Search Results (3,154)

For a long time, the explanation of the various determinants of oil price fluctuations and their impact on economic activity has been based on the supply and demand mechanism. However, with various volatile changes in the international situation in recent years, such as threats to public health and an increase in regional conflicts, special attention has been paid to the geopolitical context as an additional driver of oil price fluctuations. This study examines the relationship between oil price changes and GDP growth and other macroeconomic variables from the perspective of the vulnerability of oil-importing and oil-exporting countries to unexpected oil price shocks, driven by tense geopolitical events, in three European countries (Norway, Germany, and Poland). We apply the Structural Vector Autoregressive (SVAR) model and orthogonalized impulse response functions, based on quarterly data, in regard to two samples: the first spans 1995Q1–2019Q4 (pre-2020 sample), with relatively gradual changes in oil prices, and the second spans 1995Q1–2024Q2 (whole sample), with sudden fluctuations in oil prices due to geopolitical developments. A key finding of this research is that vulnerability to unpredictable oil price shocks related to geopolitical tensions is higher than in regard to expected gradual changes in oil prices, both in oil-importing and oil-exporting countries. Different causality patterns and stronger responses in regard to GDP growth during the period, including in regard to tense geopolitical events in comparison to the pre-2020 sample, lead to the belief that economies are not more resilient to oil price shocks as has been suggested by some studies, which referred to periods that were not driven by geopolitical events. Our research also suggests that countries implementing policies to reduce oil dependency and promote investment in alternative energy sources are better equipped to mitigate the adverse effects of oil price shocks. Full article

This study examines the progress, challenges, and successes in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG12), focusing on responsible consumption and production, using Qatar as a case study. The State has integrated Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) into national policies, established coordination mechanisms, and implemented action plans aligned with SDG12 targets. Achievements include renewable energy adoption, waste management reforms, and sustainable public procurement, though challenges persist in rationalizing fossil fuel subsidies, addressing data gaps, and enhancing corporate sustainability reporting. Efforts to reduce food loss and waste through redistribution programs highlight the country’s resilience, despite logistical obstacles. The nation has also advanced hazardous waste management, environmental awareness, and sustainable tourism policies, though gaps in data systems and policy coherence remain. Qatar’s approach provides a valuable local-to-global example of balancing resource-dependent economies with sustainability goals. Its strategies and lessons offer potential adaptability for other nations, especially those facing similar challenges in achieving SDG12. By strengthening data systems, enhancing policy integration, and fostering regional and international cooperation, Qatar’s efforts underscore the importance of aligning economic growth with environmental stewardship, serving as a blueprint for global sustainability initiatives. Full article

The mining industry (MI) in mineral-rich regions is pivotal for economic growth but is challenged by significant pollution and emissions. This study examines Guangxi, a representative region in China, in light of the country’s “Dual Carbon” goals. We quantified carbon emissions from the MI from 2005 to 2021, employing the generalized Divisia index method (GDIM) to analyze the factors driving these emissions. Additionally, a system dynamics (SD) model was developed, integrating economic, demographic, energy, environmental, and policy variables to assess decarbonization strategies and the potential for carbon decoupling. The key findings include the following: (1) Carbon accounting analysis reveals a rising emission trend in Guangxi’s MI, predominantly driven by electricity consumption, with the non-ferrous metal mining sector contributing the largest share of total emissions. (2) The primary drivers of carbon emissions were identified as economic scale, population intensity, and energy intensity, with periodic fluctuations in sector-specific drivers necessitating coordinated policy adjustments. (3) Scenario analysis showed that the Emission Reduction Scenario (ERS) is the only approach that achieves a carbon peak before 2030, indicating that it is the most effective decarbonization pathway. (4) Between 2022 and 2035, carbon decoupling from total output value is projected to improve under both the Energy-Saving Scenario (ESS) and ERS, achieving strong decoupling, while the resource extraction shows limited decoupling effects often displaying an expansionary connection. This study aims to enhance the understanding and promote the advancement of green and low-carbon development within the MI in mineral-rich regions. Full article

