Telework in Romania. Current State and Sustainable Socio-Economic Effects of Its Development

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the current stage of implementation of telework in Romania and to determine potential positive and sustainable effects generated by its development on a large scale. The research methodology used is based on descriptive analysis, comparative analysis, but also on econometric analysis. The general results obtained show that Romania registers a very low level of telework employees, this being influenced, not only by the low share of those with tertiary education and high skilled professionals, but also by the fact that most Romanian employees do not want to practice this type of work. The results also showed that telework can generate significant economic and social benefits. The potential solutions we have identified for the sustainable development of the telework phenomenon in Romania include investments in tertiary education and awareness campaigns among both employees and companies, regarding the positive effects that can be obtained through telework and business development.

Dynamic effects and driving intermediations of oil price shocks on major economies

Interest in oil price shocks' economic effects has grown in recent years. However, previous studies mostly failed to clarify the dynamic transmissions of oil price shocks on representative economies from global and driver perspectives, even ignoring oil price fluctuations when linking oil prices and economy together. This paper examines the dynamic relationships and driving intermediations between multiple oil price shocks and macroeconomy by applying Bayesian vector autoregressive models with stochastic volatility and time-varying parameters, using the USA, China, the Euro-19, and Japan as research objects. Results show that, in the whole sample, all oil prices have the strongest effects on Japan, followed by China, Euro-19, and the USA, with possible directional differences. All oil prices' economic effects intensified during the crisis and Covid-19, accompanying significant oil price fluctuations. Regarding asymmetry, in the whole sample and critical times, stronger effects of rising oil prices show in the short term, but opposite in the long term. Consumer price, interest rate, and exchange rate are the general intermediations of oil prices in China and the USA, Euro-19, and Japan, respectively, and exchange rate is the additional intermediation in China, Euro-19, and Japan during the crisis and Covid-19. Overall, the results are solid.

The Economic Effects on Acute Care Surgery in a New York City Public Hospital During the COVID Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, less acute care surgical procedures have been performed and consequently hospitals have experienced significant revenue loss. We aim to investigate these procedures performed before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their effect on the economy. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent cholecystectomies and appendectomies during March-May 2019 compared to the same time period in 2020 using Chi-square and t-tests. RESULTS: There were 345 patients who presented with appendicitis or cholecystitis to Elmhurst Hospital Center during the March-May 2019 and 2020 time period. There were three times as many total operations, or about 75%, in 2019 (261) compared to 2020 (84). There was a decrease in the number of admissions from 2019 to 2020 for both acute cholecystitis (149 vs 43, respectively) and acute appendicitis (112 vs 41, respectively). The largest decrease in the number of admissions in 2020 compared to 2019 was observed in April 2020 (98 vs 9, P < .01) followed by May [69 vs 20, P < .01], and March [94 vs 55, P < .01]. Corresponding to the decrease in operative patterns was a noticeable six-time reduction in revenue for the procedures in 2019 ($187,283) compared to 2020 ($30,415). CONCLUSION: We observed almost a triple reduction in the number of cholecystitis and appendicitis procedures performed during the 2020 pandemic surge as compared to the 2019 pre-pandemic data. Elmhurst hospital also experienced four times the loss of revenue during the same time period.

Covid-19 Pandemic and the Economic Results of Agriculture in the European Union

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought numerous economic challenges to countries around the world. The specificities of certain economy sectors determined the character and intensity of the impact of this health crisis on their results. The purpose of the paper is to analyse the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the economic results of agriculture in the European Union countries. Comparative analysis and cluster analysis are used in the research. The general conclusion of the paper is that the Covid-19 pandemic did not change the economic importance and role of agriculture in the individual European Union countries. In addition, the European Union countries differ significantly according to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the contribution of agriculture to gross domestic product, while a significant difference between the countries has not been determined according to the impact of the pandemic on the contribution of agriculture to employment.

