Sofía Allende, Louis-Alexandre Couston, Simon Thalabard
et al.
Ice melting into saline water plays a fundamental role in the dynamics near the ice-ocean interface in polar oceans. The physics of ice melting involves a non-trivial interplay between thermodynamics at the interface, hydrodynamic transport in the bulk and the properties of the ambient ocean. The key control parameters are the density ratio $R_ρ$ proportional to the ambient ocean salinity and the Lewis number $Le = κ_T/κ_S$, which compares the thermal and salt diffusivities. Increasing the salinity is known to slow down melting, with the melt rate transitioning from subdiffusive to diffusive as $R_ρ$ increases. Here, we ssess the role of turbulence in this transition, using highly-resolved numerical simulations of the two-dimensional Boussinesq equations with a slowly melting upper boundary. We analyse the non-stationary growth of the temperature and meltwater mixing layers, varying the Lewis number and the density ratio. While meltwater is continuously entrained by convection inside the bulk, we identify a transition from convection to diffusion close to the interface. This transition is reflected by the formation of an interfacial boundary layer that regulates the flux of meltwater pouring into the turbulent bulk for $R_ρ\gtrsim 10$. Using mixing-layer diagnostics based on meltwater-concentration thresholds, we observe that the turbulent layer grows super-diffusively $\propto t^{1.33}$, while the interfacial boundary layer expands diffusively $\propto t^{0.5}$ but with a non-universal prefactor. These results indicate that double-diffusive effects are here confined to the interface, and highlight potential limitations of diagnostics based on fixed concentration thresholds in oceanographic applications.
The consumerist lifestyle pursued by most of society has been conducive to environmental pollution, with bad consumer habits and rapidly changing trends contributing to the problem. One emerging trend among some eco-sensitive consumers is a zero-waste lifestyle premised on maximum reduction of generated waste. The article aims to verify the accordance of a zero-waste lifestyle with the actual purchasing attitudes and behaviours of consumers, as well as identify the stimulants and destimulants of the concept. The survey was conducted in Poland in 2023 on a sample of 1000 respondents using the CATI method. Consumers are no strangers to behaviour reflecting a zero-waste lifestyle. More than 80% of the respondents reduce consumption, find a new home for unnecessary items, recycle, reuse, and repair them. Slightly less often, consumers act preemptively, that is, they first contemplate the need to purchase a given good and eventually abandon the idea. The purchasing behaviour of zero-waste lifestyle advocating consumers is well thought out, planned and rational. In contrast, those who like to make purchases, mainly in shopping malls, and are fond of buying gadgets and brand-name products, are not enthusiasts of zero-waste lifestyle. The high scale of pro-environmental and responsible consumer purchasing attitudes and behaviours should be leveraged as a guideline in developing product and promotional strategies, emphasising educational outreach and disseminating information on consumers’ propensity to reduce waste. Support for zero-waste lifestyle initiatives should become integral to these efforts. Further raising of awareness and recognition of the forms of behaviour destimulating such a lifestyle is essential. A clear understanding of behaviours fitting into zero-waste lifestyle realisation, including pro-ecological and responsible consumer attitudes, is of key relevance to economic practitioners and policymakers seeking to implement a sustainable approach to consumption and waste reduction.
The aim of the study was to determine whether Generation Z consumers will be loyal to an environmentally responsible clothing brand in a crisis situation, and whether the type of crisis determines loyalty behaviour towards an environmentally responsible brand. The article includes a literature review and analysis and synthesis of results obtained by means of a diagnostic survey from 500 Generation Z consumers (18-28 years old), following clothing brands on social media. The study was conducted in 2023 using the Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) technique, using an original survey questionnaire. The results of the study show that regardless of the type of crisis affecting the brand, Generation Z consumers will demonstrate loyalty to it. The study focused on one area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (environmentalism), omitting social and financial aspects. Another limitation is related to the identification of the behavioural aspect of the attitude in the study, due to its declarative dimension.
Aldona Mrówczyńska-Kamińska, Bartłomiej Bajan, Joanna Łukasiewicz
et al.
