Search Results (1,285)

The assessment of humanity’s ecological footprint has become increasingly critical in contemporary discourse due to growing environmental challenges. This study examines the economic evaluation of the ecological footprint with a particular focus on forest ecosystem services and food productivity. Using harmonized secondary data from FAOSTAT, EUROSTAT, the World Bank, and IPBES, the analysis covers selected developed and emerging economies, including the European Union, the United States, China, Brazil, and other representative countries. This study investigates the macroeconomic implications of natural capital degradation by applying a panel data econometric model to European Union countries over the period 2010–2023. Moving beyond descriptive approaches, the research formulates and tests three hypotheses linking biodiversity, environmental pressure, and green transition variables to economic performance. Using harmonized data from Eurostat and Statista, the study employs a fixed-effects regression framework to estimate the impact of biodiversity indicators, greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy share, and environmental protection expenditures on GDP per capita. The results demonstrate that biodiversity preservation and resource efficiency are positively associated with economic performance, while environmental degradation—proxied by greenhouse gas emissions—exerts a statistically significant negative effect. Additionally, the findings confirm that investments in renewable energy and environmental protection contribute to long-term economic stability. By providing a transparent data structure, explicit variable operationalization, and reproducible econometric specification, the study offers an original empirical contribution to ecological economics and addresses the limitations of prior literature that relied primarily on descriptive synthesis. Full article

In recent years, non-financial reporting has become a central regulatory instrument for integrating environmental considerations into corporate accountability frameworks in the European Union. This study examines regional variation in mandatory environmental disclosures contained in corporate sustainability reports prepared under the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The analysis adopts a regional perspective, assuming that more economically developed regions are associated with greater environmental pressures and therefore exhibit more comprehensive environmental reporting practices. Regions are classified at the NUTS 2 level using GDP per capita in purchasing power standards (PPSs), enabling a systematic comparison between more and less developed regions across the EU. The empirical analysis relies exclusively on publicly available corporate sustainability reports and is deliberately limited to legally mandated environmental disclosures. A structured qualitative content analysis is applied to 20 companies operating across multiple EU Member States, with firms assigned to regions based on the location of their registered headquarters. The results provide exploratory evidence of a positive association between regional economic development (GDP per capita at the NUTS 2 level) and the comprehensiveness of mandatory environmental disclosures. The results provide empirically grounded insights into the strengths and limitations of mandatory sustainability reporting as a governance mechanism and contribute to ongoing debates on the capacity of the CSRD to enhance sustainability-oriented corporate accountability across diverse regional contexts within the EU. Full article

This paper investigates the role of cross-border trade in shaping participation in global value chains (GVCs) in developing and emerging economies over the period 2000–2022. It tests the central hypothesis that greater trade intensity enhances integration into fragmented global production systems. Using panel data methods, the analysis examines the effects of trade openness alongside foreign direct investment, logistics performance, GDP per capita, and domestic value added. The results provide strong evidence that trade openness is the dominant driver of GVC participation, with a robust and economically meaningful elasticity. Domestic value added is also positively associated with GVC integration, suggesting that deeper global engagement can coincide with increased domestic value creation. GDP per capita exerts a weaker but significant effect, while foreign direct investment and logistics performance do not show direct statistical significance in the preferred specification. These findings highlight trade as the primary transmission mechanism linking national economies to global production networks, while also pointing to a complementary role of domestic capabilities. At the same time, increased reliance on cross-border trade may heighten exposure to external shocks, underscoring a key policy trade-off. The study concludes that effective GVC integration requires balancing openness with strategies that strengthen resilience and value capture. Full article

