Search Results (1,461)

Based on the DPSIR framework, this study constructed an evaluation index system to assess the sustainable development levels of the tourism eco-security system (TESS-SDL) present in the Chengdu-–Chongqing urban agglomeration and synthesized multi-dimensional analysis methods to explore its spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and driving factors to provide an important theoretical and practical basis for promoting the sustainable development of the regional tourism eco-security system. The results showed the following: (1) From 2011 to 2021, the regional TESS-SDL was generally at a medium level and showed a trend of steady growth. Although the gap between cities was widening year by year, the speed of the TESS-SDL exceeded the speed of the widening gap, promoting the coordinated development of the regional TESS-SDL. (2) The spatial spillover effect of the regional TESS-SDL was obvious; however, the siphoning effects of Chongqing and Chengdu were strong, and the demonstration effect was insufficient. (3) The dynamic evolution process of the TESS-SDL shows a strong self-locking effect. The risk of downward development (lower sustainability) is greater than the potential for upward development (higher sustainability) and is significantly influenced by neighboring cities. (4) In terms for assessing the driving factors, open-door and green-development policies show positive facilitating effects, while the positive influencing capacities of information technology, economic development, and tourism are moving toward having negative effects; the influencing effect of technological innovation has transitioned from positive to negative. Full article

This paper examines the time-varying spillover effects and connectedness between the euro and other EU and non-EU currencies after the end of the sovereign-debt crisis. We employ the Quantile Vector Autoregression connectedness approach using intraday data for seven currencies (the euro, the British pound, the Swiss franc, the Polish zloty, the Hungarian forint, the Czech koruna, and the Norwegian krone) spanning from 1 January 2016 to 30 November 2022. The results indicate that, almost in all quantiles, the currencies of Eastern European Group countries (i.e., Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland) are net contributors of information spillovers to other currencies, while currencies of non-EU countries (Switzerland, UK, and Norway) are net takers. Further, we find that the euro is the highest transmitter of net information spillovers to all other currencies until 2021. Interestingly, after 2021, the euro changes to net information spillover taker from all other currencies; highlighting that external shocks (e.g., COVID-19, the energy crisis) have significant risk spillover effects on the European currency market. Policymakers and market participants could benefit from knowing which currency drives developments to avoid unexpected consequences. Full article

Public buildings, being the primary source of carbon emissions in China’s construction sector, present a pressing need for emission control. This imperative task not only ensures the sustainable progression of China’s building industry but also holds pivotal significance in the realm of global energy conservation and emission curtailment. This study analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of carbon emissions from public buildings in China and assessed the spatial influence of related factors using a dataset covering 30 provincial units from 2006 to 2021. The analysis employed Theil’s index, Moran’s I index, standard deviation ellipse, and the spatial Durbin model. The study revealed an upward trajectory in carbon emissions from public buildings in China, although the growth rate was generally decreasing. Disparities in emission distribution among provincial units stem largely from intra-regional distinctions, notably prominent in the Low-Intensity High-Economy regions. Provincial carbon emissions from public buildings exhibited significant spatial correlation, manifesting as clusters of high–high and low–low patterns, indicative of mutual influence among adjacent areas. Additionally, the shift in carbon emission focal points from the northeast to the southwest underscored a more pronounced surge in the southwestern regions. Variables such as energy intensity, energy structure, per capita public building area, disposable income per capita, openness level, and environmental governance directly impact carbon emissions from public buildings. Among these, energy intensity, energy structure, disposable income per capita, and environmental governance also had spatial spillover effects. These findings provide a scientific reference and a foundation for policy-making, aiding local administrations in crafting strategies to mitigate carbon emissions from public buildings and foster sustainable progress. Full article

This study investigates the dynamics of innovation element flows among metropolitan areas and examines the underlying proximity mechanisms that are crucial for elevating urban agglomerations’ innovation levels and spurring their development. Utilizing collaborative publication and patent data, this research constructs knowledge and technological innovation networks within the Nanjing metropolitan area (NMA) from 2013 to 2020. It analyzes the evolution of network structures and applies the Multiple Regression Quadratic Assignment Procedure to discern the proximity mechanisms driving the urban innovation networks’ evolution in NMA. The main findings are as follows: (1) The knowledge collaborations within NMA cities remain largely confined to cities within Jiangsu province, whereas the technological collaborations are shifting from intra-province to cross-province cooperation. (2) Both knowledge and technological innovation networks display a “core-periphery” configuration, with Nanjing maintaining a dominant central position. The scale of the KIN surpasses that of the TIN, while the latter’s growth rate outpaces the former’s. Technological collaborations demonstrate more pronounced spillover effects than their knowledge counterparts. (3) At the metropolitan area level, organizational, social, cognitive, and technological proximities exert varying degrees of influence on innovation cooperation among different innovation entities across various years. Cognitive proximity exhibits the most substantial explanatory power. Based on these findings, the study proposes relevant policy recommendations for constructing an innovative NMA and promoting collaborative innovation development among cities within the NMA. Full article

Sustainable rural development is crucial for urban–rural integration and achieving shared prosperity. This study assesses rural development efficiency (RDE) at the county level in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region from 2012 to 2021 using the super-slacks-based measure model (SBM). By employing the Theil index and spatial Markov chains, this study explores the spatiotemporal evolution of RDE, categorizes rural development types, and proposes differentiated developmental pathways. The findings reveal (1) an initial upward trend in overall RDE in the YRD followed by stabilization, with regional disparities narrowing yet overall efficiency levels remaining relatively low; (2) a spatial distribution pattern of RDE characterized by high efficiency in the southeast and low efficiency in the northwest, forming a “core–periphery” structure, with pure technical efficiency identified as a significant bottleneck; (3) stability and “club convergence” in RDE, with geographic spatial patterns significantly influencing the transition process and a notable spatial spillover effect; (4) the classification of rural development types into six categories based on an “input–output–efficiency” perspective, each with specific developmental pathways. This study concludes that optimizing resource allocation efficiency and defining development pathways tailored to local conditions are essential for driving sustainable rural development in the YRD. Full article

Knowledge spillovers, driven by development and research projects, are crucial in generating new companies and services. They enhance innovation, improve competitiveness, and sustain the economic growth of nations. Hence, this paper aims to examine the relationship between knowledge spillovers and economic growth. It offers a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on the relationship between knowledge spillovers and economic growth, investigating the impact of economic cycles on knowledge spillover. Doing this provides valuable insights into how to leverage them at the different stages of the economic cycle. Hence, a PRIMA systematic review was conducted. Articles from the last 15 years were analyzed from repositories and scientific databases with a Cohen’s kappa coefficient of 0.8902. This review identifies and presents a systematic analysis of the impacts of favoring and hindering knowledge spillovers in the economic growth of a nation. These effects offer greater resilience to a nation after periods of recession. In addition, the case study of three countries is presented to illustrate the findings from the review. The results show that better utilizing knowledge spillovers to enhance economic growth depends on a functional compromise between the university, industry, and governments to understand and commit to knowledge-based economic development. Our study has implications for policymakers who aim to boost economic growth by promoting knowledge spillovers. Full article

The green and low-carbon transformation of land use (GLTLU) is a pressing global issue that requires urgent attention. The digital economy has emerged as a new driver for the GLTLU. However, current research mainly focuses on the measurement and environmental effects of the digital economy, with less exploration of how the digital economy influences the spatial effects and regulatory mechanisms of GLTLU, particularly regarding the differential impacts and specific mechanisms at the regional level. This study uses panel data from 283 cities in China from 2011 to 2019, employing the spatial Durbin model (SDM) and the panel threshold model to examine the spatial and regulatory mechanisms of the digital economy’s impact on GLTLU. The findings reveal that digital economy promotes GLTLU not only within cities but also in surrounding regions. Robustness analyses support this conclusion. Notably, the digital economy’s positive impact on GLTLU in surrounding areas is confined to the central region of China. In contrast, the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration experiences a significant negative impact on GLTLU in nearby regions due to the digital economy. The study also identifies that the positive spatial spillover effect of the digital economy on GLTLU reaches its peak at a distance of 450 km. Additionally, the digital economy’s ability to promote GLTLU is contingent upon financial agglomeration levels exceeding 9.1728. Moreover, the local government’s emphasis on the digital economy and intellectual property protection enhances the digital economy’s impact on GLTLU. The promotion effect is maximized when these factors surpass the thresholds of 27.8054 and 3.5189, respectively. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of how the digital economy influences sustainable land development, highlighting the critical role of regional factors and regulatory mechanisms in amplifying the digital economy’s positive effects on GLTLU. Full article

In the current context of global resource constraints and sustainable development, the efficient utilization of resources in the Yellow River basin, as one of China’s main economic regions, is particularly important. Based on the Super-SBM model with undesirable outputs, we analyze the spatial–temporal evolution of resource utilization efficiency in the Yellow River basin during 2000–2020 and investigate the impact of population aging on it using a fixed effects regression model and spatial Durbin model. The resource utilization efficiency has shown an overall upward trend in the Yellow River basin, which never realizes the DEA efficiency. There remains considerable room for efficiency improvement. There is an obvious spatial heterogeneity in resource utilization efficiency, presenting a spatial pattern of “leading downstream, intermediate midstream and lagging upstream”. Resource utilization efficiency has a high redundancy rate in terms of environmental pollution output, water resource input, science and education input in the Yellow River basin. Currently, excessive resource consumption and excessive pollutant emissions are the main causes of efficiency loss. Population aging not only promotes regional resource utilization efficiency but also has a significant positive spatial spillover effect in neighboring regions. Population aging’s impact shows heterogeneity, with a significant promoting impact on resource-based cities and other cities, while its promoting impact on provincial capital cities is not significant. Full article

Can government environmental policy harmonize environmental protection with economic output? We explore this issue from the perspective of forestry eco-efficiency, using China’s National Ecological Civilization Pilot Zone Policy (NECP), an environmental policy promulgated by the government of China, as the subject of this study. The study introduces forestry eco-efficiency as an indicator to assess the balance between economic development in the forestry sector and environmental conservation. The indicator, grounded in sustainable development theory, employs a super-efficiency SBM model that includes undesirable outputs to evaluate efficiency. Additionally, we empirically analyze the impact of NECP on forestry eco-efficiency by using the difference-in-difference (DID) model with provincial panel data from 2011 to 2020. Ultimately, we analyze the effects of spatial spillover by employing the spatial Durbin model (SDM). Our study yields the following conclusions. (1) In this paper, through hotspot clustering analysis, forestry eco-efficiency in each province is categorized into three categories: effective, semi-effective and ineffective. Our findings suggest that China’s average forestry eco-efficiency falls into the ineffective category, highlighting the need to optimize resource allocation within the sector. (2) NECP significantly enhances forestry eco-efficiency, with robust findings across various stability tests. Thus, implementing government environmental policies can have a multiplier effect on forestry, i.e., it can synergize its economic development with environmental protection. (3) In provinces with a strong ecological foundation, the NECP significantly enhances forestry eco-efficiency. However, in other provinces, the improvement is only moderate. Furthermore, while the NECP has a substantial positive impact in the eastern region, it has yet to show a discernible effect in other regions. (4) The positive impacts of NECP implementation on forestry eco-efficiency have spatial spillover effects due to demonstration effects and comparative advantages. Full article

Decreasing carbon emission intensity (CEI) has emerged as a crucial strategy for nations to attain low-carbon economic growth. Nevertheless, a definitive conclusion about the correlation between financial development and CEI has not been reached. This research examines the influence of digital inclusive finance (DIF), a novel financial sector, on CEI, and the role of digital technology innovation (DTI) in this impact. Firstly, this study analyzes the influence of DIF on CEI from the perspectives of technology effect and scale effect and proposes the hypothesis that the impact of DIF on CEI is U-shaped. Then, using a double fixed-effect model and a sample of 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2021, this study verifies the accuracy of the hypothesis. Subsequently, this study examines the mechanism by which DIF impacts CEI, and the results indicate that DIF can exert a U-shaped influence on CEI via enhancing DTI. Then, this study further investigates the impact of DIF on CEI from three angles: geographical location, human capital level, and green finance. It also explores the geographical spillover effect and spatial heterogeneity by employing the Durbin model. Lastly, drawing from the aforementioned analysis, this report proposes some recommendations. Full article

The net carbon effect of farming is crucial for climate change mitigation, yet there is insufficient research on the impact of land management scale on it in China. This study aims to explore the magnitude and role of land management scale on the net carbon effect of farming at the spatial level, including threshold characteristics. Unlike previous studies focused on the domestic agricultural economy, this study employs ecological findings to calculate carbon sinks and certain carbon emissions. The carbon-balance ratio is used to characterise the net carbon effect of farming. The spatial Durbin model and threshold regression model were utilised with a sample of 30 provincial-level regions in China from 2004 to 2019. The results indicate that national farming generally exhibits a net sink effect, with significant interannual fluctuations. After applying robust standard errors, the expansion of the land management scale significantly increases sinks and reduces emissions, and it has a positive spatial spillover effect on the carbon-balance ratio, demonstrating significant spatial heterogeneity. Furthermore, as the land management scale expands, the influence of rural residents’ income and education level on the carbon-balance ratio changes direction, showing significant non-linear relationship characteristics. Full article

