Search Results (3,612)

This study investigates the sustainable livelihoods of households in the coastal forest regions of Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, focusing on identifying the key factors that shape household resilience in the face of socio-economic and environmental challenges. Although the sustainable livelihoods approach is widely established in research, this study differentiates itself by applying a multivariate analysis to explore the relative impacts of various livelihood capitals—human, physical, financial, social, and environmental—specifically within the context of coastal forest ecosystems, a relatively under-researched area in Vietnam. The research identifies both factors affecting livelihood outcomes, emphasizing the role of community resources, seasonal fluctuations, and adaptation strategies. Additionally, the study highlights how environmental changes and natural resource constraints are more detrimental to livelihoods in these regions compared to other rural settings. Through these insights, this paper contributes to the growing body of literature by offering a nuanced understanding of how coastal forest communities can navigate the pressures of climate change, market volatility, and limited resources. The findings underscore the importance of enhancing adaptive capacity and crafting targeted policy interventions to support vulnerable households in the region. This study also highlights the limitations of existing research, emphasizing the need for future studies to integrate the complex interplay of environmental, social, and economic factors in coastal ecosystems. Full article

Hedeoma multiflora Benth. is an endangered aromatic and medicinal wild species native to Argentina, widely used in traditional medicine, whose cultivation represents a small and untapped sector within the agricultural industry. Current market supply relies on wild harvesting practices by rural communities, leading to population decline and genetic diversity loss through inappropriate extraction methods, including uprooting during suboptimal phenological stages. This study evaluated phenotypic and phytochemical variability in four populations of H. multiflora in the province of Córdoba to develop conservation strategies and cultivation protocols. Forty individuals were sampled from each population to analyze morphological, chemical, phenological, edaphological, and climatic variables. Significant differences were observed between populations: Tulumba had the tallest plants and largest leaves, while Bialet Massé had the highest number of internodes. Essential oil yield ranged from 1.01% to 2.10%, with Ongamira having the highest content. Phytochemical analysis revealed two chemotypes: pulegone-dominant (Bialet Massé and Río Cuarto) and menthone-dominant (Ongamira and Tulumba). Phenological patterns differed significantly, with Ongamira showing the greatest reproductive synchronization. Soil organic matter content significantly influenced morphological and chemical traits. The high variability among populations underscores the importance of preserving genetic diversity for domestication and conservation strategies. Full article

As environmental conservation and community development gain importance, ecotourism has emerged as a significant segment of the global tourism industry. However, the cultural factors that drive tourist behavior in this domain remain underexplored. This research examined how power distance belief (PDB), interacts with the type of tourism content shared on social media (conspicuous versus experiential) to influence travelers’ ecotourism intentions. To test our hypotheses, we conducted two experimental studies using a 2 (PDB: high vs. low) × 2 (tourism content type: conspicuous vs. experiential) between-subjects design. Participants for both experiments (N = 480) were recruited through an online survey platform. In the experiments, participants’ PDB was situationally primed, and tourism content type was manipulated using specifically created fictitious posts adapted from a real social media platform. Other key variables were measured using validated multi-item scales. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and moderated mediation analysis (PROCESS Model 15). The findings reveal that travelers with high PDB show higher ecotourism intentions when exposed to conspicuous content, whereas travelers with low PDB exhibit higher intentions when exposed to experiential content. This interactive effect is mediated by travelers’ social comparison motives. These findings offer novel insights into the motivations underlying ecotourism behavior by identifying distinct pathways through which social media can promote sustainable tourism behaviors, and provide practical guidance for eco-destination managers to design targeted marketing strategies that encourage sustainable tourism practices across different consumer segments. Full article

Natural resource assets inherently integrate tripartite synthesis of legal, economic, and ecological attributes. They serve dual critical functions as foundational elements supporting the evolution of new-quality productive forces and pivotal mechanisms safeguarding ecosystemic integrity. It has become a global consensus and direction of action to advance comprehensive supervision of natural resource assets and practice the concept of “Community of Life for Human and Nature”. Under the background of the super-ministry system restructuring in China, comprehensive supervision of natural resource assets remains challenged by system fragmentation in supervision objectives and multifaceted interest conflicts among stakeholders. In light of this, this research focuses on the theoretical justification and system optimization of the comprehensive supervision of natural resource assets in China. Using comparative analysis and normative analysis methods, we validate the system’s function on the comprehensive supervision of natural resource assets, summarize foreign experiences, and ultimately aim to explore the optimization pathway of the legal system for the comprehensive supervision of natural resource assets. The results show the following: (1) The choice of the legal system for the comprehensive supervision of natural resource assets emerges as the functional product aligning societal objectives, the rational paradigm for achieving efficient resource allocation, and the adaptive response to the external effects of common property. (2) The system supply of comprehensive supervision of natural resource assets in foreign countries is characterized by normative convergence in conceptual elements and typological categorization in objectives and objects. Therefore, this research recommends that, in order to optimize the system of the comprehensive supervision of natural resource assets in China, (1) in terms of protection of source, natural resource assets should be categorized, with operational natural resource assets focusing on management and public welfare natural resource assets focusing on conservation. (2) In terms of valuation, the economic valuation of natural resource assets should be integrated with ecosystem service assessments to enhance fair market equity. (3) In terms of method, the big data center should be established to enable the synergistic integration of technological innovation and system reforms. (4) In terms of subject, requiring the participation of various government departments, non-governmental organizations, the general public, and other parties could realize the connection of different legal bases for the comprehensive supervision of natural resource assets and the balance of multiple rights and interests, which should help to achieve balanced resource efficiency and biodiversity conservation and safeguard national ecological security. Full article

