Journal Description
Sustainability
Sustainability
is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal on environmental, cultural, economic, and social sustainability of human beings, published semimonthly online by MDPI. The Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) and Urban Land Institute (ULI) are affiliated with Sustainability and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE and SSCI (Web of Science), GEOBASE, GeoRef, Inspec, AGRIS, RePEc, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Environmental Studies) / CiteScore - Q1 (Geography, Planning and Development)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 20 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.4 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our editors and authors say about Sustainability.
- Companion journals for Sustainability include: World, Sustainable Chemistry, Conservation, Future Transportation, Architecture, Standards and Merits.
Impact Factor:
3.3 (2023);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.6 (2023)
Latest Articles
Using the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior to Explore the Effect of Farmer Differentiation on Their Intention to Revitalize Idle Homesteads: Empirical Evidence from Shaanxi, China
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8252; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188252 (registering DOI) - 23 Sep 2024
Abstract
The revitalization of idle homesteads is an essential element in stimulating rural land resources and assets and promoting the integrated development of urban and rural areas. However, existing studies have paid less attention to the relationship between the differentiation of farm households and
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The revitalization of idle homesteads is an essential element in stimulating rural land resources and assets and promoting the integrated development of urban and rural areas. However, existing studies have paid less attention to the relationship between the differentiation of farm households and revitalization intention. Therefore, exploring the relationship between farmer differentiation and revitalization intention has become the key to improving the revitalization intention. The differentiation of farmers in the process of urbanization is an important factor affecting the intention of farmers to revitalize idle homesteads. This study defines “farmer differentiation” as a second-order factor and is based on the theoretical analysis framework of “farmer differentiation (FD)–farmer cognition (FC)–revitalization intention (RI)” to systematically reveal the relationship between FD and RI with a multi-dimensional perspective. At the same time, we analyze the mediating role of FC in the relationship between FD and RI. The data collected from 881 Shaanxi, China, farmers are analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of the study show that (1) The dimensions of farmer differentiation (FD) are wealth capital differentiation (WCD) and reputation capital differentiation (RCD). (2) The formation of farmers’ intention to revitalize follows the logical relationship of “FC–RI” in the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior (ETPB), and subjective norms (SN) are the critical factor. (3) The logical relationship of “FD–FC–RI” in the ETPB has been confirmed. In addition to the direct positive effect of the WCD and RCD on farmers’ intention to revitalize idle homesteads, WCD will indirectly affect RI through the four sub-dimensions of behavioral attitudes (BA), subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC) and homestead dependence (HD) under the FC conception. Meanwhile, the chain mediating role of the WCD and FC sub-dimensions in the RCD effect on the intention to revitalize cannot be ignored. Therefore, to increase farmers’ intention to revitalize Idle homesteads, policymakers need to focus on increasing WCD and RCD and helping farmers establish proactive FC.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immigrants, Social Integration and Sustainable Rural Development)
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The Innovative Construction of Provinces, Regional Artificial Intelligence Development, and the Resilience of Regional Innovation Ecosystems: Quasi-Natural Experiments Based on Spatial Difference-in-Differences Models and Double Machine Learning
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Ruiyu Hu, Zemenghong Bao, Zhisen Lin and Kun Lv
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8251; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188251 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
Abstract
Based on the theory of regional innovation niches, this study calculates the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems and constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system for regional artificial intelligence development, resulting in a panel dataset for 30 provinces in China from 2009 to 2021
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Based on the theory of regional innovation niches, this study calculates the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems and constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system for regional artificial intelligence development, resulting in a panel dataset for 30 provinces in China from 2009 to 2021 (excluding Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Within the framework of the construction of innovative provinces, regional artificial intelligence, and the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems, spatial double-difference and double machine learning models are employed for a quasi-natural experiment. The main research conclusions are as follows: (1) Both the construction of innovative provinces and artificial intelligence have a significant positive impact on the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems. (2) However, regional artificial intelligence exhibits a negative spatial spillover effect on the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems. (3) The construction of innovative provinces can positively moderate the effect of artificial intelligence on the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems. (4) Through the promotion of regional artificial intelligence, the construction of innovative provinces can indirectly enhance the diversity, evolutionary potential, buffering capacity, fluidity, and coordination of regional innovation ecosystems, thereby driving a leap in resilience. (5) The mechanisms by which the construction of innovative provinces stimulates regional intelligent input, application, innovation, and market dynamics to further enhance the resilience of regional innovation ecosystems are effective not only in the treatment group but also in the control group.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Transformation of Urban and Region: Design, Planning and Governance)
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Open AccessArticle
Urban Spatial Development Mode and Haze Pollution in China: From the Perspective of Polycentricity
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Changyi Liang, Jing Zhao and Weibiao Ma
