Community disaster resilience in Brazilian small urban centers

The establishment of a solid understanding of regional economic development has proved to be highly elusive. Research efforts within this area have focused largely on major urban areas, yet this somewhat narrow focus means that economic development activities in smaller urban centers have not received the attention that they deserve. This article investigates regional economic development within a small city context through a survey‐based study of the entrepreneurial ecosystems operating in two small cities in the province of Manitoba. The results indicate that many currently accepted bases of regional business community expansion, such as government support and development of local suppliers, have limited utility within these cities. Concurrently, business leader survey responses from the two cities reveal a unique set of factors that drive economic development success in this nonmetropolitan case study, keyed by the pivotal role of a unique mix of nonlocal linkages, local cultural resources, and social connections in catalyzing local business expansion. These findings indicate that business community growth in the study cities proceeds from a distinctive template relative to larger centers, and suggest that increased research attention is necessary to elucidate the bases of business success in a more diverse selection of successful small cities.

Once the fall of the communist regime, one of the cruelest dictatorships round Europe, the deep economic crisis induced all Albanians to the exodus versus neighbor European countries. Their exodus was short, immediate, uncontrolled, and not organized. Finding themselves in such difficult conditions of survival, they didn‟t preserved strong links with their home-country, and the co-nationals. They had a very hard beginning, dealing with their need to be employed, to have a house to live, and to be integrated to the new societies. In these conditions, we look today the Albanian immigrant community in lower levels of social hierarchy in the host countries, and this is reflected to the second generation of Albanian immigrants too. They have lower social status, occupy business and economic sectors of a lower social status, and are less developed. They still lack strong social capital and high level trusts too. But they are much more oriented to alter ties (weak), than to other immigrantsin the Albanian community and more addicted to the host country living. They own weaker ties to the outside enclave community, and this is a good case for development and success. Increase of trust to meso-level within the Albanian enclave of the immigrants,reinforcing strong ties between Albanian egos, increasing the level of social capital, is necessary to support theireconomic and social development, improving image, social status and business potentials too. Identifying ways and possibilities to increase social capital, social status and the economic development, the Albanian immigrant community of the region of Lombardy in Italy will increase its potential to transnational bridging with home country in international trade.

The central question of this research is: under what conditions can social capital improve economic development? The results of the analysis show that the relationship between micro and macro levels of social capital is the key factor to answer this question. Countries can use the benefits of social capital and be in the “corridor of development” when both micro and macro levels of social capital are high in that country and society. Otherwise, social capital cannot improve economic development indicators. According to the relative levels of micro and macro social capital, countries are placed in four main groups in terms of moving towards development: a. development corridor, b. “Swamp Corridor of Underdevelopment" c. “Uphill Corridor of Development” and d. “Rugged Corridor of Development”. To examine the idea presented in the research, an Agent-based approach was used. The simulation results indicate that the relative levels of micro and macro social capital are an important factor in determining the long-term economic welfare and development of societies. So in summary we can say: In order for social capital to have beneficial effects on economic performance; first, there is a need for the social capital formed in the society to be of a good type and help the development path. Secondly, in-group social capital and outgroup social capital should be placed in an optimal fit (relative to society structures). Thirdly, the economic and social platforms of the society that direct and create these connections (such as institutional arrangements, property rights, etc.) are sufficient to form these intermediary circles with the appropriate force. Keywords: Development Corridor, Social Capital, Trust, Agent Based Model.

With the rapid economic development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, transportation infrastructure has gradually developed, improved, and matured, highlighting the increasing importance of its interconnectivity and systematic development. As a pivotal move for high-quality development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, this paper takes the transportation infrastructure and economic development level of the Yangtze River Economic Belt as the research object, exploring their relationship from two perspectives: economic growth and the improvement and transformation of transportation infrastructure. It describes the status of regional transportation infrastructure and economic development from 2014 to 2022 and theoretically analyzes the impact of transportation infrastructure on economic development. This paper conducts a multifaceted study on the influence of transportation infrastructure conditions on economic growth, combining theoretical analysis with empirical research, and incorporating both rational judgment and objective descriptive analysis. Consequently, it is concluded that there is a significant correlation between per capita GDP growth and railway traffic density, highway traffic density, and inland waterway traffic density in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Meanwhile, differences in transportation infrastructure within the region have led to spatial agglomeration and diffusion phenomena. This uneven development demonstrates that there is still room for continuous improvement and upgrading of transportation infrastructure, requiring the government to continue its efforts in promoting economic development and infrastructure construction in the future, maintaining a consistent pace between the two to achieve coordinated and balanced economic development.

