Search Results (755)

This paper investigates the risk determinants and spatial patterns of tax revenue loss due to illicit tobacco consumption across the 27 EU Member States from 2017 to 2022. Using a panel dataset covering economic, demographic, social, political, and behavioral dimensions, we apply principal component analysis to identify key factors associated with revenue loss, and hierarchical clustering to group countries with similar risk profiles. Geographic Information Systems visualize the spatial heterogeneity of fiscal vulnerabilities. Findings reveal that institutional and economic stability, international trade and market share, socio-economic inequality and tax burdens, health and well-being, demographic aging and social dynamics, tobacco taxation policy, and labor dynamics and shadow consumption structure the patterns of tax loss risk. Findings also highlight significant differences among Member States, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of fiscal risks. Full article

As pivotal hubs in maritime logistics networks, ports bear a growing responsibility to harmonize economic activities with environmental stewardship. Evaluating and enhancing port environmental efficiency (PEE) is therefore imperative for maritime decarbonization and sustainability. However, conventional approaches often assume homogeneous abatement capacities across heterogeneous ports, which may distort evaluation results. To address this flaw, we develop a modified EBM-Undesirable model embedding weak disposability and non-uniform abatement factors, explicitly accounting for heterogeneity the in port’s abatement capabilities. Drawing on panel data from China’s major coastal ports during 2013–2022, this study further employs the Global Malmquist Index and Dagum Gini coefficient to investigate dynamic characteristics and regional disparities in PEE. Key findings reveal: (1) PEE exhibits a modest yet volatile upward trend, accompanied by pronounced inter-port divergence; (2) Total factor productivity (TFP) demonstrates sustained improvement attributable to technical efficiency advancements, yet reveals untapped potential in technological level; (3) Substantial spatial heterogeneity persists, dominated by interregional differences, though overall inequality is gradually converging. Given the observed regional disparities and technological potential, policy suggestions are proposed to advance port decarbonization, regional coordination, and maritime sustainability. Full article

As cities worldwide strive to promote healthy and sustainable non-motorized transport, the equity of dockless bike-sharing has become a central issue in urban transport planning. This study investigates the relationship between human-scale urban environmental perceptions and the equity of bike-sharing usage within 15-minute cycling catchments of metro stations. Using Shenzhen, China, as a case study, we integrated bike-share trip records from August 2021 (around 43 million trips), population grid data, and Baidu Street View images analyzed with deep learning models. The study first quantified the spatial inequality of bike-sharing usage within each metro catchment area using a per capita trip Gini coefficient. Subsequently, we assessed the correlation between these equity metrics and human-scale urban qualities quantified from street-level imagery. The findings reveal significant intra-catchment usage disparities, with some central urban station areas showing relatively equitable bike-sharing distribution (Gini as low as 0.37), while others, particularly on the urban fringe, exhibit highly inequitable patterns (Gini as high as 0.93). Spearman correlation analysis showed that catchments perceived as “livelier” and more “interesting” had significantly lower Gini coefficients, whereas other perceptual factors such as safety, beauty and wealth showed no significant linear relationship with equity. A Random Forest model further indicated that “liveliness” and “lack of boredom” are the strongest predictors of usage equity, highlighting the critical role of vibrant street environments in promoting equitable access. These findings bridge the fields of transportation equity and urban governance, suggesting that improving the human-scale environment around transit hubs, thereby making streets more engaging, safe, and pleasant, could foster more inclusive and equitable use of bike-sharing. Full article

Accurately mapping urban residents’ exposure to green space at high spatiotemporal resolutions is essential for assessing disparities and equality across blocks and enhancing urban environment planning. In this study, we developed a framework to generate hourly green space exposure maps at 0.5 m resolution using multiple sources of remote sensing data and an Object-Based Image Classification with Graph Convolutional Network (OBIC-GCN) model. Taking the main urban area in Nanjing city of China as the study area, we proposed a Dynamic Residential Green Space Exposure (DRGE) metric to reveal disparities in green space access across four housing price blocks. The Palma ratio was employed to explain the inequity characteristics of DRGE, while XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting) and SHAP (SHapley Additive explanation) methods were utilized to explore the impacts of built environment factors on DRGE. We found that the difference in daytime and nighttime DRGE values was significant, with the DRGE value being higher after 6:00 compared to the night. Mean DRGE on weekends was about 1.5 times higher than on workdays, and the DRGE in high-priced blocks was about twice that in low-priced blocks. More than 68% of residents in high-priced blocks experienced over 8 h of green space exposure during weekend nighttime (especially around 19:00), which was much higher than low-price blocks. Moreover, spatial inequality in residents’ green space exposure was more pronounced on weekends than on workdays, with lower-priced blocks exhibiting greater inequality (Palma ratio: 0.445 vs. 0.385). Furthermore, green space morphology, quantity, and population density were identified as the critical factors affecting DRGE. The optimal threshold for Percent of Landscape (PLAND) was 25–70%, while building density, height, and Sky View Factor (SVF) were negatively correlated with DRGE. These findings address current research gaps by considering population mobility, capturing green space supply and demand inequities, and providing scientific decision-making support for future urban green space equality and planning. Full article