Sustainability has become a key focus in the hospitality industry, with travelers increasingly seeking accommodations with strong environmental commitments. As part of this trend, many hotels are adopting green marketing strategies to improve their brand image and appeal to eco-conscious consumers. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that these strategies are perceived as genuine rather than as “greenwashing,” which undermines their effectiveness and harms the brand’s credibility. This study examines the impact of green marketing strategies on the brand image of 5-star hotels in Lima, Peru. A survey of 206 hotel clients reveals that the implementation of green marketing positively influences the perceived benefits, corporate image, trust, and loyalty associated with these establishments. The results highlight that younger generations, particularly Millennials and Generation Z, are more likely to value sustainability initiatives, making them an important target for hotels seeking to enhance their brand image through eco-friendly practices. The findings suggest that effective communication of sustainable practices and transparency are essential to avoid greenwashing and build customer loyalty. This research contributes to the limited knowledge on green marketing in the Peruvian hotel sector and provides insights for both hotel managers and researchers on the importance of integrating genuine sustainability efforts into their marketing strategies. Full article

Artisanal fishing is a central pillar of the Angolan economy, particularly in the southern province of Namibe, where it serves as the primary economic activity for numerous coastal communities. However, these communities face significant challenges, including competition from expanding industrial fisheries and inadequate infrastructure at fishing centers, which hampers the storage, preservation, and transportation of catches. These limitations contribute to post-harvest losses and the reduced market value of products, despite the region’s rich diversity of pelagic and demersal resources. This study evaluated the economic viability of artisanal fishing in Namibe under three production scenarios, varying in catch levels and the inclusion of fish processing activities such as dried fish and fishmeal production. Scenario A (pessimistic) assumed a 10% reduction in production compared to the best estimates; Scenario B (intermediate) was based on average reported catches; and Scenario C (optimistic) considered a 10% increase in catches, accounting for seasonal and environmental variability. Results indicated that artisanal fishing was economically viable under all scenarios, with the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) consistently exceeding the Minimum Attractive Rate of Return (MARR) of 7.5%. IRR values ranged from 34.30% (Scenario A, without by-product commercialization) to 106.28% (Scenario C, with dried fish and fishmeal production and sales), representing a more than threefold increase in profitability. This substantial gain underscores the transformative potential of processing by-products into higher-value commodities, enabling integration into larger-scale and more liquid markets. Such value addition supports the concept of a proximity economy by promoting short production cycles, reducing intermediaries, and strengthening local value chains. Beyond financial returns, the findings suggest broader socioeconomic benefits, including local economic growth, job creation, and the preservation of traditional production knowledge. The payback period was less than four years in all cases, decreasing to 1.94 years in the most favorable scenario. By-products such as dried fish and fishmeal exhibit commodity-like characteristics due to their higher commercial value, increasing demand, and potential integration into regional and animal feed markets. In conclusion, diversifying marketing strategies and maximizing the use of fish resources can significantly enhance the economic sustainability of artisanal fishing, foster socioeconomic inclusion, and support the development of artisanal fishing communities in Namibe. Full article

This study examines the intersection of artificial intelligence-driven personal branding strategies and female entrepreneurship within Indonesia’s unique hijabi startup ecosystem. Through a mixed-methods approach combining sentiment analysis of 2847 social media posts, in-depth interviews with 35 hijabi entrepreneurs, and machine learning analysis of branding patterns, this research reveals how AI technologies can be leveraged to create culturally sensitive personal branding frameworks for Muslim female entrepreneurs. The findings demonstrate that successful hijabi entrepreneurs employ distinct AI-enhanced communication strategies that balance religious identity, professional credibility, and market positioning. The study introduces the “Halal Personal Branding Framework,” a novel theoretical model that integrates Islamic values with contemporary digital marketing practices. Results indicate that AI-driven personal branding increases startup funding success rates by 34% and market reach by 58% among hijabi entrepreneurs when culturally appropriate algorithms are employed. This research contributes to entrepreneurship communication theory while providing practical guidelines for developing inclusive AI systems that respect religious and cultural diversity in the digital economy. Full article

