Sign in to use this feature.

Years

Between: -

Subjects

remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

Search Results (48)

Search Parameters:
Keywords = Natural Social Contract

Order results
Result details
Results per page
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
29 pages, 3782 KiB  
Article
Land Use Evolution and Multi-Scenario Simulation of Shrinking Border Counties Based on the PLUS Model: A Case Study of Changbai County
by Bingxin Li, Chennan He, Xue Jiang, Qiang Zheng and Jiashuang Li
Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6441; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146441 - 14 Jul 2025
Viewed by 403
Abstract
The sharp decline in the population along the northeastern border poses a significant threat to the security of the region, the prosperity of border areas, and the stability of the social economy in our country. Effective management of human and land resources is [...] Read more.
The sharp decline in the population along the northeastern border poses a significant threat to the security of the region, the prosperity of border areas, and the stability of the social economy in our country. Effective management of human and land resources is crucial for the high-quality development of border areas. Taking Changbai County on the northeastern border as an example, based on multi-source data such as land use, the natural environment, climate conditions, transportation location, and social economy from 2000 to 2020, the land use transfer matrix, spatial kernel density, and PLUS model were used to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics of land use and explore simulation scenarios and optimization strategies under different planning concepts. This study reveals the following: (1) During the study period, the construction land continued to increase, but the growth rate slowed down, mainly transferred from cultivated land and forest land, and the spatial structure evolved from a single center to a double center, with the core always concentrated along the border. (2) The distance to the port (transportation location), night light (social economy), slope (natural environment), and average annual temperature (climate conditions) are the main driving factors for the change in construction land, and the PLUS model can effectively simulate the land use trend under population contraction. (3) In the reduction scenario, the construction land decreased by 1.67 km2, the scale of Changbai Town slightly reduced, and the contraction around Malugou Town and Badagou Town was more significant. The study shows that the reduction scenario is more conducive to the population aggregation and industrial carrying capacity improvement of shrinking county towns, which is in line with the high-quality development needs of border areas in our country. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 262 KiB  
Article
Cultural Codes of Marriage Rituals in Anatolia: From Ritual to Word in the Context of Oral Culture
by Atila Kartal
Religions 2025, 16(6), 716; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16060716 - 2 Jun 2025
Viewed by 909
Abstract
Marriage is a social contract that carries a number of qualities recognized as having fundamental values. These qualities include a spiritual bond between spouses, mutual love, affection, and responsibility, the continuation of the generation, and the existence of social order. The social definition [...] Read more.
Marriage is a social contract that carries a number of qualities recognized as having fundamental values. These qualities include a spiritual bond between spouses, mutual love, affection, and responsibility, the continuation of the generation, and the existence of social order. The social definition of marriage implies that it is a phenomenon that occurs not only between two individuals in the context of cultural continuity but also in other social structures. It evolves into a structure that encompasses not only the initial two families but also the broader societal context. In Islamic marriage, a contract is formalized between a man and a woman who meet the religious requirements for marriage. The contract is executed with their consent and in the presence of witnesses. However, from a cultural perspective, marriage embodies a multifaceted structure, influenced by religion, ritual practices, symbols, and traditions. In this study, topics such as oral culture, wedding traditions, and rituals are discussed, and cultural practices are interpreted. This study sheds light on the manner in which marriage rites influence the discourse and actions within the social structure. Such studies are of paramount importance in demonstrating the continuity and vitality of culture, as well as the transformative nature of ritual meanings over time. They underscore the notion that culture is an ever-evolving process of interpretation, a characteristic that is intrinsic to its very essence. These actions, inextricably linked to societal structures, have the potential to give rise to novel symbolic meanings and values at any given juncture. However, it is imperative to recognize that the mere analysis of texts representing oral culture products is insufficient for comprehending their ritual functions, social messages, and emotional dimensions. Consequently, an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates the study of transitional rituals and oral culture is necessary to achieve a more comprehensive understanding. By examining cultural elements from diverse perspectives, we can develop a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of cultural diversity in Anatolia. Full article
30 pages, 635 KiB  
Article
Unlock Your Firm Value with ESG Performance? Evidence from ASX-Listed Companies
by Jingyan Zhou, Wen Hua Sharpe, Abdel K. Halabi, Helen Song and Sisira Colombage
J. Risk Financial Manag. 2025, 18(5), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm18050247 - 1 May 2025
Viewed by 2053
Abstract
A research gap exists concerning the moderating roles of corporate governance mechanisms on the nexus of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and firm value. This study aims to address this gap in the Australian corporate context. We examine whether ESG performance can [...] Read more.
A research gap exists concerning the moderating roles of corporate governance mechanisms on the nexus of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and firm value. This study aims to address this gap in the Australian corporate context. We examine whether ESG performance can enhance firm value and whether this relationship is moderated by the corporate governance mechanisms to balance stakeholder interests. Drawing on a sample from the ASX, we find that while high ESG performance can increase firm value, this effect diminishes in the presence of the large number of supply chain contracts. We further discovered a negative moderating effect of board independence and audit quality on ESG performance and firm value. Our findings highlight the contingent nature of ESG value creation, indicating that while ESG activities can enhance firm value, their impact depends on firms’ governance context and contractual arrangements that shape shareholders’ outcomes collectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends and Innovations in Corporate Finance and Governance)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 4277 KiB  
Article
Partnership Development of Smallholder Coffee Cultivation: A Model for Social Capital in the Global Value Chain
by Adi Haryono, Ina Juniarti, Karjo Matajat, Arif Imam Suroso and Moelyono Soesilo
Economies 2024, 12(12), 349; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies12120349 - 17 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1269
Abstract
The productivity of smallholder coffee cultivation is declining due to ageing trees, making the rejuvenation of coffee trees with superior seeds essential. This rejuvenation process requires the support and participation of various stakeholders, including the government, banks, investors, universities, community leaders, experts, extension [...] Read more.
The productivity of smallholder coffee cultivation is declining due to ageing trees, making the rejuvenation of coffee trees with superior seeds essential. This rejuvenation process requires the support and participation of various stakeholders, including the government, banks, investors, universities, community leaders, experts, extension workers, and other parties. The nature of an incomplete contract in building partnership with farmers requires confidence building to avoid higher costs in enforcing a new behavior. However, this study shows that the accumulation of social capital also leads to higher expenses in maintaining these relationships. This study aimed to develop a social capital model to enhance partnerships between coffee farmers and relevant stakeholders. The analysis used a system dynamics model for coffee production and farmer income. The data collection involved the gathering of data and information from 17 actors in the coffee industry in Lampung, particularly in Kopista community. The study reveals that the social capital model must be constructed from four components: (1) trust, (2) ongoing cooperative activities, (3) social capital connections, and (4) memories of successful cooperative actions. Active involvement and instruction from specialists on the concept of social capital and partnership models can enhance cooperation by maintaining social connections. The policy implication of this study is that the development of a social capital model and partnership must be constructed by mentoring for economic benefits and must be continuously supported. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

32 pages, 6999 KiB  
Review
A Bibliometric Analysis and Scoping Review of the Critical Success Factors for Residential Building Energy Retrofitting
by Ayodele Samuel Adegoke, Rotimi Boluwatife Abidoye and Riza Yosia Sunindijo
Buildings 2024, 14(12), 3989; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14123989 - 16 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1545
Abstract
Retrofitting existing residential buildings presents a feasible approach to improving energy efficiency. Therefore, recognising the critical success factors (CSFs) for residential building energy retrofitting (BER) has remained a significant topic in this climate change era. However, given the fragmented nature of past findings, [...] Read more.
