Search Results (515)

The highway and bridge industry is facing persistent challenges related to the high turnover of technical personnel, which poses risks to the continuity and sustainability of infrastructure development. Although Geographic Information System (GIS) training has increasingly been advocated as a strategy to stabilize the workforce, its practical application remains relatively limited across China. Drawing on the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study examines whether GIS training is associated with lower turnover intention among technical staff, potentially through enhanced perceptions of career growth and reduced work-related anxiety. Based on 412 valid responses—primarily from technical personnel employed by major infrastructure enterprises such as regional subsidiaries of the China Communications Construction Group (CCCG) and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC)—the study employs Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess the proposed relationships. The findings indicate that GIS training is negatively associated with turnover intention, with career growth partially mediating this association. Additionally, work anxiety moderates the relationship, such that the link between GIS training and turnover intention appears weaker under higher levels of anxiety. This research contributes to bridging the gap between training practices and theoretical understanding, offering insights to inform workforce retention strategies in technology-intensive industries. Full article

Government support has long been viewed as a key driver of sustainable transformation and green technological progress. However, the underlying mechanisms (“how”) through which preferential policies influence green innovation, as well as the contextual conditions (“when”) that shape their effectiveness, remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on resource dependence theory, this study develops a dual-mediation framework to investigate how preferential tax policies promote both the quantity and quality of green innovation—by enhancing R&D investment as an internal mechanism and alleviating financing constraints as an external mechanism. These effects are especially salient among non-state-owned enterprises, firms in resource-constrained industries, and those situated in environmentally challenged regions—contexts that entail higher dependence on external support for sustainable development. Leveraging China’s 2017 R&D tax reduction policy as a quasi-natural experiment, this study uses a sample of high-tech small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to test the hypotheses. The findings provide robust evidence on how preferential policies contribute to corporate sustainability through green innovation and identify the conditions under which policy tools are most effective. This research offers important implications for designing targeted, sustainability-oriented innovation policies that support SMEs in transitioning toward more sustainable practices. Full article

This study investigates the effect of the Green Finance Reform Pilot Zone Policy (GFRPZP) on corporate sustainable development performance (SDP) using a multi-period difference-in-differences (DIDs) regression model. This model incorporates control variables, reflecting firm-level characteristics and regional economic conditions. The results show that GFRPZP significantly enhances corporate SDP, with stronger effects observed among non-state-owned enterprises (Non-SOEs), companies situated in eastern regions, those in non-heavily polluting industries, and high-tech companies. Mediation analysis indicates that the policy enhances sustainable development through four main channels: improving the quality and quantity of green innovation, easing financing constraints, and increasing analyst attention. Moderation analysis further demonstrates that digital transformation and internal control strengthen the policy’s effect. Full article

China’s national strategies emphasize both achieving carbon peaking and neutrality (“dual carbon” objectives) and fostering high-quality economic development. This dual focus highlights the critical importance of the Green and Low-Carbon Transition (GLCT) of the economy and the development of New Quality Productive Forces (NQPF). Firms are central actors in this transformation, prompting the core research question: How does corporate engagement in GLCT contribute to the formation of NQPF? We investigate this relationship using panel data comprising 33,768 firm-year observations for A-share listed companies across diverse industries in China from 2012 to 2022. Corporate GLCT is measured via textual analysis of annual reports, while an NQPF index, incorporating both tangible and intangible dimensions, is constructed using the entropy method. Our empirical analysis relies primarily on fixed-effects regressions, supplemented by various robustness checks and alternative econometric specifications. The results demonstrate a significantly positive relationship: corporate GLCT robustly promotes the development of NQPF, with dynamic lag structures suggesting delayed productivity realization. Mechanism analysis reveals that this effect operates through three primary channels: improved access to financing, stimulated collaborative innovation and enhanced resource-allocation efficiency. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive impact of GLCT on NQPF is more pronounced for state-owned enterprises (SOEs), firms operating in high-emission sectors, those in energy-efficient or environmentally friendly industries, technology-intensive sectors, non-heavily polluting industries and companies situated in China’s eastern regions. Overall, our findings suggest that corporate GLCT enhances NQPF by improving resource-utilization efficiency and fostering innovation, with these effects amplified by specific regional advantages and firm characteristics. This study offers implications for corporate strategy, highlighting how aligning GLCT initiatives with core business objectives can drive NQPF, and provides evidence relevant for policymakers aiming to optimize environmental governance and foster sustainable economic pathways. Full article

