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Methodology Article
Medicare Utilization and Payment Analysis
Nwaoko Ada*,
Linda Fynn Prah,
Francis Ekow Bediako,
Number Iredia
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 1, February 2026
Pages:
1-20
Received:
1 November 2025
Accepted:
22 November 2025
Published:
16 January 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijefm.20261401.11
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Abstract: This analysis investigates the key factors driving total program payments in healthcare, focusing on the impact of coinsurance payments and visit frequency per enrollee. Using a combination of linear regression modeling and scenario analysis, we explored how changes in these factors affect overall program costs. The goal was to provide actionable insights for effective cost management in the healthcare program. The analysis proves that Coinsurance payments are a significant driver of total program costs. With each dollar increase in coinsurance payments correlate with an increase in total program payments. In Scenario 1, where coinsurance payments increased by 10% with no change in utilization, total program payments rose significantly to $1.22 billion. This finding underscores the cost sensitivity of the program to changes in out-of-pocket coinsurance amounts. Visit frequency per enrollee also plays a critical role in cost dynamics, though it has a complex relationship with total payments. In Scenario 2, a 5% reduction in coinsurance payments accompanied by a 10% increase in visit frequency led to a decrease in total program payments to $1.01 billion. This result suggests that higher utilization may help in reducing overall costs if it aligns with efficient or preventive care. Conversely, in Scenario 3, a 5% increase in coinsurance payments with a 10% decrease in visits led to a moderate increase in total program payments to $1.17 billion, indicating that lower utilization can reduce costs but may depend on the care's effectiveness. Based on our findings we recommend the following prescriptive analysis. Managing visit frequency per enrollee through preventive care programs or other efficient measures can significantly impact on total program costs, potentially reducing the need for frequent high-cost interventions. Adjusting coinsurance rates offers a lever for managing program costs. Lowering coinsurance might encourage utilization but could increase total program expenses. Conversely, increasing coinsurance payments could offset costs but may raise financial burdens for enrollees. A balanced approach is recommended. Leveraging scenario analysis as shown in this study can support proactive policymaking. This analysis could be relevant to policy makers to evaluate the financial implication of proposed changes to cost sharing mechanisms or programs affecting public health and utilization management.
Abstract: This analysis investigates the key factors driving total program payments in healthcare, focusing on the impact of coinsurance payments and visit frequency per enrollee. Using a combination of linear regression modeling and scenario analysis, we explored how changes in these factors affect overall program costs. The goal was to provide actionable i...
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Research Article
Sustainable Social Disclosure and Performance of Listed Oil and Gas Firms in Nigeria
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 1, February 2026
Pages:
21-29
Received:
16 December 2025
Accepted:
4 January 2026
Published:
23 January 2026
Abstract: This study looked at the influence of sustainable social disclosures on performance of Nigerian publicly traded oil and gas firms from 2013 to 2022. An ex-post facto research design was adopted to carry out the investigation. We were able to select seven (7) out of ten (10) firms for the study by employing a purposive sampling technique. Performance was evaluated in terms of market value, and the independent variable was examined using particular Sustainable Social Performance indicators from the GRI (SO1, SO2, SO3, and SO4) that were produced using a score methodology created by other researchers. The research employed a secondary source to acquire information from the identified companies. In this study, OLS regression analysis, descriptive analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted using E-Views 2009. We observed that exposing social performance has a beneficial and significant effect on market value based on correlation and regression analysis. The results of this study reveal that listed oil and gas firms in Nigeria have a considerable market value impact from sustainable social performance. The report advocated, among other things, that the Sustainability Index be extensively deployed as a tool for pressing firms to prioritize sustainable development issues and pay greater attention to their social impact. Nigerian oil and gas enterprises that are publicly traded should focus reporting on sustainability activities as it has the potential to increase their performance.
Abstract: This study looked at the influence of sustainable social disclosures on performance of Nigerian publicly traded oil and gas firms from 2013 to 2022. An ex-post facto research design was adopted to carry out the investigation. We were able to select seven (7) out of ten (10) firms for the study by employing a purposive sampling technique. Performanc...
