This study aims to examine eating practices during pregnancy as socially organized everyday labor (foodwork) embedded in daily life. Drawing on the sociology of food, it analyzes how pregnancy reshapes eating routines, food classifications, procurement practices, and care responsibilities. The research is based on in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with 38 pregnant women living in Türkiye. The findings demonstrate that eating during pregnancy becomes a multilayered social practice shaped by normative expectations, structural inequalities, and identity construction. First, eating routines emerge as a central site for the construction of maternal identity, as women regulate their food practices through expert advice, risk discourses, and norms of “good motherhood.” Second, body-related norms concerning aesthetics and weight control discipline eating practices under conditions of public surveillance and self-monitoring, shaping everyday eating arrangements. Third, pregnancy functions as a social lens that intensifies concerns related to food safety and food security; pesticides, additives, regulatory uncertainty, and economic access become central elements of everyday foodwork. By moving beyond medical and ideological approaches to pregnancy nutrition, this study foregrounds eating practices as foodwork and contributes to the sociology of food by linking motherhood, care labor, and food systems.
K. Gudeta, Valentina Mazzucato, Elsje Fourie
et al.
With the expansion of global production networks (GPNs) in Africa, more women are becoming employed in low-skilled and labor-intensive jobs. Most studies on workers in GPNs focus on work conditions and their impact on production and network effectiveness, while placing less emphasis on the relational well-being of local industrial workers. Employing a relational well-being approach that considers the multiple dimensions of people’s lives (the material, subjective, and relational), we explore how female workers experience their well-being in foreign-owned flower and apparel sectors operating in Ethiopia. Based on in-depth interviews with thirty-nine female employees, we find that women value the different types of social relationships they have. Coworkers, friends, family, and members of the broader community are important for the women’s well-being, supporting them materially and subjectively, and enabling them to cope with work and life difficulties. Relationships with supervisors and employers, however, can negatively impact well-being, especially through the stress they can cause, while the social and political environment also has a negative effect on overall well-being.
Elisabetta Biondi, Chiara Boldrini, Andrea Passarella
et al.
Online social networks (OSNs) have transformed the way individuals fulfill their social needs and consume information. As OSNs become increasingly prominent sources for news dissemination, individuals often encounter content that influences their opinions through both direct interactions and broader network dynamics. In this paper, we propose the Friedkin-Johnsen on Cascade (FJC) model, which is, to the best of our knowledge, is the first attempt to integrate information cascades and opinion dynamics, specifically using the very popular Friedkin-Johnsen model. Our model, validated over real social cascades, highlights how the convergence of socialization and sharing news on these platforms can disrupt opinion evolution dynamics typically observed in offline settings. Our findings demonstrate that these cascades can amplify the influence of central opinion leaders, making them more resistant to divergent viewpoints, even when challenged by a critical mass of dissenting opinions. This research underscores the importance of understanding the interplay between social dynamics and information flow in shaping public discourse in the digital age.
The article analyzes inclusivity, tolerance, and trust as essential social values in modern management practice. It is argued that inclusion recognizes and appreciates the diversity of each individual and sets itself the task of ensuring their comprehensive inclusion and participation in public life. Tolerance reveals the ability of society or its members to accept and respect differences between people, especially in cases where these differences can lead to conflicts or misunderstandings. Trust is an attribute of social interactions at all levels of social management (personal, process, institutional, organizational). The article presents the ambiguity of approaches to understanding the aspects under study in scientific discourse. Under present-day conditions, the regulation of social processes, both at the institutional and individual levels, requires theoretical rethinking and practical transformation. The sphere of labor and employment cannot yet demonstrate an unambiguously constructive and responsible attitude to enriching management practice with a conscious inclusive approach. Employment of persons with disabilities is largely formal in nature; employers often take a wait-and-see and cautious position, considering the hiring of “special” applicants as potential losses. Inclusivity and tolerance should be presented in current agenda as social values, which are although difficult to achieve, but the most significant in the context of striving for a socially responsible world order. The article authors believe that the formation of a culture of trust is a necessary link in the process of reassessing norms and values, with gradual elimination of stereotypes.
Tô Thị Hồng Nhung, Lê Thị Thu Huyền, Đoàn Thị Huyền
Using traditional research methods in geography combined with sociological investigation, the authors surveyed the current situation of labor immigration in Bac Ninh province. The results show that the number of migrant workers to Bac Ninh in recent years has increased rapidly, making this locality one of the provinces with the highest immigration rate in the country. Migrant workers to Bac Ninh are mostly young, participating in many different occupations, mostly in industrial zones, and have higher incomes than before. However, the large immigrant labor force here still has a high rate of untrained labor and still faces many difficulties in living and working conditions.