Retrofitting existing residential buildings presents a feasible approach to improving energy efficiency. Therefore, recognising the critical success factors (CSFs) for residential building energy retrofitting (BER) has remained a significant topic in this climate change era. However, given the fragmented nature of past findings, this study reviewed past studies on the CSFs for residential BER. Utilising Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, 138 studies were initially examined, with 33 meeting the inclusion criteria and synthesised according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The review started with a bibliometric analysis, including publication trends, types, geographical focus, etc., and found growing interest in this topic amongst authors in China, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and Europe. The scoping review results highlight seven overarching themes of CSFs: project-, contract-, stakeholder-, team-, financial-, regulation-, and material/technology-related. Notably, the most emphasised across the studies were stakeholder-, project-, regulation-, and financial-related CSFs. A further review of the included studies revealed that the dominant methods used in past studies were factor analysis, regression analysis, social network analysis (SNA), and structural equation modelling (SEM). This study provides valuable insights for regulatory bodies, construction professionals, project managers, and homeowners seeking to develop customised retrofitting solutions, advancing residential BER research and practice. Further research is suggested to understand how combinations of factors can drive retrofitting success across varied contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 17469 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Ecosystem Service Bundles from a Trade-Off and Synergistic Perspective: A Case Study of Qinghai Province
by Qiwei Wu, Jian Gong, Shishi Wu and Jiasheng Lin
Land 2024, 13(12), 2120; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13122120 - 6 Dec 2024
Viewed by 987
Abstract
Ecosystem services, encompassing the provision of food, water, air purification, climate regulation, and disease mitigation, form the bedrock upon which human well-being and socio-economic development are anchored. The preservation of these services is instrumental in safeguarding human survival and fostering progress. Qinghai Province, [...] Read more.
Ecosystem services, encompassing the provision of food, water, air purification, climate regulation, and disease mitigation, form the bedrock upon which human well-being and socio-economic development are anchored. The preservation of these services is instrumental in safeguarding human survival and fostering progress. Qinghai Province, located on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, holds a pivotal role as a crucial ecological barrier within China. The optimization of its ecosystem services is vital for the effective management of ecologically fragile areas. This study focuses on Qinghai Province. By integrating natural geographic, social, and Points of Interest (POI) big data, we utilized tools like InVEST, CASA, and advanced algorithmic optimizations to analyze ecosystem services and their trade-off synergies in Qinghai from 2000 to 2020. Based on these synergies, we developed a novel optimization algorithm to generate spatial bundles that amplify synergistic interactions while minimizing costs. Our findings indicate that the following: (1) Between 2000 and 2020, recreational services, water yield, and habitat quality in Qinghai Province generally exhibited an upward trend, whereas carbon sequestration showed a decline; (2) Notable synergies were evident between carbon sequestration and habitat quality and between recreation services and habitat quality. Conversely, significant trade-offs were observed between water yield and habitat quality and between water yield and cultural services, with these trade-off synergy effects varying markedly across different regions; (3) We constructed ecosystem service bundles characterized by “strong synergy–weak trade-off” based on these relationships. Following optimization, regions demonstrating significant synergies expanded, while those showing significant trade-offs contracted, thereby adapting to the ecological heterogeneity of high-altitude areas. This study advances the optimization of ecosystem service bundles in ecologically sensitive zones through a lens of trade-off synergies. The results offer a scientific foundation for formulating effective ecological protection and restoration strategies, providing valuable insights for ecosystem service research in other high-altitude regions globally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Landscape Ecology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 5005 KiB  
Article
Interdisciplinarity in the Built Environment: Measurement and Interdisciplinary Topic Identification
by Mengmeng Wang, Yanan Xie, Xiaotong Guo and Hanliang Fu
Buildings 2024, 14(12), 3718; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14123718 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1411
Abstract
Interdisciplinary research plays a crucial role in addressing the intricate scientific and social challenges confronting society. The field of built environment, as an interdisciplinary discipline, has benefitted from cross-pollination with various fields such as architecture, environment, medicine, and psychology, leading to a range [...] Read more.