Acacia mearnsii De Wild. has been introduced to over 150 countries for its economic value. However, it easily escapes from plantations and establishes monospecific stands across plains, hills, valleys, and riparian habitats, including protected areas such as national parks and forest reserves. Due to its negative ecological impact, A. mearnsii has been listed among the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species. This species exhibits rapid stem growth in its sapling stage and reaches reproductive maturity early. It produces a large quantity of long-lived seeds, establishing a substantial seed bank. A. mearnsii can grow in different environmental conditions and tolerates various adverse conditions, such as low temperatures and drought. Its invasive populations are unlikely to be seriously damaged by herbivores and pathogens. Additionally, A. mearnsii exhibits allelopathic activity, though its ecological significance remains unclear. These characteristics of A. mearnsii may contribute to its expansion in introduced ranges. The presence of A. mearnsii affects abiotic processes in ecosystems by reducing water availability, increasing the risk of soil erosion and flooding, altering soil chemical composition, and obstructing solar light irradiation. The invasion negatively affects biotic processes as well, reducing the diversity and abundance of native plants and arthropods, including protective species. Eradicating invasive populations of A. mearnsii requires an integrated, long-term management approach based on an understanding of its invasive mechanisms. Early detection of invasive populations and the promotion of public awareness about their impact are also important. More attention must be given to its invasive traits because it easily escapes from cultivation. Full article

Livestock, poultry, and fisheries play an important economic role in Pakistan’s animal industry. The pet industry is also emerging and contributing to the country’s economy and people’s emotional well-being. This review provides insight into the current challenges and future directions of the animal industry in Pakistan. Livestock, poultry, and fisheries provide an economically beneficial source of milk, meat, and eggs; however, they face challenges such as disease outbreaks, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, natural disasters, and a lack of proper policies. Likewise, humans benefit from companion animals that provide emotional attachment. Moreover, the pet food market has also shown potential growth, contributing to the country’s economy. Due to the close association between animals and humans, both are at risk for infectious disease transmission. Challenges such as the lack of strong animal welfare laws and the increasing number of stray dogs and cats threaten human safety and that of other animals. We highlight current problems and additional approaches to the management of livestock, poultry, fisheries, and pets, which need to be addressed to further advance the animal industry in Pakistan. Full article

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), driven by different motivations, affects the bilateral global value chain (GVC) relationship between the home country (China) and host countries, evaluating both bilateral GVC trade value and relative GVC positions. Employing the OECD Trade in Value Added (TiVA) database combined with Chinese listed firm data, we found the following results: (1) Strategic asset-seeking OFDI strengthens the GVC relationship between China and host countries while enhancing China’s GVC position relative to host countries. (2) Efficiency-seeking OFDI increases the domestic value-added exported from host countries to China but does not improve China’s relative GVC position. (3) Natural resource-seeking OFDI enhances bilateral GVC trade volumes but has no significant impact on the relative GVC positions of China and host countries. (4) China’s OFDI, not driven by these motivations, generates a trade substitution effect between home and host countries. We also examined the heterogeneity of these effects. Our findings suggest that China’s OFDI fosters equitable and sustainable international cooperation, supports mutually beneficial GVC trade and host-country economic growth, and therefore, progresses toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8. Full article

The transition to green energy in the transport sector is becoming a priority in the context of global climate challenges and the European Green Deal. This paper investigates the development of alternative fuelling stations, particularly electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and hydrogen stations, across EU countries with a focus on Poland. It combines a policy and technology overview with a quantitative scientific analysis, offering a multidimensional perspective on green infrastructure deployment. A Pearson correlation analysis reveals significant links between charging station density and both GDP per capita and the share of renewable energy. The study introduces an original Infrastructure Accessibility Index (IAI) to compare infrastructure availability across EU member states and models Poland’s EV charging station demand up to 2030 under multiple growth scenarios. Furthermore, the article provides a comprehensive overview of biofuels, including first-, second-, and third-generation technologies, and highlights recent advances in hydrogen and renewable electricity integration. Emphasis is placed on life cycle considerations, energy source sustainability, and economic implications. The findings support policy development toward zero-emission mobility and the decarbonisation of transport systems, offering recommendations for infrastructure expansion and energy diversification strategies. Full article

