Search Results (79)

The transition toward integrated urban–rural development represents a complex socio-technical challenge in post-poverty alleviation China. This study examines how the reform of agricultural service systems—especially the rollout of full-process socialization services—reshapes urban–rural integration by embedding new institutional, technological, and organizational structures into rural production. Drawing on staggered provincial pilot programs, we apply a double machine learning framework to assess the causal impact of service reform on the urban–rural income gap, labor reallocation, and agricultural productivity. Results show that agricultural socialization services enhance systemic efficiency by reducing labor bottlenecks, increasing technology diffusion, and fostering large-scale coordination in agricultural operations. These effects are most pronounced in provinces with stronger institutional capacity and higher levels of mechanization. The findings highlight agricultural service reform as a systemic intervention that alters resource allocation logics, drives institutional change, and fosters structural convergence across urban and rural domains. This research contributes to the understanding of agricultural modernization as a systems-engineered solution for regional inequality. Full article

Gender equity is one of the most complex contemporary challenges, encompassing political, economic, labor, and cultural dimensions. This study aims to analyze the impact of public policies, labor practices, and social movements in promoting gender equity across various socio-political contexts. To answer the central question of how these elements influence a reduction in gender inequalities, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted, complemented by a Bibliometric Analysis, following PRISMA protocol guidelines. The bibliographic search, carried out in the Scopus database, covered the period from 2015 to 2025 and identified 26 relevant studies that met the predefined inclusion criteria. The results reveal that, despite progress in formulating policies aimed at combating gender-based violence and promoting equality, the implementation of these measures is hindered by a lack of inter-institutional coordination and the persistence of deeply rooted cultural norms. Likewise, structural inequalities in the labor sphere are evident, such as the gender wage gap and barriers to professional advancement. On the other hand, social movements have emerged as key actors—including governmental institutions, civil society organizations, and healthcare providers—in highlighting and transforming these disparities by driving changes in political agendas and increasing women’s representation in decision-making positions. In summary, this study underscores the need to adopt intersectional and comprehensive approaches to achieve effective and sustainable gender equity, while comparing the influence of policies across different global regions. Full article

This study explores the use of Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), Total Sustainability Assessment, and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) as tools to evaluate the environmental, social, and economic impacts in Agri-industry. It highlights the unique trajectory of LCA and LCSA implementation in Latin America, shaped by the region’s distinct environmental, social, and economic contexts, contrasted with global research trends. Evidence shows the importance of biodiversity, conservation, and deforestation mitigation in Latin American LCA applications, which differ from the urban-focused impacts seen in regions like Europe or North America. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significant role of LCSA in addressing socio-economic challenges unique to Latin America, such as inequality and labor conditions. The research reveals the benefits of LCA and LCSA methodologies in the agro-industrial sector, particularly in addressing social issues like land use rights and rural community welfare. Despite challenges such as limited access to high-quality data and the need for capacity building, the innovative application of these methodologies in Latin America offers valuable insights for the global community. Our work relies on Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to analyze the LCSA literature from 1990 to 2024, identifying evolving trends and research focal areas in sustainability. The analysis herein presented highlights the need for a multi-dimensional and holistic approach to sustainability research and practice. Our findings also emphasize the importance of developing comprehensive models and integrated methodologies to effectively address complex sustainability challenges. Environmental information remains crucial for policy processes, acknowledging uncertainties in estimations and the connection between land use change, agriculture, and emissions from the global food economy and bioenergy sectors. The research underscores the dynamic nature of LCSA and the importance of continually reassessing sustainability efforts to address pressing challenges. Full article

The rapid development of the digital economy has brought profound changes related to income inequity, while its impact on educational income inequity remains unclear, and this paper attempts to fill the gap. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the digital economy on educational income inequity. Using data from the Chinese General Social Survey, we employ the Theil index to measure educational income inequity, capturing income disparities associated with education. Our findings, based on a two-way fixed effects model, suggest that the digital economy mitigates educational income inequity in China, with a stronger effect at the family level than at the individual level. Mechanism analysis indicates that this reduction is primarily driven by the positive economy effects of digitalization. Additionally, the digital economy not only narrows disparities in labor income but also enhances equity in opportunity and effort. Finally, the effect of the digital economy on educational income inequity is more pronounced in cities with stronger economic foundations, better public services, and more advanced telecommunications infrastructure. Full article

This study investigates the complex duality of automation and its impact on sustainable development, encompassing the factors of economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, and machine learning are driving automation and transforming industries through improved production, operational efficiency, and resource optimization. However, the rapid integration of automation has created a paradox. While it offers opportunities for resource optimization and technological advancement, it exacerbates challenges such as income inequality, environmental degradation, and social displacement. These issues underline the need for balanced and inclusive approaches to automation’s implementation. Automation contributes substantively to GDP growth because it raises labor productivity, yet it has arguably enhanced income inequality by eliminating low-skilled jobs. Automation improves energy efficiency and aids in renewable energy integration but increases overall energy effectiveness, leading to concerns regarding ecological sustainability. This study applied a quantitative methodology using longitudinal data from 2000 to 2023 and regression models to examine sustainability metrics influenced by automation. The findings highlight the potential of automation to reform effective forms of manufacturing, encourage environmental innovation, and identify the need for systemic governmental policies. Specifically, the results indicate that automation has contributed to a 25% increase in labor productivity across sectors, a 15% reduction in energy intensity per unit of GDP, and a 12% rise in the Gini index, signaling growing income inequality. These quantitative outcomes emphasize both the opportunities and challenges posed by automation. By integrating technological advancements with sustainability goals, automation can act as a transformative instrument to promote ecological conservation, equitable economic development, and social justice. The paper concludes with recommendations for governments and industry leaders to incorporate automation into sustainable development objectives, ensuring the equitable distribution of its advantages, while alleviating socio-environmental hazards. Full article

This study investigates how socio-economic characteristics, migration status, and country of origin influence labor market outcomes in Nairobi County, Kenya. By estimating logit and Tobit models using data from the Kenya Refugee and Host Household Survey (KRHHS), we find that age is positively associated with the likelihood of being employed and higher incomes, but this relationship diminishes beyond a certain point. Gender disparities are pronounced, with women being less likely to be employed and generally earning less than men. Larger households are associated with lower employment probabilities, reflecting greater domestic responsibilities for household heads. Local community members are more likely to be employed and earn more than refugees, who face substantial labor market barriers such as legal restrictions and lack of social networks. Having a university education is associated with being employed with higher earnings, compared to workers with either primary or secondary education. Having never been married is positively associated with being employed. Employment and income vary significantly by country of origin, highlighting the complex interplay between integration and discrimination factors in local communities. These findings underscore the need to address educational and gender inequalities that prevail between refugees and local communities. Full article

Achieving sustainable development in agricultural catchments requires well-designed policy measures. This study examines the intricate interactions between social dynamics and hydrological processes within agricultural systems to propose targeted policy interventions. By employing socio-hydrology models that integrate socio-economic and hydrological data, the research provides valuable insights into the feedback loops and interdependencies that influence catchment sustainability. In this study, we find that policies on population management should aim to balance natural growth rates with the carrying capacity of the basin. Strategies such as education, healthcare access, and family planning can help manage demographic pressures. Migration policies should consider the economic and environmental impacts of population influx and support balanced regional development to distribute the demographic pressures more evenly. Wage growth should be aligned with economic productivity to prevent unemployment and inequality. Policies that promote equitable wage structures and enhance labor mobility between sectors can mitigate disparities. The findings emphasize the necessity of adaptive policies that address both environmental and societal factors, advocating for interdisciplinary approaches in water resource management and agricultural policy development. This study also highlights the pivotal role of technological innovations and the societal values and norms that shape sustainability and resilience in agricultural catchments. Full article