COVID-19 and a trade-off between health and economics: an extended inoperability model for Italy

Purpose: The recent COVID-19 has obliged governments to enact large-scale policies to contain it. A topic of economic debate is the quantification of the impact that these policies can create in the economy, with the aim of activating regulatory mechanisms to minimize this impact. In this vein, this study aims to propose a quantification of the effects of the Italian government policy that blocks nonessential production activities. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use a multisectoral extended inoperability model on the social accounting matrix of Italy. The analysis identifies the pandemic's impact on outputs, endogenous demands, value-added and disposable incomes of institutional sectors. Findings: The construction and real estate sectors revealed a significant contraction followed by the retail trade and hotel and catering services sectors. The output contraction further impacts the value-added generation, disposable income and final demand components. Originality/value: The current pandemic is alleged to have a greater impact than the epidemics of the past century, considering the present dimension of the world economy and the increasing interconnections between industries and institutions. In this scenario, it is challenging to safeguard not only human health and life but also the economy. Hence, there is a need to establish a trade-off between health and economics;and in this regard, the current study empirically quantifies the impact of health measures on the economy. The findings of this study help identify the sectors that are more prone to disaster effects and also present the structure of income circular flow in the Italian economy. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Sustainable Tourism Development

The Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic situation has posed a significant effect on the tourism industry. Tourism destinations have accepted emergency health care measures and restrictions imposed on human movement around the world. Beaches and resorts are empty, peoples' movements are stopped, and traveling between territories is strictly controlled. The COVID-19 lockdown around the world has imposed a negative impact on the livelihood of people and the world economy as well. The goal of the current study is to determine the potential for sustainable tourism growth in the near future given the social, economic, and environmental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. © 2022 Technoscience Publications. All rights reserved.

The Socio-Economic Effects of the COVID-19 National Lockdown on South Africa and its Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a global public health emergency. In the absence of approved and effective prophylactics and therapeutics, almost all countries have resorted to some version of national lockdown coupled with social distancing and enhanced hygiene measures to curb the spread of the pandemic. The COVID-19 has infected almost fifty million people globally, with more than a million deaths so far. Although national lockdowns have been employed as the primary response to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have also resulted in untold economic devastation to South Africa. Millions of people in the informal sector have been impoverished due to the COVID-19-induced lockdown. More people have become unemployed, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of almost all the nations have significantly contracted and public debt has rapidly increased while South Africa's national budget has been severely strained. This article examines the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19-induced lockdown on South Africa and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reference will be made to Tanzania and Sweden which have shunned lockdowns. This is done for comparative purposes and to inform policy reform.

INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON MEDICAL DEVICE STRATEGY AND FIRM PERFORMANCE

The object of study is the importance of medical technology and healthcare delivery in the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes to the business, healthcare, and societal landscape. The changes have had varying effects on key industries, demanding them to realign to fit new pandemic-imposed environmental conditions. This study seeks to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical device strategy and firm performance of company X, and to provide recommendations and insights on strategies to ensure continuity post-pandemic. A qualitative analysis of the results from nine interviews with associates regarding the effects of COVID-19 on firm performance and strategy at company X was explored. The findings from a thematic analysis of the interview data are reported and related to the study's research objectives. Findings showed that the COVID-19 pandemic forced company X to adjust its strategy to align it with the changing environment. However, the data showed that the unknown nature and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic environment meant that the realignment of strategy to the prevailing dynamics was unique. This study's key findings indicate that COVID-19 strongly influenced financial performance, which influenced firm performance significantly. In addition, financial performance measures were found to have more impact than non-financial performance measures such as strategic performance. The main recommendation emanating from the study was to improve the organization's agility, versatility, and speed. This would be achieved through simplifying processes, streamlining decision-making, and enhancing speed in the market. Agility and versatility are necessary to overcome or take advantage of new developments from the pandemic and post-pandemic environment. This research study can assist medical enterprises in other countries to stream their services and align strategy to meet the dynamic environment caused by the COVID-19. [ FROM AUTHOR]

COVID lessons: was there any way to reduce the negative effect of COVID-19 on the United States economy?

Purpose This paper aims to assess the economic impact of uniform COVID-controlling policies that were implemented by the US government in 2020 and compare it with hypothetical targeted policies that consider the heterogenous effect of COVID-19 on different age groups. Design/methodology/approach The author began by showing that the adjusted SEQIHR model is a good fit to the US COVID-induced daily death data in that it can capture the nonlinearities of the data very well. Then, he used this model with extra parameters to evaluate the economic effects of COVID-19 through its impact on the job market. Findings The results show that targeted COVID-controlling policies could reduce the US death rate and GDP loss to 0.03% and 2%, respectively. By comparing these results with uniform COVID-controlling policies, which led to a 0.1% death rate and 3.5% GDP loss, we could conclude that the death rate reduction is 0.07%. Approximately 378,000 Americans died because of COVID-19 during 2020, therefore, reducing the death rate to 0.03% means saving a significant proportion of the COVID-19 casualties, around 280,000 lives. Originality/value To the best of the author's knowledge, this paper is the first study to assess the economic impacts of COVID-controlling policies by using the multirisk SEQIHR model.