The article substantiates diversification as a tool to ensure sustainable development of rural areas in decentralization, which contributes to increasing incomes of the rural population, increasing gross agricultural and non-agricultural products, ensuring the competitiveness of rural areas, achieving economic, food and environmental safety, rational use, protection and reproduction of natural resources. In the process of researching the level of sustainable development of rural areas, monographic and graphic methods and scientific generalization were used. The study identified internal factors that affect the sustainable development of rural areas. Social factors include living conditions, the situation on the labor market, the state of social infrastructure. Economic factors should include the provision of agricultural land, the state of diversification of agricultural and non-agricultural activities, the amount of investment in economic development, the level and structure of household income in rural areas. Environmental factors include the level of air pollution, the situation with waste, the use of freshwater, the application of fertilizers to soils, the production and restoration of forests, the level of investment in environmental protection. External factors influencing the sustainable development of rural areas include the political situation in the country and the world; decentralization process; state programs to support rural development and agriculture; the level of supply and demand for goods and services produced in a particular area, etc. It is substantiated that diversification is a tool to ensure sustainable development and strengthen the competitive advantages of rural areas. It is stipulated that attracting investments in rural development and diversification of economic activity will contribute to job creation; income growth of rural residents; the revival of local crafts, customs and crafts, improvement of villages and change of consciousness of villagers. Further research should be carried out in the direction of calculating the integrated index of sustainable development of rural areas in Ukraine to identify regional disparities in the social, economic and environmental spheres of the functioning of these areas in the context of decentralization.

Despite populism being a fast-growing field of inquiry, populist discourse in an African setting is understudied. This paper expands our knowledge of populist communication and foreign policy in a competitive authoritarian context, proposing an analysis of two Ugandan politicians—Bobi Wine and Yoweri Museveni—and their communication on Twitter before the January 2021 election. Counter to expectations, I find that thick ideology has a limited effect on the electoral discourses of both candidates in a competitive autocracy such as Uganda, and this applies also to their communication about foreign policy. When it comes to their position on foreign policy, strategic electoral communication is focused on positioning themselves in relation to the West, signaling a commitment to a strong future linkage with the West and democratization in the event of electoral victory. The content analysis of Twitter-based communication finds that the long-standing incumbent, Museveni, uses tried-and-tested populist tropes to reinforce his regime, emphasizing his government's allegedly strong capacity to maintain a linkage to Western donors and to conduct a successful foreign policy focused on receiving foreign aid and advancing its investment in economic development. In his turn, counter-candidate Wine is a contemporary populist who contests the long-standing regime and promises a truthful commitment to democratization and an authentic and corruption-free linkage with the West if successfully elected. This paper aims to broaden our understanding of how political leaders in competitive autocratic countries of the Global South make strategic use of populist communication about foreign policy to advance their political agendas.

The article examines the idea of developing an investment code of the Russian Federation through the prism of the constitutional principle of economic solidarity. Cooperation between the state and private investors is expressed both in the implementation of public private partnership projects and in the state’s stimulation of investment in economic development, creation of stable investment conditions, comfortable infrastructure for investment projects both at the federal and regional levels. The systematization of investment incentives in the Investment Code of the Russian Federation will make the system of guarantees and measures of state support for investors more transparent and comprehensible. It will also demonstrate the seriousness of the state’s intentions to build a partnership between the State and private investors based on mutual trust.

During the past twenty or so years, foreign direct investment (FDI) flows have increased at rates approaching the astounding, especially so during the 1990s. While much of the increase was due to unprecedented cross-border mergers and acquisitions among high-income countries, the amount of FDI flowing to developing nations also grew substantially. This volume examines the economics of this FDI to developing countries. Some chapters are theoretical in nature, others empirical, and still others are largely policy-oriented. Topics covered include whether FDI makes an autonomous contribution to growth in these nations and whether or not 'spillovers' are generated by this investments. Also covered are effects of policy intervention by governments on FDI flows and whether non-economic factors (e.g. cultural factors) might figure as determinants of location of FDI

The article examines the trends in the movement of global foreign direct investment that have developed over the past decade. It is noted that FDI flows are characterized by high volatility, as well as a decrease in the relative contribution to the growth of world GDP and investment in fixed assets compared to previous periods. The reasons are the decrease in the role of tangible assets in external flows, the change in the forms of doing business in the context of digitalization, the strengthening of protectionist trends against the background of the crisis caused by the epidemic and the unfolding geopolitical conflicts. These processes lead to fragmentation of investment flows and their regionalization. They have a negative impact on international investment in economic development and on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in developing countries.

