Search Results (873)

In the context of rural sustainability and poverty alleviation within the developing world, a key dilemma facing the international community is to identify suitable strategies and mechanisms to bring multiple stakeholders together to work in efficient and sustainable ways. This paper focuses on the Public–Private–Producer Partnership (4P), a model that involves cooperation between government agencies, business firms, and small-scale producers to foster mutual trust and enhance collaboration through infrastructure development and capacity building in the agricultural value chain. Drawing on evidence from China, Indonesia, Rwanda, Ghana, and Nigeria, this study examines the impact of 4P on crop productivity, agricultural infrastructure, market access, stakeholder empowerment, employment, the land tenure system, and household income. This paper combines value chain analysis, Theory of Change mapping, and both qualitative and quantitative evaluation techniques to assess how the 4P model functions in different institutional and ecological contexts. While the model promotes inclusive growth, it also faces challenges such as price volatility, insufficient long-term sustainability, and limited integration of smallholder farmers into formal value chains. The paper discusses policy implications for improving the 4P model’s effectiveness in poverty alleviation and local economic development, highlighting the importance of better governance structures, financial mechanisms, and market stability. This paper sheds new light on inclusive, justified, and sustainable collaboration mechanisms for participatory agencies and individuals. Full article

Australian regional communities are actively seeking development pathways that generate local economic value while maintaining environmental and cultural integrity. In this context, GeoRegions have emerged in Australia as a community-led approach for recognising and interpreting geoheritage and associated abiotic–biotic–cultural (ABC) values through geotourism and geoeducation. The GeoRegion concept remains intentionally operationally flexible, but for regional communities encountering a myriad of barriers to sustainable geotourism implementation, any uncertainty for proponents about what constitutes an implementable GeoRegion and what resources and governance arrangements are required for credible and sustained delivery requires resolution. This study developed a stakeholder-informed conceptual model to clarify the practical ‘building blocks’ of GeoRegion establishment and the conditions under which GeoRegions can contribute to sustainability-oriented regional development. Using a design thinking framing and semi-structured interviews with thirteen expert participants, we used semantic discourse analysis to identify the factors perceived as essential to GeoRegion viability and legitimacy. We found that participants expected GeoRegions to be geologically centred, but their perceived value and long-term durability depend on (i) genuine community support and locally legitimate narratives (including Indigenous knowledge where appropriate), (ii) capable champions or coordinating groups, (iii) sustained resourcing for interpretation and visitor readiness, and (iv) a facilitative and not prescriptive role for government. Participants emphasised that GeoRegions should never be constrained by land tenure but cautioned that competing land uses, access logistics and uneven capacity across regions were highly influential in the delineation of feasible boundaries and management intensity. Our GeoRegion model differentiates core inputs (community mandate, knowledge co-production, geoheritage significance, human capacity and funding) from expected outputs (interpretive materials, geoeducation, geotourism, economic development, conservation outcomes and strengthened place identity), and we identify feedback that can either reinforce or erode sustainability outcomes over time. We argue that GeoRegions can provide a low-risk, scalable mechanism for geoconservation-informed regional development, particularly where formal protected-area tools or geopark ambitions are politically or economically constrained, provided that supporting governance and resourcing are treated as essential design requirements. Full article