Interdisciplinary research plays a crucial role in addressing the intricate scientific and social challenges confronting society. The field of built environment, as an interdisciplinary discipline, has benefitted from cross-pollination with various fields such as architecture, environment, medicine, and psychology, leading to a range of interdisciplinary advancements. Nevertheless, there remains a gap in the systematic documentation of interdisciplinary outcomes within this field. This paper utilized the cosine index and the Rao–Stirling index to assess the level of interdisciplinarity within the built environment field. This was followed by the screening of literature achievements with a high interdisciplinary nature, the identification of interdisciplinary topics based on the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) model, and the analysis of the evolution path of interdisciplinary topics based on time series. The results demonstrate that the field of built environment exhibits a high degree of interdisciplinary integration, with the most prevalent crossovers observed with medicine, psychology, and public health science, and fewer crossovers with electrochemistry, crystallography, and nanotechnology, which represent potential emerging directions. Over the past three decades, 17 core interdisciplinary topics have emerged in the field, and the overall evolutionary trend over time has been one of divergence, followed by contraction and then divergence. This study provides scholars with up-to-date knowledge from an interdisciplinary perspective, and facilitates the development of interdisciplinary research and cooperation in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Buildings, Infrastructure and SDGs 2030)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 493 KiB  
Article
The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Waves on Maternal Health and Infant Outcomes—A Retrospective Cohort Study
by Gail Ohaegbulam, Kedra Wallace, Wondwosen K. Yimer, Ahmed S. Z. Moustafa and Rachael Morris
Women 2024, 4(4), 469-479; https://doi.org/10.3390/women4040035 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1360
Abstract
The initial presentation of COVID-19 to the world left many in the medical community perplexed about its true nature and potential impact on individuals. Many investigations into the pathology of the virus resulted from this; however, studies were limited in the obstetric community, [...] Read more.
The initial presentation of COVID-19 to the world left many in the medical community perplexed about its true nature and potential impact on individuals. Many investigations into the pathology of the virus resulted from this; however, studies were limited in the obstetric community, especially in high-risk communities. Each pandemic wave (Alpha, Delta, Omicron) had different transmission rates and inflicted different COVID-19 severity levels among those infected. This study aimed to determine if the effects of COVID-19 on maternal and infant outcomes varied by pandemic waves. This is an observational cohort study utilizing women enrolled in a COVID-19 pregnancy study. A review of 374 electronic medical records of women who received care at the University of Mississippi Medical Center after testing positive for SARS-CoV2 was conducted. During the Alpha pandemic wave, women contracted COVID-19 significantly earlier in pregnancy; however, higher rates of COVID-19 infection occurred during the Omicron pandemic wave. During the Delta pandemic wave, more women were morbidly obese and were likely to deliver significantly earlier, and, when compared to infants born during the Omicron pandemic wave, the infants born during the Delta wave weighed significantly less. The effects of COVID-19 on high-risk pregnant patients may deviate from previous reports, indicating a need for further investigation of the biological and social factors that may lead to these differences. Studies into the effects of COVID-19 in pregnancy remain limited and this study provides valuable insight into how varying COVID-19 strains affected a high-risk obstetric community. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1070 KiB  
Article
Who Should Own the Residual Rights over Distributed Resources?
by Nilton Bispo Amado, Erick Del Bianco Pelegia, Ildo Luís Sauer, Welson Bassi, Julieta Andrea Puerto Rico and Carlos Germán Meza González
Energies 2024, 17(21), 5286; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17215286 - 24 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1000
Abstract
Residual rights are the right to choose asset uses not specified in the contract. They are essential in situations of uncertainty. The current energy transition presents a greater variety of assets. Moreover, it is impossible to anticipate all relevant states that the assets [...] Read more.
Residual rights are the right to choose asset uses not specified in the contract. They are essential in situations of uncertainty. The current energy transition presents a greater variety of assets. Moreover, it is impossible to anticipate all relevant states that the assets and the environment can embody, making it impossible to optimize them contractually. Furthermore, there is consensus that the transition must occur quickly, which means high levels of investment in new specific assets. How should we distribute property rights to maximize social benefits in a context with specific and dispersed assets? Because of the complementarity between network and distributed resources, this article questions the premise that deverticalization is invariably beneficial to consumers and argues for the need to revise the concept of network and develop the regulatory implications of such a reconceptualization. We defend the need to evaluate alternative network concepts considering the technological repertoire available to operationalize them. When considering the technological repertoire available today, characterized by the competitiveness of information and communications technology (ICT) and distributed resources, we should recognize the inherently incomplete nature of the contracts signed between network operators and users. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Low Carbon Development in the Energy Sector)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 812 KiB  
Article
How Did COVID-19 Pandemic Stress Affect Poles’ Views on the Role of the Forest?
