Asymmetric Relationship of Global Human Obesity and Political Globalization Through World Human Development Levels

Abstract Background: Political globalization is a crucial and distinct component of strengthening global organizations. Obesity is a global epidemic in a few nations, and it is on the verge of becoming a pandemic that would bring plenty of diseases. The focus of this research is to see how the political globalization index affects worldwide human obesity in relation to global human development levels. Methods: In order to assess any cross-sectional dependence among observed 109 nations, the yearly period from 1990 to 2017 is analyzed using second generation panel data methods. KAO panel cointegration test and Feasible Generalized Least Square model were used to meet our objectives. Results: Low level of political Globalization tends to increase global human obesity because countries cannot sway international decisions and resources towards them. While the high level of political Globalization tends to reduce obesity because they can control and amends the international decisions. For the regression model, a feasible Generalized Least Square model was utilized. The study observed that the R squared values for all models are healthy, with a minimum of 87 percent variables explaining differences in global obesity at the country level. Conclusion: There is a very important to tackle globalization issue to reduce global human obesity. Simplicity of dietary options and the amount of physical labour they undergo in their agricultural duties, an increase in rural population percentage tends to lower the average national obesity value.

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IPO initial return in Pakistan: influence of country-level institutional quality

South Asian Journal of Business Studies ◽

10.1108/sajbs-06-2020-0209 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Waqas Mehmood ◽

Rasidah Mohd-Rashid ◽

Abd Halim Ahmad ◽

Ahmad Hakimi Tajuddin

Keyword(s):

Stock Exchange ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Institutional Quality ◽

Political Stability ◽

Least Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Country Level ◽

Initial Return ◽

The Impact

PurposeThe present study investigated the influence of country-level institutional quality on IPO initial return using World Bank Governance indices.Design/methodology/approachThis study analysed 84 IPOs listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange between 2000 and 2017 using cross-sectional data. The impact of country-level institutional quality on IPO initial returns was examined using ordinary least square, robust least square, stepwise least square and quantile regression.FindingsEmpirically, the values of political stability, government effectiveness and regulatory quality were positively significant, whereas rule of law and control of corruption were negatively significant in explaining the intensity of IPO initial return. The results also show the presence of significant risk in the market. Hence, investors were compensated with higher initial returns for weak country-level institutional quality. The results also reveal that improving country-level institutional quality would improve the financial market transparency, thereby reducing IPO initial returns.Originality/valueNo studies have been conducted regarding the influence of country-level institutional quality on IPO initial return in Pakistan. This study is a pioneering study that seeks to give insights into the link between these variables in the context of Pakistan.

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Prevalence of and Trends in the Co-Existence of Obesogenic Behaviors in Adolescents From 15 Countries

Frontiers in Pediatrics ◽

10.3389/fped.2021.664828 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Hui Fan ◽

Xingyu Zhang

Keyword(s):

Behavioral Interventions ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Sampling Weights ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Random Effects Models ◽

Global Epidemic ◽

Country Level ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Obesogenic Behaviors

Background: The global epidemic of pediatric obesity is well-known, but data on co-existence of obesogenic behaviors are limited. We aim to report the prevalence of and trends in the co-existence of obesogenic behaviors in adolescents from 15 countries.Methods: This study was based on the Global School-based Student Health Survey 2003–2017 and included 121,963 adolescents aged 12–15 years from 15 countries where at least 2 cross-sectional surveys were conducted. We used sampling weights and calculated the country-level prevalence of and trends in the co-existence of obesogenic behaviors (low fruit and vegetable intake, anxiety-induced insomnia, no physical activity, and sedentary behavior) during survey years. Pooled prevalence and trend estimates were calculated with random-effects models.Results: Pooled prevalence of exposure ≥ 1, ≥2, and ≥3 obesogenic behaviors was 88.2, 44.9, and 9.8% in the first survey and 88.4, 46.4, and 10.2% in the last survey, respectively. Plateauing, increasing, and decreasing trends in the co-existence of obesogenic behaviors were observed in different countries. Specifically, we identified a plateauing pooled trend in the exposure ≥ 1, ≥2, and ≥3 obesogenic behaviors [odds ratios (95% confidence intervals): 1.03 (0.93, 1.14), 1.05 (0.97, 1.13), and 1.06 (0.95, 1.18), respectively].Conclusion: Trends in the prevalence of the co-existence of obesogenic behaviors varied significantly across different countries, but the prevalence remained high in most countries. These findings suggest the need for behavioral interventions to mitigate obesogenic behaviors in adolescents for overweight and obesity prevention.

