ABSTRACT
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global cultural and creative sector has experienced major transformations in the way performances are conceived of, produced, packaged, and sustained. The involuntary shift to the online (and now hybrid) models and platforms of showcasing have compelled artists not just to rethink performance itself but also to address larger global and local socio-political and economic issues. This paper aims to look at two short case studies - dance and theatre - to underscore the transformations in "performance economy" in the pandemic. It considers the adaptability of these forms to newer idioms/platforms, and the creative labour involved in their sustenance through ongoing challenges. The study focusses on interviews of performers, and self-reflexive experiences of pedagogic training as a dancer through online apps. In doing so, the paper asks how cultural resistance, social citizenship and inclusivity in performing arts address questions of labour, inequality, and creative justice.
ABSTRACT
During the coronavirus pandemic, asynchronous teledermatology and tele-triage have become increasingly essential, but reimbursement is not widespread. Our study of an asynchronous teledermatology eConsult program for “suspicious lesions” aims to calculate potential cost-savings of the program with recent telemedicine reimbursement rates published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), as compared with a traditional ambulatory model, using observed and projected frequencies of skin biopsies at our institution. We conducted a 3-year retrospective cohort study of patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and payer costs associated with “suspicious lesion” eConsults. For 348 cases receiving eConsult for a single suspicious lesion within our study period, the eConsult program cost $32,298.40 ($92.81/case). Compared with a traditional standalone ambulatory model, tele-triage could potentially save $8252.59 ($23.71/case) based on the 41.8% observed biopsy rate in eConsult patients subsequently presenting to ambulatory clinic. We calculated a minimum savings of $2348.86 ($6.75/case) using a 23.6% theoretical biopsy rate based on suspicious lesion eConsults not recommended in-person evaluation but who nonetheless presented in ambulatory clinic for assessment of the lesion. Threshold analysis using the actual cost of the eConsult program revealed that institutions with biopsy rate greater than 16.4% for new patients presenting with “suspicious lesions” could yield cost-savings from tele-triage compared with a standalone ambulatory model. Overall, health systems may consider exploring tele-triage of new patients with suspicious lesions given its potential for cost savings. Limitations of this study include its single-center, retrospective design as well as utilization of reimbursement codes from one payer type.
ABSTRACT
This book offers an overview of India's emerging digital economy and the resulting challenges and opportunities for urban workplaces. It examines contemporary economic and social transformations in India by focusing on how new technologies and policies are shaping urban work practices and patterns. The book emphasizes inclusive and equitable practices that consider the needs of the formal and informal sector workforce as essential to India's urban development. Drawing on cross-disciplinary frameworks, it examines key issues related to work trends in the Indian urban economy and its digital landscapes, including Industry 4.0 and technology-labour nexus, smart cities and innovation, urbanism and consumerism, workplace transitions such as service industry and remote work, digital divide, skill development initiatives, and the impact of socio-economic inequalities and disruptions. The authors provide perspectives on the digital future of urban work in India and other emerging economies in the post-COVID-19 phase, and underscore the importance of enacting balanced policies, remodelling institutions, and equipping the labour force for adapting to new demands related to future employability and investments. This book will interest students, teachers, and researchers of urban studies, urban sociology, sociology of work, labour studies, human and urban geography, economic geography, urban economics, development studies, urban development and planning, public policy, regional planning, politics of urban development, social and cultural change, urban sustainability, environmental studies, management studies, South Asian Studies, and Global South studies. It will also be useful to policymakers, non-governmental organizations, activists, and those interested in India and the future of the global economy. © 2022 Nidhi Tandon, Pratyusha Basu, Omkumar Krishnan and Bhavani R.V. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: China has emerged as an undisputed leader of global business and as a preferred hub for global value chains. However, recent threats of the trade war, the allegation of violation of intellectual property rights and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to have dampened China’s attractiveness. Multinational corporations may be contemplating diversifying their dependence on China – a strategy known as “China-Plus-One”. What could be possible destinations in Asia for such a diversification strategy? Design/methodology/approach: Towards understanding the “China-Plus-One” phenomenon, the authors use a methodology of arriving at an aggregate ranking of the major economies of emerging Asia. This is built on a few standard indices such as World Bank's Logistic Performance Index;World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Indicator;World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index;Economic Complexity Index of the Harvard University;Economist Magazine’s Country Rating of Financial Strength;and Corruption Perception Index compiled by the Transparency International. Accordingly, the authors rank seven countries (namely, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Bangladesh) next to China as possible destinations for selecting the “Plus one” country. Findings: In the aggregate ranking, China ranks first followed by Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and then Bangladesh. This sequence gives some pointers on the possible shifts from China as potential hubs of global value chains. The authors observe the following: first, it is challenging to move away from China in the short run;second, corporations could pursue a “China-plus-One” strategy, whereby they may move marginally from China and relocate part of their supply chain elsewhere;third, in looking for alternative locations, corporations may look for the following countries in emerging Asia, namely, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Bangladesh. Originality/value: The aggregate ranking method applied in this paper is one of the first applications in the context of ranking developing Asian economies based on economic, logistics, supply chain, financial and corruption metrics. It is one of the first conceptual works in the domain of identifying possible diversification options for the “China-Plus-One” strategy that can be extended to include many context-specific rankings. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.
ABSTRACT
Social distancing is a matter of individuals' choices as well as of regulation. We analyse weekly panel data on such behaviour for English Upper Tier Local Authorities (UTLAs) from March to July 2020, paying attention to the influence of poverty, as measured by free school meals provision. Panel regressions suggest that, although more stringent regulation and slightly lagged local cases of infection increase social distancing, both effects are weaker in UTLAs with higher levels of poverty, in part because of poor housing, and also because shortage of money has forced the poor to keep working. Thus motivated, we develop a two-class (rich/poor) model, in which a Nash non-cooperative equilibrium arises from individual choices in a regulatory regime with penalties for non-compliance. The model yields results in keeping with the empirical findings, indicating the desirability of generous measures to furlough workers in low-paid jobs as a complement to the stringency of general regulation. © 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2021.
ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 is a new form of ß-coronavirus that has been recently discovered and is responsible for COVID 19 pandemic. The earliest infection can be traced back to Wuhan, China. From there it has spread all over the world. Keeping in view the above perspective, an attempt is made in order to find out the epidemiological pattern of COVID 19 pandemic, if any, in different geo-climatological regions of the world in terms of case incidence and mortality. This study is also an endeavor to review and analyze the gradual changes of the genetic makeup of SARS-CoV from evolutionary and epidemiological perspectives. The raw data of COVID-19 cases and death incidences were collected from the World Health Organization (WHO) website from the time period: 1st April to 6th April, 2020. The data that are utilized here for general and Case fatality rate (CFR) based analysis. Western pacific region, European region and Americas have the greatest number of infected cases (P < 0.001); whereas deaths have been found to be significantly higher in Europe (P < 0.001). Total number of confirmed cases and deaths in south-east Asia are comparatively lower (P < 0.001). Case fatality rate (CFR) has also found significant for European region. SARS-CoV-2 is considered to be a strain of SARS-CoV that has a high rate of pathogenicity and transmissibility. Result indicated that the European region has been affected mostly for both cases and death incidences. The novel mutations in SARS-CoV-2 possibly increase the virus infectivity. Genetic heterogeneity of this virus within the human population might originate as the representatives of naturally selected virus quasispecies. In this context, the presence of the asymptomatic individuals could be a significant concern for SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology. Further studies are required to understand its genetic evolution and epidemiological significance.