Search Results (70)

The effects of changes in China’s final demand structure on its forestry sector and associated supply chains have not been thoroughly examined. This study aims to provide a detailed analysis of the quantitative relationships and underlying mechanisms between these interactive changes. Using China’s 153-sector input–output tables from the National Bureau of Statistics and applying a Leontief-based input–output model, we conducted scenario simulations through three distinct schemes, generating both quantitative and qualitative results. Our findings indicate that (1) For China’s forestry sector and its entire value chain to thrive, policymakers should boost consumer demand. This can better stimulate the development of forestry and the “agriculture-forestry-animal husbandry-fishery services” sector and related service industries; (2) Increased investment demand effectively stimulates the development of tertiary industries and secondary industries within the forestry supply chain and boosts the demand and production of intermediate products; (3) Changes in net exports have a significant impact on forestry and the forestry industry chain. To reduce dependence on foreign timber resources, China should strategically expand commercial plantation development; (4) Regarding intermediate product production, investment has a more pronounced effect on increasing total volume compared to consumption. Additionally, the Sino–US tariff disputes negatively impact the forestry industries of both countries. China needs to accelerate import substitution strategies for timber products, adjust international trade markets, and expand domestic consumption and investment to ensure the healthy and stable development of its forestry sector. Full article

The Malabo Declaration commits African Union member states to eliminating hunger by 2025. Progress toward this target has been uneven and poorly understood. While some countries have recorded gains in non-hunger thematic areas such as finance, trade, resilience to climate variability, and governance and accountability mechanisms, the extent to which these improvements contribute to hunger reduction remains unclear. This study investigates whether performance in non-hunger areas, as measured through the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Biennial Review C-scores, is statistically associated with outcomes under Commitment 3, which focuses on hunger reduction. We used random effects panel regression model covering 55 African countries from 2017 to 2023, the analysis identifies five significant predictors: agricultural GDP and poverty reduction (PC 4.1), foreign private investment (PC 2.3), multi stakeholder coordination (PC 1.2), inclusive public–private partnerships (PC 4.2), and trade policies (PC 5.2). Investment in resilience (PC 6.2) and capacity for planning and monitoring (PC 7.1) showed marginal associations. Our findings suggest that institutional presence alone does not drive hunger outcomes. We reflect that what matters is the structure, inclusiveness, and functionality of these mechanisms, including whether investments reach food-insecure populations, coordination platforms influence decisions, and policies adapt to local conditions. This study concludes that some high-performing categories fail to deliver tangible hunger reduction benefits when implementation is fragmented or disconnected from context. These findings challenge how progress is currently measured and interpreted at the regional level. Finally, we reiterate that as the region prepares for the post-2025 agenda, future strategies must directly link agricultural transformation to hunger reduction through targeted interventions and accountable institutions. Full article

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the international competitiveness of Polish fruits and their processed products in comparison to those of major global exporters. The adopted research approach is grounded in the theoretical foundations of international trade. A comparative analysis allows for identifying key competitive advantages and weaknesses. Quantitative data analysis was employed to measure international competitiveness using key indicators such as Market Share (MS), Trade Balance, Competitiveness Ratio (CR), Revealed comparative advantage (RCA), Intra-Industry Trade (IIT), and Terms of Trade (ToT). These metrics were calculated based on data obtained from Comtrade, with results presented in a time-series format to capture long-term trends. An extensive literature review was conducted to examine the various definitions and frameworks of international competitiveness. The decline in the level of indicators that include imports in their formulas (CRs) may lead to an increase in the level of indicators that take exports into account (e.g., foreign trade balance and share in global exports). For example, a strong increase in the import of concentrated apple juice results in an increase in the export of this product and an improvement in the competitive position on the global market. The insights from these indicators can assist policymakers in developing targeted strategies to enhance the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, such as improving production methods, negotiating better trade agreements, or investing in innovation and quality improvement. Full article

