Integrating the behavioral theory of the firm and the OLI paradigm, this paper studies how performance feedback affects the location choice of emerging market firms between developed countries (DCs) ...and less developed countries (LDCs) during the process of internationalization. Using the sample of 1,306 Chinese public listed firms which established new foreign subsidiaries between 2008 and 2019, we find that the further a firm’s performance is below aspiration, the more likely it will invest in LDCs than DCs, whereas the further a firm’s performance is above aspiration, the more likely it will invest in DCs than LDCs. In addition, technology-based capability and labor intensive production capability have moderating effects on the relationship between performance feedback and location choice between DCs and LDCs. This paper complements and extends the OLI paradigm by injecting dynamic and non-economic factors to explain OFDI location choice.
•Performance feedback can influence foreign direct investment location choice of firms from emerging markets.•The further a firm’s performance is below aspiration, the more likely it will invest in less developed countries.•The further a firm’s performance is above aspiration, the more likely it will invest in developed countries.•Firm capabilities can moderate the relationship between performance feedback and location choice.•We test our hypotheses based on a sample of 1,306 Chinese listed firms between 2008 and 2019.
Physical inactivity is a risk factor for premature mortality and several non-communicable diseases. The purpose of this study was to estimate the global burden associated with physical inactivity, ...and to examine differences by country income and region.
Population-level, prevalence-based population attributable risks (PAR) were calculated for 168 countries to estimate how much disease could be averted if physical inactivity were eliminated. We calculated PARs (percentage of cases attributable to inactivity) for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality and non-communicable diseases including coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dementia, depression and cancers of the bladder, breast, colon, endometrium, oesophagus, stomach and kidney.
Globally, 7.2% and 7.6% of all-cause and cardiovascular disease deaths, respectively, are attributable to physical inactivity. The proportions of non-communicable diseases attributable to physical inactivity range from 1.6% for hypertension to 8.1% for dementia. There was an increasing gradient across income groups; PARs were more than double in high-income compared with low-income countries. However, 69% of total deaths and 74% of cardiovascular disease deaths associated with physical inactivity are occurring in middle-income countries, given their population size. Regional differences were also observed, with the PARs occurring in Latin America/Caribbean and high-income Western and Asia-Pacific countries, and the lowest burden occurring in Oceania and East/Southeast Asia.
The global burden associated with physical inactivity is substantial. The relative burden is greatest in high-income countries; however, the greatest number of people (absolute burden) affected by physical inactivity are living in middle-income countries given the size of their populations.
Depression among older adults (aged 60 years or older) is a problem that could be exacerbated by global trends in urbanization and population aging. The study purpose was to assess whether urban, ...relative to rural, residence is associated with depression among older adults and whether associations differ in countries with developed versus developing economies.
In 2017, the authors identified and extracted information from comparative studies of urban–rural depression prevalence among older adults. Studies were identified in PubMed, PsychINFO, and Web of Science and limited to English language articles published after 1985. Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria. Random effects meta-analysis was conducted to produce weighted pooled ORs estimating the association between urban–rural residence and depression for all study participants (N=31,598) and sub-analyses were conducted for developed (n=12,728) and developing (n=18,870) countries.
Depression prevalence was significantly higher among urban residents in ten studies and significantly higher among rural residents in three studies (all three conducted in China). Associations between urban–rural residence and depression generally remained significant after adjusting for covariates. In developed countries, the odds of depression were significantly higher among urban than rural residents (pooled OR=1.44, 95% CI=1.10, 1.88). However, in developing countries, this association was not observed (pooled OR=0.91, 95% CI=0.46, 1.77).
Converging trends of urbanization and population aging could increase the global burden of depression among older adults. The pathways through which urban–rural residence influences depression risk among older adults might differ by country context. Future research should focus on measuring variation in these contexts.
Poor countries export a remarkably narrow range of products. To what extent have trade preferences targeted to the least developed countries (LDCs) changed this situation? We study a large set of ...recent reforms to the LDC trade preferences offered by OECD countries. Leveraging trade policy variation by importer, exporter, product and year, we show that tariff reductions have increased the prevalence of positive trade flows. However, new flows have been far more likely to emerge in cases with previous ‘export experience’, i.e. where countries already exported the same product to another OECD country, or exported a related product to the same importer. So this wave of tariff cuts for LDCs has resulted in an extension of existing patterns of trade rather than wider export diversification.
Discussions about global aquaculture production and prospects for future growth largely focus on Asia, where most global production takes place. Countries in Asia accounted for about 89% of global ...production in 2016. Exclusive attention to Asian aquaculture, however, overlooks the fact that "the blue revolution" is occurring in most parts of the world. This paper examines patterns in the development of aquaculture production by analyzing growth rates across the globe at the regional, species and country levels. The results show that production in some non-Asian countries is growing more rapidly than the major Asian producers. Moreover, most developed countries have played a limited role in the blue revolution despite being leading producers as late as the 1970s.
Summary
Background
The epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection is poorly understood.