With the rapid development of technology, an increasingly competitive environment, and evolving consumer behaviour, the use of modern marketing tools has become a key challenge for companies of various types (manufacturing, providing services, sports organizations, universities, etc.). Although sustainable digital communication methods are gaining prominence, existing research often focuses merely on describing communication trends without providing decision-making frameworks for strategy optimisation. This paper addresses this gap by mapping the current state of marketing communication strategies among large telecommunication companies in Slovakia and assessing their impact on customer behaviour and market position. Data were analysed through a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including document analysis, annual reports, surveys, and personal observations. One enterprise was selected for detailed data analysis. The results confirm a significant relationship between the use of communication channels and the company’s market position, brand popularity, and the strong influence of employee recommendations. Unlike previous studies, which predominantly describe marketing communication trends and tools, this research integrates the evaluation of communication strategy effectiveness with a systematic management decision-making model based on the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) continuous improvement cycle. This approach enables continuous optimisation of sustainable communication strategies and provides actionable managerial guidance for improving resource allocation, market position, and organisational adaptability in dynamic market environments. Full article

Background: The use of sports supplements has increased significantly in athletic contexts, raising the need to evaluate their efficacy, safety, regulatory status, and communication practices. Objective: This study aimed to describe and synthesize the ergogenic and physiological effects of Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Category A performance supplements. Methods: A descriptive and observational study was conducted, collecting and analyzing information from systematic reviews and position statements related to performance supplements, including caffeine, creatine, β-alanine, nitrate/beetroot juice, sodium bicarbonate, and glycerol. Results: Caffeine and creatine are the only supplements with authorized health claims. However, β-alanine, nitrates, sodium bicarbonate, and glycerol show positive ergogenic effects supported by strong evidence, especially in endurance, strength, high-intensity, and aquatic sports. However, these substances lack regulatory approval, and only a small proportion of commercial products comply with current legislation. Conclusions: While performance supplements may enhance athletic performance when used alongside proper nutrition and scientific guidance, their effectiveness is not always consistent or assured. This review highlights the urgent need to update regulatory frameworks, harmonize labeling standards, and promote ethical marketing to safeguard consumers and support sports and nutrition professionals. Full article

Gum arabic production is a key source of income for communities in several African countries. Despite this, producing nations capture only a small share of the market value due to weak domestic markets, low price incentives, and limited value-added. Meanwhile, global demand is expected to grow from USD 1.1 billion in 2025 to USD 2.2 billion by 2035, driven by rising consumption in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and textiles. Importing countries, such as France and the US, benefit from significantly higher export prices—French export prices rose from USD 1.58/kg to USD 4.63/kg—highlighting the value added from outside producer regions. This study uses a qualitative analytical approach to examine trends and challenges in enhancing value capture within producer countries. Key strategies include local value-added, collective action, compliance with international standards, market transparency, and direct trade linkages. Findings suggest that implementing these measures could raise farmgate prices by 30–50%, retain more value within African economies, and improve access to premium export markets. In conclusion, targeted interventions are crucial for strengthening the gum arabic supply chain and promoting sustainable and equitable collection practices in producer countries. Full article

This study investigated how specific sustainability topics disclosed in standalone sustainability reports influence firm value and whether third-party assurance moderates this relationship. Drawing on signaling, agency, stakeholder, and legitimacy theories, we applied latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) to extract latent topics from U.S. corporate sustainability reports. We analyzed their impact on Tobin’s Q using panel regressions and supplement our findings with discrete Bayesian networks (DBNs) and Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) to capture non-linear patterns. We identified six core topics: environmental impact, sustainable consumption, daily necessities, socio-economic impact, healthcare, and operations. The results revealed that topics of healthcare and daily necessities have immediate and sustained positive effects on firm value, while environmental and socio-economic impact topics demonstrate lagged effects, primarily two years after disclosure. The presence of assurance, however, produces mixed outcomes: it enhances credibility in some cases, but reduces firm value in others, especially when applied to environmental and socio-economic disclosures. This suggests a dual signaling effect of assurance, potentially increasing investor scrutiny when gaps in performance are highlighted. Our findings underscore the importance of topic selection, consistency in reporting, and strategic application of assurance in ESG communications to maintain stakeholder trust and market value. Full article

