How are telecommunications infrastructure, institutions and poverty related in a war-torn economy such as Afghanistan? Afghanistan has been plagued by poor governance, low usage of telecommunications, and extreme poverty levels which can be termed triple-challenges. High levels of political instability affected telecommunications investment and adversely affected the adoption and diffusion of modern technology. This study examines the asymmetric effect of telecommunications and governance (institutions) on poverty reduction over the period 1989–2019 using a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model. In the short run, we establish that information and communication technology, private domestic credit, governance, and educational access for males and females are essential tools that can be used for poverty reduction. In the long run, we also establish that Afghanistan can reduce poverty levels through the use of information and communication technology, governance, and educational access for both males and females. The following policy recommendations were suggested: research and development, robust policy formulation on governance and ICT, development of the ICT sector, and improved governance. These are critical in reducing the high poverty levels as well as solving the institutional challenges faced by Afghanistan.

The endogenous, human, and social factors influencing the economic development of the municipalities of San Juan Cotzocón and San Pedro y San Pablo Ayutla in the Istmo de Tehuantepec region of the state of Oaxaca are analyzed. The hypothesis posits that the dimensions of endogenous development, social capital, and human capital directly impact the economic development of the respective municipalities. The study involved administering 262 questionnaires to the residents of these municipalities during the month of May 2023. The collected data were examined using exploratory factor analysis to determine the underlying structure and structural equation modeling to estimate the effects and relationships between variables. Results indicate that endogenous development, social capital, and human capital are factors in the economic development of the studied communities, with endogenous development being the most influential factor due to its statistical significance. Notably, the existence of tourist and cultural attractions in the municipalities emerges as a catalyst for local economic development in response to the establishment and operation of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Interoceanic Corridor.

In wealthy nations, biofuel usage has grown in importance as a means of addressing climate change concerns, ensuring energy security, and promoting agricultural development. Because they understand the potential advantages of biofuel for rural development and job creation, governments have created policies and legislation to encourage the production of biofuel. However, the province of Limpopo hasn’t fully taken advantage of the potential to use biofuel production as a vehicle for job development, despite a higher demand for the fuel. There is currently a lack of understanding of the role of biofuel in promoting local development in developing regions. For this reason, this study made use of semi-structured interviews to explore how biofuel production can be used as an instrument for Local Economic Development (LED) in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The research investigated the determinants of empowerment that could impact the commercial feasibility of biofuel production in the province. It also identified the need for human resource development to get workers ready for jobs in Limpopo’s biofuel sector. The results showed that, provided certain conditions were met, the production of biofuel in Limpopo may be a useful instrument for creating local jobs. By highlighting the potential for job creation and the importance of human resource development, this research aims to facilitate evidence-based decision-making that can harness biofuel production for sustainable rural development in the region. The value of this study lies in its contribution to the understanding of biofuel’s role in LED, offering actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in Limpopo. 

This paper argues for a novel approach to financing infrastructure needs in Arab countries. It first describes the context of rising public debt in the region, contrasting it with the vast infrastructure needs. It then discusses the challenges in meeting these needs with traditional financing. The paper then makes the case for maximizing finance for development by using public-private partnerships and presents a few successful examples in Arab countries. Finally, the paper explores the way forward and concludes on the need for strong state capacity and integrity to promote the “maximizing finance for development” approach.

In recent years, Vietnam has achieved great achievements in the implementation of economic growth, which has contributed to reducing poverty and is highly appreciated by the international community. Although Vietnam has made remarkable achievements in reducing poverty and meeting the requirements of sustainable development, there are still many challenges and work to be done. Vietnam needs to continue to push ahead to improve the quality of life for the poorest, reduce the development gap between regions, and strengthen its response to climate change and the environment. This study uses a qualitative method to analyze the current situation of poverty reduction in Vietnam. The article also uses analytical, synthetic, logical, and historical methods to clarify the results and limitations of poverty reduction. The value of the research helps the Vietnamese government to be aware of the results and limitations of poverty reduction and suggests scientific and timely solutions to implement poverty reduction work in Vietnam.

Poverty, and especially the widening disparity between the rich and the poor, leads to social unrest that can interrupt the harmonious development of human society. Understanding the reasons for income inequality, and supporting the development of an effective strategy to reduce this inequality, have been major goals in socioeconomic research around the world. To identify the determinants of the income gap, we calculated the Gini coefficients for Chinese provinces and performed regression analysis and contribution analysis for heterogeneity, using data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2002 to 2018. We found that urbanization, higher education, and foreign direct investment in eastern China and energy in central and western China were important factors that increased the Gini coefficient (i.e., decreased equality). Therefore, paying more attention to the fair distribution of the factors that can increase the Gini coefficient and investing more in the factors that can reduce the Gini coefficient will be the keys to narrowing the income gap. Our approach revealed factors that should be targeted for solutions both in China and in other developing countries that are facing similar difficulties, although the details will vary among countries and contexts.