Health Is Wealth: Study on Consumer Preferences and the Willingness to Pay for Ecological Agricultural Product Traceability Technology: Evidence from Jiangxi Province China

The application of traceability technology is an important way to solve food safety problems. Different traceability technologies bring different effects to consumers. Existing studies have not explored consumers’ preferences in regards to product traceability technology applications, and they have not analyzed their willingness to pay. Therefore, this study focused on organic rice, an ecological agricultural product. The study was based on a survey from Jiangxi Province, China. It used a selective experiment method in order to analyze consumer preferences and the willingness to pay for ecological agricultural product traceability technology. The results show that consumer preferences are as follows: blockchain technology application attributes, traditional traceability-technology-application attributes, high credit-supervision attributes, and international-certification attributes. In terms of willingness to pay, consumers have the highest willingness to pay for the application of blockchain technology, which they are willing to pay CNY 21.902 more per kg for this attribute. At the same time, consumers are also willing to make additional payments for traditional traceability-technology-application attributes, high credit-supervision attributes, and international-certification attributes. Their willingness to pay is CNY 20.426, CNY 17.115 yuan, and CNY 11.049, respectively.

Knowledge Management Factors and Development of Universities in Nigeria

The study examined the factors affecting knowledge management and assessed the effect of its factors on the development of Universities in Ondo State, Nigeria. Sample consists of 359 respondents selected from three of the four universities in the study area using stratified random sampling. The study was conducted Ondo State. The study used both descriptive and regression analysis to arrive at its outcomes. Descriptive analysis revealed that job security (4.67), allocation of sufficient financial resources (4.51), senior management support and commitment (4.47), technological infrastructure (4.42), employee involvement (4.34), employee motivation (4.32) and friendly organizational culture (4.28) are the factors affecting knowledge management of the universities. In addition, regression analysis revealed that the factors examined in the study have positive link with the development of Universities in the study area. The study recommends that University management should ensure that staff are guaranteed of the safety of their jobs as this will encourage them to feel comfortable in sharing their knowledge for the prospects of the university. Also, university management should ensure that staff have a safe, comfortable and friendly working environment and introduce means for motivating them such as giving incentives and additional payments for overtime.

United Russia aims to win despite lacklustre appeal

Significance Its campaign advertising claims the party is responsible for welfare improvements generated by the government. Functionally, the party looks increasingly like a vehicle for the Kremlin to extend its control of regional executives. Impacts To boost United Russia, President Vladimir Putin has offered additional payments to pensioners and the security services. The poor management of the COVID-19 crisis will have little impact on United Russia's performance. The Kremlin will allow the Communist Alexey Russkikh in Ulyanovsk and Liberal Democrat Mikhail Degtyarev in Khabarovsk to become governors.

Is it fair that advanced workers get paid disproportionally more: economic analysis

PurposeOn the one hand, everyone agrees that economics should be fair, that workers should get equal pay for equal work. Any instance of unfairness causes a strong disagreement. On the other hand, in many companies, advanced workers – who produce more than others – get paid disproportionally more for their work, and this does not seem to cause any negative feelings. In this paper, the authors analyze this situation from the economic viewpoint.Design/methodology/approachTo analyze the problem, the authors use general mathematical models of how utility – and hence, decisions – depends on the pay-per-unit.FindingsThe authors show that from the economic viewpoint, additional payments for advanced workers indeed make economic sense, benefit everyone, and thus – in contrast to the naive literal interpretation of fairness – are not unfair. As a consequence of this analysis, the authors also explain why the labor share of the companies' income is, on average, close to 50% – an empirical fact that, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, was never previously explained.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that explains the empirical fact – that the labor share of the income is close to 50%.

A MODEL FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF EFFECTIVENESS OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROCESS

The article considers some aspects of the mentoring process management, namely incentives for mentors. To that end, we consider in detail a model for staff training evaluation, which takes place in the form of mentoring, one of the most popular forms of on-the-job training. The aim of the present study is to develop an effective incentive model for mentors, which aims to improve the effectiveness of their performance management, as this model involves not only the establishment of an effective system of allowances and additional payments to mentors, but also an evaluation system of duties performed by staff. Materials and methods. It is planned to assess the training in the following areas: corporate competencies; professional competencies and implementation of an established plan. For this purpose it is proposed to use the “360 degrees” method, direct inspection and other methods of collecting information depending on the measured indicators. Following the evaluation process it is expected to obtain a comprehensive mentoring assessment, which can be used to adjust the mentoring procedure, a comprehensive assessment of a student, which demon-strates learning outcomes as well as a comprehensive assessment of a mentor, which could be used to create an incentive model for mentors. In order to develop an effective mentoring system it is proposed to make the size of mentoring allowance dynamic, i.e. directly dependent on the results of mentoring – comprehensive assessment of a mentor. It is proposed to build a comprehensive as-sessment of mentoring procedure by means of additive convolution of criteria. Results. Therefore, the essence of mentor bonus dynamism strategy includes the following aspects. First, the mentor will receive a fixed compensatory bonus for the entire mentoring period. Second, the mentor will receive an incentive bonus. It is proposed to determine the amount of the bonus as a percentage of the mentor's salary calculated as a multifaceted evaluation of the mentoring process that will directly depend on the mentor's contribution to the mentoring process. Conclusion. It is expected that the implementation of the proposed model in the practice of mentoring procedure management will in-crease its effectiveness and reduce the formality, which we see in practice today.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