Greenhouse gas emissions of anthropogenic origin, including those from the food production system, are considered one of the main reasons for global climate warming, so many measures are being taken to reduce them. After joining the European Union, the Visegrad Group countries are obliged to monitor and report the level of greenhouse gas emissions, which is also closely related to the level and structure of energy consumption. According to the International Energy Agency estimates, 75% of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union are related to energy production or use. High food productivity brings with it energy-intensive solutions that increase emissions. It is also important that tackling climate change is not a barrier to increased food production. In this context, the lowest possible emission intensity of the food production system, understood as the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of production or gross value added, should be sought. The study aimed to calculate the emission intensity of food production systems in the Visegrad countries in 2010-2016. The emission intensity of agribusiness greenhouse gases was calculated as the emissions forfeited per unit of output and gross value added. The paper uses the author's methods, which are consistent with each other, for calculating agribusiness production and income, as well as greenhouse gas emissions from the food production system. Data from input-output tables and, consistent with these tables, environmental accounts published on Eurostat's website were used to calculate these quantities. During the period under review, the GHG intensity index decreased in Visegrad countries despite an overall increase in emissions of primary greenhouse gases from food production. However, these changes are minor, mainly due to the short analysis period. However, further growth in food production may not contribute to an increase in the level of greenhouse gas emissions. Financing pro-environmental investments at all stages of food production will be key in this regard. Further research in this area, using the methodology presented in this article, will make it possible to compare the results obtained with those calculated from more recent data. This will make it possible to capture the impact of, for example, the European Green Deal and the financing of pro-environmental investments in the agribusiness of the Visegrad Group countries.
This study explores green management as a catalyst for organisational maturity, competitive advantage, and longevity in family businesses. The research employs a systematic review of Polish and international literature (2010–2024) and key reports from UNEP and OECD. It identifies strategies, challenges, and best practices for implementing green management in family enterprises. Four main green management approaches are outlined: emission reduction, adoption of renewable technologies, promotion of sustainable business models, and green human resource management. Family businesses, with their long-term vision, local community ties, and intergenerational value transmission, are well-positioned for green management. However, barriers such as financial conservatism and resistance to innovation may hinder adoption. Green management enhances family business maturity and resilience through sustainable practices like circular economy strategies and green HRM. It also strengthens competitive advantage by aligning ecological initiatives with family values, fostering customer trust, and adapting to regulatory demands. This study provides actionable insights for integrating green management into family businesses, emphasising its role in sustainable development and enterprise longevity.
Antonio Russo, Pasquale Scaramozzino, Andrea Zaccaria
Economic complexity measures aim to quantify the capability content or endowment of industries and territories; however, capabilities are not observable, and therefore cannot be directly used in the computations. We estimate such endowments by quantifying the quality and diversity of the skills in the occupations required in specific industries. We refer to this job-based assessment as the hidden complexity, in contrast with the usual revealed complexity, which is computed from economic outputs such as exports or production. We show that our job-based measure of complexity is positively associated to wage levels and labor productivity growth, whereas the classic revealed measure is not. Finally, we discuss the application of these methods at the territorial level, showing their connection with economic growth.
Gustavo L. Kohlrausch, Thiago Dias, Sebastian Gonçalves
Wealth transactions are central to economic activity, and their particularities shape macroeconomic outcomes. We propose an agent-based model to investigate how homophily influences economic inequality. The model simulates wealth exchanges in a dynamic network composed of two groups, $A$ and $B$, differentiated by a homophily parameter $δ$, which increases intragroup connections within $A$. Economic interactions alternate between conservative wealth exchanges and connection rewiring, both influenced by agents' wealth and $δ$. We examine economic and network dynamics under varying levels of social protection $f$, which favor poorer agents in transactions. At low $f$, results reveal high inequality and link concentration, with $δ$ impacting only transient dynamics. At high $f$, homophily becomes an economic advantage, as increasing $δ$ directs wealth flow to group $A$. However, since this flow benefits the wealthiest agents, it simultaneously exacerbates internal inequality within the group. These findings show that homophily is a significant driver of inequality, directing wealth towards the homophilous group and worsening internal disparities.
Julita Krassowska, Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, Marta Słowik
et al.