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A study on the Relationship of the weight pattern with the socioeconomic status among adolescents school going children in an Indian Metropolitan City

Research in Pharmacy and Health Sciences ◽

10.32463/rphs.2017.v03i02.12 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 320-323

Author(s):

Samar Hossain ◽

Sharma Priyanka ◽

Talib Hossain ◽

Surendra Mohan Mathur

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Socioeconomic Development ◽

Economic Status ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Socio Economic Status ◽

Obesity And Overweight ◽

Prevalence Of Obesity ◽

Development Levels

Objective: The last two decades have witnessed an increase in health care costs due to obesity and related issues among children and adolescents. Childhood obesity is a global phenomenon affecting all socio-economic groups, irrespective of age, sex or ethnicity. The study was done to find the the prevalence of obesity and overweight and their association with socioeconomic status (SES) and the risk factors. Materials and Methods: School based cross sectional study carried out over a period of 4 months in three schools of East Delhi. The study was carried out in 629 school children of 10–18 years of age and belonging to different socioeconomic statuses in schools in East Delhi. The obesity and overweight were considered using an updated body mass index reference. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to determine the Socio-economic status and life style factors. Results: The prevalence of overweight among children was higher in middle socioeconomic status groups as compared to high socioeconomic class in both boys and girls whereas the prevalence of obesity was higher in high Socio economic status group as compared to middle socioeconomic group. The prevalence of obesity as well as overweight in low SES group was the lowest as compared to other group. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the prevalence of overweight and obesity varies remarkably with different socioeconomic development levels.

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Freedom Indices and Capital Asset Pricing Model: Some Malaysian Evidence

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting ◽

10.33093/ijomfa.2020.1.1.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Ying Tay Lee ◽

Devinaga Rasiah ◽

Ming Ming Lai

Keyword(s):

Human Rights ◽

Asset Pricing ◽

Stock Returns ◽

Firm Size ◽

Explanatory Power ◽

Least Square ◽

Press Freedom ◽

Capital Asset Pricing ◽

Capital Asset ◽

Cross Sectional

Human rights and fundamental freedoms such as economic, political, and press freedoms vary widely from country to country. It creates opportunity and risk in investment decisions. Thus, this study is carried out to examine if the explanatory power of the model for capital asset pricing could be improved when these human rights movement indices are included in the model. The sample for this study comprises of 495 stocks listed in Bursa Malaysia, covering the sampling period from 2003 to 2013. The model applied in this study employed the pooled ordinary least square regression estimation. In addition, the robustness of the model is tested by using firm size as a controlled variable. The findings show that market beta as well as the economic and press freedom indices could explain the cross-sectional stock returns of the Malaysian stock market. By controlling the firm size, it adds marginally to the explanation of the extended CAP model which incorporated economic, political, and press freedom indices.

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The Nexus between Financial Development and Human Development: The Case of Developing Countries

Journal of Emerging Economies and Islamic Research ◽

10.24191/jeeir.v8i2.8735 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 68

Author(s):

Bilgehan Tekin

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Private Sector ◽

Human Development ◽

Financial Development ◽

Cointegration Analysis ◽

Annual Data ◽

Causality Analysis ◽

Development Index ◽

Development Levels ◽

The Relationship

The purpose of this study to examine the relationship between financial development and human development in the health and welfare dimensions of developing countries. This study aims to determine whether the financial developments of the countries have an effect on the basic human development of the individuals and whether human development indicators have an impact on financial development. In this study, the relationship between financial development and human development has been tried to be revealed by using data obtained from developing countries. Financial development levels of the countries were measured with the developed financial development index. The index is calculated by using M3 / GDP, private sector loans / GDP and loans to banks from private sector / GDP ratios. The human development index is calculated by considering various health indicators and GNP per capita. The data includes annual data for the period 1970-2016. Pedroni and Kao cointegration analysis and Dumitrescu & Hurlin panel causality analysis were performed in the study. According to the results of the study, the cointegration relationship was determined between the two variables. There is also a two-way causality between the variables.

