Journal of Economics and SDGs Review

The March Towards Poverty: Why the Labour Government has much more to deal with than the economic consequences of Covid-19 in its upcoming budget

2025-05-01T17:43:17+00:00

The New Zealand economy is in a parlous state and not simply because of the economic fall-out associated with the pandemic. For decades now, New Zealand has been falling further and further behind its OECD partners, with institutional inefficiencies, poor policy making and the almost willful refusal of successive governments to admit to (let alone confront) mounting economic problems, all combining to place us on the edge of a deep, and lasting, economic downturn. Across a broad plethora of areas and key economic indicators, New Zealand lags behind almost every other advanced country against which it has traditionally measured itself. These areas include the three pillars of social wellbeing (education, health, and social welfare), housing, tax, productivity and debt. In every case, we are either falling behind outcomes achieved in other countries (education, health, productivity), entrenching inequality through our failure to cater for the needs of our most vulnerable (housing, health, education, social welfare, tax), or failing to prepare adequately for looming economic and social costs - including those incurred by a rapidly aging population. If ignored, these problems will precipitate a crisis that may make the burden of recovering from Covid-19 pale by comparison (superannuation, health, debt). In its much anticipated post-Covid budget, the Labour Government needs to not only provide a clear blueprint for helping those who have been adversely affected by the pandemic and New Zealand’s subsequent lockdown, but also signal its intention to tackle the systemic weaknesses which have placed our economy at such risk, and which threaten to consign our future generations to unwelcome, and unnecessary, economic and social hardship.

Keywords. Covid-19, New Zealand economy.

JEL. I12, J13, Z12, D13.

SDGs. SDG1, SDG8

In utero exposure to Ramadan and Birth Outcomes: Evidence from a triple difference approach

2025-05-01T17:52:28+00:00

Previous studies show that prenatal shocks to embryos could have adverse impacts on health endowment at birth. Using the universe of birth data and a difference-in-difference-in-difference strategy, I find that exposure to Ramadan during prenatal development has negative birth outcomes. Exposure to a full month of fasting is associated with 96 grams lower birth-weight. These results are robust across specifications and do not appear to be driven by mothers’ selective fertility.

Keywords. Birth weight, Fetal origin hypothesis, Nutrition, Ramadan, Health, Religion.

JEL. I12, J13, Z12, D13.

SDGs. SDG3, SDG5.

Determinants of access to basic handwashing facilities in developing countries: Implications for public health in the wake of COVID-19

2025-05-01T17:56:29+00:00

Access to handwashing facilities including soap and water is considered a basic minimum personal hygiene requirement to reduce spreading of infectious diseases like Novel Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19).Outbreak of Covid-19 and subsequent spread of the virus across the world is a serious public health concern of the time. As on 10 April 2020 there are 1,521,252 confirmed cases of infected people of which 92,798 people have died across the world due to Covid-19.It has been suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) that social distancing and frequent sanitization of hands either by washing with soap and water or by using alcohol based hand sanitizer may reduce possibility of infection. However, access to basic handwashing facilities is not universal in developing countries. Even within a country the access varies across households. There are various factors which influence access to basic handwashing facilities. Therefore, the objective of the present paper is to understand country-specific factors influencing access to basic handwashing facilities in developing countries. The study is based on a sample of 94 countries for 10 years (2008 to 2017). The study throws some interesting results which may be useful to make policies and programmes to increase the coverage of hand washing facilities.

Keywords. Covid-19 pandemic, Access to handwashing, Public health, Developing countries, Human development, Access to water.

JEL. O17, O31, O33, O35, O43.

SDGs. SDG3, SDG6.

Uncertainty in Reservoir Characterization and Modeling. S. Geiger, M.J. Blunt, P. Corbett, F. Doster, M. Jackson (Eds.), Springer 2024

2025-05-01T18:07:30+00:00

This book review evaluates Uncertainty in Reservoir Characterization and Modeling, a comprehensive and technically rigorous volume that underscores the indispensable role of uncertainty quantification (UQ) in reservoir engineering. As subsurface resource management grows increasingly complex amid dwindling reserves and environmental scrutiny, the need for robust reservoir models becomes paramount. The book systematically explores key domains of uncertainty—including geological, geophysical, petrophysical, flow modeling, and history matching—while emphasizing integrated, multidisciplinary workflows. It also delves into decision-making frameworks under uncertainty, highlighting probabilistic approaches such as Monte Carlo simulations and stochastic optimization. A major strength of the book lies in its balanced theoretical and practical approach, enhanced by expert contributions and detailed mathematical formulations. While the discussion of emerging technologies such as machine learning is promising, expanded coverage on environmental applications, geomechanics, and software tools would further enrich its value. Despite minor gaps, the book succeeds in presenting uncertainty not as a hindrance but as a manageable dimension in predictive modeling and operational strategy. This review concludes that the book is an essential reference for researchers, students, and practitioners seeking to navigate the uncertainty-laden landscape of modern reservoir management with greater confidence and clarity.

Keywords. Uncertainty Quantification; Reservoir Modeling; Subsurface Resource Management.

JEL. Q32; Q40, C63.

SDGs. SDG7, SDG9.

Recent Developments in Sustainable Infrastructure (RDSI) - Volume 2: Urban Infrastructure Development. I. Pal, S. Das, S.Mitra, S. Karmakar (Eds.), Springer 2024

2025-05-01T18:10:18+00:00

The book Recent Developments in Sustainable Infrastructure (RDSI) - Volume 2: Urban Infrastructure Development provides a timely and comprehensive exploration of sustainable urban transformation in the face of rapid global urbanization and environmental challenges. This volume critically examines the interdependent nature of urban infrastructure systems, highlighting integrated approaches across transportation, water resource management, waste handling, green building, and urban policy. Emphasizing systems thinking, the book delves into smart technologies and data-driven solutions to improve urban functionality and resilience. Key topics include sustainable mobility beyond electric vehicles, holistic water strategies addressing scarcity and quality, waste management aligned with circular economy principles, and green construction practices rooted in life-cycle assessments. Moreover, it underscores the significance of inclusive urban planning, adaptive policy frameworks, and ethical considerations in smart city technologies. While offering valuable insights and policy recommendations, the book also identifies areas for future improvement, such as the inclusion of more case studies, metrics for sustainability, and focus on social equity and resilience. This volume is a crucial resource for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to foster sustainable, equitable, and technologically advanced urban futures.

Keywords. Sustainable urban development, Smart cities, Green infrastructure, Circular economy, Integrated planning.

JEL. R11, Q1, O18.

SDGs. SDG9, SDG11.

Front Matter

2025-05-02T12:45:29+00:00

Front Matter

From the Editor

2025-05-02T12:46:42+00:00

From the Editor