В данной статье рассматривается влияние пандемии на состояние мировой экономики, в частности, проведён анализ негативного последствия пандемии для мирового экономического роста. В 2021 году большинству стран придется столкнутся с рецессией, и особое место занимает- экономический ущерб по регионам. Рассматривается статистическая динамика последствий пандемии с резким негативным экономическим эффектом на различные отрасли, рассматриваются меры правительства страны для сохранения занятости населения, посредством доплат и поддержки частного предпринимательства для смягчения кризиса. Рассматриваются меры поддержки граждан государством, которыми являются: выплаты пособий для детей, выдача препаратов для заболевших, а также помощь государственным организациям - производилась выдача выплаты заболевшим сотрудникам. Проанализировано влияние пандемии на процесс обучения в школах и университетах, с учётом наиболее уязвимых групп населения. Пандемия обнародовала хрупкие стороны глобальных производственно-сбытовых цепочек, которым пришлось временно остановить работу. Рассматриваются решения и действия по смягчению влияния пандемии посредством бесплатной помощи для переболевших для восстановления в курортах и санаториях, выделением техники для малоимущих семей, материальной поддержкой, выделенных семьям с детьми, не достигшими 18 летнего возраста. This article examines the impact of the pandemic on the global economy, in particular, the analysis of the negative impact of the pandemic on global economic growth. In 2021, most countries will be faced with a recession, especially economically damaging by region. The article considers the statistical dynamics of the consequences of the pandemic with a sharp negative economic effect on various industries as well as the measures which governments have taken to maintain employment, through additional payments and support for private entrepreneurship to mitigate the crisis. The state has supported society with benefits for children and medicines for the sick, and state organizations have made payments to sick employees. This study analyzes the impact of the pandemic on the learning process in schools and universities, taking into account the most vulnerable groups of the population. The pandemic has exposed the fragile sides of global supply chains that have had to temporarily shut down. The article considers decisions and actions to mitigate the impact of the pandemic through free assistance for those who have been ill to recover in resorts and sanatoriums, the allocation of equipment for low-income families, and material support allocated to families with children under the age of eighteen.

Rating as an indicator of the quality of a teacher’s professional activity

The article examines several aspects of the quality of educational services. The process of providing such services is examined, the problems in the field of teaching physics and mathematics are identified and the ways of problem resolution in the credit learning system are proposed. The introduction of credit learning technology allows for stimulation of students’ learning activity and an increase in their motivation and the level of academic mobility. The ways of increasing the motivational activity of the teacher as another key figure in the educational process are identified. The current remuneration system for university teachers in Kazakhstan accounts for work experience and the position held and includes additional payments for an academic degree but does not stimulate teachers for continuous additional training. On the other hand, the salary volume does not contribute to the high social prestige of this profession, which is complex and requires genuine pedagogical skills. The quality of teaching staff is associated with the quality of education acquired by students. In the context of the credit rating system, it is not only students who earn credits, but also teachers who should substantiate and improve their qualifications measured by their rating.

“We’re in good hands there.” - Acceptance, barriers and facilitators of a primary care-based health coaching programme for children and adolescents with mental health problems: a qualitative study (PrimA-QuO)

Background 11.5 % of girls and 17.8 % of boys are affected by a mental health problem (MHP). The most prevalent problem areas are behavioural problems (girls/boys in %: 11.9/17.9), emotional problems (9.7/8.6) and hyperactivity problems (4.8/10.8). Primary care paediatricians are the first in line to be contacted. Nevertheless, even for less severely affected patients, referral rates to specialised care are constantly high. Therefore, a major statutory health insurance fund introduced a Health Coaching (HC) programme, including a training concept for paediatricians, standardised guidelines for actions and additional payments to strengthen primary care consultation for MHP and to decrease referrals to specialised care. The aim of this study was to examine how the HC is perceived and implemented in daily practice to indicate potential strengths and challenges. Methods During a one-year period starting in November 2017, a series of guideline-based interviews were conducted by phone with HC-developers, HC-qualified paediatricians, parents and patients (≥14 years) treated according to the HC programme. Paediatricians were selected from a Bavarian practice network with a total of 577 HC qualified paediatricians. Parents of patients with the four most common MHP diagnoses were approached by their health insurance: [World Health Organization, 2013] developmental disorder of speech and language [Wille N, et al., 2008] head/abdominal pain (somatoform) [Holling H, et al., 2003-2006 and 2009-2012] conduct disorder [Plass-Christl A, et al., 2018] non-organic enuresis. 23 paediatricians, 314 parents and 10 adolescents consented to be interviewed. Potential participants were selected based on purposeful sampling, according to principles of maximum variance. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Two researchers analysed the transcripts independently of each other. Structuring content analysis derived from Mayring was used for analysis. Results 11 paediatricians, 3 co-developers, 22 parents and 4 adolescents were included. Families were generally satisfied with paediatric care received in the programme’s context. The HC supported paediatricians’ essential role as consultants and improved their diagnostic skills. Lack of time, financial restrictions and patients’ challenging family structures were reported as major barriers to success. Conclusion The HC programme is perceived as a facilitator for more patient-centred care. However, structural barriers remain. Starting points for improvement are further options to strengthen families’ resources and expanded interdisciplinary networking.

The review of the foreign experience on the financing of innovative medical technologies

The article presents a review of the foreign approaches to the mechanisms of financing of medical help and innovative medical technologies with the description of the implemented financial mechanisms of stimulation of innovations in foreign systems of public healthcare. Since the system of payment for diagnosis-related groups (DRG) does not contribute to the implementation of innovations in the medical practice, the majority of countries apply additional mechanisms of financing of innovative technologies in public healthcare such as single and additional payments, and target financing that was initially not associated with a DRG model.