Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.8
3.3
Journals
Sustainability
Special Issues
Regional and Local Economic Development and Policies in Sustainable Economy
sustainability-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Regional and Local Economic Development and Policies in Sustainable Economy

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 7045

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jason Jolley

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
Interests: economic development; economic impact analysis; rural entrepreneurship
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In this Special Issue, we delve into the regional and local economic development planning and policies within the context of sustainability and a resilient economy. We particularly encourage papers that scrutinize the sustainable aspects of regional and local economic activities in the post-COVID era. This could encompass studies focusing on:

  • The regionalization of global supply chains.
  • The emergence of remote work as a significant economic force.
  • Building economic resilience by diversifying the economic base and investing in adaptable and resilient industries.
  • The role of restoration and mitigation in economic development.
Furthermore, we welcome research inquiries in various domains, including, but not limited to:
  • Economic impact analysis and input-output assessments that factor in environmental and workforce development considerations.
  • Strategies for reintegrating former coal industry workers into sustainable sectors.
  • The exploration of fourth-wave economic development policies, especially those that consider the implications for a sustainable economy (e.g., as discussed by Rickett et al. in 2023).
  • Innovative approaches to recreation, tourism, and other economic development alternatives for regions historically dependent on resource extraction as their economic foundation.
  • The role of sustainable agriculture practices in enhancing food security, promoting local economies, and preserving the environment.

In this Special Issue, we invite both original research articles and comprehensive reviews. We eagerly await your valuable contributions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Reference:

  1. Ricket, A.L.; Jolley, G.J.; Knutsen, F.B.; Davis, S.C. Rural Sustainable Prosperity: Social Enterprise Ecosystems as a Framework for Sustainable Rural Development. Sustainability 2023, 15, 11339.

Dr. Jason Jolley
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • regional economic development
  • local economic development
  • economic impact analysis

