Insights into Regional DevelopmentInsights into Regional Development is a peer-reviewed international issue which publishes original research articles.http://jssidoi.org/ird/2024-03-19T05:28:01+00:00Governance of state-owned companies in the energy sector of South Africa: peculiarities and challengesAuthorhttps://jssidoi.org/articles/articles/view/1512023-12-04T00:00:00+00:00Ubiquitous political interference, especially from the governing African National Congress through cadre deployment practice of patronage, has undermined strategic and operational efficacy within state-owned entities such as ESKOM, contributing to loadshedding due to the unavailability of electricity for many hours daily. A critical analysis is undertaken through desktop literature review and document analysis to juxtapose institutional performance between ESKOM as a non-performing state-owned entity and TELKOM as a performing state entity in meeting performance objectives and strategic goals to contribute to the National Development Plan of creating an economically viable and capable state in South Africa. The study aims to contribute to deepening debates and public discourse about strengthening performance efficacy within public sector institutions and entities and towards achieving the strategic goals of the National Development Plan of building a capable and capacitated South African developmental state.Building tomorrow: additive manufacturing unleashing sustainable progress in the US militaryAuthorhttps://jssidoi.org/articles/articles/view/1502023-11-27T00:00:00+00:00Additive manufacturing (AM) has recently attracted the attention of academia and private companies, viewing it as a tool for achieving sustainability within the context of sustainable development (SD). As the previous studies revealed an ongoing debate on the sustainable nature of AM, making it challenging to conclude, the primary objective of this article is to explore new perspectives that enhance the contribution of AM to the sustainability vision. Given the limited number of studies considering the potential contribution of AM to specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and associated targets, this research aims to complete the existing body of knowledge through an in-depth analysis. Furthermore, recognizing that AM could generate some unsustainable effects from a security standpoint, this study investigates how the military organization, with its capacity to mitigate such concerns, could contribute to implementing specific SDGs and targets through AM small and large-scale adoption. Therefore, the study follows a qualitative approach, studying the case of the American military forces in an attempt to reveal the main reasons for adopting AM and the possible contribution to specific SDGs and targets. The results highlight a consistent potential for the US military to contribute to SD, mainly through the large-scale adoption of AM. This measure could reduce their military logistic footprint and provide financial, operational and strategic advantages. While the main findings are presented in a detailed list which supports these conclusions and offers valuable lessons learned, it is essential to acknowledge the limitations of this research – namely, the lack of quantitative evidence. Therefore, to formulate a conclusive judgment on the sustainable nature of AM, future studies should concentrate on assessing financial data from private and public entities, including military organizations.Future scenarios of green hydrogen in the MENA countries: the case of EgyptAuthorhttps://jssidoi.org/articles/articles/view/1492023-11-25T00:00:00+00:00Green hydrogen is a clean and renewable energy source that has the potential to play a major role in decarbonizing the global economy. Green hydrogen has become a promising decarbonization strategy for several industries, including transportation and manufacturing. The widespread use of green hydrogen technology still confronts several obstacles, such as high costs, a lack of infrastructure, and regulatory restrictions. The paper commences by examining the potential of green hydrogen production in MENA countries with a specific emphasis on Egypt as best practice example. It proceeds to identify the key drivers that will shape future scenarios of green hydrogen and outlines the best and worst-case scenarios for green hydrogen in MENA region by 2050. Through scenario analysis, the paper presents potential pathways for green hydrogen deployment in Egypt and the wider MENA countries, highlighting key drivers and potential barriers. According to the findings, Egypt emerges as pivotal player in driving the deployment of green hydrogen within the MENA region. The MENA region, rich in solar and wind resources and strategically located, emerges as a potent hub for green hydrogen production. Egypt, in particular, is at the forefront of this initiative, aiming to become a key exporter in the global hydrogen economy by leveraging its renewable resources, strategic projects, and conducive investment environment. The study employs a multifaceted methodology, integrating PEST analysis and identifying key drivers like renewable targets and technological advancements to assess green hydrogen’s potential in the MENA region, focusing on Egypt. It constructs best- and worst-case scenarios by 2050, utilizing these drivers to evaluate the implications of various influencing factors. In the best-case scenario, by 2050, Egypt aspires to be a pivotal player in the global green hydrogen economy, aiming for up to 8% market share. Through strategic investments, policy enhancements, and global partnerships, Egypt plans to become a major exporter, particularly to the European Union, aligning with global decarbonization goals. Comprehensive strategies are expected to drive economic prosperity, potentially increasing Egypt's GDP by $10-18 billion by 2025. Collaborations with global entities have fostered a robust infrastructure, enabling an integrated ecosystem for green hydrogen innovation and production.Factors hampering the implementation of gender equality in the workplaceAuthorhttps://jssidoi.org/articles/articles/view/1482023-10-23T00:00:00+00:00The level of gender equality is different in every country and every culture, and, therefore, the history and conceptual framework for each country and culture are different. The article examines the causes of the inequality experienced by women in a general context, drawn from a qualitative approach that utilises a desktop analysis of secondary sources. Based on the advantages of the Gender and Development (GAD) approach explored in the study, such as its focus on women's needs, gender relations, and the state's role, it was determined that the GAD theory provided the most suitable framework for this study. The findings explore that there are varied causes of gender inequality divided into ideological factors, social system factors, economic factors, and political factors. Added to this are the causes of gender inequality in the workplace, which refers to human resource practices, job segregation, pay gap, lack of commitment, glass ceiling and escalator, and the lack of female role models. The study suggests that gender equality can bring employee satisfaction to the workplace and positive economic growth to society. The importance thereof in the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially sustainable development goal number 5 (SDG5) (gender equality and women empowerment), can thus not be disputed.Energy use tendencies in a resource-abundant country: the case of CanadaAuthorhttps://jssidoi.org/articles/articles/view/1472023-10-10T00:00:00+00:00Today’s global energy agenda focuses especially on the fields of increasing energy demand, security of supply and climate change. This situation causes the energy efficiency phenomenon to be considered by policymakers seriously, and additionally to be developed strategies by determining targets in this field. In this sense, it is thought that developments in the field of energy efficiency will increase energy savings and reduce emissions caused by high consumption. On the other hand, the expected improvements in energy saving based on consumer behavior are less than anticipated. In measuring the mentioned dimension, one of the important parameters is defined as the rebound effect. This effect is considered as a dilemma that is frequently emphasized, especially in developed countries since there is a prevailing opinion that the developments in energy efficiency may not cause the expected results in savings. Therefore, it is extremely important to accurately measure the dimensions of the said effect in terms of both guiding policymakers in their strategies on energy efficiency and preventing waste of resources. This study tests the validity of the rebound effect for Canada using annual data from 1972 to 2019. In the study, the Fourier Engle-Granger Cointegration Test, which is one of the current econometric methods, was used, and then FMOLS, CCR and DOLS methods were utilized for the estimation of the short- and long-term coefficients. Empirical findings suggest that increases in energy efficiency in Canada increase energy consumption. Thus, it can be said that the rebound effect is valid for Canada.