Aim
To establish the reported regional and national prevalence of H. pylori infection, stratified by age and ...gender.
Methods
All relevant English publications from 2000 to 2017 cited by PubMed and Scopus were retrieved using comprehensive combinations of keywords. The overall prevalence of H. pylori was estimated using both random effect and fixed effect meta‐analyses, and presented as prevalence rate (% and 95% CI). The analyses were extended by separation into gender and age groups.
Results
A total of 14 056 records were obtained initially. After applying exclusion criteria in several steps, 183 studies were selected. Analysis of 410 879 participants from 73 countries in six continents revealed an overall prevalence of 44.3% (95% CI: 40.9‐47.7) worldwide. This rate ranged from 50.8% (95% CI: 46.8‐54.7) in developing countries compared with 34.7% (95% CI: 30.2‐39.3) in developed countries. The global H. pylori infection rate was 42.7% (95% CI: 39‐46.5) in females compared to 46.3% (95% CI: 42.1‐50.5) in males. The prevalence in adults (≥18 years) was significantly higher than in children (48.6% 95% CI: 43.8‐53.5 vs 32.6% 95% CI: 28.4‐36.8, respectively). There was a statistically nonsignificant decrease in the prevalence in 2009‐2016 compared with the 2000‐2009 period.
Conclusions
The observed differences between countries appear to be due to economic and social conditions. H. pylori infection can be a benchmark for the socioeconomic and health status of a country. Further studies are suggested to investigate the natural history of the acquisition of H. pylori infection from childhood into adult life.
Linked ContentThis article is linked to Zamani et al and Tsipotis and Leontiadis papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14609 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14618.
The aim of this study was to assess trends in the age‐specific incidence of vulvar cancer in 13 high‐income countries satisfying a priori conditions regarding the availability of cancer registry data ...over a 20‐year period; these were Canada, the United States, nine European countries, Australia and Japan. Five‐yearly incidence and population at risk were obtained from the International Agency for Research on Cancer's Cancer Incidence in Five Continents for the years 1988–1992 (Volume 7) to 2003–2007 (Volume 10). The 5‐yearly average percent change (AvPC) over the period and standardised rate ratios (SRRs) for 2003–2007 versus 1988–1992 were used to assess changes in the age‐standardised incidence rates of vulvar cancer for all ages, and for <60 years and 60+ years. During the study period, the 5‐yearly AvPC across the 13 countries increased by 4.6% (p = 0.005) in women of all ages, and 11.6% (p = 0.02) in those <60 years. No change was observed in women aged 60+ years (5‐yearly AvPC = 0.1%, p = 0.94). The SRR for 2003–2007 versus 1988–1992 was significantly elevated in women <60 years of age (SRR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.30–1.46), but not in women of 60+ years (SRR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.97–1.05). The increase in incidence in women <60 years of age drove a significant increase in the overall SRR in women of all ages (SRR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.11–1.18). Some differences in the specific findings at the individual country level were observed. The findings are consistent with changing sexual behaviours and increasing levels of exposure to human papillomavirus (HPV) in cohorts born around/after about 1950, but younger cohorts offered HPV vaccination are likely to receive some protection against developing vulvar cancer in the future.
What's new?
While the incidence of vulvar cancer appears to be stable or rising in some developed countries, age‐specific trends remain unclear. Nonetheless, previous work suggests that vulvar cancer incidence has risen particularly in women under age 60, possibly owing to increased human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Here, age‐specific trends in vulvar cancer incidence were explored across multiple countries. Age‐standardised incidence rate of vulvar cancer in women under 60 was found to have increased significantly in the last 20 years in high‐income countries. Changing sexual behaviors and increasing HPV exposure in women born about 1950 or later likely factor into this trend.
Summary Food provides energy and nutrients, but its acquisition requires energy expenditure. In post-hunter-gatherer societies, extra-somatic energy has greatly expanded and intensified the catching, ...gathering, and production of food. Modern relations between energy, food, and health are very complex, raising serious, high-level policy challenges. Together with persistent widespread under-nutrition, over-nutrition (and sedentarism) is causing obesity and associated serious health consequences. Worldwide, agricultural activity, especially livestock production, accounts for about a fifth of total greenhouse-gas emissions, thus contributing to climate change and its adverse health consequences, including the threat to food yields in many regions. Particular policy attention should be paid to the health risks posed by the rapid worldwide growth in meat consumption, both by exacerbating climate change and by directly contributing to certain diseases. To prevent increased greenhouse-gas emissions from this production sector, both the average worldwide consumption level of animal products and the intensity of emissions from livestock production must be reduced. An international contraction and convergence strategy offers a feasible route to such a goal. The current global average meat consumption is 100 g per person per day, with about a ten-fold variation between high-consuming and low-consuming populations. 90 g per day is proposed as a working global target, shared more evenly, with not more than 50 g per day coming from red meat from ruminants (ie, cattle, sheep, goats, and other digastric grazers).
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