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

27 pages, 472 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Relationship Between Rural E-Commerce Development and Farmers’ Income Growth
by Hui Liu, Meiqin Ding, Yujin Kan and Qi Dong
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 3879; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17093879 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 269
Abstract
The development of rural e-commerce is conducive to expanding channels for increasing farmers’ income. This paper analyzes the relationship between rural e-commerce development and farmers’ income growth in 31 provinces (municipalities/autonomous regions) across China. First, based on a review of relevant literature, an [...] Read more.
The development of rural e-commerce is conducive to expanding channels for increasing farmers’ income. This paper analyzes the relationship between rural e-commerce development and farmers’ income growth in 31 provinces (municipalities/autonomous regions) across China. First, based on a review of relevant literature, an index system for rural e-commerce development was constructed, and the entropy weight method was used to measure the comprehensive index of national rural e-commerce development. Next, a panel data regression model was established to analyze the relationship between rural e-commerce development and farmers’ income growth, followed by regional heterogeneity analysis and robustness tests. The analysis found that during the study period, China’s rural e-commerce development level increased year by year, but there were regional differences; the development of rural e-commerce in China has a significant positive impact on farmers’ income growth, but the degree of impact varies across different regions. Finally, suggestions are put forward to promote the further development of rural e-commerce in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional and Local Economic Development and Policies in Sustainable Economy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 239 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Economic Impacts of Sustainable Energy: An Analysis of Ohio’s Community Solar Program
by Tuyen Pham, Clara Bone and G. Jason Jolley
Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9436; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219436 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1805
Abstract
“Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all” is one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A key target for achieving this goal is increasing the share of renewable energy. In the United States, many states are evaluating [...] Read more.
“Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all” is one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A key target for achieving this goal is increasing the share of renewable energy. In the United States, many states are evaluating the environmental and economic impacts of the renewable energy transition. This study provides an in-depth evaluation of the economic impact of Ohio’s proposed Community Solar Pilot Program, which plans to install 1750 MW of new solar capacity, including 250 MW on distressed Appalachian sites. We combine two input–output models to estimate the economic impact of community solar projects: the Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) model from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for the construction phase, and IMPLAN for the projects’ 25-year lifespan. Data for this study were gathered through surveys of local solar developers, who are familiar with the regional costs of installing and operating solar projects. Our findings indicate that the community solar program could support 32,430 full-time job years and contribute USD 4.37 billion to Ohio’s Gross State Product (GSP). Additionally, the program could generate USD 409.5 million in local tax revenue over its lifetime. The study highlights the potential of renewable energy initiatives to foster economic growth, particularly in economically distressed regions like Appalachian Ohio. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional and Local Economic Development and Policies in Sustainable Economy)
22 pages, 2556 KiB  
Article
Regional Economic Development, Climate Change, and Work Force in a Gender Perspective in Chile: Insights from the Input–Output Matrix
by Sergio Soza-Amigo and Jean Pierre Doussoulin
Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8692; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198692 - 9 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1243
Abstract
Most nations fulfilled the commitment to reduce their emissions after the Paris Climate Agreement, and as a result, each nation has produced suitable plans to reach those goals. In this sense, Chile is hardly an exception. The emission multiplier product matrix (eMPM [...] Read more.
Most nations fulfilled the commitment to reduce their emissions after the Paris Climate Agreement, and as a result, each nation has produced suitable plans to reach those goals. In this sense, Chile is hardly an exception. The emission multiplier product matrix (eMPM) and labor multiplier product matrix (lMPM), which are associated with the gender differences in the labor market, a state-of-the-art technique that integrates CO2 emissions with multi-region input–output table (MRIO) databases and elasticity to estimate the pollution caused by inter-industrial activity in the nation’s various north, center, and south regions, are used in this article to analyze the emissions of Chilean industries. This approach, by studying the economic territorial consistency (ETC) issue, is expected to establish a connection between each region’s production structure and interregional relationships between gender and the main industries that produce emissions. Indeed, the study aims to determine which regions foster economic development from an equitable perspective through the ETC study. The ETC in Chile depends on some variables, such as labor force, gender and CO2 emissions. The improvement in terms of emissions reduction will depend on the use of technology and the proper state regulation in line with the promises gained by Chile following the convening of COP25. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional and Local Economic Development and Policies in Sustainable Economy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 2296 KiB  
Article
Can Industrial Spatial Configuration Catalyze the Transition and Advancement of Resource-Dependent Regions? An Empirical Analysis from Heilongjiang Province, China
by Yingli Huang, Guoyi Lou and Yue Ren
Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8342; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198342 - 25 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 897
Abstract
Resource-based regions are built upon the endowment of abundant natural resources; however, they often fall into development dilemmas due to the depletion of natural resources and ecological environmental regulations. How to achieve transformative development relying on the original industrial base is an important [...] Read more.
Resource-based regions are built upon the endowment of abundant natural resources; however, they often fall into development dilemmas due to the depletion of natural resources and ecological environmental regulations. How to achieve transformative development relying on the original industrial base is an important choice for the sustainable development of resource-based regions. This paper takes Heilongjiang Province, a resource-based province in China, as the research area and analyzes its process and strategies of transformative development from the perspective of industrial spatial patterns. The results show that: (1) There is spatial convergence in the development of secondary industry and industry in Heilongjiang Province from 2011 to 2020. The construction industry does not have spatial convergence, and the development of tertiary industry and its sub-industry does not have spatial convergence on the whole. (2) From 2011 to 2022, the development of secondary and tertiary industries in Heilongjiang Province formed a relatively stable spatial correlation network with good accessibility, but the hierarchy of network structure is not obvious, and the correlation strength and stability of the network need to be improved. (3) Harbin, Hegang, Qitaihe and other regions occupy a relatively central position in the spatial association network of the secondary industry; Harbin, Jiamusi, Suihua and other regions are in a leading position in the spatial association network of the tertiary industry which plays an important role as an intermediary bridge; other regions are in a relatively marginal position in the spatial association network of the industrial industry. (4) The increase in network density can effectively promote the development of the secondary and tertiary industries, and the network level and network efficiency will inhibit the development of the secondary and tertiary industries. The increase in network density will narrow the spatial difference of the secondary and tertiary industries, and the decrease in network level and network efficiency can effectively promote the spatial balance of the development of the secondary and tertiary industries. (5) The closer the spatial correlation between each region and other regions, the more benefits from the overall network, the more conducive to the development of local secondary and tertiary industries. The aforementioned results indicate that Heilongjiang Province is constructing a spatial pattern characterized by the complementarity of the primary, secondary and tertiary industries, which serves as a strategy for the transformative development of resource-based regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional and Local Economic Development and Policies in Sustainable Economy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5565 KiB  
Article
Research on the Spatial Differences and Network Structure of Economic Development in the Yangtze River Belt, China
by Ziyang Zhao and Yihui Cai
Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 5023; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125023 - 12 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1585
Abstract
The Yangtze River economic belt is the main force leading the high-quality development of China’s economy, but its current internal economic differentiation issues require further study. In this study, to understand the development laws, change characteristics, evolutionary pattern, and main influencing factors on [...] Read more.
The Yangtze River economic belt is the main force leading the high-quality development of China’s economy, but its current internal economic differentiation issues require further study. In this study, to understand the development laws, change characteristics, evolutionary pattern, and main influencing factors on economic differences and economic network structure in the Yangtze River economic belt, 20 years of data from 1999 to 2018 at the general scale, three major regions, province, and city scales were analyzed. The results indicated that from 1999 to 2018, the total GDP of the Yangtze River economic belt steadily increased year by year, and the absolute difference in regional economy showed an expanding trend, while the relative difference was relatively stable. The total economic output and proportion of the three major regions all showed a trend of eastern region > central region > western region, but the growth rate and proportion trends were exactly the opposite. The GDP of 11 provinces and 110 cities showed positive global autocorrelation and obvious local spatial autocorrelation, but their radiative driving effect on surrounding areas was not strong, and the spatial agglomeration effect at the provincial level was better than that at the prefecture level or city level. The economic network structure was characterized by a single center structure dominated by the Shanghai and Jiangsu Province, gradually strengthening from west to east, and the gravity value growth rate in the western region was significantly higher than in the central and eastern regions. The city cluster in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and the Chengdu–Chongqing served as the main bridges and links, playing a crucial role in the cascade radiation process of economic connections. The research results have strategic significance for coordinating the region development of the Yangtze River economic belt and promoting the rise of central China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional and Local Economic Development and Policies in Sustainable Economy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop