In this work, we use observations and experimental emissions in a version of NOAA's National Air Quality Forecasting Capability to show that the COVID-19 economic slowdown led to disproportionate ...impacts on near-surface ozone concentrations across the contiguous U.S. (CONUS). The data-fusion methodology used here includes both U.S. EPA Air Quality System ground and the NASA Aura satellite Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) NO2 observations to infer the representative emissions changes due to the COVID-19 economic slowdown in the U.S. Results show that there were widespread decreases in anthropogenic (e.g., NOx) emissions in the U.S. during March–June 2020, which led to widespread decreases in ozone concentrations in the rural regions that are NOx-limited, but also some localized increases near urban centers that are VOC-limited. Later in June–September, there were smaller decreases, and potentially some relative increases in NOx emissions for many areas of the U.S. (e.g., south-southeast) that led to more extensive increases in ozone concentrations that are partly in agreement with observations. The widespread NOx emissions changes also alters the O3 photochemical formation regimes, most notably the NOx emissions decreases in March–April, which can enhance (mitigate) the NOx-limited (VOC-limited) regimes in different regions of CONUS. The average of all AirNow hourly O3 changes for 2020–2019 range from about +1 to −4 ppb during March–September, and are associated with predominantly urban monitoring sites that demonstrate considerable spatiotemporal variability for the 2020 ozone changes compared to the previous five years individually (2015–2019). The simulated maximum values of the average O3 changes for March–September range from about +8 to −4 ppb (or +40 to −10%). Results of this work have implications for the use of widespread controls of anthropogenic emissions, particularly those from mobile sources, used to curb ozone pollution under the current meteorological and climate conditions in the U.S.
•Observations and chemical transport modeling are used to quantify COVID-19 lockdown impacts on ozone pollution in the U.S.•Widespread emissions decreases lead to widespread ozone decreases in rural regions, but local increases in urban regions.•There is considerable spatiotemporal variability for the 2020 ozone changes compared to the previous five years.
Plain Language Summary: This study uses observations and chemical transport modeling to calculate the changes in air pollution, namely for ground-level ozone, or “smog”, which are related to the COVID-19 mobility restrictions and traffic emissions changes in the U.S. between March and September 2020. Results show that there are widespread decreases in emissions during March–April, but also that the changes are highly variable, while shifting to smaller emission decreases or even increases for a number of U.S. states by June–September. The changes in emissions and characteristics of ozone formation lead to spatially variable impacts on ozone concentrations, with widespread decreases in the rural areas, and some local increases near the major cities of the U.S. The observations and modeling suggest that the areas of increased ozone concentration becomes more extensive in the late spring and summer, “ozone-season” months of June–September. Results of this work are important to strategies used to control emissions and ozone pollution in the U.S.
This article examines whether and how economic slowdowns lead to military conflict. Although a weak economy (as reflected, for example, by high inflation and unemployment rates) has often been ...regarded as a cause of interstate conflict, this study proposes that worse economy, that is, a negative trend of growth rates, tends to make political leaders face domestic challenge from dissatisfied public and look for diversionary targets. In addition, it hypothesizes that economically troubled states will target their junior trade partners, which are less likely to retaliate harshly. The results, based on an analysis of directed dyads from 1950 to 2010, show that a state is more likely to initiate military conflict when economic growth slows. When the initiator is an autocracy and the target is a democracy, this aggression is likely directed toward a vulnerable trade partner. However, a potential initiator’s political unrest does not increase the tendency to target a junior economic partner. These findings suggest that an autocracy’s slowing economy can threaten a politically dissimilar and economically dependent state, and that political and economic unrest have different effects on diversionary conflict as these factors interact with the domestic and international environments. Given our globalized economy and the current erosion of democracy worldwide, we could experience more frequent conflicts between economically troubled autocracies and their junior trade partners.
This article aims to identify wage inequalities and the effect of gender discrim-ination in the acceleration (2004-2008) and economic deceleration phases (2011-2014) in Brazil. Based on the data from ...the PNAD, the counterfactual decompo-sition of income is performed, and the results show a reduction in the income gap between men and women between 2004 and 2014, however, the wage differences and discrimination against women persist and occur independently of the eco-nomic performance of the country. In the stage of economic acceleration, the wage divergence and discrimination against women increase; the wage conver-gence and reduction of discrimination against women are evidenced in the eco-nomic slowdown. Economic discrimination prevails among non-white workers in relation to the white ones, with a sharp reduction in skin color discrimination in the period of slowdown in economic growth in the country.
The COVID-19 pandemic has pressed a pause button on global economic development, and induced significant mental health problems. In order to demonstrate the progressed relationship between the ...pandemic, economic slowdown, and mental health burden, we overviewed the global-level gross domestic product changes and mental problems variation since the outbreak of COVID-19, and reviewed comprehensively the specific sectors influenced by the pandemic, including international trade, worldwide travel, education system, healthcare system, and individual employment. We hope to provide timely evidence to help with the promotion of policymakers' effective strategies in mitigating economic losses induced by the pandemic; we suggest different governments or policy makers in different countries to share information and experience in dealing with COVID-19-induced economic slowdown and promote COVID-19 vaccine popularization plan to protect every individual worldwide against the coronavirus essentially; and we appeal international information share and collaboration to minimize stigmatization related to adverse mental consequences of COVID-19 and to increase mental health wellbeings of people all over the world.
