Sustainability

2024

Jump to: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019

15 pages, 1532 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Mediation Effect of Customer Satisfaction in the Relationship between CSR and Financial Performance: An Empirical Study in Large Companies in Serbia

by Marko Aleksić, Branimir Kalaš, Nenad Đokić, Nikola Milićević and Nemanja Berber

Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8113; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188113 - 17 Sep 2024

Viewed by 999

Abstract

Although corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be examined from the point of view of the fundamental philosophy of business and society, many companies focus solely on profit. The main goal of this research is the investigation of the relationship between CSR and organizational [...] Read more.

Although corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be examined from the point of view of the fundamental philosophy of business and society, many companies focus solely on profit. The main goal of this research is the investigation of the relationship between CSR and organizational financial performance, and the role of customer satisfaction in the proposed relationship. To investigate the proposed relationships, PLS–SEM analysis was performed using the statistical software Smart PLS. The sample used for this study consists of 165 large companies that operate in the Republic of Serbia, each with more than 250 employees (large organizations). The obtained results showed that in companies in Serbia, there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between CSR and customer satisfaction and a positive but statistically insignificant relationship between CSR and financial performance. Regarding the mediating role of customer satisfaction in explaining the relationship between CSR and financial performance, a positive full mediation relationship was found. Theoretical and managerial implications are also provided. Full article

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17 pages, 340 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determinants of Hotel Business Success in Rural Areas of the Western Balkan Countries

by Miroslav Pimić, Zoran D. Simonović, Nikola Radivojević, Iuliana Nicolae and Nikola V. Ćurčić

Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7704; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177704 - 5 Sep 2024

Viewed by 898

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of ten microeconomic factors on hotel business success. This research encompassed a sample of 115 small, family-operated hotels situated in rural regions of the Western Balkan countries (WBC). This research was based on the assumption that factors such [...] Read more.

This paper examines the impact of ten microeconomic factors on hotel business success. This research encompassed a sample of 115 small, family-operated hotels situated in rural regions of the Western Balkan countries (WBC). This research was based on the assumption that factors such as the size of the hotel, age, solvency, liquidity, labour productivity, capital productivity, CSR, and reduction of CO₂ emissions exhibit a positive influence on business success, whereas leverage, indebtedness, and energy consumption have a negative effect on the business success of hotels. The findings revealed that business success from the previous period, size, liquidity, and CSR exhibit a positive influence on business success, whereas leverage, capital productivity, and indebtedness demonstrate a negative effect. Conversely, the age of the hotel and labour productivity were not found to significantly influence business success, as did energy consumption. In the context of sustainable development, a positive CSR impact means that tourists value this behaviour of the hotel, while a lack of a statistically significant impact of energy consumption implies either that hotels do not implement efficient measures of energy efficiency or that energy efficiency may not be a crucial factor in attracting guests or influencing their loyalty. The findings also show that labour productivity expressed conventionally does not have a statistically significant impact on hotel business success. However, when expressed in a way that respects the concept of sustainable development and CSR, workforce productivity is a significant factor in hotel business success. Due to the problem of multicollinearity, the influence of CO₂ emissions was not examined. The findings suggest the following two groups of key measures: 1. Policymakers must work on ensuring more favourable conditions under which hotels can borrow, as well as on ensuring adequate infrastructure; 2. They must work on improving the strategy for maintaining liquidity to avoid the high costs of short-term loans and increasing size in order to further utilise economies of scale. These two microeconomic factors have the greatest impact on the business success of hotels. Full article

21 pages, 858 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does E-Commerce Construction Boost Farmers’ Incomes? Evidence from China

by Yilan Ye, Jiabin Fang and Jinsong Ye

Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4595; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114595 - 29 May 2024

Viewed by 1341

Abstract

Elevating farmers’ incomes is crucial for ensuring socio-economic stability, yet the current stagnation in income growth and the expanding divide between urban and rural incomes present formidable challenges. E-commerce offers a transformative solution by bridging these disparities and fostering sustainable growth. Utilizing county-level [...] Read more.

Elevating farmers’ incomes is crucial for ensuring socio-economic stability, yet the current stagnation in income growth and the expanding divide between urban and rural incomes present formidable challenges. E-commerce offers a transformative solution by bridging these disparities and fostering sustainable growth. Utilizing county-level data from 2000 to 2020 in China, particularly focusing on “The Pilot Counties of Introducing E-commerce to Rural Areas”, this paper explores the impact of e-commerce construction on farmers’ income growth using the multiple difference method. The findings reveal that e-commerce development exerts a significant positive impact on the enhancement of farmers’ incomes. Mechanistic analyses indicate that the driving effect of the comprehensive demonstration county policy of e-commerce in rural areas on farmers’ incomes is mainly realized through the channels of expanding market accessibility, promoting the advanced transformation of industrial structure, and optimizing the conditions of information infrastructure. Moreover, the efficacy of e-commerce policies in income augmentation is more pronounced in regions characterized by higher levels of human capital and substantial scale effects. This research offers valuable insights for continuously and effectively implementing the “Comprehensive Demonstration of E-commerce in Rural Areas” policy, which are crucial for exploring ways and mechanisms to boost farmers’ incomes in developing countries. Full article

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21 pages, 328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emissions Reduction Target Plan and Export Product Quality: Evidence from China’s 11th Five-Year Plan

by Xingye Zhou and Helian Xu

Sustainability 2024, 16(4), 1518; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041518 - 10 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1113

Abstract

Determining how environmental policy affects export competitiveness is essential for achieving win–win objectives in environmental governance and trade development. We examine whether and how China’s emissions reduction policy declines the firm’s export product quality during the 11th five-year plan via the difference-in-difference-in-difference method. [...] Read more.

Determining how environmental policy affects export competitiveness is essential for achieving win–win objectives in environmental governance and trade development. We examine whether and how China’s emissions reduction policy declines the firm’s export product quality during the 11th five-year plan via the difference-in-difference-in-difference method. The main findings of this paper are as follows: (i) Compared with less polluting industries, the export production quality declines 5.74% and 3.31%, respectively, as the pollution reduction targets of SO₂ and chemical oxygen demand (COD) are set 1 unit higher in more polluting industries. (ii) The negative effect is greater in Western regions as well as state-owned firms. (iii) Local officials facing promotion pressure are more incentivized to raise emissions reduction goals, as well as greater increasing emissions abatement costs, thus leading to greater declines in export quality. However, the innovation compensation effect still remains. (iv) The negative effects can be mitigated through product switching that contributes to resource allocation within firms towards their core products, or executing the first-mover advantage in response to the emissions reduction plan. Full article

25 pages, 373 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Capital Structure on the Performance of Serbian Manufacturing Companies: Application of Agency Cost Theory

by Aleksandra Stoiljković, Slavica Tomić, Bojan Leković, Ozren Uzelac and Nikola V. Ćurčić

Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 869; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020869 - 19 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1528

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of debt in the capital structure on agency costs and therefore on the performance of a company. The efficiency of companies was estimated using two parametric techniques: Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) methods and a Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). [...] Read more.

This paper examines the impact of debt in the capital structure on agency costs and therefore on the performance of a company. The efficiency of companies was estimated using two parametric techniques: Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) methods and a Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). The estimated efficiency represents a measure of (inverse) agency costs. Agency costs cause a lower level of efficiency compared to companies that have minimized these costs, and companies that reach the efficiency frontier, in the observed context of this research, are viewed as those that have minimized agency costs. A panel regression model was applied in order to determine the direction and intensity of the influence of leverage and control variables on the initially estimated efficiency of the company. The results of this research on Serbian manufacturing companies show the expected positive effect of capital structure (leverage) on the efficiency of the company, which is in accordance with the predictions of the agency cost theory. The contribution of this research is reflected in the application of efficiency as a performance indicator in the observed context of examining the theory of agency costs, bearing in mind that the measure of efficiency is closer to the theoretical view of these costs. Full article

2023

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20 pages, 3804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Multiagent Game Theoretic Simulation of Public Policy Coordination through Collaboration

by Eleonora Herrera-Medina and Antoni Riera Font

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11887; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511887 - 2 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1314

Abstract

Background: Policy coordination is necessary to address many of the sustainability challenges we face today. The formal representations of policy coordination focus on modeling conflict management but neglect its collaborative nature. This limits efforts to build more realistic models of policy coordination. The [...] Read more.

Background: Policy coordination is necessary to address many of the sustainability challenges we face today. The formal representations of policy coordination focus on modeling conflict management but neglect its collaborative nature. This limits efforts to build more realistic models of policy coordination. The objective of this paper is to simulate collaboration and noncollaboration between agents in the context of policy coordination in order to determine the effect of different approaches to policy coordination. Methods: For this purpose, a multiagent simulation of collaboration based on evolutionary game theory is used. Results: The results suggest that policy coordination through collaboration produces the most desirable outcomes and that reducing the cost of communication between agents is necessary to increase the probability of collaboration. Conclusions: The cost of information (both its transmission and transformation) is critical to increase the probability of collaboration in policy coordination. This paper advances the understanding of how to model the collaborative nature of policy coordination by contributing to the methodological standardization of the analysis and implementation of public policy coordination. Full article

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19 pages, 709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustaining Performance of Wheat–Rice Farms in Pakistan: The Effects of Financial Literacy and Financial Inclusion

by Ali Raza, Guangji Tong, Vasilii Erokhin, Alexey Bobryshev, Lyubov Chaykovskaya and Natalya Malinovskaya

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7045; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097045 - 23 Apr 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3604

Abstract

The unceasingly augmenting emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) has contributed substantially to the degradation of the key environmental parameters and the deterioration of performance of the agricultural sector globally. The food insecurity problem has been aggravated consequently. Due to a variety of economic [...] Read more.

The unceasingly augmenting emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) has contributed substantially to the degradation of the key environmental parameters and the deterioration of performance of the agricultural sector globally. The food insecurity problem has been aggravated consequently. Due to a variety of economic and social issues, many farmers in developing economies use low-efficient and environmentally unfriendly agricultural practices. Adopting innovative technologies and practices linked with sustainable farming remains a complex issue across the developing world. In particular, financial exclusion and low financial literacy are commonly cited as the critical obstacles to achieving sustainable development. To contribute to resolving this development problem, the study attempts to investigate the effects of financial inclusion and literacy on establishing a sustainable performance of farms. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from 220 farmers within the Central Punjab region of Pakistan. Small-scale farms demonstrated a potential to sustain their performance by improving financial inclusion and financial literacy. Trust in extension services for agriculture plays a significant role in moderating the impact of eight independent variables (knowledge, skills, attitude, behavior, access, usage, quantity, welfare) on sustainable farm performance. The study implies that increased trust in financial services is essential for improving sustainable performance in the agricultural sector. The effect imposed by financial actors is crucial for establishing trust in financial services linked to sustainability within the agricultural industry. Full article

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24 pages, 4113 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Financial Literacy and Credit Accessibility of Rice Farmers in Pakistan: Analysis for Central Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Regions

by Ali Raza, Guangji Tong, Furqan Sikandar, Vasilii Erokhin and Zhang Tong

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 2963; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15042963 - 6 Feb 2023

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5328

Abstract

This study investigates the factors that affect farmers’ access to Food Security and Agricultural Credit (FSAC) services for the farmers of Pakistan who have no access to banking but have a feasible farm business. Using multiple regressions and logistic analysis, the authors revealed [...] Read more.