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Kualitas, Kepuasan, Perawat KUALITAS KEHIDUPAN KERJA DAN KEPUASAN KERJA PERAWAT DI RUMAH SAKIT

Jurnal Keperawatan Malang ◽

10.36916/jkm.v2i2.23 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 57-62

Author(s):

Ike Nesdia Rahmawati

Keyword(s):

Random Sampling ◽

Simple Random Sampling ◽

Partial Least Square ◽

Least Square ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstrak Kualitas kehidupan kerja dan kepuasan kerja perawat telah diketahui dapat mempengaruhi turnover pada tenaga kesehatan. Informasi tentang hubungan kualitas kerja dan kepuasan kerja pada perawat masih sangat minimal. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis hubungan antara kualitas kehidupan kerja dan kepuasan kerja perawat. Penelitian ini menggunakan disain penelitian survey ekspanatif dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Data didapatkan dari 32 perawat melalui simple random sampling dan dianalisis menggunakan partial least square (PLS). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan ada hubungan antara kualitas kehidupan kerja dan kepuasan kerja perawat. Meningkatkan kualitas kehidupan kerja perawat dapat menjadi strategi untuk meningkatkan kepuasan kerja perawat. Kata Kunci: Kualitas, Kepuasan Kerja, Manajemen, Keperawatan

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Panel Econometric Analysis on Mobile Payment Transactions and Traditional Banks Effort toward Financial Accessibility in Sub-Sahara Africa

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12030895 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 895 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Cephas Paa Kwasi Coffie ◽

Hongjiang Zhao ◽

Isaac Adjei Mensah

Keyword(s):

Time Series Data ◽

Unit Root Test ◽

Panel Cointegration ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Sustainable Growth ◽

Series Data ◽

Mobile Payment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mobile Payments ◽

Long Run

The financial landscape of sub-Sahara Africa is undergoing major changes due to the advent of FinTech, which has seen mobile payments boom in the region. This paper examines the salient role of mobile payments in traditional banks’ drive toward financial accessibility in sub-Sahara Africa by using panel econometric approaches that consider the issues of independencies among cross-sectional residuals. Using data from the World Development Index (WDI) 2011–2017 on 11 countries in the region, empirical results from cross-sectional dependence (CD) tests, panel unit root test, panel cointegration test, and the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) approach indicates that (i) the panel time series data are cross-sectionally independent, (ii) the variables have the same order of integration and are cointegrated, and (iii) growth in mobile payment transactions had a significant positive relationship with formal account ownership, the number of ATMs, and number of new bank branches in the long-run. The paper therefore confirms that the institutional structure of traditional banks that makes them competitive, irrespective of emerging disruptive technologies, has stimulated overall financial accessibility in the region leading to overall sustainable growth in the financial sector. We conclude the paper with feasible policy suggestions.

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Starchy Vegetables and Metabolic Syndrome in Costa Rica

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13051639 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1639

Author(s):

Zhongyao Li ◽

Dongqing Wang ◽

Edward A. Ruiz-Narváez ◽

Karen E. Peterson ◽

Hannia Campos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Regression Models ◽

Fasting Blood Glucose ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Costa Rican ◽

Least Square ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Cross Sectional

Only a few studies primarily examined the associations between starchy vegetables (other than potatoes) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to evaluate the association between starchy vegetables consumption and MetS in a population-based sample of Costa Rican adults. We hypothesized that a higher overall intake of starchy vegetables would not be associated with higher MetS prevalence. In this cross-sectional study, log-binomial regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) of MetS across quintiles of total, unhealthy, healthy starchy vegetables, and individual starchy vegetables (potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, etc.), among 1881 Costa Rican adults. Least square means and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from linear regression models were estimated for each MetS component by categories of starchy vegetable variables. Higher intakes of starchy vegetables were associated with a higher prevalence of MetS in crude models, but no significant trends were observed after adjusting for confounders. A significant inverse association was observed between total starchy and healthy starchy vegetables consumption and fasting blood glucose. In this population, starchy vegetables might be part of a healthy dietary pattern.

