{"title":"The Impact of Environmental Target Constraints on the Quality of Export Products","authors":"Lingqian Kong, Zhaoyang Li, Kai Xu","doi":"10.1002/jid.70023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.70023","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>China faces the dual challenges of maintaining trade vitality and environmental protection. This paper collects data on environmental target constraints (ETC) in Chinese cities and evaluates the impact of local government ETC on the quality of enterprises' export products. The results show that ETC can significantly improve the quality of export products. This effect is stronger in enterprises with lower export product quality, enterprises in the eastern region and private enterprises. ETC can improve the products quality by encouraging enterprises to carry out innovation, optimizing resource allocation and improving financing constraints. This paper has valuable theoretical and practical implications for deepening China's official evaluation system and promoting the balance between trade and environment.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47986,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Development","volume":"37 7","pages":"1555-1567"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145272269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rethinking Competitiveness in the Age of AI: A Comparative Index-Based Approach","authors":"Geeho Jeon","doi":"10.1002/jid.70018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.70018","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examines the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities on national competitiveness through a comparative analysis of the IMD World Competitiveness Index and three major AI indices: Oxford AI Readiness, Tortoise AI Index and Stanford AI Index. Utilizing correlation analysis, multiple regression and <i>K</i>-means clustering across samples of 64, 59 and 35 countries, respectively, the research identifies infrastructure and research capacity as key predictors of national competitiveness, with regression models explaining 52.4%–60.8% of IMD variance and Pearson correlations exceeding 75% for predictive validity. Clustering analysis delineates AI-advanced nations (A2 cluster) with superior AI performance relative to national competitiveness and resource-dependent laggards (C2 cluster) at risk of stagnation without AI investment. The study proposes open innovation strategies, inspired by collaborative ecosystems like shared mobility, leveraging government-industry-academia partnerships and digital public infrastructure (DPI) to address gaps in government policy, research capacity and infrastructure, with case studies of the United States and Singapore. For Least Developed Countries (LDCs), a 2 × 2 strategy matrix outlines low-cost, high-impact AI initiatives to enable a bypass strategy, leveraging open innovation ecosystems to circumvent traditional industrial pathways. Findings underscore AI's transformative role in redefining competitiveness, driven by qualitative capabilities like efficiency, innovation and governance, offering actionable pathways for advanced economies and LDCs to close competitiveness gaps through strategic AI integration and DPI investments.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47986,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Development","volume":"37 7","pages":"1525-1542"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145272270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Josephine Nabayinda, Proscovia Nabunya, Ozge Sensoy Bahar, Samuel Kizito, Lindsay Stark, Phionah Namatovu, Susan S. Witte, Torsten B. Neilands, Mary M. McKay, Fred M. Ssewamala
{"title":"She Is a Guest in My House: Exploring the Barriers to Asset Development and Decision-Making Autonomy Among Young Women in Southern Uganda","authors":"Josephine Nabayinda, Proscovia Nabunya, Ozge Sensoy Bahar, Samuel Kizito, Lindsay Stark, Phionah Namatovu, Susan S. Witte, Torsten B. Neilands, Mary M. McKay, Fred M. Ssewamala","doi":"10.1002/jid.70022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.70022","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Traditional values and beliefs perpetuate gender inequalities and marginalize women in many societies worldwide by limiting their access to economic resources and decision-making abilities. In-depth interviews were conducted among 53 young women and men to explore the barriers to asset development and decision-making autonomy among adolescent girls transitioning into young women in southern Uganda. Five themes emerged from the participants’ narratives, including societal expectations, restricted mobility, early pregnancies and marriages, limited motivation and parental perceptions. Findings from this study emphasize the widespread gender disparities in asset ownership and decision-making autonomy in southern Uganda, rooted in restrictive gender norms.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Trial Registration:</b> The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01447615</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47986,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Development","volume":"37 7","pages":"1543-1554"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145272067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hugh Sharma Waddington, Sarah K. Dickin, Kishore Basak, Saranya Mohandas, Biljana Macura
{"title":"No Time to Waste: A Synthesis of Evidence on Time Reallocation Following Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Interventions","authors":"Hugh Sharma Waddington, Sarah K. Dickin, Kishore Basak, Saranya Mohandas, Biljana Macura","doi":"10.1002/jid.70015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Large amounts of time are wasted globally accessing water for domestic uses and sanitation, disproportionately impacting women and girls. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis based on evidence mapping initiatives. Our synthesis of the evidence found a mean reduction of 15 min per trip for water supply interventions, and 3 min per trip for sanitation interventions, adding up to around 8 h per week and 3.5 h per week respectively at the household level. Time-savings from improvements in the quantity of water supplied were very large, whether improved water supplies were provided at the household or community level. In contrast, studies on water treatment reported small increases in time, and there were no studies that reported reallocation following hygiene interventions. We found limited evidence on time reallocation to other activities, but disaggregated data showed girls were significantly more likely to attend school following interventions that improved water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) at the household level. Of note, nearly half of the eligible studies collecting information about time use were identified in the grey literature. This policy-relevant evidence contributes to the case for increasing investments in appropriate water supply and sanitation interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":47986,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Development","volume":"37 7","pages":"1503-1524"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jid.70015","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145271775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Human Capital and Export Performance in East Asia: Focusing on Gender Inequality","authors":"Dae-yub Nam","doi":"10.1002/jid.70020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.70020","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study investigates the impact of gender-disaggregated human capital on export performance in 11 East Asian countries, utilizing panel data spanning 1990–2022. Human capital is measured by the Human Development Index, expected years of schooling, and mean years of schooling, and export performance is captured by both the share of medium- and high-tech exports and total exports as a percentage of GDP. Employing panel regression and error correction models, the analysis distinguishes between short- and long-term effects. The results indicate that male human capital currently exerts a stronger influence on export performance, reflecting prevailing industrial structures and patterns of labour force participation. However, the contribution of female human capital—particularly expected years of schooling—has increased over time. The findings further demonstrate that human capital accumulation has a limited short-term but substantial long-term effect on export performance. Moreover, reducing gender inequality, as measured by the gender development index and gender inequality index, is positively associated with export outcomes. These results underscore the importance of gender-sensitive human capital investment and policies that promote educational attainment and labour market inclusion for sustained export growth.