Textiles were ubiquitous in the elite Egyptian cultural sphere—from clothing, furniture coverings, and wall decorations to grave goods and temple offerings. The Egyptian world was draped in cloth, yet the producers were often marginalized members of society—immigrants, war captives, and women, who produced for a select few to whom they did not often belong. This paper aims to use textiles as a medium to investigate how the New Kingdom textile industry maintained social inequalities and power differentials. This paper highlights the efforts of marginalized labor in the production of textiles in New Kingdom Egypt, utilizing an intersectional approach to understand the interactions of the producers, varying levels of management, and elite consumers. Textiles were a high-value resource and one of the only goods that increased in value with labor, unlike other crafted goods, like metals, for example. I posit that this was inherently linked to the marginalization of the labor involved. The fabrics woven were a display of the Egyptian hegemony and reaffirmed the social order between the elites and the rest of society. Full article

In recent years, as the capital-driven economic growth model gradually encounters bottlenecks and regional economic competition intensifies, governments at all levels have turned to attracting high-quality talent to promote economic transformation and upgrading. Against this backdrop, the quality of the ecological environment has gradually become an important factor affecting labor mobility. This paper explores the impact of environmental inequality on labor mobility by matching provincial and municipal data with micro-data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), especially focusing on how environmental inequality affects labor decision-making through cognitive and non-cognitive abilities. The results from the benchmark regression confirm that environmental inequality significantly suppresses labor mobility, while robustness tests further validate these findings. Additionally, the mediation mechanism analysis reveals that environmental inequality influences labor mobility through impairments in both cognitive and non-cognitive abilities. The study also conducts an analysis of the heterogeneity of different social groups, finding that environmental inequality has a particularly significant impact on groups with higher levels of education, property owners, and residents living in economically disadvantaged areas. Based on this, the paper puts forward policy recommendations for different groups, emphasizing the importance of optimizing environmental quality, improving education levels, and enhancing the social support system. The research conclusions provide theoretical support for local governments in enhancing regional competitiveness and attracting high-quality labor. Full article

The ability of the cross-city commuting labor force to obtain housing has a profound impact on the development of the housing market and the enhancement of social welfare, but whether cross-city commuting has facilitated housing purchases remains to be verified However, the research on whether cross-city commuting behavior promotes labor force housing purchase in metropolitan areas is still lacking, especially in China, where the culture of buying houses is relatively special. This article used field survey data from the 2023 China Metropolitan Area Occupation and Housing Status Sampling Survey to empirically analyze whether cross-city commuting has facilitated housing purchases within metropolitan areas. The analysis was conducted by constructing a baseline model, a mediation effect model, and a subsample regression model. The results show that the cross-city commuting facilitated housing purchase within metropolitan areas, and the location preference is to purchase a house with a distance of 20–40 km from the workplace, but the contribution of the cross-city commuting to multi-suite purchases is relatively low. Mechanism analysis shows that compared to the workers who work and live in peripheral areas or the workers who work and live in cores, intercity commuters are promoted to purchase housing by relatively higher income and inducement of the housing price gap. The above conclusions still hold after controlling potential endogeneity issues and in robustness tests. The research of this paper can provide a new perspective for alleviating the housing inequality in the metropolitan area. Full article

Human trafficking continues to be a profitable multi-billion dollar business. People are either callous toward human rights or they are unaware of the crime occurring. Many businesses may unknowingly facilitate human trafficking by providing services, such as transportation, hotels, or haircuts, or purchasing products from unfamiliar sources that secretly use forced labor. To be socially responsible, a business must establish effective enterprise governance policies that help prevent and detect trafficking. A business can incur legal fines, damage to its reputation, incur lost business, and be subject to litigation, all as a result of human trafficking. Worldwide, estimates are that 50 million people are being trafficked. Human trafficking is especially harmful to females, both adult women and girls, who comprise about 70 percent of all trafficking victims. Gender theory helps explain this disproportionate impact on women. This study provides an overview of human trafficking, an empirical analysis of the relationship of gender inequality to trafficking, and specific steps that a business can take to help prevent this crime, protect its reputation, and avoid fines and lost business. Full article

