Search Results (214)

This study investigates the role of government subsidies in fostering sustainable development among 69,525 Chinese manufacturing companies, with a focus on product quality and production efficiency. We examine how subsidy effects vary across companies with different ownership types, export orientations, and market competition intensities. Our results indicate that subsidies generally enhance both product quality and production efficiency, albeit with a time lag. These improvements are primarily driven by increased R&D investment and the adoption of upgraded equipment, contributing to sustainable operational practices. We find that subsidies are particularly effective in promoting sustainability outcomes in non-state-owned and non-exporting companies, though their suitability remains context-dependent. Specifically, subsidies more significantly improve product quality in low-competition, export-oriented companies, while they exert a stronger influence on production efficiency in companies operating in highly competitive environments. For management, aligning government subsidies with corporate strategy is crucial to enhancing product quality and efficiency. For policymakers, the heterogeneous treatment effects support moving away from one-size-fits-all grants toward tiered support that channels R&D-intensive subsidies to leading industries and efficiency-oriented subsidies to highly competitive industries. These findings directly inform China’s Dual-Carbon strategy and offer an exportable evaluation framework for emerging economies seeking to align industrial policy with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Full article

This study investigates the interplay of advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT), digital commerce, circular economy intensity, and digital maturity on innovation outcomes among Spanish manufacturing firms in the post-pandemic era. Drawing on resource orchestration theory and survey data from 1813 companies, the analysis employs regression and mediation techniques to assess direct and indirect effects on product and process innovation. Findings reveal that AMT adoption leads to modest, context-dependent improvements in process innovation, while effects on product innovation are limited or negative; e-commerce adoption alone does not predict substantial innovation gains, and jointly adopting these technologies rarely produces amplifying results. Greater circular economy intensity mediates a negative relationship with process innovation, indicating possible resource trade-offs between sustainability initiatives and innovation goals. Digital maturity inconsistently strengthens positive impacts and can further moderate innovation outcomes in interaction with circular economy practices. Notably, economic benefits from circular economy practices are concentrated in export-oriented firms and not widely distributed in the sample. These findings challenge assumptions that digital and green transformations universally enhance innovation, advocating for tailored policy and organizational strategies that account for sectoral and contextual differences. Full article

As global attention to sustainable development grows, the role of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices is becoming increasingly prominent across various industries, particularly in export-oriented sectors. This paper examines the impact of ESG performance on the export competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing enterprises. By analyzing data from 9641 A-share listed manufacturing companies between 2011 and 2021, along with ESG ratings from the Huazheng database, this study investigates how ESG performance influences export competitiveness through financing constraints and risk-taking behavior. In the baseline regressions, ESG performance is positively associated with both the export sophistication index (ESI, coefficient = 0.0132, p < 0.05) and the log of export value (EXPORT, coefficient = 0.0241, p < 0.01). The findings show that superior ESG performance significantly enhances export competitiveness by reducing financing constraints and increasing risk tolerance. Further analysis reveals that the effect of ESG performance is stronger in regions with poorer business environments and among firms with lower institutional investor ownership. This study provides empirical evidence on how Chinese enterprises can enhance their international competitiveness through ESG practices, offering valuable insights for policymakers and business leaders seeking to integrate ESG and boost export competitiveness. Full article

Background: Schedule reliability in container liner services is essential for the efficiency of maritime and inland transport, terminal operations, and the overall supply chain. Disruptions to vessel schedules can trigger a series of disruptions at other points, generating additional operational costs for carriers, terminal operators, inland transport providers, and ultimately, for importers, exporters, and end consumers. Methods: The research paper combines literature reviews and shipping company data. A qualitative analysis contains specific causes of vessel delays and corrective actions used to realign schedules with the pro forma plan. The analysis was expanded to include transport of cargo in containers from origin to the final inland destination. Results: Disruption factors are identified and classified by their place of occurrence: (1) inland transport, (2) anchorage, (3) ports, and (4) navigation between ports. The research produced several new disruptive factors previously not identified and published. It has been confirmed that port congestion acts as the principal cause of delay in liner service. Conclusions: The findings indicate that while the number and complexity of disruptive factors are increasing due to global and regional dynamics, the range of recovery measures remains narrow. A deeper understanding of these causes enables more effective prevention, aiming to minimize supply chain disruptions and costs and increase the reliability of door-to-door container transport. Full article

