Search Results (9,327)

This paper re-examines the role of trade and FDI inflows in accelerating the process of industrial growth involving countries belonging to the “Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)” region. Trade openness and foreign direct investment (FDI) have improved the growth performance of numerous economies and regions over the years. However, the specific role of both trade openness and FDI inflows in advancing the industrial growth process of economies has yet to be investigated in the case of economies belonging to ASEAN. This study analyzes data from 2000 to 2023 and employs several relevant econometric tools, including the “Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (POLS)”, “Fixed Effects Filter (FEF)”, “Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS)” and “Two Stages Least Squares (TSLS)”, to assess the specific impact of both trade openness and FDI inflows on industrial growth. Our findings show that both trade openness and FDI have advanced the industrial growth of ASEAN member economies. In terms of relative importance, the impact of trade openness is higher as compared to FDI inflows on the industrial sector. Similarly, the results demonstrate that the industrial growth of ASEAN economies could be explained positively by increased domestic investment and government expenditures. Moreover, our results indicate that the inflation rate and the natural resource sector have adversely impacted industrial growth. Finally, the labor force has not had the desirable positive impact on the industrial progress of ASEAN economies. The obtained results are robust across alternative specifications and estimation techniques. Therefore, our results have important policy implications for ASEAN economies. Full article

Growing global energy demand and the imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have accelerated interest in low-carbon hydrogen production. This review synthesizes advances at the intersection of electrolysis and biomass pyrolysis, with particular emphasis on the emerging role of biochar as a functional and catalytic material that enhances hydrogen generation while supporting sustainable bioenergy value chains. Recent evidence shows that biochar-assisted water electrolysis (BAWE) can lower energy requirements, improve reaction efficiency, and valorize locally available biomass resources. This positions biochar as a promising complement to conventional green hydrogen pathways. The review further assesses South Africa’s evolving policy and regulatory architecture by highlighting the country’s ambition to build a competitive hydrogen economy alongside structural constraints such as limited electrolyzer manufacturing capability, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficiently targeted frameworks for technology scale-up. The review analysis therefore emphasizes that integrating biomass-derived materials into hydrogen production presents an underexplored yet high-potential route for advancing national decarbonization goals. Strengthened research, development, and innovation systems, supported by coherent and technology-specific policy measures, will be essential for South Africa to unlock the full economic, environmental, and industrial benefits of a green hydrogen and biochar-integrated future. Full article

Persistent energy system inertia continues to hinder China’s carbon reduction progress despite global decarbonization trends. This study develops an explainable machine learning framework to dissect energy-related emission drivers through 14 secondary indicators spanning energy structure, industrial dynamics, social factors, and economic factors. Leveraging panel data from 260 Chinese cities (2000–2023), we conduct comparative analysis of six ML models and identify XGBoost as optimal for capturing nonlinear emission patterns. SHAP value decomposition and feature importance reveals that total energy consumption and energy consumption intensity remain the dominant contributors to carbon and pollution emissions, while the secondary industry still emerges as a critical driver. Our research establishes an actionable framework to identify drivers of carbon mitigation and pollution reduction, analyze their mechanisms, and support policymakers in optimizing policy implementation amid energy transition. Full article

In the context of globalization, balancing economic growth with social equity is a critical challenge for achieving sustainable development. While Global Value Chains (GVCs) have become a defining feature of the contemporary economy, their specific impact on the urban–rural income gap—a key indicator of common prosperity—remains under-explored. This study empirically investigates the impact of GVC embedding on urban–rural common prosperity in China using panel data from 30 provinces spanning the period 2011–2022. Adopting a dual perspective of “efficiency” (income growth) and “equity” (income distribution), this study constructs a mediation model to analyze the transmission mechanisms. Research indicates that embedding in global value chains not only enhances the income-generating capacity of urban and rural residents but also effectively narrows the urban–rural income gap. Furthermore, its positive contribution to urban–rural common prosperity is both long-term and sustainable. This effect of GVC embedding on urban–rural common prosperity remains significant after conducting various robustness tests. Mechanism analyses reveal that GVC embedding achieves these outcomes by promoting agricultural industrial upgrading, fostering agricultural technological innovation, and stimulating rural entrepreneurial vitality. Notably, heterogeneity tests indicate that these positive effects are more pronounced in eastern, coastal, and economically developed regions, whereas the impact is less evident in central, western, and inland areas. This study holds important policy implications for promoting the development of China’s open economy to a higher level in the era of economic globalization, as well as for realizing urban–rural common prosperity and balanced, sustainable development. Full article