Achieving high-level green technological innovation in heavily polluting enterprises is critical for advancing sustainable development, particularly in the context of both organizational and regional digitalization. This study adopts a configurational perspective grounded in the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework and integrates theoretical insights from resource orchestration, resource dependence, and IT capability theories. It investigates how different types of skilled talent, such as production, technical, sales, and managerial employees, contribute to green innovation under varying digital conditions. By applying fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to a sample of 96 publicly listed firms from China’s heavily polluting industries, this study identifies four distinct talent-based configurations that can lead to high levels of green innovation: production-centric, management-led, technical talent driven, and regionally enabled models. Each configuration reflects a specific system state in which a core group of skilled employees plays a leading role, supported by complementary functions, and shaped by the interaction between internal digital transformation and the external digital environment. This study contributes to the systems literature by elucidating the combinational roles of digital resources and talent deployment within the systemic TOE framework, and offers practical guidance for enterprises aiming to strategically utilize human capital to enhance green innovation performance amid ongoing digital transformations. Full article

The article presents a long-term assessment of the surface water quality of six small rivers in the East Kazakhstan region (Breksa, Tikhaya, Ulba, Glubochanka, Krasnoyarka, and Oba) based on hydrochemical monitoring data from the Kazhydromet State Enterprise for the period 2017–2024. A unified water quality classification system was applied, along with statistical methods, including multiple linear regression. The Glubochanka and Krasnoyarka rivers were identified as the most polluted (reaching classes 4–5), with multiple exceedances of Zn (up to 2.96 mg/dm³), Cd (up to 0.8 mg/dm³), and Cu (up to 0.051 mg/dm³). The most stable and highest water quality was recorded in the Oba River, where from 2021 to 2024, water consistently corresponded to Class 2. Regression models of water quality class as a function of time and annual precipitation were constructed to assess the influence of climatic factors. Statistical analysis revealed no consistent linear correlation between average annual precipitation and water quality (correlation coefficients ranging from −0.49 to +0.37), indicating a complex interplay between climatic and anthropogenic factors. Significant relationships were found for the Breksa (R² = 0.903), Glubochanka (R² = 0.602), and Tikhaya (R² = 0.555) rivers, suggesting an influence of temporal and climatic factors on water quality. In contrast, the Oba (R² = 0.130), Ulba (R² = 0.100), and Krasnoyarka (R² = 0.018) rivers exhibited low coefficients, indicating the predominance of other, likely local, sources of pollution. It was found that summer periods are characterized by the highest pollution due to low water flow, while episodes of acid runoff occur in spring. A decrease in pH below 7.0 was first recorded in 2023–2024 in the Ulba and Tikhaya rivers. Forecasts to 2030 suggest relative stability in water quality under current climatic conditions; however, by 2050, the risk of water quality deterioration is expected to rise due to increased precipitation and extreme weather events. This study presents, for the first time, a systematic long-term analysis of small rivers in the East Kazakhstan region, offering deeper insight into the dynamics of surface water quality and providing a scientific foundation for developing adaptive strategies for the protection and sustainable use of water resources under climate change and anthropogenic pressure. The results emphasize the importance of prioritizing rivers with high variability in water quality for regular monitoring and the development of adaptive conservation measures. The research holds strong applied significance for shaping a sustainable water use strategy in the region. Full article

To promote the deepening of reform and the effective implementation of policies, the State Council launched the special supervision of the liquidation of local governments’ arrears in project funds in 2016, which supports the optimization of the government debt structure. Based on the quasi-natural experiment of the special supervision action, in this study, we use the difference-in-difference (DID) method to investigate the effect and mechanism of the optimization of the government debt structure on the financing constraints of private enterprises. This research is particularly relevant for private enterprises, which face acute financing challenges and are critical for promoting inclusive economic growth, employment, and innovation—key pillars of sustainable development. The results are as follows. Firstly, the special supervision significantly reduces the financing constraints of private enterprises. Secondly, it has heterogeneous effects on the financing constraints of different types of enterprises, and the alleviating effect is particularly significant for enterprises that rely on the funding support of local governments. This highlights the importance of institutional reforms in fostering equitable access to financial resources for vulnerable enterprise groups such as private enterprises. Thirdly, the optimization of the government debt structure eases enterprises’ financing constraints by improving their capital turnover and trade credit. By enhancing liquidity and creditworthiness, these changes create a more resilient financial environment for private enterprises, supporting their long-term development and contribution to sustainable economic systems. Full article