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Research Article
Public Spending and Economic Growth in the Post-Conflict Economy of South Sudan
Bec George Anyak*
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 1, February 2026
Pages:
30-41
Received:
24 November 2025
Accepted:
13 January 2026
Published:
29 January 2026
Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between disaggregated public expenditure components and economic growth from 2011 to 2025 in South Sudan. The motivation for this study was inspired by the persistent South Sudan economy underperformance despite the substantial oil revenue associated with fiscal policy structural imbalance, where recurrent expenditure consistently dominates capital expenditure investment. The aim was to evaluate and analyze the performance as well as the contribution of disaggregated public expenditure components on the economic growth in the fragile economic state for more focus policy guide and directions. The study employed the use of Ordinary Least Squares Model where total government spending is separated into recurrent and capital components while changes in crude oil revenue and severity of conflict are moderating variables. The results reveal that recurrent expenditure had a significantly negative effect on real GDP growth, with an estimated coefficient of about –0.42 (p < 0.05), indicating that increases in wage bills, military spending, and administrative consumption directly suppressed productive investment and constrained overall growth performance. Capital expenditure, although positively associated with economic growth, produced a statistically insignificant coefficient of approximately 0.28 (p > 0.10). This outcome reflects persistent implementation bottlenecks, weak project execution, conflict-related disruptions, and limited absorptive capacity within public institutions. Oil revenue changes had a strikingly strong and positive effect on growth, with a coefficient near 0.65 (p < 0.01), reinforcing the centrality of oil to South Sudan’s economic fluctuations and exposing the vulnerability of a resource-dependent system. The conflict index also demonstrated a large and significant negative effect on growth, with an estimated coefficient around –10.12 (p < 0.05), showing that stability is indispensable for productive activity. Overall, the study concludes that the composition of expenditure, rather than its total magnitude, drives growth outcomes in fragile rentier economies and recommends reallocating spending toward productive capital formation, strengthening public financial management, and expanding non-oil revenue to support sustainable, resilient growth.
Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between disaggregated public expenditure components and economic growth from 2011 to 2025 in South Sudan. The motivation for this study was inspired by the persistent South Sudan economy underperformance despite the substantial oil revenue associated with fiscal policy structural imbalance, where recurrent e...
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Research Article
Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on Agricultural Total Factor Productivity: A Case Study of Fujian Province, China
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 1, February 2026
Pages:
42-57
Received:
5 January 2026
Accepted:
15 January 2026
Published:
30 January 2026
Abstract: The transformation and upgrading of agriculture has become an urgent need for the country's economic development, and the improvement of total factor productivity in agriculture has become a key indicator of modern agricultural development. Fujian Province is located on the southeast coast of China, and despite its diverse geographic conditions, the rapid development of the agricultural economy has led to the formation of distinctive agricultural paths, but it still faces the challenge of rough operation. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact mechanism of digital inclusive finance on agricultural total factor productivity in Fujian Province, using the 2012-2021 Peking University Digital Inclusive Finance Index and the statistics of prefecture-level cities in Fujian Province to measure and analysis regional differences, and to empirically test its impact effect. The study finds that (1) digital financial inclusion significantly enhances agricultural total factor productivity in Fujian Province, and the results are robust. (2) Agricultural capital deepening acts as a mediator to effectively enhance agricultural total factor productivity. (3) Digital inclusive finance positively affects agricultural technological progress and efficiency, and indirectly enhances overall productivity.
Abstract: The transformation and upgrading of agriculture has become an urgent need for the country's economic development, and the improvement of total factor productivity in agriculture has become a key indicator of modern agricultural development. Fujian Province is located on the southeast coast of China, and despite its diverse geographic conditions, th...