Protecting Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is of significant importance in advancing China’s rural revitalization strategy. This study constructs a theoretical framework integrating perspectives from industrial economics and gender sociology, analyzing three dimensions—brand effects and industrial chain development, women’s labor participation, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship—to explore the mechanisms through which ICH contributes to rural revitalization. By examining the practice of ZanHuaWei (Hairpin Flower) in Xunpu Village, Quanzhou, a phenomenon-level case of traditional craftsmanship transforming into a cultural tourism economy, this research deciphers the intrinsic logic of ZanHuaWei’s industrialization through field interviews. Key findings reveal three pathways for ICH-driven rural revitalization: (1) Brand effects catalyze closed-loop industrial chains through celebrity influence and social media, driving local economic growth; (2) Women’s deep engagement in employment forms a “three 90%” model, significantly enhancing household income and social value; (3) Entrepreneurial spirit drives product and marketing innovations, enabling the modern transformation of ICH techniques. The conclusion demonstrates that ICH industrialization, through the synergistic integration of multiple factors, effectively revitalizes rural economies and provides practical pathways for converting cultural resources into rural revitalization strategies.
The current state of Ukrainian society, which is defined as a set of systemic consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war and rapid globalization changes, institutional and individual crisis of trust, growing structural fragmentation and polarization, actualizes the need to rethink the mechanisms of social interaction at all levels of socio-cultural reality. Traditional concepts that describe the idea of solidarity and were central to classical sociology and sociology of the 20th century (E.Durkheim, T.Parsons), turn out to be insufficient to explain new forms of social relations that arise in the post-industrial digital society, taking into account the current conditions of martial law and military aggression. In this context, the concept of “solidarity” acquires a new analytical content, since the system of social relations undergoes socio-cultural shifts and is defined as a “new sociality”. The systemic features of the “new sociality” – a flexible, situational and often hybrid form – are in fact a representative marker of instability, crisis, challenges, multiple identities and polyvariability of culture. The concept of “solidarity” goes beyond the normative traditional ideal of unity, offering alternative substantive meanings for comprehension. Discursive reflection on solidarity allows not only to identify transformations in the ways of social cohesion, but also to trace how new forms of solidarity are articulated not only in academic discourse, but also in the public and political field. This opens up prospects for a sociological rethinking of the concepts of solidarity, cohesion, interaction and social capital in the context of the latest socio-structural challenges of Ukrainian society. It is proven that the study of solidarity as a conceptual framework of the new sociality is not only theoretically significant, but also practically relevant for the analysis of contemporary processes of social cohesion, political mobilization and cultural integration. The results of the study can be used to develop strategies for social integration, form cohesion policies and rethink the role of solidarity in the conditions of wartime, digital transformation and cultural fragmentation.
The relevance of research on the conceptual foundations of personnel strategy formation in industrial enterprises under the conditions of digitalisation appears to be very relevant, which is due to the following factors. The digital transformation of industrial enterprises leads to the emergence of new technologies, processes and personnel requirements. The HR strategy must adapt to these changes in order to ensure that the company has the necessary qualifications and skills. Under the conditions of digitalisation, the demand for specialists in the field of information technologies and digital data processing is increasing. Companies need to develop strategies to attract, retain and develop such personnel in order to remain competitive. Digital technologies make it possible to automate and optimise business processes, so the HR strategy must reflect these changes and take into account the new roles and requirements for personnel. As technologies and processes change, there is a need for continuous training and development of personnel. The HR strategy should include training and development programmes aimed at increasing digital skills. Studying the conceptual foundations of personnel strategy development in the conditions of digitalisation will help companies to effectively adapt to contemporary challenges and ensure their competitiveness. The purpose of the article is to disclose the conceptual foundations of forming a personnel strategy at industrial enterprises in the context of digitalisation. The methodology of the study is an interdisciplinary approach based on the idea of effective development of an industrial enterprise as a sociotechnological system, which allowed to combine systemic knowledge that will help to understand how social factors affect the implementation of technologies and the development of the enterprise as a whole. The enterprise as a complex social and technological system should be analysed within the framework of the socio-humanistic approach, which is based on the recognition of the human being as the subject and object of all processes. In the context of a socio-humanistic approach to business analysis, it is important to address aspects related to social relations, human needs and values, and the interaction between employees and management. The fundamental principles of the socio-humanistic approach, such as taking into account the individual needs of employees, supporting their development and satisfaction from professional activities, can be applied to the analysis of an enterprise's performance. This means that the efficiency and success of an organisation is assessed not only by financial indicators, but also by the level of satisfaction and development of its employees. Studying the social interactions, communication and psychological climate of the team can help to understand what factors contribute to or hinder the effective functioning of the organisation. This approach allows to see the company as a living, organic system in which human relationships and values play an essential role. The study opens up the possibility of integrating different scientific disciplines, such as sociology, technology, economics, psychology and management, in order to understand the complex relationships in today's industrial companies. The implementation of the recommendations will help companies improve the efficiency of personnel management, provide the necessary human resources and meet the requirements of the modern market. The research generates new knowledge in the field of personnel management and digitalisation, has direct practical application for companies in increasing their competitiveness and stability in the market.