China's spectacular economic growth over the past decades has given rise to a more confident and proactive China in global governance. China is now an institution-builder, with new Chinese-led ...institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank designed to cement Beijing's central role in global economic governance. What, then, are the potential implications of a slowing economy for China's institutional power and global governance role? This article locates China's economic growth and slowdown in broader discussions about China's global position and questions about responsibility, order and governance. It argues that China's economic slowdown will not result in a drastic impact on Beijing's institutional power as there are key material, historical and ideational drivers at play here. Unless China is confronted with the prospect of an economic collapse, it will continue to pursue an active institutional role, speak the rhetoric of South-South solidarity with emerging economies and seek a leadership role in reforming global economic governance, even with a slowing economy, because this is intrinsically tied to its identity and how China now positions itself in an evolving global order.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Malaysia in 2019 IZZUDDIN, MUSTAFA
Asian survey,
01/2020, Letnik:
60, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
After the stunning victory of Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) over the incumbent Barisan Nasional (National Front) in May 2018’s 14th Malaysian General Election, 2019 was a year of political ...transition, with Pakatan governing, Barisan rising from its political grave, and the Malaysian people getting accustomed to a two-party coalition system. In a chaotic year of party-political and electoral fatigue, social discontent, and economic slowdown, Malaysia endured its domestic troubles to remain a stable country.
Summary
China has become the country with the largest resource use and has high levels of waste emissions that pose a great management challenge. To provide more details about environmental problems ...and to find effective solutions, this article analyzed the scale, structure, and trend of the socioeconomic metabolism in China during the period 1992–2014 based on economy‐wide material flow accounts (EW‐MFA), and predicted resource use during the period of the 13th Five‐Year Plan. The results of this study show that the scale of China's socioeconomic metabolism in China increased more than twofold, during 1992–2014. However, after 2011, with the economic slowdown, the growth rates of total material requirement (TMR), direct material input (DMI), and domestic processed output (DPO) began to decrease. China may reach an inflection point, but this point will probably not be approached before the year 2020. Material recycling (MR) has played an important role in improving resource productivity, improving it by 92.52 renminbi per tonne in 2014. Metallic minerals and fossil fuels are the main sources of hidden flow. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, construction waste, and agricultural emissions have become the major sources of DPO. Because of the 13th Five‐Year Plan, China may slow the growth rate of DMI and may save 10.26 gigatonnes of resources during 2015–2020. Resource productivity is predicted to increase by 15.91%. Imports and MR may play more important roles. These suggestions are made: (1) strengthening the recycling system; (2) stronger policies, especially in metallic mineral and fossil fuels; (3) developing management systems for CO2 emissions, construction waste, and agricultural emissions; and (4) adjusting China's economic structure.
Concern for public health has been growing with the increasing volume of cases of COVID-19 in India. To combat this pandemic, India has implemented nationwide lockdowns, and unlocking phases continue ...with certain restrictions in different parts of the country. The lockdown has required people to adopt social-distance measures to minimize contacts in order to reduce the risks of additional infection. Nevertheless, the lockdown has already impacted economic activities and other dimensions of the health of individuals and society. Although many countries have helped their people through advanced welfare protection networks and numerous support aids, several emerging economies face specific difficulties to adapt to the pandemic due to vulnerable communities and scarce resources. However, certain lower-income countries need more rigorous analysis to implement more effective strategies to combat COVID-19. Accordingly, the current systematic review addresses the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns in India in relation to health and the economy. This work also provides further information on health inequalities, eco-nomic and social disparities in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns and also contributes pragmatic suggestions for overcoming these challenges. These observations will be useful to the relevant local and national officials for improving and adopting novel strategies to face lockdown challenges.
ABSTRACT
Operating performance is an important and widely used measure for evaluating firms. This paper documents that, contrary to the common belief, firms experiencing sales declines during ...economic slowdowns exhibit higher operating margins than firms experiencing sales declines during normal periods. This anomalous behavior results from (1) a decrease in costs of goods sold overall during economic slowdowns and (2) an additional reduction in SG&A costs other than expenditures that could affect the competitiveness (i.e., R&D and advertising) of sales-down firms. The relatively higher operating performance reported by sales-down firms during economic slowdowns is associated with improvements in operational efficiency and cannot be explained as earnings management or simply as a response to financial distress or a large sales decline. Our findings provide important insights into how macroeconomic conditions affect firms' operating performance in a predictable way.
CORONAVIRUS IMPACT ON GLOBAL ECONOMY MERI BOSHKOSKA; NIKOLCHE JANKULOVSKI
Analele Universităţii Constantin Brâncuşi din Târgu Jiu : Seria Economie,
08/2020
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a severe effects on both workers and employers in different countries and industries worldwide. In this paper we analyzed the impact of the corona crisis on the global ...economic growth and the main questions addressed here are the effects of corona crisis on the global manufacturing activity and service industry. The research results showed that at the beginning of 2020 when the coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China and has spread around the world causing a pandemic, it brought the global economy on its knees in a very short period of time. Also, the results indicate that the global economy will take years to recover from the corona crisis. The research is done by exploring of the latest economic analysis related to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to identify its effects on world economy throughout the first half of 2020
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