The effective design of green financial policies is crucial for balancing the operational pressures of heavily polluting enterprises with the goal of sustained carbon emission reduction. This study investigates the impact of the Green Finance Reform and Innovation Pilot Zone (GFRIPZ) policy by employing a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model based on firm-level panel data from 2012 to 2021, covering A-share listed enterprises in Shanghai and Shenzhen. The results show that GFRIPZs significantly reduced carbon emissions in pilot regions, with heterogeneous effects observed across enterprise types—particularly among large enterprises, state-owned enterprises, and those located in financially developed areas. To uncover the underlying mechanisms, we compare two behavioral responses: green innovation, marked by long-term investment in green technologies, and expedient compliance, involving short-term, strategic compliance behaviors. Our findings indicate that GFRIPZs did not effectively promote green innovation. Instead, it has encouraged a shift from productive capital investment toward un-productive, symbolic actions aimed at fulfilling policy requirements. These responses risk undermining the long-term objective of green transformation and may contribute to a broader shift from real economic activity toward speculative or less productive investments, raising concerns about the quality and sustainability of the low-carbon transition. Full article

This study examines the awareness and implementation of Circular Economy (CE) principles within Chile’s mining sector, which represents the world’s leading copper producer. We employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative semi-structured interviews, to evaluate perceptions and implementation levels of CE practices across diverse organizational contexts. Our findings reveal a pronounced knowledge gap: while 73.3% of mining professionals reported familiarity with CE concepts, only 57.3% could provide accurate definitions. State-owned mining companies demonstrated substantially higher CE implementation rates, with 36.5% participating in eco-industrial collaborations and 51% conducting environmental audits, compared to their private counterparts. Small enterprises (1–100 employees) exhibited particularly limited engagement, as demonstrated by 71.8% lacking established sustainability reporting mechanisms. A considerable implementation gap was also identified; although 94.8% of respondents considered CE principles integral to business ethics and 89.6% recognized CE as essential for securing a social license to operate, only 20.8% reported that their organizations maintained dedicated CE units. The research presents actionable recommendations for policymakers, including targeted financial incentives and training programs for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in mining services, the establishment of standardized CE performance metrics for the sector, and the integration of CE principles into strategic management education to accelerate sustainable transformation within Chile’s critical mining industry. Full article

In the era of low-carbon economy, green mergers and acquisitions (green M&As) have emerged as a pivotal strategic pathway for heavily polluting enterprises to not only carve out a competitive edge in the market but also contribute significantly to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12)—Responsible Consumption and Production. Based on the data of China’s heavily polluting enterprises listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets from 2010 to 2022, this study applies the multi-temporal difference-in-differences method to analyze the impact of green M&As on the market power of heavily polluting enterprises. The findings suggest that the adoption of green M&As by heavily polluting enterprises in China can enhance market power, and this conclusion remains valid after a series of robustness tests. The mediation effect analysis shows that green M&As promote the market power of heavily polluting enterprises by increasing green total factor productivity, optimizing human capital structure and enhancing brand capital. Meanwhile, according to the heterogeneity study conducted, the implementation of green M&As by non-state-owned heavily polluting enterprises and heavily polluting enterprises within the growth period has a more pronounced effect on market power promotion. In addition, domestic green M&As have a stronger effect on the market power of heavily polluting enterprises. By bridging the theoretical gap between green M&As and the driving mechanisms of market power, this study not only enriches the academic literature but also provides actionable insights for heavily polluting enterprises seeking to enhance their market competitiveness while adhering to sustainable development principles. Full article

In the context of accelerating digitalization, this study investigates how electronic commerce performance is influenced by Web 2.0 instruments in the 27 EU member states. Analyzing literature reviews and performing our own bibliometric review, we identified a gap related to the measurable economic results of e-commerce. The scope of this study was to analyze the relationship between Web 2.0 tools and the level of turnover generated by e-commerce, applying robust econometric models based on panel data regression with random effects and fixed effects (Arellano–Bond). The results highlight that the online paid advertisement and social media usage variables have significant, positive effects on e-commerce performance, confirming the first and second hypotheses. “Use the enterprise’s blog or microblogs” and “use of multimedia content sharing websites” do not influence enterprises’ total turnover from e-commerce sales to a valid and statistically significant extent. Thus, the third and fourth hypotheses are not confirmed by the results of the research conducted, possibly due to limited innovation and platform ownership in Europe. This study makes a notable empirical and methodological contribution, embedding digital sustainability in the analysis, which implies that the findings can be used for updating e-commerce policies. Full article

As China enters a high-quality development stage, balancing economic growth and environmental sustainability is essential. Can industrial intelligence reconcile these goals? Using theoretical modeling, this paper integrates production decisions, pollution emissions, and environmental regulations to construct a micro-level analytical framework incorporating technology choice and emission reduction investment. It theoretically explores how robot adoption affects firms’ emission reduction behaviors and empirically tests the model using data from Chinese listed companies (2011–2022). Results indicate that industrial robots significantly reduce firms’ pollution emission intensity through productivity boost, technological progress, and emission reduction effects. Additionally, heterogeneity analyses show that robots have stronger pollution-reducing impacts in heavily polluting industries, state-owned enterprises, and regions with stringent environmental regulations. Therefore, policymakers should encourage robot adoption based on local contexts, formulate differentiated environmental regulations, and implement targeted strategies to maximize robots’ emission reduction potential. Accelerating green and intelligent transformation of enterprises will further align ecological protection with sustainable economic and social development. Full article

In the context of China’s “dual carbon” goals and rising green trade barriers, green transformation is key to improving total factor productivity (TFP) and competitiveness in marine industries. This study uses panel data of Chinese listed marine enterprises (2014–2023) and a multidimensional fixed-effects model to examine how green innovation, export, and R&D investment jointly affect TFP. Results show that (1) green innovation has an inverted “S”-shaped nonlinear effect on TFP, with marginal returns rising, then accelerating, and finally declining; (2) positive synergies exist between green innovation and both exports and R&D, while the export–R&D interaction negatively affects TFP, indicating coordination challenges.; and (3) ownership heterogeneity matters, as state-owned enterprises benefit from stronger institutional support, mitigating negative effects, while private firms are more vulnerable due to weaker green technology mechanisms. This study emphasizes green innovation as a driver for sustainable productivity growth in marine enterprises and suggests policies that improve institutional frameworks, incentives, and resource allocation to support high-quality green innovation. Full article

As participants in sustainable development, corporations face the important and controversial issue of whether they can promote corporate sustainability through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. To address this issue, we examine the relationship between ESG performance and corporate sustainability, measured by green total factor productivity (GTFP). Using a panel dataset of 17,559 firm-year observations from non-financial firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges in China between 2011 and 2019, we employ fixed-effects regression models and two-stage least squares (2SLS) with instrumental variables to empirically test the impact of ESG ratings on GTFP, identify the underlying mechanisms, and examine potential heterogeneity across firms. The results show that higher ESG ratings are significantly associated with increased GTFP. Mediation analysis further reveals that this positive relationship operates through reduced financing constraints and enhanced green innovation. Notably, the mediating role of financing constraints is more pronounced for firms with greater reliance on external capital. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that ESG ratings exert stronger effects in eastern regions, pollution-intensive sectors, and state-owned enterprises. These findings provide empirical support for the role of ESG performance as an effective mechanism to advance corporate sustainability through ethics-driven financial access and innovation capability. Full article

This paper empirically investigates the impact of energy transition on corporate performance by utilizing panel data from A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen between 2008 and 2022. Employing a fixed-effects model, the analysis incorporates key mediating variables including financing constraints, research and development (R&D) investment, corporate reputation, and investor attention. The results demonstrate that the energy transition exerts a significantly positive effect on firm performance, primarily through alleviating financing constraints and stimulating R&D activities. These effects are notably stronger among firms with higher market responsiveness and in regions exhibiting greater levels of economic development—particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), non-state-owned firms, enterprises located in eastern China, and those operating in high-carbon-emitting industries. Furthermore, enhanced corporate reputation and heightened investor attention serve as important amplifiers, reinforcing the positive relationship between energy transition and firm performance. This suggests the existence of a virtuous cycle wherein “transition investment” facilitates “resource integration,” ultimately leading to superior “performance outcomes.” The findings highlight the strategic value of aligning energy transition efforts with firm-level capabilities, indicating that sustainable investments can serve as a pathway to both environmental and economic gains through enhanced competitiveness and stakeholder engagement. Full article