This study evaluates the demand dynamics of the 20 leading strategic destinations in the global tourism market by modeling the interactions between traditional macroeconomic determinants and climate-linked environmental sustainability indicators. The primary objective is to assess the predictive capacity of physical and structural environmental factors—including water stress, air pollution, renewable energy adoption, and sanitation infrastructure—relative to established economic metrics like GDP per capita. Employing non-parametric predictive frameworks on a panel dataset of 400 observations (2000–2019), the empirical analysis suggests that tree-based ensemble models, notably Extra Trees (90.54%) and CatBoost (84.75%), yield higher predictive accuracy than conventional multiple linear regression (73.97%). Interpretations derived from cooperative game theory via SHAP analysis suggest that environmental determinants may serve as important predictive drivers of tourism demand. Specifically, variables such as water stress (28.20%), renewable energy share (27.12%), and sanitation infrastructure carry substantial predictive weight, whereas the benchmark macroeconomic indicator (2.30%) exerts a relatively marginal influence within the model architecture. These findings imply that environmental sustainability metrics may capture international tourism demand variations more effectively than traditional economic variables. The results suggest that acute environmental vulnerabilities may be associated with reduced tourism inflows, potentially reflecting limitations in destination sustainability thresholds. Broadly, the evidence is consistent with the notion that contemporary global tourism demand may be increasingly interdependent with ecological resilience and low-carbon transition policies. It is important to note that the findings reported here reflect predictive associations derived from machine learning models and should not be interpreted as evidence of causal relationships. Full article

This paper examines regional economic development in the Republic of Korea, highlighting its relevance for sustainable growth. Korean regionalism, often framed as disparities between government-favored areas—Seoul and the South-East—and allegedly disadvantaged regions, particularly the South-Western Jeolla provinces, has long shaped public perception and policy debates. Using a panel dataset of sixteen regions from 1998 to 2022, we analyze convergence in per-capita GDP and consumption levels with the time-factor decomposition framework. Our findings reject overall economic convergence, revealing persistent geographical disparities. Yet, contrary to conventional narratives, the South-East and South-West provinces form convergence clubs together, and Seoul aligns with historically disadvantaged South Jeolla in per-capita GDP. Other convergence clubs indicate an urban–rural economic divide. These results suggest that perceptions of regional favoritism may not reflect actual economic outcomes. From a sustainability perspective, the study underscores the need for evidence-based regional development policies: promoting sustainable growth requires attention to empirically observed economic patterns rather than historical assumptions or perceived favoritism. Full article

Compact urban form can reduce road transportation GHG emissions and mitigate resource supply bottlenecks associated with mass EV adoption. Global databases from Climate TRACE and the Global Human Settlement Layer are utilized to develop the Compact Urban Form Estimation Tool or CUFET for calculating the reduction in VKT and road transportation GHGs from shifting toward CUF. The CUFET does not explicitly account for mechanistic changes in driving (e.g., modal shift) but rather uses settlement density as a coarse proxy for walking and transit urban fabrics. VKT was modeled using weighted least squares regression from the independent variables settlement population, settlement population density, and country fixed effects. Population size banding was introduced to the model to improve explanatory power. The model was developed using 10,495 settlements in the 2021 Climate TRACE dataset. The CUFET VKT model was able to explain 78% (p < 0.001) of the variation in the VKT of test settlements and improved with the addition of a country fixed effect. The CUFET on average gave estimates of VKT within 24% of Climate TRACE-calculated VKT for countries with a GDP per capita between $20,000 and $45,000 and average estimates within 20% for countries with a GDP per capita above $45,000. Increased settlement density was associated with more substantial reductions in VKT in small (50,000 to 88,335) and medium (88,335 to 329,480) sized settlements relative to large (>329,480) settlements. Higher variability was observed in VKT estimates of small settlements. The CUFET VKT was validated by backcasting historical VKT data from 1960 to 2000. The backcasting exercise used historical administrative boundaries and only included high economic output nations (GDP per capita above $20,000 in 2021 USD). Despite these limitations, backcasting achieved a % difference of ~20% for settlements after 1990, suggesting the model can make useful estimates within 30 years of the model calibration year for high economic output nations. The VKT model was used to calculate emissions using a settlement-specific emissions factor. Settlements with annual road transportation emissions per capita greater than 2 t CO₂eq have the lowest population densities relative to their populations and are mostly located in the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia. The nations with the highest transportation emissions are also nations where the CUFET provides the most accurate VKT estimates. The CUFET aims to bridge the gap between academic consensus and local decision-making practice by reducing the barriers to estimate VKT and transportation GHG reduction from shifting to compact urban form. Full article