This study investigates the factors that affect farmers’ access to Food Security and Agricultural Credit (FSAC) services for the farmers of Pakistan who have no access to banking but have a feasible farm business. Using multiple regressions and logistic analysis, the authors revealed the determinants of farmers’ financial literacy and analyzed the variables which affected the farmers’ accessibility to FSAC. Results indicated that the average financial literacy of respondents was at a moderate level. It was affected by the age of respondents, length of their education, distance to nearby cities, ownership of bank accounts, annual income, and financial education experience. The FSAC accessibility was also impacted by the area of cultivated land, interest rate, collateral, farms’ income, financial literacy index, credit accessibility experiences, the legal status of farmer groups, and the amount of a loan. Some of the issues that prevent farmers from having widespread access to the FSAC include the lack of loan need, lack of FSAC awareness, lack of collateral, loan usury perspective, loan rejection experience, fear of borrowing from the bank, and inactive farmer groups. The study contributes to the existing literature on the determinants of farmers’ access and choice of credit sources by using a primary data set. Full article

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21 pages, 4831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

OFDI, Industrial Structure Upgrading and Green Development—Spatial Effect Based on China’s Evidence

by Shan Xu and Yuan Zhou

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2810; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032810 - 3 Feb 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2236

Abstract

Green economic development is a worldwide concern. This paper not only contributes to the advancement of studies pertaining to green development but also offers policy recommendations for China to achieve a green and low-carbon economic transformation from the perspective of outward foreign direct [...] Read more.

Green economic development is a worldwide concern. This paper not only contributes to the advancement of studies pertaining to green development but also offers policy recommendations for China to achieve a green and low-carbon economic transformation from the perspective of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) and industrial structure. A mechanism for the effects of OFDI and industrial structure upgrading on green total factor productivity (GTFP) is proposed in this study. Based on measurement and analysis of the evolution characteristics of GTFP and industrial structure level of 30 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) in China from 2004 to 2019, the spatial Durbin model is applied to test their spatial effects. The findings demonstrate that (1) the overall trend of China’s GTFP and industrial structure level is upward, with obvious regional non-equilibrium and spatial dependence; (2) both OFDI and industrial structure upgrading can promote green development independently, with the spatial spillover effect of Industrial structure advancement being more evident; (3) the synergistic effect between OFDI and industrial structure advancement is greater than that between OFDI and industrial structure rationalization, and the spatial spillover effect on regions with comparable economic development is greater than that of surrounding regions; (4) in view of the different levels of openness between regions, the independent and synergistic effects in coastal regions and non-coastal regions are heterogeneous. Therefore, China should optimize OFDI, promote the efficiency of resource allocation, maximize the technology spillover, and strengthen interregional cooperation in order to transform towards a green economy. Full article

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21 pages, 766 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Determinants of Financial Inclusion in BRICS Economies: Panel Data Analysis Using Fixed-Effect and Cross-Section Random Effect

by Amit Pandey, Ravi Kiran and Rakesh Kumar Sharma

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1603; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021603 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4162

Abstract

The current research empirically analyses the determinants of financial inclusion (FI) for BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations using the no. of depositors and Automated Teller Machines/user as dependent variables, a proxy for FI from 2004 to 2019. The study [...] Read more.

The current research empirically analyses the determinants of financial inclusion (FI) for BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations using the no. of depositors and Automated Teller Machines/user as dependent variables, a proxy for FI from 2004 to 2019. The study employs fixed-effect, cross-section random-effect and simple panel least square techniques to determine FI for different BRICS countries. The empirical findings of fixed effect and cross-section random highlight that population and internet users affirmatively and significantly influence FI. Simple panel least square analysis indicates that domestic credit to the finance sector, population, internet users and bank branches positively influence the no. of depositors in these economies. Gross domestic product (GDP) and domestic credit to private sector (DCPS) inversely affected FI. Results of the second measure of FI (ATM per user) show the exchange rate of domestic credit to the private sector, and GDP positively influences FI. These findings will induce policymakers to take corrective actions by considering the significant factors to boost FI in respective BRICS economies. Full article

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2022

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14 pages, 986 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Poverty Eradication in Pakistan: The Role of Foreign Aid and Government Policies

by Furqan Sikandar, Vasilii Erokhin, Li Xin, Marina Sidorova, Anna Ivolga and Alexey Bobryshev

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14751; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214751 - 9 Nov 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4610

Abstract

For decades, agriculture has been central to economic growth and development in Pakistan. However, endemic rural poverty hinders the performance of agricultural production, and thus deteriorates the sustainable development perspectives of the agricultural sector and the entire country. The need for agricultural reform [...] Read more.

For decades, agriculture has been central to economic growth and development in Pakistan. However, endemic rural poverty hinders the performance of agricultural production, and thus deteriorates the sustainable development perspectives of the agricultural sector and the entire country. The need for agricultural reform emphasizes raising farmers’ incomes as a cornerstone of the sustainable development of rural areas, and this study attempts to reveal the effects of foreign aid and government policies on the level of rural poverty in Pakistan. In total, 384 farmers from major agricultural areas of Pakistan completed the survey-based questionnaire. The partial least square structural equation modelling technique tested the results. They, using sustainable agriculture practices, improved agricultural production positively and significantly. Agriculture production positively and significantly reduces or mitigates poverty. This study aimed to reveal the role of foreign aid in sustaining agricultural production and eradicating rural poverty. Foreign aid positively moderated the association between sustainable agriculture practices and agricultural production. In addition, government policies negatively, yet insignificantly, moderate the association between agriculture production and poverty reduction. Furthermore, the findings indicate that agriculture production positively and significantly mediates the association between sustainable agriculture practices and poverty reduction. The study contributes to the literature by improving the understanding of linkages within the poverty-policies-aid-sustainability framework. Full article

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15 pages, 1451 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Multilevel Knowledge Economy Pyramid Model as a Flexible Solution to Address the Impact of Adverse Events in the Economy

by Octavian Șerban

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12332; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912332 - 28 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1655

Abstract

The complexity of the current crisis is a big challenge for sustainable development, in the context of several overlapping shocks generated by the Coronavirus disease, geostrategic conflict, energy breaches, and food security threats. An appropriate answer to address these issues is to create [...] Read more.

The complexity of the current crisis is a big challenge for sustainable development, in the context of several overlapping shocks generated by the Coronavirus disease, geostrategic conflict, energy breaches, and food security threats. An appropriate answer to address these issues is to create a new approach to sustainable growth based on the knowledge economy. At this point, related studies have referring to the knowledge triangle, the triple (quintuple) helix, smart specialization, and the knowledge-based economy. In this research, compared with other studies in the field, knowledge structures created on the foundation of the knowledge economy were designed to work together to generate synergy in a knowledge environment where the stakeholders are universities, technology providers, governments, local communities, and entrepreneurs. In this mechanism, innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship are the premises for increasing productivity and competitiveness, with a positive impact on smart growth and the standard of living. Full article

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21 pages, 1615 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Impact of Financial Inclusion Drivers, Financial Literacy and Financial Initiatives in Fostering Sustainable Growth in North India

by Amit Pandey, Ravi Kiran and Rakesh Kumar Sharma

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 11061; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141711061 - 5 Sep 2022

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 8520

Abstract

The present study examines how successful we are in achieving financial inclusiveness, investigating the influence of the drivers of financial inclusion (FI), financial literacy, and financial initiatives on sustainable growth. The drivers of FI considered are digitalization, technology, and usage. This study proceeds [...] Read more.

The present study examines how successful we are in achieving financial inclusiveness, investigating the influence of the drivers of financial inclusion (FI), financial literacy, and financial initiatives on sustainable growth. The drivers of FI considered are digitalization, technology, and usage. This study proceeds with a difference and investigates the impact of the drivers on sustainable growth through the mediation of financial literacy. The basic purpose is to understand whether mediation assists in enhancing the impact of the drivers of FI on sustainable growth. Sustainable growth is measured by knowing customers’ perceptions regarding FI success through the achievement of the SDGs, viz., SDGs 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 17, especially related to poverty alleviation; removing gender inequality; and promoting industrial growth. The study uses PLS-SEM modeling to investigate the impact of the drivers of FI, financial literacy, and financial initiatives on sustainable growth. The results highlight that usage, digitalization, and FinTech emerged as significant drivers of FI. The study assesses the direct impact of the drivers of FI on sustainable growth and the indirect effect through the mediation of financial literacy. This is indicative of the importance of financial literacy in accentuating the impact of the drivers on sustainable growth. However, financial initiatives positively impact sustainable growth in the northern region of India as well. Full article

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14 pages, 320 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Efficiency of National Innovation Policy Programs: The Case of Serbia

by Sonja Đuričin, Isidora Beraha, Olivera Jovanović, Marija Mosurović Ružičić, Marija Lazarević-Moravčević and Mihailo Paunović

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8483; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148483 - 11 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1697

Abstract

We aimed to assess the efficiency of the selected national innovation policy programs in the Republic of Serbia. We analyzed the impact of the Innovation Fund’s Mini-Grants and Matching Grants programs on the operating revenue growth of beneficiary micro, small, and medium enterprises. [...] Read more.

We aimed to assess the efficiency of the selected national innovation policy programs in the Republic of Serbia. We analyzed the impact of the Innovation Fund’s Mini-Grants and Matching Grants programs on the operating revenue growth of beneficiary micro, small, and medium enterprises. An econometric analysis of panel data was conducted. Because of the small number of periods observed, a model of individual effects was applied. Conclusions and recommendations were based on the results of random effects models. The findings indicate that program funding increased business revenues compared to the period before and that there was a direct link between indebtedness and revenue growth, which confirmed the positive impact of financing on the sustainable development prospects of beneficiaries through facilitating access to funding and innovation capacity improvement. These findings can have important policy implications as they provide guidelines for designing future actions and empirically confirm the need to increase public expenditures for innovation policy. Full article

18 pages, 404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Competitive Neutrality of SOEs with Special Functions in China

by Yixuan Duan and Yu Kang

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7810; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137810 - 27 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2173

Abstract

A Deviation from competitive neutrality is one of the main problems faced by Chinese state-owned enterprises. Based on the orientation of the classification reform of state-owned enterprises to all kinds of enterprises, we discuss the competitive neutrality of state-owned enterprises with special functions [...] Read more.

A Deviation from competitive neutrality is one of the main problems faced by Chinese state-owned enterprises. Based on the orientation of the classification reform of state-owned enterprises to all kinds of enterprises, we discuss the competitive neutrality of state-owned enterprises with special functions from the perspectives of enterprise policy burden and enterprise profits. The research herein shows that state-owned enterprises, as the main entities of policy burden, have undertaken social responsibilities such as helping the government to stabilize employment, which has caused problems such as creating redundant employees, reducing the efficiency of employees, and reducing the profits of enterprises. To make up for the loss of profits of enterprises that bear the policy burden, the government provides them with implicit guarantees, which makes it easier for them to obtain bank loans and other external factors, and the asset–liability ratio of enterprises increases, which comprises the problem concerning a deviation from competitive neutrality that the United States and other western countries have surmised. However, the empirical study found that the deviation from competitive neutrality in financing actually reduced the profits of enterprises, that is, the state-owned enterprises faced a certain competitive disadvantage. Based on the research conclusion herein, this paper puts forward some enlightening findings on state-owned enterprise reform. Full article

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17 pages, 1167 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Satisfaction of Logistics Dispatchers Who Use Electric Tricycles\linebreak for the Last Mile of Delivery: Perspective from Policy Intervention

by Jiacong Xu, Xuefeng Li, Yiyong Pan and Mingyang Du

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7638; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137638 - 23 Jun 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3375

Abstract

This paper investigates the satisfaction factors of logistics dispatchers who used electric tricycles for the last mile of delivery under policy intervention, and a questionnaire survey is conducted on the last-mile dispatchers in Nanjing. Based on four principal components extracted by exploratory factor [...] Read more.