Social, Environmental and Economic Impact Assessment of COVID-19 on Rural Tourism.

Today, various solutions have been proposed to improve the economic situation of villages and deprived areas, among which tourism is known as the best solution for those areas with the necessary potentials for tourism development. On other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic had significant effects on human life worldwide. The prevalence of COVID-19 has caused a lot of damage to different sectors of the global economy, but without a doubt, the rural tourism industry should be considered among the economic activities that have suffered the most from this virus. In this study, with the aim of investigating these effects on the rural tourism industry, it has been analyzed and compared in three important economic, social and environmental dimensions before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19. This quantitative study was used survey method. The statistical population of the study consisted of local stakeholders of rural tourism and experts of the relevant organizations in Natanz county of Iran. The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicate that the constructs used in the model have appropriate and acceptable fit. The results of the study also, showed that the prevalence of COVID-19 has adverse consequences including reducing the desirable economic and social effects of tourism mentioned among both groups of experts and rural stakeholders. from rural tourism stakeholders' opinion, environmental variables of the tourism areas before and after the COVID-19 was different, and in the absence of tourists in this area, the destructive environmental effects have strongly decreased.

COVID-19 and EU Climate Targets: Can We Now Go Further?

This paper examines the implications of the COVID-19 crisis on the 2030 EU CO2 emissions target, considering a range of economic growth scenarios. With lower economic activity resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, we find that existing climate policy measures could overshoot the current 40% EU target in 2030. If policymakers consequently relax climate policy measures to maintain the 2030 target, the opportunity will be missed to align EU climate policy with longer-term Paris emissions mitigation goals. Our analysis highlights that although existing climate policy measures will likely reduce emissions more than 40% by 2030 in the wake of the pandemic, they will not be enough to meet the Paris agreement. More stringent measures, such as those proposed under the Green New Deal, will still be needed and may be less costly than previously estimated.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON CAPITALIZING THE PRODUCTION OF FAMILY FARMS IN CALARASI COUNTY, ROMANIA

The health crisis caused by Covid-19 generated, among many other effects, a series of dysfunctions in the agri-food system, respectively in farms, in the supply chains with inputs and agri-food products, at the level of food demand. In the existing context in the Romanian agriculture, with millions of family farms, mostly subsistence and semi-subsistence ones, we initiated the present study in Calarasi county obtaining information on the main challenges facing family farms during the health crisis and we summarized the farmers' proposals regarding the expectations they have from the local and national authorities in order to ensure the conditions for capitalizing the farm products. The questionnaire was applied in the agri-food markets in Calarasi and Oltenita municipalities, as well as in 9 localities in Calarasi county, with a population of over 5,000 inhabitants, where weekly markets and fairs for the exploitation of agri-food products are organized. 61 questionnaires were applied and analyzed, through the survey-interview carried out between June and August 2021. The main challenges they face refer to the change of consumption patterns, blockages in the peasant markets and the increase of online deliveries, syncope in the agri-industrial processing sector, the closure of the firms from HORECA, but also of the schools, canteens, etc. All these challenges had the effect, first of all, of reducing the farmers' income due to the agricultural production decline.

Economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Dental Practices in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