(1) Background: In integrated financial markets where traditional diversification often fails, analyzing sustainability-oriented investments under non-linear dynamics is critical to averting erroneous decisions. This study investigates whether corporate sustainability provides effective downside mitigation against volatility in emerging markets, using Borsa Istanbul as a case study. (2) Methods: The analysis employs US Dollar-denominated excess returns of an equal-weighted portfolio from the longest-tenured BIST Sustainability Index constituents versus the broader BIST 100 Index (2014–2025), utilizing Markov Regime Switching (MS-AR) and Regime-Switching CAPM methodologies to model non-linear dynamics. (3) Results: Empirical results reveal two distinct regimes, where market variance surges approximately 8.5-fold during crises. The sustainable portfolio exhibits a low systematic risk sensitivity (Beta: 0.76) in normal conditions, driven by its distinct structural composition without generating statistically significant Alpha. In crisis regimes, despite increased sensitivity (Beta: 0.90), the portfolio remains resilient with a beta strictly below 1.00. While BIST 100 investors suffered a massive 40.86% USD wealth erosion over the full period, the sustainability portfolio significantly mitigated this damage, limiting the total capital loss to 20.73% due to substantial compounding accumulated during normal regimes. (4) Conclusions: Consequently, sustainability proves to be not merely an ethical preference but a rational financial strategy offering diversification benefits in tranquility and acting as an effective partial hedge during turbulence in high-volatility markets. Full article

This study focuses on the impact of the audit committee features on the quality of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure of the Saudi Stock Exchange-listed companies. Grounded in agency theory, stakeholder theory, and resource dependence theory, this research considers key audit committee characteristics, such as independence, expertise, and tenure, to determine the manner in which they contribute to the improvement of ESG disclosure through enhanced monitoring, accountability, and access to critical reporting-related resources. This study employed a regression model as a hypothesis-testing model using panel data of 78 Saudi-listed firms, which represent 234 firm-years until 2023. ESG disclosure quality is measured using the standardized ESG score obtained from the Refinitiv Eikon database. The results indicate that a positive and statistically significant relationship exists between ESG disclosure quality and audit committee independence and expertise. Conversely, the tenure of audit committees has a negative relationship with ESG disclosure quality. This research contributes to the ESG and corporate governance literature by extending audit committee research beyond traditional financial reporting oversight into ESG oversight in an emerging-market context, and by providing context-specific evidence from Saudi Arabia, where ESG reporting frameworks and enforcement mechanisms are still evolving. Practically, the implications of the findings provide useful recommendations to regulators and firms that intend to enhance their governance practices in accordance with the Saudi Vision 2030 and reforms at the Capital Market Authority. Full article

As communities face intensifying climate hazards, it is vital to strengthen resilience in ways that explicitly prioritize social equity. This study examines how higher education institutions can better support government, nonprofit, and community partners in advancing equity-centered coastal resilience in the U.S. Utilizing a qualitative research design, we analyze discussions among researchers and practitioners during a three-day workshop. We present a framework derived from a thematic analysis of breakout group transcripts from a three-day national virtual workshop involving 113 researchers and practitioners. The analysis identified four core themes: the necessity of aligning projects with community-defined priorities; the foundational role of long-term trust and relationship-building; the requirement for flexible funding to support sustained engagement; and the value of interdisciplinary, multifunctional teams. Findings indicate that while engaged and applied research can significantly advance equitable outcomes, academic researchers face systemic barriers, including rigid tenure timelines and insufficient institutional infrastructure. Consequently, we offer a three-pronged framework centered on early and continuous engagement, robust collaboration with extension services, and supportive university infrastructure. This framework provides practical guidance for institutions to transition from traditional ‘town and gown’ models toward meaningful, community-embedded, and equity-driven coastal resilience partnerships. Full article

Organizational productivity and workforce management are highly affected by employee attrition. Thus, an employee attrition prediction system may allow human resource management to enhance the workplace by minimizing attrition. This study proposes a new and interpretable ensemble learning framework for employee attrition prediction. The model integrates SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP)-based feature selection, Optuna hyperparameter optimization, and dual explainability using SHAP and Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME). Random oversampling (ROS) is used to address class imbalance. The proposed framework allows for both global and local interpretability, enabling actionable insights into retention drivers. It was assessed using two benchmark datasets: the Kaggle HR Analytics dataset (14,999 records) and the IBM HR dataset (1470 records). The results revealed that the most impactful factors on employee attrition are promotion history, tenure, job satisfaction, workload, average monthly hours, overtime, and financial incentives. Furthermore, the proposed model achieved exceptional performance on both datasets. On the Kaggle dataset, it reached an accuracy of 98.72%, an F1-score of 97.29%, and an ROC–AUC of 0.994, while on the IBM dataset, it produced an accuracy of 97.72%, an F1-score of 97.74%, and an ROC–AUC of 0.995. Moreover, the proposed approach shows high computational efficiency, demonstrating that it is suitable for real-world deployment. These findings indicate that integrating explainable AI techniques, resampling tools, and automated hyperparameter tuning can achieve robust, accurate, and actionable employee attrition predictions, supporting HR managers’ decision-making. Full article

This paper examines the role of agricultural credit in shaping farm performance and technology-related outcomes in Peru, using nationally representative microdata from the Encuesta Nacional Agropecuaria (ENA). In a context characterized by credit rationing and institutional constraints, access to finance may influence agricultural income, productivity, and the adoption of improved practices through multiple direct and indirect channels. To address the non-random allocation of credit, the analysis employs a quasi-experimental framework that combines propensity score trimming, block-based common support restrictions, entropy balancing, and doubly robust treatment-effect estimators (IPWRA and AIPW). Descriptive evidence documents substantial heterogeneity in credit sources, loan uses, and rejection reasons, highlighting structural barriers related to collateral, land tenure, and risk. Regression results on the balanced sample indicate positive and statistically significant associations between credit access and both real agricultural income and land productivity. However, estimated treatment effects are sensitive to the estimation strategy: while IPWRA estimates suggest economically meaningful gains among credit recipients, AIPW estimates are smaller and not always statistically distinguishable from zero. Exploratory results further suggest that credit access is positively associated with technology adoption and managerial capacity, consistent with, but not identifying, a potential association between credit approval and technological practices. Overall, the findings are consistent with a growing body of evidence showing that the impacts of agricultural credit are modest, heterogeneous, and context dependent. From a sustainability perspective, the results underscore the importance of complementary interventions—such as land tenure security, risk management instruments, and tailored financial services—in enhancing the effectiveness of rural credit programs in agricultural systems characterized by imperfect markets and high production risk. Full article

China’s agricultural modernization hinges on integrating smallholder farmers into modern production systems, yet incomplete rural factor markets and endowment constraints hinder this transition. This study examines how capital, labor, and land constraints limit smallholders’ adoption of modern agricultural production (MAP) and whether technological progress biases exacerbate these barriers. Using panel data from Shandong and Henan (2012–2022), we find that endowment constraints reduce MAP adoption by 0.028% per 1% increase in constraints, with capital constraints being the most binding. These findings remain robust after endogeneity concerns and robustness checks. Regarding the mechanism, capital-based technological progress bias mitigates the negative impact, whereas labor-based technological progress bias exacerbates it. Smallholder farmers are generally biased towards increased use of labor-based technologies and reduced use of capital-based technologies, but the trend is gradually reversing. Policy priorities include targeted subsidies to alleviate capital constraints, land tenure reforms to facilitate scale operations, and technology extension programs tailored to smallholders’ resource endowments. These findings offer a roadmap for China’s rural revitalization strategy and broader agricultural modernization efforts in developing economies. Full article

This study was conducted to assess the impact of land allocation on the land tenure security, settlement, and land use stability of households, individuals in Central Vietnam. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test the model using survey data from 400 households and individuals in Quy Nhon, Tay Son, and An Lao, administratively under Binh Dinh Province during the 2019–2023 study period and currently under Gia Lai Province following the July 2025 administrative restructuring. The research results show that land allocation has a direct and positive impact on land tenure security, settlement, and land use stability, while also having an indirect impact through a mediating variable, partly land tenure security (shown by the significance level of the research model at 1%, total effect β_{LA→LTS–SLUS} = 0.603). The research results propose several policy implications for land allocation regulations that combine enhanced legal security, actual security, and perceived security, thereby encouraging land users to settle and stabilize their land use. Full article

Digital transformation in commercial banks is a critical enabler of modern financial development. While technological advancement and resource allocation are key drivers, managerial attributes also play a decisive role in shaping transformation trajectories. Managerial myopia—often arising from short-term performance pressures, evolving regulatory expectations, and cyclical macroeconomic conditions—warrants particular attention. This study examines how managerial myopia constrains banks’ digital transformation by analyzing its direct impact, underlying behavioral mechanisms, and contingent boundary conditions. Using panel data from 55 Chinese listed commercial banks from 2010 to 2021, we construct a text-based measure of managerial myopia through linguistic analysis of annual reports and employ fixed-effects models for estimation. The results show that a short-term managerial orientation significantly impedes digital transformation, primarily by reducing banks’ propensity for proactive risk-taking. However, this inhibitory effect weakens when managers anticipate longer tenures, management teams exhibit greater diversity in overseas experience and functional expertise, or the average educational level is higher. Moreover, the adverse effects are less pronounced in larger banks and those with stronger corporate governance. Increased external scrutiny and intensified market competition further mitigate this negative influence. These findings offer actionable insights for banking stakeholders aiming to strengthen governance, extend managerial time horizons, and foster an innovation-oriented culture conducive to sustained digital advancement. Full article

Community-based tourism (CBT) is widely promoted as a route to inclusive growth and conservation in emerging economies, yet outcomes vary because the communities’ ability to create, scale, and sustain CBT enterprises depends on the surrounding entrepreneurial ecosystem. Building on entrepreneurial ecosystem theory and grand challenges scholarship, this article reframes CBT as a place-based entrepreneurial ecosystem that mobilizes local and external actors, resources, and institutions to advance the United Nations 2030 Agenda. The purpose of the study is to develop and illustrate an SDG-oriented CBT entrepreneurial ecosystem framework and identify the ecosystem mechanisms and boundary conditions associated with SDG contributions. Using a qualitative multiple-case design and structured document analysis of 42 public artifacts (peer-reviewed studies, program evaluations, organizational reports, and organizational webpages), three initiatives were examined: Namibia’s communal conservancies, Chi Phat community-based ecotourism in Cambodia, and Bolivia’s Chalalán Ecolodge. Cross-case synthesis showed that progress on SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)—with complementary contributions to SDGs 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, and 17—emerges when ecosystems combine: (i) enforceable community rights and benefit-sharing rules; (ii) bridging organizations that provide training, finance, market access, and quality assurance; (iii) accountable local governance for transparency and conflict resolution; and (iv) reinvestment mechanisms that fund conservation and community services. The analysis also identified boundary conditions (e.g., elite capture, value leakage, donor dependence, uneven tourism potential, and demand shocks) and specific policy levers (tenure security, adaptive concession policies, blended finance, and impact monitoring) to strengthen CBT ecosystems for SDG delivery. Full article

Property valuation is central to determining compensation for expropriation, yet concerns persist regarding fairness, adequacy, and reliance on market-based approaches, particularly in contexts with weak land markets and informal tenure systems. This study presents a bibliometric and thematic analysis of Scopus-indexed literature on property valuation for expropriation published between 1979 and 2026. Based on 32 publications, the analysis examines publication trends, influential journals and countries, conceptual structures, thematic evolution, and methodological approaches. The results reveal a rapidly expanding but fragmented field dominated by technical valuation and legal-institutional perspectives, with socio-economic, cultural, and environmental dimensions remaining underexplored. Thematic analysis identifies dominant research orientations, interconnections between established and emerging themes, and persistent gaps between legal frameworks and valuation practice. Methodological review highlights limited integration of qualitative, quantitative, and spatial approaches, as well as scarce longitudinal and comparative studies. The study underscores the need for more integrative, context-sensitive approaches to expropriation valuation that account for socio-economic, cultural, and governance considerations. Although the limited sample constrains statistical robustness and generalizability, the bibliometric approach provides valuable insights into the intellectual structure and emerging trends of the field. This study contributes to organizing the knowledge base on expropriation valuation and informs future research directions in property valuation, policy, and law. Full article

