Search Results (10,387)

A digital infrastructure has the potential to mitigate the digital exclusion in rural areas, offering a pathway to alleviate the financial vulnerability of rural households. This paper investigates the impact of the Broadband China pilot policy—an important government initiative—on rural household financial vulnerability, utilizing data from five waves of the China family panel studies (CFPS) spanning from 2012 to 2020. By leveraging the quasi-natural experiment provided by the Broadband China initiative, this study makes a novel contribution to understanding how a digital infrastructure affects financial sustainability in rural households. The findings show that the Broadband China pilot policy significantly reduces rural household financial vulnerability, with particularly strong effects on female-headed households, spousal-headed households, and those in regions with a limited traditional or advanced digital finance infrastructure. Further analysis reveals that a digital infrastructure enhances rural household financial resilience by increasing land transfer opportunities through an ‘income effect’ and by fostering non-farm employment and financial literacy through a ‘security effect’. This paper contributes to the literature by shedding light on the specific mechanisms through which a digital infrastructure enhances the financial sustainability of rural households and offers valuable insights into policies aimed at bridging the rural–urban divide. Full article

This study explores the risk nexus between the US dollar (USD) market and China’s major financial assets through a co-higher-order testing framework with market regime switching. Specifically, we utilize robust statistical measures such as co-skewness, co-kurtosis, and co-volatility to investigate the connectedness between the US dollar index and a variety of representative financial products in China, including A-shares, the RMB (Chinese Yuan) exchange rate, government bonds with various maturities, and money markets, during the period from 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2023. The empirical results provide evidence of the existence of financial contagion during market regime shifts and also reveal various patterns of cross-market interconnection paths, particularly concerning the third and fourth moment channels. This suggests that the transmission of asymmetric risk and extreme risk, as described in our model, is indeed in place. Furthermore, we discuss practical implications for investors and market regulators in terms of investment decisions and policy coordination. Full article

The coastal zone of The Gambia, which contributes 36% to the country’s GDP, has experienced considerable transformation due to increased socioeconomic development and urbanisation. This growth has significantly altered the coastal landscape, intensifying pressure on the environment and increasing vulnerability to climate hazards. A study used cloud-free Landsat imagery from 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 for assessing land use and land cover (LULC) changes and population growth. The analysis classified LULC into five categories: barren land, built-up areas, vegetation cover, water bodies, and wetlands. The findings highlighted dramatic changes in LULC over the past three decades. Barren land increased by 46%, and built-up areas surged by 680%. In contrast, vegetation cover decreased by 35%, water bodies by 31%, and wetlands by 14%. These transformations correlate with rising population densities along the coastline, particularly within 10–25 km of the shore. The substantial growth in built-up areas and reduction in vegetation are directly linked to urbanisation and population pressure. This rapid change exacerbates the vulnerability of coastal communities to extreme weather events such as flooding and tropical windstorms. To address these challenges, it is crucial for the government and stakeholders to implement policies that manage coastal congestion and encourage development in inland regions. Such measures should consider the impacts of population growth on coastal environments and aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of The Gambia’s coastal ecosystems by mitigating risks associated with climate change. Full article

The primary aim of this research is to investigate the influence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures on the market reaction companies listed in Thailand’s alternative capital market, specifically the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI). This interest stems from the growing body of ESG literature in Thailand. This study analyzes 555 corporate annual reports from 111 firms within the MAI, spanning from 2017 to 2021, to measure ESG disclosures through content analysis. The average common share price is used as a proxy for market reaction. Descriptive analysis, correlation metric, and multiple regression are used to analyze the data. The findings reveal that the most common ESG disclosures are social disclosure, governance disclosure, and environmental disclosure. Additionally, there is a noticeable increase in ESG disclosures over the study period. Underpinned by signaling theory, this study finds that governance disclosure positively affects market reaction, while environmental disclosure has a negative impact. Social disclosure shows no significant relationship with market reaction. The implication of this study is that ESG disclosure is crucial for firms due to its significant impact on investors’ investment decisions. Regulators can use the findings in several ways, such as establishing policies to promote or regulate governance disclosure that positively affects market reactions, providing guidelines for companies on effectively disclosing ESG information, communicating quality information, and building investor confidence. Full article

