Why do parents employ helicopter parenting in the post-COVID-19 era? An actor-partner interdependence mediation model.

INTRODUCTION: In the post-COVID-19 era, small-scale and long-term recurrences of the pandemic can exacerbate future economic uncertainty. Previous studies have found that stressful situations are strongly associated with a controlling type of parenting. The relationship between parental perceptions of future economic uncertainty (PFEU) and helicopter parenting is currently unclear. This study aimed to examine the dyadic relationship between PFEU and helicopter parenting among Chinese parents in the postpandemic era and its underlying mechanisms from a family system perspective. METHODS: Questionnaire data were collected from 395 pairs of parents (Mfather = 43.65 ± 5.30, Mmother = 40.71 ± 5.16, Madolescent = 13.17 ± 0.87, 45.3% male) in Jiangxi Province, China in October 2021. An actor-partner interdependence mediation model was established. RESULTS: The results indicated that fathers' and mothers' PFEU were positively associated with their own helicopter parenting. Additionally, paternal parenting stress mediated the relationship between fathers' and mothers' PFEU and paternal helicopter parenting, whereas mothers' parenting stress mediated the association between mothers' PFEU and paternal and maternal helicopter parenting. CONCLUSIONS: The current research provides important insights for improving Chinese family education practices in the postpandemic era.

State-level economic uncertainty and cardiovascular disease deaths: evidence from the United States.

The relationship between economic recessions and cardiovascular mortality has been widely explored. However, there is limited evidence on whether economic uncertainty alone is linked to cardiovascular disease deaths. This study examines the association between economic uncertainty and mortality from diseases of the circulatory system in the United States. We obtained monthly state-level mortality data from 2008 to 2017 and used indices capturing economic uncertainty from national/international sources and local sources. Panel data modelling was used to account for unobserved time-invariant differences between the states. Our findings suggest that economic uncertainty is independently linked to cardiovascular mortality. Uncertainty arising from national/international sources is associated with cardiovascular deaths, whereas the respective index capturing uncertainty from state/local sources is not. Deaths respond asymmetrically with respect to uncertainty fluctuations - with high levels of uncertainty driving the association. One- and two-month lagged uncertainty levels are also associated with mortality. Several robustness checks further validate the baseline findings. Overall, economic uncertainty is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality which appears to act as a psychosocial stressor and a short-term trigger. Public health strategies for cardiovascular disease need to consider factors driving economic uncertainty. Preventive measures and raising awareness can intensify in periods of economic uncertainty.

Economic uncertainty and cardiovascular disease mortality.

Previous studies have found a link between economic conditions, such as recessions and unemployment, and cardiovascular disease as well as other health outcomes. More recent research argues that economic uncertainty-independently of unemployment-can affect health outcomes. Using data from England and Wales, we study the association between fluctuations in economic uncertainty and cardiovascular disease mortality in the short term for the period 2001-2019. Controlling for several economic indicators (including unemployment), we find that economic uncertainty alone is strongly associated with deaths attributed to diseases of the circulatory system, ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. Our findings highlight the short-term link between economic conditions and cardiovascular health and reveal yet another health outcome that is associated with uncertainty.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy postponement - evidence from Japan.

Japan has faced a decline in fertility since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the rate of pregnancy postponement and its contributing factors, with a particular focus on economic- and COVID-19 infection-related indicators. This study used data from 768 observations of married women aged 18 to 50 years with pregnancy intentions. The data were obtained from two rounds of a large web-based survey conducted by the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS) in 2020 and 2021. A generalised estimating equation (GEE) model was employed, as well as Poisson regression models for sub-sample analysis divided by year to estimate the year differential magnitude of the contributing factors' impacts. Approximately 20% of married women with childbearing intentions postponed their childbearing. The analyses revealed that declining income and anxiety about future household finances were significantly related to delayed childbearing, while fear of COVID-19 and infection rate were not. Additionally, the adverse effects of unfavourable economic conditions were stronger in 2021. Notably, age did not influence the decision of pregnancy postponement. Older women postponed pregnancy just as much as younger women. In conclusion, this study confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly its related adverse economic conditions, contributed to Japan's current baby bust. Considering that advanced maternal age is already common in Japan, this decreased fertility may result in the long-term negative consequence of further population decline.