The demand for agriculture finance and investment for sustainable agriculture development has long been a concern for many years. However, the insufficient integration of the agricultural technology innovation chain and technology transfer impedes the enhancement of collaborative innovation capability in evolving total factor productivity. This paper utilizes Chinese agricultural companies’ investment in the Lancang-Mekong River region as an example to scrutinize key configuration factors fostering the integration of technical collaboration within agricultural industry chains. The results indicated that Chinese agricultural companies can be classified into two categories based on their approach to technical collaboration. The first category is strength-oriented, and companies in this category have the capability to transform technological investments, yielding relatively high returns. They also have optimistic expectations regarding favorable policies in the host country. This category accounts for about one-third of the companies studied. The second category is potential-oriented, in which firms possess the potential for technological investment transformation, with lower investment returns. They require effective contextual management and tax incentives from the host country to thrive. The impact of foreign direct investment decision-making diminishes, introducing new imperatives for the current host country’s market environment and the management of FDI enterprises in the host country. This study makes contributions to advance the exploration of technology’s impact on agricultural companies’ cross-border investment, stipulating new requirements for the transformative development of regional foreign direct investment, particularly for private enterprises. Full article

Establishing a sound agricultural investment risk measurement and dynamic monitoring mechanism is a key path to optimize the efficiency of agricultural capital allocation and ensure the stability of the global food supply chain. Based on the five dimensions of politics, economy, society, agricultural management, and bilateral diplomatic and economic relations with China, this paper constructs an index system to assess the risks of China’s agricultural investment in 49 countries along “the Belt and Road” and uses nuclear density analysis, a Markov chain, and other methods to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics of different risks during 1995–2022. A deep neural network model is constructed to monitor the investment risk dynamically. The research shows that China’s agricultural investment risk to most of the countries along the route (61.22%) is at a normal level, and risk in bilateral diplomatic and economic relations with China is the most critical influencing factor. The agricultural investment risk among countries along the route has a significant positive spatial correlation and dynamic infectivity and shows a trend of gradually transferring from high risk to low risk in the long run. Endowment of agricultural water resources, natural disasters, and other indicators have the greatest impact on the high risk. Unemployment status and communication level have the greatest influence on the low risk. Investment relationship and endowment of agricultural land resources have the least influence on different investment risk levels. On this basis, the paper puts forward some policy suggestions for expanding the investment scale and strengthening dynamic monitoring. This paper enriches the index system of China’s agricultural investment risk and provides a reference for other countries’ agricultural investment and regional economic belt construction. Full article

Investigating the spatio-temporal trends in agricultural green production level and proposing pathways to improve it can offer valuable insights for promoting the green, low-carbon, and sustainable development of China’s agriculture, as well as contributing to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Therefore, in order to investigate the spatio-temporal variations in agricultural green production level and its driving factors, and explore pathways to improve it in the major grain-producing areas of China, a new multi-dimensional framework for estimating the agricultural green production level was proposed, and based on the OLS regression and scenario prediction, the agricultural green production levels from 2012 to 2030 were estimated. The findings indicate that from 2012 to 2021, the agricultural green production level in the major grain-producing areas experienced a consistent annual increase. The average annual value for the agricultural green production level was recorded at 0.443. At a spatial scale, the agricultural green production level exhibited a pronounced regional pattern, showing higher levels in the central and eastern areas, while lower levels were noted in the northeastern and western regions. The actual utilization of foreign capital and the per capita disposable income of farmers positively influenced the agricultural green production level. In contrast, factors such as the proportion of the secondary industry, the proportion of the tertiary industry, and the urbanization rate negatively affected this level. From 2022 to 2030, the agricultural green production level is expected to demonstrate a gradual growth trend under the baseline scenario, although the rate of growth is expected to decrease over time. Conversely, under the green and sustainable development scenario, a notably significant growth trend in agricultural green production level is projected. However, under the rapid economic development scenario, it is estimated that the agricultural green production level will initially increase slowly before peaking in 2026 and then experiencing a decline. With the aim of ensuring the ongoing enhancement of agricultural green production level objectives, the major grain-producing areas should proactively encourage inter-provincial collaboration in agricultural green production, vigorously attract foreign investment to facilitate the advancement of green production technologies, promote the harmonious integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in rural regions, and improve farmers’ income. Full article

This study investigates the dynamics of agricultural land prices across the European Union (EU) from 2006 to 2022, focusing on trends of convergence and divergence among member states. Employing a mixed-methods approach, including econometric analysis of price convergence models and comparative policy evaluation, the research identifies critical economic, policy, and environmental factors influencing land markets. The results indicate price convergence in Eastern European countries, such as Romania and Poland, driven by EU policies, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and increased foreign investment. In contrast, Western European countries like the Netherlands and Luxembourg show price stability at elevated levels due to mature markets and limited land availability. The findings reveal a nuanced interaction between EU-wide and national policies, with CAP fostering convergence in emerging markets while maintaining price stability in developed ones. This study underscores the importance of tailored policy measures to address market disparities, support smaller farmers, and promote sustainable rural development across diverse EU regions. Full article

This paper examines the effects of inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on the female employment rate in the economy and the share of female employment across sectors. The empirical analysis is implemented through the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) System estimator for dynamic panel models using different empirical specifications and FDI openness indicators. The main results show that the overall effects of inward FDI on the national female employment rate are not statistically significant. However, they reveal that inward FDI has promoted the share of female employment in the service sector and has led to decreases in the share of female employment in agriculture. The FDI effects on the share of female employment in the industrial sector are found to be statistically insignificant. These results are generally supported when running the empirical analysis through alternative FDI openness indicators. Also, supplementary analysis reveals some variations in the magnitude of these effects over different national income categories. The findings in this paper emphasize FDI’s gendered influences in the labour market. They are consistent with the prevalence of macroeconomic channels through which inward FDI impacts female employment across sectors, and they encompass the underlying implications of various counteracting microeconomic factors. Full article

This paper examines the impact of per capita income, gross domestic product (GDP) growth, foreign direct investment (FDI), sectoral composition, and domestic credit on employment patterns in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from 2013 to 2023, based on “Okun’s law”. The dynamic data panel was analyzed using the generalized method of moments (GMM) and the ordinary least square (OLS) method. The research findings reveal that the agricultural sector’s contributions have significantly influenced the employment patterns in GCC countries, emphasizing the traditional role of agriculture in creating job opportunities. However, the contribution of the services and industrial sectors has no significant impact on employment patterns. Domestic credit and FDI inflows have significantly influenced employment patterns in GCC countries, underscoring their vital role in sustaining long-term economic stability. Per capita income and GDP growth did not significantly impact the employment pattern in the GCC countries during the study period. This research provides valuable insights to policymakers, highlighting the need to focus on the services and industrial sectors to promote their contribution to employment in GCC countries. The research findings also augment the literature by identifying the key economic indicators contributing to GCC countries’ employment creation. Full article

In line with Africa’s commitment to keeping up with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, achieving a sustainable future requires balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. This study investigates the long-term impacts of foreign direct investment, economic growth, agricultural production, and energy consumption on CO₂ emissions across 43 African nations from 1990 to 2021. Despite significant research on the individual effects of these factors, the combined influence on CO₂ emissions remains underexplored. Addressing this gap, this study employs cross-sectional augmented distributed lag estimators (CS-DL and AMG) and updated estimation packages to effectively examine the relationships between variables. Our findings are as follows: firstly, economic growth and energy use was shown to have a significant positive influence on CO₂ in the long term. Also, foreign direct investment significantly promotes CO₂ emissions. Secondly, the causality test shows a unidirectional causal relationship between CO₂ emissions and foreign direct investment. The test also revealed a bidirectional relationship between GDP and CO₂ emissions, as well as between energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. Again, a bidirectional causation was observed between agricultural production and CO₂ emissions. Thirdly, the impulse response analysis shows that GDP will contribute more to emissions over the 10-year forecast period. This study also proposes policy implications to lessen CO₂ across the continent and advocates for the judicious adoption of existing policy frameworks like the 2030 Agenda for environmental Sustainability. Full article

The African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) has been a crucial trade and development initiative, offering preferential access to qualified Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries to the United States market since its enactment in 2000. This paper presents a comprehensive review of scholarly articles and policy reports that analyze the impact of AGOA on the economic performance of SSA countries. Employing various econometric methods and data analysis techniques, researchers have investigated the effects of AGOA on trade flows, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, employment, economic growth, and poverty levels. The findings reveal that AGOA has positively affected the region’s trade, particularly in apparel, textiles, and agriculture. However, its influence on promoting export diversification and attracting FDI is nuanced, with substantial heterogeneity among the beneficiary countries and industries within each country. While some SSA countries have experienced substantial export growth and FDI inflows, others have not fully leveraged the benefits of AGOA due to absorptive capacity constraints and governance challenges. AGOA’s effectiveness in promoting broad-based employment, GDP growth, and poverty reduction remains an active area of inquiry, necessitating further research to understand the policy’s sustained impact and inform future trade policy designs for SSA countries. Full article

