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Many jurisdictions fine illegal cartels using penalty guidelines that presume an arbitrary 10% overcharge. This article surveys more than 700 published economic studies and judicial decisions that contain 2,041 quantitative estimates of overcharges of hard-core cartels. The primary findings are: (1) the median average long-run overcharge for all types of cartels over all time periods is 23.0%; (2) the mean average is at least 49%; (3) overcharges reached their zenith in 1891–1945 and have trended downward ever since; (4) 6% of the cartel episodes are zero; (5) median overcharges of international-membership cartels are 38% higher than those of domestic cartels; (6) convicted cartels are on average 19% more effective at raising prices as unpunished cartels; (7) bid-rigging conduct displays 25% lower markups than price-fixing cartels; (8) contemporary cartels targeted by class actions have higher overcharges; and (9) when cartels operate at peak effectiveness, price changes are 60–80% higher than the whole episode. Historical penalty guidelines aimed at optimally deterring cartels are likely to be too low.

The objective of this paper is to qualitatively assess environmental issues concerning fly‐ash, generated from thermal power plants of India. The alternate use of fly‐ash as raw material in the manufacture of pavement bricks and other construction materials is known, but there are few fabrication and assembling units that cater the needs of manufacture of fly‐ash bricks in commercial scale. This paper aims to highlight one such fabrication unit, Naldehra Building Centre (NBC) situated at Faridabad, Haryana, India and the limitations with such entrepreneurship while addressing societal issues of child labour and environmental issues with dispose of fly‐ash.

This research is largely based on a one‐to‐one meeting the author had with the entrepreneur, Mr Ajay Singh (AS) at his office premises, Faridabad India, in the month of July 2010. The interactions include relevant data collection on the fabrication and assembling business opportunities and global solid waste‐related issues. The discussions were extended with the collection of NBC's machinery brochures, collection of machinery photographs and technical specifications. Further information was collected with selective literature reviews and from the earlier visits to the industrial townships of Jamshedpur, Mosaboni, Panipat and Visakhapatnam, by the author. More visits are made to understand social limitations while engaging child labour in fire‐baked brick kilns.

The findings include the techno‐marketing skills and leadership attributes of the entrepreneur, AS, Faridabad. Observations made on the intellectual knowledge and business plan executed by AS to support infrastructure‐based business opportunities for parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), India. The in‐house incubation center is an added advantage and found to be an essential component for the successful fabrication and assembling unit. Further, the study applauds role of advisory services rendered for mitigating solid waste through alternate commercial usage by the entrepreneur.

The study has lot of scope and opportunity either to make fabrication units for faster and efficient fly‐ash brick manufacturing or to procure such machinery and get set the unit for the manufacturing fly‐ash bricks in the regions of opportunity and infrastructure development. Hence, practical implications are two‐fold in a physical sense, but can be more in intellectual aspects. This includes development of fabrication designing studios using information and technology, facility planning and operations for the incubation centers, training and to harness skills of the rural youth.

The paper is original, and focused on fabrication entrepreneurship and has relevance to the social environment while mitigating child labour through more automation in brick manufacturing. The environmental value of reusability of solid waste is also unambiguous with this study. The values will further be enhanced when more business enterprises are visited and recorded for their social compliance through adapting to machine‐based brick manufacturing.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new hybrid algorithm, named improved plant growth simulation algorithm and genetic hybrid algorithm (PGSA-GA), for solving structural optimization problems.

PGSA-GA is based on PGSA and three improved strategies, namely, elitist strategy of morphactin concentration calculation, strategy of intelligent variable step size and strategy of initial growth point selection based on GA. After a detailed formulation and explanation of its implementation, PGSA-GA is verified using the examples of typical truss and single-layer lattice shell.

Improved PGSA-GA was implemented and optimization was carried out for two typical optimization problems; then, a comparison was made between the PGSA-GA and other methods. The results show that the method proposed in the paper has the advantages of high efficiency and rapid convergence, which enable it to be used for the optimization of various types of steel structures.

Through the examples of typical truss and single-layer lattice shell, it shows that the optimization efficiency and effect of PGSA-GA are better than those of other algorithms and methods, such as GA, secondary optimization method, etc. The results show that PGSA-GA is quite suitable for structural optimization.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new hybrid algorithm, named improved plant growth simulation algorithm and particle swarm optimization hybrid algorithm (PGSA–PSO hybrid algorithm), for solving structural optimization problems.

To further enhance the optimization efficiency and precision of this algorithm, the optimization solution process of PGSA–PSO comprises two steps. First, an excellent initial growth point is selected by PSO. Then, the global optimal solution can be obtained quickly by PGSA and its improved strategy called growth space adjustment strategy. A typical mathematical example is provided to verify the capacity of the new hybrid algorithm to effectively improve the global search capability and search efficiency of PGSA. Moreover, PGSA–PSO is applied to the optimization design of a suspended dome structure.

Through typical mathematical example, the improved strategy can improve the optimization efficiency of PGSA considerably, and an initial growth point that falls near the global optimal solution can be obtained. Through the optimization of the pre-stress of a suspended dome structure, compared with other methods, the hybrid algorithm is effective and feasible in structural optimization.