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8250; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188250 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
Abstract
Increasing urbanization in China has caused severe haze pollution in Chinese cities in recent years. This study investigates the impact of urban spatial development mode on haze pollution from the leapfrog spatial dimension. We constructed a dataset containing LandScan population dynamic statistical data,
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Increasing urbanization in China has caused severe haze pollution in Chinese cities in recent years. This study investigates the impact of urban spatial development mode on haze pollution from the leapfrog spatial dimension. We constructed a dataset containing LandScan population dynamic statistical data, PM2.5 surface concentration data, and urban economic statistical data and adopted ordinary least squares (OLS) and instrumental variable methods. The findings indicate that the polycentric spatial structure within the city increases the PM2.5 levels, indicating that the urban monocentric spatial development mode is conducive to alleviating haze pollution. The use of the core explanatory variables, lagged by one and two periods, and of the number of Qing Dynasty walls as the instrumental variable confirm the robustness of the benchmark results. The heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that, in cities with underdeveloped public rail transit, the monocentric spatial development mode has a more obvious effect on reducing haze pollution. The results of the influence mechanism test show that the urban polycentric spatial development mode aggravates urban haze pollution, mainly by encouraging residents to travel by private transport, thereby increasing energy consumption. The obtained research results provide a sufficient basis for taking appropriate measures to govern haze pollution in Chinese cities from the perspective of polycentric spatial development mode.
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Open AccessArticle
Analysis of Short-Term Heavy Rainfall-Based Urban Flood Disaster Risk Assessment Using Integrated Learning Approach
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Xinyue Wu, Hong Zhu, Liuru Hu, Jian Meng and Fulu Sun
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8249; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188249 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
Abstract
Accurate and timely risk assessment of short-term rainstorm-type flood disasters is very important for ecological environment protection and sustainable socio-economic development. Given the complexity and variability of different geographical environments and climate conditions, a single machine learning model may lead to overfitting issues
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Accurate and timely risk assessment of short-term rainstorm-type flood disasters is very important for ecological environment protection and sustainable socio-economic development. Given the complexity and variability of different geographical environments and climate conditions, a single machine learning model may lead to overfitting issues in flood disaster assessment, limiting the generalization ability of such models. In order to overcome this challenge, this study proposed a short-term rainstorm flood disaster risk assessment framework under the integrated learning model, which is divided into two stages: The first stage uses microwave remote sensing images to extract flood coverage and establish disaster samples, and integrates multi-source heterogeneous data to build a flood disaster risk assessment index system. The second stage, under the constraints of Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), optimizes the integration of random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and logistic regression (LR) base models, and then the WRSL-Short-Term Flood Risk Assessment Model is established. The experimental results show that the Area Under Curve (AUC) accuracy of the WRSL-Short-Term Flood Risk Assessment Model is 89.27%, which is 0.95%, 1.77%, 2.07%, 1.86%, and 0.47% higher than RF, SVM, LR, XGBoost, and average weight RF-SVM-LR, respectively. The accuracy evaluation metrics for accuracy, Recall, and F1 Score have improved by 5.84%, 21.50%, and 11.06%, respectively. In this paper, WRSL-Short-Term Flood Risk Assessment Model is used to carry out the risk assessment of flood and waterlogging disasters in Henan Province, and ArcGIS is used to complete the short-term rainstorm city flood and waterlogging risk map. The research results will provide a scientific assessment basis for short-term rainstorm city flood disaster risk assessment and provide technical support for regional flood control and risk management.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water Management in Rapid Urbanization)
Open AccessArticle
A Cybernetics Approach and Autoregressive Distributed Lag Econometric Exploration of Romania’s Circular Economy
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Irina Georgescu, Ionuț Nica, Camelia Delcea, Cristian Ciurea and Nora Chiriță
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8248; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188248 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
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The purpose of this study, which adopts a cybernetics systems approach, is to analyze the circular economy landscape in Romania. It investigates the role of circular economy practices in the country’s endeavors to combat climate change and minimize its environmental footprint. Using data
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The purpose of this study, which adopts a cybernetics systems approach, is to analyze the circular economy landscape in Romania. It investigates the role of circular economy practices in the country’s endeavors to combat climate change and minimize its environmental footprint. Using data spanning from 2000 to 2022, we applied the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to examine the interdependence between emissions and key factors, such as GDP per capita, the recycling rate of municipal waste, and the generation of municipal waste per capita. Our findings suggest that the implementation of sustainable development strategies in Romania has successfully decoupled economic growth from environmental sustainability. This study introduces novelty by approaching the ARDL analysis through the integration of circular economy principles into a cybernetics system. This perspective contributes to informed decision making and the establishment of efficient tactical, operational, and strategic directions. Our results indicate that, in the long run, both the recycling rate of municipal waste and the generation of municipal waste per capita positively influence emissions, while GDP per capita has a negative impact. Variance decomposition and impulse response functions were employed to assess the explanatory variables’ influence on emissions and their effectiveness in explaining temporal fluctuations.