This paper investigates the satisfaction factors of logistics dispatchers who used electric tricycles for the last mile of delivery under policy intervention, and a questionnaire survey is conducted on the last-mile dispatchers in Nanjing. Based on four principal components extracted by exploratory factor analysis, the structural equation model (SEM) for the relationship between exogenous variables (sound policy, legality, and standardizing system) and endogenous variables (perceived convenience and satisfaction) is established to obtain the factors influencing the satisfaction of dispatchers. The results indicate that the correlation coefficients between the perceived convenience, sound policy, legality, standardizing system and the dispatchers’ satisfaction are 0.606, 0.448, 0.242 and −0.366, respectively. The correlations between perceived convenience, sound policy, legality and dispatchers’ satisfaction are significantly positive. The correlations between standardizing system and dispatchers’ satisfaction are negative. Finally, corresponding improvement policies are proposed based on the analysis of the model. The research results help improve the dispatcher’s satisfaction during the last-mile distribution process and provide support for standards by using electric tricycles and the formulation of new policies. Full article

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23 pages, 725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of the Policy of Replacing Environmental Protection Fees with Taxes on Enterprise Green Innovation—Evidence from China’s Heavily Polluting Industries

by Suyu Huang, Hanlian Lin, Yongjunbei Zhou, Haonan Ji and Naiping Zhu

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6850; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116850 - 3 Jun 2022

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 3596

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of the policy of replacing environmental protection “fees” with “taxes” on enterprise green innovation based on the Chinese A-share listed companies sample from 2015 to 2019. This paper tries to analyze the factors that may affect the level [...] Read more.

This paper analyzes the impact of the policy of replacing environmental protection “fees” with “taxes” on enterprise green innovation based on the Chinese A-share listed companies sample from 2015 to 2019. This paper tries to analyze the factors that may affect the level of green innovation of enterprises and the ability of enterprise green innovation (GI) under the background of the implementation of this policy. This paper adopts the difference-in-differences method (DID), takes 1 January 2018 as the time variable demarcation boundary and uses the heavily polluting industry as the dummy variable boundary, conducts group research on the experimental variables, and observes and analyzes the impact of heavily polluting industries and non-heavy pollution before and after the implementation of the policy. It is found that the policy significantly improves green innovation and the R&D efficiency of green innovation of enterprises in heavy pollution industries. Further research reveals that after the implementation of the policy, large enterprises and private enterprises, compared with SMEs and state-owned enterprises, lay more stress on improving green innovation technology. In the end, it examines the relationship between senior executives’ academic research experience and enterprises’ green innovation and finds that senior executives’ academic research experience can not only promote green innovation, but also improve the R&D efficiency of green innovation. The research results of this paper provide a theoretical basis for decision makers and enterprise management in formulating rules and managing enterprises. Full article

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18 pages, 578 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Mechanisms and Institutional Frameworks of China’s Green Development: An Analysis from the Perspective of Collaboration

by Jingbo Liang, Wuliyasu Bai, Qianqian Li, Xingyuan Zhang and Long Zhang

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6491; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116491 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2188

Abstract

With the intensifying deterioration of the global ecological environment and the continuous depletion of natural resources induced by human activities, the world is standing at a crossroads. As the largest developing country in the world, China has an urgent need to change its [...] Read more.

With the intensifying deterioration of the global ecological environment and the continuous depletion of natural resources induced by human activities, the world is standing at a crossroads. As the largest developing country in the world, China has an urgent need to change its development model to a more sustainable one. Green development, the inevitable choice to promote the construction of an ecological civilization, is the only way to achieve a beautiful China. Dynamic mechanisms are the key factors to achieving green development, and the improvement of institutional frameworks is a fundamental guarantee for improving the quality of green development. The purpose of this study is to identify the driving forces that compose the dynamic mechanisms and to propose an institutional framework for green development in China. This paper discusses the various driving forces behind green development, and analyzes the dynamic mechanisms as well as the roles of the various forces in achieving green development. Finally, an institutional framework for pursuing green development in China is provided. It was found that the dynamic mechanism behind green development in China includes four aspects, namely, pressure, a pulling force, a pushing force, and a supporting force. The institutional framework for green development in China can be established from the aspects of education, stakeholder coordination, the legal system, ecological compensation, scientific and technological innovation, regional cooperation, and other system countermeasures. Full article

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19 pages, 914 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does the Belt and Road Initiative Promote Green Innovation Quality? Evidence from Chinese Cities

by Peizhu Xin, Min Zhao and Yang Bai

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6060; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106060 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2796

Abstract

When formulating international economic cooperation agreements, policymakers should consider not only their economic promotion effects but also their impact on green development. This paper is an examination of whether the Belt and Road Initiative contributes to green innovation quality. Objectively assessing the green [...] Read more.

When formulating international economic cooperation agreements, policymakers should consider not only their economic promotion effects but also their impact on green development. This paper is an examination of whether the Belt and Road Initiative contributes to green innovation quality. Objectively assessing the green innovation promotion effects of its implementation is not only important for its completion and improvement in the future, but also to verify whether the Belt and Road Initiative promotes sustainable development in participating regions. A difference-in-difference model was constructed using the data of 291 cities in China from 2008 to 2019. The results show the following: (1) the Initiative has significantly improved the quality of green innovation in cities along the Belt and Road; (2) a series of robustness tests showed that the main results are highly robust; (3) the Belt and Road Initiative has a significant policy spillover effect—while improving the quality of local green innovation, it can also significantly promote the quality of green innovation in surrounding areas. This paper has reference significance for further understanding the policy effect of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the promotion and strengthening of subsequent policies. Full article

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19 pages, 799 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Changes in Demographic Factors’ Influence on Regional Productivity Growth: Empirical Evidence from China, 2000–2010

by Xiaoxi Wang, Yaojun Zhang, Danlin Yu, Xiwei Wu and Ding Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4195; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074195 - 1 Apr 2022

Viewed by 2314

Abstract

Improving total factor productivity is an important way for China’s economy to avoid the middle income trap. Demographic changes are believed to have significant impacts on productivity growth. Using the census and socioeconomic data of 358 prefecture cities in mainland China, this paper [...] Read more.

Improving total factor productivity is an important way for China’s economy to avoid the middle income trap. Demographic changes are believed to have significant impacts on productivity growth. Using the census and socioeconomic data of 358 prefecture cities in mainland China, this paper analyzes the changes in the global and local spatial dependence of total factor productivity. We then employ spatial regression methods to investigate the role of changes in population factors in productivity growth in 2000 and 2010. We draw three observations from the analysis. First, population density plays an important role in both years. There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between population density and productivity growth. Second, human capital stock has a significant positive impact while human capital inequality becomes insignificant in 2010. This is likely a result of China’s education equality policies. Third, the impact of the aging of workers and their migration status on productivity growth also changed over the decade. Different cohorts of workers and migrants have had different influences on productivity growth because of their different access to higher education. The study provides important insights over how demographic factors impact China’s productivity growth. Full article

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14 pages, 283 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Macroeconomic Determinants of Household Debt in OECD Countries

by Bogdan Andrei Dumitrescu, Adrian Enciu, Cătălina Adriana Hândoreanu, Carmen Obreja and Florin Blaga

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3977; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073977 - 28 Mar 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4608

Abstract

This article investigates the macroeconomic determinants of household debt in developed economies using a sample comprising 26 OECD countries for the period of 2002q1–2020q4. By resorting to the unconditional quantile regression, we find relevant asymmetries in the response of household debt. According to [...] Read more.

This article investigates the macroeconomic determinants of household debt in developed economies using a sample comprising 26 OECD countries for the period of 2002q1–2020q4. By resorting to the unconditional quantile regression, we find relevant asymmetries in the response of household debt. According to our results, economic growth leads to lower household debt, but the beneficial effect decreases as the level of household debt increases. Inflation lowers household borrowing only if the level of debt is high. Higher house prices lead to higher household debt, with the impact becoming stronger as the level of debt is higher. Investments go hand in hand with household debt, and higher investments lead to higher levels of borrowing, even when household debt is already high. Mortgage credit interest rates are positively linked with household debt, starting with higher debt levels. A rising unemployment rate leads to lower household debt, but the link becomes weaker as the level of debt increases. Higher public expenditures are generally associated with lower household debt. In addition, we find that household debt exhibits very powerful autoregressive behavior, being difficult to reduce rapidly in the case of need. Full article

23 pages, 1393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leverage of Local State-Owned Enterprises, Implicit Contingent Liabilities of Government and Economic Growth

by Yixuan Duan, Min Guo and Yixuan Huang

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3481; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063481 - 16 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2818

Abstract

Local state-owned enterprises (SOEs) working together with local governments can promote economic growth. However, an increase in the implicit contingent liabilities of local governments due to implicit guarantees given to SOEs has a negative effect on economic growth. The classical socialist theories and [...] Read more.

Local state-owned enterprises (SOEs) working together with local governments can promote economic growth. However, an increase in the implicit contingent liabilities of local governments due to implicit guarantees given to SOEs has a negative effect on economic growth. The classical socialist theories and the economic stability in each financial crisis of China show that the macroeconomic efficiency of SOEs is more important than the microeconomic efficiency, and microeconomic efficiency in neoclassical economic theory cannot reflect the nature of SOEs. It is of great practical and theoretical significance to make a more comprehensive and accurate judgment on the efficiency of SOEs. This paper constructs an index of local governments’ implicit contingent liabilities in 31 provinces based on the 488 local SOEs to study the impact of implicit contingent liabilities, and the time period is the year 2007 to the year 2020. Our findings show that an increase in local SOEs’ assets suppresses economic fluctuations at the cost of increasing government’s implicit contingent debt and has a negative impact on economic growth. Unlike the fiscal influence path of explicit debt, implicit contingent debt restrains local economic growth through financial markets. The deleveraging of local SOEs and improving their efficiency can improve the overall efficiency of local funds and reduce the negative effect of local governments’ implicit contingent liabilities on economic growth. Full article

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16 pages, 613 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Legal and Economic Prospects for the Arctic Seaport Developments of the Northern Dimension Partner Countries (Russia and the European Union)

by Maksim Y. Zadorin, Konstantin S. Zaikov, Nikita M. Kuprikov and Mikhail Y. Kuprikov

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2373; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042373 - 18 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2508

Abstract

The article is devoted to the legal and economic aspects of Arctic seaport developments, using the example of the Russian Federation and the Northern Dimension (ND) partner countries, namely, Iceland and Norway. The authors consistently reveal all the specific points related to the [...] Read more.

The article is devoted to the legal and economic aspects of Arctic seaport developments, using the example of the Russian Federation and the Northern Dimension (ND) partner countries, namely, Iceland and Norway. The authors consistently reveal all the specific points related to the legal regulation of Russian seaport management (ranging from international legal cooperation to domestic strategies and national legislation), and conduct an assessment of the economic prospects for Arctic port development according to the latest data and trends in the field of logistical flows. They also provide a description of the ND countries’ seaport developments, primarily economic, taking into account the global environmental agenda. In conclusion, the authors make their constructive proposals for multilateral cooperation in this area. Full article

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29 pages, 2826 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Difficult Pattern to Change in Romania, the Perspective of Socio-Economic Development

by Tiberiu Iancu, Ionuț Laurențiu Petre, Valentina Constanta Tudor, Marius Mihai Micu, Ana Ursu, Florina-Ruxandra Teodorescu and Eduard Alexandru Dumitru

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2350; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042350 - 18 Feb 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3395

Abstract

The rural area is a basic component from a socio-economic point of view, being closely linked to the activities that take place in these areas. Normally, Romanian rural localities should show significant differences from one development region to another, being influenced by a [...] Read more.

