To fight inflation, European Central Bank (ECB) announced 10 successive interest rate hikes, starting on 27 July 2022, igniting an unprecedented widening of interest rate spreads in the euro area (ΕΑ). Greek banks, however, recorded among the highest interest rate spreads, far exceeding ΕΑ median and weighted average. Indeed, we document a strong asymmetric response of Greek banks to ECB interest rate hikes, with loan interest rates rising immediately, whilst deposit interest rates remained initially unchanged and then rose sluggishly. As a result, the interest rate spread hit one historical record after another. Greek systemic banks, probably taking advantage of the high concentration and low competition in the domestic sector benefited from key ECB interest rate hikes, recording gigantic increases in net interest income (NII), and consequently, substantial profits (almost €7.4 billion in the 2022–2023 biennium). Such excessive accumulation of profits (that deteriorates the living conditions of consumers) by the banking system could be called the inflation of “banking greed”, or bankflation. This new source of inflation created by the oligopolistic structure of the Greek banking sector counterworks the very reason for ECB interest rate increases and requires certain policy analysis recommendations in coping with it.

This study investigated the relationship between telecommunications development, trade openness and economic growth in South Africa. It determined explicitly if telecommunications development and trade openness directly impact economic growth or whether telecommunications strengthen or weaken the link between trade openness and economic growth using the ARDL bounds test methodology. The findings reveal that both telecommunications development indicators and trade openness significantly and positively impact South Africa’s GDP in the short and long terms. The study also found that control variables like internet usage and gross fixed capital formation significantly and positively influence GDP. Conversely, inflation was found to consistently affect GDP negatively and significantly. The findings from the ARDL cointegration analysis affirm a long-run economic relationship between the independent variables and GDP. The study also established that telecommunications development slightly distorts trade in the foreign trade-GDP nexus in South Africa. Despite this, the negative interaction effect is not substantial enough to overshadow the positive impact of trade openness on economic growth. From a policy perspective, the study recommends that South African policymakers prioritise enhancing local goods’ competitiveness in global markets and reducing trade barriers. It also advocates for improving the accessibility and affordability of telecommunications technologies to foster economic development.

South Korea has experienced rapid economic development since the 1960s. However, pronounced regional disparities have concurrently emerged. Amid the escalating regional inequalities and persistent demographic challenges characterized by low fertility rates, regional decline has become a pressing issue. Therefore, the feasibility of expanding transportation networks as a countermeasure to regional decline has been proposed. This study utilizes the synthetic control method and spatial difference-in-differences methodologies to assess the impact of the 2017 opening of Seoul–Yangyang Expressway on economic development and population inflow within Hongcheon-gun, Inje-gun, and Yangyang-gun. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of highway development as a policy instrument to mitigate regional decline. Findings from the synthetic control method analysis suggest a positive impact of the opening of the expressway on Hongcheon-gun’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) in 2018, as well as Yangyang-gun’s net migration rates from 2017 to 2019. Conversely, the spatial difference-in-differences analysis, designed to identify spillover effects, reveals negative impacts of the highway on the GRDP and net migration rates of adjacent regions. Consequently, although targeted transportation infrastructure development in key non Seoul Metropolitan cities may contribute to ameliorating regional imbalances, results indicate that such measures alone are unlikely to suffice in attracting population to small- and medium-sized cities outside the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

In today’s digital education landscape, safeguarding the privacy and security of educational data, particularly the distribution of grades, is paramount. This research presents the “secure grade distribution scheme (SGDS)”, a comprehensive solution designed to address critical aspects of key management, encryption, secure communication, and data privacy. The scheme’s heart lies in its careful key management strategy, offering a structured approach to key generation, rotation, and secure storage. Hardware security modules (HSMs) are central to fortifying encryption keys and ensuring the highest security standards. The advanced encryption standard (AES) is employed to encrypt graded data, guaranteeing the confidentiality and integrity of information during transmission and storage. The scheme integrates the Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol to establish secure communication, enabling users to securely exchange encryption keys without vulnerability to eavesdropping or interception. Secure communication channels further fortify graded data protection, ensuring data integrity in transit. The research findings underscore the SGDS’s efficacy in achieving the goals of secure grade distribution and data privacy. The scheme provides a holistic approach to safeguarding educational data, ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information, and protecting against unauthorized access. Future research opportunities may centre on enhancing the scheme’s robustness and scalability in diverse educational settings.

This study focuses on enhancing the maintenance processes of centrifugal pumps at Soekarno-Hatta Airport’s Water Treatment Unit in Indonesia, crucial for meeting the clean water needs of the airport, which served around 19.8 million passengers in 2022. Using a qualitative methodology, the research involved focus group discussions with the unit’s operators, technicians, and engineers to pinpoint maintenance challenges and devise solutions. Key findings reveal issues such as insufficient routine maintenance, unplanned repairs, and inadequate staffing, leading to operational disruptions and pump failures. The study highlights the role of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) in reducing machine breakdowns and improving efficiency. It emphasizes the critical role of centrifugal pumps in the airport’s water supply system. The research proposes several corrective measures, adhering to the 5W + 1H framework, including regular lubrication, bearing replacements, hiring more staff, and advanced training on PLC systems. These actions aim to rectify immediate maintenance problems and establish a foundation for the long-term effectiveness of the pump systems. Conclusively, the study underscores the need for a comprehensive maintenance strategy that aligns with standard operating procedures and preventive maintenance. This approach is essential for boosting the operational performance and reliability of the Water Treatment Unit. It has broader implications for similar infrastructure facilities, underscoring the importance of efficient maintenance management.