Should the Preference-based Index Set of Values Be Country- or Disease-specific? An Analysis Using Data From Women With Symptoms of Overactive Bladder

Background: Overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence (UI) are common conditions among women. However, no studies have evaluated the utility value of this population using different country-specific value sets. We aimed to 1) verify the difference between the preference-based index extracted from the Short Form six dimensions (SF-6Dv1) questionnaire in women with OAB using different country-specific value sets; 2) translate and cross-culturally adapt the King's Health Questionnaire Five Dimension (KHQ-5D) into Brazilian Portuguese; and 3) examine the association between utility index obtained by the SF-6Dv1 and KHQ-5D. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 387 women over 18 years of age with OAB symptoms, divided into groups with and without UI. All participants answered the sociodemographic questionnaire, KHQ, KHQ-5D, and SF-6Dv1. To the statistical analysis a two-way mixed ANOVA was applied to verify the interaction between the presence of UI and utility index obtained from different country-specific value sets. Post-hoc multiple comparisons were applied following the main analysis. Spearman’s test was applied to verify the correlation between the utility values of SF-6Dv1 and KHQ-5D. The significance level was set at 5%. Results: We evaluated 298 women classified according to the presence of UI (119 without UI vs. 179 with UI). The main analysis showed a statistically significant interaction between the presence of UI and the utility index obtained from the different countries (p = 0.005, Cohen’s d= 0.02). The post-hoc analyses showed that there was a statistically significant main effect of the utility index obtained from different countries (p <0.001, d = 0.63) and in the presence of UI (p = 0.012, d = 0.02). The correlations between the utility indices obtained from different countries using the SF-6Dv1 and KHQ-5D were significant, positive, and small. Conclusions: The differences between the indices obtained in different countries and groups with and without UI, assessed using the SF-6Dv1, are shown. The correlation between general and specifics preference-based measures was small; therefore, the SF-6Dv1 should be used with caution in cost-utility studies for this population. We recommend that in women with OAB, the value set for GPBM be obtained in countries where cost utility is applied.

The effects of COVID-19 vaccines on economic activity

This paper empirically examines the economic effects of COVID-19 vaccine rollouts using a cross-country daily database of vaccinations and high-frequency indicators of economic activity—nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions, carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, and Google mobility indices—for a sample of 46 countries over the period December 16, 2020 to June 20, 2021. Using surprises in vaccines administered, we find that an unexpected increase in vaccination per capita is associated with a significant increase in economic activity. We also find evidence for nonlinear effects of vaccines, with the marginal economic benefits being larger when vaccination rates are higher. Country-specific conditions play an important role, with lower economic gains if strict containment measures are in place or if the country is experiencing a severe outbreak. Finally, the results provide evidence of spillovers across borders, highlighting the importance of equitable access to vaccines across nations.

Understanding electricity nightmare and health implications among slum dwellers in Ghana

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to examine the electricity challenges confronting slums in order to understand the health implications thereof.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilized purposive sampling techniques supported by the convenience sampling method within the context of qualitative research to select 30 interviewees of varying demographics for in-depth interviews.FindingsThe findings revealed that slums faced various forms of challenges that are attributable to lack of government support, stringent procedures and financial hardship, among others. The study also found that a lack of health education in the slums has resulted in health problems, such as skin diseases, stomach aches, cholera, typhoid and childbirth complications.Research limitations/implicationsThe outcome of this study cannot be generalized to represent the whole population of slums within context due to the qualitative approach.Practical implicationsThe study advanced the frontiers of slum literature to understand contextual issues that are important to policymakers and practitioners.Originality/valueThis study revealed a country-specific understanding of the challenges confronting slum dwellers in accessing electricity through the perspective of the two-factor theory of motivation.