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47986,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Development","volume":"37 7","pages":"1490-1502"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145271673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Proliferation of Corruption in Africa: The Ineluctable Role of Inequality of Opportunity","authors":"Luis Jacinto Ela Alene","doi":"10.1002/jid.70019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.70019","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The aim of this study is to analyse the effects of inequality of opportunity on corruption in Africa. In a panel of 40 African countries over the period 2000–2023, the results from the MMG-Sys show positive and significant effects of inequality of opportunity on the level of corruption in Africa. These effects are higher in sub-Saharan African countries than in North Africa. However, these effects diminish as the country develops. As our results are robust, we recommend improving access to basic goods and services in general and in sub-Saharan Africa in particular. Creating formal employment by diversifying the economy and better managing resources and aid. Finally, the creation of solid institutions to fight corruption and promote democratic principles in Africa is recommended.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47986,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Development","volume":"37 7","pages":"1473-1489"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145271674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bypassing Bribes: Mobile Money and Corruption in Africa","authors":"Ashley Blair Simpson, Zack Zimbalist","doi":"10.1002/jid.70016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.70016","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Drawing on a sample of up to 100 000 individuals across 31 African countries, we use repeated cross-sectional surveys and multilevel regression models to examine how national mobile money activity correlates with individual bribe payments over time. In a novel contribution, our findings reveal a robust association between higher mobile money activity at the national level and reduced bribe payments for nonmonopoly public services at the individual level. We argue that the growing prevalence of mobile money likely enhances transparency and increases the costs of engaging in corruption. Additionally, by enabling direct and digital payment of service fees, mobile money may allow users to bypass intermediaries and government officials who might otherwise solicit bribes.</p>","PeriodicalId":47986,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Development","volume":"37 7","pages":"1454-1472"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jid.70016","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145271904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"China's Science Museum Gift to Ethiopia: Rethinking Shared Agency in Industrialization-Driven Development Aid","authors":"Wu Junfang, Jérémie Eyssette","doi":"10.1002/jid.70017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.70017","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In 2022, China introduced Ethiopia's Science Museum as a diplomatic gift. With its AI research centre focused on developing practical commercial outlets, Ethiopia's Science Museum enables China and Ethiopia to strategically align policy objectives and economic stakeholders within a win-win public–private partnership. This article explores the notions of coconstructed gift and shared agency through a jointly handled Rubik's Cube model applied to development aid. It demonstrates that while serving the recipient's interests, Ethiopia's Science Museum simultaneously constitutes China's new development aid tool, that is, an upgraded version of Guangdong Science Center, the China-supported museum in Senegal and China-aided Industrial Parks in Ethiopia. A gift-level analysis subsequently offers a counterpoint to conventional critiques on China's self-serving aid to Africa and opens new avenues for research on industrialization-driven China–Africa cooperation.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47986,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Development","volume":"37 7","pages":"1441-1453"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145273085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Harsh Winter Shocks and Distress Sales: Consumption and Asset Smoothing Among Livestock Farmers in Kyrgyzstan","authors":"Kadyrbek Sultakeev, Martin Petrick","doi":"10.1002/jid.70011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The sale of livestock has long been considered a means of mitigation in case of drought, but there is no evidence of how this is achieved in the event of severe winters. This article focuses on the exceptionally harsh winter days that Kyrgyzstan experienced in 2012, as well as harsh winter days in other years, to analyse how livestock owners responded to the shock. Our quantitative analysis is based on nationally representative household panel data combined with geo-referenced daily temperature data. The results of the fixed effect regression show a heterogeneous household response to harsh winter days consistent with a poverty trap, which is supported by qualitative evidence. Rich households sell their animals to smooth consumption, while poor households prioritize protecting their scarce assets and are generally unable or unwilling to sell. While this asset-preserving strategy may support long-term economic resilience, it is associated with statistically significant declines in food consumption among poor households during severe winter shocks, indicating a trade-off between short-term welfare and asset protection.</p>","PeriodicalId":47986,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Development","volume":"37 7","pages":"1421-1440"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jid.70011","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145271668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Analysing the Effect of Education on Income Dynamics in Togo","authors":"Hamitande Dout, Ayira Korem, Koffi Sodokin, Mawuli Kodjovi Couchoro, Ayi Gavriel Ayayi","doi":"10.1002/jid.70012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.70012","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The objective of this study is to analyse the effect of education on the income-level dynamics in Togo. The data used are pseudo-panels constructed from survey data from the Unified Questionnaire of Basic Welfare Indicators (QUIBB) of 2006, 2011 and 2015 and the Harmonized Survey of Household Living Conditions (EHCVM) of 2021 of Togo. The methodological approaches used are the generalized moment method and quantile regression for panel data. The main results show that there is no linear relationship between education level and overall income, with the relationship following an inverted U-shaped curve. However, the results show a positive and significant linear relationship between higher education and income levels. Additionally, investment in education strengthens the impact of education on income. Looking at the income quantiles, there is a significant positive relationship between education and income in the third quantile.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47986,"journal":{"name":"Journal of International Development","volume":"37 7","pages":"1407-1420"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145271909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}