With 70 million dead, World War II remains the most devastating conflict in history. Among the survivors, millions were displaced, returned maimed from the battlefield, or endured years of captivity. We examine the effects of such war exposures on labor market careers, showing that they often become apparent only at certain life stages. While war injuries reduced employment in old age, former prisoners of war prolonged their time in the workforce before retiring. Many displaced workers, especially women, never returned to employment. These responses align with standard life-cycle theory and thus likely hold relevance for other conflicts.
Large Language Models (LLMs) have shown great potential in solving complex problems in various fields, including oil and gas engineering and other industrial engineering disciplines like factory automation, PLC programming etc. However, automatic identification of strong and weak solutions to fundamental physics equations governing several industrial processes remain a challenging task. This paper identifies the limitation of current LLM approaches, particularly ChatGPT in selected practical problems native to oil and gas engineering but not exclusively. The performance of ChatGPT in solving complex problems in oil and gas engineering is discussed and the areas where LLMs are most effective are presented.
V. Sevek, Choduraa S. Manchyk-Sat, A.A. Sereezhikpey
et al.
The study of the labor market in the Republic of Tyva is a planned work of the research laboratory “Research of the labor market” at the Faculty of Economics of the Tuva State University. The main objective of the laboratory is to analyze the demanded professions requiring higher education in the Republic of Tyva for the employment of university graduates, taking into account the scope of their activities. The purpose of this study is to analyze the professions in demand in Russia and the Republic of Tyva. The results of many years of work on the employment of graduate students of Tuva State University, observation and comparison of the needs of republican employers during meetings related to the employment of university graduates, analysis of statistical materials of the Ministry of Labor of Russia, All-Russian Research Institute of Labor of the Ministry of Labor of Russia, the All-Russian database of vacancies and resumes were used as research sources. “Employment in Russia”, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of the Republic of Tuva and other open sources providing a reliable assessment of the ongoing processes in the Russian and regional labor market. The novelty of the study lies in the definition of practical recommendations for the employment of graduates of secondary and higher educational institutions, when in modern conditions in the country the labor market is dynamically changing in accordance with external and internal factors. The results of the study represent an analysis of professions in demand that are of interest to specialists in the field of education, economics, sociology, and psychology.
Relevance. The Russian economy is steadily moving towards digitalization. The corona virus epidemic caused a rapid pace of digitalization, accelerated the processes of automation and digitalization of the economy and social life of society.These objective processes have led to the need to access the IT labor market in order to identify trends in meeting the sharply increased demand of companies for IT specialists.The purpose of the study to assess the current situation and problems that have developed in the labor market of the Kursk region in the field of supply and demand of IT specialists.The objectives were to assess: the job market in the region, the requests and proposals of employers; the structure of vacancies; activity and portrait of applicants.Methodology. The research methodology is based on system, resource and process approaches. Traditional methods for theoretical and applied research were used - statistical analysis, indexing of information, comparison, generalization. The research material was statistical data of the federal all-Russian database of vacancies and summaries of the labor market of IT specialists.Results. Analyzed and systematized the data of the Internet recruitment portal Bounty Hunter (based on the parsing of resumes and vacancies). The analysis of the composition and structure of this part of the labor market is carried out, the indicators of supply and demand on it are compared. Studies have revealed a significant imbalance of supply and demand in the regional labor market in the IT sector, including in terms of employee specialization. There is a significant difference in professional specialization in the offers of applicants and in vacancies of potential employers.Conclusions. The demand for IT specialists has grown significantly. The lack of personnel is the main obstacle to the accelerated development of the IT sector of the region's economy. It is possible to eliminate the imbalance between supply and demand by implementing the following measures: targeted training of IT specialists for the real needs of employers; organization of additional professional education with a specific specialization; improvement of the external HR brand of companies and motivation of IT specialists.
Organizational and technological changes taking place against the background of a change in the technological structure have a profoundly transformative effect on the entire spectrum of economic relations, including their socio-labor component; accelerate the processes of restructuring the labor market; set the need to adapt existing public institutions to work in new conditions. Analyzing the dynamics and directions of the development of higher education as a key subject of the system of vocational training, the author turns to the study of the phenomenon of international university rankings, which act as the subject of this study. The relevance of the chosen research perspective is explained by a number of reasons: in just a few decades since its inception, the ratings have successfully integrated into the educational systems of various countries and have found their own niche in this field. The expert community has confirmed the opinion that the entry of universities into international rankings provides countries with opportunities for the formation of world-class labor resources. All this, on the one hand, allows us to consider rankings as a fullfledged subject of the modern system of vocational education. On the other hand, the attitude to rankings as a socio-economic and, partly, cultural phenomenon, both in the public and in the expert environment remains ambiguous. Researchers pay attention to serious flaws in ranking projects, imbalances introduced by participation in rating "competitions" for individual countries and economic systems. The aim of the paper is to study the impact of international university rankings on the state and prospects for the development of university education as the basis of the current system of professional training. The article analyzes the reasons and prerequisites for the emergence of higher education rating practices. The strengths and weak- nesses of the most popular rating projects are evaluated. Particular attention is paid to the study of the practices of participation of the national system of vocational education in rating projects. In this context, the author identifies two areas of development: the creation and promotion of their own rating projects in the global market of educational services, as well as initiatives related to the inclusion of rating projects in national development programs. The author comes to the conclusions about a certain reassessment of priorities in the development of modern university rankings, outlines the further development of the rating movement in the field of education. The methodological basis of the study was institutional, systemic approaches and methods, means of content and comparative theoretical analysis. The results of the study expand the understanding of the phenomenon of international university rankings, which can be used when forming the social policy of the state, programs for the development of higher professional education, as well as for the purposes of harmonizing relations between the labor market and the educational services market.
Collaboration among industrial Internet of Things (IoT) devices and edge networks is essential to support computation-intensive deep neural network (DNN) inference services which require low delay and high accuracy. Sampling rate adaption which dynamically configures the sampling rates of industrial IoT devices according to network conditions, is the key in minimizing the service delay. In this paper, we investigate the collaborative DNN inference problem in industrial IoT networks. To capture the channel variation and task arrival randomness, we formulate the problem as a constrained Markov decision process (CMDP). Specifically, sampling rate adaption, inference task offloading and edge computing resource allocation are jointly considered to minimize the average service delay while guaranteeing the long-term accuracy requirements of different inference services. Since CMDP cannot be directly solved by general reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms due to the intractable long-term constraints, we first transform the CMDP into an MDP by leveraging the Lyapunov optimization technique. Then, a deep RL-based algorithm is proposed to solve the MDP. To expedite the training process, an optimization subroutine is embedded in the proposed algorithm to directly obtain the optimal edge computing resource allocation. Extensive simulation results are provided to demonstrate that the proposed RL-based algorithm can significantly reduce the average service delay while preserving long-term inference accuracy with a high probability.
Problem statement. The transition to a market economy in Ukraine and the formation of production relations on the basis of private property have led to a qualitative change in the essence of wage labor. Employers, wanting to make more profit from their activities, reduce health and safety expenditure and avoid the requirements of labor rights legislation, so the issue of safe and proper working conditions is gaining more and more importance every year. The purpose of the article. Based on the legislative and regulatory framework in Ukraine, make an analysis of the provision of labor protection in different forms of employment. Research results. Existing forms of employment and their legal framework are considered. The parties and the subject of the contract are identified. A comparison for the terms of labor protection, namely, the creation of working conditions in accordance with regulatory and legal acts, ensuring compliance with the requirements of legislation regarding the rights of employees and their social guarantees. The form and conditions under which involvement in increased hazardous works is a violation of the law are indicated. Object of study. Requirements for compliance with labor protection and the responsibility of the parties regarding the safety of work under various forms of employment. Subject of study. Regulatory and legal framework of Ukraine. Research methods. Analysis and generalization of data during the study of literary sources, methods of empirical research − when comparing and comparing different forms of employment. Practical value. Regulation of employee safety, reduction of injuries, improvement of the position for the employee and the company, in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine on labor under the conditions of his faithful involvement in work. Personal responsible attitude to one's work and protection from industrial risks.
Лаборатория исторической информатики Нижнетагильского государственного социально-педагогического института с 2000 г. работает над проектом «Gedenkbuch: Книга памяти репрессированных российских немцев», в рамках которого изданы коллективные монографии по ИТЛ Урала и создана электронная база данных объемом около 100 тыс. персоналий, основанная на материалах учетных картотек лагерей принудительного труда. Целью настоящей статьи является ознакомление читателей с результатами сравнительного анализа социального портрета трудмобилизованных нескольких лагерей Урала по общепринятым параметрам, связанным с содержанием первоисточника - учетных картотек спецконтингента в архивах силовых ведомств. Информационной базой создания социального портрета репрессированных и сравнительного анализа являются архивные источники ИТЛ ГУЛАГа и электронные базы данных, сформированные в процессе создания Книг памяти в период с 1999 по 2021 г. В качестве основных методологических средств исследования используются понятийный аппарат новой социальной истории, просопографический и историко-сравнительный методы, методы исторической информатики. Определены источники, динамика и этапы поступления трудмобилизованных; выявлен спектр национальностей, составивших этот контингент, проведен анализ половозрастного состава, места рождения, социального происхождения, уровня образования, партийной принадлежности, трудовых занятий до мобилизации, причин и масштабов убытия из лагеря и смертности; установлен процент арестованных и осужденных; прослежена динамика демобилизации и освобождения из ИТЛ. В результате исследования выявлена специфика социального портрета в зависимости от места, времени и производственного предназначения ИТЛ. Сложный состав спецконтингента всех лагерей был представлен такими категориями, как заключенные, трудмобилизованные, военнопленные, интернированные. В численном отношении преобладали заключенные и трудармейцы. Несмотря на особый статус трудармейцев, призванный несколько облегчить их положение, все они были заняты принудительным трудом и находились в условиях лагерного режима в общем составе спецконтингента. Труд вольнонаемных составлял незначительный процент от участников строительства промышленных объектов и лесных разработок. В статье сделан акцент на реконструкции социального портрета трудмобилизованных в рамках конкретных ИТЛ Урала. Решение этой задачи позволило выявить обобщенные характеристики социального портрета трудармейцев в целом. Основные социо-демографические характеристики этой категории спецконтингента связаны с российскими немцами и практически совпадают с результатами переписи 1939 г. Однако принципиально важным отличием является то, что наши наблюдения концентрируют внимание не на немецком национальном меньшинстве в составе СССР, а на российских немцах как одной из составных частей спецконтингента лагерей принудительного труда. В соответствии с этой задачей выявлены обобщенные характеристики трудмобилизованных. Значение проведенного исследования определяется введением в историографический оборот просопографических баз данных, объединенных на основе сравнительного анализа. Since 2000, the Laboratory of Historical Informatics of Nizhny Tagil State Socio-Pedagogical Institute has been working on the project “Gedenkbuch: Book of Memory of the Repressed Russian Germans.” Within the framework of the project, collective monographs on the corrective labor camps (ITLs) of the Urals were published and an electronic database of about 100 000 persons was created based on the materials of record files of forced labor camps. The purpose of this article is to familiarize readers with the results of the comparative analysis of social portrait of the persons mobilized for labor in several camps in the Urals according to the generally accepted parameters related to the contents of the primary source, the latter being registration cards of special contingent in the archives of law enforcement agencies. Archival sources of the corrective labor camps of the Gulag and electronic databases that were compiled in the process of preparing the Books of Memory in the period from 1999 to 2021 constitute the information basis for creating a social portrait of repression victims and comparative analysis. The conceptual apparatus of new social history, prosopographical and historical comparative methods as well as methods of historical informatics are the main methodological tools of the research. The sources, dynamics and stages of the intake of persons mobilized for labor were determined; the range of nationalities that made up this contingent was identified, age and sex, place of birth, social origin, level of education, party affiliation, employment before mobilization were analyzed as well as causes and level of departure from the camp and mortality rate; the percentage of the arrested and convicted was established; the dynamics of demobilization and release from labor camps was traced. As a result of the study, the specific features of social portrait were revealed depending on the place, time, and production purpose of the camp. The composition of the special contingent of all camps was complex. It was represented by such categories as prisoners, persons mobilized for labor duty, prisoners of war, and internees. Numerically, prisoners and labor armyists predominated. Despite the special status of labor armyists, which was intended to somehow alleviate their situation, all of them were engaged in forced labor in the conditions of the camp regime together with the rest of special contingent. The labor of free employees constituted an insignificant percentage in the construction of industrial facilities and timber harvsting. The article focuses on the reconstruction of the social portrait of the persons mobilized for labor duty in certain labor camps of the Urals. The solution of this problem made it possible to reveal the generalized characteristics of the social portrait of labor armyists as a whole. Main socio-demographic characteristics of this category of special contingent are associated with Russian Germans and practically coincide with the results of the 1939 census. However, a fundamentally important difference is that our observations focus not on the German national minority within the USSR but on Russian Germans as a part of special contingent of forced labor camps. In accordance with this task, generalized characteristics of the persons mobilized for labor duty were revealed. The significance of the study is determined by the introduction into the historiographical circulation of prosopographical databases that were combined on the basis of comparative analysis.