Under the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Kazakhstan have developed a strategic partnership in the automotive industry that has progressed through three distinct phases. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and future of this cooperation, structured into the Export and Assembly phase (2014 to 2017), the Technology Partnership phase (2018 to 2021), and the Localization and Joint Ventures phase (2022 to 2024). Based on qualitative content analysis of policy documents, industry reports, and media coverage, the paper examines how China’s drive for industrial upgrading aligns with Kazakhstan’s goals of economic diversification and industrial growth. The findings indicate that Chinese automotive companies, such as JAC Motors, have transitioned from exporting vehicles to assembling them locally, transferring technology, and investing in joint ventures, thereby strengthening Kazakhstan’s automotive production and market potential. However, challenges remain, including overcapacity, market saturation, and the need for skilled local labor. The study concludes with recommendations to enhance cooperation through joint research and development, the creation of localized parts manufacturing clusters, and the harmonization of technical standards, offering a replicable model for bilateral partnerships within the Belt and Road framework. Full article

This study distinguishes between observed, uncertain, and stochastic uncertain firm growth. Observed firm growth is measured via historical growth of fixed assets scaled by growth of sales revenue. Uncertain firm growth is the volatility of unobserved (estimated error terms) firm growth. The latter is simulated using nonuniform Monte Carlo to generate stochastic uncertain firm growth. The objective of this study is to examine the relationships among the firm specific, economic, and institutional factors that affect the uncertain and stochastic uncertain growth of a firm. The sample includes the nonfinancial firms listed in the DJIA30 and NASDAQ100, covering quarterly data from 1996Q1 to 2022Q4 for 121 companies. The results reveal that (a) sales growth, profitability, cash flow, and long-term financing help reduce a firm’s uncertain growth, (b) high involvement in exporting exposes firms to higher geopolitical uncertainty, (c) institutional quality (especially political stability and regulatory quality) paradoxically contribute to uncertain firm growth. This study contributes to related studies via offering perspectives to firm managers and policy makers about the factors that help manage the uncertainties of firm growth. Full article

Against the backdrop of the accelerated development of the global digital economy and the deepening advancement of the sustainable development agenda, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as the core driving force behind the new round of technological revolution, reshaping the competitive landscape of international trade. Chinese export companies are facing dual pressures from technological barriers imposed by developed countries and cost competition from emerging economies, making traditional development models unsustainable. In this context, exploring how AI technology can promote the sustainable growth of export companies holds significant theoretical and practical significance. This article employs a three-dimensional fixed-effects nonlinear quadratic model to empirically analyze the dynamic relationship between AI adoption and the growth of export companies, based on data from Chinese A-share listed export companies. The analysis results show that AI has a significant dynamic nonlinear effect on the growth of export companies, which is initially inhibitory and then becomes promotional. In the early stages, due to high technology adaptation costs, company growth is somewhat inhibited. However, as the technology matures, AI significantly enhances the company’s innovation capabilities and competitiveness, thereby promoting its long-term sustainable growth. This result remains valid after a series of robustness tests. This effect is significant in non-state-owned enterprises and medium-to-low technology industries, but not in state-owned enterprises and high-technology industries. Three pathways—enterprise efficiency, innovation investment, and levels of digital factor investment—enhance this dynamic effect. Finally, based on the above research findings, this study proposes policy recommendations for enterprises to leverage artificial intelligence technology to promote the growth of export companies. Full article

