This study examines the asymmetric impact of the nominal effective exchange rate (NEER) on the trade balance in GCC countries over the period of 2000:Q1 to 2017:Q4. The empirical findings of the nonlinear pooled mean group (PMG) estimator reveal the presence of a J-curve shape where an increase in NEER (currency depreciation) deteriorates the trade balance in the short run and improves it in the long run. Findings also prove that the trade balance’s response to NEER positive changes is greater compared to negative changes. The policy implication of these findings reveals that NEER is a useful tool to sustain the trade balance.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have witnessed remarkable economic growth over recent decades. Arguably, this progress of these major oil and natural gas producers has come to the detriment of the environment in terms of increased CO ₂ emissions and associated ecological degradation. The effects of these high emissions and environmental challenges on human health, specifically life expectancy (LE), have not been thoroughly explored in the literature. We aim to fill this research gap by assessing the relationship between Ecological footprint deficiency and the diverse and context-specific factors affecting LE in the GCC, highlighting the critical roles of urbanization, economic indicators, and digitization in shaping health outcomes. The study employs panel data for the 2000–2020 period. It utilizes linear and non-linear panel estimation methods to analyze these variables’ long-term and short-term effects. Specifically, we run unit root tests, cointegration analysis to validate our datasets, and OLS, ARDL, and panel threshold regressions to examine said relationships. Our findings reveal a significant relationship between ecological footprint and LE across the GCC countries. The results indicate that a higher ecological deficit is associated with lower LE in our sampled nations. Meanwhile, our panel threshold results highlight more nuanced impacts of our variables of interest, revealing significant threshold effects and intricate dynamics influencing LE. Our results are robust when substituting CO ₂ emissions for the ecological footprint suggesting and supporting our evidence for a more complex, potentially nonlinear relationship. Our study emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable environmental policies to mitigate health risks and promote long-term well-being in the GCC region. Nuanced approaches are needed to address each GCC country's health and environmental challenges.

Background/Objective: The long-term implications of spinal interventional pain procedures (IPPs) remain underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate pain intensity, overall health quality, and disability over a four-year period following an IPP, while also assessing physical therapy (PT) compliance, the need for repeated procedures, and analgesic consumption. Methods: A prospective observational study with retrospective registration was conducted on patients with chronic spinal pain at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Qatar. Patients were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the EuroQol 5-Dimension Index (EQ-5D). Additional tools included the EQ-Health Visual Analog Scale and the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC). Follow-ups were performed at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months. Results: A total of 766 patients were initially recruited, of whom 174 met the inclusion criteria. All patients demonstrated significant improvement across all outcome measures compared to the baseline. No significant differences were observed in pain or functional outcomes between PT-compliant and non-compliant groups. By the end of this study, 56.9% of patients reported reduced analgesic use, while 43.1% reported increased use. The patient satisfaction data showed that 55% (62/113) of those receiving a single IPP were satisfied, compared to 54% (33/61) in the multiple IPP group. The PGIC satisfaction scores revealed no statistically significant differences (p = 1). Overall health status, as measured by the EQ-5D Health scale, also showed no meaningful differences between groups. Conclusions: Despite several limitations, patients reported sustained improvement and satisfaction four years post-IPP. PT compliance did not appear to significantly influence long-term outcomes. Further research is needed to identify factors affecting post-IPP recovery and medication usage.