In recent decades, profound transformations in work organization, employment conditions, and organizational change processes have intensified workers’ exposure to psychosocial risks, with significant consequences for occupational health and well-being. Despite the growing relevance of these risks, organizations often lack psychometrically robust instruments capable of capturing psychosocial stressors associated with change, Conflicts, and working conditions in an integrated manner. The purpose of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate a questionnaire designed to measure psychosocial factors related to organizational changes, interpersonal Conflicts, and occupational well-being. An instrumental study design was employed, following international standards for the construction and validation of psychological instruments. The sample consisted of 350 workers with a mean age of 33.19 years (SD = 9.18; range: 18–66) and an average organizational tenure of 6.71 years (SD = 8.61). The initial 48-item questionnaire was refined to a final version comprising 24 items distributed across 7 scales: Organizational Changes, Work Program, Job Security, Promotion, Training, Interpersonal Conflicts, and Lack of Participation. Preliminary analyses indicated that the data adequately met the assumptions for factor analysis (KMO = 0.81; Bartlett’s test χ² = 4376.98, p < 0.001). The results supported a seven-factor structure explaining 72% of the total variance, with clear and interpretable factor loadings consistent with the theoretical model. Internal consistency was acceptable to excellent across scales (α = 0.72–0.91; ω = 0.84–0.95), including short scales with three items. Inter-scale correlations were low to moderate, supporting discriminant validity and indicating that the dimensions, while related, represent distinct constructs. Overall, the findings provide strong evidence for the instrument’s reliability and validity based on its internal structure, supporting its use for psychosocial risk assessment and research on organizational changes, interpersonal Conflicts, and occupational well-being. Full article

Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities Supportive Service Programs (NORC-SSPs) are one of the most popular models of aging in place. While the existing NORC literature focuses on the social and service environments of these programs, their built environments remain underexplored, particularly across housing tenures. This study is the first to explore the built environment, social integration, and socio-demographic factors among older people living in NORCs in New York, and their associations with health and well-being. The mixed-methods research included qualitative (interviews with NORC directors) and quantitative (151 resident surveys and an architectural assessment) data on 26 housing developments in New York, collected simultaneously using a convergent parallel design. The findings show that socialization and exercise improve the health and quality of life of NORC residents. The study also revealed that older people living in public housing have different needs than those in cooperative housing, namely a worse perception of their health and dwellings of a poorer physical condition. Therefore, the services offered by NORC programs should vary according to housing type, while management and NORC staff should improve coordination to address maintenance in public housing. Future research should examine interventions to improve the physical environments of NORC residents. Full article

Soil health is the sustained ability of soil to function as a vital ecosystem that supports plants, animals, and humans. Conventional agricultural practices, such as intensive tillage and monocropping, degrade soils by depleting organic matter, causing erosion, and reducing biodiversity. Agroforestry systems, by contrast, mimic natural ecosystems and offer a viable solution to restore and protect this crucial resource. The purpose of this review was to explore agroforestry’s effects on soil health in the context of sustainable agriculture. By restoring and building soil health, the review revealed that agroforestry provides a solution to combat soil degradation, enhance biodiversity, and increase agricultural sustainability. Benefits to soil are diverse and include improving its physical, chemical, and biological aspects, which boosts ecosystem services and resilience. Despite its clear advantages, agroforestry has not been widely adopted. Challenges to adoption include time lag for trees to mature, insecure land tenure and lack of expertise and institutional support. Overcoming these barriers through supportive policies, financial incentives and farmer participatory approaches offers clear pathways towards more resilient and profitable farming systems. This will require site-specific studies to optimize species selection and system designs compatible with local conditions. Long-term agroforestry success is determined by aligning site-specific conditions (soil, slope, climate) with appropriate species selection, expert management, and farmer knowledge. In conclusion, intentionally combining trees and crops provides a powerful solution for building resilient soil ecosystems and ensuring agricultural sustainability. Full article