The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) poses a significant global public health concern, especially in Africa. Since its first isolation in Tanzania in 1953, CHIKV has caused recurrent outbreaks, challenging healthcare systems in low-resource settings. Recent outbreaks in Africa highlight the dynamic nature of CHIKV transmission and the challenges of underreporting and underdiagnosis. Here, we review the literature and analyse publicly available cases, outbreaks, and genomic data, providing insights into the epidemiology, genetic diversity, and transmission dynamics of CHIKV in Africa. Our analyses reveal the circulation of geographically distinct CHIKV genotypes, with certain regions experiencing a disproportionate burden of disease. Phylogenetic analysis of sporadic outbreaks in West Africa suggests repeated emergence of the virus through enzootic spillover, which is markedly different from inferred transmission dynamics in East Africa, where the virus is often introduced from Asian outbreaks, including the recent reintroduction of the Indian Ocean lineage from the Indian subcontinent to East Africa. Furthermore, there is limited evidence of viral movement between these two regions. Understanding the history and transmission dynamics of outbreaks is crucial for effective public health planning. Despite advances in surveillance and research, diagnostic and surveillance challenges persist. This review and secondary analysis highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance, research, and collaboration to mitigate the burden of CHIKV in Africa and improve public health outcomes. Full article

Land is an important carrier of resource elements, and improving land green use efficiency (LGUE) is the key to achieving “smart growth” in cities. This study takes 269 cities in China from 2008 to 2020 as the research object and integrates multisource remote sensing data, GIS spatial analysis, and spatial econometric models to explore the evolutionary characteristics of LGUE and the spatiotemporal effects of urban expansion on LGUE. The results show that (1) urban LGUE increases over time and has certain gradient distribution and spatial dependence characteristics; (2) urban expansion has a significant inverted U-shaped relationship with LGUE, indicating that maintaining reasonable urban expansion is the key to improving LGUE, but excessive urban expansion has a strong negative spatial effect on LGUE. In terms of spillover effect, for every 1% increase in the square term of urban expansion, the LGUE of the local city decreases by 0.0673%, but the neighboring city increases by 0.2283%; and (3) urban expansion has significant spatiotemporal heterogeneous effects on LGUE, and spatial development boundaries must be reasonably determined to achieve “smart growth”. Currently, some cities in China are expanding rapidly, and we hope to provide key support for promoting the “smart growth” of cities and improving LGUE. Full article

China is the largest soybean importer and consumer in the world. Soybean oil is the most-consumed vegetable oil in China, while soybean meal is the most important protein feed raw material in China, which affects the costs of animal husbandry. Volatility in the international soybean market would generate risk spillovers to China’s soybean industrial chain. This paper analyzed the channel of risk spillover from the international soybean market to China’s soybean industry chain and the asymmetry of the risk spillover. The degree of risk spillover from the international soybean market to the Chinese soybean industry chain was measured by the Copula–CoVaR model. The moderating role of inventory and demand in asymmetric risk spillovers was analyzed by quantile regression. We draw the following conclusions: First, the international soybean market impacts China’s soybean industry chain through soybeans rather than soybean meal and oil. The price fluctuation of China soybean market is obviously lower than that of the international soybean market. Second, there are apparent asymmetric risk spillovers from the international soybean market to China’s soybean industry chain, especially the soybean meal market. Third, increasing the Chinese soybean inventory and growing demand could effectively prevent the downside risk spillover from international markets to China’s soybean market. This also explains the asymmetry of risk spillovers. The research enriches the research perspective on food security, and the analysis of risk spillover mechanisms provides a scientific basis for relevant companies to develop risk-management strategies. Full article

The digital economy is an important driver for promoting the green transformation of the manufacturing industry, as well as a key engine for achieving China’s goals of reaching peak carbon, carbon neutrality, and high-quality economic development. This study uses provincial panel data from 2011 to 2021 as research samples and empirically analyzes the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions by constructing a two-way fixed-effects model. The research findings show that the development of the digital economy can restrain the increasing scale of carbon emissions and improve carbon efficiency. A mediation effect analysis reveals that the digital economy can achieve emission reduction and efficiency improvement through the upgrading of consumption structures, while the upgrading of energy structures has the opposite effect, increasing carbon emissions. Further, a heterogeneity analysis indicates that the carbon reduction effect of the digital economy shows a trend of being higher in the west and lower in the east, higher in the north and lower in the south, higher in provinces with high openness compared to those with low openness, and higher in provinces with a good business environment compared to those with an average business environment. Based on these conclusions, recommendations are proposed at three levels: promoting the integration of the digital economy with manufacturing; fully leveraging the effects of the digital economy in relation to upgrading energy structures and consumption structures; and exploring collaborative mechanisms for regional digital development, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the development of the digital economy and realization of the “dual carbon” goals. Full article