A Way to Europe: New Refugees’ Migration Patterns Revealed

The final destination country for refugees heading to Europe may be a changing one depending on various factors, such as the relocation program at the EU level, their ability to make decisions, geographic factors, finances, available routes, visa options, networks, chance, labor markets, etc., but for many of them their choices are limited. The purpose of this paper is to show how refugees select their destination countries, by looking at similarities across European countries. We aim to explain how country-specific factors may relate to the magnitude of migration flows, employing cluster and network analysis, and connecting meso- and macro-levels. The variables considered in our analysis fall under the four types of factors for host countries described by Van Hear, Bakewell, and Long (2012). Our analysis reveals that host countries in Europe can be grouped into four clusters: (i) Top Destination Economically Performing Countries; (ii) Emergent Destination Countries; (iii) Periphery and Less Economically Performing Countries; and (iv) Outlier Countries.

Measuring adoption of industry 4.0 technologies via international trade data: insights from European countries

The investigation of the adoption of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies and its implications, both at the macro and micro level, has attracted growing interest in the recent literature. Most studies have looked at the production and diffusion of related innovations and knowledge, but what do we know about the adoption of these technologies over time and across countries? In this paper, we look at three I4.0 technologies and present a new empirical perspective able to overcome the limitations of existing attempts at measuring their adoption, generally based on small-scale and country-specific studies. Our study provides a methodology that allows measuring adoption across countries for a relatively long time period. In so doing, we build on the well-established idea in the international economics literature that trade of capital goods captures technology diffusion, and so adoption across countries. We provide preliminary and comprehensive evidence on the adoption of these I4.0 technologies in Europe and set the premise for monitoring its evolution and implications on a large scale and over time.

Climate events and the role of adaptive capacity for (im-)mobility

The study examines the relationship between sudden- and gradual-onset climate events and migration, hypothesizing that this relationship is mediated by the adaptive capacity of affected individuals. We use survey data from regions of Cambodia, Nicaragua, Peru, Uganda, and Vietnam that were affected by both types of events with representative samples of non-migrant residents and referral samples of migrants. Although some patterns are country-specific, the general findings indicate that less educated and lower-income people are less likely to migrate after exposure to sudden-onset climate events compared to their counterparts with higher levels of education and economic resources. These results caution against sweeping predictions that future climate-related events will be accompanied by widespread migration.

Single, Dual, and Triple Use of Cigarettes, e-Cigarettes, and Snus among Adolescents in the Nordic Countries

New tobacco and nicotine products have emerged on the market in recent years. Most research has concerned only one product at a time, usually e-cigarettes, while little is known about the multiple use of tobacco and nicotine products among adolescents. We examined single, dual, and triple use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and snus among Nordic adolescents, using data of 15–16-year-olds (n = 16,125) from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) collected in 2015 and 2019 from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands. Country-specific lifetime use of any of these products ranged between 40% and 50%, and current use between 17% and 31%. Cigarettes were the most common product in all countries except for Iceland, where e-cigarettes were remarkably more common. The proportion of dual and triple users was unexpectedly high among both experimental (24%–49%) and current users (31–42%). Triple use was less common than dual use. The users’ patterns varied somewhat between the countries, and Iceland differed substantially from the other countries, with a high proportion of single e-cigarette users. More knowledge on the patterns of multiple use of tobacco and nicotine products and on the potential risk and protective factors is needed for targeted intervention and prevention efforts.

Central bank digital currency research around the world: a review of literature

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to gain some insight into central bank digital currency research by reviewing the recent advances in central bank digital currency (CBDC) research in a way that would help researchers, policy makers and practitioners to take a closer look at CBDC. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a systematic literature review methodology. Findings The review shows a general consensus that a CBDC is a liability of the central bank and it has cash-like attributes. The review also presents the motivation and benefits of issuing a CBDC such as the need to increase financial inclusion, the need to improve the conduct of monetary policy and to foster efficient digital payments. The review also shows that many central banks are researching the potential to issue CBDCs due to its many benefits. However, a number of studies have called for caution against over-optimism about the potential benefits of CBDC due to the limiting nature of CBDC design and its inability to meet multiple competing goals. Suggested areas for future research are identified such as the need to find the optimal CBDC design that meets all competing objectives, the need for empirical evidence on the effect of CBDC on the cost of credit and financial stability, and the need to find a balance between limiting the CBDC holdings of users and allowing users to hold as much CBDC as they want, and there is a need to undertake country-specific and regional case studies of CBDC design. Originality/value This review paper offers new areas for further research in central bank digital currencies.