This study evaluates the competitiveness and sustainable development prospects of French-speaking African countries by constructing a comprehensive framework integrating the TOPSIS method and adaptive LASSO algorithm. Using multivariate data from sources such as the World Bank, 30 indicators covering core, basic, and auxiliary competitiveness were selected to quantitatively analyze the competitiveness of 26 French-speaking African countries. Results show that their comprehensive competitiveness exhibits spatial patterns of “high in the north and south, low in the east and west” and “high in coastal areas, low in inland areas”. Algeria, Morocco, and six other countries demonstrate high competitiveness, while Central African countries generally show low competitiveness. The adaptive LASSO algorithm identifies three key influencing factors, including the proportion of R&D expenditure to GDP, high-tech exports, and total reserves, as well as five secondary key factors, including the number of patent applications and total number of domestic listed companies, revealing that scientific and technological investment, financial strength, and innovation transformation capabilities are core constraints. Based on these findings, sustainable development strategies are proposed, such as strengthening scientific and technological research and development and innovation transformation, optimizing financial reserves and capital markets, and promoting China–Africa collaborative cooperation, providing decision-making references for competitiveness improvement and regional cooperation of French-speaking African countries under the background of the “Belt and Road Initiative”. Full article

The present study addresses the topic of European companies, including Latvian companies, sustainably entering African markets. The actuality of this topic relates to the recession and the decrease in demand in the classical export markets (such as Scandinavia and Western Europe) with which Latvian firms used to trade; this is why the re-orientation of companies to African countries was carried out. Academic research worldwide has conducted many investigations on the specifics of exporting to Africa. The lack of knowledge relating to local African business practices is considered one of the significant barriers. The aim of this study was to mitigate this barrier by exploring real-world situations in African economic sectors. Interviews with relevant African experts were conducted for this purpose. The results showed that East European entrepreneurs, including Latvian entrepreneurs, should first focus on West African French-speaking countries with big seaports (e.g., Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, and Cameroon), where Latvian knowledge, professional skills, and products relating to port and transportation infrastructures are in significant demand. A case study was conducted in Cameroon as an example of a good business match with Latvian service providers. The case study also highlighted the nature of Cameroon’s sociocultural dynamics, which are distinguished by the presence of several sociocultural zones, each with its own specific characteristics that need to be taken into account. Full article

There is no consensus in existing research on whether the application of digital technology diversification strengthens or weakens export resilience. This study fills this gap by exploring the influence mechanism of digital technology diversity on enterprise export resilience. Based on organizational inertia theory, dynamic capabilities perspective, and organizational learning theory, this study uses data from Chinese listed export manufacturing companies from 2019 to 2023 in order to empirically examine the relationship between digital technology diversity and enterprise export resilience. The results show that digital technology diversity significantly inhibits enterprise export resilience, supply chain finance plays a partially mediating role in this relationship, and digital interlock alleviates the inhibitory effect of digital technology diversity on supply chain finance. The findings provide guidance for the digital technology application strategy of export enterprises in adversity. Full article

Incorporating economic policy uncertainty into the Melitz and Ottaviano theoretical model, this study systematically examines the impact of economic policy uncertainty on firm markups, contributing to our understanding of how macroeconomic conditions affect business sustainability. The results reveal a significant negative relationship between economic policy uncertainty and firm markups, with particularly adverse effects observed in labor-intensive industries, smaller firms, and export-driven companies. As investment irreversibility increases, so does the detrimental impact of economic policy uncertainty on business markups. Importantly, it is discovered that innovation efforts can mitigate these negative effects, promoting sustainable business practices under high policy uncertainty. This research extends the mechanism through which EPU affects markups and highlights the critical roles of investment irreversibility and innovation behavior as moderators. By exploring these dynamics, our findings contribute to the broader discourse on sustainability by identifying strategies for enhancing corporate resilience and competitiveness amidst economic uncertainties. Full article

