Search Results (134)

To examine how digitally empowered rural e-commerce affects the market-oriented allocation of urban–rural factors at the county level and the underlying mechanism, this study treats the National E-commerce into Rural Counties Demonstration Program as a quasi-natural experiment. Using a panel of 1898 Chinese counties from 2000 to 2022, we conduct multi-period DID with staggered adoption and mediation analyses. The results show that rural e-commerce significantly raises the marketization level of factor allocation; the effect grows stronger over time and is most pronounced during the rapid-expansion phase, in agriculture-oriented e-commerce counties, in poverty-stricken counties, and in the Central and Western regions. The impact operates mainly through three channels: enlarging market size, upgrading industrial structure, and deepening digital financial usage. Notably, the digital finance channel exhibits a suppression effect, suggesting a complex role of financial digitalization in the early stages of rural development. To further ensure the robustness of our findings, we also conduct rigorous checks using the CSDID method and alternative proxy variables, consistently reaffirming the policy’s significant positive impact. These findings offer actionable evidence for deepening county-level factor-market reforms and advancing common prosperity, leading to policy recommendations on strengthening county digital infrastructure, tailoring e-commerce support systems, and improving the institutional environment for factor mobility. Full article

Community-based tourism (CBT) is widely promoted as a route to inclusive growth and conservation in emerging economies, yet outcomes vary because the communities’ ability to create, scale, and sustain CBT enterprises depends on the surrounding entrepreneurial ecosystem. Building on entrepreneurial ecosystem theory and grand challenges scholarship, this article reframes CBT as a place-based entrepreneurial ecosystem that mobilizes local and external actors, resources, and institutions to advance the United Nations 2030 Agenda. The purpose of the study is to develop and illustrate an SDG-oriented CBT entrepreneurial ecosystem framework and identify the ecosystem mechanisms and boundary conditions associated with SDG contributions. Using a qualitative multiple-case design and structured document analysis of 42 public artifacts (peer-reviewed studies, program evaluations, organizational reports, and organizational webpages), three initiatives were examined: Namibia’s communal conservancies, Chi Phat community-based ecotourism in Cambodia, and Bolivia’s Chalalán Ecolodge. Cross-case synthesis showed that progress on SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)—with complementary contributions to SDGs 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, and 17—emerges when ecosystems combine: (i) enforceable community rights and benefit-sharing rules; (ii) bridging organizations that provide training, finance, market access, and quality assurance; (iii) accountable local governance for transparency and conflict resolution; and (iv) reinvestment mechanisms that fund conservation and community services. The analysis also identified boundary conditions (e.g., elite capture, value leakage, donor dependence, uneven tourism potential, and demand shocks) and specific policy levers (tenure security, adaptive concession policies, blended finance, and impact monitoring) to strengthen CBT ecosystems for SDG delivery. Full article

Limited research has examined how increasing extreme precipitation affects active transportation across the United States. This study assesses the longitudinal relationship between extreme precipitation and walking and cycling to work in the context of rising extreme weather and flooding. We conducted a county-level longitudinal analysis using data from the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (2005–2018). Five-year estimates of walking and cycling to work among adults aged 16 years and older were obtained from the American Community Survey, and annual population-weighted averages of days with extreme precipitation (≥2 inches) were derived from the North American Land Data Assimilation System. Mixed-effects models with restricted maximum likelihood estimation assessed associations with active transportation, accounting for county-level clustering and adjusting for year, region, poverty rate, water cover, metropolitan status, and park access. Across 3142 U.S. counties, extreme precipitation days increased over time, while walking and cycling to work declined. Each additional extreme precipitation day was associated with a 12.3% decrease in walking and a 3.7% decrease in cycling at baseline, with stronger negative associations over time. Effects were most pronounced in non-metropolitan and Midwestern counties. Findings underscore the importance of climate-resilient transportation planning for sustaining low-carbon, equitable mobility and advancing sustainable development. Full article