In recent years, the trend of decreasing the overall share of the EAEU states in the global and Eurasian economy has continued. The adoption of the guidelines for economic development up to 2030 has not reversed this trend, due to the current position of the EAEU in the global division of labor and the continuation of economic reproduction according to the inertial scenario. By exporting mainly raw materials, the EAEU states pay the intellectual rent contained in imported high-tech goods and thus finance scientific and technological progress in other countries. The EAEU’s positive trade balance is not being transformed into investment due to large-scale outflow of capital. In this non-equivalent foreign economic exchange, the EAEU loses more than 100 billion US dollars per year, which could be used for investment in economic development. The total internal R&D expenditures of all EAEU member states are comparable to that of a small European country like the Netherlands or a large corporation like Samsung. As a result, the weight of the EAEU states in the global scientific and technological potential is decreasing, and the gap with the USA, the EU, China and Japan is growing. As the world experience shows, in order to bring the economies of the states to the wave of growth of a new technological order, a powerful initiating impulse for the renewal of fixed capital is needed. The experience of countries that have achieved economic miracles shows the need for a forced increase in investment up to 35–45 per cent of GDP. As will be shown in the article, the main source of financing such an increase in investment activity is the multiple expansion of credit, organized by the state through controlled multi-channel monetary emission under the obligations of the country and enterprises for the purpose of financing investments in the modernization, development and expansion of promising production and technological systems. This implies the crucial importance of reorienting monetary policy towards development goals, including the creation of mechanisms for refinancing investment and innovation activities.

This chapter explores the proportion of national and of urban populations that live in small urban centres, and draws on the most recent census data available from each nation. It proposes the national populations that live in ‘large villages’ that have urban characteristics but which national governments choose to continue classifying as ‘rural’ — because these house a considerable proportion of the world’s rural population. A considerable part of the growth in urban services can be to meet demand from agricultural producers and rural populations. Many rural settlements have households that rely on non-agricultural jobs, and non-agricultural employment opportunities may be very important for reducing rural poverty. The spatial distribution of any nation’s urban population is best understood as the ‘geography’ of its non-agricultural economy and government system. In China, the criteria for urban designation have changed dramatically in response to changing urbanization policies and economic development strategies.

Despite extensive research on social worker (SW) roles in Jordan, limited attention has been given to the job's negative effects on SWs' psychological, emotional, and mental health, including its impact on performance and service quality. This cross-sectional study explores the relationship between job burnout, workplace bullying (WPB), social capital, and various personal characteristics among Jordanian SWs. Path analysis using SPSS AMOS revealed that SWs, particularly female SWs and those with work experience between one and five years, experienced job burnout, WPB, and low levels of social capital. Job burnout was positively correlated with WPB and negatively correlated with social capital. Social capital mediated the relationship between job burnout and WPB rates. These results highlight the need for greater focus on social work as both a practice and an academic discipline in Jordan. Organizations should adopt policies that promote ethical leadership and empowering them to strengthen social capital.

Older adults perceive discrimination across interpersonal, community, and structural levels, contributing to a wide range of adverse health outcomes. The present study investigated the racial/ethnic differences in perceived discrimination, social capital, and depressive symptoms, and the direct associations of perceived discrimination and social capital with depressive symptoms, as well as the moderating role of social capital, among community-dwelling older adults from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Data were drawn from Round 3 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), comprising 2,988 non-Hispanic White, 719 non-Hispanic Black, and 499 Hispanic older adults. The primary explanatory variables were perceived discrimination and social capital, measured by social cohesion, social ties, and safety. The dependent variable was depressive symptoms. Bivariate tests and multivariate ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions were employed in analyses. The findings suggested that more frequent experiences of discrimination and lower levels of social capital were associated with higher depressive symptoms across all racial and ethnic groups. Significant interactions were found between perceived discrimination and social cohesion among non-Hispanic Whites and Hispanics, indicating that higher social cohesion buffered the negative effects of discrimination on depressive symptoms in these groups. No significant moderation effects were found among non-Hispanic Black older adults. These findings reinforce the importance of fostering social capital as a pathway to protecting mental well-being against discrimination in later life. Efforts to promote age-friendly communities that strengthen social cohesion, enhance social connectedness, and create inclusive environments may reduce the mental health burden of discrimination and support healthier aging for diverse groups of older adults.

Community-Managed Forests and Household Welfare: Empirical Evidence from Nepal

Social capital theory has received increasing attention as a lens through which to examine supply chain relationships and the value creation process. Despite the growing application of social capital and its three dimensions, namely cognitive, structural and relational capital, to inter-organizational research, few studies in reality have taken a dyadic perspective. Using a paired sample of retailer–supplier relationships from Korean fast-moving consumer goods sector, we explore the configuration of social capital dimensions, and the impact on strategic and operational performance. The results suggest three clusters of relationships, which differ significantly on at least two of the dimensions of social capital. Furthermore, these clusters show considerable differences with respect to both operational and strategic performance, particularly at the lower levels of social capital. We also examine the impact of a disparity between the retailer and supplier with respect to different dimensions of social capital, henceforth called dissonance. Of the four clusters that emerge, interestingly, only dissonance on the cognitive dimension is related to lower operational and strategic relationship performance. In investigating the implications of dissonance for the retailer and supplier individually, our results suggest that performance differs based on the magnitude and direction of the dissonance. Our results show that consequences of having social capital or not are not necessarily the same for the retailer and the supplier.