The patent openness decisions of frontier enterprises and the consequent investment tendencies of laggard enterprises play a significant role in their profitability. Despite the benefits resulting from directly using open patents, in order to capture market share and surpass frontier enterprises, laggard enterprises must decide whether they are going to invest in R&D or expansion. In this context, based on evolutionary game theory and the operational behaviors of both frontier and laggard enterprises, this study constructed a model of enterprise revenue under asymmetric competition, exploring the impact of patent openness with and without government subsidies on enterprise revenue. This study discovered that: (1) when the industry scale is small, frontier enterprises gain significant social effects through patent openness, while laggard enterprises invest in expansion; (2) as the industry scale gradually expands, frontier enterprises tend to prefer not to open their patents, and laggard enterprises gradually shift from imitation to independent innovation when the return on R&D investment increases more than that on expansion investment; and (3) when the R&D costs of laggard enterprises are high, frontier enterprises usually choose not to open their patents, forcing laggard enterprises to turn to investment in expansion. This allows frontier enterprises to reduce the losses from patent openness while enjoying the benefits of reduced industry production costs. This study provides new perspectives on patent openness and investment tendencies with the help of an evolutionary game mechanism and offers managerial policy recommendations. Full article

Despite the unchanged nature of the general regulatory framework, the last decade has witnessed the emergence of new forms of governance over religious affairs at the local and provincial levels in Buenos Aires (Argentina). These initiatives constitute, on the one hand, a response to the demands presented by religious groups that were once invisible and experiencing marked demographic growth. On the other hand, they are a way of integrating religious expertise into territorial governance strategies, given the structural ineffectiveness of public policies in locally grounding them. In view of this scenario, this article will present a network and dynamic analysis of the public management of religion at the local and intermediate levels in the province of Buenos Aires. Specifically, we will give an account of the genesis of these state units, as well as the profiles of the political decision makers who direct them and the interactions between local and provincial religious affairs officials in the period of 2022–2023. Based on these data, we will evaluate the levels of innovation that these regulations present with respect to the general normative framework and the limits and advantages that they postulate in the face of the question of religious citizenship. In methodological terms, this research combines the analysis of secondary sources, participant observation, in-depth interviews, and network analysis. Full article

Farmers’ decision-making behavior is shaped by familial intergenerational ties and neighborhood relations, yet research often treats them as independent decision-makers, overlooking these critical dynamics. This oversight can undermine the effectiveness of policies on farmland quality. Using micro-survey data from 1045 maize farmers in Gansu Province, China, this study explores farmers’ fertilizer reduction behavior through a theoretical framework that incorporates intergenerational behavioral transmission and neighborhood effects. Economically optimal fertilizer usage was calculated using the Cobb–Douglas production function, with hierarchical regression models and instrumental variable methods employed for analysis. Our findings reveal the following: (1) The Cobb–Douglas production function indicates that 74.1% of farmers apply more fertilizer than the economically optimal amount. (2) Effective intergenerational behavioral transmission and positive neighborhood effects significantly promote farmers’ adoption of reduced fertilizer application practices, with neighborhood effects further enhancing the effects of intergenerational behavioral transmission. (3) Stronger neighborhood effects not only enhance the positive impact of effective intergenerational behavioral transmission but also mitigate the negative impact of ineffective transmission. Additionally, neighborhood effects mediate the relationship between intergenerational behavioral transmission and fertilizer reduction. This study highlights the importance of kinship and neighborhood dynamics in shaping farmers’ fertilizer use and provides insights for designing more effective farmland quality protection policies. By acknowledging these relational factors, governments can better promote sustainable agricultural practices and minimize excessive fertilizer application. Full article

Land, as the foundation of all productive activities, plays a crucial role in achieving high-quality development across regions. China’s current land allocation model, which focuses on land quota distribution, has several drawbacks and does not address the conflict between limited land availability and increasing demand. To maximize land use benefits, it is essential to develop scientifically sound allocation plans that effectively adjust land structure and layout. However, existing research often relies on single-attribute geographic or linear programming models which do not meet the multidimensional needs of modern territorial planning. Additionally, commonly used CGE models often overlook the critical role of construction land. To address these gaps, this study introduces a multi-scale, multi-type China Territorial Spatial Planning Simulation Model (CTSPM). This model integrates cultivated, forest, grassland, and construction land, simulating the land use changes driven by socioeconomic impacts through price mechanisms. By employing a land use transition matrix, the CTSPM enhances practical applicability and improves predictions for residential and non-agricultural construction land. It provides a scientific tool for evaluating land policies, supporting interdepartmental negotiations on land quotas, and contributing to natural resource governance and territorial spatial planning. Using the CTSPM, we simulated various high-quality development scenarios and derived the following conclusions: (1) An increase in Total Factor Productivity (TFP) significantly boosts regional economic development and the demand for non-agricultural land; a 1% increase in TFP leads to a 1.48% rise in actual GDP and a 0.19% increase in total non-agricultural land demand. (2) At the regional level, eastern regions experience a greater impact on total land demand compared to central and western regions. (3) In terms of land use types, cultivated and grassland areas show a decreasing trend, while forest and construction land areas are increasing. Full article

