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Elephant Habitat, Use and Extinction History in the Canaan Region (Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Syria): A Zoological and Forestry Survey
Get PDFThis study examines the historical presence, ecological functions, and extinction of elephants in the Canaan region, encompassing modern-day Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, through an interdisciplinary zoological and forestry-based survey. Drawing on archaeological records, paleontological findings, historical texts, and ecological reconstructions, the research explores how elephants once inhabited and shaped the Levantine landscapes. The paper examines their role as keystone herbivores, their integration into regional cultures through trade, warfare, and symbolism, and their eventual disappearance due to climatic shifts, deforestation, and anthropogenic pressures. Cultural memory of elephants, preserved in religious scriptures and place names, offers insights into human–animal relations and the ecological consciousness of ancient societies. The study highlights how lessons from the extinction of elephants can inform current biodiversity strategies, forest management, and conservation outreach in the Levant. It also proposes future research directions, including ecological rewilding, public education, and regional conservation collaboration. By contextualising elephants within the broader environmental history of the region, the study underscores the importance of integrating lost megafauna into modern ecological narratives
Economic Costs of Caffeine Beverage Restrictions and Withdrawal: A Global Perspective
Get PDFThis study investigates the nature and workings of the caffeine industry, it also examines its importance, production patterns and contributions to GDP in major countries around the world. The caffeine industry produces caffeinated beverages especially energy drinks, coffee and tea. The core of this study revolves around the dilemma on the economic and health cost of caffeinated beverage control. Today the caffeine market is worth more than 320 billion by 2032, it is growing fast with increased consumption of coffee, tea, and energy beverages, these drinks do not simply form part of the everyday lives, but they are also important in the economies of most countries. As it is, countries such as Brazil, Vietnam and Colombia produce and export caffeine in large volumes boosting their Gross Domestic Product. Brazil alone consumes 3 million metric tons of coffee generating 6 billion yield in exports and provides people with 8 million jobs, new manufacturers like Nigeria, have not fully attained their economic capacity but are getting there. Caffeine plays an essential role in productivity within the real sector like the industrial, healthcare, ICT the education and other allied sectors. This study findings showed that caffeine withdrawal and restrictions caused productivity losses based on empirical evidence from Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States revealing that it caused productivity declines, revenue losses, and disruptions in crucial sectors dependent on cognitive execution. Based on these findings, the study recommends that beverage manufacturers should reformulate high-caffeinated beverages into moderate or low-caffeinated beverages without compromising efficiency, taste and marketability
Unemployment Benefits for Self-employed Workers: An Evaluation Using Survival Analysis
Get PDFThis paper examines the effect of the Cessation of Activity Benefit (CAB)—a government policy aimed at self-employed workers—on non-employment spell durations in Spain. Using data from the Spanish Continuous Sample of Working Lives (MCVL), we apply flexible semiparametric survival models to address limitations of standard duration analysis. Our results show that self-employed individuals who receive the CAB experience non-employment spells approximately 4 to 6 months longer than their non-recipient counterparts. The extended duration appears largely driven by a moral hazard effect, as many beneficiaries remain out of work until the maximum benefit period (12 months) expires. These findings suggest that while the CAB provides valuable income support, it may inadvertently discourage timely re-entry into the labour market
Social finance: What is social about it
Get PDFThis study examines what constitutes social in social finance. It addresses the lack of understanding of the multifaceted ways in which social finance might be social. The common understanding is that social finance is only social in its use. This study challenges this narrow premise and argues that social finance can be social in its attributes both in its source, uses, infrastructure, policy and design. In other words, social finance can be social in (i) its source, (ii) its uses, (iii) the policy that enables social financing, (iv) the infrastructure used to facilitate social financing, and (iv) the nature or design of the contract that produces the financial instruments used to raise social funds. The implication is that social finance mechanisms can be designed to be social in several ways. Understanding the different ways in which social finance can be social will ensure that we do not dismiss emerging social finance innovations that are not social in their use, but are social in other aspects
Persistent global growth differences and Euro Area adjustment: real activity, trade and the real exchange rate
Get PDFBased on an estimated two-region dynamic general equilibrium model, we show that the persistent productivity growth differential between the Euro Area (EA) and rest of the world (RoW) has been a key driver of the EA trade surplus since the launch of the Euro. A secular decline in the EA’s spending home bias and a trend decrease in relative EA import prices account for the stability of the EA real exchange rate, despite slower EA output growth. By incorporating trend shocks to growth and trade, the analysis departs from much of the open-economy macroeconomics literature which has focused on stationary disturbances. Our results highlight the relevance of non-stationary shocks for the analysis of external adjustment