Building information modeling (BIM) has revolutionized integrated planning by optimizing costs, schedule, and material use. However, building energy modeling (BEM) remains underutilized in early design stages due to interoperability challenges between BIM and BEM tools. This study addresses these challenges by exploring standardized exchange requirements and introducing a novel toolchain that bridges BIM and BEM workflows. In the BIM2IndiLight project, over 400 standardized properties for daylighting, artificial lighting, and façade systems were validated, revealing the advantages and limitations of parameter standardization. Building on these insights, the BIM2BEM-Flow project developed a three-step toolchain that efficiently manages project- and company-specific properties, defines mapping rules, and integrates parameters via a BIM plugin for validated IFC export. The results demonstrate that combining standardized properties with a flexible, workflow-driven toolchain significantly enhances data exchange and interoperability between BIM and BEM. This integrated approach supports early-stage energy performance optimization and offers a promising pathway toward more efficient design processes in the AECO industry. Full article

Urban Building Energy Modelling (UBEM) represents a comprehensive approach to investigate the intricate interplay of the various factors impacting energy use of groups of buildings, offering invaluable insights for urban planners, architects, building engineers, and policymakers. Nonetheless, available UBEM tools are still “research tools” and lack a unified standard addressing input, output, nomenclature, and calculation approaches. In this context, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive comparative analysis of two of the most used UBEM tools: Integrated Computational Design (iCD), the commercial tool provided by the Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) company, and Urban Modelling Interface (umi), developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The comparative analysis includes each step of the UBEM workflow: the creation of the model, the assignment of input data, energy simulation, and visualisation and exportation of results. The tools are tested through the simulation of a case study to provide insights on the rationale and informed use of the tools, highlighting the risks associated with use by modellers with different levels of expertise. Moreover, this study provides tool developers and the scientific community with suggestions for major areas of improvement and standardisation in the field of UBEM, since substantial differences are still reported with respect to output, input, nomenclature, and calculation approaches. Full article

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure plays a pivotal role in mitigating “blue” (labor standard) and “green” (environmental standard) trade barriers, optimizing the foreign trade ecosystem, fostering sustainable development of export-oriented enterprises, and advancing societal welfare objectives—all critical to maintaining high-quality social order in China. Grounded in institutional and strategic management theories, this study systematically investigates the effects of CSR disclosure on corporate export performance, focusing on mediating and moderating mechanisms, and conducts rigorous empirical testing using comprehensive firm-level CSR disclosure data from Chinese listed companies. The results reveal the following key findings: (1) CSR disclosure positively influences corporate exports; (2) enterprise financing capacity and innovation output serve as dual mediating mechanisms, through which CSR disclosure enhances export performance by improving access to external capital and stimulating product/service innovation; (3) environmental regulations amplify the export-promoting effect of CSR disclosure, indicating that institutional environmental constraints incentivize firms to leverage disclosure as a strategic response to global sustainability demands; (4) heterogeneity analysis reveals that large enterprises derive the strongest export benefits from CSR disclosure, followed by medium-sized and small enterprises; and (5) private enterprises exhibit significantly greater export gains from CSR disclosure compared to state-owned enterprises. These results underscore the context-specific and multi-dimensional nature of CSR disclosure’s impact on exports, highlighting how firm size and ownership structure shape the efficacy of disclosure strategies in global markets. This study contributes to both academic literature on corporate sustainability and practical policy by demonstrating how strategic CSR disclosure can serve as a tool for overcoming institutional barriers and enhancing international competitiveness. Full article

Research on the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has predominantly examined its implications for climate governance and export trade yet overlooked how enterprises adapt their foreign investment strategies. Using panel data from Chinese listed companies between 2011 and 2022, this study employs the CBAM as a quasi-natural experiment and applies a difference-in-differences (DID) model for analysis. Our findings indicate that the CBAM has a significant positive impact on outward greenfield investments, as robustly validated through a series of rigorous robustness checks. Mechanism analysis reveals two operational channels: trade restructuring effect (reduced export shares) and innovation-driven demand effect (enhanced R&D intensity). Heterogeneity tests further indicate more substantial CBAM responsiveness among eastern coastal firms, non-state-owned enterprises, and those pursuing horizontal production-oriented expansions. This study contributes to the literature on CBAM’s effects and offers practical recommendations for enterprises to mitigate CBAM’s impact via greenfield investments. Full article