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Caregiver Status and Diet Quality in Community-Dwelling Adults

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13061803 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 1803

Author(s):

Sharmin Hossain ◽

May A. Beydoun ◽

Michele K. Evans ◽

Alan B. Zonderman ◽

Marie F. Kuczmarski

Keyword(s):

Diet Quality ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Rate Of Change ◽

Least Square ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Cross Sectional

Objective: We investigated cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of diet quality with middle-aged caregiver status. Methods: Caregiving in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study (57.7% women, 62% African American (AA)) was measured at waves 3 (2009–2013) and 4 (2013–2017) (mean follow-up time 4.1 years). Diet quality was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010) derived from two separate 24 h diet recalls. Multivariable ordinary least square regression was performed for cross-sectional analyses of the association of wave 4 caregiving with wave 4 HEI-2010. Wave 3 caregiving was examined both cross-sectionally and with annual rate of change in HEI using mixed-effects linear regression Models. Multivariable models were adjusted for age, sex, and poverty status. Results: Cross-sectional analyses at wave 4 demonstrate an inverse association of frequent caregiving (“Daily or Weekly” vs. “Never”) for grandchildren with HEI-2010 total score (i.e., lower diet quality) among Whites (β = −2.83 ± 1.19, p = 0.03, Model 2) and AAs (β = −1.84 ± 0.79, p = 0.02,). The “cross-sectional” analysis pertaining to grandchildren caregiving frequency suggested that frequent caregiving (i.e., “Daily or Weekly” vs. “Never” (β = −2.90 ± 1.17, p = 0.04)) only among Whites was inversely related to HEI-2010 total score. Total HEI-2010 score was also related to caring (Model 1), for the elderly over “5 years vs. Never” among Whites (−7.31 ± 3.54, p = 0.04, Model 2). Longitudinally, we found slight potential improvement in diet quality over time (“Daily or Weekly” vs. Never by TIME interaction: +0.88 ± 0.38, p = 0.02) with frequent caregiving among Whites, but not so among AAs. Conclusions: Frequent caring for grandchildren had an inverse relationship with the diet quality of White and AA urban middle-aged caregivers, while caring for elderly was inversely linked to diet quality among Whites only. Longitudinal studies should address the paucity of research on caregivers’ nutritional quality.

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Auditors, Underwriters, and Firm Owners’ Interaction in an IPO Environment: The Case of OECD Nations

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13116281 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 6281

Author(s):

Sheela Sundarasen ◽

Kamilah Kamaludin ◽

Izani Ibrahim ◽

Usha Rajagopalan ◽

Nevi Danila

Keyword(s):

Positive Impact ◽

Common Law ◽

Civil Law ◽

Least Square ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Key Stakeholders ◽

Research Findings ◽

Firm Owners ◽

The Relationship

This study explores the effects of interactions among key stakeholders, i.e., auditors, underwriters, and firm owners on IPOs’ first-day returns in selected OECD nations. It also examines the alteration effects of legal origin (Common law and Civil law) on the relationship between the interacted key stakeholders and IPOs’ first-day returns. A total of four thousand one hundred and sixty-four IPOs from twenty-eight OECD nations are included in this study. Since it is cross-sectional data, a two-stage least square regression is applied. The empirical outcomes indicate that, in general, the interacted reputable underwriters and auditors have a positive impact on IPOs’ first-day return. The relationship is modified between common law and civil law nations, whereby in civil law nations, no significance is demonstrated except for the interaction between the reputable auditors and underwriters. In the common law nation, interactions between reputable auditors and ownership retention have an impact on IPOs’ first-day return. The research findings provide outlooks into an IPO framework for issuers, investors, and regulators. Issuers may want to weigh carefully the costs and benefits of hiring credible auditors and underwriters when going public as they act as signaling agents. As for the investors, they should take into consideration the involvement of reputable underwriters and auditors and the degree to which the IPO firms retain ownership, as the interactive effects give clear signals on firm valuation and IPOs’ first-day returns. Regulators may find the findings informative concerning the creation of a more organized regulatory and financial system that could lead to a deeper and more open financial market.

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