The Evolving Landscape of Artificial Intelligence on Knowledge Acquisition: An Empirical Assessment
Get PDFArtificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way individuals engage with information, especially in educational environments where there is an increasing need for tailored, scalable, and effective learning models. This study offers a thorough evaluation of the changing impact of AI on knowledge acquisition, emphasising learners’ adaptability, engagement, and performance. This paper employs a mixed-methods approach with a carefully selected sample size of 150 participants from various academic institutions and learning environments to assess the effectiveness, challenges, and equity dimensions of AI-enabled educational tools. The findings indicate significant enhancements in understanding and memory retention among users of AI platforms, while also highlighting inequalities in access and the necessity for responsible implementation. The research provides practical policy recommendations to facilitate the sustainable integration of AI in knowledge delivery systems
Testing the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis in Madagascar: Empirical evidence using the ARDL approach
Get PDFThis study tests the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in Madagascar using time-series data from 1990 to 2015. Employing the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach and Granger causality tests, we analyze the nexus between CO emissions, economic growth, agricultural production, and trade openness. Results confirm a U-shaped EKC, with economic growth initially reducing emissions before increasing at higher income levels. Trade openness marginally reduces emissions, while agricultural production has no significant impact. Granger causality tests indicate that economic growth drives emissions. Policy recommendations include promoting trade in environmentally friendly goods and investing in clean energy to mitigate emissions
Maastricht Criteria and Public Debt
Get PDFThe Maastricht Criteria, also known as the convergence criteria, are a set of economic and fiscal requirements established by the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 to ensure that European Union (EU) member states maintain economic stability and are prepared for participation in the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and adoption of the euro. Among these criteria, public debt plays a crucial role in maintaining fiscal discipline and preventing excessive government borrowing that could undermine economic stability.
Specifically, the Maastricht Criteria set a limit on public debt at no more than 60\% of a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), alongside a fiscal deficit ceiling of 3\% of GDP. These thresholds aim to promote sustainable public finances, reduce the risk of debt crises, and foster confidence among member states and investors. Understanding the criteria related to public debt is essential in assessing the fiscal health and convergence readiness of countries within the EU framework
Poverty, Environmental Degradation, and Livability: Ranking of Iranian Provinces Using Principal Component Analysis
Get PDFThe relationship between poverty and the environment is multi-dimensional and complex, necessitating a detailed analysis, particularly at the regional level. This study evaluates and ranks Iran’s 30 provinces based on the poverty-environment nexus. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), a composite index comprMiising energy consumption intensity, CO₂ emissions, water stress index, and desertified land area was developed for the year 2021. The first two principal components explained approximately 71% of the total variance. Results indicate a significant negative correlation between poverty and environmental degradation (r = -0.61). In this context, wealthier provinces such as Tehran, Isfahan, and Khuzestan experience the highest environmental degradation, whereas poorer provinces encounter relatively less environmental pressure. The findings suggest that improved economic conditions in Iranian provinces have often been accompanied by reduced livability and heightened environmental degradation. Therefore, policymakers are advised to prioritize enhancing livability by integrating sustainable water resource management and desertification control into poverty alleviation strategies
Combating Money Laundering in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Comparative Study between Romania and the Republic of Moldova
Get PDFThis paper examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in combating money laundering (AML), focusing on a comparative study between Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Romania demonstrates advanced AI integration within its financial institutions, employing machine learning and predictive analytics to enhance transaction monitoring, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance. In contrast, Moldova is in the early stages of adopting AI for AML, facing structural, technical, and regulatory challenges that limit the effectiveness of its anti-money laundering efforts. The study highlights how technological adoption, institutional capacity, and regulatory frameworks intersect to shape AML effectiveness. By analyzing similarities, differences, and lessons learned, the paper provides insights into how AI can strengthen financial integrity while addressing the evolving challenges of illicit financial flows in different national contexts