The dehesa, as a socio-ecological system and cultural landscape, is a strategic resource for environmental education, territorial sustainability, and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge. This study analyzes the perception of primary school students in Extremadura regarding this environment, using a mixed methodology that combines statistical, semantic, and spatial analysis. The results show a generally positive assessment of the dehesa heritage, although accompanied by a disconnect between this symbolic assessment and direct experience of the territory, especially in urban contexts. It identifies significant differences between students from rural and urban environments in terms of their knowledge of trades, products, and dehesa spaces, as well as their preferred activities in the dehesa. While rural students show greater interest in operational activities and direct contact with the environment (such as feeding livestock and milking), urban students lean toward sensory or symbolic experiences (such as consuming products or occasional harvesting), reflecting different ways of connecting with the territory. Spatial analysis reveals that more than 80% of schools are located less than 5 km from well-preserved dehesa areas, which represents an opportunity to integrate these landscapes into formal education. However, inequalities in access from special education centers have been detected, posing challenges in terms of territorial and educational equity. This study concludes that the dehesa should be recognized as an open classroom, capable of fostering roots, ecological literacy, and cultural sustainability through contextualized and territory-sensitive pedagogical approaches. Full article

Vulnerability to hazards is a critical global issue, as it not only depends on the magnitude of natural hazards but also on the underlying social and economic conditions of communities. Understanding these factors is essential for designing effective risk reduction strategies and informed policy decisions. The objective of this research is to define a social vulnerability index (SoVI) and to analyse its distribution at the provincial and urban levels by applying different aggregation methods. This study provides a novel approach by examining the sensitivity of the index to different weighting methodologies, addressing a gap in the literature regarding the robustness of social vulnerability measures. An alternative approach is provided to determine the sensitivity of the SoVI in regions, in addition to understanding the dynamics of the socioeconomic characteristics considered in the territory and contributing to the theoretical and normative discussion of the construction of the index. To meet the objective, a sensitivity analysis is provided through different methods of weighting the vulnerability dimensions. The results indicate that the distribution of the SoVI in the provinces of Ecuador is heterogeneous, highlighting the importance of considering local socioeconomic contexts in vulnerability assessments. Additionally, the study shows that the values of the constructed index are sensitive to the weighting methods of the dimensions, which underscores the need for a careful selection of aggregation techniques to ensure reliable policy implications. It was also possible to identify that when social vulnerability is analysed at the city level, these show higher values than the corresponding provinces, challenging the common assumption that urban areas inherently provide better living conditions. This finding contributes to the ongoing debate on the impacts of rapid urbanization on social vulnerability. Full article

Wet markets serve as critical infrastructure for access to fresh food for urban residents in China, playing a vital role in daily life and public well-being. However, their accessibility is often shaped by disparities between urban cores and rapidly expanding peripheral districts, raising concerns over spatial equity in the urban food environment. This study investigates these disparities in Shanghai by comparing wet market accessibility in Putuo district (urban core) and Minhang district (periphery). Accessibility is measured using the Gaussian-enhanced two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method, incorporating travel time data from the Baidu Map API for multiple transportation modes. The Gini coefficient is further employed to evaluate the equity of accessibility distribution. The results reveal a notable disparity: residents in the periphery (Minhang) experience a higher average level of accessibility, but their access is distributed significantly less equitably compared to those in the traditional urban core (Putuo). These findings underscore a critical trade-off between development efficiency and spatial equity, highlighting the need for targeted planning strategies and policies to address spatial inequalities in fresh food access in rapidly transforming cities. Full article