Understanding the adaptive dynamics of social-ecological systems (SESs) is critical for regional sustainability as human–environment interactions intensify. However, existing indicator-based research frequently lacks a clear theoretical framework and methodological clarity when analyzing SES adaptation. Using complex adaptive system (CAS) theory as an interpretive lens, this research creates a social-ecological system (SES) adaptability evaluation framework that incorporates the pressure–state–response (PSR) model from a CAS perspective. This study examines the Huaihe River Ecological and Economic Belt (HREEB) as a case study, combining remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) data from 28 prefecture-level cities from 2005 to 2020. The entropy-weight approach is used to create a composite adaptability index, and obstacle-degree analysis is used to identify key limiting factors, followed by an examination of spatiotemporal evolution patterns. The study found that: (1) SES adaptability in the HREEB increased steadily (mean annual growth rate: 3.97%), with the social subsystem exhibiting a larger connection with the overall trend and the ecological subsystem displaying greater volatility; (2) there was significant spatial heterogeneity, forming a “high in the east and west, low in the center” pattern (supported by a global Moran’s I = 0.535, p < 0.05); (3) obstacle degree analysis identified per capita afforestation area (ecological response), per capita GDP (social state), and population density (ecological pressure) as persistent key constraints. Full article

In the context of long-term fiscal sustainability challenges and a persistently uncertain geopolitical environment, the developmental role of public finances is gaining increasing prominence. A reallocation in the structure of government spending constitutes a key instrument for strengthening the developmental role of public finances and advancing the sustainable development goals. This study introduces a measurable indicator of the developmental role of public finances and examines the validity of Wagner’s law. Based on a sample of euro area countries, Granger causality panel vector error correction model estimates indicate there is a bidirectional causal relationship between general government expenditure and GDP per capita in the short-run, while the validity of Wagner’s law cannot be confirmed in the long-run. Productive government expenditure results suggest a weak indication of causality from productive government expenditure to GDP per capita. Effective fiscal policy should consider stabilisation needs, structural dynamics, and an appropriate institutional framework, while carefully managing the composition and sustainability of public spending and addressing developmental roles. Full article

Export supply chains (ESCs) for perishable fruits, such as mangoes and avocados, are shaped by complex supply–demand dynamics and macroeconomic conditions. However, limited forecasting of these dynamics constrains strategic planning and investment in Australia’s horticultural sector. This study assesses the longitudinal growth and future potential of mango and avocado exports. To achieve this, the study identifies influential supply–demand dynamics and applies time-series forecasting to understand the export trends. Historical export–import data were analysed for mango and avocado from 1992 to 2024, including volume, value, per capita GDP (Australia and key importing nations), real exchange rate, and real interest rate. Holt’s exponential smoothing was used to forecast export trends, supported by unit root testing in RStudio 4.2.3 and model execution in SPSS version 30. ARIMA and ARIMAX models were applied to stationary variables to improve mango export forecasts. The results show that avocado exports follow a strong upward trajectory, while mango exports remain volatile due to logistical inefficiencies and informal trade disruptions. ARIMAX modelling confirmed that production and consumption volumes significantly enhance forecast accuracy. Macroeconomic trends, rising GDP, declining real interest rates, and stable real exchange rates further reinforce Australia’s competitive position in the destination markets. The long-run trends in export volume and value suggest that both the mango and avocado sectors hold potential for further export growth, although the higher volatility observed in the avocado series indicates that expansion should be approached cautiously. To sustain this growth, maintaining a balanced relationship between production capacity and export demand, particularly for commodities exhibiting higher volatility, will be essential for ensuring stable and efficient export performance over time. Full article