Morocco is facing a situation of alarming water stress, aggravated by climate change, overexploitation of resources, and unequal distribution of water, placing the country among the most vulnerable to water scarcity in the MENA region. This study aims to investigate the dynamic relationship between economic growth and water stress in Morocco while highlighting the importance of integrated water management and adaptive economic policies to enhance resilience to water scarcity. A mixed methodology, integrating both qualitative and quantitative methods, was adopted to overview the economic–environmental Moroccan context, and to empirically analyze the GDP (gross domestic product) and water stress in Morocco over the period 1975–2021 using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. The empirical analysis is based on annual data sourced from the World Bank and FAO databases for GDP, agricultural value added, renewable internal freshwater resources, and water productivity. The results suggest that water productivity has a significant positive effect on economic growth, while the impacts of agricultural value added and renewable water resources are less significant and vary depending on the model specification. Diagnostic tests confirm the reliability of the ARDL model; however, the presence of outliers in certain years reflects the influence of exogenous shocks, such as severe droughts or policy changes, on the Moroccan economy. The key contribution of this study lies in the fact that it is the first to analyze the intrinsic link between economic growth and the environmental aspect of water in Morocco. According to our findings, it is imperative to continuously improve water productivity and adopt adaptive management, rooted in science and innovation, in order to ensure water security and support the sustainable economic development of Morocco. Full article

This article introduces the Index of Distributive and Developmental Outlook (IDDO), a composite indicator designed to jointly assess economic performance and income inequality across EU-27 Member States. While GDP per capita is widely used to evaluate national prosperity, and the Gini coefficient captures income distribution, their separate use often obscures the interaction between growth and equity—an essential dimension of sustainable development. To address this gap, the IDDO integrates normalized values of both indicators using arithmetic and geometric means. The study applies the IDDO to a longitudinal dataset covering the years 2005, 2014, and 2024, allowing for comparative and temporal analysis. Based on IDDO scores, countries are classified into four development types: balanced development, growth with inequality, equity with stagnation, and dual vulnerability. Results show that while some Member States, such as Luxembourg, Czechia, and Slovenia, maintain consistently high IDDO levels, others—including Bulgaria, Romania, and Latvia—exhibit persistent challenges in aligning growth with equitable outcomes. The findings underscore the need for cohesion policies that prioritize not only economic convergence but also distributive fairness. The IDDO provides a practical and adaptable tool for diagnosing development patterns, benchmarking performance, and informing policy design within the EU framework. Full article

Agricultural development is vital for East Africa’s economic growth, yet the region faces significant disparities and systemic barriers. A critical problem exists due to the lack of an integrated quantitative framework to systematically comparing agricultural capacities and facilitate optimal resource allocation, as existing studies often overlook combined internal and external factors. This study proposes a comprehensive multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model to assess, categorize, and strategically profile the agricultural development capacity of 18 East African countries. The method employed is an integrated Entropy-MAIRCA model, which objectively weighs six criteria (the food production index, arable land, production fluctuation, food export/import ratios, and the political stability index) and ranks countries by their distance from an ideal development state. The experiment applied this framework to 18 East African nations using official data. The results revealed significant differences, forming four distinct strategic groups: frontier, emerging, trade-dependent, and high risk. The food export index (C4) and production volatility (C3) were identified as the most influential criteria. This model’s contribution is providing a science-based, transparent decision support tool for designing sustainable agricultural policies, aiding investment planning, and promoting regional cooperation, while emphasizing the crucial role of institutional factors. Full article

Groundwater is one of the main water sources for consumption, domestic use, agriculture, and tourism in coastal communities. However, high total dissolved solids (TDS) levels in the water (700–2000 mg L⁻¹ TDS) and electrical conductivity (3000–5000 µS cm⁻¹) threaten the health and economic growth opportunities for residents. This research aims to evaluate the performance of a laboratory-scale electrodialysis system as a technology for desalinating brackish water. For this purpose, water samples were collected from real groundwater sources. Batch experiments were conducted with varying operational parameters, such as voltage (2–10 V), feed volume (100–1600 mL), recovery rate (50–80%), and cros-flow velocity (1.3–5.1 cm s⁻¹) to determine the electrodialysis system setup that meets the requirements for drinking water in terms of TDS and energy efficiency. A total specific energy consumption of 1.65 kWh m⁻³, including pumping energy, was achieved at a laboratory scale. The conditions were as follows: flow velocity of 5.14 cm s⁻¹, applied voltage of 6 V, feed volume of 1.6 L, and a water recovery of 66%. Furthermore, increasing the flow velocity and the applied voltage enhanced the desalination kinetics and salt removal. Additionally, the system presented opportunities for scalability. This research aims to evaluate a sustainable membrane-based treatment technology for meeting the growing demand for water resources in coastal communities, particularly in developing countries in South America. Full article