An observational cross-sectional survey was planned and carried out to evaluate the economic impact of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic on dental practices in Germany. An online-questionnaire was developed and previously calibrated by a group consisting of experts from dentists, lawyers, and business economists (n = 21; Intra-Class-Coefficient > 0.8). It consisted of four main categories: vital statistics, professional activity and practice structure, economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and validation and contextualization to avoid automated filling in. The questionnaire was administered anonymously to 9732 dentists in Germany, 4434 of whom opened it and 1496 of whom fully completed it. These results were evaluated and summarized. Respondents were divided into seven German economic macro areas. Difference in proportion among questionnaire items was evaluated with χ2 test or Fisher exact test appropriately. Linear trend analysis was performed among German macro areas. Ordinal multinomial linear regression analysis was run to evaluate the association with questionnaire items with respect to a collapse and/or quarantine measures due to a positive test/infection/disease of dental personnel or an increase in average monthly costs due to the pandemic. One-third experienced a collapse or quarantine measures of the predominantly self-employed participating dentists (92%). Small practices were less affected than larger ones. Average monthly costs increased sharply in all practice structures. The findings shall help to better manage future pandemics and provide information to policy makers. As the pandemic situation is still ongoing, the medium- and long-term economic impact should be further evaluated.

Physical, Psychological and Social Secondary Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkish University Students.

This study aims to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students and their families. A total of 274 students participated in this study. A questionnaire is developed regarding the physical, psychological, and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and sent to the students via e-mail. According to the results of the study, students who contracted COVID-19 experienced significantly higher musculoskeletal pain (MSP) (p = 0.01). Students with increased propensity for harmful habits experienced significantly more MSP (p = 0.01). Anxiety levels of students who experienced MSP were significantly higher (p = 0.01). Students living in an inadequate home environment were significantly more prone to harmful habits (p = 0.01). The anxiety level of the students who experienced domestic unrest was high (p = 0.02). The home environment of students with economic difficulties was significantly inadequate (p = 0.01). The anxiety levels of the students whose participation in sports and art activities decreased, were high (p = 0.04). The home environment of the students who reported that they were positively affected by distance education was significantly inadequate (p = 0.03). The authors suggest that physiotherapy, nutrition and psychological assistance services should be provided to students, scholarship opportunities and extracurricular activities (art and sports activities) should be increased.

Economic and fiscal effects of COVID-19 pandemic: An evaluation of selected countries

Purpose: COVID-19 pandemic is among the most important events of the 21st Century. Its global character and the multi-dimensional fallouts it has on communities worldwide further increase the importance of the pandemic. During the period of more than one year since the declaration of the pandemic, the communities failed to provide a lasting solution other than the face masks, social distance, and hygiene. Failure to fight the pandemic with considerable success subsequently raised the topic of revising the policymakers’ previous predictions at the start of the pandemic based on incomplete information. So, the calendar put forward for the pandemic went forward day by day, and the authorities who failed to adopt a prudent approach were obliged to pay increasingly higher costs for their mistakes. In the chapter, the financial and economic effects of the pandemic in selected countries are examined. While examining the policies followed in these countries, in terms of fiscal stimulus packages and monetary expansion packages, it is aimed to shed light on the pandemic experience in the Turkish economy and to develop policy recommendations. Thus the persistence of the pandemic pushes all countries to update their current policies and seek new methods. This chapter aims to examine developed and emerging economies in the covid-19 era that have implemented policies to struggle with the pandemic and whose policy framework can be accessed. Methodology: To do this we carried out a literature review of the Economic and Fiscal Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic during 2020 and early 2021. Findings: Countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany are believed to have taken strong measures to minimize the damages on the economy due to the pandemic, while other countries like Russia, India, and Brazil are deemed to have mounded new policies within the framework of their internal dynamics. One should also note that, in addition to the individual efforts of each European country, the European Union has also played a decisive role in the policies of its member states for crisis management institutionally. © 2022 by Emerald Publishing Limited All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.

Economic Effects of Micro- and Mini-Distributed Photovoltaic Generation for the Brazilian Distribution System

The micro- and mini-distributed generation (MMDG) has significantly increased after the normative resolution No. 482/2012 in Brazil;the installed capacity surpassed 7 GW in 2021. In the international context, a similar event was observed, whose process generated a cross-subsidy for other consumers, in addition to other problems that affect the economic balance of concessionaires. To mitigate this issue, the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) is in the process of revising current rules. Thus, this study estimates the weight of this decision, through a methodology adapted from international assessment models, based on information from the Brazilian regulatory system. In order to achieve it, this paper presents metrics to define the potential market MMDG, based on the consumption patterns of consumers. Then, through time series analysis, the MMDG demand curve is estimated under two scenarios up to 2030. Finally, the economic impact on tariff adjustments and revisions, and their effect on the electric power concessionaires are evaluated. In the distribution companies of the Enel Group alone, economic losses are estimated at USD 1.2 billion by 2030;53% of this will be passed on to consumers’ tariffs. Thus, based on international experiences, it can be concluded that the best model is the adequate grid remuneration.