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Open AccessSystematic Review
A Systematic Review on the Technical Performance and Sustainability of 3D Printing Filaments Using Recycled Plastic
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Iman Ibrahim, Ayat Gamal Ashour, Waleed Zeiada, Nisreen Salem and Mohamed Abdallah
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8247; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188247 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
Abstract
Over the past 40 years, global plastic production has increased twenty-fold, prompting efforts to mitigate plastic waste. Recycling has emerged as the predominant strategy for sustainable plastic waste management. As additive manufacturing (AM) continues to evolve, integrating recycled plastics with various additives has
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Over the past 40 years, global plastic production has increased twenty-fold, prompting efforts to mitigate plastic waste. Recycling has emerged as the predominant strategy for sustainable plastic waste management. As additive manufacturing (AM) continues to evolve, integrating recycled plastics with various additives has gained significant attention. This systematic literature review, conducted in full accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, aims to evaluate and compare the properties and effects of recycled plastics and their additives in AM. Specifically, it examines the thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of these materials, along with their life cycle environmental and economic implications. A total of 88 research publications, spanning from 2013 to 2023, were analyzed. The databases searched include Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Google Scholar, with the final search conducted in December 2023. Studies were selected through a four-stage process—identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion—based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risk of bias was assessed using five criteria: credibility, scope, clarity, methodology, and analysis quality. The results show that most research focuses on the mechanical properties of recycled plastics, with significant gaps in understanding their thermal and rheological properties. Additionally, there is limited research on the environmental and economic viability of these materials, highlighting the need for integrated life cycle assessments and eco-efficiency analyses. This review offers additive manufacturing professionals a comprehensive understanding of the thermal, mechanical, and rheological performance of recycled plastics and additives, supporting efforts to improve sustainability in the industry.
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(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)
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A Novel Framework for Identifying Major Fishing Vessel Accidents and Their Key Influencing Factors
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Hongxia Zhou, Fang Wang, Weili Hu, Manel Grifoll, Jiao Liu, Weijie Du and Pengjun Zheng
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8246; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188246 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
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This research addresses the critical issue of major fishing vessel accidents, which traditionally suffer from a lack of focused analysis due to their rarity and the subjective nature of their classification. We propose an innovative methodology of Peaks Over Threshold to overcome subjectivity
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This research addresses the critical issue of major fishing vessel accidents, which traditionally suffer from a lack of focused analysis due to their rarity and the subjective nature of their classification. We propose an innovative methodology of Peaks Over Threshold to overcome subjectivity in accident classification. This approach ensures a more representative and accurate analysis of major accidents, distinguishing them from more common, less severe incidents. Employing a Bayesian network model, we further explore the most influential factors contributing to these major accidents. The key innovation lies in our novel approach to data handling and analysis, enabling us to uncover hidden patterns and causal relationships that traditional methods often overlook. The results show that the approach proposed in this study can effectively capture the key factors of major fishing vessel accidents. This study identifies accident type, vessel-related factors, and accident location as the key influential factors leading to major accidents. The findings from our research are intended to inform sustainable fisheries management practices, promoting interventions that aim to decrease the occurrence and impact of severe maritime accidents while balancing economic, safety, and sustainable development considerations.
