ABSTRACT
This paper provides evidence for the cyclical behaviour of public social spending in 65 industrial and developing countries during 1980-2010. In view of the recent economic crisis, we pay particular attention to whether government spending in the social sector has followed the pattern of fiscal response: whether the developing world could escape the procyclicality trap and behave countercyclically. The estimates based on correlation and panel regression analysis show that developing countries were able to graduate from procyclical to countercyclical social spending. The study further examines the factors that affect the way social spending is conducted in these countries. Given the current pandemic situation, it is believed that developing countries could address the health crisis by undertaking comprehensive reform programs to slow the spread of the pandemic and alleviate the economic damage.
ABSTRACT
The risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is significantly higher among Veterans compared to non- Veterans. Access to treatment for TBI and post concussive symptoms is sometimes difficult, because of barriers related to distance, finances, and public safety (i.e., COVID-19 infection). Virtual reality rehabilitation (VRR) offers an opportunity to incorporate a virtual space into a rehabilitation environment. To our knowledge, VRR has not been used to assist Veterans with TBI and related health problems with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (iADLs). The purpose of this study is to investigate the usability of a novel VRR ADL and iADL training protocols, developed by the Gaming Research Integration for Learning Laboratory (GRILL®) at the Air Force Research Laboratory, for cognitive rehabilitation for Veterans with a TBI. We deployed a prototype protocol among healthcare providers (n = 20) to obtain feedback on usability, task demand, and recommended adjustments. Our preliminary analysis shows that providers found the VRR protocol involved low physical demand and would likely recommend it to their patients. Although they had some concerns with vertigo-like symptoms from using a digital technology, they believed the protocol would improve iADL functioning and was a good addition to pre-existing rehabilitation protocols. These outcomes provide justification for more impactful studies investigating the effectiveness of this protocol among Veterans with TBI. Copyright © 2021 Greenhalgh, Fitzpatrick, Rodabaugh, Madrigal, Timmerman, Chung, Ahuja, Kennedy, Harris and Adamson.
ABSTRACT
The ongoing pandemic has led to unprecedented disruption to the economies all over the world and exposed the vast majority of the population to the health-related financial shocks. It sets off a domino effect right from affecting the health of larger share of population to the economic policies pursued by the government to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. Countries have imposed temporary lockdowns and restored to social distancing. Unfortunately, such measures had huge economic costs in terms of poverty, income distribution and unemployment. With this context, this paper attempts to examine the impact of the COVID-19 containment measures on poverty and income inequality in India. It was observed that the COVID-19 not only exacerbates income inequality but also pushed many people into the extreme poverty. It clearly reflects that with poor health facilities and infrastructure, a large section of the society has suffered a huge real income shock that could jeopardized the country’s economic growth. Thus, from policy perspectives, the present economic crisis amid COVID-19 pandemic delineates the importance of placing social protection policies that is oriented towards vulnerable and marginalized households especially in the event of social shocks. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
ABSTRACT
The financial crisis of 2008 has exploded the government debt levels and brought fiscal policy to the forefront of policy debates. The environment of interest rate close to zero bound, with the tumbling financial markets revamped the importance of fiscal policy in stimulating the economy. In addition to this, the Covid-19 pandemic has also intensified the urgency of fiscal policy action. In this article, the academic literature on fiscal policy was examined in light of developments that took place post-2008 financial crisis. Following a concept-based methodology, the paper clustered the fiscal policy literature under three heads: 1) cyclical pattern of fiscal policy;2) fiscal consolidation strategies;3) effectiveness of fiscal policy. The study provides an insight into the importance of countercyclical fiscal policy especially during health emergencies such as Covid-19 pandemic that would be required to promote the economic development of the society as a whole.