by Emilia Janeczko, Jan Banaś, Małgorzata Woźnicka, Krzysztof Janeczko, Katarzyna Utnik-Banaś, Stanisław Zięba and Jitka Fialova
Land 2024, 13(5), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050656 - 11 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1454
Abstract
The 2020–2021 COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on the daily lives of everyone, including local communities and entire societies. Under the influence of this new experience, the importance of the services and benefits provided by forests and other green spaces has [...] Read more.
The 2020–2021 COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on the daily lives of everyone, including local communities and entire societies. Under the influence of this new experience, the importance of the services and benefits provided by forests and other green spaces has increased. A very large role in this aspect was played by media messages promoting the idea of being close to nature as a remedy for malaise and stress, and pushing the thesis that the risk of spreading the virus outdoors is lower than it is indoors. Thanks to media messages, as well as government responses (i.e., lockdown, temporary bans on entering the forest), public attention has been directed toward forests, generating greater interest in forest management and conservation issues, as well as in nature and forestry education. The purpose of our research was to determine how the pandemic affected the frequency of visits to the forest and how it changed the public’s views on the role of forests. The research material consists of the results of a questionnaire survey (online and traditionally way) carried out in Poland from September to October in 2020. A total of 1402 people were surveyed. The results show that nearly 52% of respondents increased their use of forest recreational services during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also found that more than 80% of respondents agreed with statements that the forest is a safer space than, for example, parks or squares, and it is more difficult to contract the virus there. Men were more likely to agree with this statement than women (1.51), respondents without children (1.45), respondents over the age of 31 (1.72), and respondents with more than primary or secondary education (1.37). Also, more than 80% of respondents said that the social functions of the forest (e.g., recreational) had gained importance as a result of the pandemic. The social functions of the forest gained importance primarily among respondents with higher education (2.40), and among respondents who had visited the forest rather infrequently (several times a year) for recreational purposes before the pandemic (1.72). Those with children were more likely to agree with the statement that the economic functions of the forest have lost their importance (1.43), as were those who had formerly visited the forest several times a year (1.53). With regard to the statement “the slowdown of the economy has contributed to the improvement of the environment,” there were no statistically significant differences in the views of respondents in terms of their socio-demographic characteristics. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1917 KiB  
Article
Decision-Making Mechanism of Farmers in Land Transfer Processes Based on Sustainable Livelihood Analysis Framework: A Study in Rural China
by Hongbin Liu, Hebin Zhang, Yuxuan Xu and Ying Xue
Land 2024, 13(5), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050640 - 8 May 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2148
Abstract
The act of land transfer in rural areas is an important decision-making mechanism for farmers, to enhance resource allocation efficiency and promote capital mobility, and this act is of strategic importance in promoting the level of agricultural scale and mechanization, land system change, [...] Read more.