The dynamic fluctuations in the real estate market significantly impact the development of the national economy. Investigating the spatiotemporal characteristics of housing prices can assist the government in formulating rational regulatory policies. Taking Zhengzhou City as the research subject, this study analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of housing prices based on housing price data and POI (Point of Interest) data from January 2022 to March 2024, utilizing a spatial scale of 500 m × 500 m grids. A hedonic price model and a geographically weighted regression (GWR) model were constructed to examine the mechanisms of 12 influencing factors on housing prices. The results indicate that housing prices in the eastern part of Zhengzhou are higher than those in the west, with an overall declining trend observed in Zhengzhou’s housing prices. Among the influencing factors, the age of the house exerts the greatest impact on housing prices, while finance has the least influence. The GWR model demonstrates superior fitting performance compared to the hedonic price model. The mechanisms of the influencing factors exhibit spatial heterogeneity. This study provides valuable insights for relevant government departments in Zhengzhou City, contributing to the optimization of urban planning and the regulation of the real estate market. Full article

Aridification in the U.S. Southwest has led to tension about conservation and land management strategy. Strain on multi-generational agricultural livelihoods and nearly 150-year-old Colorado River water adjudication necessitates solutions from transdisciplinary partnerships. In this study, farmers and ranchers in a small San Juan River headwater community of southwestern Colorado engaged in a participatory, convergent research study prioritizing local objectives and policy. Acknowledging the historic and sometimes perceived role of academic institutions as representing urban interests, our goal was to highlight how research can support rural governance. This process involved creating community partnerships, analyzing data, and supporting results distribution to the surveyed population through social media. The survey was designed to support a local waterway management plan. Survey results showed lack of water availability and climate changes were selected by producers as most negatively affecting their operations, and many were extremely interested in agroforestry methods and drought-resistant crop species. Statistical analysis identified that satisfaction with community resources was positively correlated with scale of production, satisfaction with irrigation equipment, and familiarity with water rights. We hope to contribute our framework of a convergent, place-based research design for wider applications in other regions to uncover solutions to resource challenges. Full article

A high-quality early childhood workforce is essential for positive child outcomes and boosting economic and social productivity. However, the Australian Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector faces significant workforce challenges and complexities. Effective governance practices are key to ensuring ECEC quality and workforce retention. This study examined the governance practices of high-quality ECEC services, using complexity theory to understand how governance impacts workforce and service quality. Subset data were derived from a larger qualitative, multiple case study that investigated long day care centres rated as Exceeding the National Quality Standard, and specifically Exceeding in Quality Area 7: Governance and Leadership. Data were collected through observations, educator interviews, and document analysis and analysed using thematic analysis. Complexity was manifested in the various models of governance structures and, consequently, in some of the governance practices across the participating long day care centres. Key practices supporting job satisfaction, retention, and workforce quality included flexible working conditions; whole-staff leadership; staff capacity building through professional development opportunities; financial capacity building to enable staff to deliver high-quality ECEC; and higher-level working conditions, such as higher qualifications and better educator–child ratios. The findings align with literature highlighting governance as critical to workforce quality and provide insights into governance practices that support workforce and service quality. Recommendations are made for policy levers at both sector and service levels to increase workforce quality and sustainability. Full article

Governments are encouraging public transportation and bicycle-sharing systems to promote sustainable development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the expansion of Taipei’s YouBike program, many stations frequently run out of bikes or docking spaces, and current redistribution strategies are suboptimal. This study proposes a novel approach to optimize YouBike allocation under resource constraints. We first used K-means clustering to group stations with similar rental profiles, reducing the number of models needed. A random forest model selected key crowd grid factors as input variables for a long short-term memory (LSTM) prediction model to accurately predict demand patterns, including during special events or weather changes. A genetic algorithm then determined optimal station configurations and provided return station recommendations, considering user destinations and station dock ratios, while minimizing manual redistribution. Simulations demonstrated that the proposed system meets user needs, enhances operational efficiency, and significantly reduces manual redistribution costs. Our methods have practical applicability for YouBike managers, indicating that user compliance with recommendations can offset the need for manual redistribution and support the current policy of recommending stations within 600 m of the user’s destination. Full article

