Public procurement represents one of the main instruments through which the government allocates resources to meet the population's needs. In Brazil, the new Law on Public Procurement and Contracts No. 14.133/2021 establishes guidelines that seek to modernize and optimize procurement processes in the public sector. In this context, supply chain management (SCM) stands out as a strategy for identifying practices that enhance the effectiveness of purchasing activities. In view of the above, this research, based on a systematic literature review, seeks to explore how the adoption of supply chain management practices can improve efficiency, transparency, and sustainability in public procurement. Document screening was performed in Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases, leading to the selection of 43 articles from a total of 220 initially identified. The investigation reveals that incorporating environmental and social criteria, establishing efficient collaboration with suppliers, digitizing processes, conducting continuous monitoring, and centralizing purchasing are fundamental practices for promoting sustainable transformation in public management. Therefore, the adoption of SCM practices in public procurement transcends a mere technical solution, becoming a strategic approach that supports the creation of more efficient, transparent, and sustainable governance, benefiting both public administration and society.
This study analyzes the influence of family income on the performance of Brazilian students in the National High School Exam (Enem) through a comprehensive longitudinal analysis of the exam editions since its creation in 1998. Given the centrality of Enem as both an instrument for access to higher education and a measure of the quality of basic education, the study also aims to understand the extent to which socioeconomic inequalities-particularly income-impact candidates' results over time. This is a descriptive, applied research with a quantitative approach and bibliographic foundation. Data science techniques and graphical visualization tools were employed using the Python programming language, allowing for comparative analysis of microdata made available by Inep. The results show a directly proportional relationship between income level and performance: higher-income students consistently achieve higher average scores across all analyzed editions. Although public policies such as Sisu, ProUni, and Fies have expanded access to higher education, income remains a strong indicator of educational inequality in Brazil. The study concludes that while Enem partially democratizes access to university, it still reflects structural disparities that must be addressed through more equitable and integrated educational policies. Finally, the study highlights the importance of open data in public policy formulation and suggests future research incorporating complementary variables to broaden the understanding of educational performance disparities.
Carpooling is an environmentally responsible alternative that uses digital platforms to optimize resources and offer economic, social, and environmental benefits in urban mobility. This study aimed to identify the reasons and barriers to the adoption of carpooling services among urban users and non-users, analyzing the influence of demographic factors. A quantitative and descriptive approach was used, with a sample of 51 respondents selected through snowball sampling. Data were collected via an online questionnaire on the Google Forms platform and analyzed using descriptive statistics techniques in MS Excel. The research showed that gender, particularly women, influences the adoption of the service. Barriers such as prejudice, lack of available rides, and scheduling inconvenience were identified as moderately relevant. Additionally, 22% of respondents reported negative experiences, such as delays and cancellations. The lack of exclusive options for women was a concern, and 86% suggested improvements in safety and communication. Sustainability was highlighted by 64% of users, mainly among younger generations, suggesting the need for educational campaigns. Therefore, it is concluded that gender and barriers such as safety, availability, and scheduling influence the adoption of carpooling services. The research contributes to the understanding of factors influencing the adoption of innovations in urban mobility, enriching the literature on carpooling consumption behavior in Brazil.
Female representation in senior management positions has been widely debated and studied in recent years, driven by increased educational opportunities for women, which contributes to theirgreater inclusion in large companies. Furthermore, the growing appreciation for diversity in organizations highlights the essential role of female participation in senior management positions, especially when associated with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. Given the challenges related to gender equity and corporate sustainability, this study aimed to analyze female participation in senior management positions and their influence on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in companies headquartered in emerging markets. The research is descriptive in nature, with a quantitative approach, based on secondary data obtained from the Refinitiv database. The analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression with panel data, covering the period from 2015 to 2023, in line with the launch of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. The study population comprised 24,090 companies distributed across 24 emerging countries: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, resulting in a final sample of 4,111 companies that submitted complete information for analysis. Descriptive statistics revealed important aspects of the variables analyzed. Regarding female participation, an average of 15.85% in management positions was observed, with significant variations between companies, highlighting that many still lack women in leadership positions. Analysis of the control variables showed that larger companies tend to have greater female participation in senior management positions and higher levels of ESG disclosure. The results demonstrated that the presence of women in senior management positions is positively associated with ESG performance, as well as with its three pillars-environmental, social, and governance-in certain control configurations. These findings reinforce the importance of gender diversity, particularly female participation, as a strategic factor for sustainable development in emerging economies. Suggestions for future studies include incorporating additional variables related to corporate sustainability, such as internal diversity policies, sustainable innovation practices, and climate governance.
This article aims to evaluate, through TOPSIS, the ranking of the 64 world economies regarding their global competitiveness performance between 2023 and 2024. Methodologically, the research is characterized as descriptive in terms of objectives, applied in terms of means, and quantitative in terms of its approach to the problem. The main results indicate a marked disparity in the level of competitiveness among the 64 economies analyzed, highlighting that the nations best positioned in the TOPSIS ranking, such as Singapore, Switzerland, and Denmark, have high performance in the dimensions of Business Efficiency, Governance, and Infrastructure. On the other hand, countries such as Venezuela, Argentina, and Mongolia are in the last positions, reflecting persistent structural challenges, such as institutional instability, low innovation capacity, and infrastructural deficiencies. The statistical analysis showed that Business Efficiency and Governance were the most volatile dimensions among the economies. The European and Asian continents showed greater consistency among the most competitive countries, while Latin America and Africa presented the greatest structural challenges.
