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Convergence and Catch-Up of the Region Types in the Central and Eastern European Countries
Our study investigates the economic growth and catch-up of the NUTS3 regions of 6 Central and Eastern European (CEE) member states of the European Union (EU), 4 countries acceding in 2004 (Czechia, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia) and further two admitted in 2007 (Bulgaria and Romania), compared to the average of 14 older members of the EU between 2000 and 2019. We based our analysis on the urban–rural region types of the EU in the case of 185 regions, identifying predominantly urban, intermediate, and predominantly rural types. We apply Theil Index to examine the development of disparities and test the phenomena with unconditional β-convergence hypothesis. The analysis indicates that the growth of all CEE countries and their regions is faster than the EU14 average; the capitals considerably exceed it, the catch-up of other urban regions is also relatively fast, while it is very slow in the case of other regions. The convergence between the 185 regions is weak, based on the EU region typology it was initially strong between the capitals, moderate in the case of intermediate and rural types, while divergence can be observed in the urban types. The catch-up of less developed regions is very slow despite EU cohesion funding, even though 80% of the population live here. The stagnation of regional disparities and slow catch-up of less developed regions indicate the poor efficiency of the EU cohesion policy.
Fishing for solutions: Norwegian fishers’ perspectives on the implementation of automatic catch registration for combating IUU fishing
Fisheries and other activities that exploit nature threaten biodiversity if not effectively managed. With global population growth and increasing demand for seafood, pressure on marine resource-based activities, including fisheries, increases. Concurrently, economic incentives, weak management, and inadequate enforcement enable Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, undermining sustainability. Achieving a sustainable global fishery that meets rising nutritional demands, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 14, requires efforts to reduce IUU fishing. Automatic catch registration on fishing vessels is proposed to enhance transparency and traceability, improving monitoring, control, and surveillance in fisheries. However, its success depends on industry adoption. We engaged Norwegian fishing fleet representatives in a workshop to discuss their preferences for implementing such technologies. Through conceptual mapping, we identified key themes likely to influence successful implementation. Technological and regulatory factors were perceived as particularly impactful. Participants raised concerns about equipment and operational costs, technological reliability and accuracy, and frustration with perceived top-down management. Although initial skepticism was evident, participants acknowledged potential benefits under certain conditions, including the opportunity to achieve higher prices for fully documented fish, replacement of existing reporting procedures, and greater legal protection and fairness in enforcement. Realizing these benefits was seen as dependent on transparent policy development and stakeholder involvement in the implementation process. To support industry adoption, participants emphasized the need to address the practical, financial, and regulatory challenges they may face. These findings underscore the importance of stakeholder-informed policy to support adoption, strengthen legitimacy, and enable effective implementation in efforts to reduce IUU fishing.
Convergence in economic growth and institutional quality: Does convergence of institutions matter to catch-up rich economies?
Convergence of economic growth among the global north and south countries has attracted a considerable attention of policymakers and researchers. However, the growth literature lacks the comprehensive empirical evidence on the convergence of institutional quality and its implications for growth convergence particularly in terms of countries’ heterogeneities. This study aims to empirically investigate three types of convergence hypotheses both in economic growth and institutional quality. Moreover, it is examined whether the convergence of institutional quality leads to growth convergence? The empirical analysis is based on sample of 120 countries for 1984–2015 period. The findings reveal striking evidence of disparities in speed of growth and institutional quality convergence. The speed of growth convergence is highest in East Asian, transition, and advanced economies; however, the speed of institutional quality convergence is lowest in these countries. Developing countries show the reverse pattern with highest institutional convergence and lowest growth convergence. Such decoupling empirical dynamics between growth and institutional quality convergence indicate the path dependence and lock-in patterns of developing countries. This study empirically shows that higher speed of institutional convergence alone is unable to foster the growth catch-up process.
Technological Catch-Up, Innovation, and Productivity Analysis of National Innovation Systems in Developing Countries in Africa 2010-2018
This study investigates the levels and determinants of regional innovation catch-up, frontier shift, and productivity growth of African national innovation systems from 2010 to 2018. The study relied on the World Development Indicators data for 28 African countries. Non-radial non-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and bootstrapped truncated regression were the central estimation methodologies. The results revealed that 18% of Africa's national innovation systems had experienced progress in the catch-up and frontier shift indexes. Further results showed that 21% had experienced total factor productivity growth. Nigeria and South Africa were on the region's efficient frontier and had achieved the most technological advancement. In addition, Ghana and Senegal had the most productive national innovation systems. The results suggested that national innovation systems in Africa had experienced marginal progress. Further results indicate that the population growth rate and GDP per capita are the critical determinants of African national innovation systems, efficiency, technical efficiency, and productivity performance. Consequently, the implications of the results to policy are twofold. First, African countries should use benchmarking practices with the region's best-performing national innovation systems. Lastly, African countries have the potential to grow their economies through regional collaborative Science, Technology, and Innovation practices.