A well-functioning talent ecosystem serves as a crucial foundation for promoting high-quality development of Hainan Free Trade Port (HFTP) in China, holding strategic significance for enhancing the competitiveness and sustainable development of its industrial parks. This study aims to evaluate the talent ecosystem within key industrial parks of HFTP and identify its key influencing factors. Data were collected through questionnaire surveys, with respondents who fully completed relevant measurement items selected as research subjects. Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis and robustness tests were comprehensively employed for data analysis. The findings reveal that: (1) gender, age, and political affiliation exert significant influences on talent ecosystem evaluations; (2) social capital demonstrates a significant positive impact on ecosystem assessments; (3) economic capital shows no statistically significant effect; and (4) cultural capital exhibits a significant negative influence. Based on these results, governors should embrace an ecological governance mindset. This approach involves establishing an innovative “Talent Ecosystem Health Index” monitoring system, with periodic evaluation and public reporting of its findings. A multi-stakeholder “Talent Ecosystem Governance Committee” should be formed to coordinate strategic planning and policy alignment. Additionally, “policy mix experiments” should be conducted to explore the optimal integrated conditions for talent policies. Ultimately, these initiatives aim to establish a self-adaptive regulatory mechanism based on dynamic monitoring and feedback, thereby enhancing the adaptability and long-term resilience of the talent ecosystem. Full article

Islands are vital geographical units with significant economic, ecological, and sovereign value. However, their development often faces challenges such as fragile ecosystems, limited resources, and inadequate infrastructure. In response, China proposed the “Harmonious and Beautiful Islands” initiative in 2022, aiming to achieve a balance between production, living, and ecological functions on islands. This study evaluates the implementation of this initiative in Zhejiang Province, a key maritime region with numerous islands. Using a comprehensive indicator system comprising 7 first-level and 36 s-level indicators, we assessed 13 well-developed islands. Results show disparities in overall scores, which correlate with the economic development levels of their administering cities. Among the seven dimensions, Cultural Advancement and Development of Unique Local Industries performed best, while Ecological Protection and Restoration and Green and Low-Carbon Development lagged behind. The study highlights the importance of tailored policies, ecological restoration, and integrated planning in promoting sustainable island development. China’s experience offers valuable insights for global small island developing states (SIDS) seeking sustainable pathways. Full article

Chile’s livestock industry faces growing demands for emissions reduction, animal welfare, and value creation, while continuing to play a key role in rural food security and pasture-based production systems. In light of Chile’s varied agroclimatic conditions, a diminishing national herd, and shifting market signals, such as alternative proteins and distinctive meat products, this narrative review explores four complementary transition pathways: sustainable intensification, organic and agroecological systems, heritage livestock, and regenerative practices. We map the structural challenges, including grazing dairy and beef herds, fragmented producer organization, and the absence of unified, farm-scale greenhouse-gas measurements. We assess the management strategies that have the strongest support; viz., efficiency gains at the animal/herd level, adaptive grazing and silvopastoral designs, nutrient cycling via manure management and local by-products, and welfare frameworks that are aligned with national law and World Organisation for Animal Health guidance. Heritage systems (e.g., Chilota sheep breed in the Chiloé archipelago) provide resilience, cultural identity, and low-input baselines for stepwise transitions. Regenerative procedures can improve soil function and drought buffering but require context-specific designs and credible outcome-based verification to avoid greenwashing. Key enabling policies include coordinated certification and labeling covering animal welfare and origin. Additional elements are cooperative and territorial governance, targeted R&D and extension services for smallholders, and a transparent, standardized greenhouse-gas measurement framework linking farm-level actions to national inventories. Chile’s pathway is not a single model but a practical combination shaped by regional conditions that can deliver long-term economic sustainability, ecosystem services, and nutrition. Full article

Although innovation is widely recognized as an important driving force for enterprise development, there may not be a simple linear relationship between innovation and enterprise value. An in-depth investigation of the relationship between enterprise innovation and enterprise value is of great significance for the development of new energy vehicle (NEV) enterprises and the industry. Utilizing the sample of Chinese NEV listed companies from 2012 to 2022, this study empirically examines the effects of enterprise innovation on enterprise value from two perspectives: innovation input and innovation output. The results indicate that enterprise innovation does not necessarily promote the growth of enterprise value in all cases. Innovation input exhibits a U-shaped effect on enterprise value, while innovation output has a linear positive impact. And the operational efficiency of enterprises plays a partial mediating role. Furthermore, we explore the effects of internal and external environments on the relationship. High internal control costs weaken the U-shaped relationship of innovation input and reduce the positive impact of innovation output on value. In contrast, greater market competition attenuates the U-shaped effect of innovation input but strengthens the positive effect of innovation output on enterprise value. These findings highlight the contingent nature of innovation value creation in complex industrial systems and provide insights for strategy and policy in the NEV industry. Full article

