This research article examines the relationship between the level of social welfare expenditure and economic growth rates, based on unbalanced panel data from 38 OECD countries covering the period from 1985 to 2022. Four hypotheses are formulated regarding the impact of social expenditure on economic growth rates. Through multiple iterations of regression model building, employing various combinations of dependent and independent variables, and conducting tests for stationarity and causality, compelling empirical evidence was obtained on the negative influence of social welfare spending on economic growth rates. The study takes into account both government and non-governmental expenditures on social welfare, a novelty in this field. This approach allows for a detailed examination of the effects of different components on economic growth and provides a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships. The findings indicate that countries with high levels of social welfare spending experience a slowdown in economic growth rates. This is associated with increasing demands on social security systems, their growing inclusivity, and the escalating required levels of financing, which are increasingly covered by debt sources. The research highlights the need to strike a balance between social expenditures and economic growth rates and proposes a set of measures to ensure economic growth outpaces the indexing of social expenditures. The abstract underscores the relevance of the study in light of the widespread recognition of the necessity to combat inequality, poverty, and destitution, and calls on OECD countries’ governments to pay increased attention to social policy in order to achieve sustainable and balanced economic growth.

This study aims to identify factors related to the impact of social capital on happiness among multicultural families using the 2019 Community Health Survey, which represents the South Korean population. The study utilized data from the 2019 Korea Community Health Survey, and the study participants, aged 20 years or older, included 3524 members of multicultural families from a total of 229,099 adult households. The study found a significant difference in happiness scores across different age groups (t = 57.00, p < 0.01). Based on the median value of happiness, significant relationships were found with the independent variables: Physical Environment of Trust (t = −5.13, p < 0.001), Social Networks (t = −5.51, p < 0.001), and Social Participation (t = −5.47, p < 0.001). Happiness was found to have a positive correlation with the Physical Environment of Trust (r = 0.12, p < .001), Social Participation (r = 0.11, p < 0.001), and Social Network (r = 0.13, p ≤ 0.001). In contrast, Age (r = −0.13, p ≤ 0.001) and Stress (r = −0.14, p ≤ 0.001) showed negative correlations with happiness (r = 0.57, p < 0.001). The analysis identified a positive community physical environment (t = 3.85, p < 0.01), increased social networks (t = 4.27, p < 0.01), and higher social participation (t = 6.88, p < 0.01) as significant predictors of happiness. This model suggests that the explanation power is 15%, which is statistically significant (R² = 0.15, F = 57.72, p < 0.001). This study highlights the influence of social capital on the happiness of multicultural families living in Korea. Given the increasing number of multicultural families in the country, strategic interventions aimed at enhancing social networks and participation are necessary to promote their happiness.

Introduction: Citizen insecurity is a complex, multidimensional and multi-causal social problem, defined as the spaces where people feel insecure mainly due to organized crime in all nations that suffer from it. Objective: To analyzes the sociodemographic factors associated with public insecurity in a Peruvian population. Methodology: The research employed a non-experimental, quantitative design with a descriptive and cross-sectional approach. A total of 11,116, citizens participated, ranging from 18 to 85 years old (young adults, adults, and the elderly), of both sexes, and with any occupation, education level, and marital status. The study employed purposive non-probability sampling to select the participants. Results: More than 50% of the population feels unsafe, in public and private spaces. All analyzed sociodemographic variables (p < 0.05), showing distinctions in the perception of citizen insecurity based on age, gender, marital status, occupation, area of residence, and education level. It was determined that young, single students, who had not experienced a criminal event and reside in urban areas, regardless of gender, perceive a greater sense of insecurity. Contribution: The study is relevant due to the generality of the results in a significant sample, demonstrating that the study contributes to understanding how various elements of the socioeconomic and demographic context can influence the way in which individuals perceive insecurity in their communities, likewise, the perception of citizen insecurity directly affects the general well-being and quality of life of residents, influencing their behaviors and attitudes towards coexistence and public policies; which will help implement more effective actions in the sector to reduce crime rates.

This study delves into the concept of the “cultural bomb” within the framework of non-military defense empowerment strategies in Indonesia. This approach can potentially change society’s views and attitudes towards various security threats as a realization of strengthening the defense and security system of the universal people (Sishankamrata) per article 30 paragraph (2) of the 1945 constitution. By leveraging media, education, and information technology, the cultural bomb acts as a social weapon that operates powerfully in the “space of mind,” shaping behavior and actions nonviolently. The issue of cultural threats pertains to the infiltration and imposition of foreign cultural values and practices that undermine local traditions and national identity, leading to social fragmentation and weakness. This study proposes the concept of a “cultural bomb” as a policy framework to address and mitigate these cultural threats. The research employs a qualitative approach using the Delphi technique, engaging experts from cultural studies and defense strategies to reach a consensus on the strategic application of the cultural bomb. The results indicate that the cultural bomb can effectively strengthen national identity and awareness of national defense by promoting local values and cultural resilience, thus enhancing societal cohesion and mitigating the impact of foreign cultural influences. The paper outlines the components of a cultural bomb, analyzes its application in international contexts, and discusses its implications in efforts to strengthen national identity and foster a sense of national defense awareness. Focusing on the “war over space of mind” ideology, it introduces “cultural hacking” as a strategic initiative to address cultural power imbalances in the post-truth era.

Good health and well-being are embedded in the 3rd Goal amongst the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The primary objective of this research was to identify the most critical economic, social, and administrative barriers to implementing the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. A sequential exploratory design and case study technique were used, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. In the first stage, in-depth interviews with 50 key officials were conducted to identify the most critical barriers to the EPI program. A quantitative analysis was then performed based on the results obtained from qualitative analysis, and rank orders of barriers were received from the same health department experts. The results indicate that twenty-eight barriers can cause implementation problems for this program. Still, the ten barriers that gained the maximum hits are the most important barriers, which include Shortage of vaccinators, mismanagement of vaccines’ cold chain, biometric android application, ice-lined refrigerators, communication gap, inadequate legislation of EPI program, capacity building issues with EPI staff, Misconceptions about EPI program, lack of awareness of the parents and community, refusal cases and inadequate cooperation of lady health workers (LHWs). Coordinated efforts of the government and the public are highly recommended to address these barriers.

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship among higher vocational college (HVC) students’ social support (SS), learning burnout (LB), and learning motivation (LM), and to further explore the influence regulation mechanism. By analyzing the questionnaire survey data of 500 HVC students, this study found some important conclusions. First, a positive correlation is found between SS and LM, whereas LB exhibits a negative correlation with LM. Second, regression analysis results indicate significant influences of SS and LB on LM, with the latter serving as a partial intermediary between SS and LM. Lastly, analysis of group disparities reveals noteworthy distinctions in SS, LB, and LM across students of varying grades. These discoveries underscore the pivotal roles of SS and LB in molding the LM of HVC students, offering valuable insights for educational practices and policy recommendations. This study benefits the understanding of the key factors in the learning process of HVC students and provides a new direction for further research.