In sustainable development studies, a key question is how the abundance of natural resources influences long-run economic growth. However, there is no consensus on this issue. Some literature suggests a negative impact, while other studies find no effect at all, and other research indicates a positive impact. This study aims to examine the relationship between natural resource rents, renewable energy, and economic growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries over the period from 1990 to 2023. The study utilizes the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) to provide reliable findings across different quantiles. We also incorporate a series of control variables, including capital, labor force participation, non-renewable energy, and trade openness. The findings indicate that natural resources rent enhances economic growth in GCC countries, supporting the Rostow hypothesis. Although renewable energy has a positive impact on economic growth, it does not have an effect on natural resource rents. Additionally, capital, labor force participation, non-renewable energy, and trade openness play a critical role in raising economic growth in these countries. Based on the empirical results, this study provides several valuable recommendations for policymakers to enhance the management of natural resources in GCC countries. Full article

Innovation is a strategic driver of sustainable competitive advantage and long-term economic growth. This study proposes an empirical framework to support the sustained development of national innovation capacity by examining key enabling factors. Drawing on an extensive review of the literature, the research investigates the interrelationships among governmental support (GS), innovation agents (IA), university–industry R&D collaborations (UIRD), and innovation cluster development (ICD), and their influence on two critical innovation outcomes, knowledge creation (KC) and knowledge diffusion (KD). Using panel data from G7 countries spanning 2008 to 2018, sourced from international organizations such as the World Bank, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the World Economic Forum, the study applies regression analysis to test the proposed conceptual model. Results highlight the foundational role of GS in providing a balanced framework to foster collaborative networks among IA and enhancing the effectiveness of UIRD. Furthermore, IA emerges as a pivotal actor in advancing innovation efforts, while the development of innovation clusters is shown to selectively enhance specific innovation outcomes. These findings offer theoretical and practical contributions for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders aiming to design supportive ecosystems that strengthen sustainable national innovation capacity. Full article

Higher education and science (HES) is one of the key drivers of a country’s economic growth. In this study, we examine national projects and research capacity in HES in Kazakhstan from 2014 to 2024. We conducted a content review and scientometric analysis with network and temporal visualizations. Our data sources included policy documents, statistical reports, and the Scopus database. Our findings suggest that, while Kazakhstan aligns with global trends in the field (e.g., digitalization, scientometrics monitoring, and internationalization), these are achieved through a state-led, policy-driven approach shaped by its post-Soviet context. Additionally, we note a dual structure in Kazakhstan’s HES sector, characterized by a strong top-down direction and increasing institutional engagement. In terms of the thematic trends from the temporal analysis, the country experienced a three-staged evolution: foundational reforms and system modernization (2014–2017), capacity building and evaluation (2018–2021), and, most recently, strategic expansion, inclusivity, and globalization (2022–2024). Throughout the analyzed period, low R&D intensity, disciplinary imbalances, and structural barriers still undermine desired development efforts in HES. The analyzed case of Kazakhstan can serve as “lessons learned” for policymakers and researchers working in the science evaluation and scholarly communication area in similar emerging or transition countries. Full article

In the 2021 summit, ASEAN leaders acknowledged the ocean as an essential driver of economic recovery post pandemic, leading to the ASEAN Declaration on the Blue Economy for the responsible management of marine resources. As an ASEAN nation with a long history in the fishing sector, Indonesia then actively spread this concept across the region. The hegemony theory of Gramsci, which considers the interaction of a nation’s material resources, ideational influence, and institutional strategy, is further used to assess Indonesia’s leadership dynamics in the ASEAN to obtain consensus-based power. In this study, Joko Widodo’s speeches from 2023 are taken out and coded to determine the narrative that Indonesia constantly reinforces. With thematic analysis, speech data is processed to generate keywords such as unity, cooperation, and shared responsibilities, which Indonesia often uses to advance its regional agenda. By aligning member states’ interests with regional goals, Indonesian governance creates common ground for a blue economy and emphasizes how the sea is an integral source of opportunity for the region’s position as the Epicentrum Of Growth. Instead of pushing countries to agree with directives, Indonesia effectively advocates for regional agreements and ASEAN-led structures through the blue economy framework, with the ABEF emerging at its 2023 ASEAN chairmanship deliberations. Full article