Material circularity in construction requires material information at the end of life for the trading of materials. Different digital technologies (DTs) are essential for such information management. This research aims to review key aspects of developing a blockchain-based material passports (MPs) system when integrating with key DTs used for MPs. This research is based on a critical literature review, with an integrative approach that synthesises both academic and grey literature. The literature search was initiated using chosen keywords relevant to the topic to first identify the key literature. This was followed by using a snowballing technique to expand the search with further relevant literature. Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital twin (DTw) and blockchain technology (BCT) were identified as key technologies for material information management. BIM and DTw are central to the management process as all the information created and collected is modelled, visualised, analysed and stored using BIM platforms. However, existing MP platforms utilising centralised databases to store data were found to be unreliable for managing material data in an industry like construction with a dispersed supply chain and typically longer lifecycle. BCT was realised as necessary for information management in construction, as it allows us to manage information in a more decentralised, transparent and immutable manner. Furthermore, examining current research about blockchain application for information management in construction led to the conclusion that, although the studies on blockchain-based MP platforms covering the entire industry supply chain prevail, the management of material data at the built asset level throughout its lifecycle using such MP systems is underexplored. Thus, building on the literature review, a conceptual model of blockchain-based MP system is proposed in this paper, describing integration with BIM and DTw, and with relevant processes and actors to manage MP information throughout the building lifecycle. Acknowledging the limitations of a subjective literature review, the conceptual model and the ideas are proposed as a foundation for further research and develop MP system with empirical validation. Although theoretically, this study identifies the suitability of blockchain technology for managing product lifecycle information in industry like construction and provides ground for further theoretical research for planning and policy required for blockchain-based MP development and implementation. Full article

In the context of strategies for the promotion of a sustainable wine industry, the utilization of production regulations under the European Geographical Indications system is seldom contemplated. Furthermore, when such texts are considered, the focus is typically on rules for viticulture or winemaking, rather than on articles governing the boundaries of a PDO or PGI. The present study examines the manner in which regulatory innovation, when viewed from a strictly geographical perspective, can promote the sustainable growth of the sparkling wine districts of Franciacorta and Oltrepò Pavese, which are located in the Italian Lombardy region. Through a comparative analysis of Franciacorta and Oltrepò Pavese, we explore how regulatory frameworks, land-use constraints, and production capacities interact to shape environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Franciacorta’s premium positioning and global reputation are constrained by its limited geographic area, making expansion environmentally and socially challenging. In contrast, Oltrepò Pavese has substantial production potential, particularly for Pinot Noir-based classic-method sparkling wines but suffers from a fragmented identity and weak market recognition. Benchmarking the Prosecco PDO evolution, we propose a sustainability-oriented growth model integrating multiple territories under harmonized rules, termed “Grande Franciacorta”. This framework would enable controlled growth, reduce land pressure in high-density areas, enhance regional competitiveness, and support long-term ecological stewardship. This study outlines managerial implications for producers, emphasizing multi-tier product architectures, dynamic capabilities, and coordinated governance mechanisms. Policy recommendations highlight the need for regulatory frameworks that embed sustainability criteria, optimize land use, and consolidate regional reputation to ensure the long-term viability of high-quality sparkling wine production. Full article

The high brand premium of geographical indication (GI) tea has not been efficiently converted into widespread economic benefits through its supply chain. The current performance evaluation system is confronted with a dual predicament: first, the strong external environment (such as policy support and industrial agglomeration) interference is hard to isolate, making it impossible to distinguish between “environmental advantages” and “true management levels”; second, the general agricultural indicators fail to capture the output essence of GIs centered on “brand value”. Therefore, this study constructs an evaluation framework integrating methodological and indicator innovations. Methodologically, a three-stage DEA model is adopted to eliminate the influence of exogenous environments and random noises, precisely measuring the “pure management efficiency” of the supply chain. Indicatively, common variables are abandoned, and a customized system is established with logistics facilities, production area, and regional digital investment as inputs, and brand reputation, value, and income as outputs. Based on the panel data of twelve representative tea GIs from 2021 to 2024, the study finds that the following: (1) The “pure management efficiency” of the supply chain is the key factor influencing performance evaluation. (2) “Diseconomies of scale” are the main structural bottleneck restricting performance improvement rather than technological backwardness. (3) Solving the above-mentioned management efficiency problems, especially resolving “diseconomies of scale”, is the micro foundation for achieving sustainable industrial development. This research not only provides methodological support and empirical evidence for the refined management and sustainable development of the geographical indication agricultural product supply chain, but also has significant practical significance for promoting the quality and efficiency improvement of the tea industry and facilitating the sustainable development of related agriculture. Full article