Urban park green spaces (UPGSs) play a critical role in enhancing residents’ quality of life, particularly for older adults. However, inequities in accessibility and resource distribution remain persistent challenges in aging urban areas. To address this issue, this study takes Gulou District, Nanjing City, as an example and proposes a comprehensive framework to evaluate the overall quality of UPGSs. Furthermore, an enhanced Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method is introduced that incorporates (1) a multidimensional park quality score derived from an objective evaluation system encompassing ecological conditions, service quality, age-friendly facilities, and basic infrastructure; and (2) a Gaussian distance decay function calibrated to reflect the walking and public transit mobility patterns of the older adults in the study area. The improved method calculates the accessibility values of UPGSs for older adults living in residential communities under the walking and public transportation scenarios. Finally, factors influencing the social equity of UPGSs are analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients. The experimental results demonstrate that (1) high-accessibility service areas exhibit clustered distributions, with significant differences in accessibility levels across the transportation modes and clear spatial gradient disparities. Specifically, traditional residential neighborhoods often present accessibility blind spots under the walking scenario, accounting for 50.8%, which leads to insufficient accessibility to public green spaces. (2) Structural imbalance and inequities in public service provision have resulted in barriers to UPGS utilization for older adults in certain communities. On this basis, targeted improvement strategies based on accessibility characteristics under different transportation modes are proposed, including the establishment of multi-tiered networked UPGSs and the upgrading of slow-moving transportation infrastructure. The research findings can enhance service efficiency through evidence-based spatial resource reallocation, offering actionable insights for optimizing the spatial layout of UPGSs and advancing the equitable distribution of public services in urban core areas. Full article

In the context of the global growth of the collaborative economy, Airbnb has established itself as one of the most influential players in the transformation of the tourist accommodation market, especially in the reconfiguration of urban tourist accommodation. This article examines empirically and critically how this platform operates in Buenos Aires, the most visited city in Argentina and one of the main tourist hubs in South America. Based on a database of 17,249 active listings, the price formation of accommodations is analyzed using a comparative methodological approach between a general linear model (GLM) and a geographically weighted regression (GWR) model. While the GLM allows for capturing general patterns, the GWR reveals significant territorial differences, offering a detailed reading of the spatial behavior of prices in the city. The results show that variables such as the capacity of the accommodation, its type (full house), the host’s condition, the users’ ratings and the proximity to strategic points such as the subway or Plaza de Mayo have a significant influence on prices. In addition, it is shown that the influence of these variables varies by neighborhood, confirming that the pricing logic in Airbnb is deeply territorialized. This study not only provides novel empirical evidence for a Latin American city that has been little explored in the international literature, but also offers useful tools for hosts, urban planners and public decision makers. Its main contribution lies in showing that prices respond not only to accommodation attributes, but also to broader spatial inequalities, opening the debate on the effects of Airbnb on housing access and urban management in cities with strained real estate markets. By shedding light on these territorial asymmetries, the study offers valuable insights for public policy and urban governance and contributes directly to the achievement of Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), while also supporting Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), by providing practical knowledge that fosters more equitable and sustainable urban development. Full article

Urban greening is increasingly promoted as a means to achieve sustainable and inclusive development. However, it remains unclear whether the expansion of green infrastructure reduces spatial and socioeconomic inequalities or reinforces them. This study examines the long-term dynamics of green space exposure in 287 Chinese cities from 2000 to 2020 using geospatial and statistical data. While median green coverage and exposure increased by 126% and 135%, spatial disparities also grew. Eastern cities consistently showed higher levels of exposure, and national-level improvements did not translate into proportional narrowing of interregional gaps. Granger causality tests indicate a bidirectional relationship between economic growth and green exposure at the national level. This relationship varies across regions. Cities in the east, center, and northeast exhibit strong mutual effects, while other regions show weaker or unidirectional linkages. In North China, economic development and green exposure are entirely disconnected. These differences have led to divergent patterns in exposure equity. Despite a 44% national decline in the Gini index, disparities persisted, most notably in northeastern China. The results suggest that area-based greening targets are insufficient to address inequality. Planning strategies that consider population exposure and regional conditions are needed to improve the inclusiveness of urban greening. This study offers evidence for designing more equitable greening approaches in rapidly urbanizing areas. Full article

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute the backbone of the EU economy, yet their uneven digital transformation raises challenges for competitiveness and territorial cohesion. This article examines the organizational and spatial aspects of SME digitalization across the European Union using Flash Eurobarometer 486 data and latent class analysis (LCA) combined with Bayesian multilevel multinomial regression. The results reveal four SME digitalization profiles—Digitally Conservative Backbone; Partially Digital and Upgrading; Digitally Advanced and Diversified; and Focused Digital Integrators—reflecting diverse adoption patterns of key technologies such as AI, big data and cloud computing. Digitalization is shaped by organizational factors (firm size, value chain integration, digital barriers) and territorial factors (urbanity, border proximity, national digital infrastructure as measured by the Digital Economy and Society Index, DESI). Contrary to linear modernization assumptions, digital adoption follows geographically embedded trajectories, with sectoral uptake occurring even in low-DESI or non-urban regions. These results challenge core–periphery models and highlight the significance of place-based innovation networks. The study contributes to modernization theory and regional innovation systems by showing that digital inequalities exist not only between countries but also within regions and among adoption profiles, emphasizing the need for nuanced, multi-level digital policy approaches across Europe. Full article

