In Central and Eastern European countries, the labour shortage is becoming increasingly pronounced, posing a challenge for the economy. Labour shortages limit the potential national income as many positions remain unfilled, which could lead to a slowdown in economic growth. To address this issue, various solutions need to be explored. This research aims to analyze solutions for alleviating labour shortages, with particular emphasis on measures that encourage workforce participation. One strategy is introducing training and retraining programs that help workers develop skills and adapt to labour market demands. Another option is to promote part-time employment, which may be especially attractive to groups unable or unwilling to work full-time. Enhancing population mobility could also be crucial in addressing labour shortages, particularly in bridging regional disparities. Integrating certain inactive groups, such as retirees, homemakers, students, people with disabilities, and those with low education levels experiencing generational poverty, into the labour market could also yield significant benefits. The study employs quantitative analysis methods and includes a survey that examines citizens’ perspectives on the effectiveness of measures aimed at increasing labour market participation and their economic impact on the Slovak economy. The survey data were collected in 2023 in the region of Rožňava and its surrounding areas.

This study aims to analyze the effect of financial literacy and financial education on digital financial inclusion in Mexico. The analysis is carried out with 13,554 data from the National Survey of Financial Inclusion 2021, corresponding to Mexican adults who use digital financial services. The population under study comprises people over 18 years old, residing in Mexico, disaggregated by size of locality, and divided into six geographical regions. The dichotomous Probit model is used to estimate the effect of financial literacy and sociodemographic variables on digital financial inclusion. The results show that financial literacy and financial education have a marginal effect, of 0.94% and 4.42%, respectively, on digital financial services. Results also show that the marginal effect of financial literacy and financial education is greater on the use of mobile payments than on the acquisition of online accounts or apps and online credit. The results also show that gender, locality size, educational level, income and asset holding have a statistically significant relationship with the use of digital financial services. The findings confirm that financial literacy and financial education contribute to the digital financial inclusion of Mexicans, in this sense, providing financial education can especially benefit vulnerable population groups such as those living in rural areas and those with low income and low education levels.

With the increasing climate change crisis, the ongoing global energy security challenges, and the prerequisites for the development of sustainable and affordable energy for all, the need for renewable energy resources has been highlighted as a global aim of mankind. However, the worldwide deployment of renewable energy calls for large-scale financial and technological contributions which many States cannot afford. This exacerbates the need for the promotion of foreign investments in this sector, and protecting them against various threats. International Investment Agreements (IIAs) offer several substantive protections that equally serve foreign investments in this sector. Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET) clauses are among these. This is a flexible standard of treatment whose boundaries are not clearly defined so far. Investment tribunals have diverse views of this standard. Against this background, this article asks: What are the prominent international renewable energy investment threats, and how can FET clauses better contribute to alleviating these concerns? Employing a qualitative method, it analyses the legal aspects and properties of FET and concludes that the growing security and regulatory threats have formed a sort of modern legitimate expectations on the part of renewable energy investors who expect host states to protect them against such threats. Hence, IIAs and tribunals need to uphold a definite and broadly applicable FET approach to bring more consistency and predictability to arbitral awards. This would help deter many unfavourable practices against investments in this sector.

Understanding the factors that influence early science achievement is crucial for developing effective educational policies and ensuring equity within the education system. Despite its importance, research on the patterns of young children achieving science learning milestones and the factors that can reduce disparities between students with and without disabilities remains limited. This study analyzes data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study of Kindergarten Cohort 2011 (ECLS-K: 2011), which includes 18,174 children from 1328 schools across the United States, selected through a complex sampling process and spanning kindergarten to 5th grade. Utilizing survival analysis, the study finds that children with disabilities achieve science milestones later than their peers without disabilities, with these disparities persisting from early grades. The research highlights the effectiveness of center-based programs in enhancing science learning, particularly in narrowing the achievement gap between children with and without disabilities. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on equity in the education system and policy by introducing novel methodologies for assessing the frequency and duration of science learning milestones, and by providing insights into effective strategies that support equitable science education.

This study explores how demographic factors shape perceptions of celebrity and influencer marketing in the context of promoting cryptocurrencies, particularly in the tourism sector. It evaluates whether such marketing strategies effectively promote cryptocurrencies and how their impact varies across demographic groups. By analyzing responses from a sample of 161 predominantly young and educated respondents, the study uses statistical methods to identify differences in perceived marketing effectiveness based on age, gender, and other demographics. Findings reveal no significant demographic differences in effectiveness; instead, the study underscores the importance of universal marketing qualities, such as authenticity, credibility, and relevance. These results suggest the need for inclusive marketing strategies that foster trust and transparency. Additionally, the study highlights avenues for future research, including cultural and ethical considerations, to refine marketing approaches and develop innovative campaigns that drive cryptocurrency adoption and trust in the tourism industry.