Understanding the relationship between job characteristics and participation in adult learning is essential for fostering sustainable development. This study explores how employment factors such as job characteristics, work autonomy, and required skills influence participation in adult learning, which is important for economic resilience and social cohesion. The research utilizes data from the 2021 Labor Force Survey (LFS) in Slovenia, examining adults aged 25–64 and their participation in formal and non-formal education. Findings reveal significant correlations between employment status, type of contract, company size, and adult learning participation. Specifically, individuals in larger companies and those with flexible working hours are more likely to engage in educational activities. Additionally, the ability to work from home is strongly associated with higher participation rates in adult education, highlighting the role of flexible work arrangements in promoting lifelong learning. These insights underscore the importance of creating supportive job environments and equitable access to educational resources to achieve sustainable economic growth and reduce inequalities. By addressing the factors that influence adult learning, policymakers and organizations can develop strategies to enhance workforce adaptability and lifelong learning, ultimately contributing to the broader goals of sustainable development. Full article

In 2021, an RDS survey was conducted among Venezuelan migrant women of reproductive age who migrated to two Brazilian cities (Manaus and Boa Vista) from 2018 to 2021. To start the RDS recruitment, we chose seeds non-randomly in both cities. The study variables were age, educational level, self-rated health, pregnancy, migratory status and use of health services. We estimated the prevalence, confidence intervals and homophily effects by variable category. We used a multivariate logistic regression model to identify the main factors associated with healthcare use. A total of 761 women were recruited in Manaus and 1268 in Boa Vista. Manaus showed more irregular migrants than Boa Vista. The main reasons for using health services were as follows: illness, disease prevention and prenatal care. The logistic regression model showed the use of health services was associated with educational level and healthcare needs but not with migratory status. The social inclusion of Venezuelan migrants is extremely relevant, although many challenges must be overcome. The strategy of the Brazilian Federal Government for providing humanitarian assistance to Venezuelan migrants should be expanded to include and facilitate their integration into labor markets, access to healthcare and education, benefiting both migrants and the Brazilian people by reducing social inequality. Full article

We apply a static oligopolistic general equilibrium model to investigate the effects of an environmental tax on labor incomes, capital incomes, profits, and the distribution of income. The study is motivated by the fact that environmental taxation is one main political tool to realize environmental sustainability and support sustainable development. However, to ensure social and economic sustainability, the taxes applied must be perceived as fair by the majority of the civil society. Moreover, efforts to determine a fair taxation policy would ensure, inter alia, responsible consumption and production, and lower inequality in the economy, which are one of the two priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 10 and 12). Therefore, it is necessary to determine the tax incidence to inform policymakers regarding the distribution of the tax burden. To examine environmental policy, we assume the government applies a policy objective to realize strong environmental sustainability, as proposed by the Dutch economist Rofie Hueting. The main result is that oligopolistic firms can shift the whole tax burden resulting from environmental taxes to workers and capital owners. Consequently, we show that environmental taxes can lead to more income inequality, and the more concentrated the markets, the bigger the social and economic inequality. Noting that addressing environmental problems is a priority of the UN SDGs, our analysis shows that approaching the issue using just environmental tax propositions is not advisable. These results of the analysis also provide a justification of why many members of the society tend to oppose environmental taxes. Full article

One of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8). While the actions suggested to reach this goal target numerous actors in the labor market, such as entrepreneurs running small and medium-sized enterprises, unemployed people, students and young people, persons with disabilities, children and adults forced to work, and migrant workers, these are not the only important groups to focus on. This paper discusses a group receiving less attention: self-employed workers. Through a review of literature and the legislative framework on the social benefits of self-employment across 31 European countries, challenges to the self-employed achieving decent work are identified. The most prominent challenges are that, in many countries, these workers lack social protection against unemployment or accidents at work and that the conditions for their entitlement to social benefits are more demanding than for employees. These constitute impediments to achieving SDG 8‘s goal of “decent work for all”, and SDG 10′s aim to “reduce inequalities”. Full article