The degradation of wetlands and forests is still a threat to the supply and recovery of ecosystem services in the tropics. Studies comparing restoration measures and ecosystem service recoveries are fragmented. This study investigated the spatial extent and drivers of wetland/forest degradation, and assessed the effects of restoration measures on the recovery of ecosystem services and resilient livelihoods. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted targeting households adjacent to restored and unrestored wetland/forest ecosystems. The data was analyzed using a Binary Logistic regression to characterize earlier and recovered ecosystem services between forest and wetland ecosystems. High spatial-resolution optical satellite imagery from the Airbus constellation was obtained and analyzed to examine wetland and forest degradation. Our findings revealed that the spatial extent of degraded land under wetlands and forests decreased between 2023 and 2025. Ecosystem service degradation was primarily driven by chronic poverty, excessive water abstraction, population growth, burning practices, overharvesting of resources, overgrazing, cultivation, infrastructure development, and the invasion of alien species (p < 0.05). The counteractive ecosystem restoration activities undertaken included mobilization and sensitization of communities on wetland restoration, wetland demarcation, revegetation, establishment of flood control measures, and provision of alternative livelihoods (p ≤ 0.05). The multiple direct and indirect ecosystem service recoveries reported were provisioning services (increases in pasture, enhanced livestock production, increased soil productivity, health-related benefits from crops and livestock products) and regulating services (improved water quality/quantity). The ecosystem service recoveries were more significant in the restored wetlands than the forests. The indicators of enhanced ecosystem-based resilient livelihoods included increased household incomes, higher livestock yields, increased crop productivity, improved health from crop/livestock products, improved water quality/quantity, and enhanced scenic beauty and tourism (p < 0.05). The restoration activities in degraded wetland systems had more potential to facilitate full recovery of the wetland ecosystem compared to the absence of interventions. This evidence highlights the need to restore high-ecological-sensitive ecosystems to sustain the delivery of ecosystem services for community and environmental resilience. Full article

Immigrants from Latin America’s Indigenous and rural communities in New York City are likely to break the cycle of poverty by improving language proficiency, acculturation, and education. Their well-being has received poor attention in the economic literature, and little is known about the needs, financial welfare, health status, or education among Indigenous-origin migrants from Latin American households. This study used primary data from a non-probabilistic sample of 121 self-identified Indigenous migrants living in New York City (NYC), a demographic cohort presenting challenges in terms of research access. National-level data usually aggregates all Spanish-speaking individuals as Hispanics and fails to acknowledge the presence of these pre-Hispanic groups. Integrating low-skilled Latin American Indigenous migrants into labor markets remains a challenge. We examined the link between the household income of Indigenous migrants from Latin America in NYC and education, acculturation, and discrimination. Using a logistic regression, we substantiated that education retains its prominence as the primary determinant of income for Indigenous migrants, but perceptions of discrimination based on skin color undermined this progress. This study highlights the need for interventions to promote language proficiency, acculturation, and education among Indigenous immigrant communities and implement culturally tailored policies to encourage the upward mobility of this population. Full article

Interest in financial inclusion among academics has grown significantly over the past decade. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to create enabling policies to mobilize financial resources, highlight key factors in poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth, particularly financial inclusion. This study focuses on 15 selected Asian economies. This research examines the role of fintech in promoting financial inclusion in Asia, employing a mixed-methods research design. The literature review part employs critical analysis based on the SciVal bibliometric tool. Quantitatively, it applies the Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) technique to country-level panel data for 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2021. This study also uses a comparative analysis of digitalization indices provided by the World Bank (WB), specifically the Global Findex Database. The findings reveal that digital payments have the most substantial effect at higher quantiles (τ = 0.5 and 0.75), reflecting their role in deepening financial engagement. Mobile money exhibits significant influence at the lower quantile (τ = 0.25), indicating its role in facilitating initial access for underserved populations. Internet usage contributes positively, albeit moderately, while GDP per capita shows no strong direct effect. Qualitative insights highlight challenges such as regulatory gaps, cybersecurity risks, and digital inequality. Full article

Recent policy reports and state briefs continue to highlight the trend of out-migration from California. This outflow has been pronounced over the last three years, revealing a substantial net loss (i.e., net migration) of approximately 740,000 residents. However, there has been comparatively less emphasis on new residents moving to California. Over the past decade, California has attracted substantial in-migration from both domestic and international sources with annual inflows often exceeding 300,000 individuals. As such, studying in-migration is noteworthy as it shapes economic, political, and social landscapes. In-migration can alter the demographic profiles of regions, thereby impacting community dynamics, cultural diversity, and the provision of social services. Using pooled data from the American Community Survey (ACS) from 2021 to 2023 and employing a two-way fixed effects regression framework, I study how temporal changes in racial and ethnic composition, age structure, educational attainment, and economic indicators influence in-migration rates per 1000 residents at the public use microdata level (PUMA). The analysis reveals that higher proportions of Asian and Hispanic populations, as well as an increased share of college-educated residents, are positively associated with in-migration. Notably, higher supplemental poverty rates are also associated with greater in-migration, a counterintuitive finding that may reflect mobility toward affordable housing markets. These findings emphasize the importance of recognizing demographic and intra-regional variability, which can aid policymakers and planners in assessing and delivering public services. Full article