The overall health impact of alcohol remains controversial. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study made headlines in 2018 by stating that zero alcohol was the safest option. However, its 2022 update introduced age-specific adaptations, asserting that moderate drinking may offer net benefits in some populations. The 2025 U.S. Surgeon General report also discouraged any alcohol intake because of associated cancer risks, but a simultaneous report by the National Academies emphasized tailoring recommendations to individual risks. Mendelian randomization (MR) studies found no health benefits and highlighted increased risks—even at low alcohol doses—challenging dozens of conventional epidemiologic findings in large observational cohorts, some of them of high methodological quality. Given these contradictions, there is a pressing need for large randomized controlled trials in drinkers promoting cessation versus moderation. While small trials have shown some metabolic and cardiovascular benefits of moderate red wine consumption, no large-scale randomized trial has yet assessed hard clinical outcomes comprehensively. Without such evidence, debates will persist. Current guidelines appropriately discourage alcohol in certain populations, but generalizations such as “no safe level of alcohol” might lack sufficient empirical support and perhaps they need a tailored and practical strategy in the context of precision medicine. A balanced, evidence-based approach—free from bias, independent of the industry and grounded in rigorous research—is essential for informed public health policy decisions. Full article

Climate change induced by greenhouse gas emissions is currently one of the most important challenges of the world. Against this backdrop, we deeply explore the temporal variation characteristics of vegetable production in Guangdong Province, a major province of China from the carbon footprint perspective. The aim is to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production and carbon sequestration, as well as sustainable agricultural development. We primarily adopted the carbon emission coefficient provided by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and utilized data from the China Rural Statistical Yearbook and the Guangdong Rural Statistical Yearbook from 1990 to 2022 to analyze the changing characteristics of the carbon footprint of vegetable production in Guangdong Province. In addition, we used the grey prediction model GM (1, 1) to estimate the parameters and test the residual. Then, the carbon emission of vegetable production in Guangdong province was predicted from 2023 to 2060. The research results show that agricultural input is the largest source of carbon emissions, accounting for 51.99–66.55%, followed by farmland soil utilization (33.45–48.01%). Within agricultural input, fertilizers, pesticides, and mulching films are the main sources of carbon emissions. Based on the data from 2011 to 2022, it is predicted that the net carbon emissions of vegetable production in Guangdong Province will continue to decline after 2022. Based on the above findings, it is suggested to promote the sustainable development of the vegetable industry by increasing policy support for the R&D and promotion of green and low-carbon technologies and green vegetable production, reducing agricultural input, and promoting the formation of the low-carbon production concept. Full article

Sustaining Ghana’s construction workforce requires more than expanding training as it requires integrating apprenticeships into a coherent skills system that links education, industry, and employability. This study tests how institutional integration, practical training, and industry collaboration jointly shape the effectiveness of apprenticeship training as a pathway to a sustainable construction workforce. Using survey data from 212 students, 36 instructors, and 129 industry and policy stakeholders, the study applies Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to validate a latent construct of Effective Apprenticeship Strategies and quantify how its components explain training and workforce outcomes. A first-order measurement SEM was estimated to examine the causal relationships between the latent strategy construct and its observed indicators across the three respondent groups within a single analytical framework. The model shows strong construct validity (CFI = 0.904; RMSEA = 0.032) and reveals that structured workplace learning, institutional support, SME engagement, and technology-oriented training are the most influential components of effective apprenticeship integration, together explaining a substantial proportion of variance in apprenticeship quality and workforce readiness. The results further reveal a highly gender-polarised training pipeline (87.7% of students and 94.4% of instructors are male), indicating that current apprenticeship structures risk constraining Ghana’s future skilled labour supply and undermining long-term workforce sustainability. The study demonstrates that apprenticeship integration is not merely a training reform but a workforce sustainability mechanism. By empirically identifying which integration strategies matter most and showing how gender exclusion limits future labour capacity, the study provides a quantitative basis for redesigning Ghana’s apprenticeship system toward a more inclusive, industry-aligned, and sustainable construction workforce. Full article

The deployment of large language models (LLMs) in commercial environments depends critically on the availability of robust digital infrastructure, scalable computing resources, and mature cloud architectures. This study examines how macro-level digital infrastructure, in particular cloud computing adoption, conditions the ability of the European retail sector to deploy and benefit from large language models (LLMs). Using a country-year panel of EU member states from 2017 to 2023, we estimate fixed-effects regressions to quantify the association between enterprise cloud use and retail trade volume growth, and implement an event-study design to explore dynamic responses around changes in cloud uptake. The results show that increases in cloud adoption are significantly associated with higher retail trade growth added and productivity, with especially strong effects in emerging Eastern European markets. We identify a digital threshold of around 20% of enterprises using cloud services, above which the marginal impact on retail performance becomes notably larger. These findings highlight cloud infrastructure as a key enabling condition for LLM-enabled retail applications and inform EU digital and industrial policy targeting regional digital disparities. Full article