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Open AccessArticle
Digital Transformation in the Construction Sector: A Digital Twin for Seismic Safety in the Lifecycle of Buildings
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Massimo Lauria and Maria Azzalin
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8245; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188245 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
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The construction sector is currently undergoing a deep digital transformation resulting from the prioritization of emerging technologies, among which are digital twins. New goals and opportunities are appearing that minimize the impact on a building’s lifecycle, reduce economic, environmental, and extra-social costs, optimize
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The construction sector is currently undergoing a deep digital transformation resulting from the prioritization of emerging technologies, among which are digital twins. New goals and opportunities are appearing that minimize the impact on a building’s lifecycle, reduce economic, environmental, and extra-social costs, optimize energetic performance, decrease energy consumption and emissions, and enhance the durability and service life of buildings and their components. Among the research activities that have led to the development of a maintenance management model (MMM), this paper deals with the digital-twin approach, considering it instrumental to the innovative governance of the building environment from a lifecycle-based and sustainable perspective. It includes paying attention to efficiency in terms of resource use, energy consumption, and the energy performance of buildings, supporting decarbonization processes, and environmental vulnerability due to natural disasters, extreme weather, and seismic events. Its current implementation is presented here. In this scenario, the authors, operating at BIG srl, an academic spinoff of the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Italy, working together with the startup Sysdev, based in Torino, Italy, the company Berna Engineering srl, based in Reggio Calabria, Italy, and ACCA Software spa, based in Avellino, Italy, introduce the experimental application of the DT4SEM for safety and well-being in buildings, which is specifically oriented to seismic behavior monitoring. The proposal, while highlighting the innovative character of DT approaches, responds to the need for reliable data for increasingly effective forecasts and the control of the seismic behavior of buildings, facilitating informed decision-making for building management while also optimizing maintenance schedules.
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Open AccessArticle
Multi-Scenario Simulation of Land Use/Cover Change and Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Reserve Response in Liaoning Province, China
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Hanlong Gu, Jiabin Li and Shuai Wang
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8244; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188244 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
Abstract
Land use/cover change (LUCC) can either enhance the areal carbon reserve capacity or exacerbate carbon emission issues, thereby significantly influencing global climate change. Comprehending the impact of LUCC on regional carbon reserve variation holds great significance for regional ecosystem preservation and socioeconomic sustainable
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Land use/cover change (LUCC) can either enhance the areal carbon reserve capacity or exacerbate carbon emission issues, thereby significantly influencing global climate change. Comprehending the impact of LUCC on regional carbon reserve variation holds great significance for regional ecosystem preservation and socioeconomic sustainable development. This study focuses on Liaoning Province, leveraging land use remote sensing data from three periods from 2000 to 2020, natural environmental data and socioeconomic data in conjunction with the Integrated Valuation of Environmental Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model, and patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) models. It analyzes the interactive relationship between LUCC and carbon reserves in Liaoning Province between 2000 and 2020 and forecasts the trajectory of carbon reserve changes in Liaoning Province under various scenarios: business as usual, urban development, cropland protection, and ecological protection, all based on LUCC simulations. The findings indicate the following: (1) Over the study period, Liaoning Province experienced significant LUCC characterized primarily by the transformation of farmland to built-up land. Carbon reserves initially declined and later increased due to LUCC changes, resulting in a cumulative increase of 30.52 Tg C. The spatial distribution of carbon reserves was influenced by LUCC, displaying a pattern of spatial aggregation, with higher values in the east and lower values in the west. (2) Across the four simulation scenarios, the spatial pattern of carbon reserves in Liaoning Province continued to exhibit the characteristic spatial aggregation of higher values in the east and lower values in the west. Under the urban development scenario, carbon reserves decreased by 34.56 Tg C tons, representing a 2.45% decrease compared to 2020. Conversely, under the business-as-usual, cultivated land protection, and ecological protection scenarios, carbon reserves displayed a growing tendency, reaching 1449.35 Tg C, 1450.39 Tg C, and 1471.80 Tg C, respectively, with changes of 0.09%, 0.16% and 1.63% compared to 2020. The substantial increase in carbon reserves under the ecological protection scenario primarily stemmed from the significant expansion of woodland and other ecological land areas. In light of these findings, Liaoning Province may consider laying down and strictly executing spatial policies for ecological protection in future land projecting. The PLUS model and InVEST model can help curb the uncontrolled expansion of built-up land, facilitate the increment of ecological land areas, and with effect augment carbon reserves, thereby ensuring the achievement of the “double carbon” target of carbon peak and carbon neutralization.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use/Cover Change and Its Environmental Effects: Second Edition)
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Open AccessArticle
Relationship between Physical Activity Levels, Quality of Life, and Sociodemographic Attributes among Adults in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia: A Direction toward Sustainable Health
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Maaidah M. Algamdi and Hamad S. Al Amer
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8243; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188243 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
Abstract
Physical activity (PA) improves quality of life (QOL), yet the relationship between PA, QOL, and sociodemographic factors in Saudi Arabia remains underexplored. This study examined this relationship among 369 adults from Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire measured PA levels and QOL using
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Physical activity (PA) improves quality of life (QOL), yet the relationship between PA, QOL, and sociodemographic factors in Saudi Arabia remains underexplored. This study examined this relationship among 369 adults from Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire measured PA levels and QOL using the Arabic versions of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), respectively. Data analyses included chi-square, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis H tests alongside a multivariate regression analysis. Among the SF-36 scores, marital status (p = 0.005), history of chronic diseases (p = 0.004), and medication use (p = 0.001) showed significant differences; pain (80.6 ± 21.5) and energy/fatigue (63.0 ± 18.5) scored highest and lowest, respectively; and sex was significantly associated with PA levels (p = 0.001). The average total SF-36 score was 69.5 ± 15.7, and 42.5% of participants reported low PA. Participants with moderate PA had significantly higher SF-36 scores (p = 0.003), energy/fatigue (p < 0.0001), emotional wellbeing (p = 0.009), and general health (p = 0.004) scores compared with those with low PA. The significant association between PA and QOL underscores the need for sustainable health programs to enhance and maintain PA in alignment with the Saudi Vision 2030 QOL program. It can also inform the development of targeted interventions to enhance PA levels and improve QOL aspects within communities, considering specific sociodemographic attributes to ensure effectiveness and inclusivity.
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(This article belongs to the Collection Physical Activity and Sustainable Health)
Open AccessArticle
The Impact of Enterprise Digital Transformation on Low-Carbon Supply Chains: Empirical Evidence from China
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Zhilong Lou, Nan Gao and Min Lu
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8242; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188242 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
Abstract
The vigorous development of the digital economy, alongside the collaborative promotion of enterprise digital transformation and low-carbon supply chains, has emerged as a critical pathway for achieving green and high-quality development in enterprises. In this paper, we utilize a mathematical model framework to
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The vigorous development of the digital economy, alongside the collaborative promotion of enterprise digital transformation and low-carbon supply chains, has emerged as a critical pathway for achieving green and high-quality development in enterprises. In this paper, we utilize a mathematical model framework to empirically investigate the mechanisms and impacts of enterprise digital transformation on the low-carbon effect of supply chains, employing data from A-share-listed companies spanning 2011 to 2021. The findings indicate that (1) enhancing the degree of enterprise digital transformation can significantly decrease the carbon emission intensity of upstream suppliers, thereby promoting low-carbon supply chains. (2) “Innovation-driven” and “structural transformation” mechanisms are vital channels by which enterprise digital transformation promotes carbon reduction in supply chains. (3) The diffusion mechanism effect and demonstration effect exhibit heterogeneity in the process of enterprise digital transformation, driving low-carbon emission reductions in supply chains.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Supply Chain and Sustainable Economic Development)
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Open AccessArticle
Does Renewable Energy Convey Information to Current Account Deficit?: Evidence from OECD Countries
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Canan Ozkan and Nesrin Okay
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8241; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188241 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
Abstract
Energy trade balance has been the main factor behind current account imbalances in many developed and developing countries. This study investigates whether or not renewable energy conveys information to the current account deficit of selected OECD countries. Utilizing a dataset spanning from 1990
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Energy trade balance has been the main factor behind current account imbalances in many developed and developing countries. This study investigates whether or not renewable energy conveys information to the current account deficit of selected OECD countries. Utilizing a dataset spanning from 1990 to 2021, we apply a Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) estimator to determine the interrelation of current account deficit (CAB) as a percentage of GDP with selected indicators, namely, net energy import in total final energy consumption (NEI), the share of renewable energy in total electricity production (REN_TEO), and fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP (FAB). The results of long-term estimations reveal that as net energy import increases, the current account deficit deteriorates. On the other hand, in the case that countries utilize more of renewable energy in their total electricity generation, their current account deficits improve. Thus, we conclude that energy policy matters for the current account balances and subsequently for the well-being of OECD economies. Finally, we find strong evidence for the twin deficit hypothesis, as fiscal deficit is negatively interrelated with current account deficit both in the short-run and long run. In other words, an increase in the level of budget deficit is associated with an upsurge in the current account deficit problem. Furthermore, the Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality test reveals that there is bidirectional heterogeneous causality between current account deficit and budget deficit. Additionally, when the countries in the sample are grouped by their per capita GDP levels, estimations reveal that the direction of interaction between CAB and energy-related indicators (NEI and REN_TEO) does not differ between Group 2 (the ones whose per capita incomes are over USD 25,000 but below USD 50,000) and Group 3 (the ones having more than USD 50,000 per capita income) countries. However, the coefficients of energy-related indicators for Group 2 countries are higher than those of Group 3 ones, suggesting that energy policy matters more for Group 2 countries’ current account imbalances in the long-term.
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Open AccessArticle
Does the Concept of Green Development Promote High-Quality Urban Development?—An Empirical Analysis Based on the Pilot Policy of the “Zero-Waste City” in China
by
Yifei Zhou
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8240; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188240 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
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Since 2019, eighteen major ministries and commissions, including the National Development and Reform Commission, have launched trials for a “zero-waste city”. Shenzhen, Baotou, Tongling, and 16 other cities and regions have entered the practical operation stage, and the significance of the economic effect
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Since 2019, eighteen major ministries and commissions, including the National Development and Reform Commission, have launched trials for a “zero-waste city”. Shenzhen, Baotou, Tongling, and 16 other cities and regions have entered the practical operation stage, and the significance of the economic effect of the policy pilot needs to be tested through empirical evaluation. This study systematically gathers time series data from 281 prefecture-level cities in China from 2005 to 2022 and constructs an innovative experimental framework for the construction of a zero-waste city. It implements a series of rigorous robustness testing procedures using the difference-in-differences (DID) method to scientifically and objectively measure the actual effects of waste-free city construction strategies in promoting the city’s social development along a high-quality development path. This study provides deep insights into the zero-waste city construction strategy as a strong driving force. Our results indicate that the high-quality development stage has a positive impact on the city as a whole that cannot be ignored. At the same time, in-depth analysis shows that this strategy exhibits strong regional differences in the process of promoting high-quality urban development. For the two core regions of eastern and central China, the implementation of zero-waste city policies has significantly accelerated the pace of high-quality development, and further analysis reveals that, compared with the developed eastern region, the implementation of this policy in the central region has achieved superior results in terms of high-quality development. Third, the benefits of waste-free city policies are related to the economic bases of cities, the number of green patents granted, national policies, geographical location, and other factors.
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Open AccessArticle
The Funding Puzzle in Adult Education for Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Slovenia
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Tadej Košmerl, Marko Radovan and Danijela Makovec Radovan
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8239; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188239 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
Abstract
This study investigates the landscape of public funding for adult education for sustainable development (AESD) in Slovenia, focusing on the distribution, types of funding, and their impact on accessibility and quality. This study employs a mixed methods approach to understand the distribution, types
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This study investigates the landscape of public funding for adult education for sustainable development (AESD) in Slovenia, focusing on the distribution, types of funding, and their impact on accessibility and quality. This study employs a mixed methods approach to understand the distribution, types of funding, and their impacts on the accessibility and quality of adult education. Data were collected through an online questionnaire completed by 59 organizations providing non-formal AESD, alongside semi-structured interviews conducted with 12 representatives. Key findings reveal a significant disparity between operational funding and that designated for AESD implementation, with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) emerging as the primary recipients of public funds. Notably, project-based funding predominates, raising concerns about the sustainability of AESD programs due to its typically time-limited nature. Public funding is essential for ensuring program accessibility and quality, as it enables organizations to hire experts and enhance curricula. However, the reliance on project-based grants creates instability, complicating long-term planning and program effectiveness. The study underscores the need for systematic and continuous funding strategies to support AESD, highlighting the importance of a cross-sectoral approach to policymaking. Overall, the research elucidates the intricate relationship between funding distribution, program effectiveness, and the advancement of sustainable development education.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Futures: Innovations in Education)
Open AccessArticle
Domestic vs. Foreign Institutional Investors: Who Improves ESG and Value of Chinese Companies?