This research examines the cognitive and psychological mechanisms underlying young adults’ reactions to ESG-labeled online advertisements, specifically resistance to persuasion and purchase intention. Based on dual-process theories of persuasion and digital literacy theory, we develop and test a structural equation model (SEM) of perceived greenwashing, online advertising literacy, source credibility, persuasion knowledge, and advertising skepticism as predictors of behavioral intention. Data were gathered from 690 Greek consumers between the ages of 18–35 years through an online survey. All the direct effects hypothesized were statistically significant, while advertising skepticism was the strongest direct predictor of purchase intention. Mediation tests indicated that persuasion knowledge and skepticism partially mediated perceptions of greenwashing, literacy, and credibility effects, in favor of a complementary dual-route process of ESG message evaluation. Multi-group comparisons revealed significant moderation effects across gender, age, education, ESG familiarity, influencer trust, and ad-avoidance behavior. Most strikingly, women evidenced stronger resistance effects via persuasion knowledge, whereas younger users and those with lower familiarity with ESG topics were more susceptible to skepticism and greenwashing. Education supported the processing of source credibility and digital literacy cues, underlining the contribution of informational capital to persuasion resilience. The results provide theoretical contributions to digital persuasion and resistance with practical implications for marketers, educators, and policymakers seeking to develop ethical ESG communication. Future research is invited to broaden cross-cultural understanding, investigate emotional mediators, and incorporate experimental approaches to foster consumer skepticism and trust knowledge in digital sustainability messages. Full article

As China’s urbanization deepens, the spatial structure of residential areas and land use patterns has undergone profound transformations, with the differentiation of housing prices emerging as a key indicator of urban spatial dynamics and socioeconomic stratification. This study examines the spatial and temporal evolution of residential housing prices in Qingdao’s main urban area over a 20-year period, using data from three representative years (2003, 2013, and 2023) to capture key stages of change. It employs Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) spatial and temporal path and leap analyses, as well as Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) modeling. The results show that Qingdao’s housing price patterns exhibit distinct spatiotemporal heterogeneity, characterized by multi-level transitions, leapfrog dynamics and strong spatial dependence. The urban center and coastal zones demonstrate positive synergistic growth, while some inland and peripheral areas show negative spatial coupling. Evident is the spatial restructuring from a monocentric to a polycentric pattern, driven by shifts in industrial layout, policy incentives, and transportation infrastructure. Key driving factors, such as community attributes, locational conditions, and amenity support, show differentiated impacts across regions and over time. Business agglomeration and educational resources are primary positive drivers in central districts, whereas natural environments and commercial density play a more complex role in peripheral areas. These findings provide empirical evidence to inform our understanding of housing market dynamics and offer insights into urban planning and the design of equitable policies in transitional urban systems. Full article

Across the world, people are exploring fields where AI (Artificial Intelligence) and VR (Virtual Reality) can be harnessed to unlock new possibilities and drive innovation. The aim of this article was to review the potential and assess the feasibility of using virtual reality technology in soft skills training (including people management, stress management, communication, conflict resolution, and sales). A project was developed featuring an application that utilizes virtual reality and artificial intelligence to facilitate communication with a virtual coach. The application operates on Meta Quest 3 virtual reality goggles (Meta Platforms, Inc., Menlo Park, CA, USA). Tests of the presented solution confirm market trends, highlighting the potential for achieving positive training outcomes through immersive technologies. The conclusions outline opportunities for improvement and further development of such solutions. This study applied a quasi-experimental model with pretest, posttest, and four-week follow-up measurements. The effectiveness of VR training was evaluated using a knowledge test (0–100%), a self-assessment scale of soft skills (Likert 1–5), expert behavior observation (0–10 scale), and posttraining surveys. The VR group demonstrated significantly higher gains in knowledge, soft skills, and behavioral performance with knowledge retention reaching 89% after four weeks. These results confirm the effectiveness of immersive VR training and its alignment with current market trends in innovative professional development. Full article

Sustainable energy entrepreneurs promote sustainable development by focusing more on energy efficiency. This study examines the interdependence and driving–dependent relationships among the socioeconomic factors (SEFs) influencing sustainable energy enterprises (SEEs). A mixed-methods approach is used, beginning with a literature review and expert consensus, followed by total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) and cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis. Seven key SEFs are finalized through interviews with 12 experts. Data are then collected from 11 SEEs. The study reveals that the regulatory and institutional framework emerges as the primary driving factor influencing other SEFs, including financial accessibility, market demand, technological innovation, and infrastructure readiness. Social and cultural acceptance is identified as the most dependent factor. The study proposes future research directions by identifying the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to the antecedents, decisions, and outcomes with theoretical linkages through the Antecedents–Decisions–Outcomes (ADO) framework. The major SDGs identified are SDG 4 (education), SDG 7 (energy), SDG 9 (industry), SDG 11 (communities), and SDG 13 (climate). The study highlights that regulatory support, funding access, skill development, and technology transfer are required areas for strategic focus. Understanding the hierarchy of SEs supports business model innovation, investment planning, and risk management. Full article