Through the examples of suspended dome structure, it shows that the optimization efficiency and precision of PGSA–PSO are better than those of other algorithms and methods. PGSA–PSO is effective and feasible in structural optimization problems such as pre-stress optimization, size optimization, shape optimization and even topology optimization.

This paper aims to address not only technical and economic challenges in electrical distribution system but also environmental impact and the depletion of conventional energy resources due to rapidly growing economic development, results rising energy consumption.

Generally, the network reconfiguration (NR) problem is designed for minimizing power loss. Particularly, it is devised for maximizing power loss reduction by simultaneous NR and distributed generation (DG) placement. A loss sensitivity factor procedure is incorporated in the problem formulation that has identified sensitivity nodes for DG optimally. An adaptive weighted improved discrete particle swarm optimization (AWIDPSO) is proposed for ascertaining a feasible solution.

In AWIDPSO, the adaptively varying inertia weight increases the possible solution in the global search space and it has obtained the optimum solution within lesser iteration. Moreover, it has provided a solution for integrating more amount of DG optimally in the existing distribution network (DN).

The AWIDPSO seems to be a promising optimization tool for optimal DG placement in the existing DN, DG placement after NR and simultaneous NR and DG sizing and placement. Thus, a strategic balance is derived among economic development, energy consumption, environmental impact and depletion of conventional energy resources.

In this study, a standard 33-bus distribution system has been analyzed for optimal NR in the presence of DG using the developed framework. The power loss in the DN has reduced considerably by indulging a new and innovative approaches and technologies.

The study examined the influence of environmental standards set by the SME agro-based processing firms and farmers' environmental empowerment on farmers' adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices; and the mediating role of empowerment on the relationship between SME agro-based processing firm environmental standards and farmers' adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

Data was collected from purchasing managers of the agro-based processing firms. The SPSS software, SMART PLS and CB-SEM software were used to obtain results on the influence of environmental standards set by the SME agro-based processing firms on adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices; the influence of farmers' environmental empowerment on adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices and the mediating role of farmers' environmental empowerment on the relationship between SME agro-based processing firm environmental standards and farmers' adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

Findings indicated that SME agro-processing environmental standards have an influence on farmers' adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Empowering farmers in environmental issues influenced their adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices. A partial mediation effect was observed on testing the mediating role of farmers' environmental empowerment on the relationship between SME agro-based processing firm environmental standards and farmers' adoption of environmentally friendly practices.

The study mainly focused on the upstream part of agricultural supply chains. The research has implications to decision-makers in government concerned with enhancing environmentally friendly practices among farmers in general.

The influence of SME agro-based processing firm environmental standards on farmers' adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices; the influence of farmers' environmental empowerment on farmers' adoption of environmentally friendly practices; and the mediating role of farmers' environmental empowerment on the relationship between SME agro-based processing firm environmental standards and farmers' adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices are aspects that have not been given significant attention.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework of fly ash (FA) handling by using the total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) technique in the Indian context.

The conceptual framework of the FA handling technique has been developed by using the TISM technique, where the FA handling factors have been identified from literature and verified by experts.

The conceptual framework of FA handling technique developed by using TISM contributes to the development of FA handling hierarchy. The framework identifies that there are 12 important factors which play a vital role in FA handling. The conceptual model indicates that particle size distribution derives FA handling technology.

This study identified important factors for FA handling and it has implication for both organizations and policy makers. This study delivers the factors which play an important role in handling FA in a thermal power plant. This study highlights important linkages essential for the expansion of FA handling technologies and policies.

This study is unique in itself as it studies the FA handling factors through the qualitative modeling technique and has made its contribution in FA handling by providing the conceptual framework for managing FA in the thermal power plant.

This paper aims to investigate the effects of cost, revenue and profit efficiency on bank profitability in an emerging economy such as India over the period 1997 to 2017. Additionally, this study examines the effect of efficiency on profitability across different ownership groups for a panel of 70 Indian commercial banks.

In the first stage, using stochastic frontier analysis, we estimate the efficiency scores of cost, revenue and profit over the examined period. In the second stage, this study uses the two-step system generalized-method of moments dynamic panel approach to investigate the impact of several efficiency measures on bank profitability.

Results estimated through and system generalized-method of moments indicate that a higher level of cost, revenue and efficiency significantly improves India's bank profitability. Regarding ownership groups, this study finds that the public sector banks are most cost-efficient compared to private and foreign banks. Other bank-specific, macroeconomic and institutional variables have played a significant role in determining bank profitability.

The findings of the study extend some important policy implications. In light of the rapid decline in bank profitability, banks should focus on increasing the efficiency of their operations. Improvement in profit, cost and revenue efficiency can ameliorate bank performance significantly. Profit efficiency that takes into account both cost and revenue efficiency should be maintained reasonably to prevent the declining pattern of bank profitability that the industry has witnessed over the years.

To the best of the author's knowledge, this study is a fresh piece of research that fulfils an urgent need of investigating the dynamics between bank efficiency and bank profitability in India. In an emerging economy like India, where the banking sector has witnessed substantial structural transformations over the past two decades, such study demands an immediate empirical investigation.