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Research Article
Financial Literacy as a Driver of Financial Inclusion and Economic Empowerment: Empirical Evidence from Ukrainian Youth
Viktoriia Rudevska*,
Kateryna Ukhanova
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 1, February 2026
Pages:
58-68
Received:
9 December 2025
Accepted:
20 December 2025
Published:
2 February 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijefm.20261401.15
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Abstract: This study investigates the role of financial literacy as a key driver of financial inclusion and behavioral empowerment among Ukrainian youth in the context of digital transformation and post-crisis economic recovery. Based on a large-scale survey of 948 respondents aged 18–25, the research employs an integrated methodological framework that combines index modeling, correlation analysis, and multivariate linear regression. Financial literacy is operationalized through a composite index constructed in accordance with the OECD/INFE methodology, incorporating financial knowledge, financial behavior, and financial attitudes. The results indicate a moderate overall level of financial literacy among Ukrainian youth, with an average index value of 0.591 on a normalized scale of 0–1. While theoretical financial knowledge demonstrates relatively stronger performance, practical financial behavior and attitudinal confidence remain comparatively weaker, revealing a persistent behavioral gap between awareness and action. Correlation analysis confirms strong internal consistency within the knowledge and behavior components, but only limited spillover from knowledge to real financial practices. Regression estimates reveal that self-confidence in personal financial knowledge is the only statistically significant predictor of financial inclusion (β = 0.0529, p < 0.01), whereas age, formal education, budgeting horizon, and financial independence exhibit no robust explanatory power. This finding highlights the decisive role of psychological factors in shaping financial behavior beyond formal human capital characteristics. The findings confirm that financial literacy influences financial inclusion not primarily through formal knowledge or education, but through psychological confidence and subjective financial capability. Access to financial services alone is insufficient without behavioral readiness and autonomy in decision-making. The study provides empirical evidence that confidence-oriented financial education, combined with digital financial infrastructure, is crucial for promoting sustainable financial inclusion among young people. These findings carry important implications for public policy in post-war and transition economies, emphasizing the need for integrated national strategies that link education, digitalization, and behavioral empowerment.
Abstract: This study investigates the role of financial literacy as a key driver of financial inclusion and behavioral empowerment among Ukrainian youth in the context of digital transformation and post-crisis economic recovery. Based on a large-scale survey of 948 respondents aged 18–25, the research employs an integrated methodological framework that combi...
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Research Article
Are the Farmers Financially Ready to Adopt Hydroponic Farming for Green Bell-pepper Cultivation in Nigeria
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 1, February 2026
Pages:
69-78
Received:
19 December 2025
Accepted:
12 January 2026
Published:
2 February 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijefm.20261401.16
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Abstract: This study examined farmers' willingness and financial factors influencing the adoption of the hydroponic system of bell pepper cultivation in Imo State, Nigeria. Using a multi-stage sampling approach, 246 pepper farmers were selected from a population of 667 farmers across the three agricultural zones using the Yamane’s formula alongside the probability proportional to size (PPS). The data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire, which was further analyzed using descriptive statistics and the ordered probit model. The results showed that a total of twenty farmers (8.13%) reported that they were not willing at all to adopt the hydroponic system; 11.79% of the farmers indicated that they were only slightly willing to adopt the system; 23.58% of the pepper farmers were neutral, while 50% of the farmers were either willing or eager to adopt hydroponic farming for pepper production in Imo State. The results from the ordered probit regression demonstrated that the age of respondents, annual income, perceived cost of hydroponics, farming experience, perceived costs of inputs, expected return on investment, and savings levels were the variables that significantly influenced the willingness of pepper farmers in Imo State to adopt hydroponics farming for green pepper production. The study recommends the relevant stakeholders should prioritize subsidizing hydroponic inputs and also provide customized funding packages for new and seasoned pepper farmers, given that farmers' revenue, expenditures, and projected returns were among the most significant factors influencing their readiness to embrace the smart farming innovation.
Abstract: This study examined farmers' willingness and financial factors influencing the adoption of the hydroponic system of bell pepper cultivation in Imo State, Nigeria. Using a multi-stage sampling approach, 246 pepper farmers were selected from a population of 667 farmers across the three agricultural zones using the Yamane’s formula alongside the proba...
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