The article presents the results of a research based on modern methods of memory studies. These results complement the history of Russian commemorative practices in the early 20th century with economic and industrial examples. New forms of cultivating historical memory emerged with modernization processes. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the death of S. T. Aksakov (1909), the nobility of Samara province organized the Aksakov labor assistance circle. Its main activity was setting up educational workshops named after the writer in the village described in his works under the name of Bagrovo. Sources about the Aksakov circle and these workshops are archival documents, published reports, and other materials. The nobility paid tribute to the memory of the outstanding writer and the bygone era of flourishing of provincial “nests of the gentry” by purchasing the Aksakov estate from the Peasant Bank; by creating conditions there for teaching crafts; by taking care of the historical house with a garden. Practical needs and search for funds for maintenance forced the organizers to turn to the zemstvo for assistance. The initiative of the nobility received material and moral support from Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. This resulted in the emphasis on the loyalist dimension of the memorial events in Samara region. The research of the experience of the specific commemorative practice contributes to the general understanding of social, cognitive, and ethical communications between history and historical memory, prompting further studies of the problem.
contrac-tors. 2 Jennifer Abruzzo, whom Biden appointed as general counsel to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), stunned employers by issuing a memo deeming mandatory “cap-tive audience” meetings to be unlawful. Given the widespread use by employers of these meetings to dissuade workers from voting for union-ization, this posture holds great potential significance.To consider how this may play out, history provides some useful examples of the positive interaction between politics and policy and mass labor organizing. The 1934 West Coast dockers/maritime strike took place a year ahead of the passage of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which provided a legal frame-work to enterprise-level or workplace-based bargaining. But the earlier passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) featured provisions giving workers the right to engage in concerted activity and bargain collectively over wages, hours, and conditions. 3 Although later invalidated by the Supreme Court in 1935, this law, with its sweeping industry regulations, was the product of social ferment and political will. Sensing that FDR had their back, passage of the NIRA gave courage and legitimacy to the 12,000 dockworkers who went on strike for eighty-four days on the West Coast. 4
The world economy crucially depends on multi-layered value chains with high degrees of sector-related specialization. Its final products are of international character and serve the needs and wants of the global citizen. However, many production processes are causing severe damage to the environment and moreover create health hazard for workers and local populations. This research article focuses on the increasing global unequal economic- and ecological exchange, fundamentally embedded in international trade. Resource extraction and labor conditions in the Global South as well as the implications for climate change originating from industry emissions in the North are investigated with an agent-based model. The model serves as a testbed for simulation experiments with evolutionary political economic policies. An international institution is introduced sanctioning the polluting extractivist sector in the Global South as well as the emitting industrial capital good producers in the North with the aim of subsidizing innovation reducing environmental and social impacts. Both regions are modelled as macroeconomic complex adaptive systems where international trade is restricted to a three-sector value chain, originating from mining resources in the South that are traded to capital good producers in the North crafting machinery which is eventually traded to consumer good firms, both in the North and South. The main outcome of the study is that sanctions alone are not effective in countering unequal exchange. They only make a difference in combination with subsidies for innovation activities, which are protecting labor and reducing local pollution in mines as well as reducing carbon-emissions in capital good production.