Rural Population and COVID-19: A Model for Assessing the Economic Effects of Drop-Out in Higher Education

Higher education is one of the ways to overcome social inequalities in rural areas in developing countries. This has led states to develop public policies aimed at access, retention and timely graduation of students in those sectors, yet the high drop-out rates among the rural student population, which were catalysed by COVID-19, prevent the intrinsic and extrinsic benefits of obtaining a higher education degree from materialising. Thus, the study of the phenomenon of dropout before and after the pandemic has not sufficiently addressed the economic issues raised by this phenomenon for the different actors at the educational level. The purpose of this paper is to model the economic effects of rural student dropout at the higher education level for students and families, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the State, based on public policies for access to higher education, in the pandemic and post-pandemic scenario. In order to delimit the operationalisation of the proposed model, a set of undergraduate training programmes in Colombia was taken as a reference. System dynamics was used as the main modelling technique. The model was based on data from the 20 training programmes with the highest number of students enrolled in rural areas for the year 2019, by running three computational simulations. The results showed the description of the dynamic model and the financial effects of dropout for the actors of the educational level with the current policies of access to higher education, the scenario in which COVID-19 would not have occurred and the consolidation of the public policy of tuition fee exemption in public HEIs as a result of the pandemic. It was concluded that the model developed is very useful for the valuation of these economic effects and for decision-making on policies to be implemented, given that the costs of dropout are characterised by high costs for students and their families as well as for HEIs, and where it was determined that current policies are inefficient in preventing and mitigating dropout. Copyright © 2021 Guzmán Rincón, Barragán Moreno and Cala-Vitery.

Mental Distress during the Coronavirus Pandemic in Israel: Who Are the Most Vulnerable?

Based on Pearlin's stress process model and the social inequality approach to health, this study used a social lens to explore the role of socioeconomic inequities in mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel. Specifically, we examined people's pre-pandemic sociodemographic characteristics and economic situation, and the economic effects of the pandemic itself on mental distress. A real-time survey was conducted in May 2020 among 273 adults (ages 20-68), and hierarchical linear models were employed. Findings indicated that groups vulnerable to mental distress in routine times (e.g., women, people with economic difficulties) showed the same pattern during the pandemic. Not only was unemployment related to mental distress, so too was a reduction in work hours. The pandemic's economic effects (e.g., needing to take out loans, having a worsening financial situation) were also associated with increased mental distress. This study is one of very few studies to explore a wide range of socioeconomic factors and their association with mental distress during the current crisis. The findings call for broader interventions to alleviate the economic distress caused by the pandemic to promote mental health, especially for groups that were vulnerable before the crisis and those most affected economically following the pandemic.

Ecological and economic effects of COVID-19 in marine fisheries from the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea.

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic starting at the end of 2019 impacted many human activities. We analysed the abrupt reduction in fishing pressure of the mixed small-scale and industrial fisheries in the Catalan Sea, Spanish Mediterranean, and resulting ecological and economic impacts during the first half of 2020. We used detailed fisheries data on fishing effort, landings, revenues, landings per unit of effort (LPUE) and revenues per unit of effort from January to June 2020, and complemented it with the outcomes of a marine ecosystem model. We analysed data from 2017 to 2019 and compared these to 2020 to characterise changes in the fishing activity from before (January-February) to during (March-May) the lockdown. Fishing effort during the lockdown dropped by 34%, landings were down by 49% and revenues declined by 39% in comparison with the same period in 2017-2019. LPUEs did not show significant changes during the lockdown, with the exception of shrimp species, especially the deep-water rose shrimp, which significantly increased in LPUE during March-May. These increases may reflect positive effects of reduced fishing on fast-growing species. Positive effects mostly disappeared in June 2020 with the relaxation of the lockdown. In agreement, the ecological simulations projected slight short-term increases of biomass for fast-growing, small-sized organisms during 2020, which quickly vanished when fishing resumed, and which had no detectable ecosystem effects. Three additional alternative ecological simulations illustrated that to substantially recover commercial species and ensure ecosystem sustainability in the study area, a sustained and notable reduction of fishing activity would be needed.