The rural area is a basic component from a socio-economic point of view, being closely linked to the activities that take place in these areas. Normally, Romanian rural localities should show significant differences from one development region to another, being influenced by a number of factors (geographical positioning, the influence of agriculture in the economy, etc.). In this sense, data were collected from the town halls of the localities from Calarasi and Timis counties. The analyzed data were processed by the linear regression method, and the estimation of the evolution of the population was determined using the Vensim simulation program. The paper identifies a pattern in rural localities in Romania that hinders their development, reflected by various socio-economic indicators available in the analyzed localities. The main factor that can change this pattern in rural localities is the influence of local and national decision-makers, who can encourage investment in these areas either through the development of local and national infrastructure or through fiscal measures that encourage the development of quality non-agricultural activities that can generate financial resources and jobs at the local level. Moreover, it is not only the low number of non-agricultural activities that is causing the poor development of rural areas, but rather the low number of economic operators in general and the quality of these types of activities, which in most cases do not have the capacity to create new jobs. Full article

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23 pages, 692 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating Performance Outcomes under Institutional Pressures and Environmental Orientation Motivated Green Supply Chain Management Practices

by Wael Hassan El-Garaihy, Usama A. Badawi, Walid A. S. Seddik and M. Sh. Torky

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1523; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031523 - 28 Jan 2022

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3618

Abstract

Purpose: The study investigates the role of institutional pressures and environmental orientation in implementing green supply chain practices (GSCPs) in firms. The aim is to construct a comprehensive model based on institutional theory (InT) and resource-based view (RBV) that will help study [...] Read more.

Purpose: The study investigates the role of institutional pressures and environmental orientation in implementing green supply chain practices (GSCPs) in firms. The aim is to construct a comprehensive model based on institutional theory (InT) and resource-based view (RBV) that will help study the effect of GSCPs on performance-based outcomes of industrial firms. Study Design: The study adopted a cross-sectional design, and data were collected from 351 supply chain management professionals from different manufacturing companies in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, a questionnaire was structured to collect data, and the hypothesis of the study was tested using the PLS-SEM modeling. Findings: The study findings showed a significant effect of institutional pressure on GSCPs. Also, another significant impact of environmental orientation on GSCPs was noted. Lastly, GSCPs of manufacturing companies have a significantly positive effect on economic and ecological performances. Originality: This paper is one of the first to include institutional theory, the resource-based view, institutional pressures, environmental orientation, GSCPs, and company performances outcomes. Also, the paper provides details about performance outcomes by scattering Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) practices and gives direction to managers for the successful implementation of these practices. Full article

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16 pages, 2128 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Industrial Structure Upgrading, Green Total Factor Productivity and Carbon Emissions

by Yize Yang, Xiujian Wei, Jie Wei and Xiang Gao

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 1009; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14021009 - 17 Jan 2022

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 3309

Abstract

Carbon emission reduction is becoming a global issue. Methods of reducing carbon emissions in developing countries have become a hot topic of discussion. Based on the obvious structural transformation in developing countries, this paper discusses the logical mechanisms among industrial structure upgrading, green [...] Read more.

Carbon emission reduction is becoming a global issue. Methods of reducing carbon emissions in developing countries have become a hot topic of discussion. Based on the obvious structural transformation in developing countries, this paper discusses the logical mechanisms among industrial structure upgrading, green total factor productivity improvements, and carbon emission reduction. In addition, this paper empirically tests these relationships with provincial data from 2000 to 2017 in China. The conclusions are as follows: (1) industrial structure upgrades have a significant impact on carbon emissions. The industrial structure rationalization remains a noteworthy inhibition on carbon emissions. The industrial structure’s advancement has obvious features of development at the current stage, and its effect on carbon emissions shows an inverted “V” trend, which is initially accelerating but then restraining. (2) Upgrades to industrial structures will decrease carbon emissions by raising green total factor productivity. (3) The rise of green total factor productivity in a certain region will have a relatively obvious inhibitory effect on carbon emissions, but it will exhibit a negative spatial spillover effect on the adjacent areas. Full article

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2021

Jump to: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019

23 pages, 557 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of GI Products or Local Products in the Environment—Consumer Awareness and Preferences in Albania, Bulgaria and Poland

by Etleva Muça, Iwona Pomianek and Mariya Peneva

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010004 - 21 Dec 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5711

Abstract

The main goal of this paper is to measure and compare the awareness and preferences of consumers in relation to local products in three countries: Albania, Bulgaria, and Poland. (1) Background: The analysis focused on consumer choices when presented with local products, specifically [...] Read more.

The main goal of this paper is to measure and compare the awareness and preferences of consumers in relation to local products in three countries: Albania, Bulgaria, and Poland. (1) Background: The analysis focused on consumer choices when presented with local products, specifically knowledge as to their environmentally friendly status. The study was evoked by the need to recognize and evaluate changes in consumer behavior as a result of the pandemic and the global challenges related to climate change and the widespread call for nature preservation. (2) Methods: An online survey was conducted with 300 respondents from Poland, 262 from Albania, and 250 from Bulgaria. Statistical analysis was applied. (3) Results: The study answered research questions about consumer readiness to pay a premium price and awareness about the impact of regional products on the environment and livelihood of rural communities. (4) Conclusions: The study proved that consumer perceptions and behavior are influenced by a variety of factors and driving forces in the three countries surveyed depending on socioeconomic characteristics and relevant policies. COVID-19 accelerated the demand for products derived from nature-friendly production systems. Products with geographical indication (GI products) are a better choice from the perspective of sustainable consumption. Full article

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17 pages, 288 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Female Labour Force Participation: What Prevents Sustainable Development Goals from Being Realised in Iran?

by Elham Taheri, Fatma Güven Lisaniler and Cem Payaslioğlu

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11918; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111918 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4748

Abstract

Elimination of the gender gap in labour force participation has become one of the main challenges of achieving the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The rapid increase in university education and decrease in fertility rate in [...] Read more.

Elimination of the gender gap in labour force participation has become one of the main challenges of achieving the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The rapid increase in university education and decrease in fertility rate in Iran over the past decades might affect the achievement of the SDGs. However, the country’s female labour force participation (FLFP) rate stagnates at a superficial level. The stagnating FLFP rate is inconsistent with basic labour economics supply-side explanations while drawing attention to demand-side explanations, namely, female labour demand constraints, such as occupational segregation and labour market discrimination. This study empirically investigates the effect on FLFP of primary labour supply factors along with household conditions and gender norms and attitudes for 2 specific years: 2008 and 2018. The aim is to shed light on the causes of stagnation at the FLFP level by using the Household Expenditure and Income Survey conducted annually by the Statistical Center of Iran. The empirical findings suggest gender norms and attitudes towards working women and gendered division of work associated with family care as the driving forces of stagnation in FLFP in Iran. Full article

19 pages, 1726 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can Financial Development Curb Carbon Emissions? Empirical Test Based on Spatial Perspective

by Xueyang Liu and Xiaoxing Liu

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11912; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111912 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2362

Abstract

To respond to global climate change and achieve a “carbon peak” and “carbon neutrality” as soon as possible has become a common goal around the world. Economic growth relies heavily on financial development; indeed, low-carbon economic development is inseparable from financial support. This [...] Read more.

To respond to global climate change and achieve a “carbon peak” and “carbon neutrality” as soon as possible has become a common goal around the world. Economic growth relies heavily on financial development; indeed, low-carbon economic development is inseparable from financial support. This paper studies the impact of financial development on carbon emission intensity and its mechanism from both theoretical and empirical aspects. Based on the 2005–2018 data on Chinese cities and the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) research results, this paper finds that: (1) Financial development has significantly reduced China’s carbon emission intensity overall. After considering spatial effects, financial development increases local carbon emission intensity, although it may lead to a more significant decrease in the surrounding area. (2) The analysis of heterogeneity shows that only the financial development in the eastern region has a substantial detrimental impact on total carbon emission intensity and the carbon emission intensity of neighboring cities. The financial development in the central and western regions has no significant effect on carbon emission intensity. (3) The mechanism test shows that financial development mainly reduces carbon emission intensity through technological innovation and structural optimization, with the effect of technological innovation being 9.5%, and the effect of structural optimization being 12.15%. The expansion of the consumption effects of financial development has no significant impact on carbon emission intensity. Accordingly, this article believes that it is necessary to further support financial development, build large-scale financial centers, continue to optimize the structure of financial products, and encourage the development of green finance. Full article

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27 pages, 4194 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Driving Green Investments by Measuring Innovation Impacts. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Regional Bioeconomy Growth

by Fabiana Gatto, Sara Daniotti and Ilaria Re

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11709; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111709 - 23 Oct 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3315

Abstract

Regional policies play a pivotal role in green transition and pursuing the European Green Deal decarbonization targets. Despite the general recognition of the strategic value of the bioeconomy in realizing this challenge, regional roadmaps for its growth are not yet a widespread tool [...] Read more.

Regional policies play a pivotal role in green transition and pursuing the European Green Deal decarbonization targets. Despite the general recognition of the strategic value of the bioeconomy in realizing this challenge, regional roadmaps for its growth are not yet a widespread tool in local innovation policy. Conversely, driving green investments by measuring the innovation potential of the bioeconomy could shape a low-carbon economy by leveraging the full potential of local resources. In order to validate a replicable decision-making model driving 2021–2027 ERDF funds towards this mission, this paper measures the economic, social and technological impact of the Lombard bioeconomy through five applications and eight criteria. The methodology allows quantification of the local bioeconomy value and, through a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), identifies the bio-based applications with the highest innovation potential. By measuring the current and prospective impact of the bioeconomy, Bio-chemicals, Agri-foods, and Biopolymers emerges as the applications with the highest innovation potential rate for Lombardy. Five recommendations to drive green investments and shape the regional roadmap for the bioeconomy are finally defined, providing a tool for industrial applications with a greater impact on local competitiveness. Full article

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18 pages, 265 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Joint Innovative Research Agenda for The Arctic: Programs, Projects, Success Stories

by Konstantin S. Zaikov, Lyubov A. Zarubina, Svetlana V. Popkova, Nikita M. Kuprikov, Mikhail Yu. Kuprikov, Daniil A. Kvon and Leonid P. Ponyaev

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11669; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111669 - 22 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2272

Abstract

In the context of circumpolar international cooperation within the framework of the Joint Innovative Research Agenda, for the development of a systems approach, it is important to use the resources of existing platforms for multi-level mutually beneficial cooperation. The Council of Barents/Euro-Arctic Region [...] Read more.

In the context of circumpolar international cooperation within the framework of the Joint Innovative Research Agenda, for the development of a systems approach, it is important to use the resources of existing platforms for multi-level mutually beneficial cooperation. The Council of Barents/Euro-Arctic Region and the University of the Arctic are unique examples of interaction and cooperation between the regions of the Arctic states. The Northern Dimension policy is also an important platform for such cooperation between Russia, the European Union, Iceland and Norway. Cross-border cooperation is integral to international relations, which stimulates the sustainable development of regions, creates growth points for innovative projects, and is focused on the evolution of international economic relationship. Universities and research institutes, as holders of expertise, and centers for studying good world practices and transferring excellence, occupy leading positions in the development of advanced ecosystems and the use of complex technologies, the training of highly qualified personnel for the Arctic, the creating of end-to-end digital technologies, the transforming of priority sectors of the states’ economies, and in the social sphere. This article discusses international project activities as one of the most effective tools contributing to the development of these issues. The authors provide examples of successful practices aimed at solving common challenges in the Arctic region, and conclude that “Arctic fever”, and the intensification of Arctic scientific partnerships through programs to support the introduction of technologies and innovations and the advancement of scientific stations in the Arctic, directly affect the development of local territories, give impetus to economic progress, and create new models of cooperation. Full article

23 pages, 2050 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Affecting the Trade Dependence Relationship of Asian Countries with China: Implications for China’s Belt and Road Initiative

by Wei Yang, Feihuang Xue, Jinfeng Shi, Yanmin Shao and Di Wang

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10844; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910844 - 29 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4138

Abstract

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (B&R) has received much doubts about its impact on Asian countries. This paper studies the B&R effect from a new perspective of the trade dependence relationship, and explores this B&R impact on the influencing factors of the degree [...] Read more.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (B&R) has received much doubts about its impact on Asian countries. This paper studies the B&R effect from a new perspective of the trade dependence relationship, and explores this B&R impact on the influencing factors of the degree of trade dependence. By implementing a series of grouping analyses on influencing factors, this paper analyses the impact of four national characteristics, including Asian countries’ income levels, geographical location characteristics, social development levels and intimacy with China, and finally gives a robust test by combining alternative indicators of trade dependence degree based on information entropy. The empirical results show that trade dependence degree has increased after implementing the B&R, but its downward growth rate shows that the B&R has not taken over the trade dependence. The inhibiting effects of energy exports on the degree of trade dependence deny the trade binding hypothesis due to the increasing energy of export trade. Trade openness and infrastructure development had a negative effect on the degree of trade dependence, while their cross-product term weakened their respective inhibitory effects, and even more after B&R. Meanwhile, the asymmetry of trade and FDI have a significantly positive impact on the degree of trade dependence. Moreover, grouping national characteristics will bring the promoting or inhibiting effects of these influencing factors on the degree of trade dependence. The robust test presents conclusions. This paper enriches the research content on the B&R, and the findings can provide some implications on the selection of trade partners and the sustainable development of the B&R. Full article

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25 pages, 7728 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Customer Relationship Marketing and Institutional Support Influence on the Women’s Companies Sustainability in Serbia

by Nikola V. Ćurčić, Aleksandar Grubor and Almir Muhović

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10824; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910824 - 29 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3604

Abstract

Current sustainability challenges require businesses to develop their relations with customers and markets through relationship marketing and jointly create added value of their services responsive to environmental, social and economic requirements at the same time. This article also supports the gender equality within [...] Read more.

Current sustainability challenges require businesses to develop their relations with customers and markets through relationship marketing and jointly create added value of their services responsive to environmental, social and economic requirements at the same time. This article also supports the gender equality within the SDGs (fifth goal). As (SMEs Report, 2018) micro companies make 89.137, small enterprises make 11.219, entrepreneurs in shops and services sectors make 272.969 and cooperatives in agriculture and food trade make 1.196, they comprise most of the SMEs sector in Serbia, while Medium-sized firms make 2.517, and large enterprises make 540. Female entrepreneurs, which represent 32% of all SMEs and 22% from cooperatives were selected for the research sample with the aim to primarily represent the sectors their businesses operate within. The empirical research was provided in Serbia in 2021 on the sample of 220 female enterprises, shops and cooperatives, most of which operate in service sectors. The aim is to indicate the importance of the institutional factors (IF, government support) and customer relationship marketing (CRM) and their influence on the sustainability of the women’s enterprises (WES). Findings show that CRM significantly impacts the WES, showing that the market and customer loyalty are the most important for the sustainability and resilience of the business. At the same time, results show the importance of the IF government measures’ and policies’ influence and reveal that insufficient attention that has been dedicated to (WES) and SDGs goals of gender equality in feminist economics. Full article

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2020

Jump to: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019

13 pages, 1126 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Evidence for Romania Regarding Dynamic Causality between Military Expenditure and Sustainable Economic Growth

by Ran Tao, Oana Ramona Glonț, Zheng-Zheng Li, Oana Ramona Lobonț and Adina Alexandra Guzun

Sustainability 2020, 12(12), 5053; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125053 - 21 Jun 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3117

Abstract

Military spending and sustainable economic development have been widely discussed in recent decades. Especially in Romania, the defense budget is valued at $4.8 billion, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.57%. It is also expected to reach $7.6 billion in 2023, [...] Read more.

Military spending and sustainable economic development have been widely discussed in recent decades. Especially in Romania, the defense budget is valued at $4.8 billion, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.57%. It is also expected to reach $7.6 billion in 2023, according to a report by Strategic Defense Intelligence. There is no consensus in current research and less attention is paid to Eastern European countries. Considering the significant increase in military spending in Romania in recent years, as well as the occurrence of political events, this paper focuses on the dynamic causal relationship between military spending and sustainable economic growth in Romania. The bootstrap rolling window causality test takes into account the structural changes, and therefore, provides more convincing results. The results indicate negative effects of military expenditure on sustainable economic growth between 1996–1999 and 2002–2004. It can be attributed to the crowding-out effect of public expenditure on private investment. The positive effect between the two variables analyzed is noticed with the accession of Romania to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Conversely, it is found that economic growth does not have a significant effect on military spending in Romania. Policymakers should guard against the crowding out of private consumption and investment due to excessive military spending and ensure to increase military expenditure on the premise of sustainable economic development. Full article

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40 pages, 21934 KiB

Open AccessReview

Perspectives of the Moldavian Agricultural Sector by Using a Custom-Developed Analytical Framework

by Ștefan-Mihai PETREA, Dragos Sebastian Cristea, Maria Magdalena Turek Rahoveanu, Cristina Gabriela Zamfir, Adrian Turek Rahoveanu, Gheorghe Adrian Zugravu and Dumitru Nancu

Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4671; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114671 - 8 Jun 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4099

Abstract

Moldova possesses the largest area of farmland as a share of its total land surface, an advantage which should encourage economic development strategies oriented towards the agriculture sector. Government subsidies and agriculture loans have been used as tools for developing the Moldavian agriculture. [...] Read more.

Moldova possesses the largest area of farmland as a share of its total land surface, an advantage which should encourage economic development strategies oriented towards the agriculture sector. Government subsidies and agriculture loans have been used as tools for developing the Moldavian agriculture. However, considering the challenges generated by both climate change (the drought from year 2012 that affected 80% of farmland) and a difficult political situation (restrictions imposed by the Russian Federation on the Republic of Moldova’s agri-food imports and exports between 2013 and 2014), the country’s agricultural system ranks very low when it comes to agricultural production efficiency. The present paper analyses the performances of the agricultural sector and its impact on the Moldavian economy over a nine-year period (between 2008 and 2016), by using a custom-developed analytical framework based on a dataset containing 21 relevant indicators. The analytical framework generates various perspectives that can be used to elaborate an economic sustainable development strategy of the Moldavian agriculture sector. The development of the analytical framework is based on the dynamics of agriculture subsidies, agricultural loans, the agricultural sector’s gross domestic product (GDP) and gross value added (GVA), as well as the dynamics of agricultural production and production value, also considering the main crops belonging to the Moldavian agriculture sector. The results are presented as sets of mathematical regression models that quantify the relationships found between the relevant agricultural parameters and their impact on the economics of the agricultural sector. It has been identified that the agriculture sector has a considerable impact on the Moldavian economy, a fact revealed by the significant model between the agriculture GVA and total GVA and GDP. A significant, negative correlation model was identified between agriculture subsidies and agriculture loans, although a small percentage of Moldavian agriculture farms were subsidized. Strong correlation models were also identified between wheat and maize production and total agriculture production, emphasizing the importance of these two crops for the Moldavian agricultural economy. Grape and maize production values also generated a correlation model, emphasizing the market interconnection between these crops It can be concluded that the increase in value of governmental agriculture subsidies, as well as expanding their addressability in order to maximize the access possibility for a higher number of agriculture farms, are essential for the Moldavian agriculture sector’s future development, since considering the limiting value of and accessibility to subsidies, a direct correlation model was identified between governmental agriculture subsidies and agriculture GVA. Full article

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28 pages, 2628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Poverty in European Union: Assessment Difficulties, Effects on the Quality of Life, Mitigation Measures. Some Evidences from Romania

by Adrian Neacsa, Mirela Panait, Jianu Daniel Muresan and Marian Catalin Voica

Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4036; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104036 - 14 May 2020

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 5506

Abstract

The scope of this research is to explore the relations between energy poverty, quality of life and renewable energy. First, an analysis of concept evolution, economic and social implications and the difficulties in assessing energy poverty was conducted by analyzing the data from [...] Read more.

The scope of this research is to explore the relations between energy poverty, quality of life and renewable energy. First, an analysis of concept evolution, economic and social implications and the difficulties in assessing energy poverty was conducted by analyzing the data from Eurostat regarding electricity prices for households and arrears on utility bills between 2009 and 2018 and the solutions for combating energy poverty from the EU. In the next part, a cross-country analysis regarding Granger causality between indicators representing all three dimensions was conducted. The period of the analysis was between 2010 and 2019 for the 28 EU member states. In the final part of the article, the situation of Romania was analyzed. The phenomenon of energy poverty is not marginal but is underestimated and superficially approached. Starting from the dominant discussions on the concepts and tools practiced at international level, this article makes a proposal for a working model for various regions in Romania, taking in consideration the financial potential of the geographic areas and the possibilities of accessing unconventional energies by local communities. Through a case study based on the analysis of relevant energy resource statistics, the article identifies main shortcomings and opportunities for Romania and proposes concrete recommendations of sustainable public policies on the elimination of energy poverty. In some geographic areas where this was not possible, we propose how to diminish the effects of this social phenomenon. Our proposals for the case study focus on supporting populations in areas where access to energy sources is difficult and there is a lack of energy infrastructure, the government programs being an alternative to access green (renewable) energies. Even if this may seem expensive to some specialists in the economy, access to energy sources of any kind brings social advantages by improving quality of life-in this case, a real victory in the fight against energy poverty. Full article

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28 pages, 1420 KiB

Open AccessReview

Influences of the Industry 4.0 Revolution on the Human Capital Development and Consumer Behavior: A Systematic Review

by Violeta Sima, Ileana Georgiana Gheorghe, Jonel Subić and Dumitru Nancu

Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4035; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104035 - 14 May 2020

Cited by 371 | Viewed by 48331

Abstract

Automation and digitalization, as long-term evolutionary processes, cause significant effects, such as the transformation of occupations and job profiles, changes to employment forms, and a more significant role for the platform economy, generating challenges for social policy. This systematic literature review aims to [...] Read more.

Automation and digitalization, as long-term evolutionary processes, cause significant effects, such as the transformation of occupations and job profiles, changes to employment forms, and a more significant role for the platform economy, generating challenges for social policy. This systematic literature review aims to provide an overview of the research to date related to influences of the Industry 4.0 Revolution on human capital development and consumer behavior. A search on the Web of Science identified 160 papers that met the inclusion criteria. The major objectives aimed to identify: the main types of influences of the Industry 4.0 Revolution on human capital development and consumer behavior; the main opportunities and challenges for new directions in education associated with shifting the work environment; and the drivers for human capital development and consumer behavior through the lenses of the Industry 4.0 Revolution. The results revealed some key aspects for the development of human capital: information, new jobs, the Internet, technology, training, education, new skills, automation, communication, innovativeness, professionals, productivity, artificial intelligence, digitalization, e-recruitment, and the Internet of Things, as well as the main drivers of consumer behavior: information, e-commerce, digitalization, the Internet of Things, e-distribution, technology, digitalization, automation, personalized, performance, artificial intelligence, behavior intention, e-shopping, and data mining. Full article

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17 pages, 1172 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reducing the Carbon Footprint of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies through Green Facades in an Economically Efficient Manner

by Simona Roxana Pătărlăgeanu, Costel Negrei, Mihai Dinu and Roxana Chiocaru

Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3779; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093779 - 6 May 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4074

Abstract

This paper focuses on the current environmental issues, more specifically the amount of greenhouse gases humanity is being confronted with at the moment. The research was carried out on a niche of the topic, namely on the carbon footprint of public buildings. The [...] Read more.

