Exporting Forest Loss? A Cross-National Analysis of the United States Export–Import Bank Financing in Low- and Middle-Income Nations

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-269
Author(s):  
Michael Restivo ◽  
John M. Shandra ◽  
Jamie M. Sommer
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
High Income ◽  
Forest Loss ◽  
Dependency Theory ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Forestry Sector ◽  
States Export ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Dependency theory argues that due to unequal economic relationships, including exports, multinational corporations, and loans from multilateral lending institutions, high-income nations exploit the labor and resources of low- and middle-income nations. We extend this line of reasoning to the United States Export–Import Bank, as it has recently come under scrutiny for its lending in the forestry sector of low- and middle-income nations. Although this concern has been raised, we are not aware of any cross-national research that empirically evaluates if their investments adversely impact forests. Therefore, we examine the impact of the United States Export–Import Bank lending in the forestry sector on forest loss. Using a two-stage instrumental variable regression model to account for possible donor selection bias as well as ordinary least squares regression to analyze data for 78 low- and middle-income nations, we find that export credit agency financing is related to increased forest loss from 2001 to 2014. Our findings are consistent with dependency theory ideas that economic linkages with high-income nations increase forest loss in low- and middle-income nations.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Therapeutics for Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review of Candidate Agents with Potential for Near-Term Use and Impact

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Maxwell ◽  
Kelly C. Sanders ◽  
Oliver Sabot ◽  
Ahmad Hachem ◽  
Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
European Union ◽  
The United States ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Clinical Trial Registries ◽  
Oral Agents ◽  
Near Term ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face significant challenges in the control of COVID-19, given limited resources, especially for inpatient care. In a parallel effort to that for vaccines, the identification of therapeutics that have near-term potential to be available and easily administered is critical. Using the United States, European Union, and WHO clinical trial registries, we reviewed COVID-19 therapeutic agents currently under investigation. The search was limited to oral or potentially oral agents, with at least a putative anti-SARS-CoV-2 virus mechanism and with at least five registered trials. The search yielded 1,001, 203, and 1,128 trials, in the United States, European Union, and WHO trial registers, respectively. These trials covered 13 oral or potentially oral repurposed agents that are currently used as antimicrobials and immunomodulatory therapeutics with established safety profiles. The available evidence regarding proposed mechanism of actions, potential limitations, and trial status is summarized. The results of the search demonstrate few published studies of high quality, a low proportion of trials completed, and the vast majority with negative results. These findings reflect limited investment in COVID-19 therapeutics development compared with vaccines. We also identified the need for better coordination of trials of accessible agents and their combinations in LMICs. To prevent COVID-19 from becoming a neglected tropical disease, there is critical need for rapid and coordinated effort in the evaluation and deployment of those agents found to be efficacious.

scholarly journals The International Finance Corporation and Forest Loss: A Cross-National Analysis

2011 ◽  
pp. 328-352
Author(s):  
John M. Shandra ◽  
Eric Shircliff ◽  
Bruce London
Keyword(s):  
International Finance ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Bank Lending ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Forest Loss ◽  
International Finance Corporation ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Low And Middle Income

We conduct the first cross-national study to consider the impact of the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation loans on forests. In doing so, we analyze data for a sample of sixty-one low and middle income nations for the period of 1990 to 2005. We find substantial support for dependency theory that low and middle income nations that receive an International Finance Corporation loan tend to have higher rates of deforestation than low and middle income nations that do not receive such a loan. We also find that other aspects of World Bank lending affect forest loss including structural adjustment and investment lending. We conclude with a discussion of the findings, theoretical implications, methodological implications, policy implications, and possible directions for future research.

scholarly journals Trends in Cancer Diseases Prevalence by Different Socioeconomic Strata in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingsi Wang ◽  
Yi Ma ◽  
Liangru Zhou ◽  
Yi Cheng ◽  
Yue Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
The United States ◽  
High Income ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Socioeconomic Strata ◽  
Cancer Diseases

Abstract Background Income disparity among different socioeconomic strata in the United States has widened sharply in recent decades. Take into account the well-established link between income and health, this widening income gap may provide insight into the dynamics of the cancer disease burden in American adults. Assess the temporal trends of the 20-year predicted absolute cancer risk in American adults at different socioeconomic classes. Methods The cross-sectional analyses were carried out using data from adults aged 20 to 85 years between the 1999 and 2018 NHANES. Socioeconomic status was divided into three groups based on the family income to poverty ratio (PIR): high income (PIR ≥ 4), middle income (> 1 and <4), or at or below the federal poverty level (≤ 1). Results The analysis included 49 720 participants. The prevalence of lung cancer was lower in high-income participants than in middle-income participants (0.15% [n= 19] vs 0.35% [n= 92], p <0.001). For the low-income stratum, the prevalence of breast cancer was 1.12% [n = 117], but the number of adults in the middle (1.48% [n = 391], p = 0.009) and high-income levels (1.71% [n = 219], p <0.001) has increased. Conclusions The study found that the prevalence of cancer diseases was increasingly different among participants of different socioeconomic classes of NHANES from 1999 to 2018. Further research is required on the dynamics and health impact of income inequality, as well as public health policies and efforts to reduce these inequalities.

scholarly journals Global Health Equity: Cancer Care Outcome Disparities in High-, Middle-, and Low-Income Countries

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas A. de Souza ◽  
Bijou Hunt ◽  
Fredrick Chite Asirwa ◽  
Clement Adebamowo ◽  
Gilberto Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Cancer Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
High Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Breakthroughs in our global fight against cancer have been achieved. However, this progress has been unequal. In low- and middle-income countries and for specific populations in high-income settings, many of these advancements are but an aspiration and hope for the future. This review will focus on health disparities in cancer within and across countries, drawing from examples in Kenya, Brazil, and the United States. Placed in context with these examples, the authors also draw basic recommendations from several initiatives and groups that are working on the issue of global cancer disparities, including the US Institute of Medicine, the Global Task Force on Expanded Access to Cancer Care and Control in Developing Countries, and the Union for International Cancer Control. From increasing initiatives in basic resources in low-income countries to rapid learning systems in high-income countries, the authors argue that beyond ethics and equity issues, it makes economic sense to invest in global cancer control, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

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