Financial and economic uncertainties and their effects on the economy.

We estimate new indices measuring financial and economic uncertainty in the euro area, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Austria, following the approach of Jurado et al. (Am Econ Rev 105:1177-1216, 2015), which measures uncertainty by the degree of predictability. We perform an impulse response analysis in a vector error correction framework, where we focus on the impact of both local and global uncertainty shocks on industrial production, employment and the stock market. We find that global financial and economic uncertainties have significant negative effects on local industrial production, employment, and the stock market, while we find hardly any influence of local uncertainty on these variables. In addition we perform a forecasting analysis, where we assess the merits of uncertainty indicators for forecasting industrial production, employment and the stock market, using different performance measures. The results suggest that financial uncertainty significantly improves the forecasts of the stock market in terms of profit-based measures, while economic uncertainty gives, in general, more insight when forecasting macroeconomic variables.

Globalisation, economic uncertainty and labour market regulations: Implications for the COVID-19 crisis.

This paper empirically analyses the effects of globalisation on labour market regulations. We also interact globalisation measures with economic uncertainty, and they serve as potential determinants of de jure labour market conditions. For this purpose, we consider new innovative globalisation and economic uncertainty indices (the Revisited KOF Globalisation and the World Uncertainty) in a panel dataset of 136 countries from 2000 to 2017. The findings indicate that globalisation promotes labour market flexibility, while economic uncertainty decreases it. We also find that the interaction of globalisation with economic uncertainty positively affects labour market flexibility. The findings are robust to various sensitivity analyses, that is, different estimation procedures and globalisation indicators, including various controls and excluding outliers.

COVID-19 pandemic improves market signals of cryptocurrencies-evidence from Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has disrupted business-as-usual, hence, affecting sustained economic development across countries. However, it appears economic uncertainty following COVID-19 containment measures favor market signals of cryptocurrencies. Here, this study empirically and structurally investigates the implication of COVID-19 health outcomes on market prices of Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Evidence from the novel Romano-Wolf multiple hypotheses reveal COVID-19 shocks spur Litecoin by 3.20-3.84%, Bitcoin by 2.71-3.27%, Ethereum by 1.43-1.75%, and Bitcoin Cash by 1.34-1.62%.

Economic uncertainty and suicide in the United States.

Previous studies have found an association between recessions and increased rates of suicide. In the present study we widened the focus to examine the association between economic uncertainty and suicides. We used monthly suicide data from the US at the State level from 2000 to 2017 and combined them with the monthly economic uncertainty index. We followed a panel data econometric approach to study the association between economic uncertainty and suicide, controlling for unemployment and other indicators. Economic uncertainty is positively associated with suicide when controlling for unemployment [coeff: 8.026; 95% CI: 3.692-12.360] or for a wider range of economic and demographic characteristics [coeff: 7.478; 95% CI: 3.333-11.623]. An increase in the uncertainty index by one percent is associated with an additional 11-24.4 additional monthly suicides in the US. Economic uncertainty is likely to act as a trigger, which underlines the impulsive nature of some suicides. This highlights the importance of providing access to suicide prevention interventions (e.g. hotlines) during periods of economic uncertainty.

Employment Instability and Fertility in Europe: A Meta-Analysis.