This study examines how Windhoek’s urban form, shaped by apartheid-era planning, continues to influence neighbourhood travel behaviour, socio-economic disparity, and residential perceptions. It addresses three key questions: (1) How do socio-economic characteristics, neighbourhood perceptions, and travel patterns differ between compact and sprawled areas? (2) Which socio-economic, perceptual, and spatial factors are associated with the likelihood of neighbourhood-based shopping in compact versus sprawled urban forms? (3) What are the determinants of entertainment and recreational travel behaviour within neighbourhoods across the two urban forms? Using survey data from 1000 residents, the analysis employs chi-square tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, binary logistic regression, and multivariate regression models. Findings reveal that compact areas, characterised by higher incomes, stronger place attachment, and greater infrastructural diversity, support more frequent neighbourhood travel. By contrast, sprawled peripheries, despite higher population densities, remain marked by socio-economic marginalisation, limited amenity access, and negative perceptions that constrain neighbourhood mobility. Across both forms, long-term residence and belonging strongly predict neighbourhood travel, while concerns over traffic safety and crime consistently suppress participation. The results show that spatial proximity alone does not ensure accessibility; emotional, perceptual, and structural barriers mediate neighbourhood mobility. The study highlights the need for integrated planning that addresses both physical infrastructure and lived experience to advance equitable and sustainable mobility in post-colonial contexts. Full article

Urban green spaces (UGSs) are critical to ecological sustainability and human well-being, but equitable access remains a key challenge, particularly in high-density cities. While existing studies have predominantly focused on parks, the role of non-park green spaces (NPGSs) has received limited attention. This study examines the spatial equity of NPGSs—an overlooked but essential component of urban green infrastructure in Inner London—using a typological classification informed by previous research, along with multi-threshold accessibility assessment and spatial justice evaluation. We apply GIS-based buffer analysis, decomposed Gini coefficients, and Moran’s I clustering to quantify distributional disparities. The main findings are as follows: (1) five NPGS types are defined and mapped in Inner London: Natural and Protected, Community and Household, Purpose-Specific, Linear, and Underutilized; (2) significant accessibility inequities exist among NPGS types, with Community and Household demonstrating high equity (Gini coefficient < 0.25), while Underutilized exhibit severe deprivation (Gini coefficient > 0.74); (3) spatial clustering analysis reveals a core–periphery differentiation, characterized by persistent low–low clusters in central boroughs and emerging high–high hot spots in southeastern/northwestern boroughs. This study underscores the critical role of NPGS in complementing park-based greening strategies and provides a transferable framework to assess green equity, thereby contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article

This study examines the statistical and spatial alignment between urban place perceptions and the census-based evidence of socio-spatial segregation. We process a large dataset of geotagged images from Mapillary and KartaView with ZenSVI to score six place perception dimensions (safety, liveliness, wealth, beauty, boredom, depression) for the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki, Greece. The socio-economic structure is derived from census indicators and property values using Location Quotients and principal component analysis. We assess alignment through Pearson’s correlation (r) to capture statistical association, and bivariate Moran’s I to test spatial correspondence while accounting for spatial dependence. Results reveal a robust northwest–southeast divide: southeastern and central districts are perceived as safer, livelier, wealthier, and more beautiful, while northwestern and industrial zones score higher on boredom and depression. The historic city center emerges as vibrant and affluent, acting as a key interface between social groups, especially students, the elderly, and migrants. Perceptual dimensions vary in spatial form: safety, beauty, and depression cluster locally, whereas wealth and vibrancy extend over broader sectors. The study demonstrates the combined use of perceptual and socio-economic data for urban analysis and provides a replicable framework for monitoring inequalities and guiding participatory and inclusive planning. Full article

Although Latin American countries have seen major advances in coverage and school attendance, there are still important geographical differences in educational quality, leading to inequalities. The objective of this study is to determine the influence of geographical context on academic achievement among primary school students in Chile. The methodology involves the estimation of spatial econometric models, specifically, an analysis of spatial dependence including the Moran index, New-GI tests and substantive and residual autocorrelation tests. The data used correspond to standardized test scores obtained from 4030 schools in Chile between 2014 and 2017. The results demonstrate the existence of spatially dependent effects on academic performance for both reading and math. The main indirect spatial effects arise from the concentration of indigenous and immigrant populations. There is also evidence of high spatial inequality in educational quality, as measured through Education Quality Measurement System (SIMCE) tests. Full article