Association Between Weekend Catch-Up Sleep and Obesity Among Working Adults: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Population-Based Study
Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between weekend catch-up sleep (CUS) and obesity among Korean workers. Methods: Data were derived from the 2016–2023 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a nationally representative dataset. The final analytic sample comprised 17,208 Korean workers aged 26 to 64 years. General and abdominal obesity were defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 and waist circumference ≥ 90 cm for men and ≥85 cm for women, respectively. Sleep patterns were categorized into sufficient sleep, weekend CUS, and insufficient sleep. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations between sleep patterns and obesity, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related variables. Results: Compared to individuals with sufficient sleep, those with weekend CUS showed increased odds of general obesity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.21) and abdominal obesity (AOR = 1.18). The insufficient sleep group had even higher odds for both general obesity (AOR = 1.23) and abdominal obesity (AOR = 1.33). Conclusions: Insufficient sleep is significantly associated with increased risks of both general and abdominal obesity among Korean workers. While weekend CUS may offer partial mitigation of obesity risk, it should not be considered a substitute for regular, adequate sleep. Longitudinal studies are warranted to further explore causal relationships between sleep patterns and obesity in working populations.
Intrauterine Growth-Restricted Female Yucatan Miniature Pig Neonates Fed Parenteral Nutrition Exhibit Early Catch-Up Growth Leading to Obesity and Ectopic Fat Deposition in Adulthood
Background Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is often used as a lifesaving nutritional regimen in intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) neonates. However, nutrition perturbations during the early critical period may permanently program metabolism via methyl-dependent epigenetic alterations that can lead to obesity and dyslipidemia in adulthood. Methyl group availability can be increased by adding betaine and creatine to TPN.Objectives We sought to determine whether TPN in early life would have long-term effects on the development of obesity, whether IUGR will exacerbate these TPN-induced effects, and whether supplementing betaine and creatine to TPN will alleviate these effects.Methods Twenty four 7-d-old female piglets were randomly assigned to suckled, TPN-control diet (TPN-control), and TPN with betaine and creatine groups. Eight IUGR piglets were fed TPN (TPN-IUGR) as a fourth group. After 2 wk of TPN, all pigs received semi-restricted standard feed until adulthood (9 mo). Plasma and tissues were measured for lipids, hormones, and other metabolites associated with the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome.Results Growth rates of TPN-IUGR were 32% and 42% greater than TPN-control during the 1–4 mo and 4–6 mo periods, respectively (P < 0.05), indicating catch-up growth, which led to greater adiposity, as indicated by a 16% higher backfat thickness at 9 mo (P < 0.05). Moreover, TPN-IUGR pigs had 2.54-fold and 3.28-fold greater (P < 0.05) accumulation of ectopic triglyceride deposition in the liver and skeletal muscle, respectively, possibly due to 67% greater fasting plasma nonesterified fatty acids (P < 0.001). TPN-control was not different from suckled or TPN with betaine and creatine pigs, suggesting that feeding TPN during the neonatal period did not result in obesity later in life, and methyl nutrient supplementation to TPN had no effect on obesity.Conclusions IUGR has a profound effect on developing obesity later in life, but TPN feeding does not lead to obesity in adulthood.
Estimating the total allowable catch and management of Threadfin porgy (Evynnis cardinalis) fisheries in the northern South China Sea based on sampling surveys conducted at fishing ports
In order to develop a method that apply sampling survey data randomly obtained at fishing ports to fish stock assessments, based on fish landing surveys conducted at fishing ports in the northern South China Sea (SCS), 19 Threadfin porgy (Evynnis cardinalis) catch per unit effort (CPUE) datasets were collected for fishing vessels with different gear types and engine powers and incorporated into surplus production models. Considering only the fitting performance, the Schaefer model had the best overall goodness of fit, followed by the Fox, CYP, W–H, and Schnute models. Among fishing vessels with different gears and engine powers, the data were best fitted for single-trawl vessels powered by 301–400-kW engines and for gillnet vessels powered by > 200-kW engines. Eight model expressions were superior and selected for subsequent analyses based on their goodness of fit and relative residuals. The Kobe plot analysis results showed an optimistic fish stock status when using the four model expressions, required more caution when using three model expressions and output pessimistic estimations using one model expression. Considering the incomplete information acquired, a compromising decision-making method was used to derive a 2017 northern SCS E. cardinalis total allowed catch (TAC) of 44,691.21 t. The different conclusions drawn from estimations using CPUEs reflect variable exploitation and utilization fish stock statuses among fishing vessels with different gears and engine powers. Hence, the fishing operations were grouped according to their CPUE relationship, and recommendations regarding optimum fishing efforts were assigned to the groups following a fundamental principle: to improve fishery TAC management, fishing efforts should be reduced if the fish stock assessment is pessimistic and maintained if the assessment is optimistic. This study providing a feasible technical method for the TAC management of China's offshore fisheries.