The relationship between employment instability and fertility is a major topic in demographic research, with a proliferation of published papers on this matter, especially since the Great Recession. Employment instability, which most often manifests in unemployment or time-limited employment, is usually deemed to have a negative effect on fertility, although different fertility reactions are hypothesized by sociological theories, and micro-level evidence is fragmented and contradictory. We used meta-analytic techniques to synthesize European research findings, offer general conclusions about the effects of employment instability on fertility (in terms of direction and size), and rank different sources of employment instability. Our results suggest that employment instability has a nonnegligible negative effect on fertility. Men's unemployment is more detrimental for fertility than men's time-limited employment; conversely, a woman having a fixed-term contract is least likely to have a child. Next, the negative effect of employment instability on fertility has become stronger over time, and is more severe in Southern European countries, where social protection for families and the unemployed is least generous. Finally, meta-regression estimates demonstrate that failing to account for income and partner characteristics leads to an overestimation of the negative effect of employment instability on fertility. We advance the role of these two factors as potential mechanisms by which employment instability affects fertility. Overall, this meta-analysis provides the empirical foundation for new studies on the topic.

Examining the effectiveness of place-based interventions to improve public health and reduce health inequalities: an umbrella review.

BACKGROUND: Locally delivered, place-based public health interventions are receiving increasing attention as a way of improving health and reducing inequalities. However, there is limited evidence on their effectiveness. This umbrella review synthesises systematic review evidence of the health and health inequalities impacts of locally delivered place-based interventions across three elements of place and health: the physical, social, and economic environments. METHODS: Systematic review methodology was used to identify recent published systematic reviews of the effectiveness of place-based interventions on health and health inequalities (PROGRESS+) in high-income countries. Nine databases were searched from 1st January 2008 to 1st March 2020. The quality of the included articles was determined using the Revised Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews tool (R-AMSTAR). RESULTS: Thirteen systematic reviews were identified - reporting 51 unique primary studies. Fifty of these studies reported on interventions that changed the physical environment and one reported on changes to the economic environment. Only one primary study reported cost-effectiveness data. No reviews were identified that assessed the impact of social interventions. Given heterogeneity and quality issues, we found tentative evidence that the provision of housing/home modifications, improving the public realm, parks and playgrounds, supermarkets, transport, cycle lanes, walking routes, and outdoor gyms - can all have positive impacts on health outcomes - particularly physical activity. However, as no studies reported an assessment of variation in PROGRESS+ factors, the effect of these interventions on health inequalities remains unclear. CONCLUSIONS: Place-based interventions can be effective at improving physical health, health behaviours and social determinants of health outcomes. High agentic interventions indicate greater improvements for those living in greater proximity to the intervention, which may suggest that in order for interventions to reduce inequalities, they should be implemented at a scale commensurate with the level of disadvantage. Future research needs to ensure equity data is collected, as this is severely lacking and impeding progress on identifying interventions that are effective in reducing health inequalities. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42019158309.

The nCOVID-19 and financial stress in the USA: health is wealth.

Since its first report in the USA on 13 January 2020, the novel coronavirus (nCOVID-19) pandemic like in other previous epicentres in India, Brazil, China, Italy, Spain, UK, and France has until now hampered economic activities and financial markets. To offer one of the first empirical insights into the economic/financial effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the USA, this study utilized the daily frequency data for the period 25 February 2020-30 March 2020. By employing the empirical Markov switching regression approach and the compliments of cointegration techniques, the study establishes a two-state (stable and distressing) financial stress situation resulting from the effects of COVID-19 daily deaths, COVID-19 daily recovery, and the USA' economic policy uncertainty. From the result, it is assertive that daily recovery from COVID-19 eases financial stress, while the reported daily deaths from COVID-19 further hamper financial stress in the country. Moreover, the uncertainty of the USA' economic policy has also cost the Americans more financial stress and other socio-economic challenges. While the cure for COVID-19 remains elusive, as a policy instrument, the USA and similar countries with high severity of COVID-19 causalities may intensify and sustain the concerted efforts targeted at attaining a landmark recovery rate.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the US stock market and uncertainty: A comparative assessment between the first and second waves.