The paper concerns the influence of basalt minibars on the subcritical and critical behaviour of test specimens made of concrete with low-emission cement. Low-emission cement produces lower emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants than traditional cement. Analyses were conducted on changes in fracture mechanics parameters depending on the content of microfibers in the concrete mix (0, 2, 4, 8 kg/m³), the type of cement used, and the water-to-cement ratio (w/c). It was demonstrated that concrete reinforced with basalt microfibers exhibits increased resistance to crack initiation and propagation. An increase in the stress intensity factor was observed for CEMI 42.5R concretes at w/c=0.5 by 27%, at w/c =0.4 by 62%, and for CEM II 42.5R/A-V concretes at w/c=0.5 by 29%, and at w/c=0.4 by as much as 30%. It was shown that the addition of microfibers to concrete made with low-emission cement significantly increases the mechanical parameters of this material.
Irena Kropsz-Wydra, Hanna Adamska, Tomasz Szuk
et al.
The aim of the study is to determine whether there is a relationship between the value of investments made for nature protection and the area of legally protected areas in Poland. The research problem concerns investment outlays incurred for nature protection in relation to the surface of areas with high natural values in Poland, taking into account the division into voivodeships in the years 2002-2021. In general, the area of legally protected areas in Poland did not show high variability in the analysed period, while the assessment of the relationship between the variables showed differences between voivodships. The results of the statistical analysis showed that there is a positive relationship between investment outlays, and the share of legally protected areas and that the level of investment outlays incurred for nature protection is not proportional to the share of legally protected areas.
Tekilu Tadesse Choramo, Jemal Abafita, Yerali Gandica
et al.
Global and regional integration has grown significantly in recent decades, boosting intra-African trade and positively impacting national economies through trade diversification and sustainable development. However, existing measures of economic integration often fail to capture the complex interactions among trading partners. This study addresses this gap by using complex network analysis and dynamic panel regression techniques to identify factors driving economic integration in Africa, based on data from 2002 to 2019. The results show that economic development, institutional quality, regional trade agreements, human capital, FDI, and infrastructure positively influence a country's position in the African trade network. Conversely, trade costs, the global financial crisis, and regional overlapping memberships negatively affect network based integration. Our findings suggest that enhancing a country's connectivity in the African trade network involves identifying key economic and institutional factors of trade partners and strategically focusing on continent-wide agreements rather than just regional ones to boost economic growth.
Despite millions of war widows worldwide, little is known about the economic consequences of being widowed by war. We use life history data from West Germany to show that war widowhood increased women's employment immediately after World War II but led to lower employment rates later in life. War widows, therefore, carried a double burden of employment and childcare while their children were young but left the workforce when their children reached adulthood. We show that the design of compensation policies likely explains this counterintuitive life-cycle pattern and examine potential spillovers to the next generation.
We present a theoretical framework assessing the economic implications of bias in AI-powered emergency response systems. Integrating health economics, welfare economics, and artificial intelligence, we analyze how algorithmic bias affects resource allocation, health outcomes, and social welfare. By incorporating a bias function into health production and social welfare models, we quantify its impact on demographic groups, showing that bias leads to suboptimal resource distribution, increased costs, and welfare losses. The framework highlights efficiency-equity trade-offs and provides economic interpretations. We propose mitigation strategies, including fairness-constrained optimization, algorithmic adjustments, and policy interventions. Our findings offer insights for policymakers, emergency service providers, and technology developers, emphasizing the need for AI systems that are efficient and equitable. By addressing the economic consequences of biased AI, this study contributes to policies and technologies promoting fairness, efficiency, and social welfare in emergency response services.
Growth in online sales results in an increase in the number of containers remaining in economic circulation, causing both economic (increased costs of container production, storage and disposal) and environmental effects. One way to reduce the scale of this problem would be to introduce reusable packaging, which enterprises could use as part of their e-commerce solutions. The question remains, however, whether the customers are ready for this. What is their opinion on implementing such a solution? Would they be willing to pay a deposit for using such containers? This paper aims to suggest individual returnable packaging solutions that can be used in e-commerce to manifest corporate social responsibility and reflect customer attitudes towards them. The paper is empirical, with the empirical part presenting the results of the author's study.