This paper focuses on the current environmental issues, more specifically the amount of greenhouse gases humanity is being confronted with at the moment. The research was carried out on a niche of the topic, namely on the carbon footprint of public buildings. The concept of a sustainable university is new and insufficiently explored, and as part of the environmental metabolism, it influences anthropic sustainability in a directly proportional manner. This indicator’s monitoring systems reveal how vulnerable humanity is in front of the latency of an unprecedented and inevitable environmental catastrophe. The ecological effects may be mitigated by the academic community through green urban design. The ecological performance can be expressed in an economically efficient manner, which can, at the same time, create a precious channel of communication within the entire academic community though volunteering for sustainability. Moreover, this research has identified several solutions for optimizing the carbon footprint, which do not hinder the necessary economic development. Within the current context, when most economic activities are leading to ecological collapse, sustainability should be reprioritized with the help of the academic society, through the examples offered by applied research. The premises of this research were represented by bibliometric analyses and the results obtained have proven its importance, as well as the importance of certain scenarios involving solutions for improving the metabolism of nature. Full article

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20 pages, 1918 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Study of the Relative Stock Market Performance of Companies Recognized for Supporting Gender Equality Policies and Practices

by Leonardo Badea, Daniel Ştefan Armeanu, Dan Costin Nițescu, Valentin Murgu, Iulian Panait and Boris Kuzman

Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3558; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093558 - 27 Apr 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3354

Abstract

This paper explores the relative stock market performance of well-diversified gender equality equity indices in comparison with the overall market, taking both a cross-sectoral and a financial sector approach, for the period January 2017 to March 2020, with a sample of 11 indices [...] Read more.

This paper explores the relative stock market performance of well-diversified gender equality equity indices in comparison with the overall market, taking both a cross-sectoral and a financial sector approach, for the period January 2017 to March 2020, with a sample of 11 indices and 834 daily observations, and using several different statistical and econometric methods. Our results show a high level of dynamic conditional correlation of daily returns among the gender equality and the overall indices. We also found comparable levels of conditional volatility (resulting from an Exponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (EGARCH)model) and an elevated degree of synchronization of the volatility regimes (identified by a Markov switching model). Calibrating simple linear quantile regressions, we found that the value of the slope coefficients of the hypothetical linear relationship between the gender equality indices and the overall market indices are close to one, and relatively stable in relation with the value of the quantile. Using separate Vector Autoregressive (VAR) models for the cross-sectoral indices and for the financial sector indices, we found only very little evidence of causality and spill-over effects. Based on these results, we argue that the daily returns of the gender equality indices exhibited very similar characteristics with the daily returns of the overall market indices. In our interpretation, this could mean that, limited to our sample and methods of investigation, there were not significant differences in the investors’ preferences towards the equity issued by public companies committed to supporting gender equality, in comparison with their approach towards listed equity in general. It could also mean that investors do not yet anticipate the significantly different financial performance of listed companies stemming from their approach towards gender equality. Full article

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16 pages, 722 KiB

Open AccessReview

More or Less Sustainable? Assessment from a Policy Perspective

by Biljana Petrevska, Aleksandra Terzić and Cvetko Andreeski

Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3491; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083491 - 24 Apr 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3964

Abstract

Sustainability of tourism destinations has become the main focus in planning and managing tourism development. Despite existing legislation and an institutional framework to safeguard balanced tourism growth, many destinations fail to properly address it. So far, studies are limited in exploring sustainable tourism [...] Read more.

Sustainability of tourism destinations has become the main focus in planning and managing tourism development. Despite existing legislation and an institutional framework to safeguard balanced tourism growth, many destinations fail to properly address it. So far, studies are limited in exploring sustainable tourism impacts from a policy perspective. This study follows previous ones in using the triple bottom line sustainability approach to define tourism impacts. It argues, in particular, for a nexus between understanding of policy perception and sustainability, and it applies this to tourist destinations in Serbia to determine whether they are operating sustainably. For this purpose, the data were collected using a combination of multiple methods, involving interviews with policymakers and content analysis of strategic documents. This study further suggests a model that assesses the extent of the sustainability of tourist destinations. The results illustrate the importance of understanding policy perceptions in shaping and facilitating sustainability and informing policy enablers on how to improve and reform current tourism development. The model can be adopted and applied to any tourist destination facing an inevitable need to re-shape their tourism development plans and policies, while the implications address the need to build a participative policy approach to sustainable tourism development. Full article

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21 pages, 1264 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of E-Skills in Developing Sustainable Organizations and E-Activities in the New Digitized Business World

by Mircea Constantin Duică, Nicoleta Valentina Florea, Anișoara Duică and Irina Antoaneta Tănăsescu

Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3400; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083400 - 22 Apr 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3338

Abstract

Today’s business environment is governed by changes and challenges, such as the Internet which is also changing our personal and professional lives, our way of thinking, of acting, as well as our daily activities. By using new technologies and the Internet, any company [...] Read more.

Today’s business environment is governed by changes and challenges, such as the Internet which is also changing our personal and professional lives, our way of thinking, of acting, as well as our daily activities. By using new technologies and the Internet, any company can do business in any corner of the world, and with the help of e-skills any person can relate with anyone, anywhere, and anytime. Moreover, the world is at our fingertips, opening new opportunities and visions. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between the e-skills and e-activities. Furthermore, the differences between e-skill and e-activity values recorded for Romania, at the EU28 level, and the values for the best-in-class group are analyzed. Through the use of benchmarking, we show that this gap exists, and thus some improvement measures are proposed. Thus, the correlation among three proposed zones (Romania, the average for EU28, and the best-in-class group) is analyzed with the help of simulation and mathematical modeling. The Excel data analysis shows that the correlation and future trends that could take place at the European level, helps the specialists improve skills, overcome risks, make better decisions, reduce costs, and increase performance. Full article

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14 pages, 649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increasing Students’ Physical Activity in Function of Social Sustainability: Recommendations from a Social Marketing Perspective

by Ines Djokic, Aleksandar Grubor, Nikola Milicevic and Nenad Djokic

Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3303; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083303 - 18 Apr 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2754

Abstract

The role of physical activity for social sustainability, as well as potential for social marketing to contribute to increasing the level of physical activity, are already documented in previous literature. Those considerations may gain additional importance in the context of student population, often [...] Read more.

The role of physical activity for social sustainability, as well as potential for social marketing to contribute to increasing the level of physical activity, are already documented in previous literature. Those considerations may gain additional importance in the context of student population, often confronted with the decrease of the level of physical activity, and in a country with scarce similar researches. The purpose of this study is to identify socio-demographic determinants of Serbian students’ physical activity. Physical activity was examined as an ordinal dependent variable (inactive, low-frequency activity, and recommended frequency activity) and an ordered logit model was implemented for examining its relations with students’ gender, age, household size, emotional status, accommodation, year of study, and living standard. The results show that 15.7% of students are inactive, 22.9% have low-frequency activity, while 61.3% met the recommended level of physical activity. The average probability of physical activity is larger for male students in comparison to female students. Students with better living standards are also more physically active. Finally, the average probability of physical activity decreases starting from students who live with their families, followed by those who live in a private accommodation, to students who live in a dormitory. Considering the obtained results, recommendations from a social marketing perspective are provided. Full article

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18 pages, 417 KiB

Open AccessReview

Do Local Food Products Contribute to Sustainable Economic Development?

by Drago Cvijanović, Svetlana Ignjatijević, Jelena Vapa Tankosić and Vojin Cvijanović

Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2847; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072847 - 3 Apr 2020

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 8411

Abstract

Local food production benefits sustainable regional development and should be considered as one the pillars of sustainable regional development strategies. Local food producers share a common heritage because of the cultural and historical ties in their regions, while consumers tend to value food [...] Read more.

Local food production benefits sustainable regional development and should be considered as one the pillars of sustainable regional development strategies. Local food producers share a common heritage because of the cultural and historical ties in their regions, while consumers tend to value food products produced locally. The purpose of this article was to explore market participants’ attitudes toward the impact of local food product attributes on sustainable regional development. The authors’ findings on the main advantages and barriers to consumption of local food products have pointed out the complexity of the relationships between market participants (i.e., producers and consumers) and indicated that a deeper understanding is necessary for overall economic development. The problems of local food products in Serbia, in the context of sustainable regional development, have not been investigated so far, and for this reason, it is important to analyze the differences between consumer and producer attitudes to reduce this perceived gap in the literature. In this way, these insights can offer opportunities for strategic actions in regard to the local food product supply and consumption, with the aim of including different regional stakeholders. Full article

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25 pages, 1520 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Capturing a Complexity of Nutritional, Environmental, and Economic Impacts on Selected Health Parameters in the Russian High North

by Tianming Gao and Vasilii Erokhin

Sustainability 2020, 12(5), 2151; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12052151 - 10 Mar 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4262

Abstract

The rapid pace of economic exploration of the Arctic against the backdrop of progressing environmental change put a high priority on improving understanding of health impacts in the northern communities. Deficiencies in the capability to capture the complexity of health-influencing parameters along with [...] Read more.

The rapid pace of economic exploration of the Arctic against the backdrop of progressing environmental change put a high priority on improving understanding of health impacts in the northern communities. Deficiencies in the capability to capture the complexity of health-influencing parameters along with a lack of observations in circumpolar territories present major challenges to establishing credible projections of disease incidence across varying northern environments. It is thus crucial to reveal the relative contributions of coacting factors to provide a basis for sustainable solutions in the sphere of public health. In order to better understand the adverse effects associated with public health, this study employed six-stage multiple regression analysis of incidence rates of fourteen diseases (International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) codes most widespread in the Russian Arctic) against a set of environmental, nutritional, and economic variables. Variance inflationary factor and best-subsets regression methods were used to eliminate collinearity between the parameters of regression models. To address the diversity of health impacts across northern environments, territories of the Arctic zone of Russia were categorized as (1) industrial sites, (2) urban agglomerations, (3) rural inland, and (4) coastline territories. It was suggested that, in Type 1 territories, public health parameters were most negatively affected by air and water pollution, in Type 2 territories—by low-nutrient diets, in Type 3 and Type 4 territories—by economic factors. It was found that in the Western parts of the Russian Arctic, poor quality of running water along with low access to the quality-assured sources of water might increase the exposure to infectious and parasitic diseases and diseases of the circulatory, respiratory, and genitourinary systems. Low living standards across the Russian Arctic challenged the economic accessibility of adequate diets. In the cities, the nutritional transition to low-quality cheap market food correlated with a higher incidence of digestive system disorders, immune diseases, and neoplasms. In indigenous communities, the prevalence of low diversified diets based on traditional food correlated with the increase in the incidence rates of nutritional and metabolic diseases. Full article

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19 pages, 573 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Concentration, Land Grabbing and Sustainable Development of Agriculture in Romania

by Vasile Burja, Attila Tamas-Szora and Iulian Bogdan Dobra

Sustainability 2020, 12(5), 2137; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12052137 - 10 Mar 2020

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6675

Abstract

Land grabbing has become a priority topic in academic research and a political concern, due to interests in the dynamics of the phenomenon and its negative impact on the sustainable development of agriculture in rural areas. This phenomenon generates changes in production systems [...] Read more.