This paper makes the first comparative assessment of the impacts of the first and second waves of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for the US stock market and its uncertainty. To this end, we investigate the dynamic conditional correlation and the asymmetric impacts of shocks on the correlation between the US and Chinese stock markets before and during the COVID-19 crisis. Furthermore, we analyze and compare the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and US returns and uncertainty during the first and second waves of the pandemic. First, we find that the dynamic correlation approach supports the presence of volatility spillovers (contagion effects) between the two stock markets, especially during the rapid spread phase of COVID-19 in the US. Second, the analysis of news impact correlation surfaces shows that the shocks to the US and Chinese markets have asymmetric effects on the correlation between the two markets. Finally, we find a persistent link between US returns, uncertainty, and the COVID-19 pandemic during the first and second waves of the outbreak. Our results prove that the pandemic has shown harmful consequences for financial markets in general and the US economy in particular.

Industry volatility and economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from wavelet coherence analysis.

This study investigates the impact of economic uncertainty due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the industrial economy in the US in terms of the interdependence and causality relationship. We apply wavelet coherence analysis to economic policy uncertainty (EPU) data and monthly sector volatility of the S&P 500 index from January 2008 to May 2020. The results reveal that EPU in terms of COVID-19 has influenced the sector volatility more than the global financial crisis (GFC) for all sectors. Furthermore, EPU leads the volatility of all sectors during COVID-19 pandemic, while some sector's volatilities lead EPU during the GFC.

Testing the feasibility of a hypothetical whaling-conservation permit market in Norway.

A cap-and-trade system for managing whale harvests represents a potentially useful approach to resolve the current gridlock in international whale management. The establishment of whale permit markets, open to both whalers and conservationists, could reveal the strength of conservation demand, about which little is known. This lack of knowledge makes it difficult to predict the outcome of a hypothetical whale permit market. We developed a bioeconomic model to evaluate the influence of economic uncertainty about demand for whale conservation or harvest. We used simulations over a wide range of parameterizations of whaling and conservation demands to examine the potential ecological consequences of the establishment of a whale permit market in Norwegian waters under bounded (but substantial) economic uncertainty. Uncertainty variables were slope of whaling and conservation demand, participation level of conservationists and their willingness to pay for whale conservation, and functional forms of demand, including linear, quadratic, and log-linear forms. A whale-conservation market had the potential to yield a wide range of conservation and harvest outcomes, the most likely outcomes were those in which conservationists bought all whale permits.

The association between economic uncertainty and suicide in Japan by age, sex, employment status, and population density: an observational study.

Background: Suicide is one of the ten leading causes of death globally, and previous research has revealed a link between economic conditions and mental health. However, the literature has focused primarily on recessions and unemployment, i.e. actual economic developments, as opposed to uncertainty, which relates to economic developments that have not (yet) materialised. This study examines the differential association between economic uncertainty and suicide in Japan, depending on age, sex, employment status, and population density, in order to identify the groups that are affected the most. Methods: Using monthly prefectural suicide mortality data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and a monthly economic uncertainty index for the period 2009 to 2019, we employed a fixed effects panel data approach to examine the association between uncertainty and suicide by population group. Findings: We found that a 1% increase in economic uncertainty is associated with a 0.061 increase in the monthly number of suicides per 100,000 people per prefecture, on average (coefficient: 6.08; 95% CI: 5.07-7.08), which constitutes a 3.62% increase. Self-employed people, as well as men in their 50s and unemployed men, experience the highest additional risk of suicide when uncertainty increases. The association was approximately three times stronger for males than for females, and a strong association was observed for self-employed males living in more densely-populated areas. Interpretation: Uncertainty appears to relate to suicides for most groups, but self-employed people, males, and those living in more densely populated areas appear to be more at risk of suicide in periods of increased economic uncertainty. Our results provide an indication of which groups mental health services and prevention strategies can focus on in times of economic uncertainty. Funding: None.

Analysis of the impact of financial and labour uncertainty on suicide mortality in England.