The act of land transfer in rural areas is an important decision-making mechanism for farmers, to enhance resource allocation efficiency and promote capital mobility, and this act is of strategic importance in promoting the level of agricultural scale and mechanization, land system change, and, thus, the sustainable development of livelihoods and production in China. This study aims to explore farmers’ decision-making mechanisms in the process of land transfer in rural areas, by constructing a theoretical framework. Structural equation modeling was used, based on data from a survey of rural families in the Liaoning Province area of Northeastern China. The main findings are as follows: (1) The seven types of exogenous latent variables, including environmental vulnerability, policy, and five main livelihood assets (natural capital, physical capital, financial capital, human capital, and social capital), are intermediary in farmers’ land transfer behavior, which then positively affect farmers’ livelihood outcomes. (2) Among the exogenous latent variables affecting farmers’ land transfer, human assets have the most significant positive effect, followed by social assets and physical assets, family labor force share, frequency of work information exchange, and number of production tools, greatly affect the corresponding variable. (3) Natural assets play the most important role and have a negative effect on farmers’ land transfer decision; contracted area of land per family is the greatest impacted measurable variable of this. The results of the study suggest that the government should strengthen skills training for farmers, improve the land transfer policy system, and provide appropriate subsidies in a regionally targeted manner. Thus, it can promote the transformation of Chinese-style agricultural modernization and achieve rural revitalization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Commons Governance and Sustainable Land Use)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 256 KiB  
Article
Informed Ignorance as a Form of Epistemic Injustice
by Noa Cohen and Mirko Daniel Garasic
Philosophies 2024, 9(3), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies9030059 - 29 Apr 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3239
Abstract
Ignorance, or the lack of knowledge, appears to be steadily spreading, despite the increasing availability of information. The notion of informed ignorance herein proposed to describe the widespread position of being exposed to an abundance of information yet lacking relevant knowledge, which is [...] Read more.
Ignorance, or the lack of knowledge, appears to be steadily spreading, despite the increasing availability of information. The notion of informed ignorance herein proposed to describe the widespread position of being exposed to an abundance of information yet lacking relevant knowledge, which is tied to the exponential growth in misinformation driven by technological developments and social media. Linked to many of societies’ most looming catastrophes, from political polarization to the climate crisis, practices related to knowledge and information are deemed some of the most imminent and daunting modern threats, evidenced by the latest report of the World Economic Forum, which has named misinformation the most severe short-term global risk. This paper’s epistemic perspective links the properties of today’s information culture and the ways in which it interacts with individual capacities and limitations in current technological and socio-political contexts. Such a position is analyzed through the lens of epistemic principles as a contemporary epistemic phenotype that emerges from an environment of ill-adapted and excessive information inputs and leads to a distinctive type of social injustice that is primarily epistemic in nature. While equity and accessibility are widely discussed as important contributing factors to epistemic discrepancies, other overlooked but fundamental issues underlying epistemic injustices are considered, such as information manipulation, cognitive limitations, and epistemic degradation. To effectively face this elusive threat, we propose an inclusive viewpoint that harnesses knowledge from cognitive science, science and technology studies, and social epistemology to inform a unifying theory of its main impacts and driving forces. By adjusting a modern epistemic framework to the described phenomena, we intend to contextually outline its trajectory and possible means of containment based on a shared responsibility to maintain ethical epistemic standards. In a time of international unrest and mounting civil acts of violence, it is pertinent to emphasize the ethical principles of knowledge systems and authorities and suggest policy adaptations to maintain a social contract based on the shared values of truth and freedom. Full article
27 pages, 5449 KiB  
Article
Regional Disparities and Dynamic Distribution in the High-Quality Development of the Marine Economy
by Hongfeng Zhang and Xiaoyang Wang
Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 839; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020839 - 18 Jan 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1636
Abstract
The maritime economy is gradually becoming a new engine for the high-quality development of the economic and social sectors. However, due to factors such as geographical location and natural endowments, there are significant regional disparities, making it challenging for the national maritime economy [...] Read more.
