This paper analyses the net social benefits deriving from the medium-scale production of geopolymers based on volcanic ash compared to traditional cementitious materials used in construction and restoration sectors. In contrast to the existing literature grounded on the physical and mechanical characterization of geopolymers, our analysis considers two aspects: public finance savings from avoiding the disposal of volcanic ash in landfills and environmental benefits deriving from reduction in CO₂ releases due to the production process at room temperature. Our case study focuses on the reuse of natural waste, namely the volcanic ash of the Mt. Etna volcano (Italy), whose disposal involves significant costs for society. Its use in the alkaline activation process avoids the exploitation of natural resources. Considering the huge amount of volcanic ash from Mt. Etna that falls on the urban areas of Eastern Sicily, the results show relevant economic benefits, in terms of both avoided costs and tax reductions for the citizens. Alongside these, significant environmental benefits are evidenced thanks to the release of up to 78% lower CO₂ emissions by synthesised materials with volcanic ash than by traditional cementitious ones. Overall, the social cost savings compared to traditional materials is 0.339 EUR/kg for geopolymer.

Ecosystems suffer from CO₂ emissions and pollution caused by waste materials, mainly agricultural and industrial, that are dumped in landfill sites. These materials contain aluminosilicates, which are key ingredients for producing geopolymer composite (GPC). While cement, the main component of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), is a highly energy-consuming and polluting material in terms of CO₂ emissions, water absorption, and land depletion, GPC is an emerging building material that can contribute to the sustainability of the construction industry. In this research, bibliometric data on GPCs were collected from Dimensions databases, and a scientometric analysis was performed using the innovative VOSviewer software (ver. 1.6.19). The scope was to examine the development of GPC for construction applications in the context of a circular economy and as an emerging green building material. Using specific query metrics and three keywords (geopolymer, circular economy, and green building materials), bibliometric records were analyzed to identify the articles, authors, and journals with the highest impact. This investigation can help scholars and policymakers in deepening their knowledge in this growing research area. From a societal perspective, this study stimulates geopolymer developments through policies aimed at promoting the circular economy, such as the adoption of green subsidies in research and development (R&D) and production.

Purpose: Cost-effectiveness analysis is an organized method that aids in evaluating and examining the economic aspects and health results linked to different medical procedures. Efficacy analysis considers how effectively a treatment achieves the intended outcome when tested under perfect and controlled conditions. Nowadays, there is a noticeable trend towards using biologics and biosimilar medicines. Specifically, biosimilars are seen as a cheaper alternative to treat long-term health issues traditionally linked with significant medical expenses. A key area for the use of biosimilars is lung diseases, with a fast-growing number of studies on their applications. Design/methodology/approach: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic review has been conducted. Bibliometric data were collected from the Dimensions database in March 2025. The keywords selected are “biological,” “drugs,” “biosimilar,” “lung,” “diseases,” “cost,” “effectiveness,” “efficacy” and “analysis.” The timespan considered goes from 2004 to 2024. Findings: Of the 2,852 papers retrieved based on our inclusion criteria, only 28 articles published in peer-reviewed journals were considered relevant. Biosimilar drugs are more cost-effective and efficacious than reference drugs, with improvements in asthma control and quality-adjusted life years, though at higher costs in certain cases. No specific conditions alter their economic benefits, except when combined with chemotherapy. Moreover, they are used in various lung diseases, including different types of lung carcinoma and severe allergic asthma. Robust models were used for the cost-effectiveness and efficacy analysis. Originality/value: The reported outcomes serve as a tool for researchers and policymakers aiming to explore the integration of these new drugs into the healthcare system. From a policy perspective, obtaining a clearer insight into the current landscape enables policymakers to allocate additional funding towards the adoption of cost-effective and efficacious biosimilars in specific areas, improving patient benefit and potentially lowering public healthcare expenditures.

The concept of regional economic resilience (RER) is still attracting interest among researchers and practitioners, sustained by current geopolitical instability and overlapping multiple shocks worldwide. Despite a very large number of scientific and policy works, including diverse literature reviews, that have investigated the field from different perspectives, network-based systematic evidence on RER publications remains incomplete. By adopting a spatial empirical perspective, and applying scientometric-based analytical tools, this paper provides novel evidence on the network features of resilience studies published in the last two decades. Results point out the occurrence and extent of specific network interactions among authors, countries, journals of publications. Our findings are also informative on the key empirical approaches dealing with RER. The empirics contribute to the debate surrounding the conceptual development of RER and provide guidance to scholars and policymakers employing the RER framework.