This paper examines the relationship between different dimensions of economic uncertainty and suicide rates in England from 1985 to 2020, both in the short and long term. The study employs a non-linear autoregressive distributed lag framework for cointegration estimation. This approach allows testing for the existence of possible asymmetries in the response of suicide mortality to increases in economic uncertainty. Uncertainty is gauged by different proxies that allow computing financial uncertainty and labour market uncertainty indicators. The analysis is replicated by gender and across regions, controlling for unemployment and economic growth. Overall, the analysis suggests that uncertainty intensified during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is in line with the stylized facts of economic uncertainty and its pronounced role in recessions. When replicating the experiment by gender, we find that women seem to be more sensitive to changes in uncertainty. Regarding the existence of asymmetries, we found that decreases in economic uncertainty have a greater impact on suicide mortality than increases.

The essential role of climate policy uncertainty in carbon emissions: a fresh insight.

This study assesses the influence of climate policy uncertainty (CPU) on carbon emissions (CE) against the backdrop of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) in the US. The wavelet analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of correlations in the time and frequency domains. The results demonstrate a significant correlation between CPU and CE, which varies across different time periods and frequencies. In the time domain, the results indicate that the CPU and CE move together during certain subperiods. Moreover, there are observable comovements in the frequency domain, particularly in the short to medium range. However, the correlation becomes stronger in the short term when there is no EPU, suggesting a closer interaction between CPU and CE. Therefore, it is crucial for governments to prioritize improving the clarity, credibility, and consistency of climate policies. They should also consider potential economic shocks when designing these policies.

The impact of economic uncertainty on bank efficiency-the moderating role of country governance.

This study examined the impact of economic uncertainty (EU) on Islamic banks (IBs) and conventional banks' (CBs) efficiency in countries that meet a standard where 1% share of Islamic banking assets is part of their total domestic banking sector assets. In addition, this study explored the moderating effect of country governance (CG) by employing the quantitative methodology based on secondary data from 2006 to 2021. The data analysis was done through ordinary least square, fixed effect model, and the random effect model. EU was found to enhance bank efficiency based on the basic regression results. CG moderated the positive effect of EU on bank efficiency. Additional robustness tests showed that EU was positively related to both types of banks' efficiency. The value of the paper is unique in that few papers have investigated the moderating effect of CG on the impact of EU on banks' efficiency, which enhances comprehension of EU and CG. These results highlight important policy implications whereby banks should continue to invest in and improve their risk management strategies. In addition, governments and regulatory bodies should prioritise good governance practices as these can improve banks' efficiency.

The interactive effect between economic uncertainty and life history strategy on corrupt intentions: a life history theory approach.

Introduction: Why do some people show more corruption when facing uncertain environment? The present study aimed to give a plausible answer from an evolutionary perspective: this might be rooted in people's different life history strategies (slow vs. fast). Methods: The present study measured the participants' corrupt intentions by a hypothetical scenario and primed the feeling of economic environmental uncertainty by requiring the participants to read economic uncertainty (vs. neutral) materials. Results: It is revealed that the participants with fast life history strategies had stronger corrupt intentions after reading materials about economic uncertainty than reading neutral materials. In addition, the desire for power mediated the interactive effect between life history strategy and economic uncertainty on corrupt intentions for fast life history strategists. Discussion: This finding was discussed for its theoretical and practical implications from the perspective of life history theory.

Economic uncertainty and mental health: Global evidence, 1991 to 2019.

Mental health has deteriorated globally due to COVID-19, climate crisis, economic policies, and regional conflicts, requiring immediate attention. This study aims to comprehend the relationship between economic uncertainty and the prevalence of anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and eating disorders across various demographics and countries. Using robust fixed-effect models, we analyzed the relationship between economic uncertainty and mental disorders in 110 countries from 1991 to 2019. Our analysis also explored whether this association varies across genders and age groups. Our analysis indicates that economic uncertainty is associated with higher prevalence rates of anxiety and major depressive disorders, though no similar association is observed for eating disorders. In the subgroup analyses, while females have a significant association exclusively with anxiety disorders, males have associations with anxiety and major depressive disorders. The age-specific analyses show that economic uncertainty is associated with anxiety disorders for almost all age groups above 15 years, except for ages between 40 and 54. For major depressive disorders, this association becomes significant after the 40-44 age group. However, we see no significant association among age groups for eating disorders.