This study examines the combined impact of fintech and financial inclusion on achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Previous research has emphasized the role of financial inclusion in reducing poverty, strengthening resilience, and promoting economic stability; however, its interaction with fintech in advancing sustainability remains less examined. Using four composite indices incorporating updated variables, expanded country coverage, and a broader temporal scope, this analysis evaluates digital financial channels, including formal access, mobile money, digital credit, transfers, and rural finance, across SDGs 3, 4, 8, and 9. The findings indicate that formal access is associated with lower maternal mortality (SDG 3) and contributes positively to decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), as well as industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9). Digital credit and transfers help ease liquidity constraints in high-inequality regions, while mobile money enhances education outcomes (SDG 4) under robust governance, supporting informal labor markets. Rural finance strengthens innovation and infrastructure development in underserved areas, reinforcing SDG 9. A simultaneous equation model provides evidence of bidirectional relationships among financial inclusion, fintech adoption, and sustainable development, underscoring their mutual reinforcement rather than strict causality. Overall, the study highlights the systemic interconnection between finance and sustainability and emphasizes the importance of governance, infrastructure, and regulation in maximizing developmental benefits. Full article

South Africa has relatively recently transitioned from a condition of legislated racial stratification to a democracy in which all South Africans now enjoy political enfranchisement. While political emancipation has been achieved, economic and social emancipation remain elusive for the majority of Black South Africans who still bear the brunt of poverty and deprivation. South Africa’s white colonial communities, having relinquished political power, continue to retain and enjoy economic and social class privileges. Despite state-driven social cohesion and nation-building initiatives, the envisaged ‘rainbow nation’ (a metaphor coined by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu) is becoming an increasingly fragile social aspiration. Historical legacies, especially regarding white affirmation, wealth accumulation, and the imperative for economic redistribution and land reform, have become key flashpoints in contemporary South Africa. This paper addresses the issue of how South Africa’s corrective justice and affirmative action policies are re-racialised into narratives of reverse racism, white persecution, and white genocide. It examines how racial arbitrage works where whiteness is systematically re-racialised and traded for its value in a different country context. It examines how disillusioned white South Africans leverage white racial and class privilege for transnational mobility and protections, white settler-colonial receptivity and white nationhood. It draws attention to the tensions and contradictions in global asylum regimes, illuminating transnational networks of privilege and economic superpower coercion. Full article

Against the backdrop of the rapid development of digital technologies, such as mobile internet, big data, and cloud computing, the geographical agglomeration of industries is gradually shifting toward virtual agglomeration. In this paper, we examine the effect of both geographical and virtual agglomeration of the agricultural industry on farmers’ agricultural income, and we focus on the transmission mechanism of technological innovation in this process. In the empirical section, using the citrus industry as an example, we employed a moderated mediation effect model for verification and derived the following conclusions: (1) Both geographical and virtual agglomeration of the agricultural industry promote an increase in farmers’ agricultural income by enhancing technological innovation, respectively. (2) Virtual agglomeration of the agricultural industry has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between geographical agglomeration and farmers’ agricultural income, that is, virtual agglomeration alleviates the “crowding effect” and to some extent substitutes for geographical agglomeration. (3) In the mechanism where geographical agglomeration in the agricultural industry increases farmers’ agricultural income through technological innovation, virtual agglomeration has a positive moderating effect. This paper is important for enabling farmers to share the benefits of the digital economy and achieve continuous growth in agricultural income. It is also important for the sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations, such as eliminating poverty (SDG1), eliminating hunger (SDG2), promoting sustainable economic growth and full employment (SDG8), and promoting innovation (SDG9). Full article

Based on multi-source data including mobile signaling data and remote sensing imagery, this research constructed human activity indicators and applied spatial analysis methods to identify gender-specific patterns in green space usage across different types of days. A Standardized Gender Difference Index (SDI) was developed to quantify gender-based disparities in both temporal and spatial dimensions. Correlation analysis was employed to examine spatial influencing factors and their interrelationships. The results indicate that on holidays, a stable male-dominant usage pattern was observed across all parks, with males showing a preference for cultural parks. On weekdays, although male users remain predominant overall, considerable variations exist among parks. On a daily scale, males exhibit earlier and more flexible activity patterns, whereas females demonstrate significantly lower presence during evening hours, indicating a “nocturnal poverty” phenomenon. Spatially, community parks display the greatest gender disparity, whereas comprehensive parks show relative gender balance. Although both genders value barrier-free facilities, females place additional emphasis on service facilities, while males are more influenced by mixed land-use functions surrounding the parks. This study demonstrates that high-precision, large-coverage multi-source data can accurately and dynamically identify gender-based differences in green space usage and their influencing factors, providing valuable insights for inclusive urban planning. Full article

