to improve policy effectiveness, designing equitable resource allocation mechanisms, and rethinking socio-economic transition in the post-pandemic era.

Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the fisheries sector of Sri Lanka

We empirically ascertained the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on fisheries sector of Sri Lanka, focusing on the year 2020 which helps identify changes in production and income of the sector. Daily wage and monthly income of stakeholders in the pre-pandemic period are well above the national minimum daily wage and monthly income of the workers in Sri Lanka. Defensive measures taken to curb rapid spread of COVID-19 have given a shock to all stakeholders of the sector. Health and safety measures imposed to avert the spreading of pandemic have compelled the stakeholders to incur extra costs. Study indicates significant impact of the pandemic on production and income of the stakeholders in the fisheries value chain. Comparison of total fish production during 2015-2020 confirms the impacts on the sector and, changes in fish production and income in 2020 completely coincide with COVID-19-time line. Severity of impacts is stakeholder and area specific. Fisheries districts in western province are highly impacted over the other districts. DPSIR framework captures the status of social system and unfolds existing problems in the sector, enabling decision-makers to take policy decisions for future actions. Government of Sri Lanka has taken several steps to revive the sector, and stakeholders have shown an adaptive capacity to cope with impacts of the pandemic. Present crisis in the sector is far from over and, short-term impacts are likely to be followed by long-term crises, thus measures should be taken to revive the sector in new normal conditions and the post-pandemic era.

Transforming global health education during the COVID-19 era: perspectives from a transnational collective of global health students and recent graduates

Inspired by the 2021 BMJ Global Health Editorial by Atkinset alon global health (GH) teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of GH students and recent graduates from around the world convened to discuss our experiences in GH education during multiple global crises. Through weekly meetings over the course of several months, we reflected on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic and broader systemic inequities and injustices in GH education and practice have had on us over the past 2 years. Despite our geographical and disciplinary diversity, our collective experience suggests that while the pandemic provided an opportunity for changing GH education, that opportunity was not seized by most of our institutions. In light of the mounting health crises that loom over our generation, emerging GH professionals have a unique role in critiquing, deconstructing and reconstructing GH education to better address the needs of our time. By using our experiences learning GH during the pandemic as an entry point, and by using this collective as an incubator for dialogue and re-imagination, we offer our insights outlining successes and barriers we have faced with GH and its education and training. Furthermore, we identify autonomous collectives as a potential viable alternative to encourage pluriversality of knowledge and action systems and to move beyond Western universalism that frames most of traditional academia.

Assessment of COVID-19 impact on sustainable development goals indicators in Egypt using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

COVID-19 significantly influences the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in both developed and developing countries. Within the 2030 agenda, Egypt is likely to face enormous negative ramifications from the virus spread. As a result, efficient control of the adverse repercussions of this virus is critical to achieving this objective. This research assesses indicators of specific SDGs in reflecting COVID-19 impact by conducting several questionnaire surveys among experts in Egypt. The scope of this research is limited to addressing poverty alleviation (SDG1), hunger abatement (SDG2), healthcare promotion (SDG3), sustainable economic growth (SDG8), and climate change mitigation (SDG13). The indicators are prioritized using the relative importance index, weighted aggregated sum product assessment technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution, and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. The rankings are finally aggregated using an approach based on the half-quadratic theory. The results reveal that the most significant indicators in reflecting the COVID-19 impact are the share of population living below the international poverty line, undernourishment prevalence, official health sector support, annual gross domestic product per capita growth rate, and number of disaster deaths for SDG1, SDG2, SDG3, SDG8, and SDG13, respectively. Recognizing and ranking the indicators could help decision-makers understand the behavior of SDG indicators in light of COVID-19. The research findings could assist policymakers in making informed decisions to reduce the pandemic effects and sustain achieving SDGs by 2030.

Institutional Reconstruction of Promoting and Maintaining the Level of Compliance with Health Protocols in Indonesia during the Pandemic

This article aimed to observe the efforts of Indonesia and the problems faced in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the indecisive public policy and the reluctance of people from all walks of life to comply with the Health Protocols (HP) from the perspective of sociological institutionalism (Nee 2003; Nee and Opper 2015). A two-step variant of SSM-based multi method by Muhammaditya et al. (2021) was applied by inserting (1) Textual Network Analysis by Segev (2020) at stage 1 of SSM to obtain an insightful understanding of the problem situation and to enrich the rich picture, and (2) Social Network Analysis at stage 5 of SSM to expand a skillful discussion on the reality. The research novelty was elaborated in four main empirical facts: First, government policies had initially faltered in dealing with the pandemic, reflected by the dissonance in the statements made by high-ranking state officials. Second, there was a great number of people disregarding HP and pandemic mitigation policies, particularly during annual rites, the end of year celebration, and Eid Al-Fitr. Third, the government encountered a dilemma in issuing policies, whether to remain encouraging economic growth, guarantee the continuity of economic activities, or end the spread of COVID-19. Fourth, the direct involvement of the president in handling COVID-19 had a significant impact in reducing active cases that no province was declared as alert areas in October 2021. Meanwhile, the methodological novelty reflected in broader data and analysis through SNA and TNA methods had enriched the practice of SSM in finding sharper conclusions.

Study on the Drivers of Inclusive Green Growth in China Based on the Digital Economy Represented by the Internet of Things (IoT)

With the vigorous development of digital economy based on digital technologies such as Internet of things (IoT), big data, and artificial intelligence, new vitality has been injected into China's economic model. Inclusive green growth (IGG) supports the transformation of society towards a better quality of life and well-being, as well as environmental protection. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the main drivers of IGG. However, IGG is subject to a variety of interpretations and lacks definitional clarity. To brigade this gap, this study primarily evaluates the performance of IGG and explores the key drivers on IGG in China. Specifically, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model is employed to calculate IGG for 281 cities in China during 2005–2020. Subsequently, we take advantage of a nest of machine learning (ML) algorithm to demonstrate the vital drivers of urban IGG, which avoids the defects of endogenous linear hypothesis of traditional econometric methods. The results indicate that digitization represented by the IoT and other digital technology is the core drivers of the urban IGG in the overall sample, accounting for about 50% among all of drivers. This finding provides new evidence supporting the “high-quality development” strategy in China, as well as shedding light on grasping the principal fulcrum to achieve the transformation towards IGG in developing economies similar to China.

Livelihood strategies of women entrepreneurs in Indonesia

Women entrepreneurship is an essential source of economic growth and sustainable development. This study aims to identify the relationship between the five variables of pentagon assets in Sustainable Livelihoods to investigate the survival strategy of women entrepreneurs during COVID-19 in Indonesia. Furthermore, this study aims to build an integrative Women Entrepreneur’s Sustainable Livelihoods model based on volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). This study uses Mixed-Methods Investigation by combining the Partial Least Square (PLS) and Group Discussion Forum (FGD). PLS examines the relationship element of women entrepreneurs to build a business strategy and The FGD to support the Livelihoods strategies Model. The purposive sampling technique took the sample of 155 women entrepreneurs (PLS) dan 14 participants (FGD) that matched the sample criteria. The findings demonstrated that women entrepreneurs' livelihood strategies positively linked to their ability to build survival strategies. Second, an integrative model of sustainable livelihood for women entrepreneurs based on the VUCA as an attempt by entrepreneurs to maintain their business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women entrepreneur sustainability business-based integrative sustainable livelihood model is a solution for women entrepreneurs to survive and develop their businesses. Ability to access five elements of sustainable livelihood Pentagon Assets in Sustainable livelihoods 1) Human Capital; 2) Social Capital; 3) Financial Capital; 4) Physical Capital 5) Intellectual Capital has a positive relationship to the ability to create a business strategy based on VUCA. This integrative Model, compiled based on livelihood strategies and VUCA, can be applied as a survival strategy in women entrepreneurs' businesses dealing with various uncertainties.

Sustainable Development Goals in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review

The present narrative review aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sustainable development goals (SDGS). This information would allow a better comprehension of the actual state of the SDGS and a more efficient programming in future interventions. To achieve the objective of the study, a consensual and critical review was carried out using both primary sources, such as scientific articles, and secondary sources, such as bibliographic indexes, web pages and databases. The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, close the gender gap, protect the planet, and improve the lives of people around the world. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 17 goals as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which sets out a plan to achieve the goals in 15 years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has been a turning point in the achievement of these goals, due to all its consequences at the political, economic, and socio-cultural levels. This review can be used as a guide for future research and reviews in order to understand the status of each of the SDGs and what actions have been taken and proposed in the aftermath of the pandemic in recent years.

Purchases of Fruit and Vegetables for at Home Consumption During COVID-19 in the UK: Trends and Determinants

This paper addresses the issue of fruit and vegetable purchases in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is motivated by the importance of fruit and vegetables for human nutrition, health and reduction of population obesity, especially in the UK where per capita consumption is still below recommended levels. A rich panel dataset was used reporting actual shopping places and quarterly expenditure for at-home consumption of fruit and vegetable purchases of 12,492 households in years 2019 and 2020. The unique dataset allowed us to compare expenditure for fruit and vegetables before and after the COVID-19 outbreak and to identify the main drivers of changes in purchases. Regression analysis found that expenditure increased ~3% less than what expected given the overall increase in the numbers of at-home meals during lockdown. Also, Online shopping was found to be an alternative source for fruit and vegetables purchase during the pandemic. However, the expenditure for processed products grew more than the one for fresh products, resulting in a reduction of the relative share of the latter and possible deterioration of the diet quality.

Does health-related poverty publication landscape reflect global needs in the light of the current poverty rebound?

Background

After nearly a quarter-century of declining poverty, the numbers are rising again significantly. This is due not only to effects of climate change but also to the COVID-19 pandemics and armed conflict. Combined with the enormous health impacts, that will cause misery and health care costs worldwide. Therefore, this study provides background information on the global research landscape on poverty and health to help researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers determine the best way to address this threat.

Results

The USA is the key player, dealing mainly with domestic issues. European countries are also involved but tend to be more internationally oriented. Developing countries are underrepresented, with Nigeria standing out. A positive correlation was found between publication numbers and economic strength, while the relationship between article numbers and multidimensional poverty was negatively correlated.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the need for advanced networking and the benefits of cross-disciplinary research to mitigate the coming impacts.

Global Health Governance and Health Equity in the Context of COVID-19: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Health equity is an important aspect of responsible governance. COVID-19 exposed existing shortfalls of Global Health Governance (GHG). A considerable amount of related literature is produced. This scoping review aims at mapping the present knowledge and at identifying research gaps.

METHODS

This scoping review is based on the Joanna Briggs Institute's guideline for standardized methods and PRISMA-ScR guidelines for reporting. Documents published from December 2019 to October 2021 were searched using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, World cat, and WHO-Global Index Medicus. Two reviewers screened and reviewed eligible studies in three stages: duplicates identification and elimination, title and abstract screening, and full-text assessment. Data was charted and results were classified into conceptual categories. Analysis was done in three stages: open descriptive coding, focused thematic analysis, and frequency, commonality and significance analysis.

RESULTS

forty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Areas of research were grouped into seven themes: "human rights and inequities", "solidarity, collaboration and partnership", "GHG structure change", "political and economic power and finance", "approaches to address inequity", "law and regulations", and "private investment and public-private partnerships (PPPs) in GHG". The highest number of papers were in the first theme, "human rights and inequities". However, the themes are interrelated. Authors who contributed to research were mostly affiliated to developed countries indicating a gap in knowledge and expertise in developing countries.

CONCLUSION

Through this scoping review we found that the seven themes are interconnected. Disciplinary collaboration in research relating GHG to health inequities is solicited. Collaboration in research, information sharing, and research capacity development are in needed in developing countries.

'To prevent this disease, we have to stay at home, but if we stay at home, we die of hunger' - Livelihoods, vulnerability and coping with Covid-19 in rural Mozambique

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as social distancing and travel restrictions have been introduced to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (hereinafter Covid). In many countries of the Global South, NPIs are affecting rural livelihoods, but in-depth empirical data on these impacts are limited. We traced the differentiated impacts of Covid NPIs throughout the start of the pandemic May to July 2020. We conducted qualitative weekly phone interviews (n = 441) with 92 panelists from nine contrasting rural communities across Mozambique (3-7 study weeks), exploring how panelists' livelihoods changed and how the NPIs intersected with existing vulnerabilities, and created new exposures. The NPIs significantly re-shaped many livelihoods and placed greatest burdens on those with precarious incomes, women, children and the elderly, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. Transport and trading restrictions and rising prices for consumables including food meant some respondents were concerned about dying not of Covid, but of hunger because of the disruptions caused by NPIs. No direct health impacts of the pandemic were reported in these communities during our interview period. Most market-orientated income diversification strategies largely failed to provide resilience to the NPI shocks. The exception was one specific case linked to a socially-minded value chain for baobab, where a strong duty of care helped avoid the collapse of incomes seen elsewhere. In contrast, agricultural and charcoal value chains either collapsed or saw producer prices and volumes reduced. The hyper-covariate, unprecedented nature of the shock caused significant restrictions on livelihoods through trading and transport limits and thus a region-wide decline in cash generation opportunities, which was seen as being unlike any prior shock. The scale of human-made interventions and their repercussions thus raises questions about the roles of institutional actors, diversification and socially-minded trading partners in addressing coping and vulnerability both conceptually and in policy-making.

Holistic strategies to mitigate the economic, societal, and health burden of the Coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic

Pandemics are not the unique features of modern civilization; epidemics/pandemics can be traced back to ancient civilization. History is replete with such pandemics. Coronavirus first originated in Hubei province, China, in November 2019 and then manifested in Wuhan but within a very short span of time it has spread like wildfire all over the world and its impact has been multifaceted. It is indeed an indication of the fact that we live in a truly globalized world. Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), people lost their lives but due to the consequent lockdown, people lost their livelihood, and the economy is shattered. Global GDP and trade experienced a huge contraction during the period of pandemic and the improvements to date are not worth mentioning. Actually, pandemic acts like a serial killer and its aftermath is devastating on human lives and the global economy.

Who Lost Most Wages and Household Income during the COVID‐19 Pandemic in Poor Rural China?

China managed to eliminate all extreme poverty in rural areas in 2020. Poor households, however, may risk falling back into poverty due to the COVID‐19. This paper examines the impacts of the pandemic on wages and household incomes among different groups in poor areas of rural China. Using a unique dataset from five poverty‐stricken counties, we found that the pandemic has had large negative effects on wage income for migrant workers and workers in manufacturing, the private sector, and small enterprises. Compared with households relying on wage income, households relying on small businesses have suffered much more from the pandemic, whereas households depending on farming or transfer payments have been less affected. Although poor and ethnic minority households lost significant amounts of wage income due to the pandemic, they did not lose more household income than nonpoor and nonminority households. We conclude that support from the government has kept vulnerable households from suffering more than other households from the effects of COVID‐19. Our findings suggest that the government can play a strong role in alleviating the negative impacts of the COVID‐19.