Background/Objectives: One contemporary problem in health economics is the measurement and interpretation of socioeconomic inequalities in outcomes, utilisation, and resource distribution. This article aims to estimate socioeconomic inequality in the regional allocation of health resources in Bulgaria during 2019–2023. Methods: A year-by-year database was created. It includes regions (n = 28), population, GDP per capita, and the numbers of practicing physicians, dentists, nurses, midwives, hospital beds, and outpatient facilities. Income inequality is analysed using decile ratios, the Gini coefficient, the Generalised Entropy index, and the Atkinson index. Socioeconomic health inequality is quantified using the concentration index (CI) and the coefficient of variation (CV) of the absolute number and of resource density (per 1000 inhabitants). The socio-economic variable is a regional gross domestic product (GDP) per capita fractional rank and a frequency-weight approach to account for population size is used. The analysis is extended with the relative and slope indices of inequality. The CI of hospital beds, practicing physicians, and nurses is decomposed using the age dependency ratio and the number of hospitalisations by districts. Results: The Gini index levels remain stable, with no significant fluctuations, in the narrow range of 29.6–29.7. The highest inequality of the absolute resource’s quantity is among midwives (Mean CI = 0.498, CV = 0.018), and the lowest among nurses (Mean CI = 0.442, CV = 0.024). For material resources, a greater concentration of outpatient organisations in richer areas is observed (Mean CI = 0.481, CV = 0.035) than for hospital beds (Mean CI = 0.427, CV = 0.034). The dynamics and descriptives of inequality of resources’ density follow the same pattern, but with lower average rates, ranging from 0.045 to 0.112. The obtained estimates are statistically significant (p < 0.05). The analysis of the regression-based measures confirms, without any doubt, both the magnitude and the direction of the development of inequalities in the territorial distribution of health resources. Conclusions: Inequality measures vary by resource group. Significant inequality exists in the distribution of health resources between poorer and richer regions, particularly in material resources, in the outpatient sector. For most resource groups, a very slight decrease in inequality is observed midway through the analysed period. The most significant part of this inequality can be explained by differences in hospital care and income across richer and poorer regions. Full article

Life expectancy is a key indicator of public health and sustainable development in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, where rapid economic growth, urbanization, and fossil-fuel dependence create environmental and health challenges. This study examines the determinants of life expectancy in six Gulf Cooperation Council countries from 2000 to 2023, focusing on death rates, renewable energy consumption, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita growth, government health expenditure, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. The empirical strategy combines cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity tests, second-generation panel unit root tests, panel cointegration analysis, and a dynamic System Generalized Method of Moments (System GMM) estimator, with Driscoll–Kraay fixed-effects estimates used for robustness. The results show that higher death rates significantly reduce life expectancy, whereas renewable energy consumption and government health expenditure improve longevity. GDP per capita growth has a modest positive effect, while CO₂ emissions negatively affect life expectancy, confirming the adverse public health consequences of environmental degradation. Robustness checks support the reliability of the main findings. Overall, the evidence highlights the need for integrated policies that combine clean energy transition, stronger environmental regulation, preventive healthcare investment, and sustainable urban development to improve long-term health outcomes in resource-dependent economies in the region. Full article

The paper seeks to determine whether renewable energy is a future pathway for society or rather a temporary stage leading towards sustainable sources of energy. It evaluates the factors that affect the use of renewable energy in Malaysia through modelling their long-term relationship and short-term causalities. Time-series data collected from 1970 to 2021 is used in the Johansen cointegration test and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to determine the association among renewable energy consumption, per capita GDP, foreign direct investments (FDI), carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, oil prices, trade openness, and urbanisation. There is evidence of a strong positive long-term association between renewable energy consumption and per capita GDP. However, there is evidence of a negative long-term relationship between renewable energy and FDI, CO₂ emissions, oil prices, and urbanisation. There is a positive relationship between renewable energy consumption and trade openness in the long term. In addition, short-term causality analysis shows the existence of a feedback loop between renewable energy consumption, economic growth, and FDI. Overall, the paper provides empirical evidence for the carbon-neutral target set by Malaysia in 2050. Full article

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, heavily reliant on oil revenues, have long aimed to diversify their economies to mitigate the volatility of global oil prices and foster sustainable growth. Two countries, Saudi Arabia, representing the biggest economy, and Kuwait, the third biggest economy in the GCC, were chosen based on their promising economic visions, while being considered as the more historically conservative countries. Both countries represent case studies to reflect on the effectiveness of their diversification measures on GDP/capita as one of the main macroeconomic indicators for prosperity. The paper aims to use time series data over the period 2000–2024 for both countries to reflect the diversification efforts on GDP per capita. A straightforward multivariate regression model is employed, utilizing the value-added contributions of the three primary sectors—industry, agriculture, and services—to examine whether recent economic transformations and policy reforms have influenced GDP per capita and to identify in which country reforms exerted the greatest impact. Findings are expected to reflect a bigger impact of diversification aims on GDP/capita in Saudi Arabia due to the pace of reforms that have been implemented. This research shall provide valuable insights for policymakers, highlighting the need to promote policy reforms to foster sustainable economic growth. The outcome of this study will provide hydrocarbon-dependent GCC economies with an updated, replicable methodological framework to support a better formulation of policy and strategy connecting digital transformation and sustainability agendas in line with efforts related to the Saudi Vision 2030 and Kuwait Vision 2035, which shall present a benchmark that can be applicable for the other GCC economies. Full article

The development of water network projects in China has facilitated the optimization of water resource allocation and improved utilization efficiency, aiding water-scarce regions in alleviating the supply–demand imbalance and promoting socio-economic development. However, the introduction of external water sources has also led to higher water supply costs and rising water prices, posing challenges for coordinating water resource security and economic growth in water receiving areas. Under the water network supply mode, the primary goal of water demand management in these areas is to balance the dual impacts of increasing water prices and the enhanced availability of water resources, while assessing the sustainability of economic growth. This study takes the Henan water receiving area of the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project as a typical case, developing a simultaneous equations model based on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis to empirically analyze the nonlinear relationship between water prices and economic growth. The coefficients of the weighted average water price, along with its square and cube terms, are statistically significant and show an ‘N’-shaped curve in relation to overall economic growth. The relationship between industrial water price and industrial per capita GDP growth is currently located at the second upward phase of the ‘N’-shaped curve. Overall, economic growth in the water receiving area improves water price affordability, and the early implementation of industrial water price increases can drive structural transformation, promoting water-saving and efficient industrial water use. This study provides robust empirical evidence for water transfer decision-making and the optimization of the water pricing mechanism in water receiving areas. Full article

The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is a psittacid species native to central and eastern South America that was introduced into many countries by traders, for its popularity as caged pets. After escapes or releases, it has been successful in establishing in new territories, capable of reproducing, dispersing, and exhibiting population growth in introduction sites during recent decades. It is considered a pest due to negative impacts, especially for its damage to agriculture and urban infrastructure. Although its global distribution has been previously described, given its high adaptability and effectiveness in colonizing new environments, many of these distribution maps may be outdated. We used eBird, a free online birding database, to locate sightings of this species globally and compared it with the reported range for the species. Additionally, we overlaid compiled data on species distribution with economic data to explore if there is a correlation between the reported parakeet presence in new cities and wealth. We compiled data from 1900 to 2024 and compared reported differences in the Monk Parakeet presence. Our results indicate that Monk Parakeets have invaded at least 31 countries, being present in capital cities, cities, towns, and rural territories. The number of cities where the species was reported as invasive increased significantly since 1985, by an average of 150% by decade. We found a positive pooled association between country-level Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita and the number of cities with Monk Parakeet records, although this pattern should be interpreted cautiously, given potential biases from observation effort, country size, and temporal co-variation. We present new evidence on Monk Parakeet’s rapid global expansion and deliver an updated map of the Monk Parakeet global distribution, relevant for planning and implementing control measures. Full article