The maritime economy is gradually becoming a new engine for the high-quality development of the economic and social sectors. However, due to factors such as geographical location and natural endowments, there are significant regional disparities, making it challenging for the national maritime economy to achieve balanced development. Therefore, this paper constructs an index evaluation system for the high-quality development of the maritime economy. It calculates the comprehensive index and subsystem indices of the high-quality development of the maritime economy in 11 coastal provinces (cities and districts) in China from 2008 to 2020 and examines their regional disparities and dynamic evolution. The study reveals the following: (1) The high-quality development levels of the maritime economy in coastal provinces show a fluctuating upward trend, with different dimensions of advantages in each province. (2) The overall regional disparities exhibit a development trajectory of expansion followed by contraction, with a general trend in narrowing disparities. Currently, the southern maritime economic zone has the greatest internal differences, and the gap between the southern and northern maritime economic zones is relatively pronounced. (3) Significant fluctuations are observed in the disparities in high-quality development of the maritime economy between China and the three major maritime economic zones. The internal gaps within the northern and southern maritime economic zones have expanded to varying degrees, whereas the gaps within the eastern maritime economic zone have shown some convergence. (4) Inter-group mobility among provinces in different states of high-quality development of the maritime economy is low, and provinces in a low-level state exhibit a noticeable “low-end lock-in” phenomenon. This paper, through a timely spatial and temporal analysis of China’s high-quality development process of the maritime economy, aims to provide policy guidance for advancing the high-quality development of the maritime economy. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 303 KiB  
Article
A Libertarian Anarchist Analysis of Norman Geisler’s Philosophy of Government
by Anthony Michael Miller
Religions 2024, 15(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15010023 - 22 Dec 2023
Viewed by 2967
Abstract
There are numerous approaches and conclusions regarding church and state relations and how Christianity affects public policy. Yet the purpose of this study is to question some of the philosophical assumptions and biblical interpretations that Christians hold to which support the state as [...] Read more.
There are numerous approaches and conclusions regarding church and state relations and how Christianity affects public policy. Yet the purpose of this study is to question some of the philosophical assumptions and biblical interpretations that Christians hold to which support the state as a morally legitimate authoritative institution in the first place. This article will argue that various presuppositions regarding the state’s moral legitimacy are untenable, if not self-refuting. The philosophical commitments of a form of Christian Conservatism exemplified by Norman L. Geisler will be analyzed and critiqued by the Christian Libertarian Anarchist school of thought, represented by Gerard Casey. Geisler’s views on first principles, God’s moral law, social contracts, consent, anarchy, the distinction between vices and crimes, preconditions for virtue, and the common good will be examined. Then, Geisler’s interpretation of classic biblical texts supporting the alleged moral legitimacy of the state will also be assessed. This article will contend that if one were to consistently apply some pertinent principles found in Geisler’s prolegomena to theology when reasoning from natural revelation and the relevant biblical data, one will find that the conclusions are more compatible with the political theology of Christian Libertarian Anarchism. Hence the one who questions how Christianity affects public policy should take into consideration the reasons to deny that divine revelation affirms the state as a morally legitimate authoritative institution. If this is the case, the question ought to be reframed to determine how Christianity affects public policy within a state that has no legitimate moral grounds for authority. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue How Christianity Affects Public Policy)
14 pages, 440 KiB  
Article
Closing the Loop on Food Waste: Stakeholder Views and Experiences from Southeast Queensland, Australia
by Nikita Zatyko, Savindi Caldera and Cheryl Desha
Waste 2023, 1(3), 640-653; https://doi.org/10.3390/waste1030038 - 11 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3527
Abstract
Every year in Australia, the household, commercial and industry sectors generate more than five million tonnes of food waste, with the majority of it ending up in landfills that are costly to run and diminishing in availability. There are urgent calls for effective [...] Read more.
Every year in Australia, the household, commercial and industry sectors generate more than five million tonnes of food waste, with the majority of it ending up in landfills that are costly to run and diminishing in availability. There are urgent calls for effective waste management practices to better address the challenges related to increasing volumes of food waste. This study evaluates potential food waste collection and composting initiatives that will ensure the implementation of the appropriate policies and technologies, and best practice of utilizing food waste as a natural resource. A series of semi-structured interviews were conducted with practitioners from the Southeast Queensland waste industry to gain insights on the challenges and opportunities for implementing a Food Organics, Garden Organics (FOGO) system. The interviews revealed five key themes: levies and taxes, capital investment challenges, lack of capacity, contract inefficiencies, and separate waste streams. Organisations and companies in the waste industry heavily rely on funding in order to technologically advance. There is a divergence of attention between technology and policy. Advancement of technology grows faster than the policies that regulate the appropriate use and level of effectiveness of the introduced technology. Both policy and technological changes need to occur simultaneously for Queensland to evolve and develop a social-economic system that favours a non-wasteful and sustainable future. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop