Search Results (181)

Rapid urbanization and industrialization have intensified the contradiction between water scarcity and economic growth. Achieving synergy between economic development and water conservation through taxation and subsidy policies has emerged as a critical research focus. This study develops an extended Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model incorporating a water resource module to evaluate the impacts of production tax and subsidy policies in Wenling City, Zhejiang Province, China, a typical water-scarce city. By integrating a nested Constant Elasticity of Substitution (CES) production function for various water sources, the model captures the interactions between water supply and industrial output. Six policy scenarios of taxations and subsidies are designed. The impacts on macroeconomic aggregates, industrial output, and water usage are simulated. Results indicate that standalone taxation policies (Water Conservation Taxation Policy A1/Industrial Transformation Taxation Policy B1) reduce water usage by 3.35–3.80% but suppress Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth by 0.37–0.76%. Among combined policies, the Water Conservation Combined Policy A3 achieves the optimal synergy between water conservation and economic growth, increasing real GDP by 1.00% while reducing water usage by 4.97%. This study reveals that taxation curbs the expansion of water-intensive industries, whereas subsidies redirect production factors toward water-efficient industries. Combining these policies effectively balances water conservation and economic development objectives. This study demonstrates how differentiated tax instruments drive water conservation through industrial transformation, providing a quantitative framework for production tax policy formulation in water-scarce regions. Full article

This study evaluates growth and income distribution targets needed to alleviate poverty and eradicate hunger, and assesses strategies to achieve these goals in rural areas in South Africa. Most development policy studies concentrate on growth, inequality, and poverty reduction, while explicit SDG-related applications receive less attention, especially in Africa. To fill this gap, we apply a framework that combines a recursive dynamic CGE model with a microeconomic simulation model in a top-down and bottom-up fashion. We explore two scenarios: a business-as-usual simulation and an agricultural growth simulation that tests investment, export enhancement, productivity improvements, and social assistance extension. The agriculture policy includes targeted social assistance. Halving poverty and eradicating extreme hunger requires 2.7% annual economic growth and 3.6% agricultural growth from 2018 to 2030. In the business-as-usual scenario, poverty is expected to rise from 55.2% in 2015 to 56.1% by 2030, with 24% still below the food poverty line. The agricultural growth scenario can advance hunger and poverty goals if individual consumption increases by 2.6% annually. Achieving SDG targets for hunger and poverty demands interventions beyond agricultural policy. South Africa can achieve its hunger and poverty SDG goals through a combination of agricultural investments, social assistance, and labour policies. Full article

China’s healthcare expenditure tripled during 2010–2019, prompting the nationwide implementation of centralized volume-based procurement (CVBP). While effective in reducing drug prices, CVBP introduces sustainability challenges including supply chain vulnerabilities and welfare trade-offs. This study develops a pharmaceutical sector-embedded computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to quantify CVBP’s multidimensional sustainability impacts. Using China’s 2020 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) with simulated 10–50% price reductions, key findings reveal that (1) >40% price reductions trigger sectoral output reversal; (2) GDP exhibits an inverted U-shape; (3) household income declines despite corporate/government gains; and (4) industrial contraction impairs innovation capacity and employment stability. Our analysis identifies potential sustainability risks, emphasizing the need for rigorous empirical validation prior to implementing aggressive price reduction policies, and underscores the importance of integrating supply chain considerations into procurement policy design. This approach maximizes resource allocation efficiency while advancing socioeconomic resilience in healthcare systems. Full article

Agriculture is the primary sector sustaining the Indonesian economy. However, appropriate policies are also required to support the service sector. Therefore, this study aims to analyze two central policies: the impact of trade openness and the role of the service sector on agriculture and agro-industry in Indonesia. A Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model with 2016 input–output tables cover 141 regions and 65 sectors based on the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) Version 10 database. The results show that trade openness in the services sector significantly improves the performance and quality of service provision. The improved performance of the services sector will, in turn, encourage increased production in the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors, which rely heavily on service inputs in the production process. This suggests that trade openness in the services sector is important to sustain the performance of the agricultural sector. Full article