Digital financial services have transformed consumer financial behavior, yet their effects on sustainable development outcomes remain poorly understood. This study examines how mobile financial services (MFS) usage influences financial behaviors across temporal dimensions and investigates the moderating role of financial literacy from a systemic sustainability perspective. Drawing on Construal Level Theory, Dual Process Theory, and Social Cognitive Theory, we analyze data from 21,757 U.S. adults from the 2021 National Financial Capability Study to explore relationships between MFS usage, financial literacy dimensions—objective knowledge (OK), subjective knowledge (SK), and perceived ability (PA)—and both short-term and long-term financial behaviors. The results reveal a dual temporal pattern: MFS usage negatively affects short-term behaviors, including spending control and emergency preparedness, while positively influencing long-term behaviors such as retirement planning and investment participation. Financial literacy dimensions demonstrate differential moderating effects, with OK providing protective benefits against short-term risks, while PA can paradoxically exacerbate these adverse short-term effects. These findings highlight complex implications for sustainable development, demonstrating how individual behaviors aggregate to influence systemic financial resilience and progress toward Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty reduction, economic growth, and inequality reduction. Policymakers should adopt behaviorally informed regulatory approaches that address temporal trade-offs. Educators should design digital-specific literacy programs emphasizing realistic risk assessment alongside confidence-building, thereby promoting sustainable financial behaviors in increasingly digital environments. Full article

Background: Children in underdeveloped rural areas of China often face socioeconomic disadvantages, which are associated with low confidence and self-esteem. While SEL programs have shown benefits internationally, evidence from Mainland China is limited. This study examined whether a school-based SEL intervention could improve confidence and self-esteem among children in economically disadvantaged rural areas. Methods: The intervention was a quasi-experimental study conducted in a rural, underdeveloped region of central China. It involved 16 weekly sessions, each lasting 90 min. A total of 230 children aged 8–12 years participated in the intervention school, while 325 children from another school served as the control group. The study used a mixed-methods design, including a quantitative survey administered at baseline, post-intervention, and a 5-month follow-up, as well as qualitative interviews with 83 children, nine caregivers, and eight teachers following the intervention. A linear mixed-effects model was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, while interview data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. Results: The findings suggested (1) children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds consistently reported lower levels of self-esteem and self-efficacy across all three assessment points. (2) There was a short-term intervention effect on self-esteem, with greater improvements among children from poorer families. (3) The increase in children’s confidence meant they were more able to express themselves and mix with others. (4) Children’s improvements were not sustained up to a 5-month follow-up. Conclusions: The program may be effective in improving children’s confidence and self-esteem in underdeveloped rural areas of China. Such a program may contribute not only to educational outcomes but also to broader efforts aimed at social mobility and poverty reduction. Full article

Online work mediated by digital platforms is prevalent across various sectors, including food delivery, data entry, and professional services. Globally, gig work and the gig economy are growing with improved and increased Internet coverage and mobile phone sales. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is no exception as the online economy expands, albeit unevenly across the many countries in the region. Given that the region is afflicted by poverty, unemployment, and underemployment (especially for youth), low rates of female workforce participation, and a dominant informal economy where labour standards are absent, it is appropriate to consider whether the gig economy can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals linked to work. Drawing on secondary evidence, this review article considers the potential for the gig economy to contribute to jobs, income, employment standards, gender equity, and training and development. Despite the limited evidence from across the region and the evidence that many gig jobs are precarious and low-paid, it is suggested that gig working has the potential to contribute to the sustainable development of the region. Full article

The swift advancement of the digital economy presents new pathways toward achieving common prosperity in China. Based on microdata derived from the China Family Panel Studies (2010–2022), this study employs the “Broadband China” pilot policy as a quasi-natural experiment to explore how digital economy development influences multidimensional relative poverty. We develop a multidimensional relative poverty index encompassing economic, health, education, and living condition aspects utilizing the Alkire–Foster dual cutoff method and employ a staggered Difference-in-Differences design for empirical analysis. Results show that the policy leads to an average decrease of 1.8 percentage points in the probability of multidimensional relative poverty across households. The effect is more pronounced in central and western regions, rural households, and those with a high proportion of non-labor force, particularly in the dimensions of economic, health, and living conditions dimensions. Mechanism analysis via interaction term regression indicates that increased population mobility and improved informal employment are key channels. These findings suggest that enhancing digital infrastructure and tailoring mobility and employment policies to fit regional and urban–rural contexts can effectively alleviate multidimensional relative poverty. This study contributes empirical evidence connecting the advancement of the digital economy to poverty alleviation and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty). Full article