The utilization of solid waste as building materials (USB) represents a three-win solution that simultaneously deals with the security of solid waste, environmental pollution, and scarcity of raw building materials. This study adopts a mixed content analysis, reviewing 258 USB policies (USBPs) issued between 1973 and 2022. A three-dimensional analytical framework that combines static and dynamic analyses was constructed including policy instruments, policy content, policy objectives, and time. The findings revealed both achievements and key barriers to USBPs. Over the past 50 years, cooperation among Chinese government departments and policy coordination has been increasing, and the revision of policy content and policy instruments has become more diversified and detailed. However, barriers such as an imperfect policy system and content, an irrational combination of policy instruments, and low implementation and sustainability of policies remain. In response, major recommendations for optimizing the existing USBPs in China were proposed in this paper, including improving the USB policy system and content, and optimizing the combination of policy instruments. Moreover, these findings can serve as a significant reference for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to direct future practices of the building material industry in effectively contributing to solid waste management and sustainable development. Full article

The primary aim of this research is to examine the impact of corruption on the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in different countries. To achieve this, the study utilizes the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), one of the most widely recognized indicators of corruption. Additionally, the SDG Index is used to evaluate each country’s overall progress toward the 17 SDGs, with scores ranging from 0, representing the worst possible outcome, to 100, indicating achievement of the targets. In this work, the Tucker method has been applied, which has not previously been used in studies on SDGs and corruption and thus provides some novelty to the present research. This method has allowed us to analyze the relationship between the CPI and SDGs. The results obtained show that the lower the level of corruption in a country, the better SDGs are achieved. Thus, it has been observed that CPI scores are closely related to the achievement of goals related to Gender Equality (SDG5), Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG16), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG10). This means our findings are extremely useful for enabling governments and institutions to roll out more effective policies and encourage investment for achieving the SDGs related to their region and the pressing need to combat corruption. As a conclusion, this study demonstrates that lower levels of corruption, particularly in Europe and North America, are strongly associated with progress toward SDGs related to Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. In contrast, high levels of corruption in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia significantly hinder the achievement of key SDGs, particularly those concerning Decent Work and Economic Growth, as well as Climate Action. Full article

The dynamics of Land Use/Land Cover changes are crucial to environmental sustainability, socio-economic development, and spatial planning. These changes stem from complex interactions between human activities, natural processes, and policies. In recent decades, LULC transformations have been linked to global challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and resource degradation. Key drivers include urban sprawl, agricultural expansion and abandonment, and deforestation, emphasizing the need for effective frameworks to monitor and assess their impacts. This study investigates Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) changes in Tuscany (Italy) over the period from 2007 to 2019. To achieve this, statistical analyses were conducted to quantify variations in LULC across different classes and administrative territories represented by provincial local authorities. Specifically, data spanning five temporal intervals (2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019) enabled a comprehensive comparative analysis of spatial persistence in LULC patterns. Changes were assessed using a statistical approach based on Odds Ratios (OR). Additionally, Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) at the provincial level were employed to facilitate one-to-many provincial comparisons and to evaluate the statistical significance of observed LULC changes. The analysis revealed that certain classes exhibit a greater susceptibility to changes compared to others. Specifically, the classes categorized under ’Artificial Surfaces’ (LC_100) were, on average, 6.7 times more likely to undergo changes than those classified as ’Agricultural Areas’ (LC_200) and 11 times more likely than those under ’Forest and Semi-natural Areas’ (LC_300). Over time, the areas classified as artificial territories have exhibited a progressively decreasing probability of change. Notably, during the first update period (2007–2010), these areas were 3.5 times more susceptible to change compared to the most recent update period (2016–2019). An additional significant finding emerged from the statistical comparison of LULC changes across administrative regions governed by different authorities (Provinces). These findings underscore the potential of using administrative indicators and morphological parameters to analyze LULC change trends. The proposed approach provides a robust framework for interpreting territorial resilience and informing spatial planning strategies effectively. Full article