Barcelona va ser el principal port de construcció naval de la Corona d’Aragó durant l’Edat Mitjana. Fruit d’aquesta activitat destaquen les embarcacions mercants i pesqueres construïdes al sector nord i centre de l’Arenal, mentre que al sud, a la Drassana s’hi construïen i emmagatzemaven les galeres i embarcacions afins, amb funcions militars. Totes aquestes embarcacions van ser proveïdes amb fusta procedent dels boscos pròxims a la ciutat, però també d’altra fusta, sobretot pi, procedent del Maresme, Solsona, Tortosa i València. Per a peces de característiques especials, calia faig i avet que, tot sovint, venien de boscos molt més llunyans.
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that began in 2020 hit the tourist services sector very hard. This article aims to determine the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences on the tourism dynamics in nine Polish national parks. The statistical (descriptive) analysis method was used based on data collection regarding the number of tickets sold in parks in 2019 and 2020. Studies have shown that despite health concerns and several restrictions, the number of tourists in all parks, expressed in ticket sales in 2020, only decreased by 0.06%. Polish national parks, which are less popular, recorded increases in visitors by up to 66%, while in gardens with usually high attendance, there were decreases, especially during the spring lockdown. The obtained analyses allow the development of tourist mobility patterns in unique situations.
Over the last decade, Poland has witnessed a statutory change in the definition of rainwater. It stopped being regarded as wastewater. Municipalities in Poland have developed different models for rainwater management and various ways of financing them. The aim of the study is to identify and describe the most important elements of rainwater management models in Poland with the use of operators. It focused not only on constitutive features of the system but also on financial aspects, such as fees and investments (with the omission of fiscal ones). The study helped to identify three organisationally distinguishable operator models and indicated strengths and weaknesses of each of them. Such a systematic and structured analysis lays the groundwork for the assessment of these models and enables other municipalities to make a conscious decision on which model to implement.
This research paper presents a thorough economic analysis of Bitcoin and its impact. We delve into fundamental principles, and technological evolution into a prominent decentralized digital currency. Analysing Bitcoin's economic dynamics, we explore aspects such as transaction volume, market capitalization, mining activities, and macro trends. Moreover, we investigate Bitcoin's role in economy ecosystem, considering its implications on traditional financial systems, monetary policies, and financial inclusivity. We utilize statistical and analytical tools to assess equilibrium , market behaviour, and economic . Insights from this analysis provide a comprehensive understanding of Bitcoin's economic significance and its transformative potential in shaping the future of global finance. This research contributes to informed decision-making for individuals, institutions, and policymakers navigating the evolving landscape of decentralized finance.
Andrea Carotti, Cosimo Sguanci, Anastasios Sidiropoulos
The Bitcoin Lightning Network (LN) is designed to improve the scalability of blockchain systems by using off-chain payment paths to settle transactions in a faster, cheaper, and more private manner. This work aims to empirically study LN's fee revenue for network participants. Under realistic assumptions on payment amounts, routing algorithms and traffic distribution, we analyze the economic returns of the network's largest routing nodes which currently hold the network together, and assess whether the centralizing tendency is incentive-compatible from an economic viewpoint. Moreover, since recent literature has proved that participation is economically irrational for the majority of large nodes, we evaluate the long-term impact on the network topology when participants start behaving rationally.
Sebastian Stępień, Katarzyna Smędzik-Ambroży, Anna Matuszczak
et al.
The aim of the article is to assess the environmental sustainability of small-scale faming. The authors tried to reach the farmers' subjective opinion, their way of thinking, attitudes and determinants affecting environmental performance. The use of in-depth interviews gave a chance to draw reliable and accurate conclusions on the analysed topic and register many elements that could be omitted using quantitative methods. Thus, the work forms a complementary part of research on the sustainability of small-scale farms, which is its main added value. Furthermore, the use of data from three EU member states - Poland, Romania and Lithuania - provided a basis for comparative analysis. Conclusions proved that small farms perform important environmental functions in rural areas. It results from the very essence of this type of farms, based on the cultivation of traditions and experience passed down from generation to generation, as well as from the family nature of these units.