Land grabbing has become a priority topic in academic research and a political concern, due to interests in the dynamics of the phenomenon and its negative impact on the sustainable development of agriculture in rural areas. This phenomenon generates changes in production systems of agriculture with adverse environmental consequences, adversely affects socio-economic and cultural conditions and leads to lower overall efficiency in agriculture. This article analyses the links between land concentration, land grabbing and sustainable development of agriculture in Romania compared to other old and new EU-28 countries. The results of the research show that the land grabbing in Romania has a significant dimension compared to the other countries analyzed, which has led to an inadequate agrarian structure and adverse effects on the sustainable performance of agricultural holdings and the sustainable development of rural areas. Full article

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29 pages, 623 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability-Related Implications of Competitive Advantages in Agricultural Value Chains: Evidence from Central Asia—China Trade and Investment

by Vasilii Erokhin, Li Diao and Peiran Du

Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 1117; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12031117 - 4 Feb 2020

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 7905

Abstract

More stable value chains in agriculture allow countries to take the best advantage of their factor endowments and thus achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal on ending hunger. It is, however, difficult to interpret such advantages properly due to the multivariate effects of [...] Read more.

More stable value chains in agriculture allow countries to take the best advantage of their factor endowments and thus achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal on ending hunger. It is, however, difficult to interpret such advantages properly due to the multivariate effects of natural, technological, and economic variables on agricultural output and food supply. The authors attempt to tackle this challenge by developing the approach to the identification of competitive advantages and matching them with the production capabilities of agricultural sectors in Central Asia. The application of Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), Relative Trade Advantage (RTA), Lafay Competitive Advantage (LI), and Domestic Resource Costs (DRC) indexes to the array of 37 products results in the revealing of comparative, trade, competitive, and production advantages of five Central Asian economies for labor-intensive horticultural products and grains. Capital and technology-intensive sectors of animal husbandry and food processing are recognized as low competitive. Taking Central Asia–China collaboration as a model, the authors elaborate policy measures aimed at support, promotion, or establishment of competitive advantages. The application of the measures facilitates the concentration of the resources toward competitive and conditionally competitive products, allows to protect fragile advantages in marginally competitive sectors, and contributes to the overall improvement of stakeholders’ performance across agricultural value chains in the region. Full article

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2019

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13 pages, 405 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social-Psychological Determinants of Serbian Tourists’ Choice of Green Rural Hotels

by Aleksandar Grubor, Nikola Milicevic and Nenad Djokic

Sustainability 2019, 11(23), 6691; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236691 - 26 Nov 2019

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3572

Abstract

The significance of green rural tourism for sustainable development is widely recognized. In addition, a number of researches attempt to explain the green choice among tourists. Hereby, different theoretical approaches are used. The dynamic approach to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is [...] Read more.

The significance of green rural tourism for sustainable development is widely recognized. In addition, a number of researches attempt to explain the green choice among tourists. Hereby, different theoretical approaches are used. The dynamic approach to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is implemented in this study. The approach considers that the influence of different elements of TPB (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control) on intention to visit green rural hotels is tested in the context of different phases in behavior change of the respondents (pre-decision, pre-action, action). According to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first implementation of the dynamic approach to the TPB in understanding green rural choice. During data analysis, multigroup structural equation modelling (SEM) was used. The results indicate that the existence and the strength of the influences of the elements of TPB are different in different phases of behavior change. Managerial implications for the studied market (Serbia) are also provided within the paper. Full article

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13 pages, 302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interrelation between Eco-Innovation and Intra-Industry Trade—A Proposal for a Proxy Indicator of Sustainability in the EU Countries

by Teodoro Gallucci, Vesselina Dimitrova and Georgi Marinov

Sustainability 2019, 11(23), 6641; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236641 - 24 Nov 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4120

Abstract

The “innovation–trade” interrelation has been a subject of research for decades. Nowadays, in the context of the growing importance of sustainable development, the role of eco-innovation is essential for promoting a rapid economic growth in each country. In this sense, eco-innovation influences the [...] Read more.

The “innovation–trade” interrelation has been a subject of research for decades. Nowadays, in the context of the growing importance of sustainable development, the role of eco-innovation is essential for promoting a rapid economic growth in each country. In this sense, eco-innovation influences the level of intra-industry trade stimulating international trade to adopt environmentally-friendly technologies. In general, the evaluation of eco-innovation in EU countries is done through indicators of their degree of performance and their impact on the welfare of nations. Using Eurostat data and WITS (World Integrated Trade Solution) database for the period 2010–2018, the authors of this paper give empirical evidence of a linkage between the two indicators. The Grubel–Lloyd index is selected as an appropriate tool to show that socio-economic performance has a significant weight in eco-innovation scoreboard measurement. The results confirm that intra-industry trade of each EU country is closely related to the level of its eco-innovation index. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to test for such a type of interrelation and to show that by verifying the usefulness of eco-innovation performance in EU countries through an intra-industry trade indicator (IIT) such as the Grubel–Lloyd index. Full article

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16 pages, 1207 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Optimization of Fuel and Logistics Costs as a Tool in Pursuing Economic Sustainability of a Farm

by Tianming Gao, Vasilii Erokhin and Aleksandr Arskiy

Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5463; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195463 - 2 Oct 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5524

Abstract

Improving the performance and economic sustainability of agricultural producers requires the integration of many dimensions, one of which is logistics. Establishing efficient and cost-effective transportation is a key element of establishing sustainable linkages along food supply chains between farmers, storage and transport companies, [...] Read more.

Improving the performance and economic sustainability of agricultural producers requires the integration of many dimensions, one of which is logistics. Establishing efficient and cost-effective transportation is a key element of establishing sustainable linkages along food supply chains between farmers, storage and transport companies, and consumers. In this regard, infrastructural constraints to sustainability in agricultural production exacerbate transportation costs and risks, and thus result in lower performance of agricultural producers. As fuel consumption is, first, the most significant cost in agricultural logistics and, second, particularly sensitive to disruptions of transport, loading, and storage infrastructure, management of fuel costs is crucial to assure profit margin of an agricultural enterprise. By transforming the standard economic order quantity (EOQ) model, the authors attempt to build an approach to the optimization of fuel costs. The analysis made in the cases of twelve large crop farms in three territories of Southern Russia allowed the consideration of: (1) fragmentation in storage infrastructure; (2) variations in fuel consumption depending on the vehicle load ratio; (3) the use of their own fleet of vehicles against the outsourcing of transport operations. The authors find that the tactics of optimization of fuel costs vary depending on the location of a farm in relation to grain storage facilities. Particularly, the farms located in areas of high concentration of storage facilities benefit from using their own fleet of vehicles, while those experiencing longer distances of transportation should outsource the performance of logistics operations to third parties. To overcome a site-specific nature, the transformed EOQ model should accommodate country-specific requirements, specifically, the level of fragmentation of transport and storage infrastructure, average distance of transportation from a farm to receival site, and average fuel consumption rates depending on the types of trucks commonly used by farmers. The key recommendation is that sustainability-aimed management of logistics costs should consider combining the operation of trucks by a farm with the outsourcing of transportation operations to address the fragmentation of transport and storage infrastructure. Full article

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33 pages, 691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Foreign Direct Investment–Economic Growth Nexus—Empirical Evidence from Central and Eastern European Countries

by Ștefan Cristian Gherghina, Liliana Nicoleta Simionescu and Oana Simona Hudea

Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5421; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195421 - 30 Sep 2019

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 7312

Abstract

This study aims to examine the link between foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and economic growth, also considering several institutional quality variables, as well as sustainable development goals (SDGs) set in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By estimating panel data regression models [...] Read more.

This study aims to examine the link between foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and economic growth, also considering several institutional quality variables, as well as sustainable development goals (SDGs) set in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By estimating panel data regression models for a sample of 11 Central and Eastern European countries, from 2003 to 2016, the empirical outcomes provide support for a non-linear relationship between FDI and gross domestic product per capita. Regarding institutional quality, it is found that control of corruption, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, and voice and accountability positively influence growth, while political stability and absence of violence/terrorism is not statistically significant. Moreover, SDGs such as poverty, income distribution, education, innovation, transport infrastructure, and information technology are noteworthy drivers of growth. The outcomes of panel fully modified and dynamic ordinary least squares partly confirm the findings. The panel vector error-correction model Granger causalities provide support for a short-run one-way causal association running from FDI to growth and a long-run two-way causal connection among FDI and growth. Furthermore, in the long run, unidirectional causal relationships running from each institutional quality indicator to economic growth and FDI are set out. Full article

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22 pages, 242 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Financial Development on Carbon Emissions: A Global Perspective

by Chun Jiang and Xiaoxin Ma

Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5241; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195241 - 25 Sep 2019

Cited by 207 | Viewed by 8684

Abstract

Financial development has been deemed to be an important factor influencing carbon emissions; however, the specific effect generated by financial development is still disputed. In this study, we examined the relationship between financial development and carbon emissions based on a system generalized method [...] Read more.

Financial development has been deemed to be an important factor influencing carbon emissions; however, the specific effect generated by financial development is still disputed. In this study, we examined the relationship between financial development and carbon emissions based on a system generalized method of moments and the data of 155 countries, and we further analyzed the national differences by dividing the sample countries into two sub-groups: developed countries, and emerging market and developing countries. The empirical results indicated that from a global perspective, financial development could significantly increase carbon emissions, and the analysis of the emerging market and developing countries reached the same conclusion; however, the results indicated that for developed countries, the effect of financial development on carbon emissions is insignificant. A series of robustness checks were conducted and confirmed that our empirical results were reliable. We suggest that policymakers in emerging market and developing countries should carefully balance financial development and environmental protection, as financial development will promote carbon emissions before countries reach a relatively high development level. Full article

25 pages, 333 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Government Intervention and Automobile Industry Structure: Theory and Evidence from China

by Lin Ma, Qinchuan Du and Tian Wu

Sustainability 2019, 11(17), 4721; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174721 - 29 Aug 2019

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5173

Abstract

The development of the automobile maintenance industry less developed to satisfy the increasing demand for automobile maintenance service as the automobile manufacturing industry increased rapidly in China. This is not conducive to the sustainable development of the automobile industry. Besides the factors of [...] Read more.

The development of the automobile maintenance industry less developed to satisfy the increasing demand for automobile maintenance service as the automobile manufacturing industry increased rapidly in China. This is not conducive to the sustainable development of the automobile industry. Besides the factors of market behavior that can affect the automobile industry structure, like an investment, operation structure or economic development stage, the structure is also influenced by government intervention. We investigated the unbalanced development of automobile structure from the perspective of government incentives, and provide a logical framework for analyzing the industrial policies on the automobile industry. We first established a two-sector theoretical model with government intervention, and we found that the governments’ GDP incentive induced the biased intervention policy. More preferential policies are given to enterprises of automobile manufacturing industries as they contribute more to intermediate goods and capital. The greater the government’s GDP incentive, the more biased the intervention will be. Then we test the differential impact of GDP incentive on tax avoidance of the two kinds of firms empirically. The empirical results show that GDP incentive of the government induced more preferential treatment to automobile manufacturing enterprises, and thus, increased their tax avoidance. This phenomenon is more significant in SOEs, larger firms and firms belong to local governments. Understanding the incentive and implementation of industrial policy can help us know the evolution of automobile industrial structure better, and then improve industrial policy better to promote the transformation and upgrading of automobile industrial structure. Full article

28 pages, 1877 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Energy Consumption in the Context of Sustainable Development

by Alina Zaharia, Maria Claudia Diaconeasa, Laura Brad, Georgiana-Raluca Lădaru and Corina Ioanăș

Sustainability 2019, 11(15), 4147; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11154147 - 1 Aug 2019

Cited by 69 | Viewed by 8937

Abstract

Based on the global need to reduce the primary and final energy consumption, as part of the climate change mitigation strategy, the present study aims at determining the influence of different economic, social and environmental factors on the two types of consumption while [...] Read more.

