Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies are now available here for free:

• Working capital as a determinant of firm performance
• A decade of competition laws in Arab economies: a de jure and de facto assessment
• Understanding the actual buying behaviour of organic food users in India: a PLS-SEM approach
• Impact of central bank's COVID-19 policy measures on banks: evidence from India
• The impact of external debt on economic growth in emerging economies: investigating the role of capital formation

Free Open Access article available: "3D image reconstruction using an improved BEV model and global convolutional attention fusion"

The following paper, "3D image reconstruction using an improved BEV model and global convolutional attention fusion" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 26(6) 2025), is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.

Free Open Access article available: "Electric vehicle charging station planning based on the development of distribution networks and coupled charging demand"

The following paper, "Electric vehicle charging station planning based on the development of distribution networks and coupled charging demand" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 26(6) 2025), is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.

Research pick: Digital safeguarding – screen time, safe time - "Fuzzy expert system for access control of children to the internet"

As digital devices become more integrated into children’s lives, concerns about their impact on physical and mental health continue to grow. In modern households, smartphones, tablets, and computers are now commonplace, leading to increased exposure to online content. This shift has raised important questions about how much screen time is appropriate and what effects it has on children’s well-being.

The issue of screen time has been widely debated, with research pointing to both potential risks and benefits. Excessive screen use has been linked to physical issues such as eye strain, headaches, and sleep disruption. There are also concerns about the relationship between increased screen time and physical inactivity, as children who spend more time on devices might be less engaged in outdoor play and exercise, both essential for their physical development.

On the other hand, the online world offers numerous opportunities for learning, creativity, and socialization. Educational apps, online learning platforms, and digital games can stimulate intellectual growth, promote critical thinking, and even foster social connections with peers across the globe. The challenge is finding a balance that maximizes the benefits of digital engagement while mitigating the potential negative effects on health and well-being.

Beyond physical health, the psychological effects of digital media are also a growing concern. Research indicates that extended use of devices, particularly those providing access to social media, can influence children’s emotional well-being, intellectual development, and sense of identity. While some cases have linked excessive screen time to negative outcomes, the full psychological impact of digital media remains an area of ongoing research. It is important to also acknowledge the positive effects, such as improved cognitive skills and the opportunity for global social connections.

Given these concerns, researchers are exploring more personalized methods of regulating screen time, such as the use of fuzzy logic inference systems. These systems, a type of artificial intelligence, can evaluate complex and imprecise data, making them ideal for tailoring screen time recommendations and restrictions based on a child’s unique characteristics.

Parents, guardians, or teachers could input data about a child’s age, health, and psychological profile into the system, which would then use this information to determine appropriate screen time and content limits. Unlike generic restrictions, which may be difficult to enforce or inappropriate for all young users, fuzzy logic systems offer a more customized and flexible approach to managing screen use.

While there are existing tools that restrict screen time and block content, an adaptive approach, could be key to managing both the quantity and quality of screen time. Younger, more vulnerable users would have stricter controls and limits, while older, more mature children could access a wider range of appropriate resources, all based on their individual developmental profiles.

Alguliyev, R.M., Abdullayeva, F.J. and Ojagverdiyeva, S.S. (2024) ‘Fuzzy expert system for access control of children to the internet’, Int. J. Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp.455–462.

Free Open Access article available: "Pseudo-coordinates graph convolutional generative adversarial network for art style transfer"

The following paper, "Pseudo-coordinates graph convolutional generative adversarial network for art style transfer" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 26(6) 2025), is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.

Free Open Access article available: "Research on over-the-air programming and real-name authentication technology of eSIM based on 5G communication technology"

The following paper, "Research on over-the-air programming and real-name authentication technology of eSIM based on 5G communication technology" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 26(6) 2025), is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.

Free Open Access article available: "Real-time frequency adaptation in carrier communication algorithm based on 2sVCNet network"

The following paper, "Real-time frequency adaptation in carrier communication algorithm based on 2sVCNet network" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 26(6) 2025), is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.

Research pick: Urbanisation, musically speaking - "Comparative analysis of the impact of urban music on students of state, private and parochial educational institutions"

Urban music, which originated in marginalized communities in The Caribbean and the USA, has found a global audience, resonating especially with young people, as is often the case with emerging music genres. Urban music has evolved into more than just a genre of entertainment, it has become a significant cultural force that shapes the identities, behaviour, and educational experiences of young people.

A study in the International Journal of Knowledge and Learning has examined the impact of urban music on secondary school students in Peru. The work sheds new light on its multifaceted role in adolescent life, which may well have wider implications. The findings suggest that urban music, encompassing styles such as hip-hop and reggaetón can serve as a platform for cultural expression and social belonging, influencing students in ways that are deeply linked to their socio-economic environments.

Agustin Angel Roberto Chumpitaz-Avila and Luis Fernando Castro-Llacsa of the National University of San Agustín of Arequipa in Arequipa, Peru, highlight how this musical genre has penetrated schools across Peru, including state, private, and religious institutions. This reflects the wide-reaching influence of urban music. While critics have long asserted that urban music might somehow promote antisocial behaviour, the research suggests that its influence on youth is not so easily categorized and indeed can have a strong positive influence.

Urban music does commonly have explicit lyrics that often feature violence, overtly sexual imagery, and drug use. Those social observers who malign it for these characteristics suggest that young listeners may internalize these messages. However, the current study found that while some students might adopt attitudes reflected in the music, the broader socio-economic and familial context plays a more significant role in determining their behaviour. Urban music, it seems, is a tool for young people to interpret their surroundings rather than an inherently harmful influence.

Chumpitaz-Avila, A.A.R. and Castro-Llacsa, L.F. (2025) ‘Comparative analysis of the impact of urban music on students of state, private and parochial educational institutions’, Int. J. Knowledge and Learning, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp.170–185.

Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

The International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• Real-time frequency adaptation in carrier communication algorithm based on 2sVCNet network
• Research on over-the-air programming and real-name authentication technology of eSIM based on 5G communication technology
• Pseudo-coordinates graph convolutional generative adversarial network for art style transfer
• Electric vehicle charging station planning based on the development of distribution networks and coupled charging demand
• 3D image reconstruction using an improved BEV model and global convolutional attention fusion
• Sentiment analysis for tourism reviews based on dual-stream graph attention fusion network
• Construction of a CS-ELM-based assessment model for civic education within a multidimensional analysis framework