This paper investigates the technical efficiency of cereal production in European Union (EU) countries from 2008 to 2018. The primary purpose is to estimate technical efficiency scores by country and crop and explain their variation using macroeconomic and agricultural policy variables using the stochastic frontier production function. The results indicate that the United Kingdom has the highest efficiency in barley production, while Finland has the lowest. France exhibits the highest efficiency in common wheat, and Romania has the lowest efficiency in grain maize production. This study also explores the impact of various factors on technical efficiency, finding, for example, the positive effects of female wages and foreign direct investment on barley production efficiency and the negative effects of forest area and subsidies. Similar analyses were conducted for wheat and maize production. The results indicate a variation in technical efficiency scores across crops and countries. This diversity in performance not only reflects the inherent complexities within each crop but also emphasizes the crucial role played by macroeconomic variables and agricultural policies in shaping efficiency outcomes on a country-wide scale. Full article

In the 1980s, China began to recognize the gravity of the problem of non-point agricultural source pollution and conduct research on it. Agricultural non-point source pollution in China, on the other hand, differs from foreign agricultural non-point source pollution and industrial point source pollution. Because the features of agricultural non-point source pollution are complicated, it is critical to investigate a whole-chain management policy system appropriate for China’s agricultural pattern. Based on the current situation of agricultural non-point source pollution in China, this study summarizes the four stages of agricultural non-point source pollution prevention and control policies, namely the discovery stage with macro policies as the main focus, the exploration stage with single research indicators, the initial systematic strengthening stage, and the focused stage with targeted characteristics. Simultaneously, it examined the technological approaches that are suitable for China’s national circumstances and have been investigated by relying on international experience in present-day Chinese management. However, there are still some problems and challenges in agricultural non-point source pollution management policies, such as a lack of non-point source information support, a lack of coordination between different departments, a lack of support in measurement and retroactive calculation and treatment, a lack of an in-depth concept of zoning and classification, a lack of policy, an institutional system, and insufficient capital investment. Based on these problems and combining them with Green Agriculture, Beautiful China, and other goals, this paper puts forward suggestions to strengthen the policy data support of the agricultural non-point source pollution management system, enhance the research and development of the law of pollutant migration and transformation, encourage the innovation of low-cost and high-benefit treatment technology, improve the construction of the management system, strengthen the collaboration of departments, increase the investment of funds, and make other suggestions so as to promote the treatment of agricultural non-point source pollution with high quality and efficiency. Full article

In the context of China’s socialist market economy, production and circulation are equally important. Production creates value, while circulation realises value, and both are essential components of socialised reproduction. This paper, based on panel data from 30 provinces and cities in China covering the period from 2010 to 2021, uses methods such as the slacks-based model (SBM), global Malmquist–Luenberger (GML) index, generalised method of moments with system estimation (system GMM) and spatial Durbin model to investigate the developing mechanism and influencing factors of agricultural product circulation efficiency in provinces along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) within the framework of green total factor productivity. This study found the following: First, the overall trend of green total factor productivity of agricultural product circulation in provinces along the BRI shows negative growth, especially after the launch of the BRI initiative in 2014. Second, the level of foreign investment has a positive impact on the green total factor productivity of agricultural product circulation in provinces along the BRI. On the other hand, environmental regulations, government support and industrial structure have negative impacts. Third, based on the spatial weight matrix of geographical adjacency, there is a positive spatial spillover effect on the green total factor productivity of agricultural product circulation. Full article

Many countries and regions around the world are experiencing this development dilemma, and Northeast China is a typical representative. To explore the reason for the backwardness of Northeast China, we analyze the formation mechanism and efficiency of enterprise agglomeration in this research. Based on the panel data of 34 prefectural level or above cities in Northeast China and 241 citescities in other regions from 1999 to 2015, a fixed effects panel model is used, considering enterprise agglomeration, foreign direct investment (FDI), investment in fixed assets, and the non-agricultural industry structure. It is found that enterprise agglomeration has a highly significant negative impact on urban productivity in Northeast China, and this phenomenon of agglomeration diseconomy in the northeast is most significant among the four regions of the country. Furthermore, according to the moderation mechanism analysis, the enterprise agglomeration in Northeast China reduces the pulling effects of fixed asset investment and FDI on economic efficiency but enhances the promotion effect of the non-agricultural industry structure on urban productivity. After the robustness test and extension analysis, this study determines that the enterprise agglomeration in Northeast China does not effectively stimulate the driving role of investments. Finally, we discuss measures that can help resolve the current agglomeration diseconomy problem in Northeast China and achieve sustainable development. Full article