This study explores how carbon pricing and electricity market liberalization jointly contribute to China’s sustainable energy transition. Using a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model (CEEEA2.0), we simulate three policy scenarios—business as usual, emissions trading scheme (ETS) with regulated electricity prices, and ETS with market-based pricing—under a unified emissions cap. The results demonstrate that electricity market liberalization enhances carbon pricing efficiency by eliminating price distortions, leading to a 0.06% increase in GDP and a 12% reduction in emission abatement costs. However, liberalization also raises electricity and consumer prices, disproportionately affecting rural and low-income households. These findings underscore the need to balance economic efficiency and social equity in sustainability-oriented energy reforms. Our analysis emphasizes the importance of designing inclusive and just transition policies to ensure that carbon mitigation efforts support long-term environmental, economic, and social sustainability goals. Full article

Proton beam therapy for head and neck cancers traditionally employs a fixed relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of 1.1, which may underestimate actual biological effects in critical structures. This study evaluates how Linear Energy Transfer (LET) optimization could potentially prevent radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (RIBP). (1) Case presentation: A 65-year-old male with stage IVA p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma received pencil-beam-scanning intensity-modulated proton therapy with concurrent cisplatin. Due to a right level 4 neck node, the high-risk target volume overlapped with the brachial plexus, resulting in a D0.1cc of 70.3 Gy (RBE = 1.1). Four years post-treatment, the patient developed progressive right upper extremity paresthesia, weakness, and dysesthesia. Electromyography revealed myokymia consistent with brachial plexopathy, while MRI showed hyperintensity of the right brachial plexus corresponding to the radiation field. Conservative treatment with pentoxifylline, gabapentin, and physical therapy improved his symptoms. (2) Methods: The original treatment plan was retrospectively analyzed using Monte Carlo dose algorithms and LET-dependent RBE models from McMahon and McNamara. An LET-optimized plan was created to limit LET_d to 2.0 keV/µm in the brachial plexus. (3) Results: The relative biological equivalent (RBE) dose to 0.1cc of the brachial plexus was 77.8 Gy (CGE RBE), exceeding tolerance. The LET-optimized plan reduced the brachial plexus D0.1cc to 59.4 Gy (RBE = 1.1) and 63.2 Gy (CGE RBE), an 18.8% decrease, while maintaining target coverage. LET_d, within the brachial plexus enhancement, decreased from 5.3 to 2.6 keV/μm. (4) Conclusion: This case highlights the potential clinical importance of LET optimization in proton therapy planning, particularly when organs-at-risk overlap with target volumes. By reducing LET_d from 5.3 to 2.6 keV/μm and biological equivalent dose by 18.8%, LET optimization could potentially prevent late toxicities, like RIBP, while maintaining target coverage. Full article

This study uses a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to analyze the impact of skilled and semi-skilled labor supply shocks on the Ethiopian economy and sectoral outputs. The study examines three policy scenarios: a 10% increase, a 15% increase, and a 20% increase in skilled and semi-skilled labor supply compared to a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario. The findings show that all three scenarios contribute to higher economic growth, investment, and exports. The impact on sectoral outputs is also significant, with the industry and services sectors performing better than the agriculture sector. In the 20% increase scenario, the real annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate is projected to be 0.79 percentage points higher than the business-as-usual scenario. Additionally, the annual growth rates of investments and exports are expected to be 2.69 and 2.31 percentage points higher, respectively, compared to their business-as-usual scenario counterparts. The agriculture sector experiences a slight increase of 0.16 percentage points in annual production compared to the business-as-usual scenario. Output in the industry sector also sees a rise of 1.61 percentage points higher than the business-as-usual scenario, while outputs in the services sector improve significantly. Overall, the study highlights the positive impact of increasing the supply of skilled and semi-skilled labor on the economy. This is mainly due to the higher productivity of skilled and semi-skilled workers, which contributes to increased economic growth. The findings suggest that governments should implement policies to enhance the supply of skilled and semi-skilled labor, such as investing in education and training programs. These measures would promote economic growth and improve living standards. Full article

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

The pathway towards carbon neutrality in regions with a relatively light industrial structure and scarce renewable energy resources presents a challenge when balancing energy efficiency improvements with the expansion of renewable energy. Therefore, this study investigates the effectiveness of carbon pricing and carbon quota control as regional carbon abatement policies. The findings demonstrate that carbon taxes are less effective than carbon emission quota control in economic growth and carbon abatement due to their weaker impact on energy efficiency enhancement and structural transition in the energy and industrial sectors. Moreover, stricter carbon pricing, determined by carbon emission goals, leads to greater reduction in sectoral carbon intensity but slower GDP growth caused by the accelerated decline of manufacturing and infrastructure industries compared to carbon intensity quota policies. In addition, carbon pricing derived from carbon emission and intensity quota policies increases reliance on domestically imported electricity, which is constrained by the availability of renewable energy resources. Full article

Purpose: Proton irradiation is used to treat choroidal melanoma of the eye. The impact on non-malignant retinal cells is currently understudied. Therefore, we here report a mouse model to investigate the impact of proton irradiation on the retina. Methods: We performed a proton beam irradiation of 5–15 Cobalt-Gray-Equivalent (CGE) of the eyes of female C57Bl6/J (Cx3cr1^+/+), Cx3cr1^gfp/+ and Cx3cr1^gfp/gfp mice mimicking the clinical situation and evaluated the structure, function and cellular composition of the retina up to 24 weeks after irradiation. Results: Proton beam irradiation of the eye with 15 CGE leads to cataract formation after 24 weeks without affecting the gross anatomy of the retinal vasculature as shown by Fundus imaging in all genotypes respectively. However, 10 and 15 CGE, lead to a significant decrease in NG2 positive cell numbers and all three dosages induced an increase in GFAP immunoreactivity. At 24 weeks a dosage of 15 CGE resulted in functional impairment and a decrease of NG2 positive cells in both WT and Cx3cr1 animals. Iba1 cell immunoreactivity was increased in all genotypes. However, in the Cx3cr1 animals the invasion of Iba1 cells into the deep vascular layer was partially prevented. This was accompanied by a less severe functional impairment in the irradiated Cx3cr1^gfp/gfp vs. WT. Conclusions: Although the gross anatomy of the retina does not seem to be affected by proton beam irradiation, the cellular composition and retinal function changed significantly in both WT and Cx3cr1 mice reflecting the clinical situation. Moreover, cataract formation was one of the major long-term effects of irradiation. We conclude that the murine model (WT and Cx3cr1 genotype) can be used to investigate proton-beam associated side effects in vivo as well as to test prospective interventions. Moreover, the loss of Cx3cr1 seems to be partially protective. Full article

Background: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a significant global health concern, primarily resulting from chronic alcohol consumption, with oxidative stress as a key driver. The ethyl acetate extract of Cichorium glandulosum (CGE) exhibits antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties, but its detailed mechanism of action against ALD remains unclear. This study investigates the effects and mechanisms of CGE in alleviating alcohol-induced oxidative stress and liver injury. Methods: Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS) was used to identify CGE components. A C57BL/6J mouse model of ALD was established via daily oral ethanol (56%) for six weeks, with CGE treatment at low (100 mg/kg) and high doses (200 mg/kg). Silibinin (100 mg/kg) served as a positive control. Liver function markers, oxidative stress indicators, and inflammatory markers were assessed. Transcriptomic and network pharmacology analyses identified key genes and pathways, validated by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. Results: UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS identified 81 CGE compounds, mainly including terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoids. CGE significantly ameliorated liver injury by reducing alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and enhancing antioxidative markers such as total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) while lowering hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Inflammation was mitigated through reduced levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1β), and C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 10 (CXCL-10). Transcriptomic and network pharmacology analysis revealed seven key antioxidant-related genes, including HMOX1, RSAD2, BCL6, CDKN1A, THBD, SLC2A4, and TGFβ3, validated by RT-qPCR. CGE activated the P21/Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2)/Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling axis, increasing P21, Nrf2, and HO-1 protein levels while suppressing Kelch-like ECH-associated Protein 1 (Keap1) expression. Conclusions: CGE mitigates oxidative stress and liver injury by activating the P21/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and regulating antioxidant genes. Its hepatoprotective effects and multi-target mechanisms highlight CGE’s potential as a promising therapeutic candidate for ALD treatment. Full article

Taiwan (China) is a global leader in the electronic information industry. However, previous studies have paid limited attention to the impact of international trade policies on Taiwan’s electronic information sector. This study aims to examine the effects of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on the global value chain (GVC) of Taiwan’s electronic information industry. Using the GTAP 10.0 database, this study applies the GVC-CGE model to measure the GVC participation and position index of the electronic information industry in Taiwan (China), Mainland China, and other RCEP member economies. The results show that, in the short term, the RCEP does not have a significant impact on Taiwan’s electronic information industry’s participation or position in the global value chain. However, in the long term, it is likely to negatively affect Taiwan’s forward participation and position. Economies within the RCEP that possess technological or resource advantages are expected to see improvements in their electronic information industry’s value chain position. As a result, Taiwan’s electronic information industry faces the risk of being displaced in the global division of labor. These findings offer valuable insights into the position of the electronic information industry of Taiwan (China) within the global value chain, highlight the importance of regional economic cooperation, and provide crucial information for the development of this industry. This study reveals how the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership contributes to the regional reconfiguration of global value chains and its potential impacts on Taiwan’s electronic information industry. We suggest that Taiwan should engage more actively in East Asian regional economic cooperation to mitigate these potential negative effects as much as possible. Full article

Ecological environmental governance is not only a crucial aspect of the urbanization process, but also a key factor for achieving coordinated development between regional economies and the environment. This study utilizes a multi-regional Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to simulate the impact of varying degrees of environmental governance on urbanization in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. The results indicate that ecological environmental governance may exert certain negative effects on urbanization processes, such as GDP, household income, and industrial output; however, it also helps to reduce environmental pollution to some extent. From the different scenarios examined, we observed that both fully local environmental governance and proportional environmental governance result in impacts on urbanization development in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. However, significant differences are evident among the three regions. The effects of ecological environmental governance on urbanization are the least pronounced in Beijing, followed by Tianjin, while Hebei experiences far greater disruptions, with economic declines exceeding 7%, significantly surpassing its capacity to cope. Based on these findings, this paper proposes several policy recommendations, including the necessity of differentiated intensities for ecological environmental governance, a gradual expansion of the governance scope, and the implementation of a diverse combination of policies for air pollution control and emissions reduction. Full article

Global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions has become a worldwide environmental problem, posing a great threat to human survival. As the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide, China has pledged to reach peak carbon emissions by no later than 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. It is found that a carbon tax is a powerful incentive to reduce carbon emissions and promote an energy revolution, but it may have negative socio-economic impacts. Therefore, based on China’s 2020 input–output table, this paper systematically investigates the impacts of a carbon tax on China’s economy, carbon emissions, and energy by applying a computable general equilibrium model to determine the ideal equilibrium between socio-economic and environmental objectives. Based on energy use characteristics, we subdivided the energy sector into five major sectors: coal, oil, natural gas, thermal power generation, and clean power. The results show that when the carbon emission reduction target is less than 15%, that is, when the equilibrium carbon tax price is less than 54 yuan/ton, the implementation of a carbon tax policy can significantly reduce carbon emission and fossil fuel energy consumption, while only slightly reducing economic growth rate, and can achieve the double dividend of environment and economy. Moreover, because the reduction of coal consumption has the greatest impact on reducing carbon emissions, the ad valorem tax rate on coal after the carbon tax is imposed is the highest because coal has the highest carbon emission coefficient among fossil fuels. In addition, as an emerging clean energy source, hydrogen energy is the ideal energy storage medium for achieving clean power generation in power systems. If hydrogen energy can be vigorously developed, it is expected to greatly accelerate the deep decarbonization of power, industry, transportation, construction, and other fields. Full article

Accurately evaluating the effectiveness of the energy consumption “dual control” policy can effectively solve serious the current environmental pollution and promote ecological civilization. However, researchers have rarely considered the impacts on the regional “resource curse” of the energy consumption “dual control” policy. A dynamic computable general equilibrium model (CGE) was built to evaluate the impacts on the regional “resource curse” of the energy intensity control and total energy control policy. The results showed the following. (1) The energy consumption “dual control” policy changes the supply-and-demand relationship of factors and reduces the crowding-out effect of humans and capital. (2) The energy consumption “dual control” policy has restrained GDP growth, and the total output and total investment have declined. However, the impact in regions without the “resource curse” is remarkable. (3) The energy consumption “dual control” policy has a significant inhibitory effect on major pollutants and carbon emissions. (4) The energy consumption “dual control” policy has played a positive role in breaking the regional “resource curse”. The areas with a high and low “resource curse” have become smaller, and the areas without the “resource curse” have increased significantly. The following suggestions are made: (1) increase the flexibility of the “dual control” policy of energy consumption, (2) establish an energy consumption budget management system, and (3) accelerate the establishment of a carbon footprint management system. Full article