Based on the global need to reduce the primary and final energy consumption, as part of the climate change mitigation strategy, the present study aims at determining the influence of different economic, social and environmental factors on the two types of consumption while emphasizing the importance of this topic for the research area. The novelty of the study resides in the factors considered in the panel analysis as well as in the combination of the analysis methods: the panel data analysis and the bibliometric analysis. The main results show that factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, gross domestic product, population and labour growth have a positive relationship with both primary and final energy consumption, which means an increase of energy consumption. Meanwhile, factors such as feminine population increase, healthcare expenditures or energy taxes have a negative relationship, which determine a reduction of energy consumption. The results should be of interest to the authorities in designing new energy reduction policies for contributing to sustainable development goals, as well as to the researchers. Full article

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17 pages, 563 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Education and Residential Environment on Long-Term Waste Management Behavior in the Context of Sustainability

by Andreea Simona Saseanu, Rodica-Manuela Gogonea, Simona Ioana Ghita and Radu Şerban Zaharia

Sustainability 2019, 11(14), 3775; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11143775 - 10 Jul 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5875

Abstract

Currently, the problem of waste reduction is a permanent concern for all countries of the world, given the need to ensure the sustainability development. In this context, the research aims to highlight the impact of education and demographic factors by residence areas on [...] Read more.

Currently, the problem of waste reduction is a permanent concern for all countries of the world, given the need to ensure the sustainability development. In this context, the research aims to highlight the impact of education and demographic factors by residence areas on the long-term behavior of the amount of waste generated in 29 European countries during 2013–2017. The study is based on statistical and econometric modeling aimed at identifying, testing and analyzing the existence of long-term correlation between the amount of waste per capita recorded in each country and four factors of influence considered significant for waste reduction: Pupils and students by education level and Classroom teachers and academic staff by education level, representing exogenous variables which quantify the educational outcomes, as well as The population by degree of urbanization (cities, rural areas), as demographic factors. As a result of an analysis based on correlation and regression method, a cointegration relationship between the analyzed variables was identified. Considering the amount of waste as an important component of the environmental pressure, the obtained results show the significant long-term effect that education and the demographic factor can have on its long-lasting behavior, as well as the ways through which these factors can act to strengthen sustainability. Full article

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23 pages, 1948 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Management Accounting Change as a Sustainable Economic Development Strategy during Pre-Recession and Recession Periods: Evidence from Russia

by Vasilii Erokhin, Dmitry Endovitsky, Alexey Bobryshev, Natalia Kulagina and Anna Ivolga

Sustainability 2019, 11(11), 3139; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113139 - 4 Jun 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 7384

Abstract

The volatility of both global and national markets has emerged in recent years. In response to the changes in the operating environment, organizations have been adopting various practices to ensure sustainable development by anticipating threats and managing risks. While many studies are focusing [...] Read more.

The volatility of both global and national markets has emerged in recent years. In response to the changes in the operating environment, organizations have been adopting various practices to ensure sustainable development by anticipating threats and managing risks. While many studies are focusing on the investigation of strategic adaptation to the volatile economic environment, there has been little research examining management accounting (MA) as a sustainable development strategy in times of economic turbulence. This study investigates the degree of variation in the use of MA practices induced by economic recession. Investigating the variations in management accounting practices in Russian organizations in 2000–2013 (pre-recession period) and 2014–2018 (economic recession), the authors explore the change across 54 MA tools split into operation, management, and strategy pillars. The contribution of this study to the literature involves the understanding of the use of particular MA tools across various types of organizations and industries before and during the economic recession, as well as discovering the intention to change the instruments in case the economic situation deteriorates. The survey of four types of organizations (micro, small, medium, and large) in five sectors (service, industry, trade, agriculture, and tourism) was conducted in seven territories of Russia differentiated on the level of their economic performance (well-performing, average, and declining). The survey revealed that, during the crisis, the respondents tend to drop using many of proactive sustainability-oriented MA tools and instead focused on achieving immediate and direct effects on sales, profits, and other performance parameters by employing less-sophisticated short-term MA instruments. The forecast of future application of MA tools in a falling economy revealed that, in an attempt to achieve durable and sustainable performance, the organizations of all types and sectors intended to focus on practices such as risk management variance analysis, rolling forecasts, payback, breakeven analysis, and activity-based management. Full article

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14 pages, 266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Sustainable Development of Financial Inclusion: How Can Monetary Policy and Economic Fundamental Interact with It Effectively?

by Xuluo Yin, Xuan Xu, Qi Chen and Jiangang Peng

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2524; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092524 - 1 May 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7038

Abstract

It is necessary to analyze the relationship between financial inclusion and circumstances-monetary policy and economic fundamentals, which has a practical reference value for policy makers. This paper studies the impact of the circumstances on financial inclusion factors by using a vector autoregressive method. [...] Read more.

It is necessary to analyze the relationship between financial inclusion and circumstances-monetary policy and economic fundamentals, which has a practical reference value for policy makers. This paper studies the impact of the circumstances on financial inclusion factors by using a vector autoregressive method. Empirical results show that monetary policy has a short-term positive impact on financial inclusion factors, while the economic fundamental has the opposite, which means that the positive monetary policy promote the development of financial inclusion in the short term and the sudden change of the economic situation will make it harder. Based on the data of the World Bank and the situation of China, we make an analysis and comparison of the empirical results, and draw two implications: first, the sustainable development of financial inclusion needs a suitable circumstance; second, the appropriate coordination and mutual facilitation of economic fundamentals and finance is conducive to the sustainable development of financial inclusion. Full article

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19 pages, 1670 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Productive Employment for Inclusive and Sustainable Development in European Union Countries: A Multivariate Analysis

by Maria-Ana Georgescu and Emilia Herman

Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1771; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061771 - 24 Mar 2019

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5394

Abstract

It is widely recognized that achieving highly productive employment is a serious challenge facing inclusive and sustainable development. In this context, the aim of this article was to highlight the main characteristics and mechanisms of productive employment, focusing on the interrelationships between productive [...] Read more.

It is widely recognized that achieving highly productive employment is a serious challenge facing inclusive and sustainable development. In this context, the aim of this article was to highlight the main characteristics and mechanisms of productive employment, focusing on the interrelationships between productive employment, and inclusive and sustainable development in European Union countries, during the recent economic crisis and recovery period (2007–2016). The results of the correlation and regression analysis suggest that the high level of inclusive and sustainable development in some European Union countries can be mainly explained by high labor productivity, an efficient sectoral structure of employment, a low level of vulnerable and precarious employment, and low working poverty. Moreover, the results of the principal component analysis and cluster analysis show that there are common features and differences between the European Union member states in terms of their interrelationship between productive employment, and inclusive and sustainable development, which emphasizes the need to take specific actions to transform unproductive employment into productive employment, especially in southern countries and some central and eastern European countries, so that productive employment will be the driving force for development. Full article

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17 pages, 1061 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Development for Small Economy and Diversification from a Dominant Industry: Evidence from Macao

by Fei Choi, Chi Tin Hon, Yan Hua Mao and Ivan Ka Wai Lai

Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1626; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061626 - 18 Mar 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4970

Abstract

While the Macao gambling industry has developed prosperously, its rapid development raises a problem of economic dependence on gambling that restricts economic diversification and causes a sustainable issue of non-gambling industries. In recent years, regulating and controlling the appropriate scale of the gambling [...] Read more.

While the Macao gambling industry has developed prosperously, its rapid development raises a problem of economic dependence on gambling that restricts economic diversification and causes a sustainable issue of non-gambling industries. In recent years, regulating and controlling the appropriate scale of the gambling industry have been regarded as a solution for sustainable economic development. Consequently, it is quite important to give a quantitative scale to the future development of the gambling industry. This study aims to estimate the appropriate scale of the gambling industry under the expectation of the optimal development of moderate economic diversification in Macao. This study employs the method of Measuring Economic Diversification in Hawaii in 2011 to evaluate the levels of diversification of Macao’s economy. A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) efficiency calculated by a bootstrapping model is applied to obtain the operational efficiency of Macao’s gambling industry. A transition probability matrix in three scenarios is predicted by expert interviews and industry interviews. The appropriate scale of Macao’s gambling industry until 2021 is forecasted by Markov chain. The predicted result shows that the growth rate of gambling will not exceed 3% in terms of achieving the goal of optimal developing moderate economic diversification in Macao. Full article

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22 pages, 1930 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Insufficient Consumption Demand of Chinese Urban Residents: An Explanation of the Consumption Structure Effect from Income Distribution Change

by Peng Su, Xiaochun Jiang, Chengbo Yang, Ting Wang and Xing Feng

Sustainability 2019, 11(4), 984; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11040984 - 14 Feb 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4294

Abstract

China’s consumption rate has continued to decline since 2000, which has retarded the sustainable growth of China’s economy. The dramatic changes in China’s income distribution have been very significant social characteristics, and they are also a very important factor for consumption. Therefore, this [...] Read more.

China’s consumption rate has continued to decline since 2000, which has retarded the sustainable growth of China’s economy. The dramatic changes in China’s income distribution have been very significant social characteristics, and they are also a very important factor for consumption. Therefore, this study analyzes the problem of insufficient domestic demand from the perspective of the effects of the income distribution changes on the consumption structure. The Almost Ideal Demand System model is improved by relaxing its assumption that expenditure equals income and giving it a dynamic form that includes the three characteristics of the income distribution evolution (the mean, variance, and residual effects) and measuring these. The results show that the mean effect is the largest one, and it basically determines the size and direction of the total effect. The variance effect is much smaller, but it may have some positive effects on the individual markets. The residual effect is the smallest and has a certain randomness. The income gap is not the main cause of the insufficient domestic demand. It is more likely to be caused by the decline of the mean effect, and the main driver of this is the irrationality of the supply side and excessive housing prices. Full article

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18 pages, 1313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measurement of Regional Green Economy Sustainable Development Ability Based on Entropy Weight-Topsis-Coupling Coordination Degree—A Case Study in Shandong Province, China

by Min Wang, Xianli Zhao, Qunxi Gong and Zhigeng Ji

Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010280 - 8 Jan 2019

Cited by 100 | Viewed by 7636

Abstract

Traditional development models are being slowly replaced by green economic development models. This paper views regional green economic development as a large complex system and develops a conceptual DPSIR (drivers, pressures, state, impact, response model of intervention) to construct a regional green economy [...] Read more.

Traditional development models are being slowly replaced by green economic development models. This paper views regional green economic development as a large complex system and develops a conceptual DPSIR (drivers, pressures, state, impact, response model of intervention) to construct a regional green economy development measurement index system, after which an entropy weight-TOPSIS-coupling coordination degree evaluation model is developed to quantitatively horizontally and vertically analyze regional green economy sustainable development trends and the coupled coordination status of each subsystem. The evaluation model is then employed to analyze the sustainable development of the green economy in Shandong Province from 2010 to 2016. The analysis results were found to be in line with the actual green economy development situation in Shandong Province, indicating that the measurement model had strong practicability for regional green economy development. Meanwhile, this model can demonstrate clearly how those indicators impact on the regional green economy sustainable development and fill the absence of existing studies on regional green economy sustainable development. Full article

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