Search Results (732)

Common prosperity serves as a pivotal condition for achieving sustainable development by fostering social equity, bolstering economic resilience, and promoting environmental stewardship. Differential land revenue, as a crucial form of property based on spatial resource occupation, significantly contributes to the achievement of common prosperity, though empirical evidence of its impact is limited. This study explores the potential influence of land utilization revenue disparity on common prosperity from the perspective of urban macro differential rent (UMDR). Utilizing panel data from 280 Chinese cities spanning 2007 to 2020, we discover that UMDR and common prosperity levels exhibit strikingly similar spatiotemporal evolution. Further empirical analysis shows that UMDR significantly raises urban common prosperity levels, with a 0.217 standard unit increase in common prosperity for every 1 standard unit rise in UMDR. This boost stems from enhanced urban prosperity and the sharing of development achievements, encompassing economic growth, improved public services, enhanced ecological civilization, and more equitable distribution of development gains between urban and rural areas and among individuals. Additionally, we observe that UMDR has a more pronounced effect on common prosperity in eastern cities and those with a predominant service industry. This study enhances the comprehension of the relationship between urban land revenue disparities, prosperity, and equitable sharing, presenting a new perspective for the administration to contemplate the utilization of land-based policy tools in pursuit of the common prosperity goal and ultimately achieve sustainable development. Full article

To solve the present housing crisis, the Support for Access to Housing Program, in the context of PRR, mainly focuses on social housing to be built or on housing of social interest to be regenerated. To approach this problem, a research question was raised: “What is the significance of the existing cooperative housing in solving the current housing crisis?” To analyze this issue, a multiple case study was adopted, comparing a collective dwelling of cooperative promotion at controlled costs in Caselas (1980s–1990s) with Expo Urbe (2000–2007) in Parque das Nações, a symbol of the new sustainable cooperative housing, which targets a population with a higher standard of living and thus is excluded from the PRR plan. These cases revealed the discrepancy created by the Cooperative Code of 1998 and its consequences for the urban regeneration of this heritage. They show that Caselas, built in a residential urban neighborhood, is strongly attached to a community, provides good social inclusion for vulnerable groups at more affordable prices, and it is eligible for urban regeneration and reuse (for renting or buying). However, the reuse of Caselcoop’s edifices cannot compromise their cultural and residential values or threaten the individual integrity. Full article

While IPV is often studied as a predictor of housing insecurity, few U.S. studies explore how different forms of housing instability may contribute to intimate partner violence (IPV) risk. Using a mixed-methods approach and a cross-sectional design, this study examined the association between four housing instability domains and IPV among a sample of tenants that had either experienced eviction or were at high risk for eviction. Tenants in Harris and Travis counties (Texas, USA) completed an online survey (n = 1085; March–July 2024). Housing instability was assessed across four domains: homelessness, lease violations, utility hardship, and poor housing quality. IPV was measured using the Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream Screener. Covariate-adjusted logistic regression models suggest indicators within the four housing instability domains were associated with IPV risk. Within the homelessness domain, experiences with lifetime homelessness (AOR = 1.92, 95%CI 1.61–2.28), in the past 12 months living in unconventional spaces (AOR = 2.10, 95%CI 1.92–2.29), and moving in with others (AOR = 1.20, 95%CI 1.06–1.36) were associated with IPV. Within the lease violations domain, missed rent payments (AOR = 1.69, 95%CI 1.68–1.71) and non-payment lease violations (AOR = 2.50, 95%CI 2.29–2.73) in the past 12 months were associated with IPV. Utility shutoffs (AOR = 1.62, 95%CI 1.37–1.91) and unsafe housing (AOR = 1.65, 95%CI 1.31–2.09) in the past 12 months were associated with IPV. Homelessness, housing-related economic hardships and substandard living conditions predict an elevated risk of IPV. Full article

Public–private partnership (PPP) logistics infrastructure projects have become increasingly prevalent globally. Consequently, the effective management of these projects as their concession periods expire presents a crucial challenge for governments, vital for the sustainable management of PPP logistics infrastructure. This study addresses this challenge by focusing on the pivotal post-concession decision: whether the government should self-operate the mature logistics infrastructure or re-delegate its management to a private entity. Our theoretical model, built on a principal–agent framework, first establishes a social welfare baseline under government self-operation and then analyzes delegated operation under symmetric information, identifying efficiency frontiers. Under symmetric information, we find that government self-operation is more advantageous when its own operational efficiency is sufficiently high, irrespective of the private enterprise’s efficiency; conversely, delegating to an efficient private enterprise is optimal only when government operational efficiency is low. We also demonstrate that if the government can directly specify the demand quantity and service level and delegates operation via a fixed fee, the enterprise can be incentivized to align with the social optimum. However, under asymmetric information, potential welfare gains from delegation are inevitably offset by informational rent and output distortion. We further uncover non-monotonic impacts of parameters like the proportion of low-cost firms on social welfare loss and demonstrate how information asymmetry can indirectly compromise the long-term resilience of the infrastructure. Ultimately, our work asserts that delegation is only superior if its potential efficiency gains sufficiently offset the inherent losses stemming from information asymmetry. Full article

In sustainable development studies, a key question is how the abundance of natural resources influences long-run economic growth. However, there is no consensus on this issue. Some literature suggests a negative impact, while other studies find no effect at all, and other research indicates a positive impact. This study aims to examine the relationship between natural resource rents, renewable energy, and economic growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries over the period from 1990 to 2023. The study utilizes the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) to provide reliable findings across different quantiles. We also incorporate a series of control variables, including capital, labor force participation, non-renewable energy, and trade openness. The findings indicate that natural resources rent enhances economic growth in GCC countries, supporting the Rostow hypothesis. Although renewable energy has a positive impact on economic growth, it does not have an effect on natural resource rents. Additionally, capital, labor force participation, non-renewable energy, and trade openness play a critical role in raising economic growth in these countries. Based on the empirical results, this study provides several valuable recommendations for policymakers to enhance the management of natural resources in GCC countries. Full article

Urban greening initiatives, including the incorporation of street trees, have been widely recognized for a variety of environmental benefits. However, their economic impact on retail, in particular, the impact of street trees on the visibility of signs, has been underexplored. Street trees can obscure retail signs, potentially reducing customer engagement and discouraging retailers from paying higher rents for such locations. This paper investigates how the blocking of retail signage by street trees affects monthly rent in developed commercial districts in Seoul. It identifies, through Google Street View and state-of-the-art deep-learning-based semantic segmentation methods, environmental elements such as street trees, sidewalks, and buildings; quantifies their proportions; and analyzes their impact on rent using OLS regression, controlling for socio-economic variables. The results reveal that rents significantly diminish when street trees blocking views of retail signs increase. Our findings require more nuanced consideration by planners and policymakers in balancing both environmental and economic demands toward sustainable street design and planning. Full article

The purpose of this study is to synthesize existing peer-reviewed literature on fashion renting and provide insights into its role within the broader framework of sustainable consumption and business practices within different cultural contexts, while also guiding future research efforts. This review includes only peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters in English, with the search conducted up to 31 March 2025. A total of 95 academic papers published between 2010 and 2025 were analyzed to explore the evolving landscape of fashion rental consumption and business practices. NVivo 14 was used for the analysis of the collected literature. The findings revealed six key motivating benefits and six significant barriers that influence consumer participation in fashion renting. Additionally, five success factors and four critical challenges were identified as shaping the development of the fashion rental market. This research represents the first attempt to synthesize literature from both the consumer and business perspectives of fashion renting. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics related to fashion rental consumption and business practices, shedding light on the key factors that support the sustainability of fashion rental businesses as well as the challenges they face. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed, offering valuable guidance for researchers and fashion industry stakeholders. Full article

This study investigates the evaluation of housing policies for migrants in China, focusing on the interplay between rental and purchase decisions under the rent-and-purchase policy (RPP) framework. Employing a system dynamics model, we simulate migrant housing choices from 2001 to 2023 and forecast market trends from 2024 to 2030. The results indicate that RPPs significantly improve housing quality and reduce costs for migrants by mitigating institutional disparities and market distortions. Scenario analyses demonstrate that a coordinated approach combining supply-side interventions (e.g., affordable housing expansion) with rights-based policies (e.g., equalizing renter and buyer rights) effectively balances affordability and demand stability. The findings emphasize the critical role of addressing rights inequalities and advocate for a holistic policy framework to tackle migrant housing challenges, offering actionable insights for policymakers in system science and urban planning. Full article

Background: Influenza is a significant global respiratory infection, and vaccinating reproductive-age women, particularly in densely populated countries like China, cannot be overlooked. In this study, we aimed to determine influenza vaccination coverage, vaccine hesitancy, as well as associated factors among Chinese women aged 18–49 years old. Methods: A cross-sectional survey among women aged 18–49 years was conducted in China from 15 to 30 March 2023. We collected information such as past-year influenza vaccination, demographic characteristics, health-related factors, COVID-19-related factors, and perceived susceptibility and severity of influenza. Influenza vaccine acceptance among participants who did not receive influenza vaccination in the past year was also investigated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to investigate the influencing factors of vaccine coverage and vaccine hesitancy. Results: A total of 1742 reproductive-aged women were included in the final analysis. The past-year influenza vaccine coverage among women aged 18–49 years old was only 39.32% in China. Age ≥ 35 years (aOR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.56–0.94), renting accommodation (aOR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.44–0.75), and history of COVID-19 infection (aOR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47–0.89) and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (aOR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.29–0.54) were all identified as negative correlates of influenza vaccine coverage among Chinese reproductive-aged women, while participants with a history of chronic diseases (aOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.23–2.01) and noticeable pandemic fatigue due to COVID-19 (aOR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.05–2.00) were prone to have higher vaccination rates. Among reproductive-aged women who did not receive influenza vaccination in the past year, the hesitancy rate regarding future influenza vaccination was 31.79%. Factors such as older age, urban residence, living with others, poor self-rated health status, absence of chronic diseases, completion of full COVID-19 vaccination, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, pandemic fatigue, and failure to perceive the susceptibility and severity of influenza might increase influenza vaccine hesitancy. Discussion: Overall, a lower coverage rate of influenza vaccine was notably observed among Chinese reproductive-age women, as well as the hesitancy regarding future vaccination. To effectively mitigate the impact of influenza and reduce the incidence of associated diseases, it is imperative to devise targeted intervention strategies and policies tailored to reproductive-age women. Full article

The ageing population and rising housing costs in Switzerland are increasing the number of older adults facing financial housing concerns. Older women have particularly limited housing choices because they, on average, earn less, live longer, and are more likely to live alone. This study explores potential levers to alleviate housing-related financial fears among baby boomer women (aged 55–75) living alone in Switzerland, a subject with limited academic coverage. Using regression and random forest models on unique 2023 survey data ($N=371$), we examine the influence of socio-demographic, financial, well-being, and housing factors on fears related to affordability, price increases, and lack of housing supply. Key findings show that ownership status, perceived financial situation, and concerns about maintaining one’s lifestyle significantly drive these fears. The fear of unsuitable housing strongly influences perceived lack of supply. These results highlight the importance of retirement planning and support the consideration of measures such as reverse mortgages, co-housing, subsidies, and rent-controlled units. Full article

Herein, we further examine how we can value nonmarket goods and services by considering the costs associated with environmental conflicts. Focusing on two American rules—the asymmetric reimbursement system and the contingent fee contract—we develop a strategic game-theoretic model in which a citizens group engages a delegate through a contingent fee compensation contract, while a polluter engages a delegate through an hourly fee compensation contract. If the citizens group prevails, the polluter is obligated to contribute a portion of the contingent fee. Solving for the subgame perfect equilibrium, two results emerge. First, the 4x-rule can be maintained through the adjustment of the asymmetric reimbursement system. Second, the asymmetric reimbursement system can serve both as a supplementary method to measure nonmarket valuation and to reduce the rent dissipation resulting from environmental conflicts under general circumstances. Full article

This study examines the effects of supply chain disruptions and ICT product exports on natural resource rents in European countries between 2004 and 2022. The findings show that strong supply chains increase natural resource rents, while ICT product exports support environmental sustainability and reduce natural resource rents. Patents reduce natural resource rents, while investments made by financial institutions in resource-intensive sectors increase natural resource rents. In addition, urban population growth was found to put pressure on natural resources, leading to a decrease in natural resource rents. Importantly, economic growth has no significant effect on natural resource rents in EU countries. Full article

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the intricate relationship between different ownership structures, such as family, institutional, managerial, and foreign ownership, and tax avoidance practices. It also seeks to explore the moderating influence of female board members in shaping these relationships. This study utilizes balanced panel data from 72 industrial and service firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange during the period of 2018 to 2023. The Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) was employed to estimate the results. The results indicate that family and foreign ownership positively influence tax avoidance practices, suggesting that families may engage in tax avoidance to benefit from rent extraction, while foreign investors may pressure managers to manipulate tax liabilities or shift profits across countries to minimize taxes. In contrast, the presence of female directors as well as institutional and managerial ownership is associated with a reduction in tax avoidance. Female directors play a moderating role in the relationship between ownership structure and tax avoidance. Their presence in interaction with institutional ownership reduces tax avoidance by focusing on tax compliance strategies. However, this effect changes in family and foreign-owned firms, where control over decision-making lies with the families or foreign shareholders, limiting the impact of female directors in promoting compliance and aligning their role with the tax avoidance strategies preferred by the controlling owners. Full article

The purpose of this research is to investigate the possibilities of electricity consumption-associated cost reduction in buildings owned by a medium-sized logistics company in Latvia (A_LV), which is a part of the larger international business ecosystem (A). The company is not using all of its facilities for its own business needs, some of them are rented out, and therefore the possibility of impacting electricity consumption in rented out buildings is limited. During the research, mixed-type approaches combining qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis were employed, where the quantitative methods helped to analyze the company’s electricity consumption and cost changes in different time periods, while the qualitative methods were used in a literature review. As primary data sources, A_LV’s internal electricity consumption reports and invoices for electricity payments were used, along with publicly available data on electricity consumption in Latvia and wholesale market price fluctuations. Although A_LV has numerous areas of electricity consumption optimization, this research is limited to few of them—lighting system optimization, energy management and automation applications, forklift charging regime adjustments, and choice of electricity retailer and tariff plan. Full article

This study aimed to uncover how harm is normalised in migrant communities using rationalisations, power imbalances, and emotional distancing. This research counters the dominant discourse that migrant communities are cohesive, altruistic, and protective by critically analysing the psychological and moral mechanisms of intra-community harm. Migration scholarship has long extolled the contribution of migrant networks to settlement, employment, and integration. Using a qualitative ethnographic approach, data were gathered using participant observation and semi-structured interviews with twelve purposively sampled migrants. The aim of applying a primary qualitative study was to capture a detailed, first-hand understanding of participants’ lived experiences and social relations. It permitted the in-depth examination of how people rationalise and navigate intra-community harm in the actual contexts of their lives. Thematic analysis yielded four significant findings: one, injustices in the community are frequently met with silence and inaction due to fear and moral disengagement; two, assistance is extraordinarily situational and gendered, often falling disproportionately on women or being mediated by institutions; three, internal exploitation—like rent gouging and manipulation of aid—is justified through community narratives; and four, people increasingly feel isolation, emotional burnout, and only symbolic unity at communal events. The research suggests that, although migrant networks can offer critical resources, they are not invulnerable to internal hierarchies and moral collapses. To create effectively inclusive and nurturing settings, future interventions must account for more than mere structural barriers, intra-group processes, and psychological rationalisations allowing intra-community injury. Full article