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Jae Wook Yoo and Yu Jin Chang
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8238; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188238 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
Abstract
Recent years have seen the influence of both institutional investors and corporate social responsibility strengthen in the Chinese capital market. However, research on the impact of these market changes on corporate activities and values has been insufficient. To address this gap, this study
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Recent years have seen the influence of both institutional investors and corporate social responsibility strengthen in the Chinese capital market. However, research on the impact of these market changes on corporate activities and values has been insufficient. To address this gap, this study analyzes the impact of foreign and domestic institutional investors who invest in Chinese A-share listed companies on corporate value through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies. The results of the analysis are as follows: First, the shareholding of both foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) enhances corporate value. Second, the shareholding of FIIs strengthens the company’s ESG, while that of DIIs does not significantly affect it. Third, ESG has a positive impact on corporate value. Fourth, ESG partially mediates the positive relationship between the shareholding of FIIs and corporate value. The research findings provide academic implications for the causal relationship between corporate governance, sustainable management, and performance, as well as practical implications for the development of the Chinese capital market and corporate sustainability.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Corporate Governance and Firm Performance)
Open AccessArticle
A Simulation of the Necessary Total Factor Productivity Growth and Its Feasible Dual Circulation Source Pathways to Achieve China’s 2035—Economic Goals: A Dynamic Computational General Equilibrium Study
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Zike Qi
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8237; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188237 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
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An ambitious per capita GDP target has been envisioned by the Chinese government since 2020 to project its sustainable economic growth rate by 2035. Can China fully achieve its goal? This is a question worth investigating. By inserting relevant TABLO modules of the
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An ambitious per capita GDP target has been envisioned by the Chinese government since 2020 to project its sustainable economic growth rate by 2035. Can China fully achieve its goal? This is a question worth investigating. By inserting relevant TABLO modules of the final goods trade, the intermediate goods trade, and factor-strengthening technology spillovers, along with technology absorption thresholds effects of the global value chain, this study builds a global recursive dynamic computational general equilibrium (CGE) model on the basis of GTAP-RD. This approach enables us to consider total factor productivity (TFP) development through the “dual circulation” system, which was pointed out by the Chinese government as the only way for further growth. We simulate China’s technological progress under eight scenarios and use the latest GTAP Version 11 production and trade data (released in April 2023) for 141 countries and regions. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) If China maintains its trade opening policy, the 2035 vision goal can be achieved, with external circulation being more important than internal circulation. (2) The economic growth impacts of external and internal circulation function relatively independently. FDI offers a somewhat stronger synergistic effect on intermediate goods trade compared to final goods trade and consumption. (3) We find that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is the most important strategic partner for China. (4) FDI is not an effective way to lift the productive services sector’s TFP, and it is more realistic for China to open up the productive services market more widely. (5) China–US decoupling has an enormous global impact, and the United States is always the country that loses the most, with Europe being the group of countries that benefits when there is a large increase in TFP in the US. This study is entirely original in terms of its model structure, simulations, scenarios, and shocks. It aims to fill the gap of extending the application of the CGE model to specific issues, thereby making contributions and supplements to the three theories discussed in the article too. The limitation of this paper lies in the CGE linear description feature, which is concise and elegant and has the characteristics of extrapolation and long-term absorption of disturbances. However, it tends to overlook the randomness, non-convergence, and significant structural disturbances that may occur in future reality.
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Open AccessArticle
Costly “Greetings” from AI: Effects of Product Recommenders and Self-Disclosure Levels on Transaction Costs
by
Yasheng Chen, Yuhong Tu and Siyao Zeng
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8236; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188236 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
Abstract
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Companies are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to provide users with product recommendations, but its efficacy is inconsistent. Drawing upon social exchange theory, we examine the effects of product recommenders and their levels of self-disclosure on transaction costs. Specifically, we recruited 78 participants
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Companies are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to provide users with product recommendations, but its efficacy is inconsistent. Drawing upon social exchange theory, we examine the effects of product recommenders and their levels of self-disclosure on transaction costs. Specifically, we recruited 78 participants and conducted a 2 × 2 online experiment in which we manipulated product recommenders (human versus AI) and examined how self-disclosure levels (high versus low) affect consumers’ return intentions. We predicted and found that a low level of self-disclosure from human recommenders instead of AI counterparts results in higher emotional support, which leads to lower transaction costs. However, under high levels of self-disclosure, consumers’ emotional support and subsequent transaction costs do not differ between human and AI recommenders. Accordingly, we provide theoretical insights into the roles of self-disclosure and emotional support in human–machine interactions, and we contribute to sustainable AI practices by enhancing the efficiency of business operations and advancing broader sustainability objectives.
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Open AccessArticle
Sustainability Management Accounting in Urban Development: A Case Study of an Egyptian State-Owned Enterprise
by
Loai Ali Zeenalabden Ali Alsaid and Jean Claude Mutiganda
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8235; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188235 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024
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The public sector literature on sustainability management accounting (SMA) has grown significantly in recent years, with numerous theoretical and empirical studies examining the purported link between management accounting and corporate sustainability within organisations. However, despite this surge, prior studies have largely confined their
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The public sector literature on sustainability management accounting (SMA) has grown significantly in recent years, with numerous theoretical and empirical studies examining the purported link between management accounting and corporate sustainability within organisations. However, despite this surge, prior studies have largely confined their analytical scope to traditional SMA issues, such as corporate social, environmental, and governance responsibilities. Their analyses have predominantly concentrated on largely investigated elements such as situational linkages, transformational dynamics, agency issues, resistance, and conflicts. This study aims to address these limitations by examining corporate SMA systems within the burgeoning field of urban development. It utilises institutional theory and a case study from Egypt, a developing country, to explore how urban development could impact adopting a corporate SMA system in politically sensitive state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Contrary to existing literature, the findings indicate that urban development has created financial pressures for national governments, which have used these as a political instrument to implement a corporate SMA system within related SOEs. Additionally, the findings highlight the significant role of management accountants as central figures in integrating and standardising a corporate SMA system into the daily practices of current executives through advanced enterprise resource planning (ERP) technology. Moreover, as a development of institutional theory, the findings demonstrate the influence of corporate SMA reports on the decision-making processes of national governments in the context of urban development.
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Open AccessArticle
The Impact of Supply Chain Finance on the Investment Efficiency of Publicly Listed Companies in China Based on Sustainable Development
by
Yixin Dou and Jiaxin Zhao
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8234; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188234 (registering DOI) - 21 Sep 2024
Abstract
Abstract: The development and utilization of supply chain finance play a pivotal role in both enhancing financial structures and delivering substantial support for the sustainable progress of the real economy. This assistance is essential for promoting high-quality economic growth and ensuring stable, long-term
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Abstract: The development and utilization of supply chain finance play a pivotal role in both enhancing financial structures and delivering substantial support for the sustainable progress of the real economy. This assistance is essential for promoting high-quality economic growth and ensuring stable, long-term development. This study empirically examines the effects of supply chain finance on investment efficiency, exploring the underlying mechanisms involved. Additionally, it assesses whether financing constraints and information asymmetry serve as mediating variables in the relationship between supply chain finance and investment efficiency among enterprises. The analysis is based on data from publicly listed companies in China covering the period from 2013 to 2022. The results indicate that supply chain finance effectively addresses both overinvestment and underinvestment issues, leading to a notable improvement in overall investment efficiency. Utilizing a two-way fixed effects model to analyze the role of financing constraints and information asymmetry as mediating variables, the study demonstrates that both factors significantly mediate the relationship between supply chain finance and investment efficiency within enterprises. Supply chain finance improves investment efficiency by mitigating financing constraints and lessening information asymmetry between enterprises and external stakeholders. The heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive impact of supply chain finance on investment efficiency is notably greater in non-state-owned enterprises and in regions with more advanced development.
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Open AccessArticle
Promoting Plant-Based Sustainable Diet to Support Future Development: Emotional Design Card Development
by
Xiaochen Fang and Jinwei Zhu
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8233; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188233 (registering DOI) - 21 Sep 2024
Abstract
The quest for a plant-based sustainable diet has significant value for promoting future development, posing novel challenges for designers. This study involved a five-step design process, encompassing a case study, an experimental study, prototype conception, user testing, and design refinement, with the aim
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The quest for a plant-based sustainable diet has significant value for promoting future development, posing novel challenges for designers. This study involved a five-step design process, encompassing a case study, an experimental study, prototype conception, user testing, and design refinement, with the aim of developing a “Plant-based Sustainable Diet 3P Emotional Design Method” card set that enables individuals to devise personalized sustainable diet plans. The results demonstrated that the instinctive level originates from the product itself, signifying the efficacy of sensory design cues for plant-based foods. The behavioral level stems from the interactive content generated by the product, denoting the efficacy of design cues and highlighting the advantages of transitioning to healthier ingredients for the body. The reflective level arises from the reflection and contemplation of the product, signifying the efficacy of value perception and design cues pertaining to economic, environmental, and social sustainability knowledge. The study analyzed the influencing factors of diet choices through emotional design and provided insights into the underlying psychological mechanisms. The theoretical contribution of this study lies in the novel integration of emotional design and sustainable diet research, while its practical contribution is the introduction of methods and tools that facilitate the adoption of plant-based